Monday, September 30, 2013

A New Fitness Goal

I couldn't sleep.  It is almost 1:00 in the morning and I was lying in bed trying to fall asleep.  Last night, at 11:30, I did a 30 minute yoga for insomnia routine (from YogaGlo.com).  I probably should do something like that again, but I thought I'd get online instead. :)

I was thinking about kettlebell today.  I am still nervous to get back into it, but I would like to do a little.  I thought maybe doing a few routines from either BeSlam or from Kettlebells for Women, but I don't know how that would work with running.  So I'm going to go a different route.  I'm going to try and do the 10,000 swing challenge. I think I first read about that challenge on Tracy Reifkind's site Lisa Shaffer's site, but it's been awhile.  When I read it I thought it sounded fun, but at the time, it didn't seem like it would help me meet my goals.  But now I think it would be a great way to ease back into kettlebell.  I will use a 12kg (26lb) bell, not too heavy, and I will try and do 400 swings a day, which I can do in about 15 minutes.  I would need 400 swings a day for 25 days.  That gives me Sunday's off, as well as 2 other days.  I want to do this.  This should help with core strength, as well as help me feel like I haven't given up on kettlebell.

So, goals for October: run 12 to 15 miles a week, at least 2 yoga sessions a week, and kettlebell swings everyday.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Running Shorts

I have been on the search for a decent running short for as long as I've been running (5 years).  I had a perfect, favorite pair.  They were by NB, but they were discontinued. :(  Now why NB would discontinue perfect shorts, I have no idea.  But I haven't been able to find anything like them.  I've tried a number of different shorts.  I do like Nike's Tempo, but they fit baggy on me.  They are comfortable and don't cause chafing (the most important issue).  I had a pair of K-Swiss that I liked, but they suddenly started causing chafing issues, so I went searching for a new pair of shorts.

I decided to give these shorts from Oiselle a try.



They are Oiselle's Long Roga shorts.  I bought them from RunningWarehouse

So far, I'm impressed.  They are comfortable, don't chafe, and they are not baggy on my legs.  I can use them for running or yoga, which is nice.  And they have pockets.  I love shorts with pockets.

I'll see how long they hold up without having any issues.  They will get plenty of use this winter.  Once the weather turns bad I tend to run on my treadmill.  If they are good all winter I'll buy another pair in the spring. They were quite pricey, but if they work well, they will be worth it.

So far my (workout) week is going well.  I ran this morning, followed by a 20 minute yoga routine for my core.  I did 90 minutes of yoga yesterday, and an hour of yoga on Monday.

My goals are more clearly coming into focus.  I want to increase my strength (which is why I had started kettlebell in the first place).  For now, to do that I'm going to focus on yoga, plus some old fashion push-ups, some chin-ups (I can only do negative chin-ups on my bar, but it's a start), and handstands.  I can only do handstands by climbing my feet up the wall, but it's a start.  I've also been doing short routine before my runs, which involves squats and lunges.  Right now, just doing those tires my back.  I'll keep it up, hoping to add weights back.

So for now, more yoga and more running.  I miss kettlebell, but they are there waiting for me when I feel a little stronger.  I'll probably start back by doing Turkish Get-ups before my runs.  That's my goal, which I'm hoping to hit in the next few weeks.  We'll see.


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Getting Back to Me

This week has ended up better than it started, which is always nice.  Last week was rough.  We had a series of unfortunate events that made life non-stop for almost a week.  But now it's calmed down and I might (just might!) have a few days of normal.

My workouts this week did not got exactly as planned but still not bad.

Monday- I was supposed to run, but lack of sleep and a long day out of town made it impossible to run.
Tuesday-  60 minutes Vinyassa Yoga
Wenesday- run 3 miles followed by 30 minutes yoga
Thursday- run 3 miles followed by 20 minutes of yoga
Friday- 60 minutes Vinyassa Yoga
Saturday -90 minutes Kundalini yoga
Sunday - I plan on running, maybe 4 miles

There has been lots of yoga.  I know I need to work on regaining strength after my back injury, and yoga seems like the best way to go about it.  I'm enjoying it.  In fact I'm enjoying it so much I may push off adding kettlebells for a few more weeks.  I think it will be better if I do more body weight and core work, which yoga provides.  I will add back kettlebell, especially as my runs move inside to my treadmill.  I'm not fond of the treadmill, and I think I will do kettlebell with sprint runs this winter.

Last night we were up late with friends.  Our church was doing a campout at the local State Park.  I didn't want to camp out, but we joined everyone for songs and s'mores around the campfire.  It was a lovely evening.  I'm thinking of my friends right now.  It's pouring rain, and I know how hard it is to pack up in the rain.  I'm glad we didn't camp out, and just came home to our beds. :)

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

It's been a crazy month.

In the past 6 weeks we have been working on redoing sections of our house.  I painted what is now the family room (it was the kids' playroom), as well as the front entrance/room (which involved moving a piano and large cabinet computer desk).  Cleaned out and reorganized 2 storage spaces, steam cleaned all of the downstairs carpets, had a room added to the back of our house (it used to be a covered back porch.  We didn't do it ourselves). Re-arrange the boys sleeping quarters (we had 3 boys in 1 room, now oldest boy is in new room, the other 2 had their room redone). Tomorrow I plan on steam cleaning the upstairs hall and steps (I did the boys room yesterday after changing all of the bedding around).

We also started back to school, we homeschool, so that means I'm busy teaching 4 kids.

My workouts had been going well.  I was doing a 45 minute kettlebell workout 2x a week, running 3x's a week (about 16 miles a week) and yoga once a week.  Then last week my back got injured during kettlebell.  I strained a muscle in my back.  I couldn't run (or walk much), I couldn't do yoga, and of course, no kettlebell.  This put me at a crossroads.  I've been thinking maybe I'm trying to do to much?  Maybe I should have just stuck with yoga? (I do love yoga). I don't know.  I know a week of no exercise has driven me crazy.  Exercise is my therapy.  It's my time.  Without it I start to get depressed.


Last night, for the first time in a week, I was able to do a simple 30 minute yoga routine.  It was bliss.  This morning, I ran 3 miles then spent 30 minutes doing yoga.  Wonderful.  I plan on either doing yoga or running for the next week.  Then I may add some body weight exercises, like squats, lunges, and push-ups, after my runs.  If they go well I will try to add kettlebell back.  I enjoy kettlebell.  I enjoy the rush I get from lifting heavy weight, and from swinging that 44lb bell. I can't decide if I will go back to having dedicated kettlebell days or if I will add some kettlebell onto my running days.  I would have to plan carefully.  I could do short kettlebell routines in the afternoon.  I may go for that.  I also need to decide if I want to buy new DVDs or just stick to the routines I have.  I own 2 of Lauren Brooks' DVDs as well as her book and BeSlam.  I have plenty to work with.  But her new DVD or even her Lightning one would be nice.  I could just throw it on in the afternoon and not have to think about what to do.

I also want to get back to blogging.  I keep trying to get into this, but it's hard.  I'm very busy, and I know most people are, but I haven't found a way to carve out time to write.  But writing helps me think.  And I need somewhere get all of these thoughts outs.  So, I'll be trying to write at least once a week, if not more, as well as getting back into reading blogs.