Second Verse...

This week has been a runners dream weather-wise!  If you had ever said to me that the lows would be in the upper 50s in Memphis in August, I would not have believed you for a second, but I can testify!  It has been absolutely gorgeous running weather this week, which has really helped me get back on track with my running. I have Ragnar TN coming up in October and my plan legs of the run are in the 5-6 mile range each. So my plan was to be at a comfortable 5 mile run by the first of September, and I feel like I am there.  My running partner (we have two teams this year) is going to be faster than me, so I need to start working on speed as well. If this weather stays like it is (and I am hoping this blog post doesn't jinx it) I plan to be in the 7-8 mile range by the end of September.

So now to address the title of this post. Second verse, same as the first...

I am back on an ab/core challenge again. I have done this several time before and never completed it, so I guess I should titled this more like 14th verse, but never mind that, cause this time I am serious! And heres how Ima gonna do it!

I challenged some other triathletes I know through social media to join me. I find I am more accountable when I have others working with me.  So I put it out there and there are actually a few people that said they were on board. I started 2 days ago (no six pack yet) and I really want to see this through. At 43 (fixing to be 44 in a few weeks) I am not sure if washboard abs are in my future, but I know a solid core will help me in many ways. Here is the plan I am using:

This is actually a combination of two plans I found on the net and morphed them together and came up with this. It is also on my IG account if you can't see it. I am really hoping having others work along side me will get me to day 30. Time will tell won't it!

Thanks for reading!

30 Days

90 Day Challenge- Join me???

Welcome 2015 and welcome all the "new" me's and better eating habits we will all have this year. As with every January, I have been hit with several challenges to start off 2015 the right way. I really looked into these challenges and I have finally focused on a couple (meaning 3) that I am going to participate in and I have one I want to share with you!!! But here are the two challenges I have accepted for the next 90 days, beginning Jan 5, 2015.

1.  The church I attend has issued a challenge to read one chapter of the Gospels everyday for 90 days. This doesn't sound all that difficult does it? Many years I have always tried to read the Bible through in a year and I have failed. I struggle with finding a quiet time, but I can always find time to train!  That seems messed up right?
2. Drink water with all my meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will all have a big O glass of agua to wash it down. (Okay, I count coffee as my water for breakfast). I always agree with people when they say I should drink more water, but somehow I am tricking myself into drinking by saying I am going to have it at meal time, and not totally giving everything else up.
3. 90 Day Plank Challenge or 90 Core Challenge- This is most likely more up your alley as readers. I am going to really work on my planking for the next 90 days to build up my core strength, because I know a strong core will benefit my swimming, my biking and my running, plus it will make me look good! I have thought about doing Day 1 picture and then day 90 pictures, but I make no promises.

Here is how my planking challenge is going to work:

• On Sunday, will do a max out on plank time. Each Sunday, every Sunday.
• Monday through Saturday I will plank 5 times, letting me have one day to rest.
• I will take my max plank time and divide it in half, and then do 3 sets of planks for that time.
• Example: Last night I planked for 2:30. So my weekday workouts, which I will do on MTWTHF will consist of three (3) 1:15 planks, as my max time increases, then my weekly time will also increase!

Sounds simple huh? Will it work? I have no idea. All I know was that when I was serious about my core, I was doing 5 minute planks. I want to go longer. I honestly think I can get to a 10 minute plank. It might take longer than 90 days, but you never know. If I do hit 10 minutes, I will video it and out it on my blog! Who is with me???

It's Time...

Time to get off my butt and get to training.

This morning started my 18 week Goosepond Half Ironman Training plan. I started with a 1000 yd swim and tonight I have a 20 mile ride (good thing 24 is back on). I had really forgotten how tired swimming makes me. Now granted, it has been about a month or so since I have been in the pool, but about 2 PM, I was feeling it!

I can also tell that my core is so much stronger than ever before. I could really feel it in the water and I am so glad my trainer had me doing all the planks, crunches and other ab work. I just feel stronger and that is a good thing. Here are the 2 current ab workouts I have been doing if interested:

Torture 1: 1 minute plank, 100 crunches 2 minute plank, 200 crunches, 3 minute plank 300 crunches 4 minute plank 400 crunches (I have never made it through the 4 minute plank yet)

Torture 2: 100 crunches, 100 leg raises, 100 in/outs, 100 bicycles, 100 long lever crunches, 100 v-sits w/twist, 100 crunches, 100 reverse crunches, 100 bicycles, 100 straight leg crunches= 1,000 crunches! BOOM!!!!

This is the first time all season, or all year that I have started getting excited about racing. I still have a HIM goal of 5:45, which would be an A+ for me, but if I go sub 6 hours, at this point (Day 1) I would be thrilled! I know it is totally doable, my last HIM was 6:09 and I fell apart on the run. So yeah, it's time to shake off the cobwebs and time to get focused. Time to Warrior up!

Gonna Change Things Up!

I am talking about my training plan. I am not changing the pace or distances or even the workouts, but I am changing the days around. I have found that on Wednesdays, it is tough for me to do a run in the morning, go to work, get to church at 5 PM (I have been working with the middle school group), get home around 8 PM. I am usually starving by then, so I have to eat and help get the kids in bed, so it is 9:30 or so before I could even start! Wednesday calls for a medium bike ride, so we are talking around 20 miles usually. I have been so tired on Wed nights by the time I get home, that sometimes those bikes get skipped!  I know!!! I think out of all my workouts, the one segment that I do not need or want to miss is a bike session! So I looked over my plan and see no issue with moving my medium bike to Thursdays. That means on Wednesdays, I will be getting up early for my medium runs and that is all. Thursday will now be a swim and bike day, which is totally doable.

I was looking over my totals for the month and comparing them with my totals at this time from last year. Here they are through Feb:

2012
Run: 85.1 miles  12:49:05
Bike: 279.1 miles 13:06:40
Swim 32,402 yards  10:44:20

2013
Run: 102.05 miles  15:38:20
Bike: 264.13 miles 14:52:54 (one bike left tonight)
Swim: 20,750 yards 7:15:35

I knew my swimming numbers would be lower, but since I am only swimming twice a week, I am good with that. I am glad to see my mileage is slightly up, but I am wondering about the time spent running and biking, I am surprised that it appears I am going slower. It breaks down to a pace of 9:02 in 2012 and a pace of 9:11 currently. Maybe I am over thinking it!

IN OTHER NEWS:

** I will have met my goal of 7,000 crunches in February. Yes, I have pictures, but I have decided to wait until April to post them, because I am going for another month of crunches. Goal is 10,000!

** I have officially added another race to my schedule! The Ragnar Relay TN on Oct 25-26!  a 196 mile relay from Chattanooga to Nashville!  This is going to be loads of fun!

** I have an awesome giveaway in the works that I will be reviewing and writing up soon.

** I also have a cool giveaway for anyone that wants it, everybody will win! That is coming very soon as well!