Today was Cardio Power & Resistance and Pure Cardio.
I am getting WAY too laxed with this program. It is ridiculous. I either need to commit or just stop doing it, and I don't want to quit. Maybe it is time to give that schedule another try.
Tomorrow: Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
WOW!!
I belong to a couple of run groups, but one in particular is an all-woman group. There is one runner, the group head cheerleader--as I like to think of her. She is way ahead of me in progress. She has already done her 1st half marathon and I'm still getting my feet wet after attempting my first 10K. We both signed up for the same virtual race, the PhantomRunner 5K that was raising money for Homes for Our Troops. She is someone who I admire and hope to catch up to someday. She posted her time for the race as 54:36.
My time was 52:28.
Wow!
My time was 52:28.
Wow!
Spartan Race
My brothers have decided that they want to do the Spartan Race, which of course makes me bound to the agreement. The gameplan for me was to do that race in a year or two. Next year doesn't count as a year or two for me.
We will see what happens.
We will see what happens.
Monday, October 29, 2012
R2: INSANITY - Day 6
R2D6 was supposed to be Plyometric Cardio Circuit. However, seeing that I did a race that day, I am making the executive decision to count that race as a workout.
"Bling Whores"
This term was used on a site by someone who has decided to host virtual races via her blog as a fundraiser. I freely admit that I love medals. It is a lovely reminder of how you conquered whatever struggle facing you on your path to the finish line. T-shirts fade, race bibs get lost or destroyed, but that medal is there, a shiny reminder that of what you did. Finisher medals are so very different from other race tokens. You don't get them for just showing up, you only get them when you cross the same finish line that ever other racer did. No matter how fast or slow you ran, no matter what your time was, everyone in that race has to trek across that same finish line. That is what makes finisher medals so great.
My first finisher medal was for Run 4 Your Lives. I was the fattest person in my wave and one of the fattest people there. It took me two hours to cover this 3.1 mile rolling, wet, muddy course. I completed 8 of the 12 obstacles. All of my flags were taken. I finished as a zombie. The thing is though, I finished. I look back on it now, and the fact that I even showed up counts as something. The Barbarian Challenge was even more daunting than that, because more than physical ability was challenged, my pride was also put on trial. I'm used to taking care of myself and handling my own problems on my own. The idea of being in a position where I have no choice but to accept help is a sore issue for me, even though I know the thought is completely illogical. Every time I see that medal, I remember the lessons learned from that event.
Of the five (yay!) finisher medals in my possession, four of them required me to travel to a race, four were out-of-town, two were out-of-state. Only one race was local and that was because it was a virtual race. Even that virtual race came with a life lesson and a challenge to face. It was during that race that I faced my longtime fear of running at night, a fear that I deeply resented.
Yes, I love medals, but not because of some concept of "bling whoredom." These medals are snapshots of my journey. They last longer than photos and they will last longer than my memories. I keep them right under my first race bib. They are the first thing I see in the morning. It is not done out of ego, but because I need to remember what each of those races represented for me. I need to remember the deeply personal challenge that came with every registration and how it mirrored my own personal battles.
Most importantly, I need to remember that I conquered that challenge the second my toe touched the finish line.
My first finisher medal was for Run 4 Your Lives. I was the fattest person in my wave and one of the fattest people there. It took me two hours to cover this 3.1 mile rolling, wet, muddy course. I completed 8 of the 12 obstacles. All of my flags were taken. I finished as a zombie. The thing is though, I finished. I look back on it now, and the fact that I even showed up counts as something. The Barbarian Challenge was even more daunting than that, because more than physical ability was challenged, my pride was also put on trial. I'm used to taking care of myself and handling my own problems on my own. The idea of being in a position where I have no choice but to accept help is a sore issue for me, even though I know the thought is completely illogical. Every time I see that medal, I remember the lessons learned from that event.
