Yesterday morning we all got up early to partake in the annual Turkey Trot hosted by the Athens Running Club! Once we returned home, I jumped on the treadmill and walked another 3 miles while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Although I am not a huge fan of walking, it was a nice break, and I am ready to pound out on the treadmill!
After eating my weight in food and probably quadruple in calories, I was ever so excited to do a home workout this afternoon. You see my gym is closed until Monday so for the next few days I will be inventing my own workouts and sharing them with you!
As you can see, this workout requires no equipment. Depending on where you live, you can even do this workout outside!
I did this workout for 6 rounds, and I am now ready for a nap!
I have shared my fondness for Renegade Fitness on this blog a number of times, but I also must share my second workout addiction in Toledo - Extreme Results by Vince!
Now while I was training for the marathon I took a little hiatus from these crazy workouts. I could not truly fathom working out three times in one day. Yes, I did give it considerable thought, but then came to my senses!
Wow! Is the first word that comes to my mind when I think about these workouts. Its a combination of martial arts, kickboxing, boot camp, and pure hell!
I remember my first class like it was yesterday... I thought I was going to die for the first 15 minutes, and I was certain that we had been working out for at least one hour! Coach Kemp frequented the place one time, and thinks I am simply CRAZY for going often!
Ok, so why is it so crazy? You couldn't get the picture from the video above? Well, the workout is really a non-stop cardio and strength-based workout for 60 Minutes! Like I think the trainers start a timer or something because even if a class starts five minutes over, the class is still freaking 60 minutes!
Oh, and the whole class you do exercises on your fists! Like burpees which they lovingly call Sugar Cookies... You do lots of those, and then they add in SugarCookie Push-Up... Or SugarCookie Jump. Or even better - Sugar Cookie-Push-Up-Jump! What the Hell!!!
All the Different ER419 gloves through the years!
I have come to the conclusion that they have a cult following around town. You can drive around and see their bumper stickers everywhere... Walk around UT campus and you will see a number of coeds with Extreme sweatshirts, tanks, and T-shirts!
Today I met a personal goal... I took two Extreme Classes back-to-back! I used to hear fellow gym-goers proudly boast they were taking two classes, and think they were freaking crazy. I do think it is crazy, but it was something I had on my bucket list! Well, I was able to accomplish that feat. And... It was pretty grueling. The whole day I was reconsidering my desires to do two classes back-to-back... What was I trying to prove? Why did it matter? Why was it so hot on the day that I had planned to take two classes.
Here is my picture after class #1! Trust me, you don't want to know what I looked like after class #2!
Today my first class was taught by one of the "newer" trainers, Chelsea (she's been teaching since December 2013, so not that new). Well, about 2-3 people left mid-workout it was that intense and hot! I was able to push through and figured my goal was to get through half of the second workout. I had done the Sunday Funday workout which is only $5 and 1.5 hours, so I figured I would be proud of myself if I could match that!
Well, Tabitha had other plans!!! We did a workout in which each person individually goes to one station and then you go round robin! So I had no way of dipping out... Yikes, I cursed her in my head and thanked her in the next breath. If it had not been for that workout style which I know she "borrowed" from Lindsay, my ass would have dipped!
All smiles before the Sunday Funday Workout
If you are in the Toledo area, I highly recommend you stop in Extreme Results by Vince! You will thank me later! Oh, and they have great deals so it is really affordable! Oh, and if you prefer cycling, yoga, hip-hop, and even TRX they got those classes covered too! I did not even have time to venture to that side of the facilities, but I am sure those classes are awesome too!
Michelyn
Question of the Day: How many gyms do you frequent? Do you go to several to get a full workout?
Sunday
Rest Day Monday
Renegade Strength Tuesday
Renegade Metabolic Wednesday
Rest Day Thursday
Renegade Metabolic
6.5 Miles Friday
7.5 Miles Saturday
Renegade Mix
Weeks Mileage: 14 Miles
Renegade Classes: 4
I had an unusual week of workouts. I have said before, but I am horrible at taking rest days, and this week I got in two. Well, some of that had to do with my sprained ankle which is recovering quite well. I had originally planned to run on Wednesday, but it got pushed back one day because I decided to attend a Happy Hour with some of my co-workers. I am so happy that I went out, it can be really lonesome on occasion, working from home.
Question of the Day: How are your workouts going? Training for any half marathon, marathons, or any other distance?
