Home Gym

I have decided I really love kettlebells and that I need to get some for my home gym - that is IF I ever build one.  You can do so many different workouts with these babies.  I would buy a few different weights (20, 35 & 55), get a pull up bar and my treadmill and I would be ready to go.  Now all I need is to change one of the bedrooms into a fitness room.  I bet my boys wouldn't mind if I got rid of their room :)

I've actually never asked the hubby for a home gym because I hate working out alone.  I mean I hate it.  I'm a gym rat through and through.  I love working out with other people - even if I don't know them having people around makes me work harder.  I'm a very social worker outer too.  I would much rather talk to someone while running instead of listening to music. I have a nice treadmill at home but I have only run on it a handful of times in the past year (my kids use it way more than I do).  I run at the gym or outside.  

What about you.  Do you workout alone?  At home?  What tips do you have for making solo workouts more fun?
 

Last week in Vegas I thought I would do some KB swings at the hotel gym...
but they only had these cute colored 10 pounders so I opted for pushups.

 

 Doing some SDHP's at crossfit

Today's workout: 

20 kettlebell swings (35lbs)
20 box jumps
20 sit ups 

5 rounds for time

And I did 7 miles on the treadmill (3 miles tempo at a 7:40 pace)

X-Training

I love this!  I have been doing more x-training the past 6 months than ever before and I am in better shape than I have ever been.  

The combination of crossfit, running and spin is so perfect for me.  Today I ran 4 on the treadmill, did crossfit then ran another 3 miles after class.  I am mentally and physically stronger than I was a year ago and I love it.

I am 7 weeks away from Boston!  I can't believe it.   

The run when we saved a dog

I have been really bad about blogging lately.  So here is some catch up.  Last week was a "recovery week" I ran 8 on Monday, 8 on Thursday, 8 on Friday and 9.5 on Saturday.  And on Saturday we actually got to run outside.  It was heaven!!!  

AND we saved a dog...ok that might be a little dramatic.  But at mile 3 a dog started following us.  He would run past us pee on a bush then wait for us.  He wasn't exactly running with us but he wasn't leaving us either. He ran by us for about 3.5 miles.  Once we got into a residential area we decided to catch him so we could call the number on his tags.  We had to sit on the curb for a few minutes to get him close enough to catch.  Then we carried him to a few houses looking for some help.  The lady who finally helped us didn't want to hold on to him and find his owners (even though she had a dog) but she let us use her phone to call them.  Then we waited on the street corner until they got there.  It was a bit crazy and added quite a bit of extra time to our run - but we saved a dog and got to run outside so I'm not complaining.  We did 9.5 miles total. 

I am really loving the 360 fit class and can tell a difference in how I feel and look.  I know it's making me a stronger runner and I'm getting some definition in my upper body.  Now I just really need a tan!!

This Week's Workout Schedule:

Monday: 8 miles & 360 fit
Tuesday: Spin & 360 fit
Wednesday: 7 mile Tempo Run & 360 fit
Thursday: 7 miles
Friday: 360 fit
Saturday: 18 miles

Review - Roctane Drink

I am a big fan of the Roctane GU's - I use them on almost every long run I do and can really feel a difference with them.  So when I saw this product at Runner's Corner I bought it without a second thought.  I've now used it several times and I LOVE it!  I used it last week on my 18 mile long run.  Then again throughout the week.  I did several back-to-back workouts this week (run-crossfit-run) and I like the constant energy this gave me.  When I take a GU I can feel the difference but then it wears off.  I like that I can sip on this the entire workout.  I don't think I'll ever use it when I run outside because I hate carrying a water bottle with me.  But for biking or indoor workouts this is a must have right now for me.  The biggest downfall is that it's a little pricey - $25 for 12 servings.

