Running …

… because I can … because it's fun … because it's healthy … just BECAUSE.

Tag Archives: cross training

Pushing it.

Push-ups. I love them. I hate them. I kinda sorta like them.

This month I’ve enlisted the help of my friends on this goal of 1,000 push-ups for the month. It’s turned into friendly competition for some, motivation for others and, of course, people who said they’d join but never did. It’s the first two groups that I’m most impressed with, and it’s those friends who have kept me going these first couple of weeks of the month.

In all my other failures to do a push-ups program, this time is truly different having longtime friends join in. Getting to a specific number of max push-ups isn’t the goal; simply gaining consistency, getting stronger and having fun as part of the process is what matters.

By the end of the month we’ll all be in a better spot that we were on Aug. 1. Then on Sept. 1, we’ll have to do something different to keep motivating each other. For now, though, the focus is on the second half of the month.

I’ve done 426 push-ups through tonight. As I write this 10 of us have done 4,450 push-ups. That’s quite a few stronger arms and cores out there for just a few minutes of work every day.

As for my other goals, I’m very much on track with more biking miles than running miles (28.6 vs. 21.6), and I’m pretty confident about getting to 10 miles for a long run this month despite having relatively low mileage so far. Over the weekend my mountain adventure led to some great time on my feet even though my mileage was less than the week before.

Speaking of the mountain adventure, here’s a look at that elevation change:

Sharp Top run/hike

 

August = Accountability

July is quickly just a memory. Time to move on. Time for new goals.

Time for goals that almost don’t make sense at the first of the month.

I’m going to put them out there without explaining right now. Throughout the month I’ll touch base on each of these goals, as well as giving a progress report.

That’s my way of holding myself accountable, and it’s a major change for me considering how these past couple of months have gone.

WIthout any delay, here they are:

  • 1,000 total push-ups
  • More biking miles than running miles
  • Increase long run to 10 miles

What’s in store for you this month?

Check-ups

In the final two days of this month I stopped comparing myself to myself. (Cue DMB’s “Rhyme & Reason” and the “My head won’t leave my head alone” lyrics.)

You see, along this journey of intentional cutting back, I started to feel bad because I wasn’t having my normal summer of 100-mile months. Running less was part of the summer plan a long time ago, but I never expected it to feel like it has.

At the beginning of the month I set some simple goals. Turns out, they weren’t so simple. I didn’t lose weight (in fact I gained a pound) and I came no where close to running 80 miles (56.8 is my lowest in the summer since 2003 when I ran 0). I did, however, beat my 30-mile goal for my bike, getting in 32.7 miles.

The way I’ve closed the month out – all but 4.6 of those biking miles were in the second half of July – has me feeling good about August. And when it comes to my love of running, I actually feel excited about getting back to higher mileage. Hitting a low in the summer is what I needed. It was just a hell of a process that I’m still getting over.

Those 13 goals …

This is sort of a June and July check-up since I didn’t touch the subject a month ago.

1. 5k PR – official or unofficial
I’m slow right now. Sure my 5K on July 4 wasn’t bad, but I’m slow for my standards. This simply isn’t realistic anytime soon.

2. Run at least 2 races I’ve never done before
Done, sort of.

3. Run a 5k – official or unofficial – with my friend Brandon
We’ve discussed it. Getting there.

4. 50 consecutive push-ups
Through various things falling apart, I’m still getting occasional push-up workouts in. Nowhere close to 50 year.

5. Ride at least 200 miles
See above on some progress for July. I’m at 104 for the year. Time to catch up in August.

6. Weigh in at less than 180
Call me Caption of Bad News this month.

7. Do a plank at least once a week
Or not. Even if it’s a sorry 30 second plank, this is still happening.

8. Run a race without a watch
Done!

9. Run with my sister Heather
Done!

10. Do an exercise at least once per month that I haven’t done the rest of the year
Let’s count jumping jacks in June; in July I carried my dumbbells from my side porch up my steps. That counts for me in this crazy month.

11. Eat at least one salad per week
Doing well with this.

12. Limit myself to one soft drink a month
I had a set-back in June with an extra day on my birthday. Exception, right? July I had a Coke at my in-laws. No cravings since.

13. Run ON the beach
It’s coming …

35 “streak” and a 13 goals check-up

35 mphI never make a big deal out of my birthday, but there’s something about turning 35 in a few weeks that makes me want to do something different with working out. It’s a gift to myself that’s mostly free.

Every day in June I want to do 35 of something everyday. Or 3.5 of something. Or 35 seconds of something. Or 3 minutes and 50 seconds of something.

You get the point.

Whether it’s running 3.5 miles, doing 35 jumping jacks or doing 35 squats, I’m ready to celebrate my birthday doing 35 of something every day in June.

As I look ahead, it’s also time to look behind and do a check-up on my 13 goals for 2013:

1. 5k PR – official or unofficial
It’s possible that I got slower in May (as well as April). My once or twice a month approach to speedwork is not a good approach to hit this goal.

2. Run at least 2 races I’ve never done before
Still halfway there.

3. Run a 5k – official or unofficial – with my friend Brandon
Summer is coming. His excuses will run out soon.

4. 50 consecutive push-ups
I have no doubt I will do this, but I didn’t focus on maxing out again this month. Just consistency with weights.

