Quick Update- Plank Challenge and Gift Card Winner to be Announced...

Hi everyone! I had hoped to squeeze in a post this morning to announce the winner of the $50 gift card to Gear. However, a 7 mile run and a 5 minute plank is all I had time for this AM (bit of a blizzard out there this morning!)

Morning run in the blizzard!

However, Dustin videotaped me drawing the winner's name last night to ensure all fairness, and I plan to post that video tonight....so yes, a winner has been determined! But stay tuned for the video announcement.

Also- FINAL day of the plank challenge. Five minutes! Holy cow...I am so impressed with all of you who have kept up on the challenge. It was a tough one, but I hope you feel stronger now than you did 30 days ago.  Congratulations!

I think I'll try to keep doing at least 3 minutes of planking daily from here on out, as I don't want to lose all the strength that I have gained!

I will also announce next month's challenge later this week.

Have a great day!

A Wintry Half Marathon and a Bachelorette Party!

Hey, 30 day plank challenge participants: today is a rest day, and tomorrow we do four minutes!

I actually missed planking yesterday, so I needed to make it up today. I was able to do my 3.5 minutes with no break to the knees. I did rotate a few times to a side plank, but I kept working the whole 3.5 minutes. It was a challenge, but I think I am stronger than I was on 1/1/14.

How do you feel? Stronger? We are almost to five minutes!

You can also still enter into the drawing for the $50 gift card to Gear Running store. Just comment and answer four questions on THIS POST. I'm leaving the giveaway open for one week, so you have until next Wednesday to enter. The winner will be announced Thursday, January 30th on the blog!

Yesterday was a crazy fun but full day for my friend Jen's bachelorette party. We started out with a freezing cold half marathon, the Securian Winter Run in St. Paul.

We tried to stick together in a group, and do the run for fun, but around mile 10, I actually wiped out on the icy roads! I got a little nervous at that point, and the rest of the girls got ahead of me, but we all finished under two hours. I was happy with that time for a "fun run" in such tough conditions! I will post a full race review later this week.

Then, after a quick shower at the St. Paul YMCA (free for runners post-race), we headed to Phresh for manicures and pedicures. We had a lovely private room for all twelve or so ladies to get pampered, while sipping on champagne and enjoying some tasty snacks.

Eventually, we made our way to the historic Saint Paul Hotel to get dolled up before the bachelorette opened her gifts, while we enjoyed more snacks and more champagne!

We had dinner reservations at 8 pm at Pazzaluna, which was right across the street from the Saint Paul Hotel  I had never eaten there before, but I think most everyone enjoyed their meals. It was in the perfect location too, as by that time of night it was really snowing (which, I should mention was very pretty by Rice Park, with all the decorations for the Winter Carnival. St. Paul can be quite charming!).

After dinner, we went back to the hotel lobby bar for a bit, before taking the hotel's van out to a few drinking establishments in the lowertown neighborhood of St. Paul:

(said hotel van)

We found our way to Barrio St. Paul for some dancing, as well as the Bulldog before cabbing it back to the hotel for the night.

It was a very busy day, but we all had such a great time celebrating the bride-to-be, with what she described as "the perfect day"- running, mani/pedis, dinner, and lots of girl time!

Only Minnesota girls run half marathons in sub-zero temps for a bachelorette party, right? 

We say brrring it on!

Fit Challenge: 30 Day Plank Challenge

I'm checking in to see how your planks are going! Can you believe we made it to three minutes? Five minutes isn't that far away.

The first time I did three minutes, I had to take a break for a few before getting back into it, but yesterday I did the three minutes straight through! That was TOUGH, but I really do think my core is getting stronger. I never would have thought that I would make it to 3 minutes! How about you? How is it going?

Today, we're up to 3 1/2 minutes. Remember, you can modify and go to your knees for a few seconds if you need to, I don't want you to compromise your form.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

Fit Challenge: 30 Day Plank Challenge

By Jess in Minneapolis

Did you get your plank in today? 90 seconds was pretty tough for me.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a rest day, but if you hopped onto the challenge a little late, feel free to do 60 seconds again today, and 90 tomorrow.

For those of you who are right on schedule, go for the 90 seconds today, and rest tomorrow. You can do it!

Dustin and I did our 90 seconds this morning after a cross country "skate" ski lesson (Unfortunately the skate ski lesson was a huge failed fit for me- more about that in another post). During my 90 seconds, I kept asking Dustin "How much longer? How much longer?" I'm scared about the jump to 120 seconds on Day 16, but hopefully with 2 days at 90, it won't feel so bad.

Let me know if you complete the challenge today.

Good luck!

Fit Challenge: 30 Day Plank Challenge

By Jess in Minneapolis

I'm participating in Athleta's 30 Day Plank Challenge. I can't believe I forgot to tell you! 

But don't worry, its not too late for you to jump on board. I really want you to do it with me!

We're only on day 10, so we can call it a 20 Day Plank Challenge! Let's do it together. In fact, I'll even post a before and after picture of my "core" to see if there is any difference...I'm doubtful there will be a visible difference in 20 days, but I guarantee that ours cores will be stronger by the end of this challenge. Let's do it!

Also, going forward every month in 2014, I'm going to do a 30 day challenge (next month will be a sit-up challenge) to keep us all motivated and strong this year.

Now as you can see below, we’re already on 1 full minute, but I know you can do it! You can do anything for 60 seconds. 

Don’t worry if you miss a day. You can make it up the following day with two planks that day.

Okay, here I am doing my 60 second plank...in my work clothes. And yes, Tilda follows me around every where I go. I love that dog.

Let me know that you are in by joining in by stating "IN" in the comments here. We'll keep each other accountable.

There are even rest days built in. Let's strengthen our cores!  

60 seconds again tomorrow, let's do it!