Not quite a runner's high...almost but not really

I HIT TWO MILES TODAY!!!! As you can see I'm very excited about that. Remember at the beginning I said was going to base my progress on how I feel....and I'm starting to feel really good. I know I have a ways to go but I truthfully feel great. The stress I used to feel isn't as nagging as it was before. I can almost run at top speed (emphasis on the word ALMOST). I'm not as tired and have a lot of energy (well except when it's zapped by the sun and track meets). I didn't do anything else after I hit the two mile mark, did a quick cool down and started getting some house work done. I'm happy and I'm really feeling an obligation to continue being active. Notice I didn't say a world class athlete (been there, done that), I don't want to be super woman anymore. I just want to be able to walk up three flights of stairs without being winded or keeping up with my 4x4 team as they run in the finals and I have to cheer them on at each corner (coaches know what I'm talking about). I from this day plan to keep moving!!! No matter how hard the day or how I feel, I'm going to keep it moving :o)

Running...how I miss thee

Today was a great run!!! I did a mile and a half in less time I ran my mile yesterday. I'm getting back slowly but surely. I have to rush today's posting because I have to go to bible study, so here goes:


Workout: Today I ran a mile and a half in 13:27, which I haven't done, outside, in a very long time. I added a couple of abs and pushups because I'm kind of in a rush.

Reaction: I think I'm getting my running legs back, not up to sprinting yet but I do feel great running again. Still working in the pushups though, my upper body strength isn't what it used to be. I also have to remember I'm not trying to be what I used to be *coughworldclassathletecough* lol I just want to feel good physically.


I'm proud of myself and the progress I'm making. Staying motivated and not letting the little things throw me off. I can also say my stress level is reducing which makes a high school teacher (this girl right here) very happy lol. Hoping you are still motivated and keeping up your work as well :o)

Mondays......the devil's most evil workout day

Mondays.......that's all that needs to be said. I already despise Mondays, because I'm never really ready for them. But you add a workout to it and I'm done. Mondays have never been a great workout day for me, even in college. I just never really feel prepared for it. It's like I know it's coming but I just can't get myself ready for it lol. My attitude is all wrong, my body really hasn't recovered from the track marathon week, and I guess the feelings of my athletes kinda rubbed off on me as well. Needless to say you can imagine how my workout went.....so here it goes:

Workout: 1 mile around the neighborhood in 14:30 (so terrible) I haven't ran this slow since I was recovering from my achilles reconstruction. I was winded and just overall not enthused to run. I followed it up with a bunch of plyos (that I don't feel obligated to name) that kind of made up for the poor running.

Reaction: I'm just tired and stressed but tomorrow is another day and another workout. I am going to try to bring a better attitude and press forward :o) I guess I just have to encourage and motivate myself to keep it going.

TRACK MEETS GET IN THE WAY OF MY HEALTH !!!!

Kind of frustrated today. I didn't get a true workout in this weekend because I had a marathon track meet weekend. The last good workout I got in was Thursday :o( Track season is killing my workout schedule!!! I can't make excuses, I just have to make time to get it done. Friday and Saturday I probably walked a total of 4 miles from the bus and I got some stair work in on the bleachers at Rice. Not much, but I still have to consider it as some type of physical activity just to help me keep a mind to move. Today is my rest day and tomorrow we get back to hitting it pretty hard. Hopefully I run on track meet days this week (keeping my fingers crossed). But for right, at this moment, I'm frustrated and tired. Motivation is no where in the mix right now....I need help people!! Any suggestions?

Day 6 still going strong!!!

It doesn't seem like it's been five days, but it has and my motivation is coming back slowly. After Tuesdays beasty workout I started to find my inner athlete again. I'm pretty excited. So excited that I made sure I woke up and ran this morning!!! Shocker right?!? I haven't had the desire to do that in a very long time. I figured since this is my ultimate track week (four nights of track in a row...hooray...) I should try to get some kinda of physical activity in so that I won't lose momentum. So after only hitting the snooze button once I got up and ran.  It was only 20 minutes but I got it done and I got it in.


Today's workout: 20 min. run on the treadmill all up hill and 5 minutes of an ab circuit

Reaction: I got it done, I only rested twice this time but I'm getting better. The abs sucked but I need to get those in as well. Not my best workout day, but also not my worse. I'll be doing a workout call "Drop and Give Me 20" tomorrow morning....that's not going to be fun at all.


Remember if you have any questions about my workout or anything about my experience, please don't hesitate to email me at jstrickland82@gmail.com. Keep moving and stay motivated :o)

I finally BEASTED a workout!!!!

TODAY WAS THE BEST WORKOUT EVER!!! I finally had a great day of working out that I am proud of. I didn't punk out, I just grinded and got it done. I have missed this feeling!!! I used to get it when I was competing, that one workout day when I would either beast a weight (max out) or just kill a horrible circuit workout that our evil coach (sorry Halter) would make up in order to kill us. Today's workout left me with that feeling and it hopefully it will be like this from here on out.

Today's workout:

Cardio: 20 min. on the treadmill for 1.8 miles and it was a really hard interval program with hills for the majority of the run.

Workout: 3 rounds of 20 seconds of an exercise with 10 sec rest. The exercises all used dumbbells: bent over rows, lunges, front raises, pushups, side lunges, sumo squats, and tricep raises.


Reaction: FREAKIN BEAST MODE!! (sorry) That's how I felt about the whole workout. I did only use 5 lb. dumbbells for the exercises but they did get heavy around the third round. This workout is going to help me get back into the groove. Yesterday was such a let down and today was just what I needed. So if you guys are praying, I guess God is hearing all of us together (THANK YOU JESUS!!). Remember if you have any questions please let me know and I will send you my workouts or just an encouraging word. I promise to continue my post and stay positive through out all of this. I WILL GET MY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BACK!!!

Sunday workout...whoomp whoomp

Okay I finally made myself move today. Nothing big, just a little yoga to get the juices flowing. I'm still not over the whole break-in thing. I'm not scared, just really annoyed and frustrated. Going to try to get a hard workout in tomorrow and use some weights. This should release this built up aggression I have (hopefully).

Hope you guys are keeping active. I know it gets tough, but keep moving. Just persevering through the tough times can make working out easier and easier as the days go on. Good luck and stay motivated.