Day 95

Week 13 (Victory Week), Day 1 Isometrix done. Balance... Balance... Balance... I felt better with this, but balance will be a weak point for me for a while. I did break a sweat and really felt better after this one, but I wasn't done then. I did 55 burpees after the workout and it really bumped up that cardio. I am curious to see how this week plays out with the burpees on top of the workout and the few days I will add in some extra cardio or road work. My legs are still wicked sore today, so I have decided that the burpees and the pushups will be my extra work today and tomorrow I have a cardio workout and then possibly a long car ride. Wednesday I will add an extra workout in if my legs are cooprerating.

The 5k on Saturday has inspired me to do more. My legs might disagree right now, but that soreness will pass and each time I get on the road and work them, they will get stronger as will my back. In a month there is another 5k/10k coming up and I might have to get in that one. The course is along a pathway and very scenic so not has hard on the joints like the pavement was. It sounds like a good plan, but I haven't committed to it just yet. I did the the one Saturday, so I know I can do it. While I may not run the entire time, I don't think the point is being first for me, but rather moving and finishing what I started. That is on the horizon a bit and I will see and have 4 full weeks before I have to decide. I am still waiting on the pics from the race this weekend, but they are sorting through them and hopefully sooner rather than later I will get one or two sent to me. I will post one here when I get it. I used to run, but didn't do a lot of events. I did a few 5k's and 10k's when I was in the Army, but they were treated the same way back then like they are now. I don't recall there being photogs at the end of the race and making that much of a big deal like they do now. The internet was pretty nonexistent at that time too. I am talking 89/90 when I was in the few races that I did. In fact I don't even remember getting a shirt for the races, but I might have. It's been too long to remember.

Isometrix is a tough workout for me. Balance is the key component. You alternate from some sort of plank balance move to a standing balance pose. The plank ones are progressively harder and I was really feeling them in my back and my ribs of all places. That I know is my core working hard. I like it, but it is tough. The final plank balance move is Bound Dog Leg Lift. You are in downward dog, then place your right hand on your left ankle and then you lift your right leg into the air. You are balancing on your left arm and leg with the right leg in the air and right hand on your ankle. I stumble in this one all the time. Oh I forgot to mention this, all moves last 45 seconds. You alternate between both sides, but you have to do the standing balance pose before doing the other side. So, you do the plank balance then the standing balance then the plank other side and then the standing other side. It keeps you from doing alternating sides without a break and while you are alternating sides it still gives that set of muscle groups a chance to have a small recovery before doing the other side.

I don't really like the Isometrix workout, but after doing it again today, I know why. I don't like it because I just don't do it enough. I suck at balance, but I did much better today. On the plank moves, I only stumbled on the last one. The standing balance poses, on the other hand, I stumble frequently. I just think that I need more work on those balance moves. No one starts out as a master of balance. We all have to work at it and I can, as others have, get batter at it. I am hoping that adding in yoga more often or daily when I do the next round of X3 will help me get better and stronger at balance.