Week 11.......it's been a week since I accepted the challenge

So here I am a week into the Men's Health Readers vs. Writers Challenge and how am I feeling......it can be summed up as I ache and I'm tired. Don't get me wrong, it's a good ache (if there is such a thing) and it means that my body is toning up (no pain no gain). As for being tired, it's just a matter of getting used to working out 5 days a week and also fitting in 2 runs a week.

Men's Health Challenge....so what's my workout schedule, here it is:
Monday - Chest & Triceps Workout
Tuesday - Leg Workout
Wednesday - Abs Workout
Thursday - Back & Biceps Work Out
Friday - Shoulder Workout
Saturday - Rest Day (yippeeee)
Sunday - Cardiovascular Workout (in other words it's my long run day)

So my week started out on Tuesday and oh my god did I feel it, my muscles got so hot I thought they were going to burst into flames. I missed the Abs workout on Wednesday (managed to fit it in on Saturday) but thought I'd go out for a short run to stretch my legs. A lap of Olney at a gentle pace, well it was hard work getting my legs to move in a half decent running fashion, last week I was the gazelle but on this day I was a hippopotomus (only a hippo is probably more graceful). What have I done I thought to myself, I've got a race in April and I've forgotten how to run. On the positive side, atleast I had been made aware of how my body would feel after the workouts, they're really very good at the Olney Gym with regards to advice and encouragement. I thought the leg workout was going to be the hardest but today was the chest workout and that may have just taken first place. Yesterday my arms ached (it's amazing how you take for granted the amount you do via the simple action of bending your arms) and today it's my back.....I have been reliably informed that it will become more bearable with time (roll on the results, I hope it all proves to be worthwhile). From exercise to nutrition, there's a lot of eating to be done as part of this program (not a bad thing as I have quite a liking for food) but it must be the right foods. Lots of protein to aid muscle repair which I supplement by taking a protein shake, one before working out and one after, then off to bed following a protein shake night cap. I expect to put on weight but this should be muscle...... providing I keep working out.

So the running.......as you could see from my busy gym schedule I have been left with Sunday and any other day I can find to fit in my running. I went out on Sunday with the intention of doing a 5.5 mile run but only managed 4 miles. I managed to rekindle the gazelle in me but my legs were like lead and I felt so tired I thought it best not to push it. It did make me wonder if I would be ready for the Flitwick 10k but I've decided not to worry as this whole program of exercise and nutrition is new and I will see how I perform after another week.

So it's mostly about the challenge and to be quite honest that's how it's probably going to be for the next 6 (I mean 5) weeks....I've already seen off one week.