12/21 through 12/27 The First Week

Day 1 -begins at 5:30am - Ultra training starts with a P90X session of Chest, Shoulders and Triceps. This sounds like a fairly simple workout but it lasts for an hour and by the mid-way I'm wasted and if that's not enough at the end of the hour is a short 17 minute session of Ab Ripper. This is just 11 exercises of 25 reps designed to make you puke or get stronger. Whichever comes first.

Day 2- 5:30am - 8 miles with a tempo run of 4 x TMP (10 mile pace) @ 9:00 per mile. I ran this at our local high school, Casa Grande. The dirt track makes it easier on the legs as well as easier to keep an even pace. Dennis joins me for 6 of the 8. Dennis is still tired from running the CIM (California International Marathon). Usually at this time in the morning we see two people who make our day. One is an Asian man who is there like clockwork. He runs to the track, goes around 4 times and then leaves. I say hi to him on every passing but he just looks down. At first I'm bothered; but then I figure he is there to take care of business and not talk. The other is a lady who shows up with her dog. They're both perky! Oh yeah, no running fatigue.

Day 3 - 5:30am- A session of P90X, Backs and Biceps followed by my favorite, Ab Ripper. It's an hour and fifteen minutes of good hard work.

Day 4- 5:30am - Christmas Eve! 9 mile run from the east side through the west side of Petaluma. This is a hilly course that I ran at an easy pace of 1 hour 35 minutes. I had Elece riding her bike along side to keep me company but mostly just to make me push her bike up the hills. After the run I came home to complete the Yoga session of P90X. This is an hour and half of yoga. I can do a damn good downward dog. I had never tried yoga before this program and now I get it. They're just omms.

Day 5 - Christmas Day! I take a break from all workouts and enjoy the holiday with my family.

Day 6 - 7:00am - 1.5 hours, east side through the west side. The same hilly course as day 4. An easy run with hills. Then home to try and complete 2 sessions of P90X. First I do the Kenpo workout. This is a lot of fun. Next I try to complete the legs and back workout. I got through about half and stopped. Too much for one day. Legs still feel good. I need to find some trails.

Day 7 - 8:00am - 3 hour run. I do this at Shollenberger Park. If Baskin Robbins had a flavor for Shollenberger Park it would be called "Crappy Vanilla". This is a flat ugly park with no views. The only thing good about this run is I didn't have a P90X workout on top of it.

Week 1 Totals - 42 miles! Legs feel great, ready for week 2.