Of the five (yay!) finisher medals in my possession, four of them required me to travel to a race, four were out-of-town, two were out-of-state. Only one race was local and that was because it was a virtual race. Even that virtual race came with a life lesson and a challenge to face. It was during that race that I faced my longtime fear of running at night, a fear that I deeply resented.
Yes, I love medals, but not because of some concept of "bling whoredom." These medals are snapshots of my journey. They last longer than photos and they will last longer than my memories. I keep them right under my first race bib. They are the first thing I see in the morning. It is not done out of ego, but because I need to remember what each of those races represented for me. I need to remember the deeply personal challenge that came with every registration and how it mirrored my own personal battles.
Most importantly, I need to remember that I conquered that challenge the second my toe touched the finish line.
Halloween Monster Dash 5K
It is highly unlikely that I will do the race next year because the advertising greatly inflated the expectations of the race. There was no haunted house. It was a haunted shack made of garbage bags. The trees were low to the grown so of course someone could jump out of them. Make-up could never compete with Run 4 Your Lives.
But still, I am glad I didn't miss it.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
R2: INSANITY - Day 5
Today was Pure Cardio.
Did workout WAY too late...again! This madness must stop!
Tomorrow: Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Did workout WAY too late...again! This madness must stop!
Tomorrow: Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Thursday, October 25, 2012
R2: INSANITY - Day 4
Today was Cardio Recovery.
I didn't get the workout done as early as hoped, but it was still done much earlier than usual. Very nice. The temptation to run tomorrow is strong, and I may answer to that call. Today a magazine called Outside came in the mail. It is surprisingly interesting and probably a keeper!
Tomorrow: Pure Cardio
I didn't get the workout done as early as hoped, but it was still done much earlier than usual. Very nice. The temptation to run tomorrow is strong, and I may answer to that call. Today a magazine called Outside came in the mail. It is surprisingly interesting and probably a keeper!
Tomorrow: Pure Cardio
R2: INSANITY - Day 2 & 3
Today was Plyometric Cardio Circuit and Cardio Power & Resistance.
I must say to date, this is the latest time for a workout that I've ever clocked. It started a bit after midnight. The first workout was pretty impressive, all things considered. The second, well...not so much. My desire to play catch-up resulted in a compromise in performance. Bottom line: it's 2 in the morning. There is nothing left to give.
Today is also Cardio Recovery.
Today is also Cardio Recovery.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Race #9: PhantomRunner 5K
But something else wonderful happened this morning, too. I got up and did this race in the pre-dawn hours of the day. Sure, it was technically morning, but as far as nature was concerned, it was still night. A very dark, pitch night. The decision to do this run was out of necessity. I had a really busy day ahead of me and knew that doing this race in the afternoon was out of the question. Therefore, the decision was made to do this run very early in the morning...while it was still dark.
The air carried a quiet that could only exist while the rest of the world was still in bed. My feet hit the pavement with only one goal, and that was to complete that 5K. That dark was so incredibly soothing to me; it was just as peaceful and serene as I imagined. I truly understand why so many runners I know choose to run in the hours before sunrise. The end of my run was greeted by the sunrise, and I felt at peace and vindicated. A fear had been conquered. A redemption had been achieved. This is a benchmark in my journey, one that carries more weight than the finish line of my first race. I fought my fear and won.
I ran at night.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Running at night
I've never run at night. Not out of a sense of caution or because of a lack of desire. No, this was simply motivated by fear. It is a fear that I deeply resent. There is a difference between acting out of caution versus acting (or inacting) out of fear. Caution is a conscious choice. Caution is an executive decision not to do something based on whatever form of reason. Fear is simply slavery with invisible chains. Fear is a tiny closet that encloses you and keeps you from moving in any direction. I don't run at night out of fear.
