Moves Like Jagger. And being humbled.

Good Morning peeps! Happy Thursday! The weekend is whispering my name and I can hardly wait to pack up this afternoon. I took tomorrow off and Monday is a holiday so I will be enjoying a nice long weekend. Time to recharge!

Today’s Workout: 8.05 miles in 64 min. TM run. Felt ok. Ended with lots of stretching, core and push-ups. The old lady hip is still on the road to recovery. No sharp pain just a dull nag that doesn’t want to go away. I have a call into the PT. It’s time for a re-eval!

So as you know I have been working on a “VLOG” to share with you all. I am horribly bad at explaining exercises so I figured if I could just show you it would be easier. Well, here we are almost a week later and I still have produced nothing for you all. My voice sounds 12 and I look like a crazy woman. Does this mean you will not be getting a VLOG? Of course you will! I am still going to do it. I am just overly picky (the old journalist in me is coming out) so it’s just taking longer than I thought it would. In the mean time I figured I would at least attempt to explain some of the main moves like jagger that I am doing daily to help get my hips/glutes nice and strong.

Clams

Every time I say “clams” I either think of food or an old NOFX song. Talk about two totally different things. Anywho. Clams have helped me A LOT. They help to strengthen the hips and thighs. I was also told by a PT that doing clams help to stabilize the pelvis.

How to do clams:

Lie on your side with your hips and shoulders in a straight line. You can rest your head on your hand or arm or on the floor. Whatever is most comfortable. You will then bend your knees at a 90 degree angle. Slowly rotate from your hip so that your top knee opens while your bottom stays on the floor (like a clam.) Make sure to only open far enough that you can continue to keep your hips aligned. You don’t want to try to open so far that you are falling over. You will then lower your leg back to start.

I usually do 3 sets of 10 on each side.

Leg Lifts

The last time I did leg lifts was when I was a kid in the 80s and I was copying my Mom as she did them. In our living room. Probably to a workout video. So awesome!

You can 2012 your leg lifts by doing three sets of 10. 1st set with toes pointing up, 2nd set with toes pointing down, third set traditional. Want to make sure you are doing them right? Get up against the wall and do them. This will help you to keep your core tight and your hips stable. You don’t need to kick yourself in the ear. Lift your leg to the point where you keep your hips aligned and then lower it back down.

Squats

I used to hate squats but now that I am getting somewhat good at them they are not so bad. Most of the time I do them with a medicine ball so that I can work my arms at the same time. If I am at work I do them with body weight only (yes I do office workouts. Once an hour. I am cray like that).

Squats work your booty, thighs, quads, hips, hammy’s and core. Um, awesome. Love it. Mucho.

 So there you have at least 3 basic moves I am using daily. The key to getting your hips/butt strong is to put time and effort into it. ~ I will include these 3 plus several other moves in the video once I can get it together. I sincerely apologize to those of you who have been patiently waiting. LAGGER PARTY OF 1. Right here.

~

Being Humbled

For those of you who have been following my blog for some time you know that I have had a lot of ups and downs. From PF to Achilles Tendonitis and now this hip thang. It’s like one thing after another right? It can be very frustrating. Some people say these continued injuries are a sign that it’s time to hang up my shoes. Have I considered that? You betcha. But then I tell myself that quitting is waaaaaay to easy! I know what I am capable of but just haven’t had the chance to prove it to myself. I want that chance.

After a vent session last night about my hip to my husband (he has got to be sick of hearing it!) I got in bed, opened up my trusty bible and landed in James 4.

“Humble yourselves before the HIM, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

Ahhhhhh. The reminder I need to continue to be humble and that I can’t do it all on my own. I do not know what will happen tomorrow but I do know that I can continue to work hard and, lord willing, I will accomplish great things. There are so many important things in life (hi family!) and this running thing is just a blessing.

Hope you are blessed today my friends! Hugs to you!

What are your plans this weekend?

Do you get Monday off like me?!

Anyone running Pasadena this weekend? If so I will see you there!