<p>busdriver- I got the 10 pound kettlebell but I know I will want to quickly add a 15. I’m not a big person, and I didn’t want to do my usual thing of too much, too fast. I already have 5 pound dumbbells (cute yellow ones) so that takes care of the lighter end of things.</p>
<p>DadII, glad you’re back. Ease back into your workout schedule and healthy eating, and we’ll be here to support you.</p>
<p>Plantmom, best of luck on the w5d3!!! As you are running, know that we are here cheering you on! Start slow and keep your breathing in check - I think you are going to rock it!!!</p>
<p>I should buy some stock in my favorite steel company with all of these kettleball sales.</p>
<p>If you want to check out kettleballs; arrange a tour or free day pass at your local gym or YMCA. We have a lot of different sizes, weights and styles at the Y.</p>
<p>MOWC, those sound like good weights to start with. I wonder if they are at my gym and I never noticed. Shoot, they probably have a class on it. I’ll go by there today.</p>
<p>42 min run at the gym.</p>
<p>Dad II, good to have you back.</p>
<p>PackMom, still reading? How are you doing?</p>
<p>Yippee. Christmas in February. UPS brought me a new backpack today. I have been using a [34</a> liter Osprey](<a href=“http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/t/stratos34tarn.jpg]34”>http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/t/stratos34tarn.jpg) daypack, which is the bees knees in summer. Has a 3 liter water bladder that slips inside the pack with a drinking hose on the chest strap. Perfect size for basic stuff like flashlight, headlamp, first aid kit, rain jacket and pants, a fleece in case it gets chilly, extra socks/hat/glove, and a little snack food. The problem is that, for winter hiking, you need to add a couple more clothing options, including a stuffed down jacket, hooded soft shell, and more gloves/hats – and you need a little room to stuff layers that you take off. It’s not that pleasant to stand on a windy mountain try to meticulously fold the down jacket you just took off so that it will fit back in the pack! And, more stuff to lash to the outside, like snow shoes, microspikes, etc. My day pack was just not big enough. I was stuffing it to the gills and it really didn’t have easy lashing points for snow shoes. </p>
![http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/t/stratos34tarn.jpg]34](http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/t/stratos34tarn.jpg%5D34){kind=link}
<p>So, I got a very similar [Atmos</a> 50 pack](<a href=“http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/t/atmos50graphitegrey.jpg]Atmos”>http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/t/atmos50graphitegrey.jpg) from the same company. Similar features. Weighs 8 ounces more. Takes the same water bladder, but holds 50 liters of stuff, so I can fit all the extra winter junk. It has lashing points for snowshoes so I don’t have to wrap bungee cords around the pack that have to come off to get anything out of the pack. Now, if I can just get a decent day to go winter hiking again!</p>
![http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/t/atmos50graphitegrey.jpg]Atmos](http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/t/atmos50graphitegrey.jpg%5DAtmos){kind=link}
<p>That looks like a really cool backpack! I think I would just go walk around the mall or the neighborhood with it and look cool. I want one! I got a new Lululemon gym bag when I was up in PA last and it’s great, except that it has so many pockets and features that I never remember where anything is in it! I go through about 4 pockets before I find my Garmin and my gloves! It’s cool, though (pink and black).</p>
<p>Deb…still here…sulking because I haven’t been able to run for two weeks because of the leg.I get jealous reading what everyone else is doing!</p>
<p>It is definitely getting better but not run-worthy yet. I’m leery of jumping back in too quickly so am trying to be patient. I found that is doesn’t hurt at all to bike so rode 6 miles on Sunday which felt great. My S1 (Spec. Ops Officer U.S. Navy) is a fitness guru. His diagnosis of my leg is tendonitis…says he gets the same leg pain when he has to run in combat boots. If I had to run in combat boots they might as well shoot me!</p>
Did my weights today and then a 21 minute treadmill run. I was trying to keep my hr under 160, but that turned out to be impossible. My average was 166, with a high of 168.
