Topic: Training Journal (HIIT throughout summer)

[boogaloo_48]

Day seventeen I didn't run in the morning as my bed wouldn't be available to take a nap afterwards, so instead I got a good night's sleep. About half an hour ago I went for my run inn *gasp* BROAD DAYLIGHT. Well not only that, it was really hot outside. It was a new experience but god damn, my legs felt strong. For the first four sprints I flew across the field, and though I don't have the level of endurance I had before the vacation, I'm definitely getting there. I'm really glad I ended up running today because I've been scared of not being up to my previous standard, and was nervous about going out, but I feel I'm once again confident in my level of fitness.

[boogaloo_48]

Day eighteen sorry for writing late. Today was yet another day in which I ran during the daytime, partially because I wanted my sleep and also because of the weather. There were lots of families in the park but I wasn't self concious at all. I've gotten to a level where I feel like I am above the abilities of the average person, therefore I don`t feel like a dumbass any more. Anyway, the sprints were strong, I recovered quickly and got some fresh air on a beautiful day. It was cool out so I was quite comfortable when I got going.Right when I got back I had an absolutely exemplary meal of penne a la vodka cooked by my mother. Talk about satisfying. Great day.

Just a side note, I only have one more day of required HIIT for me to meet my ultimate goal!!!            

Monday here I come!

[boogaloo_48]

Day Nineteen FINAL DAY! Wow I've met my goal. I've met it well, improved because of it and am now starting off school feeling better than ever. This was the last day that I was required to run to meet my goal, and it feels great. This isn't to say that I'll stop my HIIT workout, but damn it's nice to know I could quit without letting myself down. I feel to good to quit for the record, and I still want to improve my level of fitness. Anyway, the runs were strong, but I didn't feel like I was going fast. Maybe it was the humidity. I ran extra hard on my last sprint to end off right. It ran in my new Western U sweatpants by the way, they felt nice.

I DID IT!!! 

[boogaloo_48]

I went to the gym today with my dad for the first time and did a lot of work. My arms are so tired now but I feel great. I think I'm going to focus on building muscle for this month, I'll eat more and lift heavier. Does anyone know if continuing a HIIT program would be detrimental to muscle development?

[boogaloo_48]

So I haven't lifted weight for the past few days I've instead ended up crashing on the couch and sleeping through the night. I'm haven't been too concerned about following such a strict routine, through I will start from now on. I think the days of rest did me well as I was just able to fairly comfortably knock down 8 bicep curls with 35 pounds! What a fast gain, pretty exciting. I've moved to 4 comfortable pull ups from 3, and I'll move on to 5 as soon as I can. Otherwise I've been doing 3 sets of 10 clapping push ups which I think I'll be able to graduate from soon as well. Man watching Dragon Ball Z is incredible inspiration, I mean I know it's all fictional and blown completely out of proportion, but god damn those Saiyans have dedication. Just a side note I've been eating to gain some weight lately, but for some odd reason I've lost weight. I've dropped from 174 pounds to 171 over the past week. Anyways gonna finish my routine tonight, gotta look good for picture day tomorrow. 

[boogaloo_48]

Oy it's been a while. I'm sorry to say I have not upheld my fitness level as much as I would have liked to. I've been eating poorly, but I've been lifting. I'm doing easy sets of 8 reps with 35 lbs of bicep curls, so I'll move up to 40 lbs soon. I'm also doing 3 sets of 10 clapping push ups as well as some other exercises I don't care to explain. I'm getting stronger, that's for sure, but I know I need to eat more nutritious food. This weekend I'm going to a National Park called Arowhon in Algonquin. There I'll be able to kayak, one of my favourite things in the world, and eat incredible food in the buffet hall. I also will try to get a job at Rock and Chalk, my local rock climbing gym, so that I can boulder for free at my leisure

I'll post more, I swear.

[boogaloo_48]

Hello i'm back from my trip where I kayaked untill I couldn't kayak no more! I'm just posting to inform the world that I can finally do a kip up! This has been one of my goals from the start yet regrettably not on my list of goals in my first post.

[boogaloo_48]

Been keeping up my weight training. Theres a rock climbing meet in early December so I'm going to train specifically for that. Doing a lot of grip strengthening and explosive clapping push ups. In lieu of this meet, I'm getting back to my old ways of eating (the good ways). I'm looking to trim down and strengthen my body so I can compete to the best of my abilities.

I just want to give big ups to this 15 year old kid Matt McCreary. He's incredibly talented and precise, and pretty creative to boot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSIuxBpOGsA

[boogaloo_48]

Finally reached my goal of 8 reps (bicep curls) with 40lb weights. My arms are getting pretty big and  strong. I will move on to 45lbs after a night or two more of 40.

