Brie Fit

You guys, I am so tired.  These 5:30 classes are amazing, but I’m beat by late afternoon.  It’s a little bit sad.

Anyway, continuing with the “it’s nice out so we will do lots of running” theme:

Running and overhead squats.  Easy, basic stuff I’ve been doing since day one. 

Except today was hard.  I’ve accepted that my “new normal” is just that CrossFit is harder than usual lately, but my hips and lower back really ached while running.  And on the overhead squats, I lost my balance and fell on one of them.  (NOT a hard fall or anything to worry about.  I “fell” about six inches and landed on my thigh.)  That particular move requires a lot of core strength and balance, and I have a counterweight I’m not used to strapped to my middle now.  Basically, at the bottom of the squat, the weight went one way, I went the other. 

More than anything, it just kind of shook my confidence and made me feel like sort of an asshole.  I’d even gone down to a lower weight, but it wasn’t enough.

So, I guess that’s the end of overhead squats for me for awhile.  I think I’ll probably modify with regular front or back squats or maybe thrusters instead.

Still, not a bad result, all things considered:

And since I haven’t posted food for awhile, check out my delicious lunch (that was half green!):

Roast beef and melty cheddar on a pretzel roll, with a side salad of spinach/almonds/balsamic/goat cheese/dried cranberries.  I’m craving beef and spinach this week.  Maybe my iron’s low?  Hmm.  But yes!  Working on the “more fruit and veggies” goal, clearly.

I’m going to Chicago this weekend to see my family and I can’t wait!  Eek.  Only two more days!

Back on Black Friday, I declared this WOD the hardest I’d ever done.

I’m not sure if it’s because it was a harder WOD altogether, or because I’m 21 weeks pregnant with asthma issues, but this morning’s gave it a run for its money.

Maybe it’s because I now hate running-heavy WODs (which, what?  I ran a marathon and five half mara thons), or maybe it’s because my run has turned into what I affectionately refer to as a “spirited waddle”, or maybe it’s because I can’t box jump anymore, or maybe it’s because I couldn’t even do a handstand push-up before I was pregnant.  But this was seriously, seriously hard.  Like, I doubted I’d finish at times, and was the last one working out of the whole class since I was in the second wave of starts.

It was hard.  But I finished. #storyofmylife

In other news, happy two year anniversary to us!

Tonight, we will celebrate with grilled cheese and our son kicking me in the lungs.  As Tim says, we are very lucky to have found each other. 

This weekend I treated myself to some new lululemon under the justification that it will stretch and fit me throughout pregnancy.  I had Tim do a rough bump photo on Sunday night.

By the Kath and Caitlin standard, I can no longer suck it in.  It’s a bump.  If I lay on my stomach, it’s kind of like I’m laying on top of an orange.  And SOMETHING is growing in there because I pee at least twice an hour.  Monster baby!

(Sidenote: I can’t wait to dye my hair post-first tri.)

And the bump this morning.

Maybe this will incite me to clean my bathroom mirror and/or make Tim start taking real, cute posed bump pictures in a well-lit area. 

(Probably not, though.)

ANYWAY, it was a perfect morning for CrossFit.  It was in the high 50s during the WOD, which meant that running outdoors was somewhat lovely.

Today’s WOD was Nancy—5 rounds for time of:

• 15 overhead squats (I did 42#)
• 400m run

I finished in something like 19:52.  I don’t remember the exact time, but I do know I squeaked in just under 20 minutes.  The finisher was 2 minutes of timed abmat sit-ups.

As far as pregnancy modifications, today I changed:

• lighter weights on the overhead squats—Rx was 65#, which I can do, but I am dropping my weights a bit per the CrossFit Mom recommendations.
• jogging instead of sprinting the 400s to keep my heart rate manageable
• I started the abmat sit-ups but stopped early because I started having round ligament pain.

