cross training challenge

My plan yesterday was to go to the Y to do Body Pump for an hour. The class was scheduled for 5:30.

Of course something came up at work and I left later than I had planned.

(I'd like to give a shout out to my co-worker, L.T., for fighting the good fight and making sure justice was done. Gold star!)

Getting home, it was clear that I COULD make it to the gym on time, but barely. I hate getting to the gym as class is starting. Inevitably, the only place there is room is right in front, and you have to haul your bar and your weights and your mat and your bench in a series of trips, while everyone else is warming up and being all smug about the fact that they got there early. . .

The good people at the 3 day recommended a mere 45 minute cross training session for yesterday. I had just the thing.

That's right. My muscle soreness had mostly subsided by Friday afternoon, and I had a perfectly good 45 minute video. Seemed a natural fit.

The 'Ultimate Calorie Blaster' has 2, count them, 2 sets with their 'signature move' 'tall box climb.' I call it 'tall box torture!' Seriously. Up and down and up and down for the first set. The second set is up and straddle and up and down and up and straddle and up and down. It's a good thing I don't smoke anymore. I was out of breath as it was. . .

The first thing that struck me funny about this video happened during the warm up. We started doing basic step moves - basic right, basic left, side step right, side step left, etc. After a couple of minutes, the instructor announced we were going to 'warm up the other side' and we did basic left, basic right, side step left, side step right. . . Are you kidding me? So when we did basic left AFTER basic right, we weren't warming up the left side? Okay.

I took remedial gym, so perhaps the nuances are just plain lost on me. And speaking of remedial gym, I am pleased to report that after years, and I do mean YEARS of trying, I have mastered the 'samba' move. Go ahead and laugh all you want. I think it's funny, too. For some reason, I just couldn't get that move down. Which shouldn't be surprising - mastering the grapevine took far longer than one could reasonably expect.

What I like most about this video is that it combines step aerobics with weights. I am a fan of multitasking. This seems infinitely reasonable to me. Very efficient, too.

Today, Mad and I have a lot on our plates. We are shopping for dresses for L's wedding AND we have a 12 mile walk on deck. Quite the day.

If you'd like to donate in support of our walk, please go here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=2668769&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

or here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=3237566&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

Thank you for your support.

new cross training

I have no pics of my Tuesday walk. But I have an explanation for that.

Tuesdays are my long day. Recently, I have started taking vacation days every Tuesday. This Tuesday, however, I felt compelled to go in to work, having spent 3 slothful days lounging about Memorial Day weekend. Because my day doesn't end until 8:30 p.m. 0n Tuesdays, I got up and did a quick 2 mile walk before work. I didn't bring the camera because I was hustling out the door.

After work, I likewise hustled out the door for another quick 2 miles. Mr. J joined me for this walk. We talked about our respective days and then I was off to class!

Wednesday was the first 30 minute cross train Wednesday on the schedule. Whooo hooooo! I'd been waiting for the chance to try out (or, more accurately, RE-try out) The Firm's 'Supercharged Sculpting' video.

This video is about 35 minutes and it is mostly really fun to do. Except for the part where they do the 'patent pending' 'exclusive' Firm move. . .

See those 2 steps? The blue one and the turquoise one? They have you STACK THEM ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER and step up and down FROM THE FLOOR. 14 inches, people! Up and down and up and down and now take a wide step up and down. My butt STILL hurts 48 hours later. . .

Today is a one hour cross training day. Les Mills Body Pump class, here I come!

Mad and I are walking 12 miles tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it.

If you'd like to donate in support of our walk, please go here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=2668769&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

or here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=3237566&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

Thank you for your support.

First 'injury'

A mere 5 miles Sunday!



I put on my new shoes and started off. Initially, I thought I'd walk my self down to Mickey D's for a Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit. I love those things. It occurred to me, however, that I probably didn't actually need a biscuit.











Detoured through Prospect Park, where I used to take Mad when she was young. . .

An alternate view of downtown not far from Prospect Park.

