Sunday, March 28, 2010

My Push Up Challenge and a Running Group Weekend!

Well, I am back and finally blogging about this weekends St. Cloud River Runners Saturday group run. I wanted to get at least ten miles in so I arrived at 7 AM at our meeting place and met Amy, Deb, Pam, Nikki and Jeff. They led me out on a five mile run around the Sartell neighborhood and trails. It was a nice run and we ran at about a 8:30 to 9:00 minute mile pace. Nikki and Amy had already been running since 5 AM and wanted to get 15 to 20 miles in for the morning:) The picture above was taken after we got back from our first five mile run. We stopped off at our meeting place and got in a bathroom and water break. The picture that I posted is small, if you want a larger version click on this and scroll down one picture.

This is a picture of Jeff and me.
Here is one of me and Deb.

This is Nikki and Amy. Nikki is going to Boston and Amy is training for a few Triathlons:)
This is Deb and Pam:) After getting our five to ten minute break our group picture was taken. Shortly after that the whole group started running again. It was just like a few weeks ago where we all started off together. The first mile was a warm up and then everyone just kind of adjusted to whatever pace they wanted to be running. For the next five miles I stayed with Deb, Shannon, Yvette and Pam. We ran at about the same pace as the first run. I thought that this five miles was a little harder than the first because there were a few hills. After our run we all got together and had breakfast in our hosts Patty and George's house. Everyone brought a different dish or food item to share:) It was really fun just chatting and getting to know more of the goup:) I had a very nice time and enjoyed myself once again! I was actually thinking about running in The Human St. Patty's Day 8k race in St. Paul today. I had asked Amy for her advice not really knowing what to do. If I would of ran the Human Race I would of done a shorter run on Saturday. Amy talked me out of it saying that if I was training for the Earth Day Half Marathon that it was more important to get a longer run in. I think that she was right and I know I made the right choice by not running the race. I have the next three weekends in a row sloted with different races!! Today I went on an easy five mile recovery run around the Maple Grove trail system. My daughter came with me on her bike. It was about 45 degrees and a little windy, but it was nice. I ran at about a 9:00 minute mile pace. My right hip felt fine but my right knee was bugging me a bit. This is a new developement and I am not sure what to make of it. I did feel a little sore this morning in my calves and in my arms & shoulders!! Thanks to Jeff:)
Here is a picture of the gorgeous creek that flows beside the running trails. It is hard to tell right now but once it greens up it will look so beautiful:)
Okay, so on to my 100 Push-Up Challenge that Jeff is organizing. Jeff posted about a challenge where other bloggers could work and train for six weeks and eventually be able to do an amazing 100 push-ups in a row! I am always up for a good challenge and thought, hell yes I will try this:) So this was my first week and it kicked my butt!! Here is a picture of one of my guns:) I can tell that they are getting more defined and toned! I took the initial test and I was able to complete 35 total. Now don't be thinking that doing this was easy because it was not. I can do 30 comfortably but the last three to five are harder than hell:) I looked at the plan and being 40 years old, I placed myself where the chart suggested. I think I am supposed to be at week four. Jeff, please tell me if I am doing this right because it was so hard!! I had to do five sets of push-ups doing 21, 25, 21, 21, and 32 push-ups with a 60 second break between each set. Holy crap is that hard!! Day number two was worse...five sets of 25, 29, 25, 25, and 36 push-ups with a 90 second break between each set!! Can I say, "Ouch and oh my God I hurt!!" Jeff, I am going to be honest with you...on a few of those sets, I took longer than the suggested 90 second break!! Day three consisted of five sets of 29, 33, 29, 29, and 40 push-ups!!! Yea, I sucked on day three!! The suggested rest time of 120 seconds was not enough for me! I could not do the suggested last 40!! I hurt so bad! My shoulders, arms and forearms screamed in protest!!! I hurt and I hurt bad but I did the best that I could:) I wish I could tell you that I am looking forward to week two:) Yea, not so much!! I might be a baby and move down a week:)
This is me and my little man:) He is a little boy and is always running and playing rough! Notice his wipe out ouchy under his nose! Apparently he bit the dust at daycare scratching part of his face:( This week I will continue to get my runs in so that I am ready for my upcoming 10k on Saturday. I will also continue to do my push-up challenge. I hope that everyone has a wonderful week full of great runs:)
Oh, and one more thing, I am going to be a proud mother and brag up my daughter:) My daughter Kay is in the 8th grade and runs for the Maple Grove track team. She is a fast sprinter!! Last week after one of her practices the Jr. high and Sr. high school track coaches asked her to run in a varsity track meet!!! They told her that she is doing great and getting noticed for her speed. The distance coach also wants her because she did so good on her 400 meter testing run! I am very proud of her and thrilled that she was asked to run in a varsity track meet! They asked her to run the 100, 200, be one of the legs in the 4 by 100 relay team and possibly run a 400:) Go Kay!!
Also, go check out Tricia's Kettle Worx giveaway

40 comments:

  1. Julie,
    Nice job on the club run, and getting out there again today with your daughter! I am amazed at this push up challenge I am going to re-read the sets and see if I can find a time to work this into my week. After my incline bench sets today I did 3 sets of 10 pushups and am now feeling quite WIMPY after reading your blog!!! - D

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  2. Good for you running with a group. Those kind of runs are so much fun and it sounds like there are some cool folks as well. And in such a beautiful place!

