This morning was some nice stress reliever with Cathe doing Hard Strike and then to Travis Yin Yoga for pure bliss. This was actually a very good combo, stress reliever and bliss before 7am what a way to start the day.





How am I feeling today, in my James Brown Voice "Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would.." now that you all have this stuck in your head, make it a wonderful rest of the week.



 In celebration of Dragon Con that just ended in ATL below are pictures from when I crashed Comic Con in Denver, I think my kids thought I was pretty awesome, oh did I have a blast hanging with this people.

 Life is good, hanging with people that love what they do and could careless what anyone thinks-Priceless

Blue Line Run

Friday:
Left heel is much better but with a twenty miler on Saturday decided to spend the morning with Travis instead doing Yin Yoga, I always love the way I feel after a session of Yin and Travis is just one of the best love the sequencing.  



Saturday:
Not really the best of preparation for a 20 miles run with a 12:30am call from work which meant I couldn't get back to sleep and the alarm went off at 5:30am which I snooze till 5:55am with a bolt leap from bed since I was going to be running late, well made it just in time getting there are 6:56 for the 7am start. Nothing says fun like hanging with almost 500 of your running BFFs and it is not a race, Shelby found me with no issue and we were off together after a quick stop at the restroom.

My plan was to take this easy, no point beating my self up, suppose to be base pace not marathon pace so had to reign Shelby in a bit to keep the pace easy. Love the new course, I find it interesting people are complaining about the hills in the first 12 miles which to me where easy, gentle and rolling compare to slamming in a big old uphill grind at mile 17+ of the marathon, after running 5+ miles on the flat boring towpath of the old course. I love that the new course have a great support for the last 10+ miles of the marathon when it is most needed, I can't wait for race day, I think this is going to be interesting not to just keep things moving this is when the are we there yet mentality start and I want to stop training.

Thanks to JK for picture

 We are so happy to be done

Feeling better after a haircut/color and shower, now for some food with my visiting niece. Heel feels tight but not too painful.

Sunday:
Feeling better and refresh, very minimal heel pain decided on some spinning and heavy weights to workout the kinks, just what the body needed.

Started things off with Global Cycling 20 mins Burn Fat Fast Workout



I really enjoyed Kelly Coffey Meyer Muscle up the shortened total body workout that I did Friday so pulled it out again for today's workout.

Grateful for another day of being able to do what I love doing, Life is Good, count your blessings.

Oh why not, the DOMS is significantly reduced in my chest and shoulders so of cause Cathe Ripped With Hiit Chest Shoulders and Triceps again, I found it interesting how much my boobs and chest muscles were shaking when I bring the weights back to the top when doing the flyes. I love how straight to the point the workout is, no fluff, just grab your weight and push it.

Then a blissful gentle yoga with Travis Eliot found on youtube.




Life is Good

Oh chest is still sore, these muscles feel so under use but just to balance the pain out decided to do Cathe Ripped with Hiit  Back and Biceps, am skipping the shoulder in this once since they are still not recovered, I just love this workout, efficient and to the point.

Afterwards pulled out Ultimate Yogi: Detox, I love the twist in this but forgot about all the sun salutations had to go to downwards dogs skipping the plank to low pushups for some. This felt good getting out all the kinks.

My body still feel great and I actually got up before my 4:30am alarm am lovign life

When you wake up wondering what you did the day before, once you get out of bed you know exactly what you did, in college this was too much partying so movement of the head sent the world swinging but now a stretch of my hand above my head told me I lifted heavy ouch.

Yesterday's workout was Cathe Ripped with Hiit Lift it Chest, Shoulders and Triceps, use 25 pound weights for the Chest workout but dropped to 20s, those finisher pushups were killing me, absolutely love this workout. For some cardio effect I did a 10mins Cardio workout from Moms in Fitness on you tube
this was a very quick efficient workout, great for add on. To finish things off I pulled out Travis Sweet and Short Yoga, this was a big mistake, my shoulder was fried from Cathe's workout and all those sun salutations were pure torture but oh so beautiful, I just so enjoy p[practicing with Travis, hope one of this days I get a chance to take a live class with him, lots of sample workout also on you tube.

