Billy Blanks, Baby!

My Girl and I found some Tae Bo DVDs at Ross this past weekend. I was so excited (and so was she even though she had no idea why-gotta love that she still thinks I'm cool enough to do anything I do) because I used to work out with a Billy VHS back in my college days when I was super skinny and thought I was fat. Not much has changed, except for Billy wears some funny shorts now and I remember him in a skin tight unitard.



Yep, like that!

Two days and 90 minutes of Billy later, I'm pretty sure I'll soon look like his daughter and right hand workout woman, Shellie. Can't you see it?

I will do Tae Bo everyday forever if I can rock this bod!

Well, I've only run a mile a day the past two days, but I'm sore and I'm definitely not slacking on the workouts. Rediscover Tae Bo for yourself, it's not bad.

Days: 128 & 129
Daily Miles: 2
Total Miles: 262.61

Early Morning Running

I am not a morning person. At all.

This morning, however, I was planning to meet up with a friend for a 4 mile run. My plan for today originally called for 9 miles (but I decided I was happy with 6 because I have a chest cold). What does a girl do? I'll tell you!

I actually got up early and ran to our meeting place so I could add on some extra mileage there and back. I was home for the day with 6 miles in the books by 7:45. Nice!

The past two days I have just done short runs but I've done some more workout videos on Netflix with my little lady. Someday I see her as a Jazzercise instructor! She's totally got the moves like Jagger. ;)

image credit

Days: 125-127
Daily Miles: 1,1,6.19
Total Miles: 260.61

Bonding Time

My knee has been bothering me the past couple of days so my runs have been short and slow. Well, if I had been running on my own they would have been short and a bit faster (my boys have tagged along a couple of days and my two year old has some pretty dang short legs). Plus, yesterday in the middle of our "run" we ended up stopping at a pizza joint for lunch. That's how we roll.

The knee felt better today so I did some Netflix workout videos with my girly (yay for some awesome bonding time...I loved it!). I really hope the neighbors didn't see too much of our awesome kickboxing through the window!

Tonight I decided to run to the store to get a Redbox. I'm usually kind of scared to do that because we have a bit of a coyote problem in our neighborhood. Didn't see (or hear) any tonight though.

Days: 122-124
Daily Miles: 1, 1.45, 1.3
Total Miles: 252.42

Fitness Challenge Rules

So, I mentioned awhile back that I was starting a fitness challenge on Facebook and I wanted to share the rules of our challenge in case anyone who reads the blog might want to start something similar. I was introduced to this beast last year and I found that it was a great way to stay motivated. That challenge was for money and it was fairly complicated. I decided to start one this year that runs only on the assumption that a team type atmosphere will help motivate people to stay fit. It started today and I am seeing some amazing camaraderie already and it is just awesome!

Here are the rules I posted on Facebook...

Minimum

·         45 minutes of physical activity 5 days/week (5 points/week)

Extra points

·         Bonus for days 6 & 7 (only 30 minutes required on extra days-1 point/extra day)

·         Weekly challenge – I will post a video every Sunday of myself (or someone else) doing a challenge workout (usually core work) that you can do the coming week for bonus points

·         The challenge can earn you 1 point for each day you do it (up to 3 points/week)

The maximum number of points anyone can earn for each week is 10.

The challenge will last for 12 weeks starting Monday, February 20, 2012 and ending Sunday May 13, 2012

If you decide to do this challenge, it will change your life, your body, and your mind! This is all about you pushing yourself to be awesome and be fit. Do it for you, for your kids, for whatever motivates you!

I hope to see lots of people with over 100 points at the end of the challenge! J

No cash prizes this year.  Just a happy bodies and minds! Go out and be active!

I am so excited to see where this leads and where all these girls are at the end of this 12 weeks and beyond!

As for my run today, I went to the gym pretty late and ran 4 miles on the treadmill. Then, I came home and did some stretching and ab work so I could meet my minimum challenge minutes. I can't believe that I felt awesome running 4 miles so soon after yesterday's 8 miles. I think I could totally run Hood To Coast right now. I need a team (if anybody is looking for a member). *hint, hint*

Day: 121
Today's Miles: 4.02
Total Miles: 248.67

Only In Portland...

Only in Portland, do you head out for a run in the city and come home looking like this...

I can't even tell you how much I love running Leif. It's different every time I run it depending on the weather (although I swear there are always a lot more uphills on the way down than I remember as downhills on the way up...how is that?)

Today wasn't rainy but obviously, by the looks of my hobbit legs, it rained recently. My shoes aren't looking super awesome right about now but they were still looking way too new for having 200 miles on them. Gotta look on the bright side, right?

Days: 118-120
Daily Miles: 3.12, 1, 7.98
Total Miles: 244.65

It's Been Awhile...

I have so been slacking on the blog. I needed a break, but I'm back and I'm ready to type! I can't be the only person experiencing the winter blahs right now, can I? Weekends are ok (the hubs is awesome and he encourages me to get out and run) but the weekdays are no fun (rain and strollers are an overrated combo) and short days mean I can't run outside before or after he goes to work. Daylight Savings can't get here soon enough (I'm sorry to all the time change haters out there but this momma needs light into the night).

