Marathon complete!

Recap to come soon :) 

Saturday morning workouts

Oh how I love Saturday morning workouts! It  is always a great start to the weekend.

 30 minutes on the elliptical to start the workout. 

Leg/IT band work:

abductor 4x20

adductor 4x20

glute kickbacks 3x15

squats on bosu ball- 4x12

toe taps on bench - 3x15

Then onto abs. I did a 30 minute Ab Burner class Thursday night and I was still feeling it this morning!

50 crunches 

50 russian twists 

:30 sec side plank with elbow crunch (each side)

1 minute plank

30 v-ups

20 v-up position with leg lifts

Arms:

30 tricep dips

30 rows with barbell

30 skull crushers 

20 pec flies

30 shoulder presses

30 chest presses

We are in the single digits for the Marathon! 8 days!

A little sweatin' and abs

With the marathon now less than 2 weeks ago (*operation don't go into panic mood*), I am now focusing on staying healthy and strong, especially my IT band. After my last long run on Sunday (and Bodypump class Saturday), I took yesterday off and my muscles were happy about that.

I started out with a mile run on the treadmill (seriously, that's even a struggle. I guess I really can't stand treadmills) before finishing up my warm up with 15 minutes on the stairmaster. That's where the sweat really came from.

I then moved on to IT band strengthen and leg work by doing the following:

adductor 4x20

leg press (both legs) 4x20

leg press (right leg) 4x15 

leg kickback machine (works the glutes and hamstrings) 3x20

resistance band work.

As for abs, I did the following:

1 minute right side plank

1 minute left side plank

1 minute plank

30 right oblique crunches

30 left oblique crunches

20 scissors

20 mountain climbers

10 regular sit ups 

10 vertical leg crunches

10 Russian twists

15 mountain climbers 

10 scissors

60 bicycles 

Running to movies

Something I have started to do for long runs is listen to movies I have on my ipod instead of music. I am become rather sick of my music, and I have caught myself looking at my Garmin more or clicking through my music while on my run, getting majorly distracted from focusing on my run. I decided to play a movie that I have seen numerous times before and practically have memorized (ahem, Sex and the City). It actually made the time go by a little faster because I was "watching" the movie in my mind and wasn't focusing on my time, etc.

Only bummer about this is that it drains my ipod battery faster.

But....if you're looking for something different other than music to run to, I recommend movies! 

Almost 16 days until the marathon, ahhh!!

Where have I been....

Still trying to get organized in my classroom and actually get a good flow going....lesson planning....trying to get sleep....fitting in workouts when I can and running....actually getting in 16 miles for training so my hopes for the marathon have been raising...trying to get sleep.....get the pattern?

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've written on this. When I have gotten to workout, it's been something quick with machines or free weights. I did go to a BodyPump class which had my arms screaming the next day.
 My marathon training was starting to become disappointing because of my IT band, to the point where I was looking into dropping out :( But I didn't want to give up just yet. I haven't gotten past 12 miles, and even then, it was painful. I laid off the running for about 2 weeks, doing at most, 3 miles every few days. I worked on my IT band exercises and glute strengthening exercises. Last Sunday, I had this optimistic feeling that I could complete a long run. I decided to try for 16 miles, by doing a 8 mile loop finishing at Ben's. This was because if my IT band was hurting, I would just stop and be done.
BUTTTT......16 miles went pain-free!! I was so excited at the end that I had completed new mileage and didn't have any pain once! Please keep your fingers and toes crossed for me as I go for 18 miles this weekend.

I hope (no promises!) to update more soon :) 

Bodypump and recap of this week!

My 2nd week of work (first full week!) is complete! I'm still feeling a little crazy trying to get organized and prepared for each day, but I'll get there! I haven't had time to really sit down and update this as often as I was before. So here's a recap of what my workout routine has been like this week:

Monday: .....I know I went to the gym, but don't remember what I really did....
Tuesday:.....same goes for Tuesday. Shows how my brain is fried.
Wednesday; Didn't get to the gym till 6, which of course is the most busiest time to go. I did about 20 minutes on the elliptical, and then did various machines (pretty much any that weren't occupied).
Thursday: Decided to skip the gym and go for a run. I don't get to go outside really and the one window in my class doesn't get much natural light in it and I just wanted to get outside. Of course, it started pouring 1/2 mile into my run and then stopped around a mile later.
Friday: There was no way I was going to the gym when it was so nice out! Clearly my body enjoyed the run because I ran a 22 minute flat 5k!! What?! I wish I could keep that pace up for longer races, but I felt like I was flying!
Today: BODYPUMP CLASS! I've been waiting to go to the bodypump class at my new gym since I moved up, but haven't gotten the chance to yet. I got to the class right after it had started so I quickly grabbed some weights and starting moving. Boy were my biceps and shoulders screaming! I also got commented on by asking if I was a teenager :-/. *Sigh*. While waiting for Ben to finish up, I did some more abs on my own and then went for a easy 30 minute "stroll" on the elliptical.

Love this quote! I look at the gym as my playground, how can I have fun there! It's been hard these past two weeks going there later than expected and/or more tired, but I always do feel better once I do go, even if it's not for too long. I look to the gym as the time I can just put in my headphones and get lost in my own world.

Tomorrow's an attempt at another long run, keep your fingers and toes crossed for me that my IT band is nice!

Saturday morning workout

I survived my first week of teaching! I still have lots to get done for next week, but the first thing I wanted to do to start out my weekend was sleep (got 9 hours and slept past 5:30! Glorious!) and get a nice workout in since I slacked in that area this past week.

Oh yeah, and got this friendly reminder this morning....ahh!

Ok IT band, time for you to stop hurting so I can actually get in new miles!

Today's gym: arms, abs, and it band exercises 

Warm up was 30 minutes on the elliptical before putting on my weight gloves and heading to do arms. I did 3 sets of 12-20 for the following:

rows

bicep curls

front arm raises

tricep dip machine

chest press

shoulder press

Abs was 3 rounds of:

30 crunches

30 sec plank

30 bicycles 

30 sec side plank (each side)

20 scissor kicks

I finished out with some it band exercises with a resistance band. Nothing like a good night sleep and a good morning workout to start off your weekend! :)

Tomorrow is suppose to be a 16 mile run. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me that I'll  be able to get up to 16 if not close (pending on how my it band feels)!