Wednesday, October 30, 2013

10,000 Swings!

I did it.  Today I completed the 10,000 swing challenge.  I finished up with an 800 swing workout, which took me 40 minutes.  I sort-of followed a workout from Tracy Reifkind's book, The Swing.  I needed more rest than she gave, plus I had to add 10 to make it 800.

I'm glad I did the month.  I needed a goal this month.  I haven't wanted to do any races, and with my back issue I couldn't just restart BeSlam, so this got me through.  I feel like I completed something, and now I'm ready to move on.

I'm still unsure what I'm going to do.  I did just get bands to help with pull-ups.  I want to improve my upper body and core strength, so push-ups, pull-ups, as well as other core work is in the plan.  I don't want to give up on running, or yoga, so I'll have to work it out.  I think I'll need to not be so type A about it all, so that I can just do what I enjoy.  My goal has been my health, both physical and mental, so I need to keep doing the things that I like and make me feel good.


Saturday, October 26, 2013

8,800

So close.  I'm almost there.

Today my swings were scattered throughout the morning.  I also went for a lovely 3 mile run.  It was very cold, but sunny, and it was nice to get outside.

I plan on getting swings in tomorrow, which will tip me past 9,000

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Getting to the End!

8,000 swings.  I'll admit that I'm getting tired of it.  I want to do squats, presses, and snatches.  I love snatches.  I've been sticking to just the swings (well, I've also been doing some push-ups or negative chin-ups in-between sets).  The swing challenge was a way to get past my injury issue (which was my back).  I'm feeling good, but I'll be glad to be done the challenge.

I'm trying to do more and more single handed swings.  I could easily be using 16kg for the 2H swings, but 1H would be hard.  My grip is weak.  So to help out with that I've been doing more single handed swings.

I also have to start thinking about what I want to do when I'm done this.  I don't want to give up running, or my yoga day, but I want to add strength back.  I'm also thinking about getting a 20lb bell.  I hurt myself doing presses with my 12kg bell.  My next lightest is 15lb.  I don't have the 8kg (18 lb) bell.  The 15lb bell is way too easy for presses.  I tried out a 20lb bell at a store, and it still felt easy, but maybe I should try it.  I can do 3 presses with the 12 kg before I start to lose form.  Really, it's too heavy.

I'll be pondering that issue over the next 2 weeks.  I'll finish this up, then take a week off before starting back up with something else.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

7, 600

Today,  after my 400 swings, I made it to 7, 600 swings. I'm definitely feeling it.

Today I did swings mixed with running. I ran a total of 3 miles on my treadmill with breaks to swing.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

6,000 Swings

I reached 6,000 today.  My swings are getting more efficient, which is nice.  I did a lot on 1 handed swings today, and they are also starting to feel a bit easier.

An hour after the swing practice I went for a 3 mile run at the park, in the rain.  It felt good, but this rain is bringing colder weather.  I've been running later in order to enjoy the view (instead of running in the dark in the morning), and so that my daughter comes with me.  She isn't one to wake up at 6:00 AM and head for a run in the dark, so this is better for both of us.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Day 16

I got my 400 swings done between teaching the kids this morning.  I then went for a 3 mile run.  The park is nice, with the leaves starting to turn the mountains look like a painting.

Total for the month:  5,600 swings.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Day 15

I'm over half way!  Today's 400 swings put me at 5,200!

Today I had to break it up.  Monday's are late nights.  The kids have music lessons then orchestra practice in a city that's over an hour a way.  We get back around 10:00 at night.  So on Tuesday morning we all sleep in a bit.  I also like to practice yoga on Tuesday.  After my long Monday's, I need it.  So today, in between teaching the kids, I did kettlebell swings.  I did 100 at a time, then I did some negative chin-ups on my bar.

For my swings, I've been doing 15 secs on/ 15 off.  1st 10 two handed swings, followed by 10 TR swings, followed by 5 R/5L.  I do 3 rounds like that, then finish with 10 more 2h swings.  That makes 100 in 5 minutes.  I had been wanting to do more 1 handed swings in order to improve my grip.  This month, because I'm doing high volume and coming off an injury, I'm sticking to 12kg.  When I do heavy swings, I use 20kg.  Someday, I would like to repeat the 10,000 swings using my 16kg, or at least putting it into the mix.  But I have a hard time with the grip for 1 handed swings with the 16kg.  So right now I'm trying to increase the number of 1 handed swings in order to improve that grip.

And I did get that yoga done.  I had a lovely practice using YogaGlo.com.  It was a practice with Jason Crandell called Yin & Yang.  It was a perfect practice for someone who does a lot of other exercising.