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  3. So many exciting things going on for you! That group you run with sounds really great. I keep meaning to check out the local runners group here too.
    Lady you have some slammin guns!! Good for you! That pushup challenge sounds brutal. Your little fella is a doll and I am so used to seeing the wipe out owies.Boys!
    Congrats to your daughter. Run hard and happy girl!
    Have a great rest of the weekend Julie!

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  4. Looks like you have a great running group to keep you company. Great trail pics. Nice action shot of you running! Your trail looks very similar to the trail I run. 100 push-up challenge? No thanks! I'd be lucky to get 10 done, never mind 100. Brayden's a cutie! So cool about Kay being able to run in a varsity track meet. Have a great week.

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  5. 3 race weekends in a row, thats crazy, sounds like something i do

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  6. Congratulations to your daughter.That is very impressive. The group runs seem like a lot of fun! You must be meeting a lot of great people!
    Yes, Jameson does tower over me. I noticed it in those pics too! Maybe I am shrinking!

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  7. Julie - I'm soooo happy for your daughter, that's so cool! She's super speedy, look what she's goign to be clocking in times by the time she graduates....can you say TRACK SCHOLARSHIP??!! :)

    Your running group is so awesome, girl! You are meeting great friends that I'm sure are going to touch you in many ways!

    I see that you've joined forces with Meg in being sneaky about my birthday. Hrumph. You guys are subtle, that's all I can say. Oh, and sooo sweat! I'm sure I'll touch base with you before the week is done but have a great start to your week, Julie!
    Hugs!

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  8. sounds like your daughter inherited some running genes....and your little guy is a cutie!

    I love how your group brought food for breakfast after! Lately our group has been ending our runs at an Irish pub, so weird to have water and coffe in a place that we should be drinking beer!

    and to answer your question about my yard, yes, that's it! I love the woods out there, although it gets very buggy in the summertime. Still a great spot!

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  9. I'm more jealous now than ever of your run group! Running in the 5K and the 4-miler the past two weekends I have found that I run SO MUCH BETTER when I run with people! I even turned the iPod off and chatted with the gentleman running beside me Saturday and it made it SOOOO PLEASANT!

    And speaking of jealous... those are some bangin' arms and shoulders you've got there! I'm working on mine, but they are a far cry from yours. I am doing as many pushups as I can do in one set a couple of times a day, and I do the P90X arm DVDs when I can. I will NOT have my mother's arms! haha

    Big congrats to your daughter!!! She sounds like quite the athlete!!!

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  10. I've really wanted to try the 100 push up challenge - I think this may have been enough to get me started! :)

    It looks like you are having a lot of fun with the running group.

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  11. Damn, look at those pipes! Those push ups are working. :)

    I don't plan on running with a pacer at earth day - I don't think I've ever noticed them there before. I like to do my own thing anyhow.

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  12. Wow, those arms look tough! And sexy:)
    Good for you for sticking with the push up plan! At most, i do 3X10 2Xweek. Nice about the running group. Did I even tell you that this is how I got started with racing, by joining a moms' running group? I am no longer going bc I am training for marathons, but I am still getting together with some of the women I met there. Lots of fun!

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  13. I had no idea you were so tough Julie! I think you could kick my butt in a push up challenge.

    I ran with a running group this week (much smaller) but it is a lot of fun!

    Have a great week!

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  14. The running group sounds like a blast...and congrats to your daughter...sounds like the apple didn't fall too far from the running mommy tree :)

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  15. Somebody has been to the gun shop lately...

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  16. Great job with running and with pushups. Many years ago I was able to get up to 3 sets of 100 push ups. That was a long, long time ago.

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  17. Such a lovely post about so many lovely things in your life. That is all so great. Have a good week Julie!

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  18. Hello Michele Obama arms!! Love it- looking great! And seriously, you are such a pretty runner- all my photos I am a hot mess!

    Looks like your daughter has picked up on your healthy lifestyle habits...like runner mommy, like runner daughter :)

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  19. Julie - First off, NICE GUNS! With 35 PUs you should have started on Wk 3 like you did. Now you can either move onto Wk 4 or continue doing Wk 3 again until all the people who started at Wk 1 catch up. I did 41 PUs and started on Wk 3 ... I will be repeating Wk 3 again because it was hard and Wk 4 looks too intimidating! You are not alone on the butt kickings this little challenge is dishing out. My wife is hurting too, but our arms are all looking pretty good after just one week. I bet (hope) it gets easier as we get stronger!

