p90x lean - day 3 - Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper

Ok so I don't look like this quite yet. Not sure I want to either!! Anyway, we did Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper yesterday. Or should I say, we did Shoulders & Arms and *attempted* Ab Ripper! Shoulders & Arms was not bad and I enjoyed it as I expected too. My favorite moves were actually in the "bonus" section. The Congdon Curls and the Side Tri-Rises were the best :) I liked the latter because they also worked my lats pretty well!

The hour went by pretty quickly! It really helps that the warm up is about 8 minutes and the cool down is 5 or so. Then... onto ab-ripper.. this was NOT so fun! It's about 15 minutes long, but only got through 5 minutes of it. I felt like I couldn't do any more of it, but lo and behold my abs are not sore this morning, so I'd better push it harder next time!

I was talking to someone at the office about p90x this morning, and it's crazy how excited I am about it! It's great doing a different workout every day.

We have yoga tonight. It's the one people complain about the most... it's an hour and a half long which is looong plus I felt like the 15 mins or so we had of it during cardio was a killer! Just gotta push through.

3 days down, 87 to go!

p90x - day #2 and weekend

Friday, I called Andy again on my way home so he could get our workout ready. We did day #2 of the lean program - Cardio X. I was pleasantly surprised by my ability to do the whole thing! Each time I thought I was hitting a blocking point, they moved on to a new section. The yoga part was really hard - it always surprises me how much it is hard on my arms just keeping them up and extended for so long. Also doing the warrior poses I was finding the outer part of my ankles were hurting, so I probably need to do some ankle strengthening exercises. Sometimes when doing tight turns in agility I also notice my ankles feel a little weak. Any good suggestions?

The Kenpo section of the cardio workout was great! I felt like a limp noodle during the kicks (note to self - if attacked, a side kick will NOT be an effective mode of self defense, for now at least!) and I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but boy was the sweat streaming! The plyo section was also not as tough as I'd anticipated.

We had all intentions of continuing our workouts throughout the weekend. We were vending @ Flashpoint's CPE trial. However it ran pretty slowly and we weren't done until 6pm on Saturday and maybe 530 or so on Sunday... and it was pretty warm out there. We both felt drained and not at all like working out. I'm nearly certain if we had we would have psyched ourselves out for this program... Sunday especially was fairly miserable outside all day - high humidity meant near constant sweating. Not so pleasant. And realistically we are going to be gone almost every weekend, and probably not working out at the Red Roof Inn. So I think our "90 days" will take longer, but that's ok.

Today is day 3 - an hour of shoulders and arms, and 15 mins of ab ripper. Ab ripper scares me, but I can do it! I'm looking forward to shoulders and arms. Looks like lots of tricep exercises which I badly need, and usually enjoy :) I'll post tomorrow and let you know how it went!

p90x - day 1 - core synergistics

Well, Tuesday night Andy and I were woken by the storms and Dexter stressing kept us up. So we turned on the TV - and it was 3am or so, so of course infomercials were on. Well we watched the P90X one again. It convinced me to give it a real try. It's a hard workout so I have let myself get discouraged before and never even really complete one :) BUT there was one guy on there who was pretty overweight/out of shape to start with and he just emphasized it doesn't matter if you can't do all the moves at first, just keep moving and trying. So it inspired me to go for it!

We did day one yesterday. On Saturday, I did something to make the muscles over my left hip really sore. I think it was carrying the AF w/Dave that did it because I was hitched over to the side and stretching out those muscles to do it. Anyway it was feeling better until I was waiting on the elevator yesterday, and just STANDING there somehow I tweaked it again. Not a good way to start the first workout! Oh well. We're doing the "lean" version of the program which is more of the cardio and a little less of the muscle building than the traditional. So the first day of this program is core synergistics. I was scared by the name! I figured it would be a lot of ab stuff which would hurt my lower back. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong! Lots of push-ups/plank stuff though. Definitely couldn't keep up all the time and next workout I need to do a better job of doing SOMETHING if I can't do what they do for as many reps - instead of laying there on my stomach panting on the floor. That's not super productive :) I will say after the workout I felt like it was good but I wasn't going to be super sore. Then I went off to agility and ran the girls & the dude - continuing to keep moving probably kept off some of the soreness for a while. This morning though, I can definitely feel it in my chest, abs, hamstrings, biceps & triceps, and back! So I guess I did get a good workout.

