KCFit.Net

Tuesday Training bLog: Week 3

by Chris Culbertson, posted Aug 18th 2009, 17:27

Aubrey – Busy Mom

Tell us about your training last week:

Last week of training was, again, not satisfactory for me. It’s really hard to do everything: work, be a mom, work out, spend time with husband and friends, and rest! So I only managed 3 “real” workouts. I finally got back on my bike after a week and a half off- which felt like a year! I cannot believe how nice it is to ride a “good” bike. If you ever want to save up money for one, it is so worth it! I did 2 runs, only 3 miles each, but that’s all I had time to do. I don’t need high mileage yet anyways for the KC 1/2, so I don’t feel stressed about that. I played in our sand volleyball league championship game, which we won- Yeah!!! What a fun workout- except we did consume some beverages after the big win, which sort of x’s out the workout.

What was the hardest part of your week?  The easiest?

The hardest part of the week was the jogging. I am not a runner/jogger, so it is always a mental thing for me, when I start training for a new race. I have to remind myself I can do a long run. Even though I have run several 1/2 marathons and one full, when I’m starting out at 3 miles, I think, “there is no way I am going to be able to finish 13 miles” even though I always do.

My easiest workout was my volleyball game, because it is so fun!

This week we asked our bloggers about goal setting:

For me, the first time I do a new length or kind of sport/race, my only goal is to complete it. I have always been active, so even though I know I can do any sport, I don’t want a lot of pressure on myself. The first time should be fun and as least stressful as possible. The second time doing a race, I always try to beat my previous time. I don’t race against others because I know no one else is the exact same as me. Maybe they have more time to train, maybe they are 10 years younger than me, maybe they were on a competitive swim team when they were in high school. Who knows, so I don’t worry about others. I just try to beat myself.

Some mornings my only goal is to get out of bed and not hit snooze. Even if I am so sluggish, but begin a run or a bike ride, after a couple minutes I know I’ll be awake enough to get moving.  At least that’s what I hope for! (A few times I have tried running with my eyes closed for a few seconds and I have wished that I could run when sleeping. Imagine that- if we could exercise and get really fit when asleep! Ahhhhhh….)

Brian – Weekend Warrior

Tell us about your training this week:

This week I remembered to bring all my work out stuff on the road and I was able to put together a few consecutive days of good runs.  It was refreshing to get back to being active.  I didn’t do a lot of running over the weekend, but I did move into a new house, which seemed like enough of a work out to make up for it.

This week we asked our bloggers about goal setting:

I like to set a goal time for an event.  I know that even without a dedicated running program I can get through a half-marathon.  So I like to look at the results of a race from the year before and then try to find a time that I feel comfortable with and which would put me in the top third of people who finished last year.  I like to use that as a guide going into the race and that helps me figure out what times I need to be running in practice.  I also know my best half-marathon time, this time around I know that I won’t hit my best time, so for this event I will be happy coming in under 1 hour 45 minutes.  I would feel good about this time, but I know that I really need to step up training to be sure I can get there.  This week I will increase my runs from 30 mins a day to 45-60 mins.  Of course that means getting up a bit earlier…so I guess we will see next week how successful I was.

Amber – Marathon Newbie

Tell us about your training last week:

During my long run last weekend I injured my right knee, so now my training has somewhat come to a halt. I have had problems with this knee in the past, and I gave it a rest for a couple of days (didn’t run, iced it every night, and did leg-strengthening exercises). After 3 days I tried running on it again, but about a mile into my run it became painful again. So my training this week has been limited to biking and weight training. I’m going to give it a rest for a couple more days then try running on it again, and if no improvement, I guess off to the doctor I go

What was the hardest part of your week?

The worst part was not being able to run everyday. Biking just isn’t as satisfying to me.

The easiest? Well, I didn’t really do much so it was a pretty easy week overall.

This week we asked our bloggers about goal setting:

Right now my goal is to get my knee back to normal so I can actually race! My goal for the half marathon is to finish at a good pace and keep a steady pace throughout the whole race. I usually set daily goals as well with training and nutrition– for example, one day I might be like, tomorrow I want to run 4 miles and focus on hills and do weight training after.

Chris – Working out for Wedding

Tell us about your training last week:

Last Sunday, I hurt my shoulder playing basketball. My dad (he is a doctor) thinks that I just strained something in the rotator cuff, but the pain has not subsided so we may have to look into a scan and hope to avoid surgery. Needless to say, this has been a set back, but I did not let it take me out of the game. I was still able to run 3 days last week, accumulating almost 10 miles. I also took Olivia to the park and did calisthenics while she played on the playground twice.

What was the hardest part of your week?

I have been in a lot of pain this week and am unable to move my left arm in certain ways. The hardest thing has been driving because I am used to driving with my left arm and have been unable to do so. Maybe I should run/walk more places and leave the car at home.

This week we asked our bloggers about goal setting:

My goal is to get my weight down to 185 lbs without any kind of drastic weight loss or scheme, but by changing my lifestyle so I can sustain that weight. I WILL do so not only by losing fat, but toning muscle and becoming not skinny, but lean. Over the coarse of the last year, I have dropped from about 210 lbs just below 195 lbs. I do not watch the scale closely as my weight can fluctuate multiple pounds in a day. I understand the importance of goal setting and having specific measurables and time lines, so I chose a specific weight and date (my wedding date 10/16) so I can hold myself accountable.

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Stay tuned for next week when our bloggers talk about when they don’t reach their goals or “fall off the wagon”.

Tell us about your goal setting – leave a comment!