So today the schedule called for 1 mile warmup+ 10k trail run + 1 mile cool down, well my goal was to finish this run feeling as good as I felt on Thursday, I ran by feel and didn't look at my pace, I probably could have or Should have but I just wanted to feel good before/during/after a run for a change and it felt so good, this was a struggle but I held the pace as best as I can backing off instead of walking, felt good and it was such a beautiful feeling one which I haven't felt in a long time. No didn't hit the pace, was suppose to run 9:01 but did 9:20 instead, am happy.

Note to Self: No heavy weight workout before a hard run, my shoulders were killing me and when I lower my hands to give them a break my triceps kick in, oh boy some serious DOMS.


 Afterwards, Shelby and I sat under a tree in the parking lot enjoying the ice cold chocolate milk she brought me and talking strategy for the half marathon, she is so strong and if we get the pacing right she should have a very nice PR at the half marathon.

Got back home did some cleaning, color my hair and caught up on some reading and computer work.

This is a great start to August, Life is good, Love me

Woke up yesterday again with heavy legs but decided on tackling the 1k repeats on schedule, got dress and got ready and actually got out of the house almost at a decent time.

1 mile warmup + 3x1k@8:41 pace (10K pace) + 1 mile Cool down, good thing it is recovery week and only 3 repeats. Warmup was questionable, I think I spent the whole warmup miles wondering how the 1k was going to go, Garmin was set so I just plow straight ahead without thinking about it, so how did it go 8:43, 8:33 & 8:57 better than expected in my opinion and happy with it. 68 degrees with 83% humidity



Got back in and did Cathe Ripped with HiiT Lift it Hiit it Legs, I skipped the warmup, felt like I was warm enough. Great to be back to heavy lifting and Cathe.

After work, despite my better judgement based on how I was feeling I felt the need to go running, check in with Shelby to see what she was doing and we got together at Munroe Falls Park to get in 5 miles, this is my first time on  this trail and I absolutely love it. My body basically woke up as the mileage increased, I felt good and strong despite the 90 degrees heat, this was a 2 mile loop on multiple terrain (grass, boardwalk, asphalt) did the loop twice then out and back 1 mile to make it 5. So glad I decided to do felt so much better when done.



My neck itch like hell from the bite, worst part is that I cannot see it.

Today back on the mat with Travis and Ultimate Yogi :Yin Yoga, absolutely love how I feel when I do this workout. Feeling so much better today, almost like my wonderful self, life is good.

I think I take way too much time to get out the door to run, I can't really say it's dread factor I just hate doing the same loop over and over, funny that I have no problem running on a treadmill.

This is recovery week, which means this training session is fast approaching taper. I took yesterday off from working out but still woke up with some heavy legs today, I seem to be struggling with recovery or rather first 4 mile pain then heavy legs for the rest of my runs.

On schedule today was 5 miles, to get this in I ran every inch of my development, not sure what am going to do when I have to run 8 starting next week, may be half on road and half on treadmill. The run was a struggle seem to take a long time for my body to warm up, got stung badly by something around mile 3, back of left ear is itchy and swollen.Was able to gut out the last mile for a faster pace.



I feel I have been neglecting doing yoga, yes I love yin yoga but time to add more to the plate to get some fitness and flexibility back, so out came my favorite Travis Ultimate Yogi, doing cross training today even thou I only did half of the workout felt great, hoping am able to get back to a daily practice again.

Trying to figure out how to make it all workout, lose weight, gain muscle, be more flexibility but above all I also want to have fun, life is just too short.

Gotta love Ohio, after the unbelievable 80+ heat wave last week, we are wearing sweater and turning the furnace back on this week. I can barely stay warm.

Wednesday is fast becoming a favorite, today was back to Ultimate Yogi 108: Yin Yoga with Travis Eliot, I guess I can say I am getting more flexible or maybe more I can get into the pose better and focus on breathe a bit more.

Am thinking of signing up for the Akron Rubber Series 8k/HM/M, although not crazy about the $205 price after all discount but then I am thinking I get better value for my money over the Flying Pig which was $196 - 10k/5k/M. Also realized I have done Akron 3x already so this will make #4 which I will be doing regardless of whether I do the series or not since Shelby picked this for her first and I can wait to share the experience with her, back to my point, so I have have to do at least 1 more Akron Marathon to be in the 5 year club.

