Went snowshoeing yesterday for the first time in months. JewishMother, Meg, Dr.Z and I went up Mount Van Hoevenberg, which was about 2.5 miles each way. The weather was great - forties and sunny, but the snow was heavy and clumpy, giving me an extra workout. (I had about two pounds of snow on each shoe most of the time.)
Friday's treadmill run was pretty damn awesome - started off at 7.0 and ended up having to crank it up to 7.2 on the second mile when I realized I had been easily chatting with Dr. Z the entire time. My cardio is really coming along nicely.
Tonight is Karate, although lately I'm really starting to wonder if this is the right school for me. Sensei sent an e-mail over the weekend forbidding us from sparring when he's not around AND has said that he's purposefully holding back promotions of people who seem overeager to get their next rank. (Supposedly it's a test of spirit.) I just really don't even want to go. Sigh.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Treadmilltastic
Ran 4.25 miles yesterday at a good pace - 6.9 the first mile, 7.0 for the rest. Felt a little "heavy" thanks to a big greasy lunch at the local diner, but otherwise it was a great run.
I was hoping to run outside today, but it is SNOWING, believe it or not, so back on the treadmill I go. I'm hoping to stay at 7.0 for the entire time. We'll see. I just can't wait until I can run outside.
I was hoping to run outside today, but it is SNOWING, believe it or not, so back on the treadmill I go. I'm hoping to stay at 7.0 for the entire time. We'll see. I just can't wait until I can run outside.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Sparring!
With Sensei gone for a month, we were actually allowed to spar last night. It felt great since my legs were itching for a workout after not running much this week.
Unfortunately my rust showed. Both Dr. Z and Duncely got in way more shots than they usually do. It wasn't until my final match that I finally got in the groove. I told Dr. Z that I definitely want to go back to working on sparring on Fridays.
It's warm enough to run outside again, but I want to get some distance in so I'm going to use the treadmill. I don't have enough muscle yet to do more than 5K of my hilly route. Can't wait!
Unfortunately my rust showed. Both Dr. Z and Duncely got in way more shots than they usually do. It wasn't until my final match that I finally got in the groove. I told Dr. Z that I definitely want to go back to working on sparring on Fridays.
It's warm enough to run outside again, but I want to get some distance in so I'm going to use the treadmill. I don't have enough muscle yet to do more than 5K of my hilly route. Can't wait!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
More Food than Running
Didn't get any exercise for three days straight, believe it or not. My life was just insane Saturday through Monday and included eating way too much on Sunday.
Managed to run outside for the first time in almost two weeks today. I did my 5K route in 27:40. Considering that I hadn't run since Friday AND barely ran outside I was very happy. To put it in perspective, I didn't even break 30 minutes until May 29th last season. I'm way ahead from where I was this time last year. Yay!
Managed to run outside for the first time in almost two weeks today. I did my 5K route in 27:40. Considering that I hadn't run since Friday AND barely ran outside I was very happy. To put it in perspective, I didn't even break 30 minutes until May 29th last season. I'm way ahead from where I was this time last year. Yay!
Friday, March 21, 2008
She's a Little Runaway
I wonder how many more running puns I can come up with considering it's an in-between-season time of year and running on the treadmill is pretty much all I can do. (Aside from Karate, which is only 2 or 3 times a week.)
Ran 3.5 miles yesterday. I did a 6.7/6.8/6.9/7.0 routine but didn't make it the full four mile minimum I like to hit. I guess I've hit my speed wall for now and am going to work on getting back up to four miles before increasing the speed again.
I was hoping to do my usual outdoor Friday run, but despite being late March it's windy and 13 degrees out so it's back to the treadmill once more. I'm also hoping to work on Kata with Dr. Z tonight. We'll see.
Ran 3.5 miles yesterday. I did a 6.7/6.8/6.9/7.0 routine but didn't make it the full four mile minimum I like to hit. I guess I've hit my speed wall for now and am going to work on getting back up to four miles before increasing the speed again.
