Favorite Flavor of the Month Push-Ups

It's no secret that I love me some push-ups! I have mentioned before that one of my favorite things about my Jillian Michaels on line program is that nearly every single workout will have at least 2 variations of push ups, sometimes 3 or 4 different variations per work out, and you get to do each at least 40 times! I just love push ups! Not really for one certain area, but more because they are a total body move. If you concentrate and keep everything tight, you can really feel it in your whole body.
When I started mixing in Insanity workouts w/my Jillian workouts,(you can find links to both on the left side of the blog) I was introduced to a whole new variety of push-up goodness!! While both workouts have push ups, both are done totally differently with different goals. In Jillians, they are slow, concentrated movements, while in Insanity they are done much faster in a plyometric style. I love both. I started off wanting to find a video of my current favorite push up, as i knew it would be hard to describe. It's like a hybrid of a burpee, frog push-up, and squatting push up. I couldn't' find a video of just the push up alone, but did find this little gem. It's Shaun T, Mr. Insanity himself, on The Dr's performing the push-up I am currently loving! It is not the traveling push-ups, although I love them too. It's after that. He does it here w/o much push-up action, but in the workout video, when you dive down into the push-up position, you do one before you jump back up. Watch for it......it's from 1:50 - 1:59




Did you see it?? Keep in mind that this is The Man himself, using perfect form and speed. They don't' look that good when I do them!! But they are challenging, as challenging for my arms/shoulder/chest as they are for my abs/hammies/glutes. Love em.
Yes the workouts are that hard, and that fast paced. They are short though, only around 45 minutes each. There are so many moves in each one, it really flies by. It also makes me sweat like nothing else I've done.
Anyhow, give them a try, see how many you can do and where you feel them the most!
Just keep a bottle of water within reach!

Early Bird Running

Up at 5 this morn, ran 16 miles before 10 a.m. morning meeting. Yay us!
53 degrees when we started, 64 when we finished, it's 1 pm now, when we would have been starting....it's 91 degrees.
Nice end to a 36 mile week. Muscles feel good, knees a bit sore, nothing a little salad eating wont fix.
Run done. Meeting done. Time to relax in the pool, grill veggies, roast dinner in the fire pit w/kids, and wrap the day up with some smores. ( I will enjoy my salad, fire-side)
There is something to be said for getting your run on at 5 a.m. : )

Summer time.....

Sorry for not doing a decent post lately....
we are still training and running and working out. Things have been crazy since school got out, having all three kids home everyday takes a few weeks of adjusting. Weather has switched to summer...runs have switched to late evening...pool is up, a way bigger pool than last year, not the blow up kind but the build the metal frame kind....garden is growing.
San Fran marathon is getting very close. Partly wishing we were doing the half, but I know I would regret it. We have 3 long runs left, the weekends look like this starting with todays run - 16, 13, 18, 13, 20, taper, 26.2. We have enough weeks that we could do multiple 20+ mile long runs, but we really dont' want to push our legs too hard. We have trained that way before, and trained how we currently have it set up before, and prefer going into San Fran on fresh legs rather then beat up legs. Our main focus for the next 6 weeks will be leaning out and getting some weight off. My joints do a lot better about 7 lbs under where I am now. I know, 7 lbs....but it really does make a huge difference when talking about running 26.2. My knees and hips appreciate a leaner me. So that is my main focus. Eating lean, lots of chicken, fish, and veggies. Not worried about getting the runs in as that is non optional, skipping one just isn't an option.
That's it for now, I promise a decent post w/pictures soon.......

Congrats Grads!

Congrats to our niece and nephew!!
Spencer graduated from 5th grade and is heading to middle school next year. Audrey graduated from kindergarten.
We are proud of both of you!

See Jane's

Sarah K.

This was Sarah's first race, let alone half marathon. When asked to do this race, she was told she didn't have to run the entire time, she could walk. Her reply was that if she was going to do it, she was running it. She trained hard, and she did!!

Congrats Sarah, you look so happy here!
Hopefully this is the first of many races for you!

Angela B.
Here you can clearly see the beast of a runner Angela is. She gives me weekly beatings. She is the friend I talk about who convinced me to try running while I protested that "I am not a runner". When she puts her mind to completing a race, or hitting a certain time goal, she blows it out of the water every time!
You gutted out a great time for this half!
Congrats Angela!

