Taxing Week

I am so tired.

This week has been a bit of a difficult one. I've got my run streak going but I also started a boot camp style workout routine. The two worlds collide indeed.

Friday was particularly tough. I ran 2 miles at home to warm up after dropping the girls off at school, then as soon as I was done, jumped into my truck and went to the boot camp gym about 10 minutes before class started.

We warmed up a bit but I was already warm, and then we jumped right into it once more. I did single-leg step-ups (30 sec on each leg) then jump squats, repeated about five times; then reverse lunges using a rope (30 sec on each leg) then knee highs (basically, running in place with the knee coming up really high, hence the name), repeated about five times; then we put our backs against a wall and squated down so where our thighs were parallel to the ground and held a 16-lb kettle ball for 30 seconds and then side-stepped with a band around our feet rotating five times; then single-leg thrusts (30 sec on each leg) and squats, rotating five times. And then some other squats to properly destroy my thighs and butt.

When we finished of course I hadn't had enough torture so I went on a run and wound up running four miles. The first 2.5 miles were mostly uphill. In fact, one particularly rough stretch saw me go from an elevation of 938 to 1227, from mile 1.3 to mile 1.68. Yeah, that's pretty much straight up.

So here's the body count then thus far for the week. I've run 28 miles this week. My goal was to stay at 40 for the week like last week. I think that would make it my first-ever consecutive weeks of 40 or more. Not sure if that's going to happen though. Sunday I'm running four with my awesome pace group which means I'd have to run eight on Saturday and I don't know if my legs have eight miles in them. I may set out for 5-6 on Saturday morning and then see how I feel. One option would be to run whatever I can tomorrow and make up the difference before or after our group run on Sunday. But as long as I get out and run I'm not going to fret too much about the mileage.

I feel good. My legs feel good. Well, right now they don't actually because I had to hobble around just to sit in my office chair to write this blog post. I'm probably going to be sore as crap on Saturday and Sunday so getting out and running might be a chore.

Well, I'll let you know how things go on Saturday and Sunday. I know it's Labor Day Weekend and most of you probably won't be on your computers reading blogs but if you did happen to stop by, thanks for including me in your weekend and have a great, fun, safe and hopefully run-filled three-day weekend!

A New Challenge?

After my marathon, I was thinking of taking a break. I mean, not just in the hours and days immediately following it. Of course I'm doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the day after running marathon No. 4, but I was thinking of taking a break from running.

I probably will, for at least two weeks. I'm not sure how long that break will last - I'd actually like to take off until the beginning of May but I honestly don't think I can last that long before needing my running fix. Mentally and physically, though, I could use a break.

Anyway, I have also considered doing something else in addition to running. I'd considered P90X as my brother Danny used it and had success using it. He want from being fit and in shape to being really fit and really in shape... and yet, I can still run faster than him. Interesting.

Well, I have the chance to do something else as well, but I need to decide by today.

The description...

At Fit Body Boot Camp, the enemy is predictability. Each day, the instructors (all certified personal trainers) throw down a fresh guerrilla ambush’s worth of challenges for your muscles and your brain, fueling constant gains and keeping you engaged. Over the course of a one-hour session, you may run, jump, lift weights, slam out push-ups and chin-ups, chase chickens, punch slabs of beef, and end with a live crocodile wrestle. Because Fit Body allows each participant to work at his or her own pace, even the most out-of-shape or over-in-shape person can break a sweat without feeling the heat of competition. Classes are held on a gymnastic, spring-loaded floor to minimize impact on joints, and sessions always take place indoors, safe from falling iPods.

It goes on to say that I'd have access to a strength coach and things like that. Classes are offered Monday through Friday, and it fits into my schedule, or at least, I can make them fit into my schedule.

I'm thinking maybe something like this is what I need to not only springboard my body into training for the Camp Pendleton Mud Run and the San Francisco Marathon but also to revitalize my body and maybe drop a few pounds while picking up a few muscles along the way.

What do you think? Yay or nay? I got this as an offer so it's like a third of the normal price. I might go for it but kind of on the fence.

If nothing else, I can do this and then realize how much I don't like to cross train and how much I love to run... ha, like I need something to remind me of that. Still, though, it might make me appreciate running more.