Today is cardio x. I'm not awesome at doing long bouts of cardio, but I guess that's why I'm doing this, to improve! It's only 43 minutes, so I can do it. Last night's was 57 minutes. I have to say, doing the bootcamp - even though I didn't complete it - I think really helped me. I don't think I'm necessarily still in any sort of better shape, but mentally I know I can do a hard full hour work out. In the past I would have seen 57 minutes and given up around 20. For whatever reason, I'm really excited about this. We took pictures and measurements yesterday. I took a starting weight this morning (actually a few pounds less than I expected). But yesterday I was being kind of bummed out and depressed at work. And then I talked to Andy and we decided to do day 1 yesterday, and I got pumped and it really elevated my mood for the rest of the day! And now this morning I don't feel tired and discouraged by the work day like I usually do. I feel energized and ready to work out again tonight!

As someone on a p90x blog that I read yesterday said "1 day down, 89 days left. I can do anything for 89 days."

addendum to previous post

I forgot poor dude-man! He ran only in steeplechase. He actually did great! I got in his way for a FC because of our lack of start line stay, and he came behind me for another FC but went in the tunnel anyway... He didn't do his weaves, but other than that he was awesome :) He had fun and isn't scared of stuff anymore. He had decent speed. AND he did all of this after sitting in the pen for like 11 hours without getting out for more than just potty walks. I didn't think I was goign to get anything out of him considering each time I came over to the pen he was passed OUT. So yay for dude man, and can't wait until he gets over the weave stress (but he got over the contact stress so I know he can do it!)

BRAG all tournament trial wrap-up

Trial Report time! (enjoy, Kathy!)

I got everything packed and I showered on Saturday night so I could devour every minute of sleep possible Sunday morning, figuring I would need it! I got up at 5:30 and was out of the house by 5:55. Stopped by mom's house to drop Fancy off for my dad to watch during the day, and we were off to the show! We got there a little before 6:30 and started unloading the day-of type stuff, got the score table set up quickly, and began check in and measuring. We started with the first run at 7:35 I think, scheduled to start at 7:30 so that's really not too bad!

Started out with Team Gamblers. I wasn't thrilled with the course - didn't give a lot of great options that had safe contact approaches. Panic did well, tied for 3rd. I was pleased with her during this run. Then... Spry's debut! She held her start-line stay very beautifully and let me lead out. Unfortunately there was quite a distance between what I was taking as obstacle #2 and #3, which was good for distractions! Actually I am pretty sure she passed up jump #2 anyway. She noticed Mike Lifer taking photos (clear on the other side of the ring, I might add!) and ran off to visit. Then she visited Drew. I was able to get her back and she was a little crazy, but then I got her a little settle and did an AF. Unfortunately as she approached I slipped and fell! She ignored that and went on over and I got up and she did a lovely "feet" (much to the surprise of everyone watching I do believe!). We clearly didn't have enough time to do the whole gamble but we did 3 obstacles in a nice fairly controlled manner. This was her best run of the day :)

Team Jumpers - Panic ran great but I directed her into the wrong end of a tunnel unfortunately! Spry visited ring crew again but I got her back and we did the weave poles, very nicely if I do say so myself! We then did a few more jumps but the people were just too tempting, so we left.

Grand Prix - oh grand prix... I did a FC coming our of a tunnel to some WPs and she ran by the entrance. I don't know if I blocked her view or if she thought I was going to keep rotating to the teeter or what, but when I ran Sniper for Jayne he did the same thing so obviously I did something wrong here!! And she missed her DW. Phooey, we really need one more of these...

Team Snooker - I had such an awesome plan. And then on the start line I waffled - should I wrap the 1st jump of the 1st color to the left or right? I decided to go left, Panic decided to go straight. To another color. TWEET! Sweet - one point snooker :) Spry - I came up with a nice baby dog plan (that worked quite well for mom and Fada!). Spry saw a group of 4 people sitting on the ground about 30' from the ring. ZOOM. "Thanks Elaine, we're done!" Whoa - ZERO point snooker! They were very good and neutral though so no rewards for Spry for visiting.

Team Standard - Panic ran very nicely here (helps that there was no DW!) and did run around a slightly offset double at the end because I just ran and gave a slight hand signal but no verbal. Bad mommy! Other than that it was good, but I can tell she is getting tired and slowing down. Spry - It started jump-tire. Tire was the one obstacle I wasn't sure she'd do because she's had very little practice on it. She did jump-tire very nice but when I cued a 90 degree turn after to the teeter she just kept on going, and going, and going out of the ring... *sigh*

Steeplechase Rd1 - Panic did pretty well! Again she was pokey, but I was happy with this run. She seeded 3rd for finals. I came up with a short path of jumps to get Spry in and out of the ring successfully... well she went out of the ring alright, just like all of the other runs.

