2015 Exercise Log/Challenge

[Crankin]

We don't usually do partner exercises, so no, not someone that knows me well. However, she did notice that my legs were going down to the left and asked if I was a lefty. So, she was astute enough to recognize something was off. She's a tri-athlete, who seems to be recovering from injury, as she modifies a lot of stuff that she didn't before. So, after I gave her a list of having "uneven" sides and a lumbar issue, she got it and I modified!
Hope your greeting duty goes well. We are going to our neighbors for a drink in about an hour and then for our "Jewish Christmas," aka Chinese food at 7:30. Will ride a short ride tomorrow before we go to dinner at our close friends at 3.

[Catrin]

It sounds like you had a nice evening planned Crankin, hope you had fun!

This morning I hit the gym for some cardio work - no kettlebells allowed today as I've KB training tomorrow. I've an unstable patella so it can be a problem finding the right thing that gives my body what it needs without overly-tweaking my knee. I am not rowing right now so my shoulders can finish healing, we think it was likely the combination of rowing for volume PLUS my competition training that sent my bicep tendon and rotator cuff over the edge. All is feeling better, I did some light work last night with the kettlebell jerk, it felt fine

My coach was working the floor, so we had an impromptu session where we figured out which of the available machines (that he considers worth using) would work with my little knee problem. We came up with a few that seems to work, and settled on a approach where I would move between different types of machines every 10 minutes or so to prevent over-use problems. The shorter the set per machine, the less of a chance that I turn it into a competition. It really doesn't matter that it is only me competing with me, it is just something that I am prone to do. So I moved between the ArcTrainer/Octane/Rope machine and the non-motorized treadmill.

[Crankin]

I rode 17 miles yesterday and 24.5 today. It was gusty, but 50 degrees yesterday. I did not think it would be so windy today, and we were heading into it for at least half the ride. DH was not feeling it, so our speed was exceedingly slow, even for us! However, we did pick it up near the end, before we got to our lunch stop, which is about 3 miles from home. Today was cooler out, but I've been dressed appropriately 2 days in a row, which is a miracle at this time of year.
Trying not to wimp out for tomorrow's club ride. We did it on Labor Day and DH had labeled it something "40 miles of hell and Nagog Hill." Thing is, once that hill is done, it's mostly flat or rolling. I also did the ride another time and I almost turned around, but it was because I was with a group of fast guys, who eventually went off on their own and then it was fine. We will not ride with the group, most likely, but be there at the start and let them go off, and then we will go.

[Catrin]

Usual KB training this morning, and I was allowed to try the three basic kettlebell sport lifts (Jerk, Snatch, Long Cycle). Things went fine! It was rather a long workout, they call it the "Calorie Burner" for good reason, but I went a bit slower than normal and really focused on how my biceps and shoulders felt. All was fine. I did end the last set 10 seconds early as one shoulder was starting to tighten and I called it good. I think things will be fine for my Feb 7 competition as long as I listen and don't re-injure. Part of me wants to do more work tomorrow after church, but since I've special KB training sessions already scheduled for both Monday and Tuesday I don't think I will. If I DO go tomorrow, then it will simply be all about mimicking a hamster on the ArcTrainer! No arm involvement at all.

[Crankin]

Just got back from an almost 36 mile ride, with lots of climbing. Again, we went exceedingly slow, but got it done. All I can say is I know colder weather slows you down, but this was nuts. Honestly, I am just glad I am out there. The past few days is the most riding I've done in a row, since I got back from Portugal.
Kind of want to rest or go on a hike tomorrow, if it doesn't rain, but now i only have 17 miles left to get to 2,700 miles. And, I also want to go to the art museum. I am becoming too one dimensional...

[Catrin]

Just got back from an almost 36 mile ride, with lots of climbing. Again, we went exceedingly slow, but got it done. All I can say is I know colder weather slows you down, but this was nuts. Honestly, I am just glad I am out there. The past few days is the most riding I've done in a row, since I got back from Portugal.
Kind of want to rest or go on a hike tomorrow, if it doesn't rain, but now i only have 17 miles left to get to 2,700 miles. And, I also want to go to the art museum. I am becoming too one dimensional...

You are a better woman than me, as I recall I got more and more of a temperature weenie as the winter progressed. Whatever you decide, have fun tomorrow! The art museum is a good idea, I might have to do that tomorrow as well, thanks for the idea!

[Crankin]

Well, I decided to go with my gut and take a complete rest day today (except for my daily back stretches). There was about a 2 hour window between 11 and 1 where the rain had stopped and the wind had not started, but we zipped into town and saw the Goya exhibit at the MFA. Then of course, it was lunch time, so we stopped on the way home, in my hometown, and had very healthy salads at a pub. I was pretty wiped out from yesterday's ride, and we went out for Italian food at my favorite very authentic restaurant in the North End last night, so I slept for 9 hours and I feel pretty good today. I, too, am learning not to overdo it. I will go to bootcamp tomorrow before work and then decide if I will do spin or not on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I am going to my club's New Year's event. There is a 30 mile ride and a hike before the lunch party. It's going to be about 25 degrees at ride time. Don't know if I can do that. I have the gear, let's see if I can challenge myself. My issue with hiking with this group, is that they walk kind of slowly for me to feel like it's a work out.