Wandering Dawn

A California girl exploring the world

P90X & Running

Training Hiatus

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I can’t believe it has been 1 month since my last post!  Shame on me!  I guess that’s about the same amount of time that I’ve been taking a hiatus from training.  I’m not sure what led to this, but I found my workouts slowly going from 10/week to 5 to 2 to nonexistent. Maybe I needed a break?  Not sure, but I went from feeling happy to “sleep in” until 6:30am to having major anxiety about not working out at 5am or making my late night swims.  I think not having another race to train for after my Olympic triathlon was the first culprit. My rest days turned into lazy days. My cheat meals turned into poor eating.  I’m definitely not perfect!  No more excuses, though.  My 1/2 and full Ironman races are going to be here before I know it, and I’m ready to get back at it!  Nicole and I have a running date tomorrow after work, and Insanity is calling my name in the morning.

I know, I know. I still need to post my results from the first time I did Insanity, and I will!  That Beachbody program is amazing!  Dare I say I enjoyed it more than P90X??  Tough call.  Review to come soon, but let’s just say I’m looking forward to doing it again, and Beachbody has my before & afters in case they want to contact me. 😉

I heart Insanity

What I’ve been doing since my last post on 9/2…

9/11: Completed my first Olympic distance triathlon! There is a lot of room for improvement. More training needed!
9/12: Submitted my P90X Beachbody Infomercial video to the producers. I wonder if they’ll use my footage!?
9/16: First hair appointment since I started doing triathlons. My stylist was appalled! My hair needed some major TLC.
9/17: Submitted my Insanity before/after pics for a free t-shirt!
9/18: Girls brunch & birthday dinner with the fam.
9/19:  3 day business trip to TN. Shrimp & grits aren’t found on the Insanity meal plan.
9/24 AM: Moved into our new place in Encinitas Moonlight Beach & celebrated my bday again with my hizzy!  Jeremy & I are new neighbors to our triathlon training buddies, Nicole (Fitness Fatale) and Mike. This is going to make all the difference in Ironman training because we’ll be going through it together.
10/3: Preordered P90X2! Definitely incorporating it into my triathlon training.

The best part about our new place (besides living next to our friends/training buddies)?  We have a room entirely dedicated to FITNESS!!  Once the boxes are unpacked, this is where all the Insanity, P90X, and spinning will take place!  I sure hope those that move in below us are early risers.

Surprise waiting for me in our new place!

Countdown to Rock n Roll Marathon

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San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon Start

I’m a mere 5 weeks away from running my first marathon!!  Saturday I ran 16 miles, my longest run to date, and I’m happy to report that I wasn’t completely miserable!  It was tough, and I definitely felt like I was running for a VERY long time, but with the help of my running buddies, I made it.  Jeremy ran 18 miles and said it was an entirely different ballgame.  He had a tough time cranking out the last two miles, and I’ve heard that from other people as well…Is this “the wall” people talk about?  I’ll definitely report back on that next weekend when I run 18 miles.  I’m nervous for that one.

What am I doing the next 5 weeks?  Today I finished P90X for a second time, and now I’m a Double Grad!  (Jeremy has suggested that we’re P90X “Masters,” but I’m afraid to go as far as to say that. I’m not sure if anyone but Tony Horton himself could ever truly master that program!)  I’m going to post my P90X results very soon, so stay tuned!

May is time to decrease my P90X workouts and continue my 4 days/week of running.  It has been tough to keep up with P90X and marathon training thus far, so I’m ready to modify things from now until the marathon.  This means no more double workout days if I can help it!  The next 5 weeks I’ll focus on my running and sprinkle in 2-3 P90X workouts per week as I enter the home stretch of marathon training.  Here is what I anticipate…

Monday: Run
Tuesday: Speed work run
Wednesday: Plyometrics or Legs & Back (or rest)
Thursday: Medium Long run
Friday: P90X upper body workout (Chest & Back or Back & Biceps)
Saturday: Long run
Sunday: Yoga (or rest)

Let the new workout schedule begin!

P.S. What am I doing after the marathon? I have a couple of ideas that I’ll fill you in on soon!

