core

Last Day for GU Contest!

Just a friendly reminder that my GU contest closes tonight at midnight PST. Click here to see what’s up for grabs – it’s not a lot, but, hey, it’s free GU!


Here’s what else I’ve done this week and what’s on the agenda:

– Ran my first 32km (20 mile) run on Sunday! Yay! Made it through with only one small blister and a hot spot, which is a big improvement over last week. I learned that I have to work on my fueling better as my timing for my GUs was all over the place and I ended up with pretty bad stomach cramps at 30km. I have to say, though, that having a nap after my long run definitely helped with both the queasies and the aching legs – must remember for next time!

– Hard Core Club week 3 started. Last week was pretty much a bust and I only got 1 session in. I was trying to skip last night, but sucked it up and pushed through. It helps that Colin has to do his physio exercises too so I had company.

– Last hill repeats for this training session tomorrow! It’s technically 10 repeats, but our route is extra long we only have to do 5. Psychologically it’s better I guess…

Come back tomorrow to find out if you are the winner!
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August 31, 2010 | Categories: contests, core, gu, Hard Core Club, hills, long run | Leave a comment

Challenges Week #1 – DONE!

So I finished week 1 of both the Hard CORE and Legs Love Lunges challenges. I can’t say that I hurt as bad as I expected – I’m pretty sure that having previously done bootcamp prepared me well. The problem with these two workouts is that I don’t initially feel the pain. It usually sneaks up on me halfway through the next day. This means that tomorrow night I’m going to suffer… suffice it to say that I barely made it though the first two exercises tonight (crunches and bicycle kicks). The one thing I can take into next week is that it only takes about 30 minutes to complete so I don’t need to split up the core workout like I did.


I haven’t quite set which days I’m doing my workouts. I was going to go with Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, but this week made me question it. Sundays I do my long run and I liked doing core afterward as I was already a sweaty mess. Tuesdays, if I do run, I do a short tempo so I have the time. I was supposed to work out on Thursday, but after hills x 8 on Wednesday and 10km that night my body just wasn’t into more. I caught up today and Fridays might work out better, but I’ll have to see how I feel on Sunday and if I need the extra time between core and long run to better determine my schedule. What do you think?

Here’s how this week went:

1.1
– Bicycle Kicks – 25 each leg
– Leg Lift – 30 seconds
– Hip (bridge) Lift – 30 seconds
– Plank – 45 seconds
– Lower Back Stretch – 30 seconds
– Push Ups – 20
– Side Bridge – 30 seconds each side
– 10 lunges each leg

1.2
– Crunches – 30
– (Face up) Supine Bridge – 30 seconds
– Ankle Grabbers – 25 each ankle
– Diamonds in the Sky – 20
– Shoulder Taps – 25 each shoulder
– Superman – 15
– Lower Back Stretch – 30 seconds
– Plank – 45 seconds
– 15 lunges each leg

1.3
– Crunches – 30
– Bicycle Kicks – 25 each leg
– (Face up) Supine Bridge – 30 seconds
– Ankle Grabbers – 25 each ankle
– Diamonds in the Sky – 20
– Hip (bridge) Lift – 30 seconds
– Plank – 45 seconds
– Lower Back Stretch – 30 seconds
– Push Ups – 20
– Shoulder Taps – 25 each shoulder
– Superman – 15
– Side Bridge – 30 seconds each side
– 20 lunges each leg

*meant to do whole set of exercises, but missed the leg lifts – oops!

August 21, 2010 | Categories: challenge, core, lunges, schedule | Leave a comment

Sunday Long Run + Core Work = Sore Monday (But Not Too Bad)

Original Route

Actual Route (we only got a little “lost”)

On Sunday I had my longest run ever! It was a whopping 29km (or 18 miles). As a change of pace we went downtown to run around Stanley Park and out to a couple of the local beaches. It was a perfect day. A little too hot, but the breeze off the ocean made up for it.


As you can see from the above maps I didn’t quite hit the whole distance. There were 5 of us running together and, as none of us had a written route, it was kind of a hodge-podge of what we could all remember from the email. It was technically 28.3km, but by the end all of us were in need of water and food so we called it as it was rather than run the last little bit.

