2015 Exercise Log/Challenge

[Crankin]

I did get to the gym this morning. Was just sleeting when I left and kind of raining, but probably freezing on contact when i came home. However, the roads had been treated by then. My driveway, did have a coat of ice in one place, over the crunchy snow, but the anti-lock brakes worked fine.
Class was hard this morning, one minute of everything! I wore my knee support when I got home from skiing until this morning, and it worked. It's been achy and I don't need one more thing wrong! I will be resting tomorrow.

[Crankin]

Rested fully, yesterday. Today I went to the step/sculpt class, which was not quite as crowded, so cooler. I placed my step as close to the huge fan as possible. It was a good class.
I had plans to hike with a friend this afternoon, but she hates cold and it was 20 and cloudy, so we went to the mall and slowly walked/browsed. I did get to see my cousin who works at Nordstrom's and I bought some make up from her, and at least she got her commission for that! My friend would have been OK with snow shoeing, but there is just a crust of icy snow on the trails. Put in an email to my PT. I hope he's still there. I noticed he was not on the McKenzie list any more, but I think that's because he only has a bachelors degree. There's another McKenzie woman I saw for a neck issue, but I didn't like her (she wanted to hug me when my neck got better, yuck) or the owner of the place, who's kind of a religious nut. She did good work, so I'll go if I have to... hoping Walter gets back to me. If not, I'll call over to the chiro office where he has his practice 2 days a week.

[Catrin]

Good luck on getting help from your McKenzie guy!

My thumb arthritis has really flared up - or at least the pain has. The OTHER hand looks much worse, and the thumb is actually less functional, but it doesn't hurt. So I will be getting a bit of hand therapy that will hopefully help. Ironically, this apparently came about because I decided that I wanted to try a less strong/less toxic anti-inflammatory. After two months of failed experimentation I am back on the strongest dose and it isn't working as well as it once did. Perhaps it would have been that way anyway, the x-ray results will be interesting. NO signs of carpel tunnel which is a good thing.

Full rest day today prior to our trial competition tomorrow night. Last night I did a competition set, in that we did a full 10 minute set with only one hand switch. I was going for time though, not volume, so I limited my volume. That won't happen tomorrow night Whether I compete on Feb 7 will be determined on whether I aggravate my bicep tendonitis or strained tendon (different arms) tomorrow night or not. Crossing my finger on that one - I've been cleared but you never know until you do it!

[VeganBikeChick]

Back running again. Was out of commission the last 3 weeks from back to back illnesses. I'm saddened at how quickly my limited fitness deteriorated. Hoping it will be enough motivation to keep going.

[Catrin]

Back running again. Was out of commission the last 3 weeks from back to back illnesses. I'm saddened at how quickly my limited fitness deteriorated. Hoping it will be enough motivation to keep going.

It does seem to go more quickly the older we get Congratulations on being able to run again! I SO wish that I could ride again, I miss it so very much.

I need to find a sustainable type of cardio to balance out my kettlebell sport. I CAN, and do, use kettlebells for cardio-strength but it would be better for my biceps and shoulders to find another way. My knee prevents me from running, I can't ride (though I am going to try a spin class soon, I doubt it could be a regular activity). I can't row for time, only for shorter intense bouts (neck and shoulders). Most cardio machines tweaks my knee - thankfully there is ONE I've found that doesn't. I will work something about, even if it is 10 minute bouts between the rower/rope machine/ArcTrainer to get my time in. I am not about to give up!

[Crankin]

So, the PT never got back to me; he may be away. I need to call the office.
Oy, I almost just got killed riding my trainer. Not sure what happened, but when i was in the last minute of a hard 3 minute interval, standing, the bike listed and made a big noise. I immediately stopped pedaling and sat, and before I realized the bike was just leaning and not going to fall off of the trainer I made a split second decision that it would hurt less to fall on the treadmill as opposed to DH's bike. But, I grabbed the treadmill's small rail near the front to get myself off the bike, unclipped, and ran, screaming down 4 flights of stairs, to find DH, who is installing a new TV in our family room. DH is not sure what happened, but it's fixed. Unfortunately, my new bike has a nick on the chain stay on the left side. It's just the paint, no carbon gouging, so DH will paint it and clearcoat it. I am not one who gets upset about this kind of stuff, but geez. I really thought the derailleur had snapped off! So, my workout was only 45 minutes and I think I need a glass of wine to calm myself!

[Catrin]

Yikes, glad you AND your bike is ok! Very glad you were not hurt and no carbon gouging.

We had our test competition tonight, it was a fine dry run! There are three of us training, and we are each doing different lifts. I was a little concerned going into it since I just got over a strained bicep tendon in one arm, and the OTHER arm a bout with bicep tendinitis, and my thumb arthritis has also been flaring and causing a lot of problems. Thankfully my thumbs are fine with the lifting, at least so far. I went for it :-)

To make my rank, my minimum number, I needed to complete 100 repetitions of the Long Cycle (the KB clean and jerk). This lift takes longer than the others as there are three points of fixation - in short - it takes a lot longer than the other lifts. I needed 100, I completed 106 AND...for the very first time...there was NO bicep pain/soreness/tightness/nothing The real test will be how I feel tomorrow but I don't expect a problem. Now I just need to avoid doing something stupi...errr...ill-advised between now and Feb 7.

Frankly I would LIKE to win, but my shoulders require me to compete with the lightest of allowed weights and I don't expect that I will have a competitor. She would need to be in both my weight class and choose the same KB weight. It is possible but I won't be surprised if it doesn't happen. It looks like I will be in the bottom of my weight class but time will tell. My weight class is HUGE, close to 20 pounds from the bottom to the top!