NEXT!!

I don’t know how many of you ever played pick-up basketball at your local gym or school. In my experience, when there was a limited number of courts, there was always a group of players waiting for their turn to play… these guys had “downs.”  The rule was that the winners got to play another game against the team of “downs” while the losers had to sit.

When the winning team vanquished its opponent, we (because I won some, don’t laugh) would shout out “NEXT!!” in our most arrogant voice to signify ourselves as the victors and as a form of trash talking to the new team we were about to play (i.e. they were also about to be defeated).  (I think this is similar to gorillas beating their chests…haha!) Now I haven’t played real basketball since law school (though I still wont let Crystal get rid of my high-tops… I could play again!!).  Still, after conquering INSANITY, I feel the need to call out my next opponent.

“NEXT!!”

Up next is a half marathon…the Magic City Half, right here in Birmingham on November 18.  I have started training already.  I also have the Rock ‘n Run obstacle course in Georgia in September and the Warrior Dash in Alabama in October. The training will include running for the half marathon followed by weight training on my “off days.” My schedule looks like this

Sunday – Long run

Monday — Chest and Tris and abs

Tuesday – Easy run

Wednesday – Back and Bis and abs

Thursday – Tempo run

Friday – Legs

Saturday – Off or core

The running schedule comes from Runner’s World and is based on my race day. The weight lifting strategy was designed by me.  I plan lifting relatively heavy through the first of October, but as the runs get longer, I intend to do more high rep, light weights to hopefully maintain any gains through the marathon.

I know some people will take me to task for continuing to lift while training for a half.  But those people don’t understand my goal. Yes, carrying extra muscle in my upper body for 13.1 miles will undoubtedly slow me down.

But I will need that muscle (and much more) to complete the ultimate goal, the Tough Mudder next April. A 10-12 mile obstacle course “challenge” designed by the British Special Forces and supporting the Wounded Warriors project. This race intimidates me; the distance especially. The Barbarian Challenge almost killed me and it is not nearly this far. I want to do it, just so I can say i did it.  Does that make any sense at all?

I am thinking of doing  BODY BEAST (a new Beachbody program designed to build muscle) after finishing the Half Marathon to try to gain back any muscle mass I lose (while cutting back a little on my running — the end of November, December and January, how much am I going to want to be outside anyway??!! haha.)

What do you guys think?  Sound like an overly optimistic plan? Am I insane?

Now consider that I turn 37 today, but am in the best shape I have been in perhaps ever but certainly since I was 28.  I think pushing yourself toward new challenges is the only way to get fit and getting fit is the only way to stay young.  What is your “NEXT”!!??!!

INSANITY results

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post.  I always get nervous before posting results pics.  As many of you guys know, I failed at INSANITY once before and a few months back, I vowed to conquer Shaun T.  Well, I did it. INSANITY is a 60 day program.  With my obstacle course training added in, it took me a few more than 90 days to complete it.  I still feel AWESOME about the accomplishment.

The results… I lost inches on every measurement including 2.5 in my waist.  I also lost 14 lbs. Now for the pics…

Before:

And After:

Still got a ways to go, but I am still on the path.  (As I write this, I have cheese puff residue on my fingers.  I think my diet may still need adjustment. Haha!!)

Awesome thoughts from an awesome blogger.

i chalk it

Sharon, who I work with at MASA, collects these one page Business Digest faxes every single day.  Even when she’s out, we save them for her.  She will cut out her favorite quotes or information found on the one page fax and share them with others.  On Friday, July 13, she shared one with me – the portion under Development – and I’d like to share it with y’all.

Commit yourself:

• Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
• Talk health, happiness, and prosperity.
• Make all your friends feel that there is something special in them.
• Look at the sunny side of everything.
• Think only the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.
• Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
• Wear a cheerful countenance and give every living creature you meet a smile.
• Be too large for…

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A realization, another obstacle course, and a Happy Birthday!!

Sometimes you just have to admit when you aren’t physically ready for something and, after the recent pain in my foot, I realized that I am just not going to be able to go from a non-runner to a half-marathoner by September 16.  Could I run 6 miles and walk the rest, probably, but that isn’t how I want to get my 13.1 sticker.  (I am not opposed to walking some, but you gotta at least run half, right?)

Plus, I just found out that NITRO from the old American Gladiators show puts on an obstacle course race.  The Gladiator Rock’n Run is on September 8 in Georgia. I am trying to convince my brother to run with me since it is only about an hour from his house.

Open invite… who wants to do this with me??

Coach Crystal is not going to do this one as she IS running the half marathon the next week.  The plan is to bring the kids and their cousins out to hear the bands and make a family day out of it while Daddy and (hopefully) Uncle Jeremy trudge through the mud.  Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

 

Finally, my son, Houston, turns three on Sunday. Here is hoping he has a wonderful birthday.  This is him during his gymnastics class.  He loves it… not sure his teachers love his energy level.  Haha!

Running tips for Newbies like me and OUCH!!

As many of you know, I have started running. Obstacle course racing has really made me realize this deficiency in my fitness and I am trying to correct it.  I am still learning so found a cool article on form in Runners World online.  I summarize it below but the full article can be found here.

The Perfect Form … its the name of the article, I am not commenting on the subject runner!! 😉

Head Tilt – look at the horizon and not your feet.

Shoulders – Shake out your shoulders to release tension if they creep up toward your ears.

Arms –  Don’t clench your fist and don’t allow you arms to swing across the front of your body.

Torso – Run tall — stretch yourself to your full height when running.

Hips – “When trying to gauge the position of your hips, think of your pelvis as a bowl filled with marbles, then try not to spill the marbles by tilting the bowl.”  I have no idea what this means…

Legs/Stride – “slight knee lift, a quick leg turnover, and a short stride. Together, these will facilitate fluid forward movement” Foot should land directly below your body.

Ankles/Feet –  “land between your heel and midfoot–then quickly roll forward. Keep your ankle flexed as your foot rolls forward to create more force for push-off. As you roll onto your toes, try to spring off the ground. You should feel your calf muscles propelling you forward on each step. Your feet should not slap loudly as they hit the ground. Good running is springy and quiet.”  For what that is worth.

I have been trying to improve my form, concentrating on the shorter strides, tension in the shoulders, and running tall (i.e. the ones that make sense to me). Saturday I ran over 5 miles.

Afterward, the top of my left foot hurt… a lot.  It felt like the bone between my big toe and ankle was bruised or something. I stayed off it on Sunday. On Monday, I did an upper body P90X2 routine to try to protect it.  It was feeling a little better today so I went for my run (well on the treadmill, but that still counts, right?).  It ached the first mile or so, but feels better now.  I read somewhere that it was caused by tying your shoes too tightly and your feet swelling.  I kept them really loose today.

Has anyone else experienced this?