Jina D.
Look at her go! Here we have Jina giving her 5k a smack down! Jina has been running through some difficult back pain. She could have easily made her Dr happy and walked this one, but no. She went for it!
Great Job Jina!!

Darci E.
Well, Darci, I don't know you well, in fact I just met you the morning of this race, but look at the determination on your face!! You are in the zone, and getting it done!!
Congrats Darci!!

Leah K.

Leah is one of those people who, although I don't know her all that well, I know enough to be inspired by her. She's a hard worker, a good example of endurance and making your body do what you want it to do, not what it would like you to do. And look at her...she does it with a smile! Look at those hands, I call that "runners fingers", when you are holding them like that you are really pushing and giving it your all.
Way to push, Leah!

Dawn H.

Here we see Dawn accomplishing something I hope to do one day. She is at the end of a 13 mile run, coming in towards the finish area, in fact, she can probably see it at this point, and definitely hear it. Look at how relaxed and not in pain she is. Look at how she, at the end of a run, is still getting both feet off the ground at the same time!! Amazing, indeed!! In her second annual running of this race, she again did great!Congrats Dawn!

Micaela H.

Look at her go! Just like her mom, she's heading back towards the finish and still managing to get both feet off the ground at the same time and log some serious air time, with a smile! There were only 4 gals in the bay area 18 and younger brave enough to come out and run this half. Not only was she one of them, this was her second year running it, and she came in 2cd in her division! She blew by me early on in this race looking strong and like she had a few years of running experience under her belt.(which she does) She stayed focused, even through some rough cramps, and finished strong.

Congrats Micaela!!

Michelle P.

Look at that game face! Michelle drew strength no doubt from her sparkly jewelry and that special hat to attack this 5k. She's looking like a celeb in disguise while getting her run on. Great job Michelle! Congrats!!

Pat C.

Pat, Pat, Pat.....where do I start with you?? She is one of the most humble people I know. I met Pat while she was training for See Jane last year. She continued on after See Jane, training very discretely for her first Full marathon, San Fran. She told no one. While I am dramatically recapping our San Fran experience, Pat casually mentions here on the blog that she ran it to. She didn't' just run it, she smoked Brian and I. She is a hard worker, and manages to humbly balance real life and this running thing. She has come so far the past year as a runner, I couldn't help but be proud of her as she pulled away from Angela and I and let us humbly eat her dust.Just look at this picture.....she's one determined and focused runner!

Congrats to you Pat!!

Tina K.

Tina was back for more See Jane again this year! Head up, shoulders down, looking happy and strong. While her circumstances didn't allow for the half marathon this year, I am super proud she came out again and gave the 5k a smack down. Way to go Tina, Congrats!

Sophie L.

Well Sophie was back again this year to go full throttle on the mile run. Looks like she is giving it her all and has her game face on. Looks like a nice, short yet fast turn over. Nothing but great races in her future!

Congrats Sophie!

Emma L.

Who's that white shirted blur coming at us here?? It's Emma pushing herself to the limit. Talk about full throttle, petal to the metal, all or nothing, go hard or go home....that is Emma. Race day is game day and she has only one mode...attack. She did great!

Congrats Emma!

Me

Well, who is this? It's me. While I am female and do the female critiquing of myself, I have also learned the hard way how damaging being negative can be. While I may look in the mirror, or pictures, and see the flaws, I choose to focus on the positives. So, and this is hard for me, here we go.

I am tired here, but running strong. Forehead is wrinkled, but that means I am focused and determined to get this race done. Despite a challenging race schedule, I went full steam into this race with a lofty goal on legs that were in need of rest. I worked hard to see that collar bone, and have done thousands of squats and lunges to earn that thigh. What does that last sentence have to do with running strong, nothing, but it was what I thought when I saw this picture.

: )

Congrats to all of us! I am looking forward to next year!

Me First....

Alright, well, if I'm going to post all your pictures, I am obligated to post mine too I guess. The good, the bad, and the ugly, from start to finish. (well, this is the 5k start, but pretend its the half marathon start) I am proud of my effort in this run, and own every picture....but I will offer my thoughts on them none the less.






