On the First Exercise of Christmas...

Every time I think I have seen the worse that the Sadist can throw at me he surprises me with something new.  Today was the 12 exercises of Christmas my Trainer gave to me, though I lovingly renamed it the 12 exercises from hell that my sadist gave to me.   Here is what those 12 exercises included:

• 1 low and sustained squat
• 2 high knee jumps (though the way he said it, it sounded like hiney)
• 3 ankle taps
• 4 mountain climbers
• 5 burpees
• 6 lunges
• 7 sumo squats
• 8 side lunges
• 9 advanced lunges
• 10 jumping jacks
• 11 jump squats
• 12 calf raises

I royally suck at lunges, burpees and mountain climbers.  My left leg just doesn't like them which means I get even more whiny than usual.  He makes everything look so easy and yet I find it all so hard.  Does it ever get easier?  I seriously doubt it. I would have preferred the pipers piping and ladies dancing over squats and lunges. I have no idea what I would have done with them but I wouldn't have been gasping for air.

He has already given me a preview for the next session and I'm looking for an excuse to not show up.  It will be partner work, which means I'll be working with him and while he looks smooth and confident doing the workout I'll be wobbling all over the place looking ridiculous. I wish I was better at doing them or at least looked better while doing them.   Oh well, I survived somehow for now. '

I did manage to get out of doing 100 crunches by trading them for a 120 second plank.  The first 90 secs went well, it was the last 30 that nearly ruined it.  Had I not held it for 120 sec, I would have had to start over and do the 100 crunches.  That was incentive enough to keep me holding.  Now I'm curled up watching Christmas movies and drinking my chocolate milk.  Tomorrow I have a marathon of the shopping to do and I need my rest.

The End of 2013 Racing

Today, Maria, Jenn and I ran the last race of the year and it was a doozie.  At least it was for me, who up until today had only ran about 4 to 4.5 miles.  The Celtic Solstice 5 Mile Road Race was exactly as it was billed - 5 miles.  It was a winding and hilly run that seemed to go on forever and it was balmy 39 with a good chance of snow or sleet.  It was a lovely day for a run, NOT. 

I managed to keep pace with Jennifer, who by the way is the Energizer Bunny.  She just keeps going and going.  I on the other hand seem to go in stops and starts. 

My trouble came when we came on around 3.75 to 4 miles and my left leg no longer seemed to listen.  The upper part continued as expected but the foot and ankle was another story.  At one point the girls each grabbed an arm and held me up as I attempted to "pick" up my foot.  I found it actually easier, if you can believe that, to run instead of walk.  At least while I was running I was able to keep my legs bent therefore making my foot work just a little better.   As we came to the last part of the lake section of the run I noticed we were less than a half mile from the finish line and it was all down hill.  Woo hoo!!  Of course that meant the start was all uphill, no wonder it seemed so hard. Sigh. 

As usual as I came around the corner and saw the finish line and my afterburner kicked in.  Usually that is a good thing, this time, it was very challenging.  As I got closer to the line, my leg challenged me even more.  Luckily I had sunglasses on as I had tears running down my face.  Why I'm not completely sure, except that I was so full of emotion.  As I passed the line several very kind people helped me as my leg finally revolted.  I was able to continue standing but moving was hard and the streaming tears in the bitter cold was not helping. It was several minutes before I was able to decompress and move was more control. 

On the drive home I looked at the sole of my shoe and sure enough I had managed to wear a hole into the toe.  I only bought the shoes 2 months ago and they hadn't even made it 100 miles.  I guess new shoes are going on my Christmas list this year.

It has been a long but quick year.  I have managed to complete 15 races and one walk that we ran.  I have made some fabulous friends and even though I still don't love running, they have made it more than tolerable.  At the end of today's race I declared (yet again) I wouldn't do that again.  As I'm sure you have figured out by now, I will probably do it again and again.  Thank you to everyone who has inspired and motivated me, especially those of you I have had the pleasure to run with.  I would have never made it this far.  As of now the next race isn't scheduled until March, unfortunately the next torture session is scheduled for next Tuesday.

 

Breaktime

Last night was my last torture session for a week and a half as I’ll be tied up with work commitments.  To say I was excited about the prospect of a vacation from the Sadist is an understatement.  As he put me through my paces, he repeatedly told me I was already missing him.  HA! As the session progressed I would have gladly paid just about anything for him to go away. 
 

The Sadist had me doing squats, calf raises, shoulder presses and bicep curls as fast as I could for 10 reps, 5 sets holding a 30lb weighted bar.  I have to say I am proud that I did not fall over once.  I did get a bit tipsy, but managed to catch myself, though he caught me once or twice.  It was the bicep curls that were the biggest challenge (aside from my balance).  We did this with another set of exercises but with lighter weights and the addition of push-ups.  When I was 16 I sucked at push-ups, why would I want to do them when I’m 43?  I have no idea.  We ended the session with some killer abs exercises.  Apparently I didn’t whine enough as we had a good 15-20 minutes for abs.  Ugh!
 

If I were honest I know I’ll miss him along with bi-weekly torture sessions.  After a year and a half It has become so much a part of my weekly routine that it feel strange when I am not there.  This is not to say I particularly enjoy working out, I enjoy the challenge and the end results (after the muscles recover).  I almost must admit I do enjoy looking at his pretty face, which helps with the torture.
 

Speaking of torture, I ran the Gobble Cobble with the girls.  It was billed as a 7k, but I’m not sure that was really the case.  Regardless of the distance it was still a challenge.  I lost Maria and Terri during the 1st mile and had to motivate myself to continue.  I wanted to quit so many times especially when I started to get the sharp pain in my left calf.  At one point as I ran, I was talking to another runner.  I noted I was not a fan of running, yet somehow I ended up running races and had all the gear to go with it.  She just laughed and said she could relate.  If I wasn’t so stubborn, determined to meet a challenge and hold myself to a high standard I would have at least taken a shortcut or two but I just couldn’t do it.  Overall, I was happy with my final result and even managed to finish before the rest of the gang.  The added bonus, I didn't fall once running over the cobbles, came close, but didn't actually do it.

When I get back from my trip, I’ll be running the Celtic Solstice 5 miler.  While I’m gone I’m going to have to find some motivation to train for that.  I’m not sure it will be pretty unless I do.