Category Archives: 30 Day Shred

August 23, 2010 · 10:50 am

Hot Damn Yoga!

Saturday my run sucked.  Big time.  I was meant to run 18 miles, somehow it only turned out into 17.  I also think I walked at least 4 miles out of that, I have no clue.  It was just a bad day for a run.  At 6am, it was already in the 80’s, it was humid, and there was a code orange air quality due to pollution (and the sky did look a bit hazy…) and I was just SO TIRED.  Whether those were the reasons I sucked, I don’t know, but it was just a bad day for me to run.

This is unfortunate, since it was the biggest crowd I had running my pace yet!  It was a group of 6 of us, all mostly at the same pace, since Jane was taking it easy on the weekend.  But I had to walk after about 7 miles, then again with 12 miles to go, and it took me a while to get going again, walk-running until I had 2 miles left and Margaret pushed me into running to the end.

And you know, I didn’t even beat myself up for it.  You know it’s bad when you walk a lot and have the nerve to not even feel guilty about it!!  All in all, my 17 miles took me 3:38 to complete (a 12:49 pace, ouch!).

I got home and I was BEAT.  I jumped in the shower then went straight back to bed.  So much for my plans on spending Saturday afternoon at the pool, I decided to nap at home instead.  Marathon training is killing my summer 😦

Sunday it was another early day, as Karl and I went out for our first Bikram Yoga (hot yoga) class!  It was actually our first time doing yoga ever…  I’m hoping the hot room will help me get more acclimatized to running in horrible weather.  Hmmmm, maybe?

Anyway, the bikram yoga kicked.my.ass.  Big time.  It was TORTURE.  I was miserable the whole time with the heat, doing the same poses over and over again (how many times do you have to repeat the same thing?).  I knew it was going to be bad when the instructor said “Let’s warm up.  Arms up, fingers interlocked” — and I felt the sweat dripping down my arms.  During the very first move of the freaking warm up!  All I did was put my arms up and I was already dripping in sweat?  UGH.

Those were LONG 90 minutes.  I hated it the whole time.  Yoga was definitely not a “zen” moment for me.  So of course, Karl and I signed up for a 35 class package after that, and we’re going back on Thursday.  Because if it’s challenging, it’s obviously something we want to get better at it.  Plus, I’m on that quest to look good with my dress…

We got home, and it was another 30 day shred session.  I still have to drop the weight in the midst of doing some of the moves…  Not yet ready to move to level 2.

Today I’m supposed to run hills with Erin.  Not just any hill, the Walter Reed hill from Shirlington.  In a quarter of a mile, it goes up 130 feet.  Have I mentioned how much I hate hills?

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Filed under 30 Day Shred, Bikram Yoga, Chicago Marathon Training, Marathon Training, Training

August 20, 2010 · 8:22 am

The shred update!

Woke up with a sore throat today.  I blame it on the coworker that worked while sick last Friday…  Don’t want to risk not being able to do my 18 miler tomorrow (not that I think I’m able even if I was healthy!), so staying home from work today.

Wednesday, I skipped my run because I was incredibly exhausted and it was raining all day.  Now, I’m glad I did.  The exhaustion was probably because I was already getting sick, running in the rain would not have helped!

Last night, I ran from work to Pentagon City.  Halfway through it, my left hip, right by the butt, started hurting.  I didn’t push it too much, and ended up walking the last half mile.  I’ve been doing the 30 day shred this week, so I think it that might have something to do with it, since it felt like a pinched nerve.

Then I got home, and convinced Karl to do the 30 day shred with me.  I only have 5lb and 10lb hand weights at home, so I told him to just use the 10lb, and we can buy some heavier weights later.  I still can’t do all exercises with the 5lb weights (weak weak shoulders, so anything to do with shoulders, I have to drop the weights half-way through).

So I should mention how Karl hits the gym for lifting four times a week.   And he goes all out with the super-heavy stuff.  And he runs the long distances on weekends with no problems.  He probably could have run the marathon with no training at all (sure, he’d be sore the next day, but he could have done it).  While my goal for the wedding is to drop some weight and tone up, his is “you know how James Bond has all the muscles, and you can tell he’s ripped, even when he has a tux on?  I want people to be able to SEE my muscles while I wear a tux.”  (Obviously, my goals are much more realistic.)

Anyway, Karl was huffing and puffing 5 minutes into it, had to drop the 10lbs weights himself halfway on the shoulder raises too, and had one vein that looked like it was about to pop out of his forehead.  We still have to get some heavier weights for him, for stuff like the chest fly and biceps curls (even I could probably use the 10lb now for the biceps, since the 5lb is too easy with it).

Then I had to drop something in the mailbox on our way out, and we took the stairs one level down to the parking lot afterwards.  He almost fell the last few steps, landing on the side wall, because his quads were giving up.

Hahahaha!

It made me feel a bit better.  Because I thought I was in shape, and the shred kicked my ass.  Karl finished it saying “now I’m a believer” and promised to continue doing it with me.  I told him we cannot move up a level until we can do all the exercises without dropping the hand weights.

My goal is to do it at least 3 times a week, but more if possible.  Definitely not doing it today before my long run tomorrow (stupid sore throat better go away!), but thinking of doing it tomorrow when we get home from our long run.  Hopefully this will help me get in shape in time for the wedding!

Does anyone actually do the 30 day shred non-stop for thirty days in a row?  How can you even do it with the soreness?

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Filed under 30 Day Shred, Training

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