Even though I’m now bringing up the rear in the classes, I am so happy I know I at least CAN CrossFit pregnant.  I hope to continue for as long as possible!   I really hope that the “functional fitness” basis of CrossFit becomes REALLY functional and helps me have a smooth pregnancy and, eventually, labor and delivery.

How often do you clean your bathrooms?  Am I the only one who doesn’t really care about toothpaste on the mirror?

Today’s WOD was simple, but one of my favorites to date.

5 rounds of 5 front squats, 10 medicine ball box jumps, and 15 shuttle runs.

It makes sense.  I love squats, box jumps, and short runs.  So, string those things together and I’m a happy camper.

I actually did the front squats HEAVIER than Rx, which made me feel extra awesome.  Rx was 70#, and I did 72# because I was using the small 22# bar with 25# weights on each side.

I finished in 10:15.  I just felt really good the whole time—very strong on the heavy squats and no breaks on the box jumps. 

After the WOD, we did a push-press tabata.  I completed 61 reps with the 45# bar and was absolutely spent at the end.  It was a low number compared to the rest of the class, but a heavier weight than some, so…I’ll take it.

Today was great, eating-wise!  I followed my dietary restrictions to a T—no dairy, hot foods and drinks, no miscellaneous sweets, ate eggs and beans and other protein.  I’m feeling good.

Finally, I TWSS bombed Tim via the Williams-Sonoma catalog on our coffee table.

Indeed.

What are your strengths in the gym?

So, today was the first time I’ve run more than 400m since mid-September.  I was a wee bit nervous—running is tricky.  But ultimately I decided to trust my CrossFit training and just go for it.

Before the race, we picked up our bibs and I put the official Turkey Trot shirt on under my CFN shirt.  Since we were doing it as a group, we engaged in some team spirit.

Tim joined me for the race today.  He hasn’t done much running since he started his new job with longer hours, but we decided it would be fun to give it a shot anyway.

Anyway, we lined up and were off.

If there’s one word I can use for this race, it would be CROWDED.  It was on a very narrow trail near the Missouri River and it was muddy.  It was a 5K run combined with a two mile walk, which presented some challenges.  I had to slow to a near walk at two points on the course when we went over a narrow bridge.  I was kind of gunning for a PR, but with the crowds, it just wasn’t going to happen and I gave up on that goal early in the race.

The weather was gorgeous, and the sun was shining.  I took the whole thing at an easy pace (I didn’t really have much choice in that) and finished in 30:48.  The whole time, I just kept thinking, “Wow, this is both way easier and more boring than CrossFit.”  Heh.

Despite the crowds, it was a great way to start out our Thanksgiving day!  I think I might look for a less crowded 5K in a few months to try to PR again, but I’m fairly sure my long distance days are done for a long while.

We took a CFN photo post-race. 

(Tim finished a few minutes after I did, which is totally awesome for doing a 5K with no training!  Go Tim!)

In other news, Milhouse’s Christmas photo bowtie arrived yesterday.

(I tried it on Buckley, and he was less enthused.)

Anyway.  Here are just a few things I’m thankful for today:

• Tim.  It’s so nice to have someone who just gets me, and when he doesn’t, he’s mostly just amused by me.  I love having a drama-free marriage.
• My mom and sister, who I can’t wait to see next week for the first time since July!
• Having non-crazy in-laws.  They are pretty excellent.  I got lucky.
• Our (almost) house.  I can’t believe we’ll be homeowners in less than a week!
• Healing.  It’s been a rough month, but I feel like I’m in a good place again.  It’s nice to feel hopeful again and not sad.
• Hummus, cheese, Greek yogurt, and clementines.  Enough said.
• My job, and Tim’s new job.  It’s hard to not take these for granted sometimes, but I am so thrilled Tim has a position he loves with people he loves.
• CrossFit, and my excellent trainers who push me.  I’m so glad going to the gym is something I look forward to now, and not something I dread.
• My best friend who introduced me to CrossFit, and responds patiently to my crazy e-mails.  I’m so excited for her baby girl coming in February.
• The possibility of having a baby next Thanksgiving.  I hope, I hope, I hope.
• The Sing-Off.  Shut up.  I love it.
• Milhouse, Buckley, and Southie, who amuse me more than they probably should, and who cuddled me through the awful miscarriage last month.
• Tivo.
• YOU.  Having positive, supportive readers who come back day after day to give me the “attagirl” I sometimes need.  And who help do amazing things like the Blogs for Dogs registry for Joplin and The Great Fundraising Act.

