Since I started the program from "I Form", I'm now up on running 18-20 minutes. But unfortunately I have some pain in my bad hip from time to time, which has forced me to slow down.. Of cause slowing down is not an option in my head. So I had to alter my training to make it fit my body and age (USH.. I don't wanna think about age..)
Luckily I had the good fortune to come across a "power-step-machine", and on that I can walk my ass of upstairs without feeling anything in my hips or knees. So now I only run once a week + do the steps twice. It is my plan to start running the mountain-bike next week as well.
Yesterday I ran 18 minutes and today I took 25 minutes (2800 steps) in the machine. In the weekend I'm going to run together with my good friend Cia in Lövberga. It's good to have someone to train with once in a while :-)
In this weekend we spend a night at an old castle south of Stockholm. On Härringe we enjoyed all the good things life have to offer regarding delicious food and exquisite wines! It felt wonderful to be able to really dress-up and feel beautiful and dine in fantastic surroundings. Of cause we took a lot of photos there as well. The day after we did the complete opposite thing: camping in a tent on a small island in the coastal area south of Stockholm. The island of Landsort is know for its great birdlife and beautiful nature.
In Sweden it is a great tradition to celebrate "Valborgs evening", which represents the end of April and the real beginning of the spring. The Swedes have a strong tradition for this, and the most important part of that is: Making a huge bonfire and getting loaded...
We skipped the bonfire...
A very close friend of ours had invited us to dinner (which I had to prepare!) and tasting of more or less good whisky/whiskies. That was the responsibility of Alex and our friend. You do what You do best :-)
The menu was created with american style: after a dish with avocados and scrimps we had barbecue chicken-wings creamed corn and sweet potatoes, for dessert a tropical fruit-sallad with chocolate and finally cupcakes with chocolate-frostingsand the stars and stripes on top. Here we found out, that "Jim Bean" is NOT our first choice! But we had it along just to have a "ground zero" - a point of reference.
To make sure, that I could continue living healthy despite an evening in "sin", I did the next step in my training-programme: 10 minutes of "power-walking" + 15 minutes of normal running + 10 minutes of walking and stretching. My body actually handled the "Day after" very well!
In the weekend before Valborgs evening we trained all the dogs, but ufortunately we had a flat tire :-(
Shit happends! But the dogs still did a great job, they still have a huge heart for running, though it is in the late season and the weather is getting warmer and warmer.
Thursday and friday I did a lot of training of the muscles around my Torso: Sit-ups, the plank etc. Now it hurts, when I walk up the stairs! I'm NOT twenty anymore! -though it IS great to feel alive. I've always meant that feeling moderate pain from training is a great sign of having done "enough" and getting better
:-)
I also took out Anna-banana together with my mountain-bike for a fast ride in the evening. It is good to vary the training of both dogs and humans. But once I felt a little "alone" out there at around 21.00...
Anna had caught the scent of some large animal moving in between the trees! She was all light up with eagerness, but I only wanted to get the f... out of there. We do have at least two large bears in our neighborhood.
Today the plans are as following:
Tidying up things in the house, cleaning, feeding the monsters and picking up their "left-overs", training the 4 dogs in one team, out running the first intervals in this training-season, bicycling with Anna and making goood healhty food for me and my hubby :-)
Muddy training of the team of 4 malamonsters!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUjZA4qujFY
Later this evening I did a circle of totally 276 reps for the back, side and belly muscles. I bet that hurts tomorrow :-)
I can still feel my legs after the last weeks stunt, testing speed and endurance. Why do I keep on doing these silly things? One should have believed that I had managed to grow up loong time ago, at least have learned to handle my penis-envy a little better :-D
I don't need to prove anything??? Do I?
Today I did a test to see how much endurance I have, before I start up training seriously. Alex drove ahead of me in the Jeep, and I ran for as long as I could, without feeling any serious pain in knees and hips. As soon as I started to get small symptoms in those areas, I stopped.
I managed to do 8,5 km in 49 minutes and 58 seconds! I'm very VERY pleased with my self.
Next time, I will be doing tests, will be in 5 weeks from now.
Did a test of my strenght regarding the muscles around my belly and back. Took a static test in the so called "planken" (The plank), just to see how long I could hold the pose before starting to shake and sweat all over. Time: 3 minutes and 3 seconds. It's an awful looooong time in that position :-o
But I do believe, that this is a real good way of training the muscles around the waistline. Take a look at this video, that shows how to combine training in this area:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUFHkYiCctE&feature=related
I also took out the "youngsters" + their mother and let them go "seek" for their food in the large playground, we builded for them last year. Their "old man", Grizly loves to be with his family. Then he proudly walks around between them and enjoy their fascination of him. They love him very much. I'm so happy, that nothing has ever come between him and his son. It's like they know how much family means :-)
The Grizzz also loves to be with his daughter; Imelda and Silver. Despite Silver was out of Madsen and Dizzy, he has had a love for Grizly, since he was a puppy. So they also walk along very very good.
I'm happy, that he has such a large family, the Grizz :-)
He means the world to us!
GOOOOD morning!
Started the day by taking my resting-pulse, it was 50 beats per minute, which is ok but higher than last summer. Then again.. Last summer I did not have the flu.
Outside it is snowing, and it has been snowing all night. I have an urge to go to the skiing-stadium to train on technique, but the feeling I got in my chest after yesterdays running-stunt is a reminder to keep calm, until I'm completely recovered from the damn virus, that has been bothering me, Alex and half of the small town, were we both works as teachers. It already has a nick-name amongst the people up here: The plaque of Hammerdal or the the Hammerdals decease..
Apparently it takes 5-6 weeks to just get through it! I don't have time for that crap now!