Despite all the strides we have made in this country, if anything happens to a woman, she is immediately blamed. The victim is converted into a criminal. I encounter so many people that see a woman in shorts or a skirt and declare that she is "asking" for violence to descend upon her. She is immediately at fault. The flip side is that even if she wasn't wearing something other than a burka and something happened, it's still her fault. Few people I know can see how incredibly disturbing it is...this idea that one can look at another human being and the first thing that pops into their mind is not only the grossest forms of violations, but this idea that the victim deserved to have such a heinous crime occur to them. And yet, if I applied the same logic, they would peg me as the insane one, but miss the brutal hypocrisy that they leave in their wake. If I were to say, "You got a car...you are asking to be car-bombed." "You bought a house, you are asking for a robbery were your family is murdered." "You put your child in cute clothes...you are asking for a molestation." If I said any of these things, I would get a frightened look and that person would rightfully distance themselves for me. But I'm wrong for thinking there is something sick and unbalanced about a person that immediately thinks of a woman being horrifically violated because of an outfit...and the fact that it is even more grotesque that they think such a crime is justifiable. She was "asking for it" just because she was there and had the audacity to want to be free. How dare she. Doesn't she know she's just a woman?
That is the crux of this fear. If something were to happen, I would get blamed, because it's always the woman's fault. Whether she is attacked on the road or in her home, she did something to provoke it. Rape is the only crime where the victim is put on trial by the world. It's never the criminal's fault. No one ever says, "Hey we should stop these criminals." No one ever realizes that the only reason they aren't part of that statistic is because the criminal got to someone else first.
The irony is that no matter what I do, this fact would still remain. There would still be this blatant and disgusting embrace of the idea that women deserve whatever violence that happens to them. Age doesn't even declare innocence. I've heard of judges accuse children of acting too provocatively and "inviting" pedophiles. Given this dynamic, one might as well do what they want, because it's a rapist's wonderland where they get to do whatever they want to whomever they want as often as they want. The rapist will never have to be accountable for their crimes. Society lets them off the hook by placing the blame on their victims. Society gives them permission to be attackers.
I see women running at night sometimes and the deepest envy invades me. I envy their sense of safety. I envy their courage. I envy the fact that they have chosen to tell this woman-hating world to go f*** themselves; that they refused to be part of that game. I envy them, and I long for that freedom. I long to run at night.
Despite all the strides we have made in this country, if anything happens to a woman, she is immediately blamed. The victim is converted into a criminal. I encounter so many people that see a woman in shorts or a skirt and declare that she is "asking" for violence to descend upon her. She is immediately at fault. The flip side is that even if she wasn't wearing something other than a burka and something happened, it's still her fault. Few people I know can see how incredibly disturbing it is...this idea that one can look at another human being and the first thing that pops into their mind is not only the grossest forms of violations, but this idea that the victim deserved to have such a heinous crime occur to them. And yet, if I applied the same logic, they would peg me as the insane one, but miss the brutal hypocrisy that they leave in their wake. If I were to say, "You got a car...you are asking to be car-bombed." "You bought a house, you are asking for a robbery were your family is murdered." "You put your child in cute clothes...you are asking for a molestation." If I said any of these things, I would get a frightened look and that person would rightfully distance themselves for me. But I'm wrong for thinking there is something sick and unbalanced about a person that immediately thinks of a woman being horrifically violated because of an outfit...and the fact that it is even more grotesque that they think such a crime is justifiable. She was "asking for it" just because she was there and had the audacity to want to be free. How dare she. Doesn't she know she's just a woman?
That is the crux of this fear. If something were to happen, I would get blamed, because it's always the woman's fault. Whether she is attacked on the road or in her home, she did something to provoke it. Rape is the only crime where the victim is put on trial by the world. It's never the criminal's fault. No one ever says, "Hey we should stop these criminals." No one ever realizes that the only reason they aren't part of that statistic is because the criminal got to someone else first.
The irony is that no matter what I do, this fact would still remain. There would still be this blatant and disgusting embrace of the idea that women deserve whatever violence that happens to them. Age doesn't even declare innocence. I've heard of judges accuse children of acting too provocatively and "inviting" pedophiles. Given this dynamic, one might as well do what they want, because it's a rapist's wonderland where they get to do whatever they want to whomever they want as often as they want. The rapist will never have to be accountable for their crimes. Society lets them off the hook by placing the blame on their victims. Society gives them permission to be attackers.