Happy Thanksgiving, folks.  Enjoy the turkey.

You know, I was always envious of those bloggers who really loved running (or cycling, or whatever, but mostly running) because they were excited to work out and got sad if they missed a day.

I never had that with running.  I lived for rest days, not running days.  Deep in my heart, I knew it was not something I could maintain the rest of my life because I didn’t love it.  I had to drag myself out the door to do it.

I’m so glad I had the proverbial balls to try CrossFit.  I feel like I’ve finally found something I’m excited about.  Am I super great at it?  No, not really.  But I miss it when I’m not doing it, and I feel like I have a lot of room for big gains in the future.  It forces me to work on my weaknesses and encourages me to grow in my strengths.  I love it.  All of it.

Today’s WOD:

• 15 hang cleans (45#)
• 10 pull-ups
• 200 meter run
• 30 hang cleans (45#)
• 15 pull-ups
• 400 meter run
• 15 hang cleans (45#)
• 10 pull-ups
• 200 meter run

Results?

13:40.  Not bad. 

I wish I’d gone a little heavier on the hang cleans, but I grabbed an Olympic bar and tried 65# and it was too much for 60 reps.  I feel like 55 would have been perfect.

After the WOD we did a sit-up/push-up split tabata.  I’m proud of myself for doing all the sets of push-ups on my toes.  It wasn’t pretty, but it’s a progression from being on my knees (that’s what she said) and those feel way too easy now.  I just have to keep doing the ugly toe ones until I get stronger, I guess.

I also got my official CrossFit photo taken for the wall today.  I’ll have to take a picture for you guys.  I’m sweaty and wearing hot pink.  Appropriate? 

Oh, and speaking of CrossFit and running…I’m running a Turkey Trot with my box on Thanksgiving morning.  It’s a 5K and I haven’t done any running that wasn’t more than a sprint since September.  I’m doing it mostly for fun, but also out of morbid curiosity to see a) if I still CAN run a 5K and, if so, b) if CrossFit has made me faster, slower, or about the same.  Should be a fun experiment!

Breakfast was some raisin bran, leftovers from when I was pregnant and wanted to eat cold cereal and milk (and nothing else) all the time:

For dinner I made some baked penne with chopped spinach.  Again with the “using things up” theme, tonight’s victim was a half-finished, slightly sketchy thing of ricotta in the fridge.

(Sorry so blurry!  I didn’t realize.)

I’m off to Boise, Idaho tomorrow afternoon.  Yee haw.

What do you LOVE to do for exercise?  Or are you still looking for it?

This morning’s CrossFit WOD had some sort of symbolism to it.  It was loosely based on this WOD from CrossFit Springfield and was called “Lady Liberty.”  But at 5:30 am, I’m not really primed to absorb deep themes, so I just did the workout.

My partner and I had to complete the following.  I was a little nervous when they announced a 40 minute time limit.

• 4000m run (we each did 2000m, or 5 laps of the parking lot)
• 229 box jumps (I did 139, she did 90)
• 125 pull-ups (I did 60, she did 65)
• 450 squats OR sit-ups (I did 250 squats, she did 200 squats/sit-ups combined)

We finished first in the class at 28:45.  I like working with a partner, especially when that partner is also female and we beat all the boys in the class.

This is kind of how I felt today because I didn’t sleep well last night.

I also made a really ugly dinner that was pretty delicious.

I used fat free cream cheese and it didn’t really blend well, but tasted just fine.  A bit salty, but…man, I love the crockpot.