How I Conquered the La Jolla Half Marathon

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We did it! La Jolla Half Marathon 4/17/11

I just got my PR at one of the most difficult half marathons in the US – La Jolla!  I am bursting at the seems, I’m so happy right now.  I finished with a time of 1:55:08!  That’s nearly 20 minutes faster than my last half marathon in August, and 5 minutes faster than the goal I had set for myself of finishing in under 2 hours.  How did I do it?  Allow me to share my training journey with you.

I ran my first half marathon, Silver Strand, in November 2008 and absolutely hated it.  I was miserable starting at mile 3 and said I’d never do one ever again.  My time was around 2:17…Fastforward to 2010.  I started running again and was craving a challenge.  It had been 1.5 years since my only half marathon, and I figured I’d give it another try.  My new friend Amber was a runner and triathlete, so she inspired me to get back into training mode and we started running together.  Then,  Nicole started running with me.  We did some training runs for America’s Finest City and all ended up running at a different pace on race day.  I was the slowest, barely beating my 2:17 finish time in 2008.  I felt like I started off way too fast, so I slowed down after 5 miles, and the hill got me at the end.  2:13:50 was my time.  I was happy to have finished, and definitely felt less miserable than my first half, but I still wasn’t satisfied.  3 minutes off my half marathon time from 2 years ago just wasn’t enough.  If Nicole and Amber could run so much faster than me, I was convinced that I could too.  I just needed a different approach.

With AFC behind me, I decided to introduce a new training program in my life.  That program was P90X – an extreme at home fitness program based on muscle confusion.  (You can find more info on it here: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/SDFITNESSDIVA .)
 I give so much credit to my boyfriend for researching it and committing to do it.  I was intrigued and asked if I could join him, so we started Day 1 together and stuck to the 90 day fitness program and nutrition plan.  Over the next 90 days my body transformed into a very lean, mean, fighting machine!  I toned up and was able to do pull-ups for the first time.  My strength improved so much after P90x that we decided to do it again. 

After P90X

Results from the first time doing P90X

After 2 months off, in February we started P90X  for a second time.  That has been a huge part of my training regimen.  We also joined the Vavi marathon training group which was huge for accountability.  We run together 2x/week, and we’re supposed to do 2 runs on our own.  Our coaches are very supportive and designed a great running program for us to follow.  I layered marathon training of running 4 days/week on top of P90X 4 days/week (it’s normally 6 but I had to cut down), and the result was a PR at La Jolla Half Marathon!  Not only was it a PR – I went from running 10+ minute miles to sub 9 minute miles – a huge improvement!  It feels great.  I am very proud of my boyfriend, Jeremy, who finished way ahead of me at 1:36:19!  He hadn’t run much since our 2008 half marathon, but 2 rounds of P90X did a body good, and he had a killer time.  Our good friends and couple Nicole and Mike started doing P90X around the same time we started it for a second time.  They were  impressed with our results and also wanted to become faster runners.  Nicole finished in 1:54 and Mike 1:34.  I am SO proud of all of us for PR’ing on such a tough course!  The hills were still tough, but after passing several people on the steep upgrades, I knew my legs were more than ready.

Look who was waiting for us at the finish!

Key P90X leg workouts for improving your running time are Legs & Back and Plyometrics.  I’ll admit that I didn’t do Plyometrics the second time around because I was running 4 days a week, but I kept in Legs and Back, and the other total body workouts, including 90 minutes of yoga, leading up to La Jolla.  We’ve been working out 8 times/week, but our bodies are so much stronger because of it.

It’s hard to believe we only have 2 weeks of P90X to go!  I’ll keep incorporating P90X workouts into my marathon training as we approach the 26.2 mile mark in June.  I’d say the two programs work quite well together, wouldn’t you?  Now, it’s time for a cheat meal and tasty treat!

Sprinkles Cupcakes - A Delicious Treat!

P90X Phase 2 Results

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Day 60 Flexing

Phase 2 has come and gone, and I’m continuing to see improvement!  My pull-ups and chin-ups are starting to increase, and I’m back up to 30 push-ups per set.  I really hope that Phase 3 puts me over the edge and makes me fitter than ever before!  I’m not sure if I’m going to reach my goal of a perfectly defined six-pack or 10 pull-ups, but I’m going to continue to do my best and see what happens.  P90X is still challenging, and I am loving my marathon running group.  I’m definitely enjoying the journey! 

