Oh hi! Don’t worry, I’m not injured- just sore all over because I started strength training in earnest. As always, I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Rundown. Here are all the gory details!
Monday
The week started off nice and easy, with a 3 mile run. I’ve been sleeping a little later and doing my runs before dinner- hence all the daylight!
Tuesday
Okay, here we go. I started the Caroline Girvan Iron Series! Day 1 is legs, but I was still a little sore from some lunges I did on Sunday. I decided to start with Day 2, Shoulders, Back and Chest.
YOU GUYS. About five minutes into this workout, I realized I’ve been waaaay easy on myself with strength training lately. I mean- I was training for an ultra marathon. I had my reasons, but now it’s time to work hard again. This workout was a killer.
Wednesday
Uh huh. Just as I suspected, every muscle in my arms and torso was screaming at me. Perfect day to go back and tackle Day 1, Legs. Once again, I haven’t worked this hard in a long, long time. The second I finished this workout, I knew I was going to be insanely sore.
Thursday
Yep! Now my entire body hurts. In the morning I did a yoga with Adriene video, and after work I got out for a 3 mile run. It felt like I was wearing 20 pound ankle weights.
Friday
Lower body is still sore. Day 3 of the Iron Series is a full body workout. No, that won’t work. Day 4 is GLUTES. Hahahahahaha! That’s funny. No. I skipped ahead to Day 5, which was Arms and Abs. I can do that!
I like how she combines arms and core, because if the whole time was spent on biceps and triceps, that would be… terrible. As it was, it was hard enough.
Saturday
Now I can hardly lift my arms, ARG!!! Is my whole life going to be like this from now on??? The good news is, my legs were almost feeling back to normal. After work I went to the gym and ran 3 miles on the treadmill. I even cautiously threw in some strides!
Sunday
On tap- I think I’ll be able to tackle the glutes workout today. I’m determined to work my way through this whole series, and I’m regretting that I’ve already mixed up the days. Hopefully I can get back on track and continue on in the correct order this week.
Have you ever done CG’s Iron Series? – The crazy thing is, I’ve done this series before! Am I really that out of shape? Did I just forget how hard it is???
Top photo by VD Photography on Unsplash
26 Responses
You’re pretty strong, how much weight are you using? Do you do the videos at home, or at the gym?
I’ve done some of the Iron Series, but not all. I just look for one that fits my plans for the day (meaning arms or legs or abs). I have 5, 10, and 15 lb weights. My issue is that I wake up in the middle of the night sore. I wonder if magnesium would help me? Hmmm. Also, anything that looks beyond my capabilities, I modify. So I don’t get as sore as if I were pushing myself harder, but I do NOT want to injure myself, so I’m careful.
Congrats on getting back to it!
So far I’m doing the videos at home, but I’d like to do them at the gym so I have more weight options. Right now I’m using 10 and 15 lbs- I’d like to have the option of 12 and 17. Also, when I get more into it, I’d like to have heavier options for my legs. But not right now. I think my body needs more time to get used to lifting weights again.
Nice job with the new workout series! It sounds like a killer. I’m also impressed with your treadmill selfie skills LOL
Thanks Melissa! The treadmill selfie was just luck- I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that I got my whole body in the photo.
Haha I had the same revelation going back to the gym. I have been sore all week. Great job, and I’m glad you pushed yourself. Just think how strong you’re getting~
Yes, that’s what I tell myself when I’m sore- it shows that I’m getting stronger!
Your strength training routine is pretty impressive. Maybe it will rub off on me.
Nope. LOL
Ha ha… keep doing what you’re doing. It’s obviously working for you!
As the saying goes, no pain no gain, LOL. I may have told you, but my intro to strength training was P90X. OMG, that was a brutal boot camp kind of experience, but it was a powerful wake-up call as well. For the first couple weeks, every inch of my “runner’s body” hurt. I could barely lift my arm to brush my teeth. But after those first 90 days, I was sold. You got this (as I’m sure you know).
True! No pain, no gain does apply in this case. And I can only imagine how sore you were, jumping into P90X. But it’s good to know that I’ll eventually get used to it!
