Kimba: I know age is a factor with recovery. But right now, I’m blaming the boring but big template. That shit is hard. I think I’m adjusting, but if I don’t feel better next cycle I might need to concede that I’m just not ready for that program.
Nikki: The head matters that’s for sure. You have an interesting strategy to deal with it–just throw weight on the bar and move it huh? I’m not sure I’m quite bold enough to try that!
Alexus: You’ve got that pullup for sure. You hear me. Expectations make a huge difference. I think they can be very limiting and what’s worse they are often unseen. Last year my 8 year old daughter was the first person in her class to finish a quarter mile run. The PE teacher told her that she had never seen a GIRL run the track like that before. (That PE teacher needs to fucking get out more). Anyway, the next time Ella’s class ran the track, Ella was the first girl to cross the line, but she walked and finished behind two boys. Of course, I can’t be certain that she let the boys win, but that inference is a strong one from my perspective. I know the PE teacher was meaning to be complimentary; it’s funny the way life shapes us.
Cal: I love a lecture. It makes me feel so young and naughty. But seriously, I appreciate the link. I know my training is flawed in many regards. But, I don’t train for health or beauty. I run because I’m a runner. I lift because I want to be stronger. Let’s face it, at this point, adding weight only increases my chances of injury as does running the volume that I do. I know that. But, right now, for reasons I don’t understand I’m quite driven. I’m hoping the diversity of my training ends up saving me–I can’t run to excess because I’m beat down by lifting, and I’ll never need a C-pap cause I’m a runner.
And I just read your log. Congrats on signing up for your first half. Stay healthy and strong; I know you can do it.
Here’s my little runner. Showing off her kick and winning the silliness that was my sister’s pre wedding runaway bride one mile run. Yes we dressed up in old bridesmaid dresses (or princess costumes as they were) and took to the public streets for a race.
Perhaps BBB and all your running don’t mix very well. I know I couldn’t do it. I know that during peak cycling season, I have a more difficult time with recovery than I do now. Which equates somewhat to your always-on running season.
Your daughter is lovely. I sure hope that PE teacher’s thoughtless comments haven’t put her off competing hard. Is this something you have/will talk about with her?
Cal: Ella has a competitive spirit that is still very much alive. I hope I’m a good role model for her. I’ve got to get those 25 pullups though. She knew I was after them and when my birthday came and passed she asked, “Mom did you keep your promise to yourself.” Well shit sort of. Fuck.
Frenchie: The Open Boat is the title of a short story by Stephen Crane. You can read it on line if you want. “A singular disadvantage of the sea lies in the fact that after successfully surmounting one wave you discover that there is another behind it just as important and just as nervously anxious to do something effective in the way of swamping boats.”
Kimba: Yes, I’m thinking BBB is probably too much for me given my other activities. But you know stupid stubborn me is loathe to waive the white flag. And yes, I talked to Ella about it. I told her that she is a little bird. That little birds can fly. And that decisions about how far, how fast or how high to go are for her, alone, to make. She can choose to stay with flock if she wants. I understand that pressure.
Nikki: I know. Just being lean gives her a huge advantage of her peers. I volunteer a little bit in my kids classrooms. It’s amazing to me how many children are overweight at the age of 8.
Training. Not much to write about. Did gymnastics y’day after a good month lay off. I had fun, but damn that shit is hard.
Today. Squats. 5 set of 5 at varying weights. Nothing heavy.
HLR trying to up these;they help with the pullups. Three sets 15, 15, 10. Need to work back up to sets of 25
Yeah it’s sad. I fear (although I’m kinda young to worry about this) that my kids won’t want to be healthy or make good decisions. I guess parents just have to lead by example.
Nice HLRs, you do them toes to the bar, right?
Gee, I hope it’s you that does them like that, or else this is awkward
Thanks Frenchie: Here’s another quote from the Open Boat because this log is not just about the problem of “small-boat navigation,” but one of comradeship as well. “It would be difficult to describe the subtle brotherhood of men that was here established on the seas. No one said that it was so. No one mentioned it. But it dwelt in the boat, and each man felt it warm him.”
