Tag Archives: weights

Pretending to Train for a Marathon Week 2

By Posted in NYC training cycle, Running, Swimming Tagged , , , , , , , 31 Comments

Look I can change the title of my blog training every week and still be training for a marathon…or at least pretending too. Right then. It should be Week two: Still not injured (knock on wood). I added some pictures from last race so you can not be bored if you don’t care about actual training…

I will look serious so I have one good race photo...

I will look serious so I have one good race photo…

Monday: Full body Strength class 55 minutes
Tuesday: 11 mile run untimed
Wednesday: 12 mile run untimed
Thursday: 10.65 mile run untimed
3000 meter swim (yes that is real life)
Friday: 10.65 miles in the pouring rain
Saturday: OK Cross Country 5k 19:27 and (13.1 miles overall)
Sunday: 15 easy and untimed
Total: 73

What are my thoughts?

Well let’s see here.  My legs have been on the sore train all week.  I’m not sure if it was the heat or the hills from the half marathon last weekend that knocked them cold.  Either way they have felt like crap the entire week.   Untimed/approximating runs were all I really needed this week and so that was that.  I nixed my normal tempo run this week because quite honestly my body wasn’t fully recovered from the race by Wednesday.  I was “listening to my body” which really means listening to my brain saying Hollie don’t be an idiot and injure yourself.  So really listening to your body is listening to your brain and using common sense…moving on.

We had the tropical storm hit on Friday so it rained off and on all day.  I actually ran in the complete downpour, only to have beautiful weather the hour after…followed by complete downpour.   All the rain though made the cross country 5k I did a complete muddy mess (which was fine for me…it’s cross country…it isn’t the pavement).  I do, however, wish I had worn my spikes.   I’ll recap soon, but it was a good race and certainly made for a hard course in hot/humid conditions.

I will now break this tape.

I will now break this tape.

Those other workouts:

I did one full body strength class at my gym.  It felt good to actually lift some weights…well no I felt awful for neglecting it but it did feel good to actually pretend to start that again.

And swimming:

I swam 1000 freestyle-400 im twice through then did 200 butterfly kick on my back.  I am signed up for a bunch of open water swims this summer so I should probably get my butt back into the pool.  I do enjoy swimming once I physically get into the pool, it’s just getting there is the challenge for me.  I don’t hate swimming, I hate the showering, getting to the pool and all the rest of the time it takes that comes with swimming.  Swimming the mile and loving it has never felt more in a past life.

And next weeks training:

I hope to do more injury free miles.  I’m running an 8k on Saturday (lots of fast ladies going to be there!) and hope to get a tempo run somewhere in there as well.  Oh I’d also like to get a swim or two in and get some weights in.  (my am I greedy?)  We will see where time takes me though.

I will now cluelessly fumble around with this tape and not know what to do because I'm awkward.

I will now cluelessly fumble around with this tape and not know what to do because I’m awkward.

Questions for you:

What is the hardest workout for you to get motivated for?

Did the tropical storm affect you at all?

We got some flooding.

Working them Arms

By Posted in Uncategorized Tagged , 25 Comments

So I’ve been asked to share some more gym routines that I like to do.  As some of you may or may not know-I’m a big arm girl.  (That sounds awkward…but you get it). Nothing feels better to me then working my arms.  Although I could talk about doing pushups and pull ups all day.  I have always had a habit of defaulting to things like bicep curls or tricep extensions.  I also enjoy workouts that don’t take a lot of items and giant machines.  Workouts I could possibly do in my apartment when it’s blizzarding out and bonding with meatheads is less than appealing.

Here is my all-time favorite shoulder and arms workout.  I do this entire set 2 times through all with 12 pound dumbbells.  Unless stated, I also do 15 reps.  I’m not saying this is a perfect routine by any means…just what works for me.  Creature of habit I am.

Oh you know…lifting and stuff…

Shoulder press
Bicep Curls
Tricep Extensions
Alternating between bicep and side curls
Dips (maximum reps)
Upright rows
Tricep kick backs
Dumbbell flys
Alternating bicep and side curls
Tricep Extensions
Small weighted circles (I use 5 pounds during this and do 1 minute forward, 1 minute backward-2 minutes through)  This should be the most painful thing of the entire set loop
Hammer curls

I then do a bit of core just because
100 crunches
2 minute plank

Then do it again!  The whole workout takes me roughly 40 minutes or so.

Questions for you:

  1. 1.       What is your favorite body part of work?
  2. 2.       What is your favorite arm workout?

Shake and weight?  (That’s for you Rachel B!  ;)

Week 7..Possibly Less Injured then week 6

By Posted in Uncategorized Tagged , , , , , 19 Comments

It seems like weeks have gone by very quickly.  Have I really been without running for 7 weeks already? 

On that front, I have another doctors appointment on Tuesday.  Seven weeks is a long time and I can lie to my readers, tweeters, friends and family that weight lifting is fine and it’s just the same.  I was cleared to run slow distances not on grass (uneven terrain could rebrake my bone) and not hills (seems obvious…they are harder).  Both of which are basically all of running in my area.  You can’t take the runner out of me and I’m hungry for running.  I have been since the day I began developing my cyst.

I’ve really trying to work on my core strength more then anything. 

Cardio:

First, I have been doing 1-2 hours on the cybex 100i.  This may be a lot for someone who wasn’t running 90 miles a week…but it really doesn’t feel like that much to me and I often have to tell myself to get off.  (mostly when trashy TV is on).  It is also pretty similar to running and I like the machine a lot.  I will preserve my run fitness as long as possible.