[boogaloo_48]

Just went and started my sprints again, the weather's finally nice. I went out at 6am, just like old times. I loved seeing the sunrise and being out in the morning. My running environment is somewhat different though. The playground now has wood chips instead of sand and in the process the ground has been disturbed. They've also changed the park bench that I used as a reference for distance so that's a bit of a pain in the ass. Anyway I ran and during my 5th sprint I started heaving. Because of this I rested for more than 10 seconds between my 5th and 6th sprint. I came so close to throwing up but somehow managed to keep it down. Anyway I ended up doing 2 more sprints despite this, so in total 8 sprints (yay) but the last 2 were admittedly weak. Afterwards my chest was tight and I tasted blood. I've been coughing since but whatever I'll recover. I've been sick this past week so that may have contributed to this episode.

Anyway, good to be out again, I'll keep it up.

[boogaloo_48]

I ran again this morning before school. It was kind of rainy but it was warmer than my session a couple days ago. I was stronger with my sprints but once again had to hold back vomit, though not to the degree of the last time. I did eight sprints once again though my last 3 were admittedly weaker. Anyways it was a good day and I think I'm getting over the hump that I know so well from my summer sprints.

[boogaloo_48]

I haven't posted for a few days but I have been keeping up my workout. I ran Saturday morning when it was so cold that the grass was frosted. It was somewhat slippery but fine. I once again did 8 sprints but I think I rested a bit longer than 10 seconds for the 7th and/or 8th sprint. My brother just came home from University so I'm teaching him my sprinting ways. I took him out Sunday afternoon to teach him, and ran a bit along with him but nothing too strenuous. He then opted to come out with me this morning (Monday) so he was up with me at 6am and did his pace while I did mine. I felt much better this day. I didn't compromise on rest times, doing 8 full sprints with 10 seconds of rest in between each. What I was really happy about was the recovery period afterwards. When I first restarted this (a couple posts ago) I noted how I was coughing and tasted blood. This actually turned into somewhat of a sinus infection, with mucous in my chest as well causing violent coughing fits. The blood I tasted actually turned out to be a nosebleed of sorts, as I found out a couple days later in a startling nose blowing session. Anyway, I'm almost over it at this point. My recovery period after the sprints today was amazing. I was back to normal breathing after just a few minutes and my heart calmed down too. This is something I forgot about this whole process, not only do the sprints get faster and stronger, but the period of recovery after is shortened. I'm definitely over the "hump" at this point, and man am I ever grateful for that.

A side note, I hurt my left shoulder lifting weights this past Friday. It had been aching before for a little while and was aggravated when doing bicep curls. I decided to hold off lifting until it's OK, which seems like it will be tomorrow. Icing and stretching has helped, I think it might have just been overwork or poor form. Either way I'll be careful from here on out.

[boogaloo_48]

It's been a little while since I posted last. I skipped 2 runs this past weekend, I was pretty disappointed in myself, but I started up again Monday morning. Monday's run was pretty good, I did 8 sprints with 10 seconds of rest in between. The recovery wasn't great though, probably because I hadn't run for a few days. I was coughing and it was cold. The grass was frosty so I had to be mindful not to slip. Yesterday was a noticeable improvement as I go up to 10 sprints! Reading through old posts I see that I had not said how many sprints I was doing at the time, but If I remember correctly then this is the same point I was at when I ended my training after the summer. 10 sprints with 10 seconds of rest. My recovery was thankfully much quicker. I was worried I was getting sick (again) but I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear.

As far as weights goes, I've been really cautious. My left shoulder being injured, it's been scary to get into the full swing of things. my neck was incredibly sore after my last bout of lifting, probably due to some sort of compensation for my shoulder. For this reason I'm moving down to 40 lbs again and I'm really going to focus on form. I did a bit of lifting yesterday evening, though I don't usually lift on running days, and I felt good, no soreness. I'm thinking I'll do some resistance band stuff to go easy on it for a bit.

[boogaloo_48]

I finally reached my goal of 30 pushups, so I crossed that off the list. I feel good about my form and feel pretty comfortable. I've been climbing a lot, going to get a membership tomorrow. My grip is day & night better than it was a few months ago. I'm going fingertip pull ups from a dead hang, and I'm up to 7 now. I'll be able to reach my goal of 10 very soon.

[boogaloo_48]

I went climbing earlier today, got a membership so I've gone about 6 times already this summer. Later in the day I reached my goal of 10 chin ups with my palms turned away. I used a metal girder in my basement as the bar and did fingertip chinups. I've almost reached all my goals, the vertical one I'm not too interested in doing anymore and I'm not sure if I'm going to go for it. I probably will just for the sake of completion.