Daily Update – Aug 3/4/5

ByJarin Satterlee

Strength Workout is still the squats/glute bridges/side planks. The elbow, which was feeling good, is back to hurting. It is perhaps a combination of the heat, movement and perhaps the way I hold my right arm when I sleep that is causing the tendonitis. I don’t know for sure, but I am taking it easy.

I have done some re-evaluation of my fitness plan though and I feel adjustments are needed. Ultimately I have to workout my body in a way that does not overtax it. As someone fairly new to the strength training game (as opposed to running), I am still finding my way. Learning what exercises are more practical for me and what areas I need to focus on first. My goals don’t necessarily align with what is practical. I think I was setting goals a step or two ahead of ability.

To that end, I have decided to focus my attention on three areas. My chest/arm via pushups and my upper legs/hips/glutes via box step ups with knee raise and Bulgarian split squats. I do realize that both the leg workouts are a bit more advances and I may end up having to switch that to simple box step ups and single leg chair squats. We shall see. I am utilizing my fitness watch (Coros Pace 3) by creating a workout with those three exercises. Arms will be 3 sets of 15 reps and the legs will be 4 sets of 15 reps. Tomorrow’s post will have a screenshot of the completed exercise.

I have made this change for the following reasons:

  • Given the tendonitis in my elbow began after my first workout involving ground push ups, I am changing the push up exercise to incline push ups. These push ups will be done at about 30 degree angle against a counter top.
  • For the legs/glutes, my ultimate goal is to have an actual badonkadonk. I was being a bit overly eager to get to that goal and I think I was approaching that task potentially unsafely. I am going to scale this back and while it will take longer to get to my goal, I would rather get there slowly that not at all because of injury. The Bulgarian split squats will work that muscle group well.
  • I recognize that I do not have the best balance. My core is weak, as are my hips and upper legs so I am switching initial focus onto improving balance. The box step ups will surely do that. Yes, I have to hold onto something while doing these for now as I am unsteady and don’t want to fall.

So that is the situation. I am quite frustrated with my inability to get in consistent running sessions. Hopefully we will cool off soon or get back to having a morning marine layer that will give me an hour to do my runs. I am feeling better about the direction for strength training though and finally feel like I have a plan I can accomplish with the regularity required to see results. As I see those results I can re-evaluate adjustments that can be done.