I think running strong is different than strength strong. It is hard to pivot and do hard things but you are good at doing hard things!gong worm minimal strength training to 5 days a week is a lot. Maybe start with lighter weights than you think you need for a week for your body to get used to it again. A month from now you will be Wonder Woman!
Ha, I did start with lighter weights! And it was STILL killing me! I agree, my body will get used to it. I probably won’t do 5x a week- more like 4. I know in the program she calls for 5, but I still want to fit in some decent runs as well.
Those workouts sound tough, but effective if they’re making you sore! I only strength train twice a week mostly to supplement running but when I get new moves prescribed, I definitely feel them the next day. Right now I’m just maintaining since my big race is a little over 3 weeks out, but I’m sure afterwards I’ll be focusing more on strength.
An evening run sounds so nice! I always think about doing that but I love the feeling of getting it done first thing and not thinking about it all day at work so I rarely do it unless I have to be at work earlier than usual.
I know- usually I want to get everything done in the morning. And it is a little stressful thinking that I still have to run later in the day. But for now, extra sleep is winning out. In about a month it will be way to hot to run later in the day, so I’ll probably embrace the early mornings again.
Yes, you have no need of intense strength right now! You can get back to it after your race.
Yeah, doing a new strength workout will make you sore in new places! I did a new upper body workout this week and felt it trying to take my sweatshirt off later.
It’s true that doing anything new will make you sore. And yes, taking a shirt off gets really difficult after some of these workouts!
I remember how hard the first workout in Iron was! I also remember those glute workouts, and not fondly. But I’m pretty sure that the soreness takes a hike in week 2. Booyah for getting it started!
Thanks Birchie! I think I’ve blocked the glutes workouts from my mind… but I’m sure it will all come back to me once I start the workout today. I’m definitely hoping I won’t be AS sore this week.
Those workouts are no joke! The glutes ones in particular seem extra hard! I have done the iron series once and now I am doing it a 2nd time but very very gradually as I do them on days I don’t do OTF and I’m doing OTF 3-5 days/week. So it’s going to take a long time to get through the iron series. But that’s ok because the OTF workouts are my priority to make my unlimited membership worth it. And the OTF workouts are HARD!! I was dying today!
Running and strength are so different so it makes sense these workouts feel hard. Running shortens our muscles and strength lengthens them – at least that is how it was explained to me!
Yes, I’m also not following her schedule exactly, as I still want to get in some decent runs. Although, who knows- maybe in a bit if I’m not as sore, I’ll do her schedule. This week I’ll have done four workouts. Yes, I’m sure OTF is hard! The Iron Series seems like the perfect thing to supplement with.
Yay! You’ve started your new strength routine! That’s great. And yes – it IS frustrating when you increase strength training and you WILL be sore somewhere all the time for a while but it’s very much worth it when you feel stronger and see the muscles grow. Remember to up your protein, and creatine (don’t remember if you’ve written about taking it) helps with recovery too. Hope your glute workout went well!
Nice job jumping into strength training between running cycles! And great job on continuing to push yourself despite having DOMS in various body parts.
Wow, you are doing so great with your strength routine! I often find that I’m the most sore two days after a workout, which makes it challenging to figure out which muscles to train.
You are really amazing! I’m so proud of you for focusing on strength and getting out of your comfort zone!
I started doing these Eastern strengthening and stretching moves. They didn’t feel like anything while doing them, and I woke up the next day completely wrecked! LOL! Here’s to getting stronger!
No, you’re not in terrible shape, it’s just totally normal to be sore whenever you change the stimulus to your body! I lift year round and I STILL get a bit sore when I change to a new program, even if I’m doing similar exercises to what I’ve been doing. But the good news is you won’t be THIS sore after this first week or so. I promise promise it will get better! I rarely get super sore anymore. Just take it easy and ease in- no harm in modifying a bit, etc. so you don’t overdo it while you adapt. I have been there though- ooooh that feeling of not being able to sit down on the toilet is killer!!…..
oof on the new routine pains! Funny how that works. I don’t think I’ve tried those CG workouts, but I do like the idea that they are 30 mins and are a series. And I’m still impressed that you are back to running so soon after your big race! I didn’t comment on the previous post, but I do love the dress you picked out for the wedding. Even without these workouts you will look great!