This corner lot CLAIMS to be a park, but all that's there is a single bench and a sign declaring it a Park.

This is a rock balanced on another rock in someone's yard. I am not kidding.

Just as yesterday we saw Stonehenge, Saint Paul style, today, I give you Saint Paul's version of Easter Island. . .

The bike is still on the wrong side of the fence on the Ohio Street hill. Plants are beginning to grow amongst the spokes.


As I headed up the hill, I got a bad feeling. 2.6 miles into the walk and the new shoes are presenting new shoe problems. On both heels.

This black cat did NOT cross my path! I swear!

I cut my walk short, and returned home.

Later that evening, I slapped on some mole's skin and my old shoes and got the last 2 miles in. I'll spare you the picture of my left ankle.

You're welcome.

If you'd like to donate in support of our walk, please go here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=2668769&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

or here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=3237566&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

Thank you for your support.
Posted by X at 8:43 AM

A week of slacking and 11 miles down

Mix a bitter cold Saturday, the tail end of the flu, a piece of glass in the foot, and a nasty medical procedure, and you get a week of little to no training. I did READ the intro to the Callanetics book. . .




















These are the last of the tulips. Mad asked if she could pinch one of the bleeding hearts. Of course! I think she was disappointed. . .

And these are the irises that I put in last year, courtesy of my sister Jo's neighbor Margo. I have no idea what color they will be. I am looking forward to the blooms.

This view of downtown, from the top of the high bridge, never gets old for me.

I was surprised to see how many rowers were out yesterday morning. I had an 11 mile walk on deck. I spent some time considering whether I'd enjoy rowing as cross training. See the boat to the far right? That would be where I'd likely end up. I decided no rowing for me!

Saint Paul's version of Stonehenge. . .

This is the old power plant. They are slowly tearing it down. S-L-O-W-L-Y. The fact that I think it would be fun to explore, by definition, makes it an attractive nuisance. I can't be the only one.

My walk had 2 purposes. 1. get in 11 miles. 2. Go to Run-N-Fun for a shoe workshop. The shoes I have been walking in are old and in need of replacement. I walked down 7th, debating the merits of a bacon egg and cheese biscuit. I opted not to indulge. Yesterday. Today, that may be my walking destination. I'm just saying. . . .

Ahh, the brewery. First, Schmidt's, then Pigs Eye. It's for sale. What a cool group of buildings to own.

This place used to be a restaurant called Phil's. That was about 20 years ago. I know Phil's because it was one of the few restaurants open past bar time, which was important, because I worked in a bar when I was in college. After the bar closed, we'd go have a meal - either here, or the Mad Mexican, or Market Barbecue. Good times.

Here is Run N Fun! A fine footwear establishment. The help here are first rate. Yesterday, they did a shoe clinic for the 3 day. I arrived late! Thus, I missed the speech in its entirety.

I wore my new shoes out of the store. And for the balance of my walk. Which was another 8 miles. I didn't realize the Run N Fun store was so close to my house.

I walked back down 7th into downtown. Resisted the urge to stop at Dairy Queen. Back when I was pregnant with Mad, her dad and I used to go to this Dairy Queen, which has a drive thru, and was open in the winter. He'd get a blizzard, and I'd get a chocolate sundae with whipped cream and pecans. Still my favorite. I suppose it is no wonder 1. Mad loves ice cream; and 2. I gained 70 pounds when I was pregnant with her. . .

I went through downtown and back over the Robert Street bridge. I was surprised at the fishermen. . .

Coming up Robert Street, I found this memorial for someone who presumably died in this spot in 1990. Someone is still grieving the loss. . .

Cool mural.

Pretty Irises. . .

I miss Morgan's. It has been a west side staple for me since I first learned of the west side. The smell inside that place was a fabulous mix of spices. You could buy tamales and stuffed grape leaves from the same deli case. Excellent combination if you ask me.

If you'd like to donate in support of our walk, please go here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=2668769&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

or here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=3237566&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

Thank you for your support.

