My inspiration was the 2009 New York Triathlon. All those people doing the unthinkable—specifically, jumping into the Hudson River. It just grossed me out. That water must be super toxic; I expected to find them glowing as they emerged from their swim.
Instead, I saw myself. Not then, not now, but soon. And I started thinking...
You see, I am not an athlete. Never have been. Most of my adult life I have been five or ten pounds away from the perfect weight. Two pregnancies sixteen months apart did not make matters any better. Hey, I love my little guys and treasure all the gifts they bestow upon me. Do I love what bringing them into the world did to my body? No, I do not!
So, I am keeping a journal of my adventure and sharing all that I learn along the way. Hey, I can even contribute some useful information. You see, I am a health coach. I already know some stuff...
Monday, March 1, 2010
WEEK 9
Base building
2
Monday
Run: 40 minutes, zone 1-2.
Strength training —chest, arms, shoulders:
assisted chest dips 2x15, cable standing flys 2x15, dumbbell upright row 2x15, dumbbell lateral raise 2x15, cable pushdown 2x15, dumbbell tri kickbacks 2x15.
Core - 3x1 min plank, weighted machine crunches 2x20, seated broomstick twists 2x50.
Stretch 15 min.
Tuesday
Swim - 3x300 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - 40 min, zone 1-2, 90 RPM
Core - weighted machine crunches 2x20, reverse crunches 2x15, crossover crunches 2x15 .
Stretch 15 min.
Wednesday
Run - 40 minutes, zone 1-2, cadence.
Strength training: quads, hams, glutes and calves:
dumbbell side lunge 2x15, dumbbell lateral step-up 2x15, cable back kicks 2x15, leg extensions 2x15, lying leg curls 2x15, seated leg press 2x15.
Core: side crunches 2x15, side plank 2x1min, imprint crunches 2x15.
Swim - 4x300 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Stretch 15 min.
Thursday
day off
Friday
Bike - 35 min, zone 1-2, rolling hills
Core - exercise ball pull-in 2x15 , vertical leg crunch 2x15, Russian twists 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Saturday
Run - 40 minutes, zone 1-2.
Strength training—back, leg (outer, inner, glutes):
step-ups 2x15, weighted seated leg raise 2x15, machine seated hip abductors 2x15, cable hip abductors 2x15, cable hip adductors 2x15, machine hip adductors 2x15.
Core - reverse crunch 2x15, imprint crunches 2x30, bottom to top woodchops 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Sunday
Swim - 4x250 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - winter cycling class: 90 minutes
Monday, February 22, 2010
WEEK 8
Base building- rest week
4
Monday
day off
Tuesday
Swim - 3x300 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - 30 min, zone 1-2, 90 RPM
Stretch 15 min.
Wednesday
Run - 35 minutes, zone 1-2, cadence.
Strength training —chest, arms, shoulders:
shoulder press 2x15, triceps extensions 2x15, machine chest press 2x15
Core - bottom to top woodchops 2x15, weighted machine crunches 2x20, 3x1 min plank
Stretch 15 min.
Thursday
day off
Friday
Bike - 40 min, zone 1-2, 90 RPM
Core - ball crunch 2x15, ball jackknife 2x15, cross body mountain climber 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Saturday
Run - 30 minutes, zone 1-2.
Strength training—back, leg (outer, inner, glutes):
seated machine rows 2x15, machine seated hip abductors 2x15, machine hip adductors 2x15.
Core - reverse crunch 2x15, imprint crunches 2x30, trunk extension 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Sunday
Swim - 3x300 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - winter cycling class: 90 minutes
Monday, February 15, 2010
WEEK 7
Base building
1
Monday
Run: 35 minutes, zone 1-2.
Strength training: quads, hams, glutes and calves:
lying hip extension (glutes) 2x15, dumbbell rear lunge (glutes, quads) 2x15, dumbbell straight leg deadlifts (hams) 2x15, dumbbell standing calf raise (calf) 2x15, alternating step downs (quads).
Core: V-ups 2x15, Russian twists 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Tuesday
Swim - 3x300 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - 40 min, zone 1-2, 90 RPM
Stretch 15 min.
