Friday Running 1 hour (with jogging stroller)

I did not mean to run that long! I was running along the bike trail that goes by the Lock and Dam visitor's center and it was just to beautiful. The jogging stroller also makes it so easy to run. I'm so glad I found one for such a good deal ;)

Thursday Running 20 minutes ("barefoot" trail running)

I made it a short run just to try out my new barefoot running shoes. I will try to add five minutes to this run next Thursday. I don't think I will run with the barefoot shoes more than once a week though.

Wednesday Exercise Bike 30 minutes

I also did the exhaustion test for the hundred push ups challenge and got 30 push ups! Woot! It was not even the bare minimum to get to the next week, but still awesome for me ;) I will have to repeat Week 4 to get past 31 push ups and move on to Week 5.

Tuesday Running 1 hour (on the watershed nature trail)

I was also pushing my "new" jogging stroller (got it for $60 on craigslist) which was awesome! It was so much easier to push than the bike trailer I used before with Q & V.

I'm also hoping to move another tree before the day is over.

Monday Swimming 55 minutes

10 minutes breast stroke
10 minutes freestyle
10 minutes back stroke
5 minutes freestyle
10 minutes back stroke
5 minutes freestyle
5 minutes kick board

Plus 1 1/2 hours heavy duty big shovel yard work (mostly moving a tree to another spot, but also some other shorter projects with a pick ax, moving heavy bags of rocks, and big planters full of dirt). I am Pooooo-ooooped!

Saturday Running 35 minutes (big/medium hills)

I finally found a really hilly route near my house that I can just run hills the whole time.

Also- did Week 4 Day 3 of the hundred push ups challenge workout. I still have to do an exhaustion test tomorrow!

Plus- grocery shopping with the two older kids for 2 hours.

Friday Exercise Bike 30 minutes

I still have not gotten my stupid outdoor bike tire fixed!

Also, walked around yard sales almost all day (morning and late afternoon sales). I had just the baby in the morning, and then all three kids for the afternoon sales. Fun, but tiring ;)

Thursday Running 50 minutes (Trail Running)

I hope I got about 3 1/2 to 4 miles out of that. The trail was super muddy and slippery though!

I also did Week 4 Day 2 of the hundred push ups challenge. It was so hard this time! I hope I do better on Saturday for the last day, and then an exhaustion test at the end of the week too :p

Thursday

I ran 6 miles with the group today. I ran out with the superfast folks. DANG they fly! I kept up with them for nearly the whole first half of the run. Good run!

Wednesday Exercise Bike 30 minutes

Plus 30 minutes hard cleaning, and 30 minutes weeding.

Wednesday

As predicted, I did not make it to the animal ride last night. That's okay though because I did run 6 miles with the stroller yesterday.

Today I got up early and rode that horrible bike in the basement for 40 minutes.

I'm going to paint the garage today!!! Well that's the plan anyway. Been meaning to for 6 years now. It seems hard to believe that I'm actually going to do it.

Tuesday Strength Workout (arms+standing abs) 25 minutes Running 30 minutes (with big/medium hills)

Plus, some light housework. Tired today :p

Monday, Tuesday

I did basically the same thing yesterday and today: 4 min biking, 1 min off, 2 min elliptical, 1 min off, 4 min bike, 2 min backwards elliptical, 4 min biking. Except today the last set of biking I only did 2 min because I was wiped. I barely finished that, but I also pushed myself harder on the other things, so I call it a win. :D
Also started my diet last Friday, but am taking it slow to start as I've gained some bad habits that I need to get a handle on. Going cold turkey never worked for me. The first thing I'm working on are snacking; I'm taking it down to two a day, once after lunch and once after dinner. Next week, portion sizes! Or maybe adding breakfast, we'll see.
The Almighty Liz

Posting Finally

Yeah, I haven't posted in a while. What have I been up to?

The past two weeks were nearly identical, like this:

Tuesday am: run 6 miles with the group
Tuesday pm: ride 19 miles with the other group

Thursday: Run 6 miles with the group

Saturday: Run 13 miles with the group.

It had been a long time since I've run anything more than about 7 miles, so I was afraid that I would bonk on my long Saturday runs. But surprisingly, I still felt pretty good after 13 miles both times. I was tired yes, but still perfectly able to go. Yay!

So far this week: I stayed up too late last night to run with the Tuesday am group, so I made up for it by running with Clayton in the stroller 6 miles after I took the kids to school. I don't know if I'll get to go on the animal ride tonight or not. Mark has a school project due tomorrow, so chances are that I won't have time tonight. Oh well, I'll just have to ride the bike in my basement tomorrow or something.

Oh and by the way girls, WATCH VOCAL POINT on Mondays on NBC at 7:00!!!! They are contestants on The Sing Off. I don't think they'll be on next week, though. There are 16 groups in all, and they did the first 8 last night. Since VP was on last night, the other 8 will most likely be on next week. But the week after that!!

Swimming 55 minutes

Breast stroke- 10 minutes
freestyle- 10 minutes
back stroke- 10 minutes
freestyle- 5 minutes
back stroke- 10 minutes
freestyle- 5 minutes
kick board- 5 minutes

Plus- laundry, all day.