I see women running at night sometimes and the deepest envy invades me. I envy their sense of safety. I envy their courage. I envy the fact that they have chosen to tell this woman-hating world to go f*** themselves; that they refused to be part of that game. I envy them, and I long for that freedom. I long to run at night.
R2: INSANITY - Day 1, Fit Test #6
FINALLY! Round 2 has begun!
It wasn't pretty. Again, I broke the rule about exercising really late, and that may have factored in my results. It took me longer to recover between exercises than before. Hopefully after this round of Insanity, I won't need two weeks to recover. Even though that rest was needed, a fitness decline resulted from it.
Here's the breakdown:
57 switch kicks
40 power jacks
78 power knees (-16 than last Fit Test)
11 power jumps (form was lacking)
10 globe jumps (again, form)
12 suicide jumps
8 push-up jacks
20 low-plank obliques
Tomorrow (well, technically today): Plyometric Cardio Circuit
It wasn't pretty. Again, I broke the rule about exercising really late, and that may have factored in my results. It took me longer to recover between exercises than before. Hopefully after this round of Insanity, I won't need two weeks to recover. Even though that rest was needed, a fitness decline resulted from it.
57 switch kicks
40 power jacks
78 power knees (-16 than last Fit Test)
11 power jumps (form was lacking)
10 globe jumps (again, form)
12 suicide jumps
8 push-up jacks
20 low-plank obliques
Tomorrow (well, technically today): Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
3 days behind
I was supposed to take the Fit Test for Round 2 of Insanity on Monday. That, of course, would make me three days behind. The hope is to double up the next two days--which won't be as daunting as trying to do that with Month 2 DVDs--in hopes of catching up. There really was no excuse for the delays, except for my general lackluster disposition and a momentary panic about a potential sore area. Must come back stronger than this.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
No Monster Dash for me
I'm going over the costs, and I didn't plan for it well. Not to mention I didn't have a backup plan in the event that life would interfere with my efforts. It just can't be done. My car needs a new tire and an oil change, too, which doesn't help. So it looks like this trip is off. Already registered, too. Maybe something will happen that in time, after all, I thought I wouldn't be able to attend several races and at the last minute was able to do so. There is still a little bit of hope, just not much.
It's silly that a woman my age is sad about this, but the truth is that is the exact sentiment at the moment. It's not just any disappointment, it's sadness. It's that childlike disappointment when you find out that Christmas is going to be short that year and that one thing that you spent the entire year being so good to get is no longer going to be waiting on you Christmas morning. It's silly for me to be that disappointed. In fact, it's ridiculous. Sure, there are other races, but this one was special to me for reasons that go beyond its intentions, and for reasons that I'm not sure I'm ready to explain. I had even started drafting an email canceling the shipment of my running shoes in exchange for a reimbursement in hope of cornering the costs, but there is no guarantee that they will process it in time. When I think about it logically, the level of commitment that was given to this race was ludicrous. I skipped three other races that I really wanted to do just to funnel any non-essential funds to this one race. I'm even missing Race for the Cure. Yet at the same time, this is making me realize how much doing races is keeping me sane. Sure, there are plenty that I can still do, but certain ones just give something extra.
This would have been one of those races.
It's silly that a woman my age is sad about this, but the truth is that is the exact sentiment at the moment. It's not just any disappointment, it's sadness. It's that childlike disappointment when you find out that Christmas is going to be short that year and that one thing that you spent the entire year being so good to get is no longer going to be waiting on you Christmas morning. It's silly for me to be that disappointed. In fact, it's ridiculous. Sure, there are other races, but this one was special to me for reasons that go beyond its intentions, and for reasons that I'm not sure I'm ready to explain. I had even started drafting an email canceling the shipment of my running shoes in exchange for a reimbursement in hope of cornering the costs, but there is no guarantee that they will process it in time. When I think about it logically, the level of commitment that was given to this race was ludicrous. I skipped three other races that I really wanted to do just to funnel any non-essential funds to this one race. I'm even missing Race for the Cure. Yet at the same time, this is making me realize how much doing races is keeping me sane. Sure, there are plenty that I can still do, but certain ones just give something extra.
