CodexNinja

Hey everyone! I'm having trouble with a conceptual thing, and I was hoping I could get a little advice. When I first started this journey in August, I just focused on running - "Get out there and run a mile!". I kept doing that for 3X per week and three weeks later I increased that to two miles! Basically ran 2 miles 3X per week through September. Zero weightloss, but I'm still getting my diet in line, and honestly, it's not a lot of effort - I didn't expect a huge drop. Halfway through October, I realize I'm bored. It's not that I'm not seeing progress - I finally get up to 3 miles, 3X per week! But I'm just bored, and I feel the gears grinding to a quit, even if physically I'm not stopping just yet. So I think about strength training! And I join Nerdfitness because I've seen them in the past and feel they've got a good beginner program to start. I also join a local nearby gym. I love the way strength training makes me feel powerful and strong. I immediately within 2 weeks drop 6 pounds. A month after starting strength (because I took pictures and measurements this time!) I see huge results. I actually LOOK different. I lose 2 inches off my waist and thighs. Sure my diets in line now, and that's 80% of the equation, but strength training has given me something running never has - this overwhelming powerful feeling in my gut. I feel my corded legs when I walk. My arms look different - sore shaped. This is silly, but I feel like a Greek God. I'm still running, but I feel like I'm "phoning in" the runs. Then it's like November - the time of the COLD has begun (for Seattle! It's like 50 degrees and I wanna die). So I restart Bikram Traditional Hot Yoga, more to supplement what I'm currently doing. Plus feeling warm is super great!!! The first time I actually feel nauseous but I hang in the class and I feel amazing afterwards. I go a second time, still sore from strength training, and I feel like amazing during and after. I want to do this like, through the entire season. It's AMAZING. But I haven't run this week. And I just want to go strength train. Sure I want to run a half marathon next year, but I've never got the results from running as I have from strength training. Even something as hard as Bikram isn't running. I'm just stuck because for me, I don't really see myself competing in strength lifting competitions. I don't see the "end goal" achievement with strength training. I just like it. It's super fun! I don't want to drop running. I do want to run a half in the August-October time frame next year. But how can I do that if I don't love running? I have to put in serious time/effort to keep increasing my speed and distance. It's just falling by the wayside of priority and I'm just a bit stuck. Finally, how would you balance rest days for Powerlifting (full body, lower body, and upper body) Running (mostly lower body) and Bikram (full body)?

I'm late but I'm doing this anyway! Pick a "Big Picture" goal. This is your current Main Quest. I'd like to run up "high Hrothgar" one of the hills on my loop all the way from the bottom. If I succeed at that, I want to do a complete loop (.8 miles, two gnarly hills on it). I'd also want to run a full timed mile on my flat course. I know this sound like a lot but another non-related goal I have is to be strong enough to start power lifting the bar. Pick 2 - 3 S.M.A.R.T. goals (smaller quests) that support your Main Quest. I'm going to run 3-4x a week, usually twice or three times on the hilly course and once of the flat for a timed mile. I plan on going 2X a week to the gym, working mostly on upper body plus some squats prepping for powerlifting. Create & Post your Challenge thread in this Level 1 / First Time Challengers subforum. Hi! I'm Megan and my character is a Norse barbarian that loves to run! I've been watching Norsemen recently and I love game of thrones!