Jun
15
Fitness Challenge: Week 8
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With Week 8 coming to a close, there are only 3 weeks of the fitness challenge left. I feel fairly confident in third place but I’d really, really like to finish in second. Sadly for me, the current first place contestant is training for a triathalon and the second place contestant is training for a body building competition. They are kicking my ass. At last check, I was only 60 points out of second so it’s not completely impossible. I’m not giving up.
Last week’s goal of using the treadmill of stairs - at least twice - was met. It’s an intense workout - very tiring but very worth it. Now that I’ve see how far I can push myself, I’m a little upset I haven’t been working this hard all along. Thankfully, there a few weeks left and my new goal is to break 100 points each week.
| Day | Activity | Points |
| Sunday | Elliptical, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Weights, 60 mins | 6 | |
| Monday | Run, 30 mins | 3 |
| Elliptical, 40 mins | 6 | |
| Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Elliptical, 40 mins | 6 | |
| Yoga Class | 5 | |
| Tuesday | Stair Stepper, 40 mins | 6 |
| Elliptical, 60 mins | 9 | |
| Wednesday | Row, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Crunk Fitness class | 8 | |
| Stair Stepper, 60 mins | 9 | |
| Friday | Row, 20 mins | 3 |
| Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Weights, 30 mins | 3 | |
| Saturday | Stair Stepper, 60 mins | 9 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Run, 30 mins | 3 | |
| Total Points for Week 8 |
112 |
Jun
7
Fitness Challenge: Week 7
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My life got a little crazy during weeks 5 and 6. I logged my points daily on the points chart at work, but didn’t keep track of the actual activities I did during those two weeks. Point total for the two weeks was 71. Basically, it was two half-hearted weeks where I dropped from second to fourth place. I’m working my ass off, literally, to get back in second place.
This week I tried a new machine - it’s called a StairMaster but it’s like a treadmill of stairs. Y’all, I have endurance. I can run for 3 1/2 hours. After 20 minutes on the StairMaster, I thought I would pass out. So I’ve challenged myself to use that machine at least twice in week 8. It’s a great workout and burns a lot of calories.
| Day | Activity | Points |
| Sunday | Walk, 60 mins | 3 |
| Monday | Run, 60 mins | 8 |
| Tuesday | Spin Class | 8 |
| Elliptical, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Wednesday | Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Crunk Fitness class | 8 | |
| Stair Stepper, 40 mins | 6 | |
| Friday | Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Walk, 60 mins | 3 | |
| Saturday | Run, 30 mins | 3 |
| Row, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Elliptical, 60 mins | 9 | |
| Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Total Points for Week 7 |
87 |
May
11
Fitness Challenge: Week 4
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If I were to have a theme for each week of exercising, this week’s theme would be “engaging the core.” No matter the class, the instructor always says “Engage your core muscles to protect your back.” So that’s what I’ve been focusing on. There’s a noticeable difference in spin class and with my running when I actively focus on protecting my back.
The Birmingham Track Club is offering a free 3 session speedwork clinic so I’m super excited about getting a new running workout started. I’m running a 5K on July 4 and my goal is to finish in under 40 minutes. Lofty, no doubt, but attainable.
| Day | Activity | Points |
| Sunday | Run, 30 mins | 3 |
| Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Weights, 30 mins | 3 | |
| Monday | Stair Stepper, 60 mins | 9 |
| Yoga Class | 5 | |
| Tuesday | Row, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Thursday | Run, 30 mins | 3 |
| Stair Stepper, 60 mins | 9 | |
| Weights, 30 mins | 3 | |
| Friday | Spin Class | 8 |
| Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Saturday | Run, 60 mins | 8 |
| Walk, 60 mins | 3 | |
| Total Points for Week 4 |
76 |
May
4
Fitness Challenge: Week 3
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My running has taken a nosedive. I thought I was keeping it up until I realized I only ran once last week - a measly 2 miles and change.
Sunday started off with a bang - I was determined to run for an hour. It’s been a little warmer, which I love, but I haven’t been hydrating quite as much as I should. Especially before taking off on that hour run. About 45 minutes into it, I thought I would die. I couldn’t help but wonder how the hell I’d run 13 miles a mere two months ago. Running truly is a “use it or lose it” ability. So this week included more running.
It probably sounds silly to be planning so far in advance, but I’ve already set my eyes on the next goal I’d like to achieve (aside from winning the fitness competition, of course). I want to finish the Vulcan 10K (in November) in under 1:15. Last year my finish time was 1:35. Which is fine. It was my first 10K. My pace is slowly improving with all of the cross training I’ve been doing, so I’m confidently determined to finish 6.2 in under 1:15.
Here is this week’s point count (and I’m super excited to break 50!!):
| Day | Activity | Points |
| Sunday | Walk, 60 mins | 3 |
| Run, 60 mins | 8 | |
| Monday | Run, 30 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Tuesday | Body Pump Class | 8 |
| Row, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Wednesday | Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Friday | Run, 30 mins | 3 |
| Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Total Points for Week 3 |
53 |
Apr
27
Fitness Challenge: Week 2
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I stepped it up a little this week, but I’m still not where I’d like to be with my points. I’ve been using Gyminee to put some strength exercises together. Week 3 will be an experiment adding the strength training with all of the cardio.
