Saturday, April 26, 2008

Can softball be crossfit?

I went to this cute indoor batting cage today where you hand feed the balls to the machine. A much better deal than the automatic machines, though more labor intensive to pick up all the balls. Right now my arms are feeling kinda like they do after a crossfit workout...or maybe that's because I haven't crossfitted for a week! I am going to try to get some done in the desert. I'm taking a group of students to New Mexico tomorrow morning. My PF is feeling better, though not perfect. I'm hoping to get a few runs in this week along with some pushups, squats, etc. I'll make up my own New Mexico routine.

Our game last night was entertaining. The word to describe it would be deluge. We played in rain so heavy that it looked like sheets of rain coming down when you saw it in the light. Our team was for it, as was the other team, so we played until the lightning was overhead. Probably not the smartest...but fun!! It was cancelled after a few innings. I wonder when we will finish this spring season...in July?!? We've gotten to play one game in 6 weeks. I've purchased cleats and batting gloves now...guess I'm getting into it!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

I'm a winner!!!


So I haven't written since last Saturday, and for good cause...


I injured my plantar fascia (aka plantar fasciitis in my left foot) and I've been resting it. AKA not doing jack. I did eat really well this week (aka 1500 cal/day). So tonight was a really big night for Nike. Got passed by Abdi Abdirahman (see photo, he's preetty and weighs less than me) with about .5 miles to go...but that is alright since his 5K PR is like 13 min or something craaazy....


So I ran 3 mi, we'll see how that feels tomorrow.


I won WON an entry to the Chicago Marathon, which I did not sign up for, and it sold out today. Can you say HOORAY!!?!?!? That's 110 smackers for free!


Club RunChi has really been bringin it...tonight we got free marathon dri-fit shirts, drinks at a private party after the run, etc. Lovin' being part of the nike family....


Didn't do crossfit AT ALL this week...a combination of my foot and that darn lack of motivation.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

10K PR!

Did the Wrigley Early Start 10K yesterday with my friend Daniela. It was a cool rainy morning, but the rain stopped before the race, so that was great. I finished in 53:16, which is a PR for me. Could've done better but I had difficulty starting at 4.5 mi...didn't eat enough before the race, or I would've been closer to 52 min. And...Daniela got 2nd place for women in the 10K!!



After the race, Daniela and I did a 2 mi cooldown jog. We then waited around for 30+ min for her award, but there was confusion about the results, so it was very anticlimatic. We then jogged our last 2 miles (I had to actually do 10 mi today, not 10K for my half marathon training), and the sun peeked out, so that was cool.



The race course was difficult--they had us crossing when people were still running north we were crossing over their direction of travel and trying to run south. Bleh. And the finish had the walkers finishing at the same time as the runners, and the walkers take up the whole path, so that was a PITA as well. Don't think I'll do that race again, though I'll take my PR and be happy with it!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Softball season starts

Our first game was FINALLY tonight after being cancelled for 3 weeks!

I got on base at every at bat except the last one, but my last hit I cranked it (apparently, I don't look at where the ball goes, I just run it). It just so happens that the dude threw the ball faster than I could run. I need to get some cleats.

I also played 2nd base for the first time ever. I screwed up once, but then fielded the ball ok and I was even responsible for 2 outs. This is big for me since I am not a team player, I just do athletic events on my own usually.

We went to the bar after and I was good and only had 2 beers because of a 10K I am running tomorrow.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

5 with Nike

Well, a bit more than 5....had to go plug that meter.

Feels good to be back with the Thursday running crew. I took the previous two off due to rain.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

3 mile run

Today was report card pickup day, so I didn't have to be to work until noon. I arrived at 10:30, but before that...

I woke up early and went to go for a 3 mile run. As I was putting on my shoes, Lucy hopped off the bed and licked my face. How could I resist that? So I spent the first half mile of my run with Lucy (she's shaped like the Exxon Valdez), and then the last 2.5 with myself. On my way back home, I passed a guy walking his dog who recognized me from when I passed him before, probably due to my bright orange shirt and the fact that I am basically the only runner in my neighborhood! He said "Heading back so soon?" to which I replied "I'm only doing 3 today" to which he replied, laughing "Thats more than I'm going to do!"