Saturday Running 35 minutes (Trail Running)

I think I ran about 2 1/2 miles.

Plus Week 3 Day 3 of the hundred push ups challenge.

Thursday Running 35 minutes (Trail running)

I'm hoping I got 3 miles out of that. That trail felt awesome on my joints, especially since I was running 2 days in a row!

I also did Week 3 Day 2 of the hundred push ups challenge. It's getting pretty tough, but I'm enjoying the extra strength. I'm going to need it to do all the gardening projects I've got planned for this fall ;)

Wednesday Running 30 minutes (2 1/2 miles FLATS)

Plus, helping the hubs with bike repairs.

Tuesday Swimming 50 minutes

Woohoo! My pool opened up again!

10 minutes breast stroke
10 minutes freestyle
10 minutes backstroke
5 minutes freestyle
5 minutes backstroke
5 minutes freestyle
5 minutes kick board

Also, watched 4 month old twins for 3 hours today. Talk about exhausting!

New Equipment

So, a couple of weeks ago, I finally replaced my broken exercise bike. (it was totally broke beyond repair, John and I busted it open for a look) I replaced it with the coolest machine: an upright bike and elliptical in one! I love love love it!
Today I did four minutes of bike, 1 min break, 2 min elliptical, 1 min break, 4 min of bike, 2 min break, and 2 min elliptical in reverse. Baby steps right? I won't tell you where I started a couple of weeks ago!
And I was wrong yesterday when I said thirty pounds. It's thirty-five now. Someone, just shoot me, please? I now weigh as much as I did when I was pregnant with Erik, and that was the most I'd weighed, ever. Just in time for the holidays! Ugh.
The Almighty Liz

Monday Strength Workout 20 minutes (arms + standing abs) Running 35 minutes (2 1/2 miles with BIG hills)

Included in the strength workout was Week 3 Day 1 of the hundred push ups challenge.

Confession Time

I have been avoiding this blog.
Why?!, you may ask. This is YOUR BLOG! The answer is because of some medication, I have gained 30 pounds. Yes, you read that right, THIRTY. And I'm more than a little depressed and discouraged and nigh unto hopeless about it. I have been working out, but reading about all of your successes and progress just makes me feel worse. But I thought I owed you all an explanation.
Also, I'm getting off the meds as of Thursday. Time to get motivated again, and GET RID OF THIS WEIGHT!
Roar with me now!
ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!
The Almighty Liz

Saturday Running 30 minutes (2 1/2 miles FLATS)

In the rain, woot!

Plus- did Week 2 Day 3 push up workout, AND the exhaustion test. I can now do 20 push ups! WOO-HOO!

Also- grocery shopped for 2 hours.

Thursday Running 40 minutes (trail running)

I ran on the SIUE cross country trails. It was hard! The last 5 minutes was shoeless. I think if I ever get up to 3-4 miles running barefoot, I will run on this trail since it is so soft.

Also- helped my mom move a bunch of boxes inside her house.

Thursday Strength Workout 30 minutes (arms, abs, calves)

I included Week 2 Day 2 of the 100 push ups challenge. I did 200 crunches, plus standing abs. I did arms with the 10 lb free weights. Also, calf raises. I'm hoping to run later in the day too.

Wednesday Walking 1 hour (about 3 miles)

With two kids in a double stroller.

Also- did yard work for 2 hours. Pruning half dead bushes & trees, and weeding my vegetable patch for next year.

Tuesday Exercise Bike 30 minutes

I also did three swatting flies exercises while I biked lasting 2 minutes each (6 minutes total).

I did not get much else done today because I was babysitting 4 month old twins (in addition to my 16 month old) for 3 hours today and that pretty much wore me out!

Monday Strength 20 minutes (Arms + Abs)

I did a quick strength workout later in the day. Week 2 Day 1 of the hundred push ups program complete. Also used 10 lb free weights for my arms and standing abs only.

Monday Running 35 minutes (3 miles FLATS)

Beautiful weather for a run!

Saturday Yoga 40 minutes Running 30 minutes (2 1/2 miles FLATS)

I did the yoga to pull some kinks out of my body, mostly my right hip. It worked! My right hip did not hurt at all during my run and it was a pretty fast run (compared to how slow I've been lately).

Friday- I did the Week 1 Day 3 of the hundred push ups program. It is definitely getting tougher! My arms already feel more buff though ;)

This Week

I got sick toward the end of last week, and I'm not sure when I posted last, so I'll just give you this week:

Tuesday: Ran 6 miles with the group in the morning, Biked 19 miles with Godzilla in the p.m.

Thursday: Ran 6 miles with the group (SLOW, we've had a bit of a scare from a weird stalker guy, and I didn't want to leave Judy alone, so I stayed back with her. It's alright though, it was so hot, I was probably going to have a bad run anyway.)

Friday: Ran 4 fast and mildly hilly miles with Bruce and his gang. It was a race the whole way, and I'm glad to say that I came in first. My average speed was about 8:25 minute miles.

Thursday Running 35 minutes (3 miles FLATS)

I found this new route with less curves and turns. I think I run faster on long straightaways. Also, 93 degrees at 8pm at night! Are you kidding me? That was one hot night run ;)