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  20. Yeah. This is the time of year that I enjoy travelling away from Southern California. Everything turns green and beautiful. Soon it will be different shades of brown here as everything dries out for the summer.

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  21. I'm a "racer" too. It's really hard to let the racing go to focus on the training, but it is soooo important. I became a better runner when I focused a little more on "the goal race." Congrats! And the push-ups - girl - you rock! Push-ups, core work, and stretching - so important - but urgh! so not my favorite thing to do.

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  22. Julie,

    wow you have so much going on. Great job with the group run. Sounds like it is a fun way to train. Impressive pipes, thanks for the shot.

    Congrats to your daughter. Very exciting to see kids excelling at something. You should be very proud!

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  23. Nice guns! Very nice indeed! I started on week 3 and I am moving on to week 4 this week. I plan on repeating the toughest week for me so I can still be in synch with everyone on this challenge. What is your ultimate goal? 100 even or can you do more?

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  24. When I was training for Ironman, my coach was always keeping me focused on the prize! Its easy to jump into these "little" races, but the risk is not often worth the reward.

    Very cool with Kay! She's a chip off the old block eh?

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  25. Hi, Julie! It's so good to hear that you're enjoying the club runs. Lots of new friends, huh? I caught myself feeling a little jealous:)

    OK, I've heard about this push-up contest for so long now, it has chiseled away at my resolve and I think I'm up for it. (Also, on my long run, I noticed my ARMS were tired at the end!! How lame).

    Have a great day:)

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  26. Nice job on the club run. They sure seem to have enough fast runners to pace each other. That is awesome. Months ago I started a local run club, but it is just me. (Maybe I should start publicizing it or something.)

    Nice gun!!! Your doing awesome. Wow, your 40? Never would have guessed that. Your doing something right. :)

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  27. Look at you all fit and stuff - you could probably kick my booty!

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  28. well this post was a mouth full where to start. I am a little envious of your running group it looks like a great group, lots of support and motivation to help get through those runs. and Congratulations to your daughter I loved running track in high school and to not even be in 9th grade yet and being asked to run with the varsity is definitely a big achievement. I need to find a push up challenge I am trying to get my arms in check before the summer hits. :)

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  29. Girl, you're developing the Guns!!! :-) Keep up your hard work - it's paying off! Congrats to Kay - her hard work is paying off too. You've got a lot of neat things going on right now and to top it off, a beautiful family! Have a great week,
    Kathleen

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  30. I want to join your running group. They are fun and friendly and they bring food! How far is St Cloud from North Carolina? Never mind, but I'm glad you have that group. Your arms are worth all that work, and the pain! You look great. Congrats to your daughter too!

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  31. Hi Julie...it sounds like you had a fun, fantastic, and awesome weekend. Can I say I'm jealous of your guns? Yes, I think I am. You are going to do so well in your April races because you have such a nice and friendly group to run with. And I am not at the least surprised that your daughter is a budding track star; she gotta those genes from mom! Heehee! Awesome! Have a fantastic week!

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  32. Sounds like a great run with the group! Funny-I was running in Sartell with my husband on Saturday morning as well! A little later though but we passed a ton of runners! Nice work on the pushup challenge! Your little guy is adorable and congrats to your daughter! You have so much to be proud of and thankful for!!!

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  33. The pushups (my favorite upper body exercise) will help build stronger arms and core, which in turn will help you become a better and faster!

    Congrats to Kay! I'm sure Brayden will follow soon your footsteps :)

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  34. I saw the pushup challenge and chickened out. You'll be great!! Thanks for the birthday wishes.

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  35. Wow! Way to show off those guns (arms)! You are getting pretty fit! Keep running and wish I could find a good running group.

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  36. Minnesota runners-- I LOVE IT :) The group breakfast afterward sounds exactly like what I'd expect if I went on a group run in Minnesota. Truely one of the friendliest places I've ever been.

    That's interesting that you commented about noticing your right knee hurting after having right hip problems. My right hip is bothering me..and I've noticed my knee being a little sore. I wonder if this is from compensating? Or maybe just because I did a bike workout for the first time in a whileee ;)

    Impressive long run!

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  37. That push up challenge looks, well, very challenging! Doing several sets of 20 plus push ups with only a 60 second break is very difficult. They are an awesome exercise though! They're not just great for the arms, but also great for the core. Good for you! And congrats to your daughter. You'll have to let us know how she does!

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  38. You had a fun weekend with a fantastic group :)
    I hope your knee will improve soon. the photo of the creek that flows beside the running trails shows a beautiful environment.
    Enjoy the rest of this week!

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  39. Julie! You rock, what a fun running group your a part of and check you guns!! I may try the push up challenge this weekend and see how I do--and congrats to the daughter for running varsity!! I hope your son is well also, he has been in my mind the last few weeks. :) Take care!

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  40. That is an incredible running group...looks like a ton of fun! You do have some guns...I need to do the push up contest...but I have to start on my knees. =(
    Awesome about your daughter!

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