Shifting Gears in a New Season

I remember that at about this time last year my motivation somehow shifted. Getting through winter feels like an accomplishment. But we're quickly reminded that winter is over quite yet. The news reported this morning that we'll have rain in the coming days that will likely turn to snow. The temperature jumps from 50-degrees to 20-degrees and back again. As much as I'd love to jump on my bike and ride outside, ultimately I'm a wimp. It will undoubtedly be cold and damp. I haven't moved to running outside because I'm still afraid of getting assaulted by pot holes and rogue patches of ice. I've confined myself to the safety of the gym for so many months  at this point, that facing the world seems more like summitting Mt. Washington and less like a typical day of working out. I do know that in another month or so I will have forgotten this feeling all-together and there will be nothing that can keep me inside.

As far as training and working out goes, I'm pretty happy with my results as of late. I stopped by TC Running for the first time on Friday evening. I'm at the point where I'm ready to put these feet in to new running shoes. Normally this is a something that I look forward to, but with my foot still looking more like road-kill, I was leery to buy a new pair of shoes. TC Running is a great store, tucked away in Eden Prairie, far from the safety of my Minneapolis, but well worth the drive. I was greeted by smiling faces, both employees and customer's alike. I immediately felt like plopping myself down and hanging out with what felt like old friends. The selection of running shoes was far greater than that of any other running store I've been to and the knowledge of the sales staff was, well, unparalleled. But this isn't an add for TC Running. I left with a pair of Saucony's- a huge deviation from my Asics-loyal feet. I figured I'd run on them a couple of times and see how my feet do.

Saturday morning was greeted by a nice six-mile run in my shiny  new kicks. Grant it I was on a treadmill, but non-the less a solid six miles. My feet felt good. I think I'll give these shoes another run to make sure they work, but I must give kudos to the dude (aka store owner) that recommended them.

Saturday was a killer day of running. To push it just a little bit more I put myself through one hell of a lower body workout. I'm including the actual workout in this blog piece because I will no doubt do it again, and I certainly recommend it!

• Split squats (3 sets of 15 reps on each leg)
• Lateral step-ups, step down into a lateral lunge, 5lb weight on each ankle (3 sets of 12 on each leg)
• Front step-up onto Bosu, step down into squat, 5lb weight on each ankle (3 sets of 12 on each leg)
• Squats against a stability ball on the wall, 6lb medicine ball between knees, 10lb dumbbell curls during the downward squat (3 sets of 15)
• Theraband walk-out (3 sets of 15)
• Single-leg press, (60lbs, 3 sets of 12)
• Standing calf raises (20bls, 3 sets of 12 on each leg)
• Total time: about 1 hour with about :30 rest between sets.

I will no doubt be doing that lower body workout again. Two days later my legs still hurt.