This would have been one of those races.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Sickening new kicks
Today was the first time in a month that I have attempted to run. As usual, my aspirations greatly exceeded my capability. I was hoping to at least do three miles, but barely scraped by with 1.02. It was just too many people out and gawking, and my dismal ability to block it out failed me today.
My new kicks have been sitting unused for weeks. The Asics Gel Blurr-33 2.0. This is my first time trying Asics. So far I'm not really impressed. In fact, I will go further and say that I hate these shoes with every fiber of my soul. They fit like they were a full size smaller. These shoes felt like lead bricks. I was sad when I tried them out, because they made my legs feel so heavy that I thought I had gained weight. It's not me...it's the shoe! 10oz?!?! How did I miss that? Thankfully, Zappos.com is the key of awesome and is doing an exchange. I know better now: stick with New Balance.
My new kicks have been sitting unused for weeks. The Asics Gel Blurr-33 2.0. This is my first time trying Asics. So far I'm not really impressed. In fact, I will go further and say that I hate these shoes with every fiber of my soul. They fit like they were a full size smaller. These shoes felt like lead bricks. I was sad when I tried them out, because they made my legs feel so heavy that I thought I had gained weight. It's not me...it's the shoe! 10oz?!?! How did I miss that? Thankfully, Zappos.com is the key of awesome and is doing an exchange. I know better now: stick with New Balance.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Off Week
I'm still on my 1-week break between Insanity rounds. The gameplan was to run twice this week, but my body has other ideas. Hopefully I will be at least able to attempt a run Saturday.
On an even more pathetic note, I have been consuming highly fattening food--mostly because it's free, but still. This aggression cannot stand, man.
On an even more pathetic note, I have been consuming highly fattening food--mostly because it's free, but still. This aggression cannot stand, man.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
INSANITY - Final Week: FIT TEST
I DID IT! Three years ago, I purchased the Insanity 60-day program. In that time, I never made it past the second week without quitting. Today, I SUCCEEDED! I can't explain how wonderful it felt to do that final deep breath; to cross out that last box on my calendar. This is such a surreal sensation. But we're not done yet.
One week off to recover, and then Round 2 begins.
One week off to recover, and then Round 2 begins.
|
Insanity 60-Day Program Stats
|
||
|
Exercise
|
1st Fit Test
(August 6, 2012)
|
Last day
(October 7, 2012)
|
|
Switch kicks
|
23
|
55
|
|
Power Knees
|
70
|
95
|
|
Power Jumps
|
0
|
10
|
|
Globe Jumps
|
5
|
10
|
|
Suicide Jumps
|
4
|
11
|
|
Push-Up Jacks
|
0
|
5
|
|
Low Plank Oblique
|
0
|
18
|
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Two great races...not done
Today was the Hyundai Half Marathon/5K/Mayor's 1-Mile and Warrior Dash.
I missed both. I won't be able to do the Komen Race for the Cure this year, either. There is a deep guilt I feel from that, given that cancer is an expected death sentence in my family. Not to mention that during the five previous years were I wanted to do a 5K, it has always been that 5K that I wanted to do. Hopefully, now that I am starting to get used to planning for out-of-town/state events, next year will be better organized.
A little sad and a little disappointed, even though these races were skipped so that their costs could be shifted to a race I want to do later this month: Monster Dash. But I need a race soon. I'm tired, sad. The lack of optimism is becoming critical. I need that positive energy that comes from finishing a race, at least until I am at the point where I can produce my own.
I missed both. I won't be able to do the Komen Race for the Cure this year, either. There is a deep guilt I feel from that, given that cancer is an expected death sentence in my family. Not to mention that during the five previous years were I wanted to do a 5K, it has always been that 5K that I wanted to do. Hopefully, now that I am starting to get used to planning for out-of-town/state events, next year will be better organized.
