"Training Run"

The next day after posting my first blog I get an e-mail from Ed.

Subject: Let's train together Sunday........

particularly Scott and Courtney... I need to know the current fitness levels of my chief competition... let's have a nice training run in the shade along the creek.


Unfortunately for him, I signed up (on Tuesday) to run the Spartan Sprint race.

3+ miles up a mountain.

15 obstacles *note: if you cannot complete an obstacle there is a 30 burpee penalty.

Burpee: a.k.a. the squat thrust. Start at a standing position, drop into a squat position placing your hands on the ground (plank position) Kick your legs back and bring your chest to the ground (push up). Push up off the ground while bringing your legs forward back into the squat position. From the squat position, jump off the ground and clap your hands above your head.

It is no training run but I think it will help me prepare for the race in August. Date is TBA....

Video.. Ed getting ready for the family pic...

I'm getting a little worried.

I hope Ed is drinking lots of Pino Grigio and instead of running and push ups.

Another week down and I have not done as much running as I would have liked, but next week I plan to up the mileage!


Monday- Rest day

Tuesday- 800 meter run
10-1
Squat Cleans 95#
Med ball sit ups 14#
16:58
then, 6 mins rest then 2 attempts max pull ups-
15 I suck at pull ups!!!

Wednesday-
25 double unders
Max Kettlebell swings 55#- 32
50 DU
Max Handstand Push ups- 10 (couldn't get a rhythm going!)
75 DU
Max KBS- 35
100 DU
Max HSPU- 17

Thursday-
Strength- Snatch

Friday-
1 rep max thruster 110# (15# off my PR-wasn't feeling great)
FRAN
21-15-9
Thrusters 65#
Pull ups
7:57

Lean and Hungry???

Every Sunday at 10 a.m. you can find Ed Jenkins at the Iron Bridge in the Lehigh Parkway doing a "training run." He is training for the annual Jenkins Family Run held every last Sunday in August. You can say Ed is a competitive man. He is in great shape for an old guy and still likes to show off his "wash board abs." Ed has a shoe box with a list of names on it. When he beats a person during a run, he crosses the name off the list.

My name is on the shoe box.

A few years back, when I moved home from college and started running, I was invited to participate in these runs. At first I didn't like to go because these "training runs" were (and still are) actually very competitive. As I became a better runner, I was doing very well and holding my own during these races. I was beating Ed over and over. That was his motivation to train harder. After a short while I started getting a group e-mail every Saturday night reminding me of the run the next morning. Soon we all had nicknames and every Sunday night we would receive another e-mail recapping the events of the day.

My nickname is "Lean and Hungry."

At first I didn't like but, it has grown on me. I didn't have a choice either way.

When I got home from college, I had to change my lifestyle BIG TIME so I chose running. Running helped me to get in great shape and earn the first part of my nickname "lean."

Hungry is just something I always am..whether it be hungry for food or hungry for life. I thought that was very fitting.

Two and a half years ago I fell in love with CrossFit. CrossFit is a combination of cardio, weightlifting, and gymnastics. Due to CrossFit I gained some weight and lost my leanness.

One of my goals is to add running back into my workout routine and I'm hoping this blog will serve as accountability for me to reach my goals and motivation for my readers! If I can do it, so can you!

Picture taken 2 years ago with my niece Mia.

2 years later, not as lean, but ready to get back there! I DO NOT want Ed to cross my name off his shoe box this August. Let the training begin!