Spring In 2 Action Week 6: Buff Brazen Bunnies

First off, I have to apologize if my blog looks a bit wonky.  For some reason, Photobucket is screwing up all my buttons and backgrounds, but they say it should be back to normal in the next day or so.  Still, me no likey.

Anyhoo....

I cannot believe we are at Week 6 on Shrinking Jeans' latest challenge yah, I know, I say that every week - so sue me.  My fellow bunny, Kirsten, and I keep busting out those push-ups for the 100 Push-Up challenge and we are nearly to the end!  Can I get a Woot-Woot? 

Both of us are also running like the crazy women we are.  Kirsten has a 1/2 marathon coming up and my 25k is 1 month from tomorrow.  I have a 13 mile training run coming up on Saturday that I'll probably tack on another 1/10 to so I can say I ran another 1/2 mary cuz we've already established my craziness.

But, it is check-in day, so here we go...

1. Run 2-3 days per week as outlined in my 25k training plan. Amazingly, Check!  That plague I talked about last week nailed me too.  I spent most of spring break week sick with a nasty sinus infection and scrapped my long run.  I was feeling better on Thursday, though, so my girl and I went to the track and she coached me to a 7:34 mile in my 4x400!!!!  It was also my anniversary this weekend and we went out of town, so I didn't run again until Sunday, when crazy-@$$ Michigan decided to jump from 40 to 83*.  My planned 8 miles became one of the worst 6 mile runs I've ever had.  Hubs tried running with me and he quit at 1 mile!  I needed some redemption and got that last night with one of the best (almost) 6 milers ever.  5.89 miles in 59 minutes.  The weather was glorious and I ran with an old friend.  (A running hint-if you want to improve your speed, run with someone a bit faster than yourself.  Our first mile was around a 9:20 pace!)
2. 100 Push-ups Challenge 3x per week. I finished week 6 with a total of 245 push-ups!  I seriously thought my arms were going to fall off!  The next workout says "try and do 100 push-ups", so I'll be giving that a shot tomorrow.
3. Add 2 (or 3) Nike Training Club app strength workouts per week. Yah, I got nothing.
4. Really work on getting enough water. This continues to go well. 

All-in-all, not a bad week. I even got on the scale this morning and saw my lowest weight ever.  I don't think I've been this small since probably middle school!  That little number on the scale was a nice surprise this morning :)  Now it's your turn to hook up with Shrinkingjeans and let us all know how your week went!

Spring In 2 Action Week 5: Buff Brazen Bunnies

Can you believe we are at Week 5 on Shrinking Jeans' latest challenge?  My fellow bunny, Kirsten, and I have been busy cranking out those push-ups for the 100 Push-Up challenge.  I wish I would have taken some arm measurements or something at the beginning because I don't see much of a difference, but the push-up count is rising, so I must be doing something right. 

Hopefully, it is becoming spring-like where you live.  Here in SW Lower Michigan, we have rain, rain, and more rain.  We also have the plague in my house this week, which is exactly how I wanted to be spending spring break.  Catch the sarcasm there?

Anyhoo, it is check-in day, so here we go...

1. Run 2-3 days per week as outlined in my 25k training plan. Check!  Even with the plague descending on my house, I did get 3 runs in the week.  On Thursday, I ran my first-ever (outdoor) sub-30 minute 5K!!!!  Then Saturday I did my 12 mile training run as I was just beginning to get sick and it sucked royally, but I finished it.  Today I did a short, 2 mile TM run just to shake out the legs.  I've had 2 doctors now tell me to bag my 13 mile run this week and focus on banishing the crud from my body, so no long run this weekend for me.
2. 100 Push-ups Challenge 3x per week. I finished week 5 with a total of 175 push-ups.  Holy Moly!  Yesterday I took my test and hit a max of 53.  How in one more week I'm supposed to get to 100 is totally beyond me.
3. Add 2 (or 3) Nike Training Club app strength workouts per week. Uh, FAIL.  I did take a 15 minute core class at the Y this morning - we used the Bosu for the whole class and my abs were crying.
4. Really work on getting enough water. This continues to go well.  Being home this week for spring break and remembering to drink is a bit more of a challenge, but my Sahara-dry mouth from not being able to breathe through my nose is a good reminder to fill up my glass.

So, some good, some not so good, but all-in-all a decent week.  Now if I can just shake this sinus infection so I can enjoy my anniversary this weekend, I'll be golden!  We are heading to The D to go to a Red Wings game with 2 other couples.  A totally grown-up weekend!  SQUEEE!

Now it's your turn, get blogging and link up with Shrinking Jeans.  Let us all know how your week went!

Spring Into Action Week 4: Buff Brazen Bunnies

I can't believe we have completed 4 weeks of this challenge already.  I'm super busy today at work, so this will be short (I hope).  My fellow Bunny, Kirsten, said she is really starting to feel those push ups. I am too, but I think my chest/arms are more PO'd than getting Buff.  Anyhoo.....