Day 60 Side View

Day 60 Favorite Pose

P90X Recovery Week

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This is my second time doing the P90x program, and the Recovery Week  is still a love/hate relationship for me.  I love doing yoga twice a week, but hate that I have to set aside 90 minutes to do it.  I love the X Stretch day, but hate that I never make time for it and use it as a running day instead.  Finally, I love the calorie burning power of Core Synergistics but hate how hard it is!  For some reason, I just don’t enjoy that workout as much as the others, but it definitely gives me an amazing total body workout.  The video clip below is me doing the Lunge Kickback Curl Press exercise.  You’re supposed to choose a light weight (I chose 5 pounds) and do 20 reps.  Maintaining good form throughout the exercise is very important, so you don’t want to use anything that is too heavy.

P90X Recovery Week lined up perfectly with my marathon training recovery week.  I definitely still worked out a lot, but my running mileage didn’t increase, and my P90X workouts didn’t include many weight exercises or any pull-ups.  I think changing it up is definitely a necessary component of any long-term workout program (aka muscle confusion) so your body doesn’t get used to doing the same exercises over and over again, and your body does need rest at some point.

Normally I have 1 scoop of recovery formula after each P90X workout, but I decided to skip it one morning after Kenpo.  I know I’m still supposed to be burning a lot of calories, but I just didn’t feel like I burned enough to warrant those extra calories.  One day after yoga I completely forgot because I was so focused on fixing lunch.  Otherwise, I’m usually very consistent!  Besides, I love the way it tastes too.  Recovery formula and protein powder have definitely grown on me since I started P90X back in August 2010, and I can’t imagine my workouts and diet without them.

I’m surprised at how quickly P90X Phase 1 passed and am definitely ready to BRING IT during Phase 2!

First Double Training Day

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Monday was our first double training day, meaning a run in the morning and P90X after work. Bring it!

Early Morning Run
My alarm went off at 5am and with a heavy head, I hit snooze.  Jeremy and I got up pretty quickly after that, but it was dark and cold and I was quickly fantasizing about being back in bed.  I was excited to get running, though, so we quickly bundled up and headed outdoors.  We began running at 5:40am and did a 4 mile route.  MapMyRun is an easy tool to plan running routes.  Since neither of us have a GPS watch, we mapped out four miles and noted our start and finish times to calculate our pace.  We are supposed to be doing “easy runs” right now to build our base, so we shouldn’t really be focusing on pace anyway.  The main way to know if you’re running an “easy” pace is if you can hold a conversation while you’re running.  Otherwise, it should be about 60-70% of your maximum heart rate.

How to Quickly Calculate your Maximum Heart Rate:
You can quickly calculate your maximum heart rate by taking 230 and subtracting your age: 230 – age = Max HR.  My maximum heart rate, for example, is 230 – 27 = 203.

Our first run was comfortable.  I just wish we had some sunshine!  It was dark the entire time we were out, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon.  We saw about 5 runners while we were out, many of them old men shuffling along.  Our mid-week runs will be around 4-5 miles each day for a while.  Once they increase to 6-8 miles at a time, I’ll re-evaluate to see if we should keep all the doubles workouts, or if we need to cut back…I’m guessing we’ll cut back.

P90X Day 1: Chest and Back
I was ready for day one but a little nervous as well.  When I started P90X for the first time in August 2010, I couldn’t do any pull-ups or chin-ups.  That’s when you put 1 leg on a chair for assistance.  By the time I finished the program in November, I could do up to 6 pull-ups or chin-ups at a time!  HUGE improvement!  I took most of December and January off, even though I incorporated an occasional P90X DVD here and there, so I wasn’t sure how many pull-ups I’d be able to do without assistance.  I found out that, yes, I can still do some without the chair for help!  My wide grip pull-ups were by far the hardest, and I struggled to do any without assistance, but a couple regular pull-ups and chin-ups each round were still happening for me.  I did OK on the push-ups too, but I was nowhere near the strength I had when I completed the program.  Sometimes I had to incorporate my knees, like on the diamond push-ups to get more depth, but otherwise, I do them like a man!