A little sad and a little disappointed, even though these races were skipped so that their costs could be shifted to a race I want to do later this month: Monster Dash. But I need a race soon. I'm tired, sad. The lack of optimism is becoming critical. I need that positive energy that comes from finishing a race, at least until I am at the point where I can produce my own.
INSANITY Final Week - Day 53 & 54
Today was Max Plyo, Max Cardio Conditioning and Cardio Abs.
I'm tired and sore, but at least it's done and after the last Fit Test tomorrow I am DONE! There were distractions every single day this week, not to mention dealing with my own issues, but I am caught up! ONE MORE TO GO!!!
Tomorrow: FIT TEST
I'm tired and sore, but at least it's done and after the last Fit Test tomorrow I am DONE! There were distractions every single day this week, not to mention dealing with my own issues, but I am caught up! ONE MORE TO GO!!!
Tomorrow: FIT TEST
Thursday, October 4, 2012
INSANITY Final Week - Day 52
Today was Max Interval Circuit and Core Cardio & Balance.
I got behind again, but fortunately combining MIC with CCB isn't as demanding because CCB is intended to be done slower. But what matter is it is DONE! Two more workouts, one more Fit Test and I am DONE! Then it's a week off (possibly longer) from exercising! I wish I could do the other two today and get it over with, but that is unrealistic and I can't take the chance of injuring myself.
Note to self: do not do Suicide side jumps...hurts knee!
Tomorrow: Max Interval Plyo
I got behind again, but fortunately combining MIC with CCB isn't as demanding because CCB is intended to be done slower. But what matter is it is DONE! Two more workouts, one more Fit Test and I am DONE! Then it's a week off (possibly longer) from exercising! I wish I could do the other two today and get it over with, but that is unrealistic and I can't take the chance of injuring myself.
Note to self: do not do Suicide side jumps...hurts knee!
Tomorrow: Max Interval Plyo
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
INSANITY Final Week - Day 51
Today is Max Interval Circuit.
The temptation to skip today's workout is very strong, but given how crappy this day has been, the workout might be one of the few shining points in an otherwise disappointing and draining 24 hours.
UPDATE: I didn't do it until next day.
Tomorrow: Core Cardio & Balance
The temptation to skip today's workout is very strong, but given how crappy this day has been, the workout might be one of the few shining points in an otherwise disappointing and draining 24 hours.
UPDATE: I didn't do it until next day.
Tomorrow: Core Cardio & Balance
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
INSANITY Final Week - Day 50
Today was Max Cardio Conditioning and Cardio Abs.
I am REALLY surprised by how much I could commit to this workout today! It was great! Probably will pay for it tomorrow, but right now rejoice!
I keep looking at the checked-off boxes on my Insanity calendar and it is surreal. Who would believe that I would be just five days from completing the entire program!
Tomorrow: Max Interval Circuit
I am REALLY surprised by how much I could commit to this workout today! It was great! Probably will pay for it tomorrow, but right now rejoice!
I keep looking at the checked-off boxes on my Insanity calendar and it is surreal. Who would believe that I would be just five days from completing the entire program!
Tomorrow: Max Interval Circuit
Monday, October 1, 2012
INSANITY Final Week - Day 49
Today was Max Interval Plyo.
I made the horrific mistake of not getting breakfast in this morning. A handful of tortilla chips was all I had and a couple of pieces of taffy. Will probably pay for that decision some time later today or tonight. Struggled through the workout more than usual but am so grateful it is done!
Tomorrow: Max Cardio Conditioning and Cardio Abs
I made the horrific mistake of not getting breakfast in this morning. A handful of tortilla chips was all I had and a couple of pieces of taffy. Will probably pay for that decision some time later today or tonight. Struggled through the workout more than usual but am so grateful it is done!
Tomorrow: Max Cardio Conditioning and Cardio Abs
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