Hoo boy.

On one very large hand, I failed my challenge pretty spectacularly as of August 16. On another hand, I didn't because I've been getting at least 60 minutes of exercise/activity every day since August 14. I've come home the past week and crashed, utterly exhausted from the new job. I didn't expect opening a new store would take this much effort, but it's been crazy awesome.

On a bright note, I haven't gotten behind on my running. Huzzah!

Ow

About a week ago, my knee was really weird—it was fine when stationary, but move it and I got this sharp pain to the right of my kneecap. Not in the, wow-I-just-got-a-great-workout way but in the ow-ow-you-should-not-test-me way. So, I rested. Next day, it felt fine, so I did a slow, easy jog/walk for exercise. I felt fine during, and I haven't had problems since.

Well.

Actually.

I didn't have problems until I put my left foot in during the first set of lunges today. Hands on hips, left leg goes forward, shift body weight forward, bend knee, and ow. Not this-is-irreparably-torn ow, thankfully. I was more the kind of ow you say when you aren't warmed up enough and haven't been stretching enough for the type and quantity of exercise you want to do.

Well, that's embarrassing. I am one of those people who will look at you aghast and mystified if you tell me you don't warm up before you work out or cool down and stretch after. It goes against everything that I've learned, and I just won't stand it. Only, I've been slacking on those essential parts of my workout, especially the nice, long stretch I used to do after a run.

I finished the workout, yes, but I cut the lunges in half, and I took a good five minutes to stretch all of my muscles when I was finished, not just the ones that I'd used.

We'll see how tomorrow goes. I'm driving down to Springfield, and, though I may not post the workout that day, I will do it as much as my knee will allow. And if it won't allow, I'll switch exercises so I don't strain my knee. If it persists, I'll talk to my doctor.

So, the workout today. Obviously, it's modified.

Here's how it went down:

• :15 Plank
• 50 Jumping Jacks
• 10 Lunges
• 10 Squats
• 10 Plie Squats
• 10 Side Lunges
• 20 Glute Kickbacks
• 15 Bridges
• 10 Side Leg Circles
• 20 Glute Kickbacks
• 15 Squats
• 10 Plie Squats
• 20 Jumping Jacks

Then, I stretched for about five minutes, which was very relaxing and felt awesome.

The last set of jumping jacks was difficult, too, and I had to work to keep my knees soft as I landed so that I wouldn't feel any twinges. No running today, though I might start adding a short jog before these workouts, too, just to make sure I'm warmed up properly.

Questions? Comments? Want to let me know that I'm an idiot for even thinking about continuing the workout on a possibly wounded knee? Let me know!

I'd Rather Be Owling

Today's workout was all about the plank. Apparently, my planking prowess has diminished in the last month or so, and I was a little shaky through this workout. I did as suggested (the small, hard-to-read, pink text at the bottom) and did this shortly after my run, and it was definitely a good, short core workout. It took me almost seven minutes, though, because I gave myself a little resting room in between each exercise.

I am also ten times better at arm-extended planks than elbow planks. I have no idea why, since the extension is supposed to make it harder.

The official workout for today:

• :10 Plank (plank challenge, yo!)
• Week 5, Day 1 of 10k Trainer by Zen Labs
• :30 each of:
• Elbow Plank
• Right Plank
• Left Plank
• "Up-Down" Plank*
• Plank with Leg Lifts
• Right Plank
• Left Plank
• Plank
• Advanced Bridge/Tabletop**
• Superwoman

What I love about the workouts that you find one Pinterest is that they are very short and can be used when you don't have a whole lot of time in your day. You can also put them at the end of your main workout or run without adding too much time but still getting a boost.

I would still rather be owling, though.

*So, I should have done the exercise you can see in this FitSugar video. That's not what I did. Instead, I started from an arm-extended plank position, moved into a right plank, back to the center, then moved into a left plank and repeated. Not sure what that's called. Remember that rule that I should look up anything I don't know? That is not what happened. I've done both exercises before, though, and they're both good plank exercises.

**I am not quite sure why this made it into a core challenge, though your core is engaged during the exercise. Your core should be engaged for any exercise, truly. This is just more of a butt workout that an ab workout.

Back to Day One | Day Three is this way!

Day One

Happy August!

As you may have read in my previous post, I am challenging myself to work out with a new Pinterest workout every day. I have the workouts planned and ready, written in six or seven places to remind myself (I'm not even joking!). Some of the workouts I have tried before, but most are new to me. Then, after I've finished my grunting and growling and sweating, I'll blog about it. Hurrah?

Also, I firmly believe that the universe is giving me a huge "You go, gurl!" high five. Firstly, there's the beautiful weather we've been having. Then, there's the fox I saw on my run. Finally, not only were there high fives, I'm pretty sure there was a butt smack in the form of 25-cent avocados. I prettymuch peed myself over these. We definitely had a moment, those avocados and I. Too bad I could only take four home with me. Have no fear, though, I'll be back you majestic, lovely, delicious—

Oh, you came here for the workout of the day? (Haha, WOD. Now I sound like a CrossFit junkie.)

Ok, workout.

The original, not-modified Lean Arms Workout

For the first day of the challenge, I chose a workout that I have completed before and tend to modify. It's the Lean Arms Workout. Yay, arms.

The actual workout I completed:

• 50 Jumping Jacks
• 10 Wrist Circles Clockwise
• 10 Wrist Circles Counter-clockwise
• 20 Arm Swings
• 2 Push-ups + 8 Kneeling Push-ups
• 10 Triceps Dips
• 10 Small Arm Circles, Clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Small Arm Circles, Counter-clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Big Arm Circles, Clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Big Arm Circles, Counter-clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Triceps Dips
• 20 Incline Push-ups
• 5 Burpees
• 5 Triceps Push-ups
• 20 Arm Swings
• 2 Push-ups + 8 Kneeling Push-ups
• 5 Burpees
• :10 Plank (For the Plank Challenge)
• STREEEEETCH

The workout took approximately 10 minutes, even with my modifications, and is really easy to fit into your day.

You may have noticed that I skipped over the "one full bridge". Erm, apparently I haven't done this enough, and I completely missed it as I went down the list. No big drama. I also include a stretch portion to all of my workouts. It's the most important part of making sure you don't hurt yourself. Plus it feels awesome.

In hindsight, I'm going to do the rest of the plank challenge at the start of my workout, especially when the workout focuses on arms. I'm normally pretty good at planks, by my arms were shaky as I held even the 10-second plank.

That's today's workout as it's not a running day. It's only the first of August, so I have plenty of time to reflect on my workouts!

Questions? Comments? Want to let me know you're joining my crazy? Want to let me know I'm crazy? Let me know!

Follow me to Day 2!