Team Relay - one of the ONLY team relays I've done where Panic and I haven't done totally goofy things! All team members ran nice and clean (Sniper & Furley) and we got 2nd in this class, and our team ended up Qing despite my attempts to sabotage with a jumpers E and a 1 point snooker :)

Steeplechase Rd 2 - Panic did pretty nicely and I tried to push her but she was really beat by this point (as was I!). I did leave her in the poles to execute a FC in front of the next jump, which is something I don't usually do in trials because it usually doesn't work and she pulls out. But she stayed in! Great to know, and something I will start throwing in more because there have been many situations I wish I had this skill but didn't yet. She ended up 3rd here too, just behind 2nd place but about 3 seconds behind 1st place.

Overall - Panic had a good day, MY brain was frazzled all day long and I was having a hard time focusing. So all of our mistakes are squarely on me. I was happy with Spry's first run, and not even that bummed about the 2nd. She got worse as the day wore on though. Luckily no one pet her when she ran out of the ring. She used to not be able to work at the building with anyone else there and we got over that, so we'll get over this too... I will add more distractions at class though, such as people sitting on the ground, and eventually hopefully very close to where she is working. I will try to get her outside to a few places as well just don't have a lot of opportunities for that other than our backyard. I'm not upset/disappointed with her at all. She is a baby baby dog and I know has the obstacle skills down. I am THRILLED that even with all her excitement she held every single start line stay, had a beautiful contact on the one contact we got one, performed her weaves, and also a tire!

It was my first time as secretary. Pre-trial it wasn't bad at all, although I barely got any sleep Sat because I kept going over checklists in my brain. At the trial it wasn't bad either since I've worked so closely with my mom for so many trials. The only bad thing was being the punching bag for the one upset exhibitor! But I think I handled it ok, and it really didn't stress me out too much since there was nothing we could do anyway. After steeple rd 2 we ended up with over 560 runs, and I honestly don't know what time we were done, around 7pm? That's a long day, but considering how long some 330 run AKC trials can last when they only have 3 courses to set, I think it's not too shabby at all. I never felt like we were lacking for workers, and I didn't personally hear any grumbling from exhibitors. I think our new rubber contacts went over well, and I know I was glad to have them for some of the contact approaches we had. I hope we have this trial again next year if nationals are again close. Maybe 2 judge/2 ring with splitting up people into groups like a regional??? We'll see, hard to think about that now when every single muscle in my body is still aching :)

It's almost here!

Spry's debut is on Sunday :) :) :) :) I am very very excited. The tough part will be walking the same course for Panic & Spry. I told Andy to remind me when I go in the ring with Panic to run fast & really push it, and with Spry that she is a BABY DOG! I anticipate tunnel suckage, some visiting the judge, and probably a few knocked bars. I am hoping to maintain her great stays & contacts. Handling-wise I hope I give her fair approaches to everything and give her reason to trust me.

I am interested to see how she does outdoors in the heat - she tires quickly but will have at least an hr between runs. She has a cool coat, I will be using the power boost, and i bought one of those Ryobi fans to run on the xpen as well.

can't wait :)

working w/spry, upcoming brag trial

Working through more of DJS with Sprybelle at home. She is doing very well - sometimes she still extends more than I'd like, but no reward and the next rep is very nice. What this tells me is she does understand and I just have to be very consistent in not rewarding extension when I'm asking for collection.

Worked her at the building last night. I set up a course. I was very happy with her performance, she hit a decently hard WP approach (ps - 1st time on 24" poles and as expected, she looooved them), is taking jumps at flatter angles now, and is also starting to gain confidence and go ahead of me more when I'm giving her forward cues instead of pacing herself to me and head checking me a lot. Yay for progress! Now what I think our biggest problem is goign to be at the BRAG trial is off-courses. of course, this would be because she is running team which is going to be way over her head... But I'm trying to figure out how best to handle off-course possibilities. I am doing my best to handle her like a baby dog and give lots of forward cues, so for example if I have a 180 where I need to change sides and an off course obstacle near the top of that arc, it's going to be hard for her to stay on course. We had this situation last night - I needed to cross at some point during/after the 180 but there was a pesky table calling her name between the two jumps. I chose a FC on the flat between the two jumps instead of staying behind the plane of the jumps and FC on the landing side because obviously she's not ready for that kind of lateral motion etc at this point. But giving her sufficent forward cues for the jump meant she went on to the table.

I think I may just have to accept a few off courses in order to remain good and consistent with my handling. Should be OK bc our team is really not expecting to Q!

