Work In Progress - FitoverForty

[Bonnie]

Oh & Les I recall on first running trips to the park, approximately 3 miles..EVERY step was hell..but if you persist at it, even as in case 10 minutes of SS following intervals for the year, it gets a whole lot easier.

[Bonnie]

Yeah thats what I've noticed about running, the only way to get better at it specifically is to run, all other aerobic conditioning doesn't seem to help with it.

[fitoverforty]

These ladies are awesome. No excuses, no reason not to be out there everyday moving, doing something, staying active. I want to be doing exactly what they are doing when I am in 70's too. Maybe not 100 milers, but def. running races.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReYcQFaX ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bonnie]

Thats awesome but i don't see a lot of upper body strength, running alone is not enough in opinion to stimulate say bone/muscle... growth/retention in the upper torso & extremities.I think cross training would be a better rounded program.They admit to only track & running, nothing else.

[Bonnie]

So your saying gravity & stabilization is the resistance for the upper part of the body, when running ?

[fitoverforty]

What impressed me the most about these ladies has nothing to do with whether they have upper body or lower body strength - it's what they have inside them, their drive and determination to not let age stop them from achieving something that for most people of ANY age could only dream about. They are pursuing their fitness passion - it just happens to be running ultra races. I applaud that. I would hope that they choose to incorporate some upper body strength to help with their overall fitness, but really I would be happy to be 76 and able to move like she does. I see so many elderly (and not so elderly) struggle with just walking. I see people half their age using motorized wheelchairs, easily 100lbs. overweight, sick with diabetes and other afflictions that are, for the most part, brought on by lifestyle choices.
They are an inspiration, a role model for young and old. The eldest lady who is 76 yrs. old didn't even start running until she was 51! Amazing. They prove that it is never too late to get fit, live healthy, to do something productive, keep improving and reaching for new goals. The body is an amazing machine, built for use, it gives back what you give it.

[Bonnie]

Yes their spiritual desire & passion to run is beautiful.I've only just found that love myself in mid forties & I'm never letting it go

[fitoverforty]

I think I've always had it in me....it's gotten beaten down a few times with the hurts, defeats, let downs, trials of life experiences - but it is what has saved me every time. It is what drives me, what I have always relied on to pull me out of whatever dark place i was in - and I"ve been in a few in life.
It is what is driving me now to keep on working, keep on training, reaching for new goals while just trying to maintain the current, present and future goal of just being fit and healthy.

Todays workout:

3 mile tempo treadmill run - 28:07
.5 cooldown walk/jog

Kept a good pace, at a level where i was working hard, not able to carry on a conversation.
2 minutes after I finished HR was @ 112. I did not think to take it right after I finished....too busy gasping for air.

Progress noted today:
Workout felt easier to sustain a faster pace. Had good energy throughout the workout.

Lunch was crazy today. I didn't bring anything so I knew I would have to go out to get something. I work in a small town with a Dairy Queen, a Church's chicken, Sonic and Subway and Jack n the box - not the best choices for truely healthy food. So....I got in car and drove a few miles to a truck stop (I know what you are thinking..how can a truck stop have healthy food?) it is the only place close by that actually makes a real grilled chicken breast. So I bought a grilled chicken breast sandwich, then I drove to a nearby Mexican restaurant and bought a big container of their kick butt hot sauce. They don't have a tortilla soup on their menu. But their hot sauce is basically a hot tomato, cilantro spicy soup mixture. I went back to work, took the chicken out of the sandwich - threw the bread away, added some water to the hot sauce to lessen the spice of it, cut up chicken breast added it to the soup, cut up 1/2 avocado (in the fridge at work), crushed a few tortilla strips into the soup. Wa La! Chicken tortilla soup!
Nevermind I had to drive about 8 miles roundtrip and spend 8 bucks and 30 minutes of lunch hour - that's what I get for not bringing anything.
But...the bright side is I did not give in to just going through the Jack in the Box drive thru, or the Fried chicken place...I get points for extra effort, yes?

[Boss Man]

You do mena a Chicken place I take it, as I believe a "chicken shack", or some such description is something totally different, involving females of suspicious repute .

[fitoverforty]

Yes, Bossman - a fried chicken eating place. I've never heard the term "chicken shack" the way you referenced it. Must be a British thing.

[Bonnie]

Must be ?..Never heard of it either.Well I applaud your dedication, gas price wise doesn't subway have at least some healthy food ?

[fitoverforty]

I'm sure they may have some somewhat healthy foods, I have gone there alot and had their turkey/ham WW sandwich. Most of their foods are high in sodium. The turkey/ham sandwich has 1140 gr. of sodium. And their chicken is processed chicken patties with the fake grill marks (or it appears to be). I wanted "real" chicken breast meat.
Hopefully tomorrow I will plan better - save myself some time and gas money.

[Bonnie]

Okie dokie then, fake grill marks ?..lol, suppose that would mean maybe they are pre-cooked.That is a whopping amount of salt..I'm not all that much of a salt avoidance person, as long as its not added salt, like seasoned chicken breasts etc

[fitoverforty]

Yes, they are pre-cooked frozen chicken breasts. I thought too much salt causes water retention, swelling - and/or can contribute to high blood pressure? I have low BP, and sweat tons when I workout, so I'm not too worried, was just wondering.

Today, I'm off to a good start foodwise:

breakfast: oatmeal (Nature's Path Organic Instant Flax Plus)
210 Calories /3 g. fat / 10g. sugar / 6 g. protein / 140 mg. sodium
ingredients: Organic rolled oats, organic evap. cane juice, org. flax seed, sea salt
(Not a big fan of the flax seeds - they are big and hard to chew - yuck)

Lunch: Select Harvest Light chickn w/vegetables soup to which I will add some leftover Tomato/Cilantro hot sauce, 1/2 avocado, 2 or 3 crushed tortilla chips
Raw red/orange small peppers & raw carrot slices w/dip (lite ranch - approx. 1 tbsp.)

will post workout later.

[fitoverforty]

soup at lunch was awesome!!! Think I have found something I can easily make and bring with me, or just bring the stuff and make it at work.

Todays workout:

Kick butt treadmill run

5.0 miles @ 46:20
alternated between 6 mph up to 8 mph
Felt sluggish at first, but pushed through that and ended up really challenging myself to run at a level of discomfort (breathing hard, slinging sweat - good stuff)