I realized that some of you probably aren’t in the slightest bit interested in this particular travelogue.  So why am I doing it?  A couple of reasons, all of which boil down to this: accountability.  If I’m in the habit of posting about my workouts and I know people are reading it, then I feel like it’s part of the program, and like you’re keeping me honest.  I know that my friend Natalie’s daily P90X reports have been a strong motivator for me to try the program, and I know that at least a handful of you have talked to me about trying the 30 Day Shred after I posted and talked about it.

So for those of you not interested in this stuff: feel free to skim/skip.  For the rest of you, let’s talk about it.

Day 4: my first attempt at intervals on a post-work run.  Instead of putting in the prescribed 5 miles, I strapped on my heart monitor, attended an impromptu wedding, then ran laps at Palmer Field, alternating between running a lap as fast as I steadily could (7:45-8 minute pace) with a lap at race pace (9-9:30) for 1.25 miles, then ran the rest of the way home near my race pace.  My heart rate monitor showed an average bpm of 163, nearly 100 beats above my resting rate.  Success!

Day 5: Up early to knock out Legs & Back before work.  Some parts were fun – like the ‘sneaky lunges’, which are basically walking lunges done on your tip-toes – but others made me groan and cry with exhaustion and frustration.  My balance sucks.  The exercise bands I was using in lieu of pullups pinched my fingers.  I didn’t even attempt the Ab Ripper.  Despite this, I felt awesome about myself all day – and also famished and tired.

Day 6: I’m starting to question the wisdom of following Legs & Back with my long run.  I was up early and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I hit the road and put in my miles before Shane really woke up. I hadn’t taken this particular route in a while – not since the snow melted – and so had forgotten about the effing hills that were at points so steep that I had to walk. I was thankful for my GPS, which confirmed that I had indeed gone up a giant-ass hill and wasn’t just being a baby about it. On the bright side, I got to see the river in the peaceful early morning:

And then have the Morning Delight for breakfast:

Day 7: Having totally earned the day off, we walked downtown and back for breakfast and coffee, then ate all the food and drank all the drinks with friends in celebration of the long weekend.

Week 1: Brought.  Exhausted, hungry, and sore, but brought.