These 7.5 miles were logged while still staying in Tampa, FL. To be honest, I am not sure how I was able to get my body; more specifically, my feet moving after hosting the Miss and Teen Suncoast/Nature Coast pageants. Boy, I have not worn pageant-style shoes in so long, my dogs (aka feet) were killing me. Somehow, I conjured the energy to arise at 6am to run a few miles before the sun set in. Speaking of the pageant, I was such a horrible documenter of the days event, and that is more because I was so very busy with walk-through and pageant prep. Overall, I had a delightful experience hosting the pageants, and it did give me a little "itch." Thinking I will fill the void with some more running! Monday
8 Miles
Tuesday
6 Miles
Renegade Metabolic
Wednesday
Renegade Strength
Thursday
Renegade Metabolic Friday
Rest Day Saturday
12 Miles
I decided to rest on Friday and then do my long run on Saturday. I was very impressed with my ability of running this many miles on a treadmill, I really do despise that thing!
Total Miles This Week: 33.5
Total Renegade Classes: 3
Question of the Day: How did your weekly workouts go?
Michelyn
Sunday
Because of the storm forecast, I did my long run on Saturday as I discussed in my previous post. So, Sunday was a Rest Day! Monday
Renegade Strength Tuesday
Renegade Metabolic
3 Miles
Wednesday
Renegade Strength
6 Miles Thursday
Renegade Metabolic Friday
10 Miles in Tampa! It felt glorious to run around my old neighborhood - Carrollwood again. It was somewhat cool in Tampa, but my lungs could feel the difference in climate and humidity. It was nice to actually get out and run, and not have to be concerned with ice and snow. And, I wore shorts and a tank. It was an overall happy run, to say the least! Saturday
Rest Day!
Pageant Prep began at noon with professional make-up by a former classmate of mine!
Mileage This Week: 19 Miles. A little under my goal, but my long run was pushed early to the previous Saturday, and I had planned a short run on Monday, but it again was too cold outside. I am really over winter! At this point, I will gladly take 30 degree weather for a few weeks, not even being optimistic that we see 60s.
Renegade Classes This Week: 4
Question of the Day: Do you try to workout when you travel?
Feb. 16-22 Sunday
Sunday was my official last day at the gym. The gym that I was frequenting was a 24-hour facility which provided its members key-fobs during non-staffed hours. Upon arrival to the gym, I discovered that my key-fob wasn't working, but at the time, the realization that my membership had been revoked had slipped my mind. Luckily, as I was struggling with the front door, an older gentleman was departing and allowed me in. While engaging in my "active rest day" activities, I realized that other members were not having difficulties with the door, and this is when it dawned on me that my key-fob had been discontinued for good reasoning. Upon return to the house, I realized that they, indeed, had not withdrawn money from our account. Whoops! I was technically using the gym, and not a member! Oh well, I will not do that again, I hadn't realized, so it was an innocent act.
Active Rest Day:
35mins each - elliptical and reclined bicycle
Monday
5 miles (outside)
What has meal and workout planning taught me thus far? Simple, plan the week and follow it, no excuses! I know, this is can be challenging at times, and I succumb to not following this simple rule. Case in point - Sunday and Monday. I had planned to run 10 miles on Sunday, and then talked myself into postponing the run until Monday, since I did have the day off, right?! Wrong. Sunday was the ideal day to go running. The sun was out, in the mid-20s and no wind. Although the forecast states that Monday was warmer, I am not sure, it just wasn't a running day and the winds had picked up, at least by the time that I finally trekked out for my run. At first step, I knew that my planned 10 miles, would be cut short. And it was... I turned around at 2.5 miles, simply because I wasn't feeling it.
Tuesday
Renegade Metabolic Wednesday
5 miles (outside)
Thursday
Rest Day
Friday
Renegade Strength
8 miles (outside)
I am almost over talking about the deer, as it seems that I see them at least once a week on the trail. I think they smell me coming, and then come out to say "hello." On Friday, I swear if I reached my hand out, I would have been able to touch one! Maybe they know I am nice? Saturday
Renegade Mix (Strength + Metabolic)
Mileage This Week: 18 miles
Renegade Classes This Week: 3
Like I shared in Week IIs post, I yearn to run between 25-30 miles/week broken into four runs. Unfortunately, I only logged three runs. I did, however, get my goal of three Renegade classes, and was able to get a good mix of strength and metabolic classes. With the weather calming down, I am certain that I will be able to meet my running goals!
Feb. 23-March 1 Sunday
12 miles Monday
Rest Day Tuesday
Renegade Strength
3 Miles Wednesday
8 Miles Thursday
Renegade Metabolic
Friday
Renegade Strength
Saturday
16 miles
Wow! I really surprised myself by running this many miles in one stretch.
Mileage This Week: 39
Mileage for February 2014: 86 (not including Saturday's run)
Renegade Classes This Week: 3
My overall mileage is a little over my goal, but with the impending storm that was predicted on Saturday evening that was to carry-over to Sunday, I switched my plan. Overall, it worked in my favor since I knew that mother nature was not going to be on my side on Sunday, and I simply erased my run from Thursday, which was advantageous as the weather was frigid Thursday and Friday.