I was going to post a picture of some kettlebells with cute faces, but I’m not sure it’s allowed. I always want to call them kettle balls.
<p>I’ve got a really cute [little</a> one](<a href=“http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/a/raptor_14_black.jpg]little”>http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/a/raptor_14_black.jpg) for walking around the mall! This one holds just 14 liters and is nominally a cycling backpack. It came with the water bladder that I use in the bigger packs – Ospreys all have built-in compartments for their bladders. The problem is that the water bladders take up a lot of room. This cute little one has enough room left over for maybe a rain jacket, and a snack. It’s perfect for a sightseeing walk or an afternoon walk in the park, but too small for the White Mountains where you need to be a little better equipped for an all-day outing. I’m not going on one of those hikes without an extra fleece and flashlights and stuff to at least survive for an hour or two if I get stranded after dark. </p>
![http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/a/raptor_14_black.jpg]little](http://cdn1.backcountrygear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/a/raptor_14_black.jpg%5Dlittle){kind=link}
<p>It’s so tiny that you could jog with it. I actually was planning on just getting a waist pack when I realized that the little tiny pack with the water bladder made a lot more sense.</p>
<p>Treadmill day. 4 miles total with a 5:50 mile and 2:40 1/2 mile in between.</p>
<p>Well, I am eager for UPS to bring my kettlebell. That was great use of my gift certificates. </p>
<p>I had the best time with sabadog at class last night. We finally chained together some of our exercises and he was far and away the best in the class. It was the best feeling! He doesn’t like “down” or “stay” but he loves anything requiring motion. He is a great fitness buddy and we’re going to start working on some serious obedience and move on to some rally competitions. I told him we were in training! </p>
<p>DadII, I hope all is well. Remember not to overdo things when you start up again. PackMom, I hope your leg issue resolves soon and you can get back to running. </p>
<p>I am super excited because our little town has just opened a Bikram yoga studio. I cannot wait to try it out. I am going to buy two intro week passes for when D is home and we can go together.</p>
<p>Push Press 135# 6x3
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press 3x6 @30# and 3x6 @35#</p>
<p>Slideboard Intervals
15" work; 15" rest 10 times. Rest until HR dropped to 130 and go again. Total of 3 sets for total time of 17:06 with average HR of 160BPM and max of 181BPM.</p>
<p>Gym day and Hops Challenge. I’m going to go to the end of the month if I can and then I think switch to doing it every other day. My shoulders seem to be permanently slightly sore, I think they need a day off. (It probably doesn’t help that I keep losing count of sets, and I think I’ve done an extra set for the last two days.)</p>
<p>Sabaray- I LOVE Bikram and have done a lot of it. The first class is hell, but the second class is about 200% better. Stick with it and take COLD water to class with you. It is a great workout and I feel great when I am doing Bikram. Unfortunately, with my job and running, I’m not going right now. </p>
<p>My legs are feeling pretty rested. H said he would go with me to the marathon and probably take his bike, so I will have some support on the course and he can carry some nutrition for me.</p>
<p>Back home, finally, and carrying a few extra pounds from my time with mom. Back to cleaner eating tomorrow. Four miles of walking today–two on the beach this morning and two on home turf, tonight. Definitely enjoyed the change in scenery–watched dolphins this morning.</p>
<p>Sabaray–what a good sabadog! I haven’t ever tried Bikram, but I’m intrigued. </p>
<p>MomofWC, I can’t wait to hear how the marathon goes this weekend.</p>
<p>The dreaded Airdyne intervals for me. Four 1/2 mile intervals. Meh. First two were really good, then I kinda hit the wall the second two were slow, just punching the clock.</p>
<p>I probably should bite the bullet and do these a couple times a week for a little bit.</p>
<p>thank you for your kind words. </p>
<p>One side story. I was stopped at Beijing port. They would not let me into China because I don’t match my passport picture. I told them I lost 50 lb by exercising and no one believed me. </p>
<p>After two interviews with high level supervisors and a face recognition expert, they finally let me in. </p>
<p>Had no problem getting in and out of US ports.</p>