I’m due for an early bedtime tonight!  Happy Monday!

…to running.

I’ve known the breakup was coming.  I haven’t done any running that wasn’t in the form of a 400m sprint for about three weeks.  And I haven’t missed it.  AT ALL.

I’ve never loved running.  But I’ve done it because it’s cheap, easy, convenient, and I like it when it’s over.  I liked it sometimes, but 15% of the time wasn’t doing it for me.

Today I took a definitive step to end the relationship with distance running.  I got a pedicure and had them razor my calluses off.

It felt oddly nostalgic to see the dead skin (and ohmygod there was a lot of it) on the floor.

I can’t say I’ll never run, or race, again.  I’d love to CrossFit for a few more months and then run a 5K cold and see what happens.  And with my work travel coming up, I’m sure I’ll hit the treadmill a few times.  If I know one thing about myself, it’s that I cycle through fitness interests, and when I get bored with something, I move on to something else. 

So, goodbye, running.  We’ve had some great memories…but I won’t miss you.

So I’ve been driving a shoebox all day.

I don’t know what I did to piss off the rental car guy at work, but this teeny Fiat will not even fit two small bags in the trunk.  I had to put one in the “backseat.”

Anyway.  Morning WOD before I hit the road was probably a top three hardest WOD ever.  I felt like puking at the end, for real.

Four rounds of:

• 22 kettlebell swings (@ 35 lbs)
• 22 box jumps
• Run 400m
• 22 burpees
• 22 sit-ups

I finished in 32:10.  It was hellacious.   By the end of the first round I was dripping sweat onto the mat during my burpees. 

BUT, I am very proud that my sit-ups are improving.  I haven’t done a half-assed crunch in over a week.  I am slow, but I get the full range of motion and that’s important.

So, I’m nowhere interesting.  Had Subway for lunch, Chipotle for dinner.  Week one of six of intense travel begins.

I did stock up on breakfast provisions at the grocery store, though.

Not perfect, but I’m working without a fridge and/or any utensils beyond a plastic knife and fork I purloined from Chipotle.  And it’s better than breakfast at the 43290543 fast food places around my hotel.

What’s your dream car?

So, fun morning.

Woke up at 4 am to the sounds of a yelping, whimpering beagle. 

Our poor guy was clearly in pain, so Tim whisked him to the vet as soon as they opened.

Diagnosis: slipped disc-type injury.  He should be fine, but is on muscle relaxers and two different kinds of pain killers.  He seems to be feeling better already.

The funny part is that whenever we pick up Milhouse from the vet, the staff completely fawns over him.  They LOVE him.  He is such a little charmer, and will just stare at them with his big beagle eyes and make them all fall in love.  He had three women scratching his ears and cooing over him.  Mad skills, right there.

I mean, come on.

Anyway, despite the extra early morning, I made it to CrossFit.  I’m super glad tomorrow is a rest day (no Thursday morning classes) because I am sore this week!  My calves, glutes, and hamstrings are especially tight from those 500 lunges on Monday.

Today’s WOD was “Helen”.  3 rounds for time of:

• 400m run
• 21 kettlebell swings (as Rxed, @ 35 lbs)
• 12 pull ups (with the green band and a little helping hop…getting closer to being 100% hop-less, though)

I finished in 9:40:

I really like kettlebell swings.  I think it’s mostly because I really enjoy thrusting my hips forward emphatically.

Like Duff Man.

I also got my nifty CrossFit Northland shirt for becoming a charter member.

It has a fun logo on the side, too.

I got bacon grease on it making dinner, though.

(Breakfast for dinner: 2 eggs with a sprinkle of goat cheese, 2 slices of bacon, 3 pancakes with a tidge of maple syrup.  Heavenly.)

I actually ended up leaving work a little early—I’m not sure if I’m dealing with a cold, or allergies, but I’ve been all stuffed up and coughing a bit.  Hopefully I’m feeling better in the morning.  Gross!

Favorite Simpsons quote/character/episode.  Go.