Strength:

As far as strength workouts go I did 4 strength training workouts.  Typing that up, it doesn’t really even seem that much.  I posted my typical core workout but I’ll get around to posting my leg routine (which kills me), arms (my favorite to work), back and chest (which is similar to core because the mass amount of pushups) and shoulders.

Running Development:

I was able to run 4.5 miles yesterday.  It didn’t feel awful…but it did not feel great.  I am somewhat sore in my heel area (which is where my cyst was/IS).   I was able to run the miles without any major problem which is a huge difference.  A few weeks ago, I could not even WALK quickly without early crying.  The problem with my heel is it’s so darn temperamental.

I’m honestly not really sure where my running will go but I’m hoping this is an upward slide..Though I’m def not holding my breath.  Every day is a different situation so I could not being to tell you.  Every day I wake up hoping somehow my cyst decided to peace out.

So this post is really boring because I don’t have a lot to report.  I’d love to tell you that I was running 90 mile weeks again or that I don’t have god knows weird pains in my feet everyday…but I’m not a liar. 

It’s a lull time on my blog when I’m injured.  So if there is something you want to see don’t hesitate to let me know. 

Finally if you haven’t entered my #coffeeaday contest.  Do it!  

Question for you:

1.       Favorite topic to blog about? 

2.       Best thing you did this weekend?

Lifetime Training Peak Weak

By Posted in Running Tagged , , , , 18 Comments

I was asked if I would do a day by day breakdown of my runs and workouts this week with paces.  As you know-I don’t really keep track of a lot of my paces because I find it helps me, but here you go.

Monday: 

5.1 Mile run.  Easy (untimed) in the rain.
Tuesday:

AM: 18.9 Mile long run @ 8:32 pace (3:41.30).  This is my longest run ever and the only reason I timed it was to make sure I was keeping it easy and not pushing the pace.

PM: P90x Chest and Back

Wednesday:

Easy 8.2 mile run.  No watch…no anything.  Just easy.  Felt good.

Thursday:

AM: 6.3 miles with a teammate of mine.  Still easy.

PM: 6.3 miles (again).  I had planned to do this also as an easy run, but alas stress and life got in the way.  I quickly knew when I started running that I wanted to change it to a tempo run.  Good thing I started my watch.  6.3m @6:32 pace=41:15.  I’m very happy with this run and it served as a good motivation, now if only I can keep that pace through my half next weekend.  ;) (no).

Friday:

AM: Easy 12 miler, solo and without music.  I forget if I’ve mentioned but my stupid ipod stopped working so I’ve had to be a “real runner” and run without music…until I buy a new ipod.

PM: P90x Legs and Shoulders + Ab Ripper X

Saturday:

11.75 miler.  I was just running by myself, but ended up seeing my assistant swim coach (around mile 7) on the roads and ran a few extra miles (around 10-11min pace) with her.  My overall pace was 8:05, and I felt strong running a sub 8 pace on the 10 miles alone.

Sunday:  

AM: Tempo 4 miler.  This one was rough but I reminded myself tempos are good for the soul and racing myself means I’m the ultimate victor.  I have dubbed my tempo runs the Pancake Series.  The winner gets free pancakes…Well considering there is one person and that one person is me…you know where this is going.

PM: Easy 10.2 run with my assistant swim coach again.  It was her first double digit run!

Total 83.5 miles

This is my lifetime highest mileage week.  The best part was-they were quality runs.  I had 2 tempos and a long run.  The rest were easy and recovery.

All in all it was a very solid workout week.  Very solid.   Next week, I’m going into taper for my half next Sunday.   I get to significantly cut my miles in hopes to run a sub 1:30 half.  I can’t wait. 

I know I have a couple speed workouts (Wednesday and Thursday) to get my legs in the right mind frame, then off to Plattsburgh.

Questions for you:

How was your training week? 

What is your favorite workout? 

Do you like to workout in the AM or PM? 

Leg Workout

By Posted in Uncategorized Tagged , , 1 Comment

 I have a big problem of truly believing I post things and then I don’t…it’s kind of embarrassing.  I don’t know where the knowledge I think I post goes…but that is besides the point.  Here is the leg workout I try and do 1-2 times a week.  A lot of people have asked why?  Why do leg workouts when you are running?  Why suffer the next 2-3 days because you strength trained your legs?  Is it worth it?  I don’t want to strength train my legs…

Well..if you want to sit out and be injured then no it’s not worth it.  When you run anything more than a few miles weekly, you need to strengthen your legs.  I’m not a doctor but know this has helped me in every regard.  Granted I don’t do it 3 days before a race but I know it has generally helped my running.  

This workout roughly takes me about 30 minutes and then I do a short core workout afterwords or something.  My legs have really gotten stronger this way though.   

30 Weighted lunges
30 Weighted Squats
2X1 minute wall sits
30 Weighted lunges
15 Side lunges each side
2X1 minute wall sits
30 Squats
30 Toe Roll lunges
2X1 minute wall sits
3X25 weighed calf raises

Then cool down and whatever else you like to do.  As you can see, I don’t do any machines and just prefer to do body weight all the way with legs.  Part of the reason is I’m paranoid I’ll hurt myself more.  The other reason being I like to do things I can mimic at home too.

Also-The 6 minutes of wall squats in this set should make you cry.  I don’t apologize.

Questions for you:  

1. What is your favorite leg workout? 

2. Do you strength train for your sport: running, swimming, rowing…whatever?