Weekly training update: swimming, cross training, and Palmer Park trails

This month is going by way too fast! My training from last week wasn't that interesting to put on paper, but I think it will be effective.

On Tuesday, I went to the gym and did a full body workout like I did the week before, with lots of compound exercises. Then I went to the pool for some laps. I love swimming as a cross training exercise. It's easier on the legs than running, but it can be great cardio. I did 30 minutes and incorporated a variety of strokes.

On Wednesday, I did a short evening loop at Palmer Park. I looped the top of Yucca Flats (the northern mesa). The weather was really chilly and windy. I wore shorts and a windbreaker, but by the end of my 5.5 miles I was wishing I'd worn gloves and a hat too.

After this storm, when the clouds finally cleared on Saturday, there was a fresh layer of snow atop Pikes Peak.

I decided to stay in town on Sunday and run local trails in Palmer Park again. I probably should have headed to the mountains anyway though, because this time Palmer Park was HOT.

I looped Templeton Trail first. The same scenes that were covered by thick clouds on Wednesday were now open for viewing!

I was so hot by the time I reached the far north side of the park, that I decided to go to the gym for a while to escape the beating sun.

24 Hour Fitness is just on the other side of Austin Bluffs. I did some overhead presses, close-grip bicep curls, pullups, and straight-leg raises. Man, those leg raises were exactly what I needed for my abs. I also did 15 minutes on the brand new row machines that they must have just gotten in the last week.

Then I ran home by crossing through the park again, over to the Grandview trail and down that way.

I netted only 8 miles of trail running, but the mid-workout gym training sure made me feel like I'd put in an effort worthy of a Sunday. As Sunday is my primary "long" training day, I don't like to let myself off the hook with an easy workout or short run.

Finally, today I got my week started off right by going back to the gym for a few supplemental exercises that I didn't do yesterday, like the inclined bench press and side lateral raises, as well as some declined side-to-side ab crunches. I capped it off with another 30 minute swim.

I'm trying to increase my overall cardiovascular exercise throughout the week, so I hope to continue the trend!