We’re over half way through Janathon (phew!)
This evening I’ve done another round of weights, as set out on the schedule.
When I did this workout last week, I’d increased the weights and it still felt reasonably good. Increased them again today, and it felt more like I was trying hard. I’ll do two more of these through January.
Today’s fun consisted of:
- Deadlift. I used the resistance bands rather than the dumbbells. It felt tricky to get the length right to feel like a deadlift, but I was using the 23lb band. Whatever that means (!) 2 x 15 lifts. Felt ok.
- Step ups. 2 x 15 steps on each leg. The only suitable step that I can find is one upstairs between the stairs and the bathroom. I used the dumbbells with all their weights on. This comes to 21lb per arm. I hadn’t totted it up beforehand, and the bathroom scales said 1 stone 8lb. I guess that the difference is the weight of the bar. Regardless, I hadn’t realised it’s three stone, it seems like a lot. It didn’t feel that heavy, but I guess I’m lugging around quite a bit of weight normally. Next week, I’ll try using something to increase the height of the step.
- Dumbbell one-arm shoulder press. 2×15 on each arm. I didn’t bother taking any weight off the dumbbells this week. This felt hard at the end of the second set of reps on each arm, but still possible.
- Close grip lat pulldowns. I basically do the same as in the video below. Except I don’t look quite as elegant when I’m doing it. Used a 23lb and 5lb resistance band to do this. I felt that, but I’d previously tried 18 and 21lb and they both felt ok.
- Reverse crunches. 2×20 of ’em. This is a tricky exercise when you’ve got a lovely round belly, but I give it a good go. The last couple of the second set were hard.
I’m really enjoying doing the lifting and resistance exercises. There’s something quite satisfying about them, in a completely different way to the running. I’ve noticed a definite improvement with my arms and upper body when running too. Especially later in a run when I’m trying to keep going.
Over the weekend I’m going to be in Solihull for some business related training – staying at the Holiday Inn. I’m going to take the resistance bands with me with the intention of doing some upper body exercises on the Saturday and will try and get a run in early on Sunday. I’m not sure how I’ll get a 7 miler in before breakfast and before a day’s work, but I’ll see what I can do.
Oh, and the muppet image is from an Etsy item, here.