Day 7: What Do They Say About Monday?

Monday startoverGood morning Challengers and happy Monday!

Everyone pretty much killed week 1…but if you know you didn’t give it your all…time to regroup, recommit, and get to it! Will you struggle to make time for you or will you be strong and power through?

What do they say about Monday? NEVER SKIP A MONDAY WORKOUT! 🙂

I’m going to start adding bonus workouts and running drills this week. These extra workouts and drills are meant to get you moving more and improve your running efficiency…but don’t stress if you don’t get each one in today. I will refer to them all week so just do your best and keep being active!

Day 7 exercises: Legs – 3 sets of 10

  • Plank – :30
  • Wall Sit – :30 (3X)
  • Calf Raises
  • Sumo Squats
  • Plank – :30
  • Side Planks – :30 each side
  • Pigeon Pose all cardio challenge
  • Calf Stretches
  • Quad Stretch

Week 2 Bonus Workout:

All Cardio Challenge: This bonus workout can be done any day this week…or everyday this week…so fit it in when you can to get your heart rate up and burn some calories!

When you do fit it in make sure you post using #AllCardioChallenge so we know you went the extra mile! 🙂  One last thing ere…DON’T SKIP THE BURPEES! They are good for you…just try them! Keep your core tight and go slow until you have the form correct. Remember to watch the “how to” videos again if you need reminders on form for any of our exercises.

Running Drills:

We’ve talked about some running drills before, but this week we are going to start introducing two drills per week to get you familiar with them.  Going forward I will ask you to incorporate them into your routine 3-4 times a week. They can be done as warm ups or after your run to reinforce good running form when you’re fatigued.

These drills are for everyone! It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner runner or a veteran …we can all benefit from adding running drills into our weekly routine.

According to RunningCompetitor.com,

“If you want to improve as a runner, you’ve got to do more than just run. You’ve got to make time to do the extra stuff, too. Taking 20 minutes to do a handful of drills…can dramatically improve your running form and economy (or the ability to run fast efficiently) and increase your stride cadence and racing speed.

Each of the drills highlights one or more aspects of good running form and accentuates them through repetitive motion, which trains the body to become comfortable with that movement so it can be inserted into your typical running mechanics.”

Screen Shot 2016-03-07 at 5.52.31 AMButt Kicks:

Why: Butt kicks engage the hamstrings and accentuate the recovery portion of the running gait and improve leg turnover cadence.

How: Run in place with your thighs more or less locked in a neutral position and try to kick yourself in the glute with your heel on each stride. Focus on keeping he rest of your body still and simply flicking your lower leg backward. If you’re not making contact, you need to improve your dynamic range of motion. Do two or four reps of 15 kicks with each leg.

Bounding:Screen Shot 2016-03-07 at 5.59.17 AM

Why: Bounding increases foot, calf and hamstring muscle power and develops single-leg stance stability necessary to maintain fluid running form while fatigued.

How: On a flat or very slightly downhill slope, alternate thrusting into the air off one leg in an exaggerated skipping motion. The focus should be on a powerful leap into the air and a quick (but not super fast) cadence. Your arm motion should be synced to the opposite leg’s action, holding steady for the brief moment while you’re off the ground. Do three to four reps of 10 leaps on each leg.

Lots going on here…but don’t let it overwhelm you. The bonus workout and running drills can be incorporated throughout the week when you have time but I wanted to get them out early so you can plan ahead to fit them in.

As always…never miss a Monday workout! Let’s get the week started right and make it a great day Challengers! 🙂

Day 5 & 6 – Time On Legs & Abs!

Long slow distanceHey Core Crew… it’s Saturday and we all know what that means! Who’s ready for some LSD??

Long Slow Distance is not a new concept.. as you can tell from the picture…I mean…she’s wearing a cotton tank so we know this was a while ago…

But the basic elements remain…and it goes back to “time on legs”. If you’re training for a 5K…you should work up to running more than 3.1 miles on the weekend, 10K…more than 6.2 miles, Half and full marathon….you should be logging some serious hours on the road!

