I'm linking up with the Weekly Run Down, please head over to Kim and Deborah to check it out. Good Luck to everyone running Chicago today!
The Sweats
Monday: 3 treadmill miles. Normally I have a little extra energy on Mondays, but not this Monday. It was a long, slow workout. And then someone was #rude and scheduled a lunchtime meeting, so I missed my lunchtime weight workout.
Tuesday: 5 treadmill miles, and folks it was so hard it was like I've never run on a treadmill before. Another busy day which put the kibosh on a lunchtime weight workout.
Wednesday: No running, finally got my weights in at lunch.
Thursday: 6 outdoor miles! I haven't been running outdoors on weekday mornings because of the darkness, but I had a mid morning appointment, which gave me just enough time to run after it got light. I did a repeat of last Saturday's workout, which was 4 miles easy, 2 miles with fast/slow intervals. Look, I love me some treadmill but nothing can replace being outdoors in gorgeous weather.
Friday: 3 treadmill miles, hill workout. Another drag on the tready. I'm not sure why the treadmill was just so dang hard this week.
Saturday: 10 miles outdoors. I built on the workout that I did on Thursday, so it was 4 miles easy, 2 miles fast/slow, 2 miles easy, 2 miles fast/slow. It was such a great way to break up the workout. The temp were low 40s and it was my first run of the season with gloves. I can't help but shake my head at how much easier running is now that it's fall. Don't get me wrong, I love summer dearly but hot weather running will never be my jam.
Sunday: my plans include not leaving the couch.
Half marathon #3 countdown: 3 weeks!
Pay for Push Up
There are a number of things that I *should* do on a regular basis that I don't, such as pushups. My weight lifting schedule can be erratic, which keeps me weak on the pushup front. If I can't set aside 30-40 minutes for a weight workout, I can still set aside three non consecutive minutes throughout the day to get in 3 sets of 10 pushups. I'd love to be able to do pull ups, but I never seem to find the "time" to just hang on the bar or rip out some negatives.
On the flip side, I can be tight with a buck sometimes, and there's a short list of little things that I'd like to have but every time I think about getting them, it's "eh, why waste money on that?" Examples: I've wanted this return address stamp for awhile now, and I have a list of DVD's that I'd like to get, small stuff like that. There's one big ticket item on the list, which is a new vacuum cleaner. We each brought a vacuum cleaner into our marriage and I hate both of them for different reasons but I've never been able to justify getting a new one.
Just over a week ago I combined these two ideas to give myself a fictional spending account. I will "pay" myself $5 for the following things:
- 1 set of 10 pushups
- 30 seconds plank/side plank/10 negative pushups (a routine I do on days when I don't do pushups).
- Pull up practice (hang on the bar + 5 negatives)
- Practicing piano (hey I didn't say all of these things were fitness things!), which takes about 20 minutes and doesn't have to be consecutive.
- Eating less than 2,000 calories a day (weight loss is low on my priority list but at the same time I really wouldn't mind shedding the last 9 pounds.)
So at any rate, I finally ordered the address stamp and got to see a movie that I've been wanting to see forever. But that's not really the point, the point is that I'm stronger in my pushups since I've been doing them every other day instead of oops once a week, and playing the piano is much more enjoyable when you do it 4-5 days a week instead of, ahem, a few times a month. My fake saving/spending account is a push to get myself to follow through on the real small tasks that will add up to real goals down the line.
Your Turn
Does anyone else use something like my "pay for push up" system?
I'm pretty good at motivating myself to exercise, and I'm also ok with doing short sessions when I can, so nope, don't have to pay myself. House cleaning, well, that's a completely different story.
ReplyDeleteI'm ok with the mill, but yup, do prefer to be outside. I got lucky this week with some great weather!
Here's hoping we have the great weather again this week. I don't have to pay myself to run but I do need a nudge to do all of the extra stuff that supports running.
DeleteIt's not a bad system, if it motivates you to get it done! LIke Judy, I'm pretty good at getting myself to move. I just know that mentally, I'll feel really bad if I don't. That's all it takes. Unless it involves a treadmill run. Not.a.fan. But a runner's gotta do...
ReplyDeleteamen and always, what a runner's gotta do!
DeleteThose fall colors in the first pic are great! This time of year can be so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to pay money for strength classes, but I'm a lot more motivated to stick with it when I DO spend money on it :)
Oh for sure if I was paying there's no way I'd miss out.
DeleteHey, that's a great system!! And if it works for YOU, then it's perfect ;-) I routinely do push-ups, but have slacked in recent weeks (months?)...I can justify it with the "marathon training" thing, but that's really not a valid excuse. That's why I'm doing my #pushuptober thing. Just 10 push-ups a day. I'm trying to focus more on form than anything, and by only doing 10 they don't take very long. Great job on all those runs, too!
ReplyDeleteKim, one of the best things that I've gotten from reading your blog is the reminder to cross train!!! I can see how it's paying off in your marathon training.
DeleteI think it's a great ida to pay yourself for pushups and then reward yourself with the items on your wish list. Looks like a great week of running for you too. Thanks for linking up
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and Kim for hosting the link! Such great stuff out there
DeleteThat's a great way to stay motivated! I used to be better about doing push ups regularly. Now they are in included in my strength training so at least I do them about once a week.
ReplyDeleteYes, I used to be better at doing them to and I've lost a lot of upper body strength. I have the classic question mark posture when I run and I'm hoping that getting back on my pushup game will help solve that.
DeleteI'm so bad, I would do this and never pay myself! I try to keep up with my push-ups because I don't want to lose the ability to do them. I like your alternate exercises too.
ReplyDeleteI know...I used to be a pushup boss but I slacked and lost it and just haven't been able to get it back. Here's hoping that "paying" myself will finally get my mojo back.
DeleteI like that system! You have to do whatever motivates you. That return address stamp is lovely! Treadmill runs are not always run but it is better than nothing. But running outside IS so much better.
ReplyDeleteUsually I don't mind the tready but for some reason last week it was so hard.
DeleteThat's a great idea for incentives! I haven't done anything like this but I've at least started using a habit tracker to track things like doing planks and PT exercises for my feet. Just having to write it down at the end of the day makes me more likely to do it.
ReplyDeletefor sure! Writing it makes it more real.
DeleteI'm pretty self motivated, but I do use an app called StepBet. Basically you pay $40 to hit a certain number of steps daily for 6 weeks. At the end of the 6 weeks you get your money back if you do all your steps. You can also make money if other people don't make their steps. For me it's not about the profit, just about holding myself accountable to not lose the $40 lol
ReplyDeleteSounds like the same company as RunBet. That was a fun one! Great tip.
DeleteThat system is a great idea to motivate yourself! I'm so bad at doing cross training...I love running and am totally self motivated to run, but hate cross training. Maybe if I paid myself to do it I'd do it more often!
ReplyDeleteAmen, ain't that the truth! I've learned and relearned so many times that I need to cross train.
DeleteWhat a fun idea! I don't do this, but I could see where it might help me. I really need to do PT exercises every day and honestly, they probably only take 10 mins or less, but I'm just too lazy by the end of the day and I refuse to take the time to do them. Heck, I could throw a few minutes of sit ups in there too :)
ReplyDelete