Why do I want to be in the 5 year club, it is just a runner's think, oh well

So Little Rock Marathon has come and gone, race report and how we got there coming soon, I took last week off due to some stomach bug and recovery before starting back for Paris Marathon.

Monday 3/2 - 1 hour Yin yoga with Travis, this was the life class posted on you tube, this was amazing, I think for the first time I was able to clear my mind and focus on my breathing, my reward complete pain free when I was done. This is the best I have felt after a race, almost like I didn't do one.



Tuesday - 20 mins spin after we finally got back home safely

Wednesday - Rest day, was sick as a dog all night long throwing up

Thursday - 32 mins Spin

Friday - 31 mins on the stepper

Saturday - Beauty run with Shelby on the valley loop, my first time doing this loop, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the legs felt fine despite the right of the gate hill climb.

We left for Columbus to attend the Arnold Fitness Festival, it's amazing how much this has grown. We spend the night so we could visit with my in-laws who were visiting to attend a wedding.


 Sunday - After riding in the car, not sure why being a passenger in a car aggravate my left butt muscle, causing pain down my leg, so nothing better than to do a nice yin yoga when I got home, found another nice one on you tube by the skinny cook



Monday - Back to running but suffering from Daylight Saving Time (DST), so got up late since I went to bed very late but was able to Kelly Coffey Meyer (KCM) Muscle up #1, always love workouts that make me lift heavy.


Since my treadmill was gracious enough to work, I got in a quick 20mins run.

Excited to be back training and looking forward to the racing season now that it looks like the weather may be improving.

Brrrr it is cold, the wind is brutal

Woke up with so much energy today, no aches or pain and on time, although that didn't mean I got to work on time just that I got in all my workout, I really enjoy working out, it's not something I need to do, it's something I have to do just to feel complete for the day.

1st workout was Cathe Ripped with Hiit Upper Body Circuit, every time I do this workout I wonder why it is called upper body circuit because the legs are worked just as much to keep the metabolism rep but then when I do the lower body I understand why, really love this program, great compliment to my running.

Work out #2, I really wanted to do the 1 hour yin yoga that Travis posted on youtube so the intention even thou the schedule called for 6 miles easy I was only going to do 4 to be able to get the yoga but once I started it felt so effortless and I couldn't imagine cutting it short.

Was running short on time so plan to get as much yoga as possible in, was able to do 30 mins of Travis Eliot Yin yoga, this felt so good after the other 2 workout.

Not sure what to do tomorrow, it is going to be very cold again, some light snow with temps at about 19 degrees but feel like 2 with wind gusting at 21mph by 10am it's going to feel like -2, just does not seem worth it since it will be hard for me to breathe so it looks like the 16 miles for tomorrow is going to be on the treadmill.

This does not help with the decision of which shoe to wear for the Little Rock Marathon coming up

Normal Friday activity at Solon Giant Eagle Market District 6 for $6, great way to taste different wines and not bad for the price

1-Mirth Chardonnay 2013 paired with Vermont Cheddar popcorn/Mango drizzle
2-50 Shades of Grey White Silk 2012 paired with Mixed green with crispy bacon & grapefruit vinaigrette
3-Fantini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2013 paired with Stuffed Shells
4-The Seducer Red Rendevous 2012 (my favorite) paired with Blueberry marinated roast beef
5-Le Mazet Cabernet-Syrah 2010 paired with poached pear wrapped in prosciutto
6-Vietti Muscato d'Asti 2014 (this was good) paired with strawberry and cream cup

Staying true to keeping Wednesday a recovery day, pulled out Ultimate Yogi - Gentle Yoga, I love this workout, actually I just love the way Travis instructs, never have to look at the TV just listen to his voice and follow his  guardian. Always feel relax and mellow when done, am glad am able to put yoga back into my routine, still not flexible but don't feel breakable either. Although, I do have to say I do hurt quite abit when done, not painful hurt more like you need to do this more often.

The "what shoe to wear for the marathon" saga continues, feels weird that I haven't had a race since thanksgiving even thou I am actively training but finding most shorts races just as expensive as long and will rather go long to reduce $/mile, and moreover I do not keep short race blings unless there is something special about them.