Never-ending Quest to be Leaner, Stronger and Faster.

[lance02]

Originally Posted by GG300

Had to work out at a different gym from our chain today as the lockers at mine will be down for 2 weeks for remodeling. This location is very nice but the people are pretty cold and it is farther away from my work. The free weight area is a nicer layout than what I normally have with about a 1/3 more benches. Another bonus is they have a early morning spin class that lets out at 5:45 and a bunch of the women come out and hit the weights afterwards. So to be truthful I may have had some rest periods longer than 90 seconds after that time. The other down side is getting used to the new nut cases at the gym and this place has plenty. My workout felt good and I think I may have finally sweated out the last of the vacation cocktails. 2 more play weekends and then sobriety until my birthday so I can hit my goal weight for the year. 87 Days to go.

So you like the sights at the new gym....

Good luck hitting your goal weight.

[GG300]

Thanks Dee and Lance I will be saying a few words at the service today so hopefully all goes well.

[GG300]

Wednesday August 15 4:00 AM 70 degrees with 74% Humidity Scheduled 3 mile run. After not running for a few days this felt more like work than normal. After the first mile all the body parts seemed to remember what they were supposed to be doing and it got easier. Just after the 2 mile mark a skunk wandered out from behing some garbage cans and fortunately it scarred me and not the other way around. Finished 3.23 miles in 41:33.

[UpNorth]

If the skunk sprayed you, you probably could have scored a record time I guess skunks are the risk you take running before dawn.

[GG300]

Thursday August 16 4:30 65 Degree's with 90% Humidity Scheduled Lifting Session.
Since I was running about 30 minutes ahead of schedule I thought I could get in a quick run near the gym and get in some catch up miles. Even with the high humidity the low temps made it a very comfortable run. I ran down to and through the nearby downtown of beautiful Wauwatosa (under road construction of course) and then headed back West to the gym. Just blocks out of downtown I saw 2 fawns and a doe wander across a rather busy road which due to the time of day was motionless. As I was focusing on them in the distance another deer dashed out in front of me no more than 25 feet away. That was the second scare of the week. Lately I feel like I am running through a friggin nature center. First a skunk now 4 deer, if things keep jumping out at me in the dark I am going to have to start running in "Depends". Finished 1.85 miles in 23:30

Mean while back at the gym:

Straight Sets with 90 Seconds Rest

Squats 12@135# 8@185# 5@225# 5@225# 3@255#

Stiff Leg Deadlifts 12@115# 12@115# 12@115#

DB Incline Bench 12@55# 12@55# 12@55#

WG Low Cable Rows 10@137.5# 10@137.5# 10@137.5#

Alternating DB Curls 8@40# 8@40# 8@40#

Overhead Cable Extensions 12@110# 10@115# 8@120#

Everything felt really good today even the brief run. I slept really well last night which I haven't been doing lately. Maybe the funeral was bothering me more than I thought. My eulogy for my Uncle went well yesterday and after the service my extended family decided that I should get his 300 ring which he recieved for bowling his first 300 game. In all of my 47 years I never saw him without that ring. I can't think of anything that could be as nice of a keepsake. I will be off Friday for a blown out golf outing with 7 of my buddies including my ex trainer. Saturday is going to hurt.

[BamaDave]

Gregg, sorry to hear about your Uncle. The 300 ring sounds like a perfect memento.

[GG300]

Thanks Dave.

Sunday August 19 9:00 AM Light Rain and 66 degrees. I waited until the rain slowed and then set out for a quick few miles. As soon as I got 1/2 mile from my house the rain started to get quite heavy. I decided to call it and make a turn to get home quicker. When I neared my turn home the rain let up so I added some distance but the rain picked up again so I bagged it when I got near the house. 1.93 miles in 23:08. It was raining again this morning so hopefully I can put in a few catch up miles this afternoon. My first week when I can catch up on my running and the forecast is calling for wet weather all week. Maybe I can find a cheap wind breaker and cut the sleeves off.