5. Ride at least 200 miles
I biked another 22 miles this month, probably less than I was hoping for, but still consistent. I’m at 58 for the year, so I definitely need to step it up. I’m moving to a more bike-friendly neighborhood in two weeks, so I’m ready.

6. Weigh in at less than 180
It’s tough to call it progress, but I did lose 0.4 this month. Before I sabotaged myself for a few days, I had lost 3. It’s an endless cycle and I think anyone who has lost weight knows what this is like. Maybe going for 3.5 pounds in June would be a good goal.

7. Do a plank at least once a week
Right on target.

8. Run a race without a watch
Kinda sorta done. No need to draw it out again

9. Run with my sister Heather
Done!

10. Do an exercise at least once per month that I haven’t done the rest of the year
Chair dips. My arms loved them. Maybe.

11. Eat at least one salad per week
So I didn’t exactly go out and triple my efforts like I said last month, but this is going well. In fact with my new job I’m ready to bring a salad nearly every day.

12. Limit myself to one soft drink a month
If a caffeine and calorie free drink doesn’t count, then I got myself back to even after slipping up for a day in April. My point with this goal was to eliminate empty calories, so I’ll say I’m back on track.

13. Run ON the beach
It’s coming …

13 goals: March update

Mosquito Lake, Ohio

Ending the month with runs in Ohio. This is Mosquito Lake.

This month and 1st quarter of 2013 have been all about setting myself up for a better rest of the year. So far, so good.

My current state of running and overall fitness is good. There’s always an element of “it could be better,” but if I was in a full state of content then I wouldn’t be pushing myself. I like where things are, and I like where things are heading.

Here’s how things went in March for my 13 goals for 2013:

1. 5k PR – official or unofficial
I believe that with my current speedwork that I should be in a good place to go for this mid-summer.

2. Run at least 2 races I’ve never done before
One down with Disney, more to come.

3. Run a 5k – official or unofficial – with my friend Brandon
We’re working on that.

4. 50 consecutive push-ups
While this wasn’t a big focus in March, I did increase my max to 28.

5. Ride at least 200 miles
10 miles this month in between some bad weather. I’m at 14 for the year.

6. Weigh in at less than 180
I stepped on the scale early in the month, but nothing recently. I know there’s no progress here, but I’m feeling good about what I can do in the next few months.

7. Do a plank at least once a week
Right on target.

8. Run a race without a watch
As I’ve mentioned, this is pretty much done, although Disney was not something I “raced.” I’ll be doing the Monument Avenue 10k next month with my sister and will probably leave the watch at home.

9. Run with my sister Heather
See No. 8.

10. Do an exercise at least once per month that I haven’t done the rest of the year
Bosu ball push-ups. Tough stuff. Much different than normal push-ups, but they’ve helped overall with my bigger push-ups goal.

11. Eat at least one salad per week
Easily on track for this.

12. Limit myself to one soft drink a month
March 13 … I’m not sure why, but it was just one of those days in which I needed a pick-up. I’ll probably have my next one tomorrow as I travel from Ohio to Virginia.

13. Run ON the beach
Shamrock weekend was way too cold and messy to do this. I’ll figure out a better time soon.

13 goals: February update

gym weightsThese four weeks of February have zoomed by with the fewest updates in a month on my blog since it all got started 6 years ago.

This month has been a good month though. I’ve dusted off the cobwebs left by the flu and early winter to get in some great speed workouts, I ran more than 80 miles and had a big increase in cross training.

I got in nearly an hour and a half on the exercise bike at my apartment’s gym, as well as lifting weights 6 days. This last day of the month also featured my first road bike ride of 2013, part of my first brick workout in more than 3 years.

I definitely want to do more, but I’ve taken the important step to making cross training routine.

Now onto an update of my 13 goals for 2013:

1. 5k PR – official or unofficial
I won’t focus on this until late spring early/early summer.

2. Run at least 2 races I’ve never done before
One down with Disney, something else probably to come this summer. Nothing new on my schedule for now.

3. Run a 5k – official or unofficial – with my friend Brandon
Maybe I should publish his phone number so you can text him and remind him of this. I’m sure he’d love that.

4. 50 consecutive push-ups
I did a max test of 24. Not much improvement from January, but with a focus on other cross training this month, I didn’t include many push-ups. I’m planning to kick off March with a test.

5. Ride at least 200 miles
See the intro.

6. Weigh in at less than 180
Small progress. Like a few tenths of a pound progress. No excuses for this,but I am eating better. I just have to stop eating bad, too.

7. Do a plank at least once a week
Right on target.

8. Run a race without a watch
As I mentioned last month, this is pretty much done, although Disney was not something I “raced.” I’ve considered this for Shamrock, but I don’t know if I’m ready for that.

9. Run with my sister Heather
Plans are under way for one of the craziest things ever for us in April. I can’t reveal the secret yet.

10. Do an exercise at least once per month that I haven’t done the rest of the year
Hitting the bike today was certainly something I didn’t do in January, but I also want to point out that I did leg presses at the gym a couple of times.

11. Eat at least one salad per week
Easily on track for this.

12. Limit myself to one soft drink a month
February’s soft drink day came on Super Bowl Sunday. No urge for any since then.

13. Run ON the beach
Whether this is Shamrock weekend or this summer, I’m really looking forward to this one.