Low intensity…or slow, conversation paced running…will allow your body to adjust to the training without overworking your body. In fact, 80% of your training runs should be at this pace! That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add speed, hills, intervals, or other running drills…but if you are in it for the long haul, this pace should be your foundation.

It’s important to work up to a distance you are comfortable with. Don’t go jumping willy nilly into tons of miles. Plan out a schedule that will help you reach your goals in a healthy manageable way to build up your endurance over time. Time on Legs…to do well..you’ve gotta put in the time.

So today is a rest day from strength training…IF you are running today. If you run on Sunday…please use today to knock out Day 6 (Sunday: Abs) and get that long run in tomorrow.

We still have work to do today and don’t skip your stretches!

Day 5:

  • Long run: Conversation Pace – Long run means different things to all of us so whatever level you are at…get out there and log some miles!
  • Plank – :30 (2X)
  • Side Planks – :30 (each side)
  • 7 Key Stretches for Runners – This is so important today! I promise it will feel so good!

Day 6: Sunday – Abs

  • Plank – :30
  • Mountain Climbers (50 each side)
  • Heel Touches (30 each side)
  • Bicycle Crunches (30 each side)
  • Plank – :30
  • Side Planks – :30 (each side)
  • One Arm Camel
  • Spinal Stretch on Stability Ball

I think I neglected to include the how to videos for these ab exercises so I will put the videos below. And if you need a reminder about how to do today’s ab stretches, please click here and scroll to the bottom. Let me know if you have any questions or need some help with modifications.

Remember to do your best and make it a great weekend Challengers! 🙂

Mountain Climbers: Great full body exercise! Keep your hips low and your core tight.

Heel Touches: Perfect for those love handles! Again…keep your core tight and bring your shoulders up off the ground.

Bicycle Crunches: Last ab exercise for the day. Do these strong even if you need a rest as you go. Try to bring your knees up as high as possible and again…keep your core tight! 🙂

 

March Challenge: Day 2 – Trash Run

Hey Core Crew….welcome to Day 2! Trash run

You’ve heard me talk about warm ups and cool downs before..but most of us still don’t do it. I’m guilty too… we might get in a warm up but then we give every free moment we’ve got to our run and strength workout so when we’re done there’s no time left for a cool down.

But cool downs are an important part of letting our body recover so today I would like to suggest a running assignment that will force us to slow down…and help our community at the same time.

Who’s up for a Trash Run?

Before you leave for your run today (or whenever your next run is) grab a small bag and stuff it in your top or shorts for later. Start your run with a slow warm up…5 min or 1/2 mile…then go into your workout. When you are 1/2 mile from home…start your cool down.

During your cool down…walk…and pick up pieces of trash along your route!

Get in a great workout with a proper cool down and make a difference in your community at the same time! Take a photo of your trash stash and post it when you’re done with your strength workout. Let’s see who’s area is the dirtiest and who will take the time to cool down…and make a difference!

If you’re not running…maybe your injured or haven’t caught the run bug yet…you can still get out and do a trash run… just walk instead of running. Being active is what it’s all about anyways…get up…get moving…and walk your way to a fitter life…and a cleaner community. 🙂

Trash running isn’t a new concept…and here I was thinking I had some bright idea… there’s even a website with vocabulary for this emerging “sport”.

Here’s some fun terms runners can relate too:

  • GU-dar: a trash runner’s internal beacon for finding GU packets. Having a great GU-dar is essential to being a great trash runner. It takes some time to naturally spot those shiny little packets and tabs, but once you develop a strong GU-dar, GU packets beware.
  • Rubber Necking: missing trash due to taking in the scenery, watching other trash runners, or simply not paying attention. A drafting, rubber-necker is a recipe for disaster.
  • Trashlek: much like its “cleaner” cousin the Fartlek, the Trashlek is a great aerobic training technique.  It involves a light jog to a piece of trash and then a hard-paced sprint to put the trash in the appropriate receptacle.  A moving retrofitted trash collecting jog stroller or stationary trashcan does the trick.  This is a great substitute for boring and less environmentally beneficial track workouts.
  • Dumpster Break: a bathroom break while trash running.  No explanation needed.
  • Trashole: formerly known as a litterbug, a trashole is someone who throws his or her trash on the ground for the rest of us to see and ultimately pick-up.
  • Butt Stroll: when you intend to go for a vigorous trash run, but find yourself in a stroll due to an over abundance of littered cigarette butts!