Wednesday
day off
Thursday
Run - 35 minutes, zone 1-2, cadence.
Swim - 4x250 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Strength training —chest, arms, shoulders:
decline push-ups (pecs, core) 2x10, dumbbell decline flys (pecs) 2x15, dumbbell arnold press (delts) 2x15, dumbbell upright row (delts) 2x15, dumbbell front lateral raise (supraspinatus) 2x15, dumbbell rear delt row (delts) 2x15.
Core - bottom to top woodchops 2x15, weighted machine crunches 2x20
Stretch 15 min.
Friday
Bike - 35 min, zone 1-2, rolling hills
Core - exercise ball pull-in 2x15 , vertical leg crunch 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Saturday
Run - 35 minutes, zone 1-2.
Strength training—back, leg (outer, inner, glutes):
inner thigh lifts 2x15, sumo squats 2x15, side kicks 2x15, hot potatoes 2x15, scissors 2x15, front leg lifts 2x15.
Core - reverse crunch 2x15, imprint crunches 2x30, seated broomstick twists 2x50
Sunday
Swim - 4x250 yards, zone 1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - winter cycling class: 90 minutes
Monday, February 8, 2010
WEEK 6
Base building
Monday
Run - 40 minutes, zone1-2.
Strength training - quads, hams, glutes and calves:
frog squats 2x15, dumbbell squats 2x15, walking overhead lunges 2x15, leg extensions 2x15, lying leg curls 2x15, seated leg press 2x15.
Core - bicycle crunch 2x6, legs-up Russian twists 2x6.
Stretch 15 min.
Tuesday
Swim - 4x250 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 2 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - 40 min, 90+ RPM, zone1-2.
Core - reverse crunch 2x15, crossover crunch 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Wednesday
Run - 35 minutes, cadence, zone1-2.
Swim - 4x250 yards, zone1-2, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Strength training - chest, arms, shoulders.
push-ups 2x15, dumbbell bench press 2x15, dumbbell flys 2x15, triceps cable pushdowns 2x15, machine hammer extensions 2x15.
Core - imprint crunches 2x30, bottom to top woodchops 2x15.
Thursday - day off
Friday
Bike - 40 min, 90+ rpm, zone1-2.
Core - side crunches 2x15, side plank 3x 30 sec.
Stretch 15 min.
Saturday
Run - 35 minutes, zone1-2.
Strength training - hips, inner thigh.
bridging 2x15, floor hip extensions 2x15, seated machine hip abductions 2x15, kneeling side kicks 2x15, machine adductions 2x15, cable hip adductions 2x15.
Core - the hundred 2x, seated broomstick twists 2x50.
Sunday
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - winter cycling for triathletes class: 90 minutes
Strength training: back
lat pulldown 2x15, assisted pull-ups 2x15, cable one arm bent-over row 2x15.
Core - top to bottom woodchops 2x15, crunches 2x30, Russian twists 2x15.
Monday, February 1, 2010
WEEK 5
Base building
Monday
Run—35 minutes, zone 1-2.
Strength training—quads, hams, glutes and calves:
dumbbell side lunge 2x15, dumbbell lateral step-up 2x15, cable back kicks 2x15, leg extensions 2x15, lying leg curls 2x15, seated leg press 2x15.
Core - Core - side crunches 2x15, side plank 3x 30 sec.
Stretch 15 min.
Tuesday
Swim - 4x250 yards, zone 1-2, 2 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - 35 min, zone 1-2, 90 RPM
Stretch 15 min.
Wednesday
Run - 35 minutes, zone 1-2, cadence.
Strength training —chest, arms, shoulders:
assisted chest dips 2x15, cable standing flys 2x15, dumbbell upright row 2x15, dumbbell lateral raise 2x15, cable pushdown 2x15, dumbbell tri kickbacks 2x15.
Core - bottom to top woodchops 2x15, weighted machine crunches 2x20
Stretch 15 min.
Thursday
day off
Friday
Bike - 35 min, zone 1-2, rolling hills
Swim - 4x250 yards, zone 1-2, 2 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Core - 2x60 side crunches , 3x1 min plank
Stretch 15 min.