I then went and picked up my fertilized chicken eggs and went to work. This is a workout blog, but I have to discuss a bit of work. My Garden/Conservation kids set up a table to sell organic all purpose cleaners that we had made. We were hoping to sell 50 kits, but we ended up selling over 100! I'm impressed with how my students have shown growth in so many ways. They were very shy as freshmen last year, but this year they have really stepped up to the plate. They had their sales pitch down. They also were pushing the environmental aspect of our cleaners, and the benefits of the CFL's that we were giving away as well. I'm known as the environmentalist type at our school, and I'm hoping to get a group of kids with that mindset as well. It seems to be happening, and since they're only sophomores, there is still two more years to go.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Quarter Gone Bad

AM workout

5 rounds of

45 lb thrusters for 15 sec
45 sec rest
jumping pullups for 15 sec
45 sec rest
burpees for 15 sec
45 sec rest

(I'll post my numbers later, left them at work!)

PM workout---with the kiddos

1.5 mile run
bench step ups and lunges
tree
walking squats
slow squat therapy


It was a gorgeous day to be outside. I like working with the kids, even though some of them complain---a lot. I also enjoy working with Paul. Its fun to work out and get kids involved, and to work out with my morning workout buddy after school as well. Thanks Mr. Mirek!!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Finally something worthwhile

I almost didn't go. I was watching Animal House this am, feeling lazy, and I knew I had to go do an 8 mile run. I had to run by myself because all my run buds were busy. I looked at my dog and considered taking her hiking instead, but then I told myself to get my a** off the couch and go run. It was quite pleasant. Went to one of my running spots in the woods and pounded out 8 mi in 1:17:04. Not the fastest run in the world, but it was very consistent, and that made me happy because I didn't know how 8 miles was going to feel after only running twice in the last 2 weeks. I was a little disappointed when I got home and realized I should've run 9 miles ( I misread the training program), but that's okay because I'll be back on track with doing 10 miles next weekend.



This does not mean I'm feeling motivated, because I'm not. It does mean that I was able to quasi-motivate for a small period of time which allowed me to get out and get it done. Hopefully that will happen later this week as well.


Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Situps, back extensions, and a run




Lack of motivation continues:




3 rounds of




50 crunches


15 back extensions




on stability ball.




3 mile run (with sore quads): 28:31




Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Motivation crash n burn

So the clean and jerks did me in for the weekend. My back hurt all weekend, so I opted out of running. It is the laziness that infects me every once in a while.

NOOOOO running since last Wed. I am going to go tomorrow if the weather holds. My back hurt Sat/Sun and Mon I was just lazy. I really need to do some running if I want any success at the Green Bay half marathon in 6 weeks.

I was not a complete slob. I gardened for 3 hours on Saturday (hauling compost and mulch and spreading it) and I played a game of softball on Sunday. I also drank lots of beers which negated it.

Aaahhhh then today. Mr. Mirek needed me to be a partner with Denise for our workout.

It went like this:

3 rounds of
15 knees to chest jump
1 min max pushups
1 min max situps
1 min max squats

Total reps for push,sit,squat was 385 for me. After the first round of pushups, I switched to modified pushups which helped improve my times. It was fun working out with the kids especially when it started raining as soon as I left work and I couldn't run...again! Boooooo...

Friday, April 4, 2008

Gwen

15-12-9 Clean and jerks

45 lbs.

I didn't have the greatest form. Boo.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Fran

15-12-9 reps of

45 lb thrusters
pullups

I forgot to time. Man its crazy how what looks like so little can be so much work!

I also need to get out and go for a run. That may not happen 'till tomorrow!

**update** went out and did speed repeats 7 x 400 m with a mile warmup and mile cool down. The recovery was .15 mi distance. 4.72 in 43:49...some of the recovery was walking. My legs felt like cement after Fran this morning.