April's Challenge: Bike Somewhere Everday

This year I shall be joining the global community of bikers who pledge to bike somewhere every day for 30 days.  What a great thing to add into my arsenal of 30 days of something new.  I can already hear my buttocks screaming in bike seat bruising pain (bike seats and I have not really been close friends, at least not since I was a little girl).

Where do you bike to?  Anywhere.  To the store, to the park, to work, or just around the block.  The idea of course is to get yourself out side and moving.  Yes your butt is still technically sitting, but while it is sitting you are increasing your heart rate, building muscle, breathing deep, and catching some vitamin D -and here in the Northern Midwest Vitamin D is what has been lacking so very much over the long winter months so what a great way to start off the warming spring months then with a daily bike ride.

If you too would like to join me this month hit the website below and sign the pledge to ride every day for 30 days.
http://30daysofbiking.com/

Future outlook for April's Challenge

I wanted to show all you readers what I get to look forward to as we head into April, and April's biking challenge.

 

 

 

 

Thankfully I am feeling better post chiropractor and a massage.  I have been working on full body stretches every day since my back decided to play coy.  Exercise has been reduced to long walks, but at least I am still moving. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for April?!  Well it looks like my first week will be cold and wet.  Thankfully the challenge does not require miles of riding, just riding every day.

Oh the joys of living in the Upper Midwest!

Cramping my style

While the weather rages out my window with March starting off with a bang and definitely roaring like a lion, my training had been going smoothly and calmly more like a lamb and then....

Well I certainly feel as though I've been mauled by a lion.  Between the muscle tear and a shin splint (which I haven't had one in years), my steady increase in small injuries toppled my progress this month with an all out good old fashioned thrown back.  All because I bent and twisted, raised my leg -just to remove a sock.

A chiropractic and massage session latter, I'm feeling sore and bruised all over.  Looks like the rest of this month will be restricted to short walks, no running till I can get my body to once again be happy with me.  Plenty of fresh water, fruits and vegetables for me.  That's my therapy.

Till next month 30 dayers!

Muscle Recovery

With all of my training last month and my indecision this month I found myself in some serious pain during Wednesday's run on the treadmill.  Thankfully I ran across this lovely article so hopefully I will not have to experience that pain again.

http://www.coachcalorie.com/muscle-recovery-tips/

As for the rest of this month's challenges?  Once my calf muscle decides that it is no longer going to be a solid rock of hurt I will just continue to train.  My month started off with a big financial setback of yet another car repair.  Onward and upward I guess.  Next month will be better and warmer outside, as we just received 10 more inches of snow.

March Challenge: Finding a Challenge

Since I am signed up for a run at the end of May, I want to continue my trainging to get my endurance and speed up so that I can kick some butt when the day comes; yet the trouble is, how do I continue to do new things and still train?

I have a ton of yoga videos and have done yoge off and on for the past 10 years.
I have the Beach Body's P90X videos but that's 90 days not 30 and while I have yet to have made it even 30 days on those break you down videos I'm not sure if I want to go that route -just yet.

Thinking about the weeks between now and race day, I want to best utilize both my running training and cross training to keep me flexible and strengthen myself.  What do I do for March?  April is already a set in stone month as it is National Bike anywhere every day month: http://30daysofbiking.com/ and May should be my final training month, leaving March up in the air.

I could of course have fun with it.  My son's martial arts school offers Yoga, Kettle Bells, and Kickboxing throughout the week and with my family discount and reembrusement from work for participating in a "Health" related class it could very well be affordable and that would give me some variety for the month along with some good cross training.  The classes would only take up 4 days out of my week leaving the other 3 to be used for running and one day of rest so I don't kill myself.

Will have to think on this, but I can't take too long as it is already the 2nd.

Stay Healthy, Stay Strong, Keep Active, Live Long!