Saturday
Run - 30 minutes, accels
Strength training—back, leg (outer, inner, glutes):
step-ups 2x15, weighted seated leg raise 2x15, machine seated hip abductors 2x15, cable hip abductors 2x15, cable hip adductors 2x15, machine hip adductors 2x15.
Core - 45 degree leg raises/leg lifts 2x20, seated broomstick twists 2x50
Sunday
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest between
Bike - 35 min, zone 1-2, 90 RPM, intervals
Sunday, January 24, 2010
WEEK4
Base building
Monday
Run - 30 minutes.
Strength training - quads, hams, glutes and calves:
frog squats 2x15, dumbbell squats 2x15, walking overhead lunges 2x15, leg extensions 2x15, lying leg curls 2x15, seated leg press 2x15.
Core - bicycle crunch 2x6, legs-up Russian twists 2x6.
Stretch 15 min.
Tuesday
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Bike - 30 min, 90+ RPM.
Core - reverse crunch 2x15, crossover crunch 2x15.
Stretch 15 min.
Wednesday
Run - 30 minutes, cadence.
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Strength training - chest, arms, shoulders.
push-ups 2x15, chest presses 2x15, incline lateral raiserear delt pull 2x15, lying lateral raise 2x15, one-armed cable row 2x15.
Core - 2x20, bottom to top woodchops 2x15.
Thursday - day off
Friday
Bike - 30 min, 90+ rpm.
Core - side crunches 2x15, side plank 3x 30 sec.
Stretch 15 min.
Saturday
Run - 30 minutes.
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest, 100 yd warm-up and cool-down.
Strength training - back, leg (outer, inner, glutes).
bridging 2x15, floor hip extensions 2x15, seated machine hip abductions 2x15, kneeling side kicks 2x15, machine adductions 2x15, cable hip adductions 2x15.
Core - the hundred 2x, seated broomstick twists 2x50.
Sunday
Bike - 30 min, 90+ rpm.
Strength training: back
lat pulldown 2x15, assisted pull-ups 2x15, cable one arm bent-over row 2x15.
Core - top to bottom woodchopss 2x15, crunches 2x30, Russian twists 2x15.
Monday, January 18, 2010
WEEK 3
Monday
Run - 30 minutes, keeping within my aerobic threshold.
Strength training - quads, hams, glutes and calves.
Core - top to bottom woodchops 2x15, crunches 5x30
Stretch 15 min.
Tuesday
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest between
Bike - 7 miles, 90 RPM
Core - 2x15 hanging leg raises
Stretch 15 min.
Wednesday - day off
Thursday
Run - 30 minutes, cadence
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest between
Strength training - chest, arms, shoulders
Core - bottom to top woodchops 2x15, weighted machine crunches 2x20
Stretch 15 min.
Friday
Bike - 7 miles, rolling hills
Core - 2x60 side crunches, 3x1 min plank
Stretch 15 min.
Saturday
Run - 30 minutes, accels
Swim - 4x200 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest between
Strength training - back, leg (outer, inner, glutes)
Core - 2x20 45 degree leg raises/leg lifts, 2x50 broomstick twists
Sunday
Bike - 7 miles, 90 RPM, intervals
Sunday, January 10, 2010
WEEK 2
Monday
Run - 30 minutes, keeping within my aerobic threshold.
Strength training - quads, hams, glutes and calves.
Core - top to bottom woodchops 2x15, crunches 5x30
Stretch
Tuesday
Swim - 5x150 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest between
Bike - 7 miles, 90 RPM
Core - 2x20 45 degree leg raises/leg lifts
Stretch
Wednesday - day off
Thursday
Run - 30 minutes, cadence
Swim - 5x150 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest between
Strength training - chest, arms, shoulders
Core - bottom to top woodchops 2x15, weighted machine crunches 2x20
Stretch
Friday
Bike - 7 miles, hills
Core - 2x60 side crunches, 2x20 lying side bends
Stretch
Saturday
Run - 30 minutes, accels
Swim - 5x150 yards, keeping within aerobic threshold, 1 minute rest between
Strength training - back, leg (outer, inner, glutes)
Core - 2x20 45 degree leg raises/leg lifts, 2x50 broomstick twists
Sunday
Bike - 7 miles, 90 RPM, intervals