Back In Action

Well it's been a while since my last entry, which was following the WFPS half.  The main reason for not posting is that I dropped off from running.  So it was about 6.5 weeks between that race on Oct 19th and my first run last Wednesday, Dec 4th.  There are a multitude of reasons that I haven't been running, but they are excuses.  If I really wanted to run, I would have found the time and made the effort.  I had been rehired back at my previous employment after a 3.5 absence due to my term ending.  Working shift work and 13 hour shifts made it difficult to run half of the week.  I was also playing 3 sports.  Ball hockey I made every game, Soccer, maybe half the games and my newest activity, 3D Dodgeball, which I made most games.  It is basically dodgeball on trampolines at a new place that just opened, Skyzone.  I'll get back to that in a moment.  I also got sick and didn't want to run outside, as the temperature started to drop.  I then pulled my calf in ball hockey, but didn't realize it.  I thought I had gotten hit somehow and it was bruised, so I iced it.  It wasn't too bad, but I went to play soccer the next evening and pulled it again, a little more severely, enough for me to remove myself from the game.  2 days later, as stubborn as I am, I played 3D Dodgeball and it was sore afterwards.  I then rested it for 4 days before playing playing ball hockey again.  Yes, I'm stubborn, but I love my sports and don't want to let my team down.  I made sure to stretch it well, but it was still sore after.  Again, soccer came and I still played.  I was surely slowed down by it.  The next day, guess what?  I played dodgeball and again it was sore after.  I then rested it for the next 4 days, all while icing it during that period.  It did eventually heal, which I was happy about, but then I got sick again. 

One of my best friends Sandra is getting married later this month and asked me to be one of her Bride's maids (or Bride's men if you will), which I accepted.  This meant helping out a lot in various events, planning and attending.  This includes the Wedding Social, Bridal Shower and Stagette.  There have been a few other events recently that I attended, so this made for a fairly busy few months.  I had previously registered for the Santa Shuffle, which is only a 5k fun run, but I thought it would be best to get in a few runs prior to the event.  I could feel in my different sports that I had lost a lot of cardio with my lack of running.  So Wednesday December 4th was my return to running.  It being my day off and my department having a potluck lunch, I slept in a little too long and had to cut my run short to go into the office that morning.  It was a bad week to return to running as it snowed and the temperature had dropped to -12C, -15C with the windchill.  I only managed a 3.5k run, but it was a start.  It snowed all day and into the night, which made for worse conditions the next day.  This time it was a very slow 5.5k run through deep snow, with temps of -15C, -19C with the windchill.  I ran about 1.5k through the unplowed sidewalks, until I decided to run on the street.  It was icy, but was wearing my grips.  Neither run would I consider to be good, but I had to restart somewhere. 

I'll end this entry with a new 30 day challenge that I'm doing.  I was discussing challenges with some members of my dodgeball team, as one girl, Leah, was completing a 30 day yoga challenge.  Having enjoyed the 30 day squat challenge, I asked them if they'd be interested in doing that?  Due to vacations and some being out of the country at the end/beginning of the year, we decided not to start that until January 15th.  Another member of my team presented me a plank challenge, that I accepted.  The 2 of us are currently working on the following. 

The 30 Day Plank Challenge will send your core strength through the roof! Yes, all you have to do is HOLD this position, nothing else! It looks pretty easy, but it isn't!

Day 1 - 20 seconds
Day 2 - 20 seconds
Day 3 - 30 seconds
Day 4 - 30 seconds
Day 5 - 40 seconds
Day 6 - REST
Day 7 - 45 seconds
Day 8 - 45 seconds
Day 9 - 60 seconds
Day 10 - 60 seconds
Day 11 - 60 seconds
Day 12 - 90 seconds
Day 13 - REST
Day 14 - 90 seconds
Day 15 - 90 seconds
Day 16 - 120 seconds
Day 17 - 120 seconds
Day 18 - 150 seconds
Day 19 - REST
Day 20 - 150 seconds
Day 21 - 150 seconds
Day 22 - 180 seconds
Day 23 - 180 seconds
Day 24 - 210 seconds
Day 25 - 210 seconds
Day 26 - REST
Day 27 - 240 seconds
Day 28 - 240 seconds
Day 29 - 270 seconds
Day 30 - PLANK FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!!

**SHARE to your Timeline to SAVE for later**

Benefits of Plank Exercise:

*It strengthens your lower back
*It develops your core muscles – which include the abs, back, hips and the butt.
*Helps you to avoid injuries and encourage good posture
*Can be done anywhere
*Develops your abdominals by targeting the rectus abdominis

SUPPORT each other in Fitness!!

This is a beginner routine.. everyone starts somewhere!

ENJOY this Challenge! Share with your friends to help motivate others!
For more tips, join our free group Getting the Skinny on with Alicia