5 miles out of town

I needed to be in Worthington, MN for a 9:00 a.m. meeting Friday morning. Worthington is 3 or so hours south and west of the Cities. Think: South Dakota and Iowa borders. . . As such, I headed out Thursday afternoon, and arrived in Worthington around 5:00 o'clock. I was very much looking forward to a long walk!













I stayed here, at the Holiday Inn Express, which is between I 90 and Hwy 60 on the edge of town.











Just beyond the hotel was this laundromat. Notice you can also rent a U-Haul here!













The sign by the red light indicated 'Downtown' was ahead. I pushed forward.

Worthington has their own Animal Control vehicle. I don't believe I've ever seen that in the Cities. Perhaps I haven't been paying attention.

The first cop car that went by took me by surprise. This is the second one to pass with lights on (sirens off).

Third cop car. (Note 2nd cop car is also in this pic.)

I did not know there was a 'Historic District' in Worthington.

The Dayton House apparently rents rooms. Perhaps next time I go to Worthington, I'll stay there. I wonder if they have a government rate?

On the other side of downtown, I came across this sculpture - and a lake.

Unbeknownst to me, this lake was the Home of the 2008 Windsurfing National Championships. That would have been cool to watch!

This sign begs the question, "WHAT underwater obstructions?" Are they put there by the city? Is it a shipwreck? A coral reef? Seriously.

The lake.

On the way back to the hotel, I couldn't help noticing this tulip bed. Seems spring hit the west coast of MN around the same time the east coast got it. The tulips seem apace. . .

Here we see a broken window, and cardboard that has been pushed in. I would submit this is never a good sign.

You can buy hay AND straw at Running's Fleet and Farm. I don't think this option is available at the FleetFarm in Oakdale - but I can't say for sure. . .

The walk ended just past the Ground Round, back at the hotel.

Tomorrow, Mad and I walk the lakes!

If you'd like to donate in support of our walk, please go here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TRC/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?pg=peditor&fr_id=1302&px=2668769

or here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=3237566&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

Thank you for your support.

3 mile walk

Tuesdays are 3 mile days. At least for the time being.

I had something I needed to mail. I've been putting it off for a month of Sundays, at least. The 'reasons' for putting it off cannot withstand scrutiny. Thus, I will not even attempt to offer them here. Suffice it to say, my mission on Tuesday, if I accomplished NOTHING ELSE, was to get that stuff in the mail! (That was also my mission last Tuesday. And the Tuesday before that. . . )

This Tuesday, I put the stuff into envelopes and walked out the door, heading for the post office. On. Foot.





Just outside my door, the last of my tulips in the side yard.

I am especially proud of these tulips. These tulips were planted last fall in the bed that holds the tiger lilies that have been blooming in the summer since I bought the house lo these many years ago. I kind of think this mixing was a stroke of genius on my part. For a baby gardener, I am quite pleased!

This is the 2nd or 3rd car I have seen parked across from St. Matts with the back wheel up on the curb. What is up with that?

The 'no train horn' sign would make more sense if trains could actually cross at this place. The tracks, while prominent across Plato, don't exist on either side of the road.

Turns out, I didn't need to pay any extra postage for my letters. 2 of them. .88 cents. Thus, the purchase of 6 .02 cent stamps

The lilacs have finally bloomed in Minnesota. I have it on good authority they bloomed in Nebraska at least a week ago. Glad they are here.

I have no idea what goes on in this building. In fact, this is the first time EVER that I have seen the door open. Naturally, I had to take a picture!

Is the sale of garages 'normal' or a Minnesota thing? Who knows?

As I trudged up the Ohio Street Hill, I couldn't help but notice this bike, on the wrong side of the fence. Yes, I DID look for a body in the ravine. Didn't see anything. Wondered what happened. . .

A flowering tree. Dogwood, I think.

Speaking of dogs, isn't this one cute? Belongs to my neighbor, Jack.

The honeysuckles have made their appearance. I have not yet partaken, but I will, rest assured.

While the tulips are waning, the bleeding hearts are present in all their glory. I love this time of year.