<p>Weather forecast said we’d hit 93 degrees. We ended up at 98 degrees, a record for this time of year. Not sorry I took a rest day.</p>
<p>Apollo is competing, and Em’s parents saw him today. If anyone wants to track her on Saturday, her number is 2141. Since she’s going pro after this race, I don’t think she would mind me sharing. </p>
<p>I did run today on Alii Drive. My hope is that people can’t tell how slowly you are running by looking at you. 
I did this after we got our luggage and immediately after eating, but it still felt good to be out there and do it!</p>
<p>That sounds like a terribly unpleasant travel day, MOWC. Everything I hate about travel all rolled together in one really fun time. Glad everyone is there though and hopefully the bike will be ready to go. I’ll definitely be following along - I really enjoyed following WC’s progress last time. </p>
<p>Good luck to your athletes, MOWC. What a crazy travel situation, but I am glad it is mostly worked out. </p>
<p>MOWC, I shuddered when I read your post! I can’t imagine how everyone kept their cool. As if traveling and preparing your mindset for competing isn’t tough enough. Bromfield2, another fun variation on a plank is to do it in a straight arm position with your hands on dumbells and rotate into a side plank while raising your arm holding a dumbell, alternating sides. Really adds a challenge if you’re getting bored with regular planks!</p>
<p>I do that one starting from a side plank position on my elbow, holding a DB in the other hand. I reach under me with the DB and then rotate and extend it up towards the ceiling. Awesome side plank variation.</p>
<p>I saw an NFL player (well, it might have been a kicker) doing planks on the sideline during a game. And, then there’s the Shanghai policeman who just set a new record for plank – over four hours!</p>
<p><a href=“http://shanghaiist.com/2014/10/01/beijing_swat_member_sets_world_reco.php”>http://shanghaiist.com/2014/10/01/beijing_swat_member_sets_world_reco.php</a></p>
<p>I am definitely not worthy! ^:)^ </p>
<p>IDad, I took a class with my daughter where they did the straight arm DB plank I described but added a push up in everytime the DB arm was lowered for like 20 reps. I handled that ok since I have pretty good upper body strength.Just to make sure I wasn’t too cocky, they also did side planks up on a straight arm where the top arm was extended straight out in front and then that arm and the top leg, in straight positions, were moved in an arc so that they met mid body and the hand touched the toes. Well, I was not so good on that one. Fell over a lot, much to the amusement of my 25 year old personal trainer daughter who thought I was very funny :)!</p>
<p>Wow, what fabulous form that guy has. (quite a contrast from my own planking shenanigans…)</p>
<p>MomWC, sending you the iron mojo and hexing TSA and other airline foes ;)</p>
<p>I am getting bummed about this trick neck scenario. I’m still grateful that my back has been so good for so long, and I credit the improved strength and weightloss y’all have helped me more or less continue with. But the way my neck is behaving since the diving incident has me concerned that I’ve developed another facet joint spur in th C’s.</p>
<p>I’ve put off the medical shenanigans this could entail, but if it doesn’t stop locking up or causing nerve twinges I’m going to have to do something. Today its like a nerve is engaged and I don’t even feel like mustering the hill, particularly since there’s a chainsaw involved 
Kettlebells have been out of the question, but without the pool weather, I should be doing 'em.</p>
<p>So wah. Excuse the whining. I will go hot tub and see if I can face the hill…</p>
<p>Bless you plankers. I hate, absolutely hate them with a passion. I know they are so good for you though. But GOD I hate them.</p>
<p>kmc, I’m sorry you’re still struggling with your neck. Sounds like it might be time for some medical shenanigans as you so aptly put it. </p>
<p>No pratfalls this morning but was able to enjoy the lunar eclipse and the blood moon this morning! Easy six miles. My knee is stiff but I could still get around. </p>
<p>Hey, I can do those plank variations! We did those in TRX. I love those! </p>
<p>^^^You’re sick, sabaray. Truly.</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>Anybody else like TRX? I love upper body TRX stuff. Push-ups, pull-ups, bow and arrow moves … Probably like them too much, as I have strong / muscular shoulders for a girl … But sadly still that upper arm jiggle no matter what tricep work I do!! </p>
<p>MoWC, it sounds like your trip started off as a nightmare. Hopefully you got all the bad luck out of the way and the rest of the week will be successful for everyone. I went to the kona site, and saw an article about one of the competitors having to drop out due to injury. It said “she suffered the injury in a freak situation as a result of an over-physical pre-race massage” Must have been some massage!</p>
<p>Blankmind- that was one of the top pros. I think she got hurt in the massage before half ironman worlds last month and isn’t ok yet.</p>
<p>KMC- Hate that about your neck!</p>
<p>Bike is fixed. The part doesn’t match the bike, but that’s ok. H rented a bike ( had to line it up 3 months ago) and will ride part of the course this morning. I’m going to run 5- hopefully.</p>
<p>5 turned into 5.5 turned into 6, which is always nice! Not that it was easy. As Bunsen can tell you, running along Alii Drive is HOT, even early in the morning. I was drenched. </p>
<p>But I’m guessing the view was worth every step of those 6 miles!!! Shower and a good meal deserved!!! </p>
<p>There are definitely ocean views, but mainly you are looking at the incredibly fit triathletes roaring by you on foot and on bikes and trying to recognize the famous triathletes. You are also trying not to be run over by bikes.</p>
<p>Took a barre class w 2 coworkers. It was tough! Anyone take these classes? I think I’ll take it again. I really find classes work best for me, but of course to each his own. </p>
<p>5 turned into 5.5 turned into 6, which is always nice! Not that it was easy. As Bunsen can tell you, running along Alii Drive is HOT, even early in the morning. I was drenched."</p>
<p>Yes, it feels like running on a heated frying pan in hell. 
But the scenery is amazing! </p>
<p>Hill walking and weight training. Enough for today!</p>
<p>5 weeks ago today I was a couch potato (well I walked a couple of miles in my neighborhood sometimes, but mostly less than that when I walked the dog-with frequent elimination breaks-his, not mine).</p>
<p>Today I biked twice around White Rock Lake in Dallas and met my goal of 20 miles (officially 20.03 miles) 3 weeks early. It was very hard for me those last few miles (towards the end were a couple of inclines, and I really didn’t know if I was going to get to the top; I’m sure I looked rather sad), but I did make it to my 20 miles and kept my cadence relatively stable. </p>
<p>For some reason I was really emotional about it for about 15 minutes-maybe just due to pure exhaustion. I got home and had some eggs and sliced tomatoes and took 2 Aleve tablets because I’m already stiff/sore.</p>
<p>D1 did a three week ride from Seattle to San Francisco a few years ago and they had days where they’d log 70 miles, often up real hills. I cannot imagine ever being able to do that. But 2 months ago, if you said I’d bike 20 miles I would have said you were insane!</p>
<p>I think I’m going to take a nap. I’m useless now.</p>