Xena: Guess who's back?

[Xena]

 

 

I had a LOT of travel last month. Some of it was fun, and I survived it all. But mostly I'm really happy to be back to my routines....so here's the plan for this month

 

(p.s. I don't love everything about this song, and this youtube version  has kind of weird pictures...I just like the "Guess who's back" part)

 

 

1. Run 120 miles: Following training plan exactly would be 134 miles. This would include 2 20-milers (Week 1 MV 20 and Week 4 Bridge run). I have a couple plans for scaling this goal if needed due to illness, extreme weather or to allow for a skiing weekend. Otherwise, just run :-)

2. 50 negatives: I like this goal because it serves as an umbrella. To do the negatives I have to go to the gym, which means I also lift.

3. 400 pushups: I was debating whether to have a pushup goal or not. I’m doing it. 100 per week.

4. House elf: Before leaving for work (or before noon on weekends) five chores need to be done: bed made**, no clothes on the floor, dishes done, living room tidy, dining room table clear. Goal is five days per week.     **Special exception if the cat is sleeping on the bed ;-)

 

Other things I’m doing but not making specific challenge goals:

• Winter scavenger hunt...I have a list of things I want to get out and do this season. I mentioned it last month. It's a pretty diverse list, from doing volunteer work, to taking a ski trip.
• Playing around with my lifting plan again (had to scale back in various ways to accommodate marathon and travel plans, now can go hard again for a few weeks). I can work leg strength stuff back in. I also think I’ve been slacking a little on core exercises and can do something about that.
• Getting rid of 100 things (trash, donation, using up things that would otherwise sit around)
• Getting back to listening to Spanish podcasts while driving…aiming for twice a week
• Yoga…aiming for once a week, can be a short session
• Tarot…aiming to practice once a week
• Working on my list of dreaded tasks
• Tracking my calories, aiming for 2000/day…various rewards for compliance. Doesn’t count reasonable food and sports drinks consumed during runs over 10 miles. Also giving myself slack on two specific meals after two planned 20-milers. Will eat what I think my body needs and will count it as 600 calories. 
• And lastly...I'm starting to realize that this is a pretty long list. I want to think a bit about how I'm spending my time. Maybe I'm making myself too busy, and not leaving enough time for the people around me. Just something I've been kicking around in my head.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along, yet another good set of goals.

[DarK_RaideR]

Guess who's following?

[Fonzico]

[jonfirestar]

Great challenge yet again. At least you won't be making everyone so jealous this challenge  

[Mistr]

Following from the start this time.

[peelout]

18 hours ago, Xena said:

 

1. Run 120 miles: Following training plan exactly would be 134 miles. This would include 2 20-milers (Week 1 MV 20 and Week 4 Bridge run). I have a couple plans for scaling this goal if needed due to illness, extreme weather or to allow for a skiing weekend. Otherwise, just run :-)

2. 50 negatives: I like this goal because it serves as an umbrella. To do the negatives I have to go to the gym, which means I also lift.

3. 400 pushups: I was debating whether to have a pushup goal or not. I’m doing it. 100 per week.

4. House elf: Before leaving for work (or before noon on weekends) five chores need to be done: bed made**, no clothes on the floor, dishes done, living room tidy, dining room table clear. Goal is five days per week.     **Special exception if the cat is sleeping on the bed ;-)

 

 

Great set of challenging goals.  I especially like the 400 pushups since I can't get my head around running 120miles.

[Terra]

[obax]

Following, though I have to agree with peelout that the idea of running 120mi blows my mind a little... That's like running from my house to Toronto and back again.... Wait, now that I can visualize it, that blows my mind even more...

 

[Xena]

On 2/8/2017 at 3:28 PM, jonfirestar said:

Great challenge yet again. At least you won't be making everyone so jealous this challenge  

I guess not too many people will be jealous of distance running....

 

Zero week was so-so. Got caught up on lots of stuff, but my routine wasn't quite clicking. That could be the jetlag or just general fatigue from traveling. Got most of my running done. Got to the gym once. Had a snow day on Thursday. Felt kind of sluggish. Ate a lot of Thursday and Friday. Was kind of confused by what the heck was going on. Then yesterday started feeling some cold symptoms. All makes sense now. When I'm feeling sick I tend to eat a more, subconsciously thinking I don't feel well and food might help. The sluggishness makes more sense now too.

 

It's not a bad cold and for now it's all in my head. Yesterday (before noticing symptoms) I went to the gym. Liked the new workout I did but was surprised how much strength I seemed to have lost (makes sense now). Today muscles were really sore from the gym (think that's some kind of plague-related achiness). Went on a longish run with a friend (12.5 miles). Legs were completely shot by the end of it.

 

For the coming week I'm going to try to keep my normal running schedule, if my body will let me, perhaps backing off on the intensity. If it moves into my chest, of course I'll have to rest or scale back. Will most likely get one gym day during the week and one on the weekend....because I'm going up to Boston ("the big city" for me) and will able to take a fun hipster yoga class on Thursday night.

 

Just going to try to be gentle with myself this week. Need to go to work. Want to be able to exercise. That means I need to not add too much other "clutter" to my week. Keep it simple as much as possible. Try to spend some time actively relaxing (restorative yoga, stretching etc).

