This morning I had the LAST long run before my first half-marathon!

Can you believe it? Savannah is just a week away!!!!! I am so excited! Just as I was for this run. I had ten miles to cover before laying low with a couple shorter speed sessions before next weekend.

The run went mostly well. My left calf and right hip flexor both got a little tight towards the end of the run, but otherwise I felt great. Just cold.

It’s a little bittersweet because, truthfully, I LOVE the long runs of training. I would easily say I prefer long runs over the other parts of training. Each week feels like such an accomplishment. To run distances I used to deem impossible never fails to brighten my mood.

Although, as much as I do love the long runs, I certainly won’t mind leaving behind certain parts in the weeks post training. Here are the top 5 things about long runs that don’t make me smile right now.

Butt-Crack of Dawn

Waking up around 5:30 am on a Saturday does not ever sound appealing. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Eating When Not Hungry

Perhaps worse than the early wake-up call is the force-feeding. My typical pre-run fuel of a whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter and jelly plus half of a Larabar certainly tastes like a winning combo. I would normally eat it up quite joyfully. But at 5:30 am? I’m simply not hungry yet and I don’t really love eating something when I’m not in the mood.

Cold! Brrrrr!!!

I live in the South for a reason. Cold and I do not get along. I curse the mornings when I pull up to the running path and see a temperature starting in a 4 (or a 3 like this morning!!!) waiting for me outside of my heated car. I then get to spend two hours in those temperatures, just to come home and…

Ice Bath

Like my blue “frozen” picture? Whoever crafted this idea is a) a genius because, boy, do they work! And b) evil because they are like cruel and unusual punishment.

The Crazy Appetite

Directly after a long run, it takes me a good hour to really want to eat. I know I need to refuel, however, so I yet again find myself force-feeding at least a little something. Then, a few hours later, I am like a ravenous beast let out into the wild. It’s insane!

Wait, I take that back. The appetite may just be one of my favorite parts of long runs. What can I say? I like to eat.

Despite these few things, I sure do love long runs. And I’m happy that I have a few more to do for my SECOND half coming a few weeks later. Then…who knows what may come next!

• What’s your FAVORITE and LEAST FAVORITE part of your workouts?

Morning, friends! I hope you’re having a good week so far! I want to start this morning with a quote I found yesterday that fits blogging so perfectly.

Friendship is that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Is that not the perfect quote for this fabulous community? Thanks for letting me be a part of it and for visiting me here at FFF. Big love!

I love coming here because I know you all will get my excitement over the following.

I got my “spice” back with two new strength training workouts this week!

Now, why can’t everyone get the cause for celebration in finding a new challenge in strength training? They’re missing out, don’t ya think?  

What did I do to finally spice things back up? Since I like to save the best for last, I will talk about yesterday morning’s workout first.

Last Friday I discovered that my library has quite a few workout DVDs available for check-out. I scooped up Jillian Michaels’ The Shred and couldn’t wait to try it out!

Yesterday morning was finally the time to pop it in the DVD player and see how I fared against Jillian. Since each workout is 20 minutes in length, I decided to go through both Level 1 and Level 2 to get a bit more of a challenge.

Challenge, it was! At first, I thought it wasn’t too difficult…but by halfway through Level One I started feeling it. It progressed from there FAST! I was one hot mess by the end of my 40 minutes!!!

Looking a little something like this…

I think the many compound moves and those squat thrusts did me in. Whew!!!

As much as I loved The Shred (and can’t wait to give Level 3 a shot), I simply have to toot my own horn here a bit.

Monday morning I headed to the gym with a new circuit idea in mind. I had a feeling it either would either be a total flop or a total killer. If I’m talking about it…you know it was the latter. OH. Muh. Good-NESS!

I wanted something relatively quick (around 30 minutes), but with enough variety to switch things up from my regular weights routines. I went with the trusty circuit style, but instead of doing a few different circuits with 3 sets of each move, I went completely hodgepodge and did a different move each step along the way.

Let me explain a little better. I present you with the 5 x 5 circuit:

5 body parts x 5 moves per body part x 1 minute per move.

Basically, I crafted five DIFFERENT circuits. In each circuit, I picked a move for legs, chest, back, and shoulders, then finished with my fave move ever – the plank. I went through each circuit only ONCE, before going straight to the next one. I didn’t have a set number of reps for each move. I simply used the timer on my phone and completed each move for a full minute. Turns out – a minute is a long time in workout world!

Here’s a breakdown for you:

Told ya it was a good one! Be sure to let me know if you try it out! Or if you have any questions. Like “where should I keep my sweat towel???”. I think I may just have to do this again tomorrow!

• Have you ever done The Shred?
• What’s something other bloggers get your excitement over that friends and family do not?

PS – I’m not a certified trainer yet, so use this workout at your own discretion.

PPS – I can in fact do math, and know 5x5 is 25. The 30 minutes comes from the extra time added in for transitions/rest/etc.