1. Run 2-3 days per week as outlined in my 25k training plan. Yep!  This past week was a step-down week, so my long run was only 10 miles I can't believe I just typed *only* 10 miles!  I didn't run with my running group but instead, ran a 10 mile route I ran last September when I was training for my 1/2 marathon.  Dude - I took 15 minutes off my time!!!!!  I ran it this time in 1:43! 6 months ago, the same route took me 1:58! Granted, I'm sure the cold weather now vs the HOT whether then played some role, but still.  15 minutes is HUGE!
2. 100 Push-ups Challenge 3x per week. I'm up thru Week 5, day 1 for a total of 145 push ups today, and a max set of 40 on my "end of week 4 test".  This is so not getting easier and I'm ready to quit.  It fraking HURTS.
3. Add 2 (or 3) Nike Training Club app strength workouts per week. A little better.  I did one ab workout this week.
4. Really work on getting enough water. I'm doing fine here.  Weekends, especially Sundays, I struggle to get the water in, but during the week I'm doing great.

There you have it folks!  Another week in the bank.  How did you all do?  

Spring In 2 Action Week 3: Buff Brazen Bunnies

Here we are into week 3 of Shrinkingjeans latest challenge.  It's time to check in and see how this half of the Buff Brazen Bunnies is doing.

1. Run 2-3 days per week as outlined in my 25k training plan. Still going strong!  I only have 2 runs in since Wednesday, for a total of 13 miles, but that is fine - I'm still totally on schedule (and since I blogged late last week, last Wednesday's run was included in that total).  I managed a beautiful 11 mile run on Saturday.  (Click the link to read about my thoughts and snag a cool coupon.)  It looked like spring was going to show up, but alas, the weather has turned to crapola again so instead of the 5 miles I had planned for yesterday, I did 2 miles of speedwork on the treadmill.  I'm hoping to do that 5 miler tomorrow.
2. 100 Push-ups Challenge 3x per week. I'm up thru Week 4, day 2 for a total of 113 push ups today, and a max set of 28.  I'm feeling absolute arm fail with these and start shaking on set 2.  When is this supposed to get easier?????
3. Add 2 (or 3) Nike Training Club app strength workouts per week. None.  Epic Fail.
4. Really work on getting enough water. Much better on the water this week.  I made myself drink at every mile of my 11 mile run and managed to consume almost 16 oz over the 2 hour run (still not as much as I should, but much better than the 3 oz last week). 

I hope everyone else has had a nice week.  Many of my southern twitter friends have been all abuzz about their glorious weather.  Hopefully, some of that will venture up into my neck-of-the-woods soon.  So, tell me, what did you accomplish this week?

Spring In 2 Action Week 2 - Buff Brazen Bunnies

Hey all, it is time to check in with the Sisterhood of the Shrinkingjeans!  Your Buff Brazen Bunnies, Kirsten and I, are going strong this week.  Since I am in the midst of Hell Week at work (and survived my 2 days presenting to staff on our new documentation system - yeah me!), I'm just going to quick comment on my goals and leave it at that.  M'kay?

1. Run 2-3 days per week as outlined in my 25k training plan. Can I get a "Woot-Woot"?  I've run 23 miles since last Wednesday, including a very hilly 10 mile training run on Saturday and the best 6 mile run EVER today.  Thankfully, the weather is finally starting to warm up and my outside runs are getting much more enjoyable.
2. 100 Push-ups Challenge 3x per week. Keeping on, keeping on.  I believe my max set was around 22 this week.
3. Add 2 (or 3) Nike Training Club app strength workouts per week. Um, notsomuch.
4. Really work on getting enough water. I've been doing fine with this one.  I did learn a very valuable lesson about hydrating on my 10 mile run (or rather AFTER the run as I was SEVERELY dehydrated and felt like shit the entire day).  A note to you runners (and walkers) out there.  A very good (and experienced) distance runner friend pretty much chewed me a new one.  She says 16 oz per hour is a good goal.  I drank about 3 oz in almost 2 hours.  Yah.  Whoops.

So there you go.  Not doing to shabby for this challenge.  How about you?  Anything to share?  Talk to me! 

Spring In 2 Action - Week 1 of the Buff Brazen Bunnies

  The Buff Brazen Bunnies (that would be Kirsten and myself) are checking in today with our stats for the first week of the Spring in 2 Action challenge over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. Let's revisit the goals I set for myself for this challenge, shall we, and see how I did.

1. Run 2-3 days per week as outlined in my 25k training plan. Done and done well: I ran 17.4 miles since last Wednesday, including my fastest mile EVER yesterday during a 4x400 speed workout (8:30, baby!). Thanks to my awesome challenge partner for suggesting that workout as a sub to the 3 mile speedwork I was supposed to do but didn't have the time or energy to spare. I also did my first-ever group training run on Saturday.  I hope to do another one this Saturday (10 miles - hold me) if the weather cooperates.
2. 100 Push-ups Challenge 3x per week. Doing great on this one as well. My highest number was the 71 I did this morning.  (I'm doing girly-style and these are over 5 sets with a short 60-90 sec break in between sets, so don't think I'm some kind of push-up queen.)  I am going to try to stay consistent with Monday-Wednesday-Friday for the push-ups.
3. Add 2 (or 3) Nike Training Club app strength workouts per week. Eh.  I did 1 15 minute NTC workout this week, plus I did the Tworkout last night.  Need to get better on this one.
4. Really work on getting enough water. I've been consuming at least 64 oz of water every day.  Usually it's quite a bit more than this, but I don't keep track as closely as I could.

So there you have it.  Not a bad start to the current challenge.  And for those of you wondering where my weigh-in went, you aren't going to see it.  I am officially in maintenance mode.  I did weigh in this morning and I'm within my goal range.  :)

So how did everyone else do this week?  Any successes you want to share?