My regular spin schedule has been interrupted because the instructor had a biking accident. Tuesday morning of last week my very favorite instructor at the Mountain Brook Y, Danny, was filling in for the 5:40 am class. I was so determined to make it because I haven’t been able to make any of his recently scheduled classes. Wouldn’t you know it, OCMS/DMB was Monday night at Oak Mountain (I refuse to call it Verizon Music Center or whatever its name is now…) so I didn’t get home until almost midnight. When my alarm went off at 4:45 I actually got out of bed, put in contacts, brushed my teeth and got dressed for spin. And then I climbed back in bed to sleep for 2 1/2 more hours. In my spin clothes with minty fresh breath, no less.
| Day | Activity | Points |
| Monday | Row, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Tuesday | Body Pump Class | 8 |
| Run, 30 mins | 3 | |
| Wednesday | Elliptical, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Saturday | Stair Stepper, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Row, 20 mins | 3 | |
| Total Points for Week 2 |
47 |
Apr
20
Fitness Challenge: Week 1
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Week 1 of the fitness challenge has come to an end. I’m ok with only 37 points, but I won’t win if I keep sleeping through spin and skipping runs like I did three days last week. Several of my competitors are training for triathlons and half-marathons so I’ve got my work cut out for me if I want to win. I’m trying not to be overzealous with my activities because the challenge doesn’t end until July 3 and I don’t want to burn out. However, with a gym in our building it’s hard not to go during lunch and get in some time on the stepper or elliptical.
I was going to take progress pictures but then I saw a picture of myself in spandex and thought if I looked at it long enough I would barf and never don compression shorts again, even though they’re my new favorite piece of running gear.
| Day | Activity | Points |
| Tuesday | Body Pump Class | 8 |
| Run, 30 mins | 3 | |
| Wednesday | Walk, 60 mins | 3 |
| Friday | Row, 20 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Saturday | Run, 30 mins | 3 |
| Spin Class | 8 | |
| Walk, 30 mins | 1 | |
| Total Points for Week 1 | 37 |
Apr
15
Reason #57 Why I Love My New Job
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Most of you know I recently started a new job at DAXKO. For many, many reasons it’s a fantastic place to work - so many awesome people and a fun work environment . (See our job openings here) This morning I walked into the kitchen and saw information for a fitness challenge being posted on the bulletin board!
I am excited beyond belief - as everyone in the kitchen witnessed when I squealed. I love a good challenge and I REALLY needed a push to get me off this plateau I’ve hit with my weight. The rules are simple - there’s a list of exercises and points associated with those exercises. Whoever has the most points at the end of the challenge wins. Here’s the point breakdown.
This will be a super fun competition with my new co-workers. I’m going to blog my progress here and keep track of my points on a weekly basis. Two things will come of this: I will be forced to blog (which, you may have realized I have some trouble doing consistently) and I’ll have some accountability. Saturday is the end of my exercise week so I’ll try to update every Sunday with my points and exercises.
Mar
20
How to make a free (and legal) iPhone ringtone
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I find it ridiculous that the iPhone doesn’t come with the ability to make a free ringtone from your music library of tracks not purchased from iTunes. These steps may seem like a lot but after you’ve tried it once or twice it’s really not that big of a deal. I’ve combined several methods I found online to create this list of steps. It was the easiest for me. Maybe there’s a better way, but this works for me.
Change your import settings to AAC
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Set ringtone length
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Convert the ringtone selection to its own file
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Create the ringtone file
If you do not know where the file is located, right click on the track again and choose “Get Info” from the pop-up menu. On the Summary tab, look for the “Where” line for the path of the track. |
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So there you go! (And yes, Fat Bottomed Girls is actually my ringtone right now.)
Mar
10
The After
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It’s been four weeks since I ran my first half-marathon. I’ve been trying to think of a way to put into words what an amazing day that Sunday was for me. It was one of the best days of my entire life.
If you know me, you know how easily excited I get. If you don’t know me, I get excited - very easily - about most anything. Being downtown with thousands of people all excited about the race? I felt a little out of control. Let’s just say there was lots of jumping, clapping and eventually squealing as I crossed the start line.
The excitement died down as I settled into my groove and got down to business. At some point on 11th Ave (mile 6/7), the winner of the marathon passed me. For about five seconds, it looked like I was in second place. I may have jumped around like a crazy person and waved wildly at the camera in front of him. (So yeah, in the time it took me to run 6 miles he’d already run 19. ARE YOU JOKING ME.)
All of the people who came out to cheer were amazing. Everyone was so nice and said so many encouraging words as I passed by. Closing in on mile 10, one man said to me “Keep going. I’ve been there before. You’re gonna make it.” Miles 7-10 were the hardest, mentally, for me. Once I finally made it to mile 10, a wave of relief swept over me.
The realization of me finishing began to set in when I made the turn onto 20th St S. I was 10 blocks away from my mom, my husband and friends who had finished before me. All of the crazy excitement I’d had before the race started coming back to the surface. I couldn’t stop smiling. I had a few tears but mostly I was screaming with excitement coming down short 20th. The cameras taking pictures caught me dancing as I crossed the finish line.
I was overwhelmed with all of the people waiting on me. It really means the world to me that everyone waited patiently to share in my moment as I finished. My new favorite place in the world is a few feet out from the finish line of a race. It doesn’t matter the distance - 3 miles, 6 miles or 13 miles. A finish line is a finish line. The medal around my neck made every ache and pain from the past few months disappear.
Feb
14
I’ve done a crappy job of documenting my journey to February 15. Ever since my last long run last weekend, I’ve been filled with a joy that comes from knowing I’ve worked SO hard for this 13 miles. This time tomorrow, I’ll have the medal in hand.
Knowing my mother, my husband and my friends who’ve finished before me will be there to share in my excitement as I cross the finish line tomorrow? That’s what will get me over the hill in Southside. That’s what will get me through the pain I’ve been having in my right heel for the past three months. That’s what will keep me moving when my legs feel like they want to quit around mile 11.
I’m so incredibly grateful for an able body and a will that has conquered the darkest thoughts of self-doubt. I know I am capable. I know I am ready.