We are strong, no one can tell us were wrong

It's mainly been running since Thursday, so as a quick overview (you can read more in details on my running blog), I ran 12 miles on Saturday and ran the 5K on Sunday with a barely-there-PR. My quads were actually sore on Sunday afterwards - probably a combo of the long run backed by a speed-fest then next day. I certainly felt it during the race.

Monday, I did nothing. I straight out confess. I slept in and then worked until 8pm, so it seemed pointless to go to the gym when it closed within an hour and then I probably would have missed my bus home anyway.

Tuesday, today! I got back on the horse. Okay, okay. I'm probably weird because I consider missing one day of working out falling off the wagon, but I'm sure if you're reading this blog by now, you probably already think I'm crazy. So I went for a run after work. I did the 3.97 mile loop in 34:28. I feel something is really wrong with that time, but seriously, I was there. My watch was working. Mapmyrun is on target. Even though a snotty girl made me get out of her way while running under this bridge along a path that's only one-person wide, and made me feel slow - I was not! Okay, I wasn't fast either. But that's an 8:41 min/mile average. Not bad for a casual, flat run. Along the flat, straight part of the esplanade, like where it loops out into the river, I did telephone pole sprints. They are seriously fun. Maybe later this week, I'll just do them back and forth a bunch for like 20 minutes. I'm trying really hard to get myself to integrate speedwork. Running along the esplanade has really helped out with this - because there are lots of other runners which bring out my competitive side. My goal is to run the half marathon at a 9min/mile pace in May. I'd love to do less, but I have two months to work with here, so I'm not setting my expectations out of range.

Anyway, I got distracted with the running business. I then returned to the gym and did my upperbody. One of the grunting, muscle-bound latino B&G guys stole the chest press from me mid-superset so I ended up doing push-ups between sets of rows instead. I need to remember that I can use dumbbells on a bench or ball instead. Push-ups just aren't the same, and I think they must overlap with the rowing muscles quite a bit too. Actually, I need to remember to really research more into the muscles I pair.

So after I gave up on getting the chest press back, since he was clearly there to stay, sipping on his whey protein shake in between sets, I went over to the cable machine. Tricep pushdown(56)/Bicep curls(44) for four sets of 15. Back to the bigger machines with a Lat Pulldown(70)/Shoulder press(40) for three sets of 10. Yes, that's right: 40 pounds on the shoulder press. This might not be so impressive to most, but I was in a RUT for the past year on that thing. I was trapped at 30lb, trembling to failure at 33lb. But lately, I've busted up and moved to 40lb! Yeah! It's like my birthday! But without cake. Oh and protein-man finally did get off the chest press, where I got in a couple more sets at 73lb. I'm moving up there too.

(Note: These weights are all relative, mind you. All equipment is different, with different lifting mechanisms, numbers of pulleys, etc. So I write down the actual pounds simply for my own records. It means nothing outside of my gym really. So all you can really take out of it is that I'm making progress.)

I did some flies on the ball, back extentions and crunches. Then went home. I'm still super excited after the run and subsequent increases in weight. :D Oh and I keep listening to Love Is a Battlefield. It's incredibly empowering while you workout.