Brookings to Boston

I broke four hours in the marathon!  This was a huge mental barrier for me, and will hopefully lead to additional sub-four hour times in the near future.  It was great to have my family, and friends from the gym, cheering me on to this accomplishment.  I am especially grateful for my wonderful friends volunteering on the bikes this year who rode beside me in the last miles to bring me in.  

I am looking forward to a few easier days before beginning my training for a biking trip to Colorado and my first triathlon this summer.   

A nice two hour walk with a friend this evening; great recovery on some sore legs before back to training tomorrow.  

Cycling class this morning felt great to get the legs moving again and flush out some remaining soreness from Sunday's marathon. The resistance was pretty light, allowing for my average MPH for the 60 minutes to be 99.

After cycling, I participated in a 60 minute TRX course.  I am very excited for this 6 week course/TRX training.  I look forward to using it with the weight-loss group I am leading over the summer and some small group trainings soon as well.  

In the evening I taught a cross-training class. Tonight we did half of our workout with kickboxing moves and the other half using the BOSU for strength exercises.

Swimming is certainly going to be my most difficult task in training for my first triathlon.  I swam 1500 yards today, but I could not wait for the workout to be over.  I hope that as I become more comfortable in the water, the workouts will not seem to be such a chore, and I can find enjoyment in them, as I can with running and biking. 

After swimming, I took my new road bike out on the highway for a 19 mile bike ride with many hills.  The ride was very enjoyable-much better than the last time I rode the route with 29 mile an hour winds.

Teaching a 50 minute core and more class concluded my day.  Fire-walkers, wall squats with the stability ball, BOSU exercises, and numerous and various planks may show up in some soreness tomorrow.   

Busy, busy day.  A doctor appointment in the afternoon led to little time to workout between my hours on the wellness floor and teaching.  A job offer also had me slightly side-tracked, and on the phone instead of back to the gym to complete a few more miles on the bike before leading a small group training session and my beginners spin class.

This morning I did complete a 60 minute TRX class, which is easily becoming my favorite workout.

In tonight's beginners spin class, I had three new members who had never been to a class before.  My miles were significantly less this evening (8 in class), as I was off of my bike, working with them.  Yet, the thrill of getting others involved is absolutely worthwhile, and I would not have it any other way.

Another 21 miles on the bike after finishing my shift on the wellness floor.  Still not the workout mileage I had planned for today, but it will do.  

Rest day.  Drove to South Dakota to visit family. 

Back home in SD today to visit the family. My husband and I did an easy three on part of the Brookings, SD marathon course before watching the runners in the race today.  It sure is a different feeling watching the race today than racing.  

Not as many miles as I would have liked today, but enjoyed spending time with friends and family.   

Completed 1000 yds swimming today. I was again alternating between strokes, just to get the yards in as I begin to add swimming to my training.  

After swimming, I went for a four mile run with my husband.  The run was miserable.  Incredibly slow pace, and felt like I was fighting against my body to complete the run. I had not been drinking my water today with the trip back to Nebraska, and a busy work shift in the afternoon.   Possible dehydration on the hot-weather run?  

Nice ride today in the warm but windy weather on the highway. 

Busy day!

Began with 6.5 miles before heading to TRX class.   TRX was a mix of strength and cardio exercises today, and I loved every minute of it.  I absolutely love this new challenge, and am so excited to begin incorporating this new equipment into some of my classes later this summer!

This afternoon I worked with the members of a weight-loss group in a combination of cardio and strength exercises.  They have already made so much progress in these two weeks! Their determination is very motivating!

Later this evening, I taught a cross-training class, which allowed me to get in 13 miles on the bike.  

Another busy day coming up tomorrow, so it's time to rest up. 

My morning workout began by teaching an advanced group of spinning students.  While our mileage was much lower with today's workout, the high resistance made for a tough workout. Following the spinning class was 30 minutes of core work with the stability ball in the "core & more class."  

In the afternoon, I swam for 1000 yards, again alternating strokes.  While I still do not find swimming the most enjoyable, I have already seen improvements in my breathing.  

I wrapped up the day by teaching a step class and a core class.  The step class was quite an adventure, as I have never taught this type of class before, but was a last minute sub for a sick instructor.  We had a good time, and still got some good cardio work in; but I think everyone will be happy to have Cian back next week!

TRX was tough today.  My body feels rather fatigued from the past few days and lack of a good night's sleep last night. In between sets on the TRX straps we did various jumprope exercises.  It is amazing how an activity that I would love to do for hours years ago is now such a difficult workout!

In tonight's spinning class we worked with a few different intervals.  Heavy gears for some, fast legs for others.  Ended about 14 miles.   

Taught kickboxing this morning; a great cardio workout!  The rest of the day was resting up for a long bike ride tomorrow with my mentor, Cindy.  

Strong winds cancelled the bike ride this morning.  It is very disappointing, but I know that the strong cross winds on our route would not have been safe on the highway.  

 So instead of cycling this morning, I attended a cardio kickboxing and bootcamp workout.  It was very challenging, and a class I think I should add to my weekly workouts! After the class I stepped onto the stair master for half an hour and then grabbed the TRX equipment to add some strength to the morning.  

Tomorrow will be a rest day, as my good friend, LaShawna is getting married.   

Rest Day

Congrats to LaShawna and Doug! 

I subbed for two cycling instructors today, allowing me to get a full 41 miles in the saddle.  I also taught a 30 minute core class.  

Legs class, TRX, cycling class for middle school students, and cross training today.  

Subbing for Cindy's spin class, and another spin class for the middle school end of the year party.

Wish I could ride outisde, but the winds have been dangerously high. 

50 Minute core class ended the evening.   

AM: TRX Strength Training

PM: Spinning with beginners class; 15 miles.

An awesome spinning workout this morning.  I took quite a bit of time working on some new intervals to teach in the morning spining class, and I absolutely loved it! Short recovery time between intervals and all-out sprints made for some good mileage (25 miles).

After spinning I subbed for core class, and did a half hour abs circuit.  Busy weekend ahead: house hunting! May need some longer runs to weigh our options, neighborhood search, and relieve some stress. 

No workout today, and house hunting is not going too well.  I'll try to consider it a rest day, and get ready to go after the weekend search. 

Morning workout-5 miles.   Missing the gym back home, and can't wait to be back tomorrow!

Home Again! So great to be back in the regular work and workout schedule. 

AM: TRX strength workout at the park.  I absolutely love TRX, and today was even better using the suspension trainer outside.  Beautiful weather and a great workout; you cannot ask for much more!

PM:  Cross Training workout with one member tonight. Spinning workout to warm up and get some good cardio in, and an introduction to TRX. 

2 Miles fast this morning with my husband before work.  Hope to get either a long run or bike ride in today before the stormy weather. 

Stormy weather hit before the run or bike ride could. Looks like two days of stormy weather and inside workouts ahead.  Did get 50 minutes of core and cardio in, in the evening hours. 

Two miles before work again this morning.  It's not a lot in terms of mileage, but hopefully establishing some good habits of a run/workout before work.  

AM: TRX with spinning cardio (12 miles on the bike in between weight sets).

PM: Beginners spin class was fun tonight; my husband came to my class.  Got another 12 miles in with Tabata sprints and a heavy climb.  After spinning tonight, I subbed for a resistance training class, and got in a few more reps.