Testing my recovery time......

Went for a 14 mile run today. Easy pace, probably an R.P.E. of 6.5-7 the whole way. I want to see how I recover and if I can do a good run on Wednesday as well. We'll see!

Has anyone seen the film BARAKA? Jen and I watched it last night and I was awed. Seems the simpler cultures really have this whole living thing down well. Simplicity and appreciation for life and death. The images of cities are kind of terrifying.

Anyway, happy week 4 and here's to recovering well!

xoxo,

Rob

Week Three Done Early....and 26 Miles Run!

Hi All,

Jen and I finished our week #3 a bit early, but in no way backing off our workouts. We both did our long runs today (Jen jammed out 6 miles running, I did an hour on the Gauntlet) and since we have a theatre obligation all day tomorrow, we decided to do our 90 minute power yoga TONIGHT, only eight hours after our run. Crazy!

But something else it showed us: you can do more than you think you can much of the time.

Usually I would assume that after a long run I need at least a day before I could work my legs the way yoga (especially Roche-yoga!) can work your legs. But we both had good form tonight and a fair amount of strength.

And a bonus: We are getting Saturday AND Sunday to recoup!!! And I am really looking forward to that, as I upped my weekly mileage to 26.4 miles. And if you're wondering, no, I have no desire to do a marathon!! It took me three sessions to run the length of a marathon. Running it in one session? The idea make me ill. It's half marathons for ole' Robby!

Happy recovery to all. Here's to three weeks of good work.

Peace,

Rob

Didn't want to run today.....

Strongly disliked the first four and a half miles. Wanted to cry. Dunno why....just not feeling it. But I kept on and wound up running 8 miles in an avg. of 6:45/mile. Then ran two easy "cool down" miles. That makes 17 miles so far this week. My hope is that Friday will put me over 26 miles for the week. Am I training for a full marathon? HELL NO! 26 is just my goal for this week. I did 22 in week one, 24 in week 2 and wanted to up it two more miles this week.

...but boy did I have some dread coming to the gym today. But I am so glad I didn't wuss out.

Making Progress......Read these Brief Points!!!

Hi Project-Folk,

I want to be brief so you guys can get on with your lives, but I REALLY want to share two awesome things about my journey thus far with the Project:

On Friday I pushed myself to working at between 85-95% heart capacity for an hour. The amazing thing was: After only nintey seconds of cooling down, my heart rate had dropped back down to near normal. A testament to the interval training Chris has us doing.....

Also: Three weeks ago I had a nagging ache in my right-upper hamstring. I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep up the running. But incorportaing STRETCHING RELIGIOUSLY after every run (I do it with bands) has made that injury virtually disappear. Not every ache means we should stop exercising!! I just wasn't taking the time I should to stretch!

I ran a total of 22 miles the first project week. 24 miles the second week (If you count 10 miles on the Gauntlet...which I do!!) and I am off to a seven mile start this week. I did 10 intervals rather than seven. I just felt like I had it in me and I want to see if I might be able to get to 26 miles total for this week......

Keep on rockin'.....

xoxo,

Rob

Fun in the snow....and a SNOW DAY!!!

Why do I love acting? Well, there are many reasons. One fun one that rarely occurs is a snow day. But today, since there was no school, there was no school matinee! WOO-HOO!

My day consisted of shoveling out our driveway and street entry (ain't plowed snow the best?!), going to my nephew's house and shovelling him out (I am watching his dogs for him and thought it would be nice to have him come home to a shovelled place!) and then going to my gym and running eight good hard miles on......A DREADMILL!!!! But you know, I had very little dread! Mostly because my wife was next to me doing her own run. And we don't often run side by side, so I liked it! Might do that every Wednesday run.

And after the run, we went back home and put our pup, Lil in the car and took her on a mile and a half hike in some DEEP snow!

Dinner's cooking now, and my legs are done!! ....until tomorrow......yikes.

I am thinking of reserving the right to do a machine (The Gauntlet) on Friday.

I love reading everyone's blogs!!!!! Keep it up!!!

How the #*&#@!!! did I run today???

But I did! Ten freakin' miles. Not fast ones, but they were run. One foot in front of the other. Thighs ACHING from yesterday's leg workout. I haven't used weights in a leg workout in a while, so to run the day after was challenging. But:

This is a great example of hurdling a mental barrier(the idea of hurdling anything right now makes me want to not hurdle, but HURL!.....but I digress....). There clearly was a physical barrier (my legs are SORE!!) but not an insurmountable one. And because I felt an oweness to run today (because I know everyone else is sore and running) I thought I must try. And I was hoping for ten miles, but I wasn't sure if I could actually run ANY. So to make a long story short:

On my own, I could have VERY EASILY passed on the workout today, and that would have been just fine under normal circumstances! BUT! These are not normal times. These are times when I have asked to be pushed to see what my body is capable of. And today I answered the call as did so many of the project participants. Including my sexy,sweet wife, Jen...who ran as well.......way to go, Baby!!!

Six Mile Run

Ran six miles indoors today. Average mile- 6:32.

Liked having to accelerate at last three laps, per Roche's direction. Made me push.

That's all for now........gotta go do calf rubs with my wife!!!