I'm still getting in quite a few miles (for me) each week in preparation for the Shamrock Run 15k next month. This week I'll have over 20. The best part of the whole extra mileage thing is... Are you ready for this? I've lost 5 lbs! That's right, my jeans aren't so dang tight! If I keep this up, I think I'm in the clear as far as another denim booty blow out goes.

My scale no longer says this when I step on it. It's become my friend again. Woohoo for running blogs!

Mileage since I last blogged...
Day 113 Sunday: 1.01
Day 114 Monday: 3.04
Day 115 Tuesday: 1
Day 116 Wednesday: 3.95
Day 117 Thursday: 2.18
Daily Miles: 11.18
Total Miles: 232.55

A Special Day For Running

Today was the day that women (and men) from all over the country (maybe even world) joined together to dedicate their miles to mother runner Sherry Arnold. My friend Aimee and I (and Aimee's four legged girlfriend Faith) ran 7 miles in her honor.

I have changed my outlook on running since hearing the terrible news of Sherry's disappearance. This mission of mine to run every day is now a privilege that I will never take for granted.

Courage. Strength. Grace. It felt good to run for a woman who may no longer be running on earth, but who was surely running every mile with the rest of us in spirit today!

Days: 111 & 112
Daily Miles: 1 & 7
Total Miles: 221.37

Fitness Challenge

So, today I decided to do a 12 week fitness challenge for friends on facebook. I was thinking a few people would want to join me. Turns out there are A LOT of ladies looking for a reason to move it! You know I love a girl who likes to show the world what she has to offer. Bring it on ladies!

Tomorrow I'll share the basics of the challenge for any of you who may not follow me on facebook. You could start a challenge of your own with friends from work or neighbors or anyone really. Just Do It, right?

I forgot to take my Nike+ watch to the gym today so no update on that site, but I did a short speed training session. Reminder to myself...don't eat pizza immediately before a run, it feels bad.

Day: 110
Today's Miles: 2.68
Total Miles: 213.37

Run For Sherry

On a Saturday morning in January, Sherry Arnold (mother of 5), left for a run in her small hometown in Montana. She hasn't been seen since and it is suspected she was abducted and killed. Sherry's cousin is a runner and she has organized a virtual run to pay respect to Sherry and raise awareness of her abduction. You can read more about it here.

If you plan on running this weekend, please consider printing a race bib and running in Sherry's honor. And please remember to always be safe when you're out there pounding the pavement. Be aware of your surroundings and run with a buddy whenever you can.

Days: 107-109
Daily Miles: 2.55, 2.05, 1
Total Miles: 210.69

I Did What I Said!

Got my 10 miles in for the weekend. Yay me!

Yesterday I stayed close to home and ran 4 miles of hills (no other option in my neighborhood) with a pace of 9:16. I needed to add a bit more at the end so I ran a neighborhood over and hit our path via some cool stairs (I never get to do stairs with my kids because of strollers and bikes and my son's irrational fear of falling off the edge).

Today I trekked up Leif Erickson Trail in Forest Park for a 6 mile run with one of my favorite gals. We used to train for marathons together and be in good shape and all that jazz. Time to get back to that place!

I also broke 200 miles since starting my blog today. Whoop!

Days: 105 & 106
Daily Miles: 4.01 & 6.08
Total Miles: 205.09

You Gotta Charge The Batteries

What happens when you decide to leave your daily run until after 11pm? Nothing goes as planned, of course.

My iPhone is dead.

My Nike+ Sportwatch is dead.

My legs still hurt like someone beat me with a baseball bat from my bootcamp on Wednesday.

But I ran (in my house) for 15 minutes. We'll call that a mile. I also chased my littlest up and down the street for an hour and cleaned out my garage today. Two things that burned quite a few calories and I guess should count for something (if not running).

Yesterday I did my best to bring down that 7:30 average Nike+ mile with the slowest mile. EVER. I took my kids on a bike ride to the grocery store and the little man just HAD to ride his scooter (or cooter as he likes to call it) for much of it. Life was much easier when he didn't fight the stroller... He's so slow the big kids rode to the end of the bike path and back multiple times before we caught up. Oh well, It was fun (even if it was sloooow) and my legs didn't like the part I pushed them to run anyway.

This weekend is supposed to be beautiful in Portland, so I'll be outside soaking up the sun (and windchill) with a goal of 10 miles over the next two days. I typed it so now it's real!

Days:  103 & 104
Daily Miles: 1.17 & 1
Total Miles: 195

Air Squats?

More like crazy awful torture nuts and some other stuff! Bootcamp today was crazy circuits of...

air squats,
air lunges,
jump squats,
jump lunges.

We followed that up with crazy circuits of...

kettle bell figure 8 squats,
medicine ball slam down squats (those are crazy hard),
TRX mountain climbers,
running laps in the parking lot between each.

I am so sore (and it's still the same day)!

Then I took my boys for a bike/scooter ride this afternoon so I could get a little "run" in with my shaky legs.

Of course I forgot to take my Nike+ with me (it's down for maintenance today anyway...), but I mapped my run old school on mapmyrun.com. Ha!

Days: 101 & 102
Daily Miles: 1.09 & 1.54
Total Miles: 192.83