Nikki: Yeah parenting is hard. Leading by example is good. I also try really hard to remember that my kids are individuals and to treat them as such. And yes, I’m the toes to bar HLR girl. Here’s a little video to help you remember me. Ha! (Taken a while ago, I was checking to see if I was bending my legs–a gymnast must practice good form). It was a, disappointing damn I really thought they were perfectly straight, moment for me.
++++++++++++
Training:
Second day soreness from my gymnastics efforts on Wed set in today. I spent too much time sitting yesterday. Today, it was a shorty run (my ankle is not 100%), loads of stretching and a quicky military workout.
MP sets of 5 at varying weights. 55lbs was even a struggle today.
HLR 3 sets of 10
pushups 3 sets of 10
pullups aborted–too sore, tired, weak, heavy, and afraid to even try. I really have to get my shit together here. I busted ass on the pullups last year, facing the degree of my regression is really hard for me. I need to woman up and just do a single max effort set to see how much damage I’ve done there. I dislike bad news though. And it’s Friday. And did I mention that my body is so heavy right now.
My sister entered her dog into a contest. And really wants to win. She has issues. The winner gets to make a $500 donation to an animal charity of their choice. Her choice is the Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, which is the only no kill shelter in Bergen COunty NJ. Personally, I really want Lola and Fenway to win–how can those poor babies have so few votes. But, I’m a good sister. Look at me whoring my log for votes on her behalf. Anyway, you’ll recognize her dog, Bowzer, he was my previous avatar.
Here’s the link to the voting cite. And I have also attached a picture of her with her dog. I told you she has issues.
I voted… just cuz you look amazing doing those HLRs lol
I mean, a “Yep, that’s me!” would have shut me up, but I love your aim to please
Don’t be upset about the pull-ups! We all hate bad news, but we don’t know what we have to improve if we don’t face the weakness.
I think getting to the goal is more fun than actually achieving it. Then I’ll set the bar higher once it’s achieved. That’s what the pull-ups should mean to you as well.
Kimba: I think the straight legged variety is more hip flexor–I thought you mentioned your hip flexors were sore from running too–could be a weak spot on an otherwise strong body. Something to work on… and it will help with those pullups. Any time hanging on a bar is time well spent.
Nikki: Yep, I know. I got to face the music and get moving on those pullups. I’m worried because I’ve been gaining weight, which I was going to let go for awhile while I pushed for strength gains. I’m afraid that a poor max effort pullup performance will derail that plan and put me in diet mode. I keep telling myself I’m not too heavy I’m just too weak. But, that instinct to lighten the load, well it’s strong. Damn.
Here’s how my sister thanks me for my dog vote getting efforts:
“Thanks hooker!!! Solicitations on a Friday night… nothing new for you!!!”
grr that PE teacher. i’m not really a feminist… but athletics / fitness is one area that i’m starting to feel feminist about. i simply can’t believe how stuck back in the days of the ark a lot of the conceptions are…
i’ve been gaining weight, too (well i haven’t weighed myself but i’m sure i’ve gotten fatter). been avoiding the pull up bar and lat pull downs because i didn’t want to feel totally demoralized. did surprisingly well (for me) with the cable pull-down machine today, though. maybe some time deloading it has helped make it stronger… or maybe i’m just stronger if i am a bit fatter… will see whats up when i get back to the bar and am up against my bodyweight, though.
Wow! Those HLRs are oh, so pretty! You can definitely see the gymnast in you. Very nice!!
And I agree on NOT maxing on pullups while in the + lbs zone. Its amazing what a few lbs can do. Maybe you can wait to max on pullups when you’re feeling lighter, but continue to train them in the meantime. Just think how many more reps you can do when you drop a few lbs if you’ve been training them with the extra weight, no?
Lol! I just voted for Bowzer too. Mostly because I always wanted a sister and she called you a hooker, which really warmed my heart.
Lovely picture of you’re lil girl! Runaway Bride is hilarious!! And it really says a lot about you that you told her to do whatever she wants, whether its to beat the pants off the boys in a race, or let them win. I like that diplomacy.
voted for Bowzer cause he’s the big dog of the group and I love big dogs.
pullups - managed 2 or 3 at 10lbs less and got upset when I couldn’t do them anymore. As Masch mentionned, we should still train them but, in my case, not expect the same results.
and you look damn sexy doin those leg raises. I tried once. It was horrific: think epileptic baboon.
