Trying to get off the bench.

20 Minutes Ashtanga Yoga

Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred, Workout 1

It’s been a very difficult month, well, 5 weeks…ok who are we kidding? How about nearly year? I am trying to gently ease my way off the bench, even though I am still far from ok. Whatever is wrong is definitely soft-tissue related, and even after taking nearly two weeks off (there have been a few unrecorded runs and cross training sessions since my last entry) nothing seems to be getting better. I know stress has a lot to do with it, but to get rid of the stress I need to exercise… evil cycle of doom!

We’ll see how this feels tomorrow.

A long ride…

A very long ride indeed! Well, long for me. Today I rode 80+ kilometres, which is something I’ve never done before. There is a local bicycling association, La Vie à Vélo, that organises long, scenic rides on Sundays. I’ve wanted to give a ride a try, but because Sundays are usually my long-run day I’ve always just put it off. Since I knew I couldn’t do a long run this weekend I gave it a go.

It was really lovely, and hopefully I’ll get a proper post up with pictures at Musings From The Fishbowl soon. We went to Vaux le Vicomte, Blandy les Tours, and through a portion of the forêt de Villefermoy. The weather was a bit hot and humid, but lovely none the less. My IT bands were just killing me at the end, which sort of surprised me, because I ride my bike nearly every day, but I haven’t ever ridden so far before.

I’m really looking forward to the next ride with them!

Temporary Injured List. Again.

After spending over an hour with my Ostiopath, I am to take a few days off. She gave me the “I think you need to take some time off and you need to scale back your activity…” talk. That being said, I really respect my Ostio and I think for a non-athletic person she’s very open-minded about athletes and their obsessive behaviours. She just feels like she’s at her wit’s end because structurally everything is in place, yet the lower back, the psoas, the piriformis and the adductors keep getting all messed up. I’m concerned it’s perhaps a tendinitis issue.

So, I’m off until Saturday or Sunday. Damn it.

Tuesdays…

Easy Run

Distance : 6.09mi Duration : 1h04m38sec

I’m wondering if my insoles are ok. I should probably make an appointment with my podologue again. My abductors are still really pulling and the adductors/psoas are really being funky. I wish I could get this figured out. I’m feeling so frustrated because I’m just not able to move forward.

“30 – Day Shred”

Workout 2

I knew I was in trouble when I got home from my run because I could feel my R-abductor really feeling like jelly. It didn’t bother me at all during my run, but as soon as I started the workout it felt as though I’d pulled it. I should have stopped – obviously – but didn’t, because I knew I was due to see the Ostopath again in the afternoon. I wish I knew what was going on.

Monday Training

Easy Run

Distance : 6.09mi Duration : 1h02m23sec Pace : 10:14

Great run – had trouble pulling myself from bed because Guppy was up in the night. Nightmares. So glad I did go, however.

Cross Training/Strength

“30 Day Shred” DVD – Workout 1

I’m going to try to start mixing up the workouts a little. I find them equally challenging strength-wise, but do find the workouts 2 and 3 more of a cardio challenge. I’m so thankful for this DVD, it’s really helping me break up the monotony of doing free weight circuits alone at home.

Saturday workout & a scolding…

Cross Training/Strength

“30 Day Shred” workout 3

So, I admit being a dork running yesterday. I was to text my Ostio after I ran to let her know what was pulling/how things felt, etc., and so I sent her a texto after my Friday morning run.

She was not pleased.

But she’s pretty cool, so while she scolded me, she did squeeze me in on Saturday to be sure things didn’t come too much out of alignment. Because I knew she’d say to exercise for 48 hours after my visit I did a “30 Day Shred” workout before seeing her. This was my first time trying workout 3, which I found both harder, and easier, than the other workouts.

Friday – Finally, a run!

Easy Run

Duration : 51m41sec Distance : 5.06mi Pace : 10:13/min. mile

Managed (finally) to get a run in, and didn’t have to get up before 5am! I shouldn’t have as I just saw the ostiopath yesterday, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to run Saturday so I risked it. After about 40mins my hip joint began to pull, radiating to the outside. I wish I could figure out what was up with that.

Cross Training/Strength : “30 Day Shred” Workout 2

Can I just say how thankful I am that I have this DVD? It’s so deceptively simple in theory, but brilliant. I would love to have other Jillian Michaels videos, if only to talk about them here. I was most definitely one of those self-proclaimed DVD-elitist athletes who looked down her nose that popular DVDs, but I have nothing but positive things to say about this DVD, save the cool-down/stretching which I find a bit lean, but still sound.

Wednesday & Thursday…

Cross Training/Strength : “30 Day Shred” Workout 2

In addition to trying to move through some big life adjustments, I’m also trying to swing with some major scheduling changes. This has translated into my not being able to run because while I’m willing to wake up early, even I have my limits!

Enough changes! Having Guppy home with me all day and not really having anyone to help me with her during the day means no run. I remember when she was small, we lived in Versailles and I would run with her in the castle gardens. That was such a wonderful time, and such a beautiful place to run with her. I still have the running stroller, but there is no where to run with her here, and that’s frustrating. Plus, she’s so big now, she’d probably be bored out of her mind after an hour.

Tuesday Training

Easy Run

Duration : 1h07min02sec Distance : ? I’m thinking about 7mi. Stupid footpod needs to be recalibrated, and because I was in the forest it’s difficult to use MapMyRun to get a clear reading. MMR says well over 7.

Strength/Cross-Training : “30 Day Shred”

Not much to say, except that my adductors/psoas really bothered me, even during the run which I was surprised at. Given that I took Friday, Saturday and Sunday off I thought it would make a difference, but it didn’t. Probably need to get in to see my Ostiopath.

“Stress Will Make Your Body Adapt”

Cross Training/Strength

Jillian Michaels “30 Day Shred”

I don’t mean to sound paranoid, but I really think this blog is cursed : each time I begin updating it something really negative happens to me. Last time it was breaking my foot.

Since last Thursday night my life has been turned upside down, and it will never be the same. Friday through Sunday I wasn’t really functioning, but I did manage to do a little cross training and take a shower today. No one is dying, but I  feel like I am just a little bit.

I really hope I can get my head cleared and keep some perspective on what is going to help me, and what is going to hurt me.

While doing the “30 Day Shred” (which is still quite a butt-kicker), the words of trainer Jillian Michaels “stress will make your body adapt” took on a very different meaning for me. Ok, the stress is here. Now it’s time to adapt.

And progress, too.