Chest and Back includes two rounds of each exercise:

  • Standard Push-Ups
  • Wide Front Pull-Ups
  • Military Push-Ups
  • Reverse Grip Chin-Ups
  • Wide Fly Push-Ups
  • Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups
  • Decline Push-Ups
  • Heavy Pants
  • Diamond Push-Ups
  • Lawnmower
  • Dive Bomber Push-Ups
  • Back Flys

Doesn’t that look like a lot?  It is.  You do each exercise as “maximum reps,” until your muscles won’t work anymore.  I knew I’d lose some muscle after the program if I didn’t focus on maintaining, but it was scary to see how quickly that happens!  I actually lost some weight after P90X because of losing muscle.  Maintaining my weight during this program is my goal.  I hope to lose some fat while regaining muscle and getting even stronger.  I’m happy that I’m at a solid starting point to make that happen.

By the time day one was over, I was exhausted.  Sunday night we were up way too late grocery shopping and preparing our meals for the week, so we didn’t get enough sleep before our first day.  I don’t recommend working out on 4-5 hours of sleep, but you can push through it if you need to!  Overall, it was a successful start to our training, and I’m really excited to watch myself progress again.  As Tony would say, “Keep pushing play!”

 

P90X Take 2: Day 1 - Not Flexing

P90X Take 2: Day 1 - Flexing

 

 

 

 

My 18 Week Fitness Journey

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Hello fellow fitness enthusiasts!  My name is Asia, and I’m a 27-year-old female living in San Diego, California.   I’m excited to share my fitness journey with you!  My current 18 week plan is two-fold: full marathon training and P90X!  Can you say Type A?  Here’s how I got there…I’ve always loved running but have recently gotten more into endurance training as a new challenge.  I’ve completed two half marathons, but this will be my first full…Yikes!  I completed the P90X program in November 2010 and had such amazing results that I’m going to do the full 90 day cycle AGAIN.  I will modify it slightly to incorporate the full marathon training.  Needless to say, these are going to be an intense 18 weeks!  Afterward, I’m sure I will come up with additional fitness goals for myself.  I never want to stop training!  There’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay hot and healthy, right?

Ringing in the new year!

Marathon Training
The San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is June 5, 2011, and I’ll be following an 18 week training program (that also includes a half marathon) to get there.  My boyfriend, Jeremy, and two of our close friends are also doing the marathon. We all signed up for the VAVi running club to help keep us on track and prepared for the ridiculous long runs of up to 20 miles at a time.  Our biggest training week is 40 miles total!  At the very least, I’m sure we’ll be grateful for the aid stations our group provides – I’m trying to avoid purchasing one of those ugly water belts if I can help it!  One of my friends just used VAVi for the Carlsbad Half and got her PR (personal record), and I’m ready for mine too!

America's Finest City Half Marathon, Aug 2010

P90X
P90X is an intense exercise program based on muscle confusion.  It has recently gotten a lot of publicity but has been around for several years.  Just catch a late night infomercial!  Tony Horton is the creator and celebrity behind the program.  There are three phases of workouts that map to three phases of nutrition planning – Fat Shredder, Energy Booster, and Endurance Maximizer.  My boyfriend and I followed the entire workout regimen and nutrition plan last year and saw great results.  I became much stronger now and almost achieved a cute 6-pack!  We are doing the nutrition plan again, but will incorporate more calories on the days we have double workouts (running and P90X), and won’t stay on the Fat Shredder phase as long since we don’t want to lose weight.  It’s important to have the proper amount of calories to stay fueled for these workouts.  You definitely don’t want to be calorie deficient because your performance will suffer!  I’ll dedicate more time to nutrition later, but you can learn more about the P90X program here:

 

Before P90X

After P90X

I’m not an expert by any means, but I do plan to learn a lot about endurance running, P90X, proper nutrition, and how all three of these elements fit together.  I’m curious to see how my body responds to all of this!  Hopefully you will learn something new too and share additional insights.

As Tony Horton, founder of P90X would say, BRING IT!