It is almost over with this challenge.
So today it was time to sit for 150s.
Some shaking in the beginning and when it was about 60s left my thighs were shaking really badly.
Tough to get up and ache in my thighs afterwards. When I sat down it was also aching so then I did the dog and afterwards it fels so much better 🙂
The challenge continues.
Started the day with calm Power Yoga where I can have socks on and am not gliding.
But here I have to be barefoot to not slide around.
So today it was time for 145s, Some shaking in the beginning and at the end it was shaking a lot.
Only a few days left Before this challenge is over and it has been a great challenge.
Last week I tried Power Yoga 1 and this morning I went to Power Yoga 2 6.45 in the morning. I am not a person who normally get up and exercise Before breakfast and I thought that doing this yoga Before breakfast might be a mistake. But last week I had coffee with my friend Johanna who also is a yoga instructor and told her about this morning session and her comment was that I am going to feel so much better afterwards.
Who did not walk in then Jeanice, a Coach K Runner friend so we said hello before yoga started.
A lot of the positions that I did a Power Yoga 1 were also here but today we also did Warrior 3 which was new.
Positions I had done before was child position, Salute to the sun , the dog, upward dog, the dove, Cobra, happy child, at the end universal twist that was also at Power Yoga 1 but did not remember the name then.
It really was a nice way of starting the day, I still need to work on the breating, I breathe but am not sure if I inhale and exhale at the right places.
Power Yoga seems to be the yoga that I will do reguarly. It is going to be interesting how it will pay off later for me as a runner but also as not a runner.
Never miss a Monday is one of the rules at this challenge so back to the treadmill at the gym.
A day like this the treadmill is a saver because I do not like to run in the rain, especially in the winter, but I am not really a treadmill runner.
But before I did the weight lifting I ran a total distance of 1.3 miles (2.09K) on the treadmill and every 500 m I increased the speed up to 1.5K, then I increased the speed when it was 250 m left, 200 m left and 100 m left.
Then I focused on triceps, biceps, legs with hip stability exercises.
Ended with core and the last thing I did was standing in regular plank for 5 min. This time my stomach muscles were shaking afterwards which was a first 🙂
Stretching: Child position, the dog, the dove on the right side, back to the dog and the dove on the left side and then some regular stretching
Total time: 11.36.5 min
Average speed: 5.32 min/k
Max speed: 4.30 min/k
VO2 Max: 28 ml/kg/min
The challenge is not over just yet.
This morning it was time for 140s. To focus on other things I was watching Deadliest Catch and did my yoga breathing.
Looked at the timer when it was approximately 1 min left and the shaking got heavy in the end.
It feels when I get up after the challenge is done so it felt good to stand in the Dog afterwards
So it was time again for this challenge. Still some more days before the challenge is over.
Yesterday I did a trail running in the snow and have muscle soreness.
Today it was pain, it really burned in my thighs and the shaking increased at the end, I just begged for the pain to be over soon.
Today the time was 130 s.
The best time would probably have been this morning before I ran 32.82K trail running but this is a challenge so it was just do it.
The thighs were aching 🙂 but hardly any shaking
This morning I took the train to Tjörnarp. Tested to have everything with me, in a dry bag I had put socks and a long sleeve shirt and put the bag in my ultra backpack.
The temperature was around 0oC (32F) and windy so I was not sure if my Tierra Windstopper would be enough to keep me warm or if I should have my red Haglöfs jacket instead but decided that the Tierra would be fine. When I would start running I will be warm.
When I got off the train I saw snow to my big surprise, it was green in Lund and Tjörnarp is about 40K (24.84 miles) from Lund. I was going to run in my Fellraiser, it could have been wise to run with metal studs but those trail shoes are new and I didn’t think it would be wise to run 40K with them the first time.
Lars a Coach K Runners buddy of mine happen to be in the woods so we ran around 10K together
During the run Lars and I discussed the ultra races we are going to run and what to bring etc and how to prepare, GPS pulse watches, ultra backpacks, reflections from Tjörnarparen – the ultra race Lars arranged in December.
It didn’t take long before I had wet my trail shoes. Running in snow in terrain was a new experience to me, this was my first time and it was tough. The plan was to run 40K and I was not sure I would do that. That decision would be made during the day.
I said hello to all the hunters that were out and they were the friendly ones 🙂
Lars scared me several times when he told me that here has the wild boars (vildsvin) been. Wild boars are not the animals I want to meet in the woods, they can cause severe damage to my body.
I noticed that I was not so focused the first 10K but more focused when I ran by myself, this is what happens when you run with someone. I missed the loop for example. Lars told me that on your way back you can just follow the feet 🙂 so true.
There were a couple of things I was going to test today
1) My own ultra backpack
2) Testing drinking from the hydration pack
3) Following the route with higher zoom
And then I was going to help Lars taking down the markers after the first fuel station.
So I have to say that I am glad that this train station exist, now I can get there and just start running but if you come 30 min before the train arrives it will be cold to sit outside and wait but Tjörnarp Livs was the Life saver today. I changed my really wet socks but since the trail shoes were wet the dry socks did not stay dry very long 🙂
I ran from Tjörnarp to Frostavallen’s parking lot and back. A guy at Frostavallen asked me if I was running the yellow loop from Tjörnarp 🙂 and I told him yes. Interesting that he knew about this race, I guess he asked me this because I was taking down the markers.
Some walking was needed today and we had to run an alternative way at one part where it was too much weak ice and water.
I still could follow the markers and get around by myself the main part of the route.
Total distance: 20.39 miles (32.82K), total time: 4.41 h
I got so excited to be back in the woods so I forgot to choose the sport mode – following route so I registered the first run and saved it and then following the route so I got two runs registered. I felt that I needed to have a backup just in case I would be tired and got off course.
Average speed on the first run was 7.52 min/k, max speed: 6.13 min/k, distance: 6.83K
Average speed on the second run was 8.38 min/k, max speed: 5.37 min/k, distance: 26.41K
It was so refreshing to be back in the woods and I am stiff but satisfied.
Stretching afterwards: Yoga positions – The Dog and the Dove
I did this challenge a bit late today but the day is not over yet.
I looked at the timer already when it was 1 and 17 s left, oh my gosh!
While I did this challenge tonite I watched a funny Swedish TV-show I huvudet på Gunde Svan (= In the head of Gunde Svan). If you do not know who Gunde Svan is, he was a great cross country skiier who took a lot of medals.
So 125 s and hardly any shaking today but it feels when I get up 🙂
Tonite I had the pleasure of running with one of my Coach K Runners buddies Eva and later in the evening.
We decided we would run my regular 5K run.
It is always fun to run with Eva because we have so much to talk about.
This week the temperature has dropped so it was 2oC (36F) so winter clothes and the mandatory reflective vest and headlight.
My 5K run is mainly on bike paths and maybe 500 m dirt road where it is no light and holes.
We had a varied discussion today and this would definately be called a fun run.
When we finished the run and stood and talked before Eva ran home, a runner in the building was wondering about our uniforms 🙂
Total distance: 3.16 miles (5.08K), total time: 32.54 min, average speed: 6.28 min/k, max speed: 5.28 min/k
What I like about my own GPS pulse watch is that now I will know for sure how long my distances really are 🙂