I was hoping to do my usual outdoor Friday run, but despite being late March it's windy and 13 degrees out so it's back to the treadmill once more. I'm also hoping to work on Kata with Dr. Z tonight. We'll see.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Still Snowing
First day of Spring and we have snow. Sigh. Ironic that the Speedskating Oval's been closed for the season. If they had waited out the rain yesterday they could have been open at least another week, looking at the forecast.
Karate was pretty good last night. We got to work on bo, which is alway fun. I love weapons. Gets me thinking I need to get out my sai again - I haven't so much as held them in months. The test never happened - Sensei simply forgot. (He's a bit scatterbrained like that.) I guess having five more days to prepare isn't necessarily a bad thing.
FakeDaughter brought in the design she wants on her black belt. First of all, it wasn't until yesterday that I noticed she had received a FOURTH stripe at some point. (They're not exactly easy to see on brown belts and hers are all really close together.) Secondly, I've never heard of designing your own black belt. At Tae Kwon Do they were all the same - you just got to dictate how your name was printed (i.e. middle initials or not).
Anyway, today is running on the treadmill yet again and maybe some weight training down in the basement, although I'm still feeling Tuesday's weight workout.
Karate was pretty good last night. We got to work on bo, which is alway fun. I love weapons. Gets me thinking I need to get out my sai again - I haven't so much as held them in months. The test never happened - Sensei simply forgot. (He's a bit scatterbrained like that.) I guess having five more days to prepare isn't necessarily a bad thing.
FakeDaughter brought in the design she wants on her black belt. First of all, it wasn't until yesterday that I noticed she had received a FOURTH stripe at some point. (They're not exactly easy to see on brown belts and hers are all really close together.) Secondly, I've never heard of designing your own black belt. At Tae Kwon Do they were all the same - you just got to dictate how your name was printed (i.e. middle initials or not).
Anyway, today is running on the treadmill yet again and maybe some weight training down in the basement, although I'm still feeling Tuesday's weight workout.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I hate March
Ugh...so sick of SNOW. (And yes, we just got some more snow. Despite the fact that tomorrow is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING.)
Anyway, I did run on the treadmill last night, doing 6.6/6.7/6.8/6.9. I really felt it though - I think I'm reaching the point where progress on my speed is going to start slowing down. I'd really love to be able to run four miles at a 7.0 pace though.
I also used my new weight bench for the first time yesterday. It is so nice to be able to just go down to the basement and work out.
Well, tonight is my Karate test supposedly. Update to follow tomorrow.
Anyway, I did run on the treadmill last night, doing 6.6/6.7/6.8/6.9. I really felt it though - I think I'm reaching the point where progress on my speed is going to start slowing down. I'd really love to be able to run four miles at a 7.0 pace though.
I also used my new weight bench for the first time yesterday. It is so nice to be able to just go down to the basement and work out.
Well, tonight is my Karate test supposedly. Update to follow tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Yet Another Week Passes
Not sure what's up with these Tuesday posts all week, but all I can say is that my personal life has been too topsy-turvy crazy to update regularly.
Anyway, I've been really focusing on running lately. Unfortunately mid-March in the Adirondacks means that I'm still doing almost all of it on treadmills. The weather has cooperated enough for me to do outdoors runs the past few Fridays, but that's it. My outdoor 5K is 29:11 as of last Friday, which is miles (or minutes, as the case were) ahead of where I was last week. It's almost four minutes off my PR, so of course I'm still not happy with it. Perfectionist much?
My treadmill work has been slowly but steadily increasing. Since last Tuesday I've gone from a M1 - 6.3 M2 - 6.4 M3 - 6.5 M4 - 7 M 4.25 7.5 workout to a M1 6.5 M2 - 6.6 M3 - 6.7 M4 - 7 M 4.25 - 7.5 workout. Tonight will be another treadmill workout. I'm planning on doing the first two miles at 6.6 MPH with the rest the same and seeing how I feel.
Not much new has happened in Karate, although I did find out that my second brown belt test will be tomorrow. I've been working my upper katas and am feeling pretty good about them. Last Wednesday we actually had sparring, which rocked. (It was because Sensei was gone. Not so much into the sparring, Sensei is.)
That's all for now. Tomorrow: the test!