New Treadmill PR - 18 miles

It snowed on and off for 3 days straight so I planned my long run for Saturday morning on the treadmill.  On my schedule this week was a 16 miler - first one since the marathon in October.  I was a little nervous about lasting for 16 miles on the treadmill. My running partners were both out of town so I tagged along with my sis-in-law and her running partners.  By tagged along I mean ran next to on the treadmill :)

I got there early and got a couple miles under my belt before they got there then chatted and ran and ran and ran and ran some more.  I really wanted a picture of the 16 on the screen but at mile 11 when I took my GU and a drink I hit the cord and pulled the stop button out....nearly made me cry.  But since my mileage and time were gone I decided to take a quick potty break.  Then I got back on and ran another 5 miles.  The girls weren't finished yet so I just walked for a mile next to them and then decided to run another mile since I felt good and wanted to chat with my sis-in-law.  I am so excited that I felt good enough to add on a few easy miles after my long run!!

While I was running this darling old lady strolled up with her walked and got on the treadmill.  It made my day. She walked for a bit then did some exercises and stretches - got back on her walker and headed over for the stationary bikes.  SO AWESOME! 

Today's workout:  run and crossfit

Boston Training

Today was my first speed workout in a VERY long time.  I actually woke up at 4:54 before my alarm (set to go off at 5:00) - and for some crazy reason I got out of bed instead of waiting those 6 extra precious minutes.  I have the feeling I've been getting up at 5:00 too long if I wake up before my alarm.  In order to train for Boston and do cross-training I've had to start really early the past couple of months.

So I hit the treadmill and busted out 3 of my 4 1600's on the treadmill (5 miles total) before 6:00 am crossfit.  I was a little worried about running the 7:10 pace - but with some good music and a little caffeine in my system it wasn't too bad.  Our crossfit workout was 3 rounds of:  21 one-arm clean & press, 400 m. run, 10 wall walks, 400 m. run.  Then we did a max out set of kettleball swings.  Then I jumped back on the treadmill to finish my last 1600 and cool down run to get 7 miles total.  

This round of training has been different for me.  I'm not focused on anything specific since I'm not trying to get faster for Boston and I'm working hard to be a bit more well-rounded.  However, I still have to marathon train through all this.  Luckily, the girls are willing to run most of the miles with me so that I'm not training solo.  I like the freedom and no pressure of this training.  And really this time it's just about running my own race and enjoying the moment. 

How I think I look.....

 This is how I think I look when I do pushups.....

This is how I really look.  

(just a little bit different I think)

OK I didn't really think I looked like that girl does but at least I'm trying to do them.  Right?  

And honestly my upper body is getting more defined from all the crossfit workouts.  I just can't do a full pushup yet.  I am finally getting a rhythm down with my double workouts.  I love how my body feels after a good run and I love how I feel after a butt kicking crossfit workout.  They are so different and they compliment each other so well.  This is the year I will be the strongest I've ever been!!

Today's workout:  spin class and crossfit (wod: 21-15-9 single arm clean and jerk - 30 lbs and box jumps)

Catching up - January

This month has been a crazy one for me.  I've been to Florida twice and California once.  I'm a big creature of habit so travel is hard for me.  I did manage to get my workouts in but some of them weren't easy. I am so glad I am done with my big work travel trips for the year.

In Florida the hotel where I stayed provided this awesome 0.89 jogging trail.  Making 8 miles was tough! The next day for my run I found a way to run around the outside of the Magic Kingdom park - it was better than the small loop but it was on big main roads with no shoulder or sidewalk and I ran a lot in the grass.

I added in some parking lot loops and tried to get more miles in - but it was tough

At least it was warm and sunny.  I loved running in a tank top and shorts!

And Mickey provided directions for me :)

I did my very first Zumba class and found out that I do NOT move like that.  

The marketing in our Nu Skin gear at Zumba

I ran 131.5 miles this month. And I'm pretty more than 100 of those miles were done on the treadmill.  That is crazy to me.  The weather here has been so cold and bad I haven't done one outside run at home this year.  Last year I only had to run inside a few times all winter and this year's winter is killing me.  I even have a favorite treadmill at the gym now.

 

I've been working on hard on eating right and I'm down 4 pounds total since Christmas!

 

Today's Workout:  8 miles on the treadmill and 360 fit.  We did a benchmark workout for crossfit and it took me about 35 minutes - so today was a tough workout day.