Wednesday, December 31, 2008

December 31st

New Year's Eve Training

• End of Week 5 Pushups test - still couldn't get past 30. Will repeat Week 5 again to get stronger.
• Upper body workout - did the usual
• Abs - 4X30 crunches
• Core workout - various exercises using my new stability ball.
• I thought about doing other stuff but felt pretty laid back today and just want to chill.

Final installment of my "Year in Review"

I learned a lot this year, but first and foremost, I learned that I still have a lot to learn. Not surprisingly.

Here are just a few of revelations I've had in 2008.

• I can do things I never imagined I'd ever be able to do. I know that's cheesy but it's true, what can I say?

• I can set goals and actually meet them. Finally.

• I need to keep adjusting my goal plan as I learn more about what my body can and cannot do.

• I have to listen to my body sometimes, and ignore it other times, but I haven't quite figured out which is which yet.

• I need to alternate between hard and easy weeks when I'm in the heaviest of my training.

• I don't give up very easily. I keep finding ways to try, try again.

• There is no challenge so great that it cannot be met by breaking things down into smaller steps, and in the case of open water swimming, micro-steps.

• I can swim! OMG, I can actually swim pretty well! (In a lake, over my head, without a wetsuit, even thru weeds - yes I can!)

• I AM an awesome biker (16/113 last summer)!

• I can run pretty fast but if I do, I suffer for weeks after. Running is my biggest challenge and will likely continue to be a challenge over the next few years.

• I am way more competitive than I ever thought. *sheepish grin*

• I am much more interested in doing really well on a sprint triathlon, than "just finishing" a longer tri.

• I still may do longer races but will hold off for at least another year.

• I can wear a bikini again - OK I'm not a 20 year old but I look pretty damn good for my age anyway. July - first time in a bikini in 30 years. (That may have been my biggest achievement of the year, LOL..)


• I feel a WHOLE lot better when I eat a healthy diet - trying to aim towards a quasi-mediterranean diet most of the time.

• I can eat under 2000 calories a day, exercise an hour a day, and STILL not lose weight (argh).

• I still don't drink enough water or get enough sleep.

• I have a tremendous support crew - family and friends (real and virtual), who have supported and encouraged me all the way along this journey. I cannot tell you how many times I did a workout simply because I didn't want to let people down. What an amazing motivator! Thank you all so much - I could not have accomplished so much without you!

• I am a very lucky girl who happens to love life!

Happy New Year everyone!

5 comments:

LIrunner9 said...

Thanks for sharing your revelations. You should be very proud of your accomplishments! I have no doubt you will rock 2009.

Thanks for the inspiration on swimming, because of you, I may just get past my open water fear:)

All the best in 2009!

John at Hella Sound said...

Congrats bikini-wearin' girl! You should be incredibly proud of your achievements. By the sound of it you're nowhere near done--good luck, and here's to a healthy, fit, productive 2009!

Anonymous said...

That's awesome to have come so far in such a short amount of time, and it seems you're just picking up steam too! (100KM on the first day of 2009!)
Way to go freight train!

Here's my last days of the December challenge. Amazingly, I made it through the last two weeks without ant more holes in the ceiling. Although I did endure a few stinging lashes from the jump rope. :)

12/29 - 45 min. jump rope w/ 120 pushups
12/30 - 5 mile treadmill run
12/31 - 35 min. jump rope w/ 96 pushups

The challenge was fun! My endurance has improved from it and I learned nothing keeps you working out like the guilt of having to publicly log a missed day. :) peer pressure rocks!!!

Let us know if you've got any other punishing challenges you wanna throw our way!

If nothing else, we can always roll this into a January challenge :)

LIrunner9 said...

1st- Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 5 miles, in 50
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again

2nd-

3rd-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min

4th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min

5th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min

6th-

7th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min

8th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min

9th-

10th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min

11th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 3 miles, in 30
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again
Started Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W1,D1: 2+3+2+2+3=12 maybe 5min??

12th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 4 miles, in 40
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again

13th-

14th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 4 miles, in 40
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W1,D2: 3+4+2+3+10=22

15th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 4 miles, in 40
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again

16th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W1,D3: 4+5+4+4+13=30

17th-

18th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 5 miles, in 50
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W2,D1: 4+6+4+4+15=33

19th-

20th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W2,D2: 5+6+4+4+17=36

21st-

22nd-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W2,D3: 5+7+5+5+21=43

23rd-

24th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
First exhaustion test = 20

25th-

26th-Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W3,D1: 10+12+7+7+15=51

27th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 3 miles, in 30
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again

28th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 6 miles, in 60
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W3,D2: 10+12+8+8+20=58

29th-

30th-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
Pushup Challenge - modified PU's
W3,D3: 13+13+9+9+20=64

31st-Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min
also ran 3 miles, in 30
Then did Yogamazing's Yoga for runners, 20 min again

Not great, but overall for a holiday month I'm happy. Will you do it again for January??

Kelownagurl said...

Wow, that's awesome LIrunner! Great job for December!!!

I'm not sure what we should do for January. I was thinking that I might try to do something that fits in with Runninghoosier's challenge. Got any ideas?

For me, my goal is to stick to my training plan which involves doing 30-60 minutes of training, 6 days a week. I always welcome anyone who wants to play along with me!