Anyway, I've been really focusing on running lately. Unfortunately mid-March in the Adirondacks means that I'm still doing almost all of it on treadmills. The weather has cooperated enough for me to do outdoors runs the past few Fridays, but that's it. My outdoor 5K is 29:11 as of last Friday, which is miles (or minutes, as the case were) ahead of where I was last week. It's almost four minutes off my PR, so of course I'm still not happy with it. Perfectionist much?
My treadmill work has been slowly but steadily increasing. Since last Tuesday I've gone from a M1 - 6.3 M2 - 6.4 M3 - 6.5 M4 - 7 M 4.25 7.5 workout to a M1 6.5 M2 - 6.6 M3 - 6.7 M4 - 7 M 4.25 - 7.5 workout. Tonight will be another treadmill workout. I'm planning on doing the first two miles at 6.6 MPH with the rest the same and seeing how I feel.
Not much new has happened in Karate, although I did find out that my second brown belt test will be tomorrow. I've been working my upper katas and am feeling pretty good about them. Last Wednesday we actually had sparring, which rocked. (It was because Sensei was gone. Not so much into the sparring, Sensei is.)
That's all for now. Tomorrow: the test!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Another Week Flies By
Spent pretty much all of last week trying to catch up at work after being gone for so long.
Not much new - the weather has been terrible so I've only run outside once the past week. Otherwise it's been TreadmillsVille, Population: PipTook. My running is progressing nicely though. Tonight is gym night, so we'll see how much I can do. I'm very well-rested after taking yesterday off (aside from Karate, of course).
Karate was pretty cool last night. FakeDaughter and I got kata training from Sensei, which I was really happy about. We went over PURPLE BELT kata though after I told him I needed work on my brown belt kata. Oh well. I also found out that I'm going to be taking my SECOND brown belt test tomorrow or Monday. For those keeping track, I just took the first brown belt test last week. Damn. In addition, Dr. Z told me that Sensei wants to promote me. (To what, we have no idea.)
I'm not complaining - after all, I haven't been tested or promoted since October, but - DAMN! It's all happening at once.
Not much new - the weather has been terrible so I've only run outside once the past week. Otherwise it's been TreadmillsVille, Population: PipTook. My running is progressing nicely though. Tonight is gym night, so we'll see how much I can do. I'm very well-rested after taking yesterday off (aside from Karate, of course).
Karate was pretty cool last night. FakeDaughter and I got kata training from Sensei, which I was really happy about. We went over PURPLE BELT kata though after I told him I needed work on my brown belt kata. Oh well. I also found out that I'm going to be taking my SECOND brown belt test tomorrow or Monday. For those keeping track, I just took the first brown belt test last week. Damn. In addition, Dr. Z told me that Sensei wants to promote me. (To what, we have no idea.)
I'm not complaining - after all, I haven't been tested or promoted since October, but - DAMN! It's all happening at once.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
No Good Title Today
Just a quick blurb. I did indeed test yesterday. No stripes as of yet though, which is extremely frustrating. Sensei said I passed, so I'm not quite sure what to make of that. I am getting frustrated with this. I haven't received as much as a stripe in almost five months now. Grrr.
Gym tonight, which is good since the weather is unfit for running - we have an ice storm that's starting today and really picking up tomorrow.
Over and out.
Gym tonight, which is good since the weather is unfit for running - we have an ice storm that's starting today and really picking up tomorrow.
Over and out.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Back from Buffalo
97 miles in 4.5 days of paddling. Wow. It rocked. We got back Saturday night and I've spent every moment since trying to get everything back in order after being gone for ten days.
I have, however, found time to go for a 5K run yesterday and today. Yesterday was 28:56, giving me hope on being way ahead of where I was at this time last season. However, I was quickly brought down a notch by today's run, which was a surprising 29:22. I say surprising because I felt pretty good (if a little sore) and the weather was even better. Oh well. Better luck tomorrow!
Tonight is Karate. I could very well be testing tonight, although I'm actually hoping Sensei waits until Wednesday so I have more time for review. That's one thing I just haven't had time for yet. We shall see!
Tomorrow: Gym. I think.
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