Challenge Completed

In planning my training this time I wanted to make sure I upped the intensity in some of my workouts, especially with the preseason lifting and core. The way for me to do this is to set up a personal challenge. I only lift twice a week, so I need to waste no time and trash my legs, shoulders, and back in 45 minutes. I have been ending my sessions with non-stop full body movements like deadlifts into squats w/ dumbells, pushups with 50lb. dumbells into a deadlift into a clean and press movement, and burpees w/2 legged jumps, and burpees w/pullups.

I was amazed at how hard these were. I made a challenge of 50 reps of burpees, which is a pushup in which you jump back up to a standing position after each rep, with a wide grip pullup each time as my ultimate strength training goal. I did it a week ago and felt good except for some hand pain. I got the idea in my head that 100 reps would be taking it to my limit of physical and mental stress. So of course, I had to give it a shot. It was tough and my hands have hurt for 3 days, but I did it. Non-stop, except a few seconds to wipe the sweat off my face, it took me 19 minutes. I had an actual puddle of sweat underneath me when I was done. Awesome feeling. I then jumped on the treadmill and ran an 8 minute cool down mile, which felt like I was walking.

Perfect Run

Last Sunday morning was one of those perfect days that make the endurance life style seem so worth it. I was in State College with my dad for the Big 10 Wrestling Championships. We were staying about 3 miles off campus. I woke up early to get in a 9 mile run. The weather was a perfect 55 degrees with really low but sporadic rain clouds. I headed from the hotel towards a wooded area with a golf resort. After running for 20 minutes through some hilly and beautiful roads I saw a sign for the airport. I headed in that direction. The woods thinned out eventually and I came upon a preserved one-room school house. I decided to wait to look through the windows until I turned around. A few minutes later the wood ended and the view above appeared to my right. Mount Nittany, except it had the coolest rainclouds on both sides of it. I had to stop for a few minutes and take it in. The run back was awesome as was the schoolhouse. I ran for 70 minutes and it felt like I wasn't even trying. It energized me for the whole day.