April Recap

April was good to me. I felt good the whole month, my runs got better, faster. I hit 66 of a scheduled 66.5 miles (I skipped my last run pre-half last week, due to crappy scheduling on my part). I even went to yoga twice, and did some at home. Which was great, and makes me wonder why I don't do it more often.

I started speed work about 3 weeks ago, and have seen my paces drop a TON. I mean... 11:45-11:30, to comfortably maintaining 10:45-10:35.

Amazing what you can pull off when you train for it ;).

Suck Less Challenge: I sucked at it. I skipped 1 full week, because... for no reason, other than I was just TIRED. It's back on for May, though.

I'll cover the PCRF half in a separate post. I will say, that I PR'ed significantly (hard not to when there aren't costumed characters every mile...), I did ALL of my training right and felt really strong going in, and completely failed on executing. Bombed.

What's on tap for May?

Not sure. It's the first month since October that I've not had a training plan to work off of. I start training at the end of the month for Disneyland in September - gives me a 16 week schedule to work on. I'm putting this one together on my own, so we'll see how that goes. I've got a 5K at the beginning of June, my Corona del Mar vindication. My time last year was 37:57. I hit 35:XX in Dana Point after that... and pulled out a 32:xx yesterday during the half. So I'll probably fill in May with some shorter runs, focusing on speed work and hills.

All in all, it was a good month. I'm bummed about how things went for me yesterday, but... meh. I did everything right heading in, so that really good to know.

Thursday Three...

1. I had a billion people over for dinner last night, and had a grand time...

We ate tacos

And made silly faces

And devoured marshmallows...

Creepy microwaved ones, too

I'm not even sure what's happening here...

And Gabby acted like she had never seen a watch before. "What does it DO??"

There may have been some talk about how I'm beating people on our next 5K. Which looks possible, since I'm the only one currently running any miles, at all :D.

2. Gabby has a visit to the infusion center today for a transfusion (maybe) and chemo (definitely). She's had kind of an off few weeks - she's tired, walking weird, generally not really being herself. Ick.

3. This was my day Wednesday:
Yoga: 6am.
Home/dressing for work: 7am.
Traffic: 7:30-8:30.
Work: 8:30-5:30 (skipped lunch, and ate at my desk).
Traffic: 5:30-6:30.
Cooking: 6:30-7:30.
Eating, laughing, loudness: 7:30-9:30.
Cleaning: 9:30-10.
Suck Less Program: 10-11.

Too much fun crammed into one day.

My Super Pink Giveaway ends tomorrow night! Enter HERE!


And, check this out: Follow this mother!

April Suck Less Challenge, week 2

What's the Suck Less Challenge? Link HERE!

Check-in time!

Hit all of my scheduled days last week! How'd you do?

For some perspective, these are 6 week programs, and I've been doing them for 5 weeks now. However, because I *STILL* have crapola's worth of core and upper body strength, I just completed week 4 of sit ups and push ups. I've repeated a few weeks.

And that's totally cool! That's the best thing about this program, for me, is that it's super flexible. I like flexible.

Anyway, I was on week 4 for sit ups and push ups, and week 5 for squats, so I was scheduled for an exhaustion test this weekend, in all three.

Results: 51 sit ups 33 push ups 200 squats!!!!

Woot!

So, I get to move on to week 5 for sit ups and push ups (woo hoo?). Squats, I'm going to continue to do with The H (he's on week 6 now), but adding some small hand weights. Adventure is my middle name.

And, check this out! They've added a One Fifty Dips workout to the party!

My initial test for these puppies was a sad, lonely little 4. Ouch. So, I'll be adding these to the mix.

Can't wait to see how you all did! Have a great week!

April Suck Less Challenge!

So, here's the scoop. The Suck Less Program was born HERE... I have zero core or upper body strength, and have wanted to fit in cross training, but basically, I have zero discipline or drive. I'd been meaning to start these programs, and decided to toss them all together, creating a simple, structured program, that works my problem areas, in a clear, concise manner. Basically, it was something spelled out for me, that I didn't have to think about. I am a fan of non-thinking.

How does it work?

Super easy. Go to these websites, and take your initial test...
Two Hundred Sit Ups
Two Hundred Squats
One Hundred Push Ups

There are pretty clear directions on the websites - you'll take that number from your initial test, and use it to determine which week/column you fall into.

The program calls for 3 work outs a week, with at least one rest day in between. I happen to do mine on Monday, Wedensday, and Friday OR Saturday - just depends on my schedule. I run on the alternate days, that's just what works for me.

After I'm done with my sit ups, squats, and push ups, I do plank. Nothing super hard core, I just do it and hold it for as long as I feel I can THAT DAY. Some days, it's 25 seconds, some days it's over a minute.

That's it!

3 days a week. 4 weeks. Better arms, better core, better bum, better quads.

If you can already do 200 squats, 200 sit ups, and 100 push ups? You could probably kick my ass. Congratulations on already being awesome! Feel free to snag and use that picture up there! I'll post a check in once a week.

Good luck!

Last week was....

AWESOME.

Again, I didn't do yoga, but instead foam rolled and got a massage. I should do yoga. It's free.

I used my "Magic Mile" time to determine my training run paces, and stuck to them like glue. My "easy" run Tuesday was negative splits (fun!). I did some treadmill intervals Thursday that were less fun, but challenging and kept me engaged. However... I think I took it TOO easy. I think my "Magic Mile" was done under the wrong circumstances - I wasn't feuled properly, I didn't warm up, and I picked a hilly route. I think I can do better. So, this week's easy run Tuesday will incorporate another "Magic Mile".

My long run Saturday was 8.5 miles with the PCRF training group, and nothing short of magical. Perfect. The best run you can imagine. No, seriously.

Plan for this week: Monday: Suck Less Program Tuesday: 4 mile tempo Wednesday: Suck Less Program, Yoga (hahaaa) Thursday: 4 mile speed work Friday: Suck Less Program Saturday: 9 miles with PCRF

Oh. PS. I had my highest mileage week ever last week. 20.6 miles.

SUCK LESS PROGRAM UPDATE
Week 4, complete!

So, the Suck Less Program is a combination of the Two Hundred Sit Ups, Two Hundred Squats, One Hundred Push Ups, and plank.

The programs call for an initial test, before you start, to determine your specific routine. My initial test was pretty ugly:

Sit Ups - 17
Push Ups - 3
Squats - 27

Ouch.

After week 2, you test again to determine how you continue in the program.
Sit Ups - 27
Push Ups - 10
Squats - 70

Better!

And, the results after testing out following week four?
Sit Ups - 40
Push Ups - 27
Squats - 125

You know that's right.

Anyway, the deal is, three times a week, following a set schedule of push ups, sit ups, and squats, then I add a minute of plank. At the end of the program, you should be able to do 200 squats, 200 sit ups, and 100 push ups in one shot.

4 weeks, three days a week.

Who's in?!