In the above picture, we are heading out along the beach, maybe mile 2. I have no idea where Pat and Angela are other than that they are behind me. Oh, looky there, Ang was just barely behind me. She's in black up on the pathway.

I think my knee looks totally disgusting in the top picture and my calf looks thick.

Above, coming back, about mile 11.5 or 12, see the camera and try to look like I am really running. The lady behind me , you can just barely see her, we were both pooped and seemed to keep stopping to walk about the same times. Bugs me that my top tied around me is crooked, I kept trying to adjust it as it hides my self conscience area, but it won't stay put...

my form and stride are totally wonky in above picture, my foot is turned way out and I need to drop my shoulders...and color my roots.

above pic..why are both my arms in front at the same time?? Was I running, or did my arms get confused or what?? My neck looks too thick, head looks too small...Wonky top still bugs me...


above, tired but near the finish, knee still freaks me out, looks strange to me, sports beans are about to bounce out, should have tossed them after the last aid station, they rubbed a nice raw spot...the tired, head tilted to the side and back look bugs me, I do that when I'm super tired....
Ok, so these two pictures really bother me. In the top one I totally look like the Athena runner that I am (female over 150lbs)...my chest is shifted one way and my booty the other, looks like I am dance-running. The bottom one shows something you may/may not know about me.....
If you look above my right (your left) leg, under my purple top you will see "it".....the "I lost 120 lbs and have loose hangy stuff" bulge....well, I do, and it's there...usually nicely hidden under that purple top that you always see tied around my waist while running. Notice you don't see it on the other side, just the side where the top is wonky?? Nice, huh??? I can't do anything about it other than wear 3 layers of spandex and hide it under a tied on top....It doesn't usually bother me, but this picture got to me a bit. Ever wonder why I never actually wear the purple top, I just tie it around my waist?? Now you know : )



these two, top and bottom, made me laugh. Top one I'm in the upward part of my stride and the "ladies" are catching air, bottom picture is on the bottom part of my stride and the ladies....well about to bottom out....and again with the tummy area bulge.....this bottom pic is probably my least fav from this run


and finally, the finish...trying to decide on which mat to stop my watch....running right in front of Angela who had finished 2 minutes before........

and this one I know I made it in under 2:15, happy and exhausted...what's happening with crazy legs behind me in the pink shorts?? Is that a cramp, a happy dance, or a really bad stride?? Well, she finished, so that's all that matters!
So, there ya go, See Jane Half Marathon from start to finish. While I do, and will probably always, rip my pictures apart after every race, you know what?? I am out there doing it. Yeah, I try to hide my trouble spots, wear cute running clothes, do my make up before I run...but once I'm running, it all goes out the window. During a race is when I can let it all hang out, not care about what I look like, or what's moving and shaking, or that I have weird bony knees and a thick neck. It's my time to go have a one on one battle with my mind and body, see how far I can push both. I could care less what I look like while it' s going on. And I take comfort in the fact that most runners feel the same way. They are having their own personal battles on race day too, and they don't really care what you look like either while you are running. I personally like to look back at the photos I didn't know were being taken that really capture how tired I was, or how much pain I was feeling, or how hard I was pushing to keep going. These may not always be the most flattering, but they capture what the day was all about.
Tomorrow, it's your turn. You are all such modest ladies, so I will take it upon myself to brag about you all a bit and post your amazing See Jane moments!

Asking Permission...or Warning You : )

I am asking permission to post your See Jane Run pictures. If you were there, and I know you, I have a running picture of you. I am putting a post together for tomorrow. You have until tonight to respond. I may or may not listen to your reply. In fact, I will probably post at least one picture of each of you. Even the less than stellar pictures (I have my fair share, too, and will post them) are worth being proud of! So, I guess I am not asking permission. I am warning you that tomorrow they will be posted....because I am proud of all of you, and no matter the picture, you should all be proud of yourselves, too!!
(every one's pictures are awesome, but I know how the female mind works and I know a few of you have probably critiqued yourself to death in these pictures, (myself included)but again, I say own it and be proud! You guys kicked booty.)
P.S.
If anyone I know happened to run her first solo 5k today, and just happended to have a great race, and just maybe PR'd....Congrats to you and your great run!