This challenge is getting closer to the end. Only 8 more days to go.
Today I was doing this exercise for 120 s and today I already looked at the timer when it was 28 s left. Some shaking today, the shaking has now stabilized, it did not shake more and more towards the end. It feels more and more to get up after the exercise is over each time.
As a rookie ultra runner I have tried to find a program to get ready for my second Ultra race in May and there was Yoga and Pilates and of course I wondered what these two trainings would give me as a ultra runner. I believe these are good for any runner. So after some searching on the internet I felt that Yoga is w.orth giving it a try.
Last week I tested YinYoga which I believe is good to do early in the morning. Today I tested Poweryoga. The aim is to get to Poweryoga 2 but first you need to learn the positions so I went to Poweryoga 1.
I got myself a mat and a blanket, this time I had my socks on from the beginning and I did not take them off when we were told to take our socks off (I didn’t take them off out of protest, just because I got cold feet last time and wanted to keep my feet warm).
So first we sat down in a lotus pose and just breathed.
After that we were doing Salute to the sun 1 (solhälsning 1) and Salute to the sun 2 (solhälsning 2). At YinYoga we only did Salute to the sun 1.
The other poses we did was the cat (katten), the dog (hunden), was at YinYoga too, Cobra (kobra), also at YinYoga. The cobra showed up in the combo poses and after a while you could choose between doing the cobra or upward dog (uppåtgående hund). We also did the dog with one foot up in the air.
Then we also tried Warrior 1 (krigaren 1) and Warrior 2 (krigaren 2)
Other poses were the dove (duvan) and the lizzard , butterfly (also at YinYoga), child pose (also at YinYoga) and happy Child (also at YinYoga).
The Yoga plank was also a pose (also at YinYoga).
The boat was a new yoga pose for me. The boat (båten) ) is one of my core exercises and then the butterfly (fjärilen).
Last was just to breathe and lay on the mat.
Of all the yoga exercises I have done so far I Believe that Poweryoga is something that would be good to do regularly as a runner but Poweryoga 2 (some of these poses today I did at the yoga class we had with Coach K Runners this summer) but there were also balance and power poses.
Then I have to decide if I should do Pilates or Core regularly. Which one is best for me.
Time again for this challenge. Only 10 more days to go.
Continued with the Yoga breathing during the exercise for 115 s. Some shaking in the beginning and more at the end. And then it was only 17 s left and finally the beep. 🙂
The challenge continues.
Today I was using the yoga breathing I learned at YinYoga last week during the exercise and the exercise became much smoother.
I was sitting for 110 s and once again when I looked at the timer it was only 17 s left and then I heard the beep. I feel it more and more in my legs when I rise after the sitting is over. 🙂
First day of the week is here and one of the rules is to never skip a Monday.
So as warmup at the gym I ran 1.24 miles (2K) on the treadmill. Tonite I decided I would run faster and faster so first I started with a comfortable 6 min/k (10), then after 1K I increased the speed to 11 and then after 500 m I increased it to 12 and then when it was 250 m left I increased it to 12.5.
Average speed: 5.48 min/k max speed: 4.24 min/k
After that I exercised biceps, triceps and legs. Did one of my hip stability exercises but my left knee is a bit grumpy so I skipped exercises that would make my left knee upset so the other exercise I did my leg curl.
Ended with core: side plank, the boat between, the boat slowly down and held it for 30 s, and then the regular plank for 4 minutes. And also a exercise I have not done in a while where I am on a ”pilates” ball and stand in plank position and then draw my knees to my stomach and back.
The difference between this challenge, and other challenges I have participated in, is that you do not have a rest day.
So this morning I was sitting in the dark for 105 s and all of a sudden it was only 17 s left. Some shaking in the thighs.
I have been part of a discussion with long distance runners where cross training has been discussed and yoga has been mentioned.
As a rookie ultra runner I have tried to find a program to get ready for my second Ultra race in May and there was Yoga and Pilates and of course I wondered what these two trainings would give me as a ultra runner. I believe these are good for any runner. So after some searching on the internet I felt that Yoga and Pilates is worth giving them a try.
So this evening I tried Pilates for the very first time
Pilates is the art of controlled movements, which should look and feel like a workout when properly manifested. If practiced with consistency, Pilates improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the whole human body.It puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong powerhouse, and improving coordination and balance. Pilates system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginner to advanced or to any other level, and also in terms of the instructor and practitioner’s specific goals and/or limitations. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises
When I walked into the room I saw that you should have a mat, ball and some other tool but then the instructor informed us we would only use our body, ”Flow pilates”
Then she went through 3 basics whch were neutral position, breathing and the third I do not remember
We started with imprint where we were buckle the stomach
I now know where some of the core exercises come from on the core that I participate at on Fridays. Pilates comes from Yoga so the Dog was there and after that we went over to Pilates plank to push-up
Side plank was there too and bridging.
It was a lot of core, back exercises and I do not remember all of the names but it is definately an exercise I will do more of.
Next week I will test Power Yoga.
I
The challenge continues.
Today it was 100 s and first time I looked at the timer it was over 1 min left, oh boy!
Then I looked at the timer when it was 49 s left but the shaking did not start til it was 19 s left. 🙂
This weekend I had planned that I would a 30K run and Linda who also is a Coach K Runner asked on FB if anyone would like to run a 30K run in Lund and I told her that I had planned to do that.
So we decided to start at 11 am. When we started to run the” fast runners” had just got back from their run.
I decided I would wear my winter pants so I didn’t freeze. I found out that Linda is a ultra runner so a lot of our discussion was about ultra races and preparation and recovery.
When we were on the bike path to Lomma we had a really strong freezing upwind and we hoped when we would turn back to Lund we would get rid of the upwind.
When we came to nature reserve the gravel road had become a big puddle so we took an alternative way off road 🙂 got some trail running into the woods and I found a way out after the puddle.
We also discussed the Swedish Classic (Svenska klassikern) and Vasaloppet. We actually met some rollerskis skaters.
I was a bit worried if I would be able to run this long run since I have had problems with irritated periosteums and didn’t know if my legs were ready to run this far but it felt that I am back now.
So after Lomma the upwind disappeared and we both agreed that this is a perfect run, And it was nice to see the sun.
Linda was on sightseeing, saw part of Lund that she had not seen before.
Temperature: 4oC (39F)
Total distance: 28.74K, total time: 3.12.20 h, average speed: 6.41 min/k, max speed: 5.46 min/k
Stretching: Yoga positions – The Dog and the Dove
The challenge continues.
Before my long run I did 95 seconds, shaking thighs and it is getting harder and harder to get up afterwards.