Sunday, 12/31/17 Hydration

I’m concentrating on hydration today (but tonight I’ll probably be focusing on champagne). For some reason, I let myself get really dehydrated, yesterday. I’m racing tomorrow. OK, not really racing. Staying up until midnight drinking champagne does not really equate to racing, but I will be running & polar plunging, so I’ve got to drink a lot of water today.  I’ll have a juice, too. 

Gaviota Wind Caves Hike Saturday, 12/30/17

I did no running today, but took a hike with the kids to the Gaviota Wind Caves.  The hike was short, but pretty steep.  My knees were burning on the way down.

Saturday, 12/30 Crossrope Jump Rope

I purchased the starter set which consisted of 1 pair of interchangeable handles, a quarter pound agility rope and a one pound rope.  I also ordered a jump mat a few days later.  The ropes came within a few days.  They were packaged well and exactly what I expected.  The ropes seem durable, and they work the way jump ropes should.  Using one handle for both ropes is a bit of a hassle.  The workouts that are included with the free app ask you to switch ropes during the workout and the switching is not all that easy, at least not for me.  I don't switch.  I just stick with one weight during the workout.

The mat took three weeks to arrive.  It was marked as shipped the day after I ordered it. Customer service told me three separate times that it had shipped, and I would have it in three days.  I can't figure out what the problem was.  Clearly, it hadn't shipped.  You can't speak directly to a customer service representative when you call.  You have to leave a message, but I did get a call back on each occasion that I called.  The mat wasn't exactly what I thought it would be.  It is pretty similar to a mat that you would buy to put a piece of heavy workout equipment on.  It works just fine, but nothing too spectacular.

All and all, I think that these are high quality ropes and worth what I paid.  Crossropes has a 30 day challenge that gives you 30 days of rope workouts in a pdf, and they have you-tube videos to help you learn different jumps.  They even have an fb group to help keep you motivated.  I wish that I would have waited and gotten the infinity ropes.  The handles look like they offer easier exchanges between ropes.  The infinity wasn't available when I ordered and I won't be investing in another set anytime soon.

If you are willing to pay $70 for jump ropes, I'd say go ahead.  A one pound rope really isn't all that cheap.  You could definitely find a quarter pound rope and a one pound rope for less than $70, but I would guess you wouldn't get as good a product.  I'm not sure most people need the highest quality ropes in the world.  How many people jump exclusively for cardo?  If you do intend to jump every day, you might want to spend the money.

Friday, 12/29/17 Hip Exercises, Jump Rope

Today, I didn't run at all, but I did my hip exercises and jumped rope for 8 minutes.  I did the cross rope workout from the app listed as Burn Set 1 beginner level 1.  The routine called for me to switch from the 1/4 lb to 1 lb rope, but that was way too much trouble, so I just did the entire routine with the 1lb. rope.

Thursday, 12/28/2017

Yesterday, I did a bunch of nothing.  Today, I ran 4 at what was supposed to be MP, but was in fact pretty slow.  I've guess I can blame the big hill, but I still have got to do better than 7:58.

I ran one mile exactly before I got started to calibrate my new footpod.  With warm-up, & cool down, all together I ran 6.5.

Tuesday, 12/27/2017

Yesterday, I did exercises and hip exercises, but more importantly, I reached my 2017 mile goal.  I have had an amazing year running, but injury and health concerns took their toll this year.  I wasn't sure that I could do it, but I did.  That is the most that I've ever logged in a year. 

Lululemon 40/80 Challenge Strava Monday, 12/26/2017

I just found out in a fb group about the lululemon's 40/80 challenge on Strava.  There is a possibility of free gear.  You can sign up anytime.  It runs from January 2-15. The challenge is to run 40 or 80 km.  Last year, if you ran 40 km, you got a lululemon running shirt, and if you ran 80 km, you got the shirt and a pair of running shorts.  TM miles don't count, and you have to go to a lululemon store to get your prize.  I wasn't on Strava, but I signed up, today, to join the challenge.

Milestonepod, Christmas 2017

My sister sent me this Milestonepod for Christmas.  I'll check it out on my run tomorrow.

Christmas Eve 2017

Today, I ran 11.4 miles at an easy pace, non-stop.  I didn't have to stop to go to the bathroom or at a light.  I have so much to do today that I had no time for running, but I’ve just got to try & reach 2017.  My family understands (I hope).  I felt pretty good on the run and I have less than 12 miles to go.

After the run, I went for a short soak in the spa.  I had been skeptical to use heat right after a run, but it feels great and I can really stretch my toes out.

Saturday, 12/23/17

I juiced this morning.  My idea of a green juice is to use anything that I have in the frig.  I sweeten with apple.  I try to use either cucumber or eggplant as a base.  Cilantro & lemon makes everything taste better, but I usually use lime, because lemons are too expensive.  Today, I had lemon in the frig.  You can’t see in the pic, but I found some spinach & celery.  I’m not one to claim this stuff taste good.  It’s usually ok at best.  This morning it tasted almost good.


I'm very frustrated with the company crossrope.  I purchased a couple of jump ropes and a mat from them.  The jump ropes are good, but the mat has never arrived and the frustrating part is that customer service keeps lying to me.  They ship everything three day shipping.  It was marked as shipped on December 7th.  I've called just about every three days since then and they keep telling me that it just shipped.  Why lie?  Why not just tell me that the item is back ordered or whatever.  It is just stupid and a waste of time on everyone's part.  My right knee is hurting a little, so I don't want to jump on my concrete patio, and I don't want to damage the carpet in my living room.  So, I'm stuck waiting.