Minime 2008 : Journey to Crossfit Excellence

[LINDA]

Hi MM,

You certainly are a world traveller! You are lucky to be able to arrange the time off.

Your biking and running distances are no small feat either. Congrats on that 5k win!

Have a fun time.

[minime]

Thanks for popping in Pierini and Linda!

I had a wonderful time on my trip. We stayed in a place called Albufeira - on the coast, about 20 miles from Faro Airport. It was quite a tourist-y place, lots of British people in particular. Despite how busy it was I enjoyed it greatly.

We spent a lot of time going to the beach, swimming in the pool, and just walking around.

My sister, my husband and I rented out bicycles for a couple of days. The bikes were not great, huge heavy things with high handlebars and big tires. Very slow and inefficient! Being used to my speedy road bike, it was a tough adjustment. I suspect we were travelling at about 8 miles per hour!

One day we rode the bikes to a town called Alte - about 15 miles or so each way, however on the way there we ended up getting lost, and took some smaller back roads, ending up travelling much more than 15 miles! Plus it was very very hilly, it was so hard on those terrible bikes, and in the 90+ degree heat! But fun! The town was very beautiful - small and not a lot of tourists. We ordered meat & fish kebabs and coca cola at a local restaurant, and afterwards took a long walk along some trails in search of waterfalls. We walked several miles, eventually found a beautiful waterfall and took a swim in the pool at the bottom. It was icy cold, and surrounded by fig trees.

Another day we rode along the coast to Villamoura/Quarteria. Less than 10 miles each way I think, and the beach was beautiful. Again, a lot of tourists... the wide selection of designer clothing stores, fancy hotels, and marina filled with pretty boats led me to believe this was the 'ritzy' side of the Algarve.

On Saturday, our last full day, Erik and I took my little sister to a water park. It was immense fun!

Though I was sad to leave my family, I was happy to come home and return to my routine. I missed my little puppy (who gained about 5# while we were away and looks less little by the day!), and the copious ice creams, restaurant meals, and multiple daily double espressos & a beer or two almost every day began to wear on me.

I didn't visit a gym while I was there, so had not lifted weights in almost two weeks! Plenty of activity (swimming, walking miles every day, biking etc.) meant I didn't gain any weight, but I definitely felt weaker!

I returned to the gym monday night and was quite weak... but it will get better.

Monday September 31st
Pullups 5-5-4-4-4

Deadlifts 5x5
95-115-135-135-135

Bench 5x5
45-65-75-75-75

Biking 13 miles

Tuesday September 1st
Biking 12 miles
Walking 3 miles with the pup

[minime]

Wednesday September 2nd
Romanian Deadlift
95x8
105x8
115x8

Seated DB shoulder press
15s x8
17.5s x8
20x8 x2

Leg Press Machine*
180x8
200x8 x2

Barbell Row
65x8 x3

Pullups 4-4-4-4

Biking 13 miles

Running 1 mile, barefoot on TM as warmup

*did leg press as was wondering whether my knee would respond better to this than it does to squats. Felt better than squats, but also felt like a stupid thing to do. i don't like machines. Maybe I am ready to try squats again, I am just scared of them as it seems like every time I do them my knee hurts.

overall felt weak weak weak. Seriously 4pullups were a struggle! aagh.

cooked a big pot of steel cut oatmeal and a bunch of baked potatoes when I got home. I eat them cold, with salt sprinkled on them. Yum! Need the carbs...

[ihatepeas]

a bit late but glad you're back. and glad you had fun. bet puppy was super happy to see you, it's tail must've gotten a workout from wagging so much.

[JDR3]

I thought I'd be getting a journal update!

Hope the biking and workouts are going well.

[minime]

aaah sorry JDR! I actually took this whole week off from working out anyway.

Took a crossfit class last thurs night, and was forced to engage in a 5000m team rowing, where I have to do half. Having not rowed in a long time I was SLOOOW and totally made my 'team' lose. I felt bad for the guy I was paired with, he was very good (huge guy) rowing at 1:40 or under and there I am struggling to stay below 2:20... sigh.

Next day, my legs were SO SORE it was ridiculous. Combo of the rowing and the wod we did which involved front squats I suppose. Legs were sore for days actually, it was bizarre.

Rested, then rode 50 miles on sunday.

Rested all week (plenty of walking) and now getting ready for tomorrow!! The big day! 125 miles, Boston to Provincetown. I'm very nervous because the forecast is for rain

Wish me luck!

[JDR3]

Hope the biking went great!

Thanks for the update.

[ihatepeas]

Hi, where are you? How'd the 125 miles go?

[minime]

gosh darn, I am so bad at keeping a log these days.

Thanks for stopping in guys!

The bike ride was... WET!! It was the most bizarre weather day, it poured all day long and we got absolutely soaked! they made us stop at the last rest stop, so I did not get to complete the final 15 miles. Apparently the flooding was so bad up ahead, it was a serious safety risk.

So only 110 miles for me !! it was quite an experience however, and I wouldn't trade it. I had a great time. Even though it was uncomfortable and painful (chafing!) I still enjoyed it. I've never been wet for quite so long before!

We left the house at 5AM to cycle the 3 mile to registration/starting point, and it was already pouring by then so before we even started we were wet through.

I would definitely do it again next year. I am getting a new bike next year I have decided! This second hand bike has served me well, I have had two good years on it (i think the bike is over 10 years old) and put thousands of miles on it. I will keep it for cycling to work, and get myself a nice new speedy bike with bike shoes and clipless pedals. Next year, I will be a speed machine!!

took a few days off after the ride, then did a few normal weight sessions, and last week decided to participate in a CF league at my gym. 2 workouts a week. The first week I did Cindy (15.5 rounds) and was in pain for DAYS. Then I did Daniel and the pain worsened. I don't know if I'm cut out for this crossfit stuff anymore ha ha.

I'm behind on this weeks workouts because my uncle is in town so I don't have evenings free. But I may be able to go tonight and make one up, and if I can't do both this week I have been given permission to make it up next week.

OH and my puppy got really sick last weekend and had to be taken to the animal hospital. A few days and a couple of grand later, and he has been diagnosed with a rare bone disease that is thankfully temporary (large growth spurt caused his bones to grow weirdly.. it will get better in a few weeks) and he has some kind of virus that he has medicine for.

We have the little guy home with us now and he is getting better every day. Though he does have one leg that looks weird becuase it is shaved (for the IV)

[JDR3]

Thanks for the update!

Sorry to hear about the Pup.
You should look into VPI Pet Insurance. We have it thank goodness!
Got it after Riley blew out her ACL in her knee. $$$$
One year later she blew out the other one. Much much better cost wise.
Now she's the Bionic Dog......... a very expensive one, but we love her.

http://www.petinsurance.com/affiliat...CI0136&src=ysm

[ihatepeas]

@Minime - Ouch on the chafing, but way to go on 100+ miles. I can't even imagine doing that. And sorry to hear about your pup. I'm glad he'll be better in no time.

@JDR3 - THANKS for the www. I'm going to look into. My Tigerlily had to have surgery on one of her hind legs. Cost: $900NZ. Luckily my boss paid for it. Long story. So now that I'm in the states I might look into kitty insurance. Just in case.

[ihatepeas]

Hi, Hope you're doing okay.