It seems that most “trash runners” stop to pick up trash while they’re running…but I want you to force yourself to cool down so let’s wait till after we’re done with our run and avoid costly injuries. Please don’t stop mid stride to reach down and pick up some trash. Hamstring, back, and knee injuries while trash running are out of the question. 🙂

When you get done with your run jump right in to today’s strength exercises.

Day 2 exercises: Ab Day

  • Plank – :30
  • Russian Twists – 40 each side
  • Burpees – 10
  • Bridge – :30 (2X)
  • Plank – :30
  • Side Plank – :30 each side
  • One Arm Camel stretch – :30 each side
  • Spinal stretch on stability ball – :30

No injuries!! Make sure you are doing these exercises correctly by watching the “how to” videos. Then take the time to do the ab stretches. As we go higher in reps and time…these stretches will feel wonderful so get used to doing them now. Below are “how to” videos for each stretch.

One Arm Camel: This is a yoga pose that is going to stretch out our ab muscles. Great way to keep our tummy muscles ready to go again in a few days.

https://youtu.be/kYkjhS1_cVQ

Spinal Stretch on Stability Ball: Great stretch for our abs and spine and feels wonderful! If you don’t have a stability ball…you might want to invest in one sometime soon. You can get them at Marshall’s or TJ Maxx for under $20 and there are tons of ways we can use them to get stronger and stretch.

I hope everyone has fun with today’s workouts and smiles all the way through! Let’s get it done and make it a great day! 🙂

March Challenge: Day 1 – Make Time!

Make time for it

Good morning Challengers and welcome to Day 1 of our March Challenge!

If you didn’t get a chance to look over the main challenge page with the calendar click here. Take a look and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Print out the calendar and put it somewhere you can see it everyday. I will post the calendar as a file in Strong to the Core as well.


Now that you have the plan and are committed to this month’s workout…let’s get started!

The first thing you need to do is plan a time for your workouts. You know that if you don’t make the time to get it done…life happens…then the day is over and you are exhausted.

To keep that from happening…think about your day and schedule your workouts so you know when you will get them done and can fit it in without stressing out. I’m a morning person so my workouts are usually done before lunch. When is your “me” time?

Having that time set aside for you will make all the difference in wether you finish 15 days… or 30 days. Make a plan and stick to it. Of course we are all going to have days when the plan won’t work…but without a plan you will have a hard time succeeding.

Now it’s time to get moving….

Day 1 exercises: Arms – 3 sets of 10 Keep calm and get it done

  • Plank – :30
  • Tricep Dips
  • Overhead Shoulder Press
  • Bent Over Reverse Fly
  • Calf Raises – 10 each leg
  • Plank – :30
  • Side Plank – :30 each side
  • Arm Stretches – Bicep Wall Stretch & Tricep Towel Stretch

Don’t feel overwhelmed…it looks like a lot but it won’t take long at all. Just get started and knock it out. Watch the “how to” videos to ensure you are doing them correctly. Check out the videos below to see how to do the arm stretches for today. These will help keep your muscles soft and ready to work them again in a few days.

No bonus yet…let’s ease into it and see how it goes this week. Tuesday is usually a run day for most of us though so go out and log some miles to burn calories today and get some time on legs today!

When you are done, post in Strong to the Core that you have completed Day 1!

No slackers today y’all…I want to see everyone getting it done and making it an awesome day! 🙂

Bicep Wall Stretch:

Tricep Towel Stretch:

https://youtu.be/-F879zfDQUs