[GG300]

Tuesday August 21 5:00 AM Scheduled Lifting Session

Core Work Warm Up
Giant Set with 2 Minutes Rest
Swiss Ball Plank 60 Sec 60 Sec
Side Plank Left 45 Sec 45 Sec
Side Plank Right 45 Sec 45 Sec
Weighted SB Crunch Alternating Twists 30@14# 30@14#

Super Set with 90 Seconds Rest

Kneeling Rope Crunches 15@185# 15@185#
Reverse Crunches 15 15

Straight Sets with 90 Seconds Rest

Bench Press 12@140# 5@190# 5@190# 5@190# 11@140#

DB BO Rows 12@37.5# 12@37.5# 12@37.5#

WG Lat Pulls 12@137.5# 12@137.5# 12@137.5#

EZ Bar Skullcrushers 12@65# 12@65# 12@65#

X Body DB Curls 10@37.5# 8@37.5# 8@37.5#

I had zero ambition going to the gym this AM. Could be the weather or party withdrawls but just wasn't feeling it. Once I got started I felt OK but nothing special. I was able to get in one extra rep on the last set of my benches and got through the skulls much easier than last week so I guess it wasn't to bad. I had planned on getting in some catch up miles before I lifted but that was not happening. Hopefully I will work up some ambition and get in some miles after work.

[MissDee]

Well, I think you cursed me. Less than a half mile after I started, I got drenched

[UpNorth]

Good work getting to the gym today. The weather, wildlife and family matters certainly seem to be working against you the past couple of weeks.

[lance02]

Nice job getting a workout in Greg. With a lack of ambition, and still getting out there and doing it, that's way more than most would do.

[GG300]

Jeff sometimes it seems like the world is going one way and you are going the other. It certainly has been like that for me the last few weeks. With my Mom back at home and most of the summer parties completed I think I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Lance getting the lifting in isn't that big of a deal it's the running that takes more fortitude than I often have in me. But thanks for the props.

[GG300]

Wednesday August 22 5:00 AM Heavy Rain and Thunder Storms Scheduled 3 Miles

A real decision maker this morning get drenched and take my chance with the lightning or hit the Dreadmill. The coward in me won out and I ended up putting in 4 miles on the treadmill in 54:05. I forgot how much I hate those things. Although the scenery at this new gym is outstanding on the cardio equipment. You know plasma screens (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

You guys have really been getting clobbered with rain lately! My uncle had just planted some grass when I was there last week. It must be 3 feet tall by now. Good job on getting things done but, the treadmill, already?!!? Yikes!

[GG300]

You guys have really been getting clobbered with rain lately! My uncle had just planted some grass when I was there last week. It must be 3 feet tall by now. Good job on getting things done but, the treadmill, already?!!? Yikes!

And there was more thunder, lightning and rain this morning so no catch up miles. I went to my Mom's to cut her grass the other day and thank God she has a small lawn. I could only cut a 4" path otherwise the mower would bog out and shut down.

As far as the treadmill I hope to forgo any more work on that beast until 2008.

[GG300]

Thursday August 23 5:00 AM Scheduled Lifting Session

Warm Up/Core Work

Giant Sets with 2 Minutes Rest
Full Crunches 15 15
Ball Planks 60Sec 60Sec
Side Plank Left 45Sec 45Sec
Side Plank Right 45Sec 45Sec

Straight Sets with 1 Minute Rest
Woddchoppers 20 ea side@60# 20 ea side@60#

Reverse Woodchoppers 20 ea side@50# 20 ea side@50#

Squats 12@135# 8@185# 5@230# 5@230# 5@230#

DB Incline Bench 10@60# 10@60# 10@60#

Low Cable Row 12@137.5# 10@142.5# 10@142.5#

Stiff Leg Deads 12@115# 12@120# 12@120#

I was able to up the weight 5# on my working sets of Squats and my last 2 sets of deads. My first set of low cables went pretty easy so I added 2 reps and then increased the weight by 5# on the last 2 sets and put my reps at 10 which was my original rep plan. Besides me there were 3 other people doing squats today and all of them with a BB no Smith work. One guy was doing 315# and he almost bent his knees enouigh to make a 45 degree angle but the other 2 guys were doing real squats. I might have to make this new gym my regular stop. Real lifters, great scenery and a huge free weight area, life is good. Now all I have to do is figure out where the headphones get plugged into on the treadmills that have the TV monitors.

[GG300]

Friday August 24 3:30 AM 74 Degrees with 84% Humidity Scheduled 3 Mile Run.
I skipped breakfast and headed out 30 minutes early to avoid an incoming storm that the radar was showing about 20 miles west of me. Saw some flash lightning in the distance as I was getting ready and that was about it. Just after 2 miles a few more flashes appeared well into the distance but not close enough to get me to hasten my pace much. Finished 3.96 miles in 52:51. As I did my cool down walk a few drips of rain started to fall but not enough to even cool me off. I added a catch up mile on todays run and will keep that up until I am back on target for the challenge. I am just starting to hear thunder now and the skies look like they are ready to open up again. Maybe the running Gods are starting to lean in my favor again.