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.

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.

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. :)

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.  

Dealing with a Head Cold

It's summer.  You're not supposed to get sick in the summer.  But the kids and I all have a cold.  It's just a runny nose and a nasty headache.  Thanks to sudafed, I was able to run this morning. :)  I got 5 miles in.  It was humid, but there was a nice breeze.  I was running around town where my kids swim.  Their practice is for 2 hrs, so I ran for an hour, stretched, then hit the shower (they have a wonderful facility).  After swim practice we went to try and find my 15 year old daughter a pair of sandals.  We struck out.  We tried 4 stores, but everyone has summer stuff on clearance, meaning we couldn't find her size (9 1/2).  

Anyway, running has been getting better.  I'm still doing kettlebell.  I'm on week 4 of BeSlam (2nd time around).  I'm running 3 times a week.  The first time doing BeSlam I cut my running down to less than 10 miles a week.  I want to do between 15 and 20 now, plus the kettlebell.  Next week the program moves to 3x's a week strength training.  It will be challenging.  

My muscles are definitely feeling it.  This has been good.  I'm really enjoying getting back to more running. I enjoy running, and I was feeling down about losing my running fitness.  I'm still not back to where I was, but I'm getting there.  I believe it will be worth it.  

On the more fun/personal front, I took my daughter to Sephora for a makeover.  She had fun and got some new stuff, and so did I!  I've never been much of a make-up person, but as I've, ahem, gotten older I need it more.  I prefer the good stuff (who doesn't it!).  I  don't buy a lot, but I get the basics.  This time I got a Smashbox eye palette and a new lipstick.  Love the eye palette, I getting used to the lipstick.  I always get a boring, neutral color, so this time I decided to step out and try something a little different.  It looks weird to see color on my face.

The rest of my week is busy, of course.  I'm planning on running Wed and Thur, then doing kettlebell on Friday.  Saturday is the swim finals!  It will be nice to be done with swimming for the summer.  Somewhere in the next few days, I'm desperate for a haircut.  I hope it happens.  

Summer is flying by

It's been a crazy, busy summer.  The kids are swimming at least 3 days a week and have music lessons as well.  I can't seem to keep up.  But the work-outs are going as planned.

I finished BeSlam 3 weeks ago.  I took 1 week off from kettlebells and then restarted the program.  This time around I am always combining the Strength and Conditioning (not doing them on separate days), adding push-ups between sets, and adding an extra day of high-volume swings.  Also, I have a goal of getting my running back up to speed, so to speak.  I had dropped down to around 8 miles a week while adding all of the strength work.  Now I am trying to run at least 12 miles a week, and I want to get it to 15.  The goal this BeSlam cycle is to increase running while doing the kettlebells.  The last 4 weeks will be hard, I'm unsure how I'll do it.  Maybe I try running just 1 mile on kettlebell days.  But for now I'm trying to run at least 3 days a week, do kettlebell and yoga.  I bought a membership on Yogaglo and I'm trying to do a little yoga everyday, even if it's just 15 minutes of meditation.

Part of me is frustrated with the running.  I'm a lot slower than I was before I started kettlebell.  I know that's because I dropped down my miles so much, but still I enjoy running and I don't want it to become too hard or even impossible because of kettlebell.  I still want to do kettlebell, but I am aware that it's hard to pursue strength and cardio goals.

I figure that if I keep my strength goals modest, like say squating 53lbs, pressing 35lbs, then I'll be able to keep running.  It's not like I'm trying to break records with my running.  I would like to be able to run at least 1 half marathon a year and get my time under 2:30 (not too ambitious).

I told myself that I would take 3 cycles of the BeSlam program and see how it went.  I am happy with my strength gains.  It's hard when you want it all.

I want to try and get back to blogging more often.  I've just been so busy, but I'm hoping writing it out will get out some of my frustration as well as help me find a focus.

On the personal front I'm thinking of painting and redoing our "playroom".  My youngest is 8 and we don't really use it for that anymore.  There is still a ton of Playmobile in the room that I don't know what to do with.  But still, I would like to paint it and rip up the ugly mint green carpet.  There is hardwood under there.  I have no idea what condition it's in, but I would like to find out.   I want to eventually move my treadmill in there and get a tv for the room.  We have an old futon.  I would love to get rid of it, but I'm unsure what would be good for there.  I will be looking at options.

My Training Week

Summer has started.  2 of my kids are done with their school work, the other 2 have a bit left.  I've never been good at counting days, we go until the work is done.  But despite lingering work, our summer is in full swing.

The kids are back to swimming, 2 to 3 times a week.  It's now in the morning instead of evening.  The 2 younger boys also have baseball.  That is in the evening, when it's hot.  We opened our pool this past weekend, so in our free time we get out there.

My workout schedule is a bit nuts since I'm in the car more now, as well as at the kids pool.  The pool is at a gym which has weights, but no kettlebells (a few plastic ones up to 20lbs, but that's it).  So I could either bring my bells or use that time to run, and maybe do some yoga.

So far this week:

Sunday--This was day one of the last phase of the Be SLAM program.  It was a combined strength and conditioning workout.  Loved it.

Monday--Practiced 90 minutes of yoga.  I joined YogaGlo this month in order to get more yoga in.  So far I'm loving it.  I'm planning to practice some yoga everyday.  Monday we also went to the zoo and walked probably 3 or 4 miles.  It was a perfect zoo day.

Tuesday--Kettlebells.  Did another combined strength and conditioning workout.  This one included lots of squats as well as snatches.  Went for a 50 minute walk that evening, and practiced some yoga

Wednesday--90 minutes of yoga, this time a Hatha practice focusing on the hips.  Wonderful.  I also tried some Kundalini yoga in the afternoon.  Just a short practice.  I think I will try it again.

Thursday--Today.  I ran 3 miles and then practiced 30 minutes of yoga (in the weight room of the gym!).  In just a bit I'm going to do kettlebell.  I'll see how I feel doing both of these activities in a day.

Friday--if I take the kids swimming I will probably run, then yoga.  I may see if I can use an empty room for my practice.

Saturday--the plan is more kettlebell!

That's my week.  The boys have a game tonight, so that will keep me up late.  This summer will be flying by.