I did something today that I swore I wouldn't do when I started the insanity workout. I skipped a workout. Yikes!

Instead, I did something that I really love - played ultimate frisbee! The switch to indoor for the winter season meant we played speedpoint, which is a heck of a lot more running with a whole lot less recovery time. We had only one sub, everyone was exhausted from Halloween Parties from the night before. But it was one heck of a game! We played with guts, but more importantly, we played with intelligence.

I was nervous before we started for a few reasons. First, my legs were killing me from the previous 3 days of insanity. Secondly, I didn't play in the fall league, so it had been a few months since I played. And I find that not playing for just one week leads to me playing like garbage!

The funny (and great) thing was I felt like I could run a little bit harder for a little bit longer than I used to be able to. That gives me a lot of confidence going forward with this insane workout plan will produce results.  And seeing as Sundays are supposed to be my Cardio Recovery day, I think I might continue to use this substitution!

The next test will be to see how my running time changes, if at all.  I'm training for Around the Bay in March. I'm running one of three 10k legs of the race.


Do you often substitute planned workouts to suit your schedule?

Do you play team sports? If so, which is your favourite?

Today's workout felt no better than the last two days. My inner thighs were killing me while walking to pick up some things this morning, so I was worried what the workout might do to them!  I powered through the Cardio Power & Resistance, which was more plyo, more squats, and more push-ups.  At the very least at the end of this, I should be able to do more than 10 push-ups in a row! I am still feeling very self conscious about them, so I may only post them at the end when I'm all ripped and stuff...

Sweaty, exhausted and red...

I did laundry this morning, so though I am wearing the same outfit as in day 1, it was clean when I put it on.

I am now going to make my mom's famous (at least with my group of friends) Toffee Butter Crunch. We call it Lewiskor, because it tastes like a Skor bar, but better and it doesn't stick in your teeth quite as much.  I'm going to try and dye the almond meal orange to make it a bit festive.  I'll post about the results later this week.

Yesterday, despite what I thought was an excellent flight suit and glasses, I got a few questions about what my costume was, so I went to the army surplus store and got some patches to sew on, and some wings to pin on. Hopefully that'll clear up any questions for tonight!

Today I did the Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit workout. It was 45 minutes of hell.  The warm-up was exhausting, let alone the actual work out.

The first set of moves consisted of 3 sets of 30 seconds of mini suicide lines (I hate this name, but that's the only term I've ever heard of them), squats, vertical mountain climbers, and side to side jumps. Then, just for fun scissor jumps and football sprints.

Then a 30 second rest.

The second set of moves consisted of 3 sets of 30 seconds of basketball free throws (without the balls), extreme burpees (4 pushups, horizontal mountain climber stand up), and these ridiculous jumping out and in moves from a push-up position. Then, just for fun, 30 seconds each of jabs, jumping jacks, uppercuts, then more jabs with open hands in a squat position.

Then a 30 second rest.

Followed by a cool down.

I did it all, though not with the intensity that the folks on the video were doing it.  Hopefully by the end of 60 days I'll be able to keep up.

Now it's time to Flight Suit Up!


I am re-using a costume I wore at the Shooter Girls Uniforms Pub Crawl. Hopefully I can pull off the entrance as well as Barney Stinson does!

A little while ago my friend Andrew let me borrow his "Insanity" DVDs. Things were too busy back then to commit to 2 months of it, especially with all of the ultimate tournaments and trips.  Now, things are much quieter, so I'm doing it!

I took my before pictures and measurements, and did the fit test. I nearly died, but I did it. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to walk tomorrow, but that's for me to deal with tomorrow.


I've set up a tracking calendar and bi monthly fit test updates in the hopes that I'll stick to it.

After my small experiment with pearsauce, I decided it was time to try to make some applesauce to go with it, since it was a bit to strong of a flavour for my liking. My day started with a trip to Canadian Tire to get some jars to put the applesauce, and whatever else I decide to make for myself, into.

I opted for the 4 pack of 500mL wide mouth jars for two reasons. First, I didn't want to buy 12, and 4 was the smallest number that they had.  Secondly, I figure wide mouth jars would be more versatile, if I wanted to put in, say meat or cheese when I go shopping, rather than in a plastic bag.

This recipe is very simple, and requires no special tools, but the applesauce is a bit chunky!

I bought six MacIntoshes (they're my favourite) to practice with, which filled just over 3 jars.

Peel, cut and core the apples. If you're lucky like me and have a food processor on hand, slicing the apples will make the process go that much faster.

Hurray for food Processors!

Next, throw the apples into a large saucepan with about 2 cups of water, the juice from one lemon, a few lemon rind slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  You could also throw a cinnamon stick in there too, if you've got one. Bring to a boil, and simmer for between 5 to 10 minutes, or until the apples are soft.

Take a potato masher, and go crazy on the apples until the sauce has reached the consistency you're looking for.


Put the applesauce into sanitized jars, and store in the fridge or freezer.


I marked the type of sauce on the jar with a china maker. It's come in handy for labeling food containers, as you'll see.

Simple, delicious, easy and cheap!


What is your favourite kind of apple?

I decided when I started to get to Zero Waste that I would take things as slowly as possible, and replace items with re-useable/bulk options as I run out. Seeing as I knew I was going to run out of the cotton make-up removal pads I use to put toner on my face after washing it, I thought those would be another quick and easy sewing project!

I got some waffle looking cotton that looked absorbent, and it turned out to be very absorbent! I also used some of the leftover white cotton from my tie up shades project!

As with the handkerchiefs, I was pretty lax about getting the fabric square.  I cut each of the fabrics in into 3 inch squares and sewed them together, leaving a small opening in one side so you can turn them right side out.


Clip the corners, then turn them right side out.



Press, making sure that the unsewn part is completely turned under.  Sew around the outside. I used fun pink and teal!


I use each only once to put toner on my face, then wash them in a mesh laundry bag. I figure they'll last longer that way.

My cousin Ali and I arrived at about 10:50 at the place where we were supposed to meet the shuttle bus, but there were no buses, no volunteers and no signs to tell us what had happened to the buses. Thankfully, the closest police officer knew that the shuttle buses had been moved further north to York and Adelaide.  We ran up, since the last bus was supposed to leave at 11, and made it on time!

The bus took us to the start, where we went to the bathroom and made our way to the front of our yellow corral. For some reason there were walkers and folks with wagons in front of us - I figured they'd all be in the back.

The Start

Ali, right before she took off!

Awful self shot.  Sorry about the finger!

I had a great 15 minutes when my patellofemoral decided to kick it hard core.  It felt like a knife stabbing inside my knee cap with every step I took with my left leg.  I walked from Strachan Avenue to Bay Stret, with a few bits of running in the middle, just to see if my knee magically healed itself. It didn't.


I decided pretty early on in this mess that I would run up bay street. And I did! I put on Eminem, and I ran!  When I got to the '500m to go' sign, I thought I saw a three on the timer. At this point I figured I'd be over 40 minutes, so I was shocked and happy to see that I could still run under 40 minutes!  My knee was really sore, but I just kept running!

The crazy crowd at the end

How I was feeling about my knee

And I finished with a personal best of 37:28!



Next race - Ali has me convinced to do 1/3 of "Around the Bay".  Thankfully I've run 10k before with Team Wipeout, so I know I can do it. But can my knee?



If you run, what are your personal bests?