Hi Everyone,
Time to start planning for August.  Since most of the country (not where I live, but I pay big bucks for where I live ), and in respect to my visit this month Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon, I thought "Hot and Steamy" would be a great title for the challenge this month.

This month is especially special as I will finally get one of my NSVs I've been planning since I lost weight, to be able to go horseback riding again.  We're going riding in Bryce Canyon.  So looking forward to it.

So lots of hiking and exploring this month.  Plus getting ready for the next half in October.  And TRX training twice a month.  

Here's the usual challenge since I haven't figured out anything better.  You know best what will work for you.

Here's your choices (You can pledge more than one):

1.  Pledge to do a certain distance week in miles or K (5K = 3.1 miles, Half = 13.1 miles, Full Marathon = 26.2 miles)

2.  Pledge to exercise so many days per week.  This is totally up to you, where you are in your journey, your schedule, ... but I would try for a minimum of three at least.

3. Pledge to some type of exercise, swimming, biking, zumba, weight training, ...  so many times per week.

We start on Sunday, August 5, end on Saturday, September 1, and I'll ask for checkins every Sunday.  Let me know what you want to pledge.

Jan

 

Woot!! I love the name... very motivational lol

I am going to stick with a marathon distance each week of swim / bike / walk/run and at least 5 days a week of exercise. I will be 40 in August AND it is my 1yr post op!

I am just starting my exercise portion of this journey - my first time joining your journey! I am pledging for an average of 3 times per week. My goal is to hit the 12 times at the gym that I need for my insurance company to give me some moola back!

Amy

 If I pledge 5 days a week I'll fail some weeks, so I'm pledging 5 days per week for two weeks and 4 days for two weeks. Total: 18 sessions in August.

At the end of August I hope to walk 1 1/2 mile in an hour. That depends on the weather and whether I can drag myself out the door before it gets hot, but it is possible.

Ok, I've never done a challenge, but I need to get a game plan going for exercise. I will exercise a minimum of 5times a week by walking (we have huge hills here) and strength training. Eep!!

 Hill work is great for the legs and butt!  I try to do the hills once a week.  Welcome aboard.

This will be my first pledge. I want to do the 5k at least once per week. I pleadge to do 30 min on elliptical (2x15) 5 days each week and do weights to tone arms everyday.

 Congrats on your first pledge.  Make sure you are pledging something doable.  Are you already working out?  If not, you may want to try for 4 days/week to start off.  I'd hate to see you get discouraged if you find it too hard.

I just wanted to point out that doing weights every day is not good for your body/arms.  You need to give your muscles a days rest to recover.  I would strive for 3 days a week for weights with a day in between each workout, or alternate arms one day, legs the next.

 I'm not going to commit to actual miles this month as they should be fairly high anyway giving I only have 6 more weeks of training before I really have to begin my taper for Augusta.  and I have a Race on the 18th.  

I'm not feeling totally confident in my training for Augusta as the past month has made it vary difficult to focus and commit to my plan.

I figure I have a lot to show my daughter and although currently she may be to young to understand what I am doing it is my job to show her that she is able to do anything in life if she works for it.

 Simply...awesome! 

I sometimes think it 90% mental, 10% training, and after reading your recommitment post, I think you're right up there in the mental.  And you've been training a long time.  This isn't something you can train for in one month, you've been preparing for what, half a year now.  Trust in your training.  You can do this.  And I know, as you are competing, you'll be thinking about your kids and what you are showing them is possible and how proud they all will be of you.

I'm aiming for exercise five times a week. six for bonus points!

I'm terrible at these challenges, not always in the fulfilling my promise, but with the checking in part.

I want aquafit at least once a week, yoga at least once a week and biking at least twice a week.

Horseback riding sound like so much fun!! My goal this month will be at least 40 minutes of walking on the treadmill at least 6 days a week. Thanks for helping me keep motivated!! 

Love seeing everyone's goals! I'm aiming very high for August and have lots of personal goals that I'm working on. My exercise goal for this challenge will be:

-Run 4 days per week
-Do some type of other activity 3 days per week

It's aiming high to exercise every day but it's something I really need to do, especially as I'm a weakling and need to build muscle. My other problem is that I love running but hate everything else and so I always run at least 4 days and then do nothing the other days, so I'm a flabby weak mess.

Uh...

...
...

I'll get back to you.

 Not letting you off the hook that easily.  Even if you only pledge to park at the end of the parking lot each day to walk farther into work.  hehe

I'm going to pledge TIME instead of distance, as I don't have a way to measure distance. I'm going to pledge these TIME goals: 
On Wednesdays, I'll be on my feet 50 minute for each 60 minute class. 570 minutes for the month - 9 1/2 hours. (One Wednesday I'll be testing for 30 minutes)
On Other work days, I'll be on my feet for 75 minutes for each 90 minute class  3030 minutes [minus 120 minutes of testing] 50 1/2 hours. So I guess this means 60 hours of on-my-feet.
AND I plan to make minimum 2 brisk walks to the teacher lounge and back again per day. This is NOT a huge distance. Might only amount to a 1/2 mile a week, but I've been known to go weeks without going to the Teacher's lounge (I send kids on errands.... it's time to get up off my duff, and do it myself)
AND I'll try to keep track of the "Seat time" .... so I can report back.

It might not be quite the same as other's plans, but for me this is what I've got.

Oh and my latest class sizes are 37, 38, and 40

 I used to complain when classes reached 29...I had 500 kids per week. One year the principal split the classes, which gave me small groups, but twice as much teaching time.

I'm so impressed that you're still into it and not a total burnout.  (you)
   (me)

 Great plan.  My biggest emphasis in the challenge is to choose something that is doable for you.  Only you know what you can and cannot do and how you can best track it.  Sounds like you have the perfect plan.

Next month, I'm going to make you take 3 brisk walks to the teacher's lounge per day.  

I cheated. I chose "easy" because I often don't sit at ALL for 3 hours if I have two back-to-back classes. I sit in the 5 minute break to answer a half dozen emails (I type super fast, which is how I do long posts all the time). But I found since I lost all that extra me (and it's still 165 more than what I weigh now, so that's still impressive, yes?) I looooove standing. But I'm going to try to have some more moving the butt around the class.... beest as possible based on the class sizes. If the class sizes get much bigger though, they'll make another section, and I'd likely teach it, making my activity increase to 133% of what it would be otherwise. The money is good, the exhaustion bad.

I was already thinking I might include further goals as I get into the school year (and as it gets cooler) .... for example, I might make a plan that when I get to school I might go up the stairs at the entrance around the upper balcony (it's an H shape) then back down the same set of stairs, then go around the bottom in the reverse order before going to my classroom which is fairly close to the front of the school. Basically I'd be passing the doors of all the classrooms in our 1600 student campus. I'm trying to think of creative ways to use a bit more calories without ever calling it exercise.