I tried out my sample pack from GU on this run and had a couple of hits and misses, but at least I know that now not further down the road. I think I’ll just stick to the ones that I already love.


The group at the turn-around.

Once Colin and I got home I figured that I’d throw in a little core work as the Hard Core Club challenge was starting (and I was already sweaty and gross). I only did 7/13 exercises, but it was better than skipping… and I just ran 29km so I figured I deserved the break!


* Started Legs Love Lunges challenge today – 10 per leg. Not much, but it’s a start…

August 16, 2010 | Categories: beaches, core, long run, lunges, Stanley Park | Leave a comment

Challenge Time

I am potentially crazy.

Somehow I’ve become a sucker for online challenges and I’ve signed up for two that will surely make me stronger, but also make me question my judgment at the same time. However, after sucking it up big time on the hills on my last long run I know that I need to get into this.

  • The first is being hosted by 5 Miles Past Empty and is a lunge challenge. That’s right… LUNGES. The bane of my existence during boot camp. Unfortunately they work wonders for making me stronger and helping with my hill training. Truth be told I think I’ve actually missed them. So the challenge is this: do lunges (at least) 3 x week from 10 August to 10 September. I’m already behind since I only signed up today, but I’ll have to get them in soon. I think I might be short this week as I’ve got hill training tonight to contend with. I have to post pictures of my legs, but couldn’t get anything decent in the mirror so Colin will have to take them when he gets home.
  • The other challenge is being put on by Jamoosh of Last Mile Lounge. It’s starts on Sunday and is a 13 week core workout to be done 2 or 3 times per week. Since I’ve come to the conclusion that I cannot motivate myself enough to start on my own (my exercise ball has been sitting in-box in my closet for over a month) I felt like I should at least have the support of strangers online!


So we’ll see how it goes. I’m sure I’ll post soon about my inability to walk, laugh, lay down comfortably, cough, stand…

Who knows, I might even get the guts to post pictures à la P90X for before and afters.

August 11, 2010 | Categories: challenge, core, lunges, training | Leave a comment

"It’s Round, It’s Squishy… It’s My Sponge!"

This is what M said to me last night after he lifted my shirt up to lay his head on my bare stomach. Wow, now there’s a reason to do a core workout if I’ve ever heard one! Good thing that I was thinking of this already or I would have been really offended… Kerrie over at Mom vs. Marathon mentioned that she was doing this workout and it looks totally do-able. I like the fact that it covers pretty much everything and is only 15 minutes long! Now I just have to get myself an excercise ball (or steal one from Mum and Dad – hint, hint, if you still have yours).

Other fun stuff and ramblings about my weekend:

  • I found out today that I won another giveaway! And it’s another Bondi Band! Sarah at Running Mama hosted a giveaway to celebrate having over 100 followers and her husband chose my name out of a hat. I’ll get one of the two shown below, but I have to wait to find out which one. There was another winner and she gets first choice. I think that it’ll be nice when the weather is a little better – my running hat is starting to smell look a little worse for wear.

  • I had a really good run on Sunday. I was supposed to be tapering for my half marathon that’s coming up on the 27th, but ever since I missed my 10km tempo last Wednesday (see last post #6) I had been craving a run. Now, this has never happened to me. Usually if I miss/skip a run I don’t feel the need to make up for it. However, I just HAD to get out on a longer run. Thankfully C was very understanding; though I would have understood if he hadn’t been given that it was Father’s Day and I left him at home with the boy. We ran 13km over a fairly hilly route in about 1-1/2 hours. It was great! Lesson learned for the day: Gu Roctane is no better for me than regular Gu – for half the price and better flavours, I’ll stick with what I already know.
  • C and I have started doing his strength/stretch exercises from when he was in physio. I’m pretty sure it’s starting to help (or else it’s just being hopped up on extra-strength ibuprofin). As long as I fix whatever it is that’s bothering my leg right now – here’s praying it’s only residual from bad shoes, not ITB issues – I think I’ll be fine. The only part that bothers me is that it takes over 30 minutes to complete. At least we can do it together – now that’s romantic!

T-Minus 6 days to the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon!

June 22, 2010 | Categories: Bondi Band, core, giveaway, gu, half marathon, long run, sore leg, winner | Leave a comment