 

So not the most roaring start to Week 1, but should be ok.

[Xena]

just because...

 

[zeroh13]

Being gentle sounds like a great plan. Fingers crossed that the cold stays in your head.

[Fonzico]

Hehe one would think that a cold that is all in your head could be overcome by the power of positive thinking! [emoji14]

 

What, pray tell, is hipster yoga?!

[Xena]

2 minutes ago, Fonzico said:

What, pray tell, is hipster yoga?!

 

I just call it that...please don't judge too harshly. It works best if you don't think of it as yoga, and just think of it as a different fun kind of exercise.

 

It's a hip-hop yoga class, this time with a live DJ. I really like the fun choreography (creative flows) and being in the city environment. There are some really really fit people in the class, and rather than feeling intimidated, I just like seeing what they can do (while I work at my own level). Another thing I LOVE about the class is they usually give you a few minutes in the class to do whatever you want ("freestyle"). Other classes I've taken will sometimes give you a minute or two at the end to do "whatever last pose your body needs".  I really love this mid-class break because you are warmed up but not completely exhausted.

 

Things I don't love about the class...It's heated (not my fave...I become a sweaty mess), it's usually way too crowded for my taste (virtually mat-to-mat), realistically the skill level is a little intense for me (but a good challenge), the studio has become very corporate, they charge you if you want to borrow a mat (I don't live nearby so schlepping my mat into the city is annoying and means I'm stuck carrying a mat around...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't).

 

I don't do it often, but I find it really invigorating when I do.

[Fonzico]

That sounds like a blast, TBH - no judgement! Although I really really really hate being hot, so that would be a deal breaker. Very cool idea though!

[peelout]

Don't forget your placeholder when needed.  Think you said you did squats last time you mentioned it.  Bummer on the cold.  Just got over mine.

[jonfirestar]

14 hours ago, Xena said:

I guess not too many people will be jealous of distance running....

There is always me. Your running prowess is uber impressive.

 

Your class sounds... interesting...

[DJtrippyT]

Ha! I love this song, it's so ridiculously inappropriate. following

[jstanlick]

I'm always inspired by your goals, especially the running mileage one. Just mind boggling to me. Cuz, it's not like running is the only thing you do. Pushups, lifting, yoga, etc. Following.

[Xena]

10 hours ago, DJtrippyT said:

Ha! I love this song, it's so ridiculously inappropriate. following

Yup...was kind of nervous posting it...glad you get it in the spirit intended :-)

 

4 hours ago, jstanlick said:

I'm always inspired by your goals, especially the running mileage one. Just mind boggling to me. Cuz, it's not like running is the only thing you do. Pushups, lifting, yoga, etc. Following.

I'm very inspired by people like you who juggle similar goals alongside heavy family responsibilities. Of course my cat won't do KB workouts with me...

------------

Today was a slightly lame day (just keeping it real)

 

But if I step back, there were lots of annoying things about today, but there was also a small miracle :-)   I was definitely coming down with something over the weekend. Today I am 95% better! Still have a kind of runny nose but absolutely not worse and definitely better. Yay!

 

Challenge-wise, normal day...2 mile Monday run (just to start off on the right errr....foot), 30 pushups, 6 negatives, normal gym day. House chores done. Love coming home to tidy house.

[Fonzico]

 

House chores done. Love coming home to tidy house.

 

 

 

Isn't this just the best feeling!? Good job past Xena being so nice to future (present?) Xena!

 

 

So glad you've fought off the bug - you must be doing something right to recover so quickly

[peelout]

3 hours ago, Xena said:

But if I step back, there were lots of annoying things about today, but there was also a small miracle :-)   I was definitely coming down with something over the weekend. Today I am 95% better! Still have a kind of runny nose but absolutely not worse and definitely better. Yay!

 

Challenge-wise, normal day...2 mile Monday run (just to start off on the right errr....foot), 30 pushups, 6 negatives, normal gym day. House chores done. Love coming home to tidy house.

How are you breaking up your pushups?  Or was that 1 set?

[Xena]

8 hours ago, peelout said:

How are you breaking up your pushups?  Or was that 1 set?

 

Good question! I try to make sets as close to 10 as I can. If I do at least 6, I get 45 sec rest. If I only do 5 I get 30 sec rest. I usually aim for 30 total. I was slowly building the sets for a while, but I've lost a little ground over the past few weeks. Last night I managed 7/7/6/6/4.

 

Trying to build up to three sets of 10 (managed 2x10 a couple times). Want to maintain that and build toward a narrow grip more tricep-intensive pushup.

[RoxyFreefall]

Following along.

[Hiroro]

On 2/12/2017 at 1:40 PM, Xena said:

I guess not too many people will be jealous of distance running....

HAH I am super enjoying observing my fiance training for his marathon while I am...doing very little running. So I am impressed but not jealous, for now.

 

Amazed that you ran 12 miles with a cold and then got better so quickly, wow/yay!

Also, I'm very very hopeful that we get a picture of your cat getting in the way of your bed being made. Just sayin.