Okay okay. I have been sucking at the weekly "Here's what I've been doing physically" posts. And I still have to write about my sister's wedding - though I may just post a bunch of my cell pictures and link to Jake's blog and count that.... because I suck.
Fitness?
I have been consistently going to Crossfit about 4 days a week. One of those days is a "technique" class which is nice since I have no barbell experience or other weird stuff like "kipping" bullshit, so I go and it helps PLUS we still do like a mini workout at the end. And any excuse to hang out with Rog Podge is awesome. I'm going to ask him if he wants to adopt me as his honorary niece, though maybe I should be in better shape for him to find me worthy.
And in better shape, I think my new goals sort of revolve around this:
And in better shape, I think my new goals sort of revolve around this:
Her arms a little too big for my personal taste and her abs are like super ripped, which I don't know if I can really do. But the gist is there. Lean out, get some strength, and try to work up my technique and therefore weight. She's been doing Crossfit for like 6 years or something AND she's 5 years older than I am, so this is my 5 year goal. Which Jake has said I can do a lot sooner due to me having slightly different modifications and REALLY because I only care about my running, I'll be in more marathoner body shape than weightlifting body shape, which is what I REALLY want.
Or maybe a hurdler body? Anyone? When I was watching the last Olympics, I was like "omg can I haz?"
Anyway. I never imagined my fitness goals would ever be this. I mean, only 3-4 years ago I just didn't want to be flabby. And then some bug hit me. I don't even know when. I'm pretty sure when I started trail running I didn't even have it. I just wanted to run. But now I want to be FIT and get BETTER. I still have no ambitions of being the best at anything, or winning even a third place in anything (unless I get lucky like I did with my marathon and be the only female in my age range). But I want to be the best I can be.
It's exciting. And even just two months of cross training with crossfit, I've seen my body transform and I've seen my running pace improve, kind of dramatically actually. And the best part is, I think Crossfit is helping my mental game more than me physically. Which is exactly what I need. I'm so new to doing any sort of sports (even though I played Tennis most of my life) that I still don't know what I'm capable of or how hard to push myself, or even how to push myself at all. So I'm learning all that with my gym and trying to run whenever I can (which I've been slacking at, unfortunately).
It's exciting. And even just two months of cross training with crossfit, I've seen my body transform and I've seen my running pace improve, kind of dramatically actually. And the best part is, I think Crossfit is helping my mental game more than me physically. Which is exactly what I need. I'm so new to doing any sort of sports (even though I played Tennis most of my life) that I still don't know what I'm capable of or how hard to push myself, or even how to push myself at all. So I'm learning all that with my gym and trying to run whenever I can (which I've been slacking at, unfortunately).
Running
I've been waking at 6am on Saturdays to run as far as I can on the trails before getting to my 10am technique class. It's been okay, but I think I want to start doing the class first and then run. Or even get back to my usual evening runs like I used to do. (Except I think I've turned into a morning workout person!! Weird).
Sundays I'll do a long run if my Saturday was shot, or a short run if Saturday was good. Or skip it when the weather sucks which has been often. I think I can't use bad weather as an excuse anymore, I've been missing too many runs. I was burnt out from training in below freezing and sometimes below zero weather, but I need to snap out of my picky habits and JUST DO IT. Also, I need to sign up for a freaking race so I have a goal. I still want to run an ultra this year, but JUNE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER ALREADY - and that's when I was going to switch from short, speed distances and get back to marathon long distance training. Blah. I don't feel ready yet. But maybe I need to just sign up for a training program and do it.
Sundays I'll do a long run if my Saturday was shot, or a short run if Saturday was good. Or skip it when the weather sucks which has been often. I think I can't use bad weather as an excuse anymore, I've been missing too many runs. I was burnt out from training in below freezing and sometimes below zero weather, but I need to snap out of my picky habits and JUST DO IT. Also, I need to sign up for a freaking race so I have a goal. I still want to run an ultra this year, but JUNE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER ALREADY - and that's when I was going to switch from short, speed distances and get back to marathon long distance training. Blah. I don't feel ready yet. But maybe I need to just sign up for a training program and do it.
Traveling?
No big plans soon, but it's my last day with my temp job at Newalta. I'm coming in for a "final" interview either next week or the one after and I feel confident they want to bring me on full time. But with the possibility of one or two weeks without work, I think I'm going to take advantage of 3 months worth of paychecks and plan a Moab running weekend that I have always wanted. Plus we have an adorable Norwegian skiier living with us who super loves to run with me because she's trying to get into Olympian shape. She's really excited to go with me and it should be pretty great.
And then hopefully I get this job and with it 3 weeks of vacay a year to plan out. Chamonix I'm lookin at you girlfriend!
And then hopefully I get this job and with it 3 weeks of vacay a year to plan out. Chamonix I'm lookin at you girlfriend!
Conclusion
I'm in the best shape I've ever been, I'm overall pretty happy and yet still extremely stressed out all the time. But the future looks good on the horizon. Huzzah!