Is it Spring Yet...

So I have not been running at all since we got back from WDW Marathon weekend, which normally wouldn't be a problem except I'm headed to Florida next week for the Princess Weekend Glass Slipper Challenge.  Part of me is freaking out a bit (the Type A, everything has to be in it's place and prepared for side of me)  another part of me says: it's a girls weekend with friends, just enjoy it and have fun.

I mean what's the worst that can happen, I get swept? In the grand scheme of things, that's not a huge deal.  Would I be happy about getting swept? No. But I would get over it. Every run and race (for me) is about discovering a little bit more about myself, so it's all just part of the journey.  Also, I stressed myself out about the Boston Half Marathon and not finishing in time for no good reason. I should know better.

The first week back after WDW Marathon Weekend I was so exhausted and my body needed a break. Since then, here in the Northeast it's been a non-stop snow-fest with school closings plus my husband has been traveling for work and Army. So my usual plan of running outside (all my usual paths are covered in snow and ice) or dropping kiddo off and going to the gym before work has been thrown out the window.

One of the many snow/ice storms we've had in the past month

So my plan for next weekend is as follows: run when I can, walk when I can't run.  Have fun!

In between all of this snow/ice/travel fun I found out I was selected to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador! Seriously I had to read the email several times to make sure I read it right. Being in the middle of a rut, this news was just the kick in the butt I needed to get back at it.  I'm excited about where this new adventure and connecting with others in the Sweat Pink community.  You're probably thinking I just buried the lead, but I like to end posts on a high note :).

How has your week been?

Got a little help from kiddo with my cross training (shoveling) today

Weekend Recap & Challenge(s) Accepted

Being an Military Spouse (in my case Army Wife) means sometimes you have to be commander-in-chief of your house for a couple of days/weeks/months while your partner/spouse is doing military things.  This time around it's only for a short time. For me, it also means I have to get creative on when to do workouts when the dog needs to get walked and our toddler needs everything (and sometimes at once).  To meet all of our needs, I nixed my long Sunday run to do a 4 mile walk with the two of them.

And we're off

Four legged friends need exercise too and they both enjoyed the fresh air on a beautiful day.

The fun part of walking with a dog is you never know what adventures await you.  For example, the gaggle of geese on the path.

Geese + dog = needing all your arm strength to keep doggie away

My pace must have been a little fast for her, because at 3 miles doggie decided she was done with the walk.

Over it.

I had to coax her to get home so our last mile took a little longer than I planned but everyone got some exercise.

And now the challenge...

There are a lot of challenges popping up for August.  One group of friends are doing a full body workout challenge so I said I would join them, when another friend asked if I wanted to take on a squat challenge with her. After looking over them both, I decided to combine the two.  I was on schedule with the squat challenge but was already 3 days behind in the full body challenge so I decided to combine Day 1 and Day 2 on Friday and do Day 3 on Saturday.  

Day 1 & 2 combined (Friday):

35 sit ups

13 crunches

13 leg raises

23 second plank

21 push ups

55 squats

Day 3 (Saturday): 

25 sit ups

10 crunches

10 leg raises

15 seconds plank

12 push ups

60 squats

Sunday was a rest day on the challenge and today was 70 squats (Day 5).  Things I learned today: don't do squats right after drinking coffee. No bueno. My stomach was not happy for the rest of the day. 

In addition to the squat challenge, I'm challenging myself more by trying different things in my cross training.  I went to extreme sculpt at my gym tonight (I did not do the full body challenge today) instead of my typical body pump class.  It was extreme alright.  We did at minimum 60 pushups & dips in addition to squats, rows, etc.  I left there feeling like I was going to throw up, but stronger. I'm going to be sore tomorrow (I already feel it now).  It might be hard and seem borderline impossible in the moment to try something new, but you may discover something about yourself in the process.

What would you like to try?