And my lovely day at home was topped off with a pasta dinner.  I topped my pasta with a mixture of roasted eggplant and peppers which were picked from my garden. And of course, a nice glass of red wine. :)

Monday, October 14, 2013

Week 3

I've been unable to keep up with blogging, but I'm still swinging!

My last post was last Tuesday,  and I finished out last week on Saturday.

Wed - Sat 1,600 swings

Today 400 more swings

Total
Week  1-- 2, 000
Week 2 -- 2, 400
Today 400 for a grand total 4, 800

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Going into week 2

Sunday was a rest day.  I needed it.  I couldn't even bring myself to do a little yin yoga.  I think I was tapped.

Monday--I got up and did 200 swings, then went for a 3 mile run, then 200 more swings
Tuesday--Today was the first day on my treadmill because of the weather. I couldn't decide what to wear for the temps so I stayed inside.  I did 100 swings, run a mile  3X's, then ended with another 100 swings.

Total, so far for this week = 800
Month total = 2,800


Saturday, October 5, 2013

Day 4 and 5

Yesterday morning I got up and right into the swings.  I did 400 swings, then I practiced 30 minutes of yoga.  It felt good.

This morning was a running day, so it was back to 100 swing warm up, run 3 miles, then another 100 swings.  I then had breakfast, which was so good.  It's pancake day, and since my husband got back from his run before I started, he made pancakes.  He also cooked some apples (from our tree) and I had the apples along with yogurt.  I then cleaned up, cleaned the bathroom and did 200 more swings.

5 day total: 2,000 swings.  Only 8,000 more to go. :)

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Day 3

Much better routine.  So this morning I warmed up for my run by doing 10x10 2 handed swings.  I ran 3 miles, then did 5x20 swings, doing 10 2 handed and 10 transfer.  This afternoon I did another 200 following the same pattern; 10x10, then 5x20.  I like doing the transfer swings; I can feel the work in my core.

My hamstrings are sore.  I spent a lot of extra time stretching this morning, and I plan on some yin yoga tonight, focusing on my hamstrings and back.  My goal in all of this is to strengthen my core so I can get back to my regular kettlebell routine.  Right now, even body weight squats cause my back to be sore.  My back was sore yesterday from all of the swings, but splitting it up seems to have helped.  I plan on lots of TLC for my back while doing this.  My runs will stay easy and my yoga will stick to gentle flows or yin style.

Count so far 3x400 = 1200 swings total.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Day 2 of Swing Challenge

This morning was a running day.  I did 100 swings as part of my pre-run warm up.  I ran just 3 miles at a slow pace (about 12:00 pace).  I got home then did 300 more swings.  That is not going to work for me.  It took too much time and made me late in starting our school day.  I think, that on running days, I will do the 100 swings for warm up, come back and do another 100, then do 200 more swings later in the day.  It won't be hard to fit in 10 minutes in the afternoon, or even 2 five minutes.  I could do 100 swing before lunch and another 100 before dinner.

I'm also trying to do push-ups on my running days. I did 5 sets of 10, all on my knees.  And also on running days is my attempt at chin-ups.  The bar in just hanging in my kitchen and I try and do 10 negative chin-ups throughout the day.

So, day 2 is done.  800 swings so far.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Day 1 of 10,000 Swing Challenge

Tuesday WO: 45 minutes vinyasa yoga in the AM
                     400 swings right before lunch!

I did 10x10 2h swings as a warm up, then I did 2 sets doing 2h 10, rest;  2h 10+10 T, rest; 10 2h+10 T+ 5L+5R, rest; 10 2h rest, 10 2h+ 10 T +10R +10L.  I then followed it with 5x20 2h swings. All was done with my 12 kg bell.

I really focused on keeping my core strong.  I think I tended to bounce into my lower back with my swings.  I'm trying to feel that mini ab "crunch" as I swing up to chest level.

The whole thing took me 18 minutes.  It was harder than I thought.  This challenge is going to be a real challenge.  But that's good.  I'm excited.  I've needed some direction and since I don't feel like I can go back to BeSlam yet, I think this is good prep.

The yoga I did this morning was too rough if I'm going to be doing running and kettlebell. I need to stick to gentle flows.  This morning was the first time I tried Tiffany Cruikshank on YogaGlo.  She does a good workout, all moving with the breath.  It was good strength and breath work.  But I don't need that strength right now.  I need more opening of my hamstrings, hips, and shoulders.  But I was impressed with Tiffany and I recommend her if you want to practice yoga and get strong.

I want to try and at least log all of my swings on here, but I don't know if I'll be able to post everyday.  I may try.