Workout Wednesday: Zombie Chase!

Look at these regular posts you guys! It's amazing what not having a full time job can do for your blogging life. Being a teacher is pretty cool sometimes.

Workout Wednesday is back in full force and you know why? The Zombie Chase. On Saturday, me, my sister-in-law Haley and some of our friends will be running the Zombie Chase 5K through the ghost town/obstacle course in Eureka. The run goes through buildings, zombie traps, rope courses and a paintball shooting finale - all under the light of a luminous full moon. (If you want to run with us - slowly - there's still space! Sign up for the 10 pm wave and email me so we can meet up!)

That's pretty much the only thing that can entice me to run. At all. Like any sane person, I hate running. I'm so bad at it. I play sports, it's true. But when I get on a treadmill I seriously can't even run a mile. So I'm counting on my adrenaline and my competitive nature to get me through this.

To prepare, I finally downloaded Zombies! Run on my iPhone. In a word (2 words): WORTH IT. It is so much fun. Never in my life have I TRIED to find time to run. Each day I download a mission, in my role as Runner 5. It might be a routine run for supplies or to save a lost child - the story plays between the songs of my selected playlist. As you run you collect supplies and you build up your base after your run. Sometimes during a song you'll hear "ZOMBIES DETECTED 50 METERS" and it beeps until you evade them.

 

So picture this. Danica. Laboriously jogging at an embarrassing pace on a treadmill at a busy Gold's Gym. All of a sudden she lets out a short low "OH!" and turns up the speed to an all out sprint. "Come onnnnnnn Come onnnnnnnnn" she spurts between pants. Finally a "Yessssssss!" and she's down to a walk, red-faced and hyperventilating. 

Because that's what I accidentally did the first time I tried it. I was so into it I completely lost awareness that I was in a gym, surrounded by bros and old ladies.

SORRY EVERYONE. JUST TRYING TO SAVE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE WORLD OVER HERE ON TREADMILL 8. DON'T MIND ME. 

Since then I've been running outside. I've taken Glen Coco with me twice, and it's over.

Time #1 - Joy

 

Little kids, puppies and birds to chase? THIS IS THE LIFE

Time #2 - Heat Stroke/Defiance

We cut this run short, obviously because SOMEONE decided to just let the Zombies eat us. If you noticed how show my pace was on the iPhone screen above it's because after coaxing him into a sprint to evade a zombie horde, in 90 degree heat, when he desperately needs a haircut, I allowed him a much needed walk and then he gave up. Sorry, Abel Township. That child is not getting rescued.

Workout Wednesday - Back from the Dead

Last summer I was super ambitious and started a Workout Wednesday series to fill my empty time - the pros of being a teacher during the summer.

Obviously it fizzled. But we're back. (I was still working out you guys. Promise.)

I've always been athletic and active. But it isn't until the last few weeks that I've found the best gym workout method for me. Just in time for Spring Break suckas!

My dear friend Shannon posted about her workout routine and we started emailing about workout philosophies. We both agree on the following

• Cardio is pretty much of the devil
• Spending more than 45 minutes in the gym makes us want to set ourselves on fire
• Lifting weights is fun
• Lifting weights makes us feel good
• Our metabolism and bodies are responding when we focus on weight training

So here's what I've been doing for approximately 3-4 weeks and I'm sold. Seriously. I feel great, I acutally LIKE going to the gym and my body is showing results. 

I go to the gym 3-5 times a week - depending on the week. I pack all my gym stuff and psych myself up for an awesome workout during the day at school. After school I drive to the West Jordan gym, not far from my school, and grind out a workout that I'm looking forward to. If it's the weekend or I'm already home, I go to the Draper Gold's. 

The point is that I get excited for a workout and I tell myself that I'm going to push hard for only 30-45 minutes and feel awesome after. Also the fact that I don't have to kill myself on the dreadmill for 30 minutes before a 30 minute weight workout is a huge factor in my happiness.

I suggest a pair of sick Nike Frees to motivate your workouts. 

I do little to no cardio. Sure, that's an essential part of a workout you may say. But I can either force myself to do crappy cardio and hate every second of it, getting into a terrible mood and doing a bad job at my weight training afterward - OR I can do a quick cardio stint to warm up and save my energy for weight training.

During my workouts I push myself hard. I lift heavy, take short breaks between sets and move quickly from exercise to exercise. That way I get a sort of cardio workout without having to run! Yahtzee. 

I motivate myself with new music and having a purpose - right now is our Spring Break trip to Vegas and St. George. I have 2 new swimsuits and boy do I want to use them. That makes it so much easier to get to the gym, push hard, do that final set.

I have 4 workouts - Lower, Upper, Core (abs, back, butt), and the rare Cardio. I make sure I do the first 3 workouts every single week. If I get in a 4th workout I make that day my cardio - I run for longer, read a book on the bike or treadmill and some interval training. 

The hardest thing for me to do is take the time to stretch every day. I'm notoriously inflexible and trying to fix it. 

I've started drinking protein shakes post-workout and I love it. I got a shakey-bottle and I mix vanilla whey protein powder with soy milk, blend it into smoothies or stir it into greek yogurt with fruit.

**Do any of you guys do protein powder? I want some more ideas of protein shakes and good powders that you guys use. 

On my sore or off days, I mix in some yoga at home - either YouTube or my own sequences. 

I'm already noticing more muscle definition, less jiggle, and a faster metabolism. 

Combine this with some self-tanner and a fresh manicure - I think I'll be able to show my face in a swimsuit next week in Vegas for Spring Break.