Questions of the Day: How did you workouts go for the week? How is the weather affecting your weekly goals?
This run was "scheduled" to be 10 miles, but it seems like the running gods were not in my favor on this Sunday morning. I left the house in a rush, which should have been my signal that this was not going to go as planned. When I arrived at the parking lot for the trail, I realized that my earbud was missing the portion that goes around your ear, for security! The drive to my house is maybe 5 minutes, so I could have returned home but I did not want to agitate Prince, our 8 month old dog, who despises being left home alone (Coach Kemp was in the office with the rest of crew, very typical for an in-season Sunday.) Well, I am happy to report and highly recommend Yurbuds Sport Headphones. They are marketed and guaranteed to "never fall out" and those boogers lived up to their hype, even without the behind-the-ear contraption part.
Actually, I really enjoyed the run, the weather was bearable and I saw many runners along the way which is always comforting. Then, it happened for the second time in less than 5 days, I saw yet another herd of deer. I too saw about 3-4 deer on Sunday on my return route and yet again I saw them in about the same area. This time my phone was handy (I wasn't so worried about fidgeting with my hone since my earbuds were 100% intact) so I took a picture for proof!
Ok, so you only see one in the picture, but there were more. What freaked me out this time, is that they "allowed" me to get closer before they skivvied into the bushes. I was actually scared to death, to be honest. What the heck does one do when encountered with a deer?!?! You can find a ton of suggestions on the internet on how to deter hitting a deer (Probably should have researched that PRIOR to living in Fargo! Hey, only the car was damaged, not the precious cargo inside). I then did a quick search on Runner's World, and they did not have any great suggestions either, they simply listed deer as a "dangerous" animal for a runner. Well no shit, I could have told them that!
OK, so I ended up walking very slowly past the area that I knew they had gathered. I tried to look completely forward to eliminate any signs of domination or impeding threat! Not sure if that is the best advice, but it has worked now twice, so I am sticking to it. What got me frustrated was that a "premier runner," you know one of those people that flies by you and your envious of their speed, running apparel, etc. just kept running by! I was like "hello" we got animals lurking around, please stop and be cautious it's not a race. So rude! LoL
Friday Renegade Strength
5 miles (treadmill indoors) I think this may be my official last treadmill run for some time. I had purchased a monthly pass at an area gym to get me through January, and accidentally they did not cancel my key-fob until yesterday (Sunday). Lucky for me, I did get a few extra free days without anyone noticing, including myself.
Saturday
Rest Day!
Mileage This Week: 20 miles
Renegade Classes This Week: 4
Overall, I did not get in nearly enough mileage as I would like. I am truly hoping to log closer to 25-30 miles/week. I am still adjusting to the increase in Renegade classes, as I typically took classes 2-3 times/week, prior to the 7-week challenge. Hoping for more mileage and maybe only 3 classes at Renegade!
I am proud to announce that I obtained employment here in the Toledo area. I am even more ecstatic that this new job will allow me to work from home (insert happy dance now). I will have to do a little travel but that is ok with me. I am really looking forward to seeing my hubby on a more regular basis as we reside very close to the university. He will be able to come home for lunch on most days. I do not begin until September 3rd, so in the meantime I am filling my days, working out, running, and pinning home decoration and recipe ideas. Really thinking I will need to up my culinary skills..
One more thing: I am so disappointed with myself for watching the MTV VMA's last night. The only real performance was Justin Timberlake... What has the world come to? Yikes.
Being that I am on the quest for optimal health and fitness, I realize the importance of cross-training. I have shared my reasons for enjoying running, but I have a new found love. Well, I actually have a few favorite cross-training activities, but one that I will discuss today.
TRX Suspension Training! J recently gifted me a month's worth of small-group classes at my health club, and I am in LOVE! Well, I must admit that I have a fondness to personal training, in general, and the small-group format is ideal for me. I capitalize on having the presence of another individual give me directives when its comes to weight-training. And the small-group format is great because I do not want to be the wimp of the group!
At Capital Fitness we typically have a class of about 4 people... today there were only two of us! (Class sizes vary, but the ones I attend have between 2-4 people).
TRX is wonderful for people at any fitness level. By varying one's body angle, foot placement, speed, etc. the degree of difficulty changes. Although you can buy the suspension trainer cords and workout DVD online, I personally enjoy the camaraderie and energy that a health club affords. Hmm, I really enjoy the amenities :) like the sauna, pool (I have never gotten IN the pool), jacuzzi, spa, fit people, in general, lol!
I highly recommend those looking for something new to give it a try. TRX is also coming to the Princeton Club West soon! Here is an informational video:
Next up on my strength training list is Dumbbell Training and CrossFit! Currently, they do not have either at my health club, but I am keeping my eyes open for the opportunity!
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