Speaking of the trial... so far 87 dogs and 422 runs. Expecting at LEAST 13 more dogs that are entered in at least team, so at LEAST 65 more runs. That is putting us dangerously close to 500 runs... with one judge... and one day! I am excited to have so many people there but a little worried about how long the day is going to be.

We are setting up 2 rings and alternating between them, as well as timing walkthroughs so that should help. Also hopefully people pitch in to help which will move things along faster. There are some great dogs entered, and I'm excited to see the runs!

Flashpoint Agility

Had a USDAA trial in Marengo this past weekend. Dexter was entered in Starters Gamblers & Standard on Sat and Standard only on Sunday. Panic was entered in Relay, Gamblers, & GP on Sat and Standard, Jumpers & Snooker on Sunday. We also got an opportunity to join a DAM team, so Panic ended up running the team classes as well.

I was very plesed with the weekend in general. Panic was running fast & confidently, and I tried my best to apply what we learned at the APHS camp in June. Panic did pretty well in team, q'ing in all 4 classes for LAA, and her team actually won! So that was a lot of fun. Given & Sniper made a very fun team also.

In addition to the DAM team stuff, Panic got snooker & jumpers Qs, and another Gamblers Q!! I was thrilled to see that now that I'm not so nervous about our gambles, I was able to handle/act like a normal person out there :) Hopefully we are able to reach our next levels in gamblers without too much of a problem!

Panic's getting close to several "Silver" titles - she has 23 jumpers legs, 22 snooker, and needs 1 DAM & 2 GPs to get Tournament Silver :) I am so pleased with this little lady and all she gives me. We are behind on standard, relay (bc I rarely enter!) and Gambles... we have 9 standard, and 6 relay & gambles. So I think I need to start working on those!

Andy said that Panic is just exhausted still today after this weekend. She even looked out the window to see the trash guys and opted not to bark at them, but instead to lay back down! I guess she was passed out pretty much all morning.

My private for tonight got cancelled, so I'll be working on some courses & probably some jump work with Spry-belle. She is hyped up after not getting to do anything all weekend when she *knew* they others were going to a show! Can't wait for her debut in 3 weekends...

Targeting & Jump work - also, Spry is a freak, and Panic is limping

Got to work on both with Dex this weekend. He is enjoying the target so far. I'm not really going to ask him to have this gorgeous stop at the bottom, I just want his nose targeting the ground, he can keep on moving if he wants to. Did several sessions inside just getting the nose touch then moved it to the end of my DW board and got to practice that way. Did pretty well!

Also got to work on some jump stuff with him. He was so enthusiastic, I was thrilled! Especially because it was hot out! I got to work on some nice tight turns which we learned we need to work on after last Thurs class! I never have really gotten to work on them bc I've always been working on motivation and him not shutting down!

Spry, on the other hand, has turned into a big weirdo. Our neighbors have started putting their Sheltie out on a tie out (which is better than what they used to do which was stand at teh door w/a leash and let her potty and let her back in... Fancy would be *so* pissed!). Well the other morning, Spry saw the sheltie's silhouette behind our privacy fence and flipped out! She got scared and won't go by that fence now, and wouldn't for a day and a half even come in our living room bc our side door opens to that side of the fence. I thought she'd get over it quickly but she's not... I couldn't even work jumps last night bc she wouldn't turn her back on that side of the fence. Going to start feeding dinner out there... this is so weird and just not like her!!

Oh and Sun AM Panic got caught in a cord and came up limping. She didn't cry or anything and she tends to be a little dramatic so I wasn't that concerned... then she was fine. But yesterday she limped a little too. I think it's her shoulder. She seems ok 97% of the time and then randomly limps from time to time. I think she's probably fine but keeping her calm this week to be safe... flashpoint USDAA this weekend and I'd hate to have to pull!

Dexter

I have a few things I'm going to work on with him this summer.

1) weave poles - he used to have great poles but they are crumbling under the stress he feels at trials. So, to make him a happy puppy we are going to work using 2x2 and basically start over, using TONS of happy reinforcement, short sessions, etc.

2) contacts - he totally BLEW his contacts at BRAG! I am thrilled he's not afraid of them anymore, but geeze little tiny dog - don't jump off so high!! So I'm going to teach him 2o2o. I tried a little bit of 2rto with him and he was so not into that and I think honestly with him being so small he was not getting the concept somehow. I couldn't get him to stand with his front feet off and back feet on the edge. So I'm going to use a dish. Which I can start training indoors in the AC - for those days when he is like "heck no mom, it's hot out there!"

Also, I just got from Clean Run a cool coat for him, and Power Boost for all the dogs to recover faster at trials.