Back in the Saddle

So, I've been nursing a knee injury. Back in February, my knee mysteriously started hurting after a week of intense running. (21 miles, my best week ever) I haven't had any pain for about a week, and the Indy Mini is only 46 days away, so I decided it was now or never to resume my training. I spent 20 minutes on the elliptical today and it felt pretty good. I tried to keep the same level of METS that I had when I was running.... roughly 10 or so.

So, wish me luck as I get started again!

Ryan

9 miles missing

There's 9 miles missing from my Nike+ page, 'cause I'm a big doofus and left my Nike+ receiver home..... twice!

But I just wanted to go on record as having run 4 miles last thursday (Jan 31) and 5.1 miles today! (Feb 4) I'm completely jazzed about having run 5 miles continuously. That is a huge milestone for me. I ran it on the treadmill at work, at a .5% grade and a 9:30 pace. The machine says I burned 850 calories. That's good, because I ate WAY too much crap at the Anti Super-Bowl Party. Don't get me wrong, it was good crap, but I ate too much of it.

Felt good to put a whoopin on GnC in the train game, tho.

But I digress. Summing up: 5.1 miles, a good chunk of my target of completing the Indy500 Festival half-marathon.

Woot!

Ryan

Twoadays.

Somehow, I gained 5 pounds since new year's day. I guess I let my eating get away from me, because I didn't really reduce my exercise. In fact, I had been running more since then compared to my pre-holiday exercise.

Anyway... I finally got off my duff and rearranged the basement so that I would have room to do my P90-X down there. I started that on Tuesday. So, I'm running at work during the day, and then working out at home during the night. It's been working. I mostly picked up where I left off with the P90-X.... in week 5. That might have been a mistake... my arms are KILLING me. Like, to death. But, it's a good kind of feeling!

I have to go to Canada (eh?) on Sunday. I'm going to take my videos and resistance bands and try to work out in my room while I'm there. Hopefully they won't keep me so busy that I dont have the energy to work out.

Peace out!

Ryan

Nike Plus, ne plus ultra!

So, for Xmas (early) my lovely wife bought me a Nike+ system and an iPod nano (3G.)  I got to try it out for the first time today.   I have to tell you, it's pretty stinkin awesome.  The system consists of an accelerometer that attaches to your shoe, and a receiver that plugs into the iPod.   Once you start your workout, the iPod keeps track of your distance, time and calories.  If you push the center button while you're running, it will give you an update on time, distance and current pace.  

Like most Apple products... it "just works."   It was a real breeze to use.   When setting up your Nike+ system, you can designate a "power song" that plays when you press and hold the center button.   (Mine is currently "Locomotive Breath" by Jethro Tull)   

After your workout, just plug in your iPod and let it sync with iTunes.  If you want, you can have your data automatically downloaded to the Nike website.  This will give you a graphical display of your pace and distance, along with waypoints that show your half-mile splits as well as every time you pressed the center button for an update.  It will also show when and where you activated your power song. 

Check out my workout!

Not quite back on track

So, between getting our old house ready for the closing, the moving to a new house, and not having room to workout in the basement while my Mom was here, P90x got sidelined.

I haven't been totally idle, though! I registered myself for the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. So, to that end, I have started running. I've been trying to run about 2.7 miles a day.... currently at a 10 minute pace. I've run 5 miles once.

My current goal is to pick up the P90x again after the first of the year, and continue running as well. That's probably a little ambitious, but we'll see!

Ryan

Week 3 is in the bag.

Well, week 3 of P90x is in the bag. Recovery week couldn't get here fast enough! Maybe I'll do X Stretch tonight. I've noticed that I do have increased flexibility already, but I need to increase it more to do some of the yoga moves.

Also, Scott Fifer, if those Fifer Scissors from Ab Ripper X are named for you..... you suck. You really, really suck.

Ryan

Slacker

Well, I've been slacking.... but not on my workouts, just on my blogging. I completed week 2 of P90x. Tonight I'll be doing StretchX I hope. It is optional and I skipped it last week, but I'm going to try to get it in tonight.

Kenpo was yesterday afternoon, and I completed about 95% of it. My sister and her husband came over to save me from the last 2 minutes! We played the Wii instead. The Wii definitely didn't keep my in my heartrate "zone." But it was fun!

I could really tell a difference between the first Kenpo session and the second one. I was able to keep up alot better this time.

Week 3 starts Tuesday. Then my first "rest week" starts the tuesday after that. Something tells me that since there's still workouts scheduled for every day, it won't be much "rest!"

Later, gators.

Ryan

Did I say I liked Plyo X last time?

Cause I was full of it. Tony kept saying it was the mother of all X workouts. He said that last night too. I'm pretty sure it's the mother f.... it's tough.

But it's worth it. I'll just keep saying that!

Food:

Breakfast:
4 eggs
3 bacons
Milk
Coffee

Lunch:
Fajitas (chicken) with sour cream and guacamole.
Chips n Salsa

Snack:
Sugar Free Puddin.

Dinner:
3/4 piece of lasagna
1/4 piece garlic bread.

Deja Vu all over again!

Chest and Back.... Ab Ripper X. woof. Tony isn't kidding when he calls this "The mother of all P90x workouts."

Brutal. I can barely type. But I LOVE it. sick, I know.

Food:

Breakfast:
5 eggs
no bacon (I forgot to thaw it last night.)
Milk
Coffee.
Lunch:
Turkey bacon melt wrap from Scubway with 2x meat.

Snacks:
Sugar-free puddin.
South Beach Bar.

Dinner:
Meatloaf.
2 pieces of swiss cheese.
Milk.


Dessert:
Vanilla IceCream. about 1/2 cup. Breyer's. Mmmmm.

Ryan

Ahhh.......

..... Rest Day. I could've done Stretch X today, but I had a migraine, so I'm just gonna go to bed. Glad this day was optional.


Food:

Breakfast:
4 eggs
2 Turkey Bacons
Milk
Coffee

Lunch:
Quizno's philly steak with no bread.

Snacks:
Sugar free pudding
South Beach bar.

Dinner
1.5 chicken breasts
1/2 cup sugar snap peas
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Milk.

And a couple diet pepsis.

Ryan