Since I shared the first half of my craziness with you last week, I thought I would share how the remainder of the back-and-forth-to-Vermont went. Wednesday after work, which was supposed to be 5pm but turned out to be 6:45, I left for VT and arrived around 9:15. I got in, fed the cat and went to bed. I was up and at em early Thursday, but not to workout. I wanted to run or hike with the dog, who I couldn’t pick up from doggy daycare until 7am (I start working between 7:30 and 8 so before work was out of the question). So instead I slept in a bit and picked Rosco up at 7. Unfortunately, right after that I had to work.

(Despite having to work, how nice is the view from where I was sitting? This is right outside our living room window)
Finally at 4:30 pm I was able to get up from the computer and head outside. The weather was beautiful. Our workout started with a hike on the trails which quickly turned into a run. It only took us about 20 minutes to run some of our trails and I was nowhere near done with my card. Thus, enter my madness. Our driveway is 1/2 mile predominately uphill (and dirt). I hadn’t picked up the mail, which is at the bottom of the driveway, so decided I’d run down, grab the mail, and walk/run back up. (There is a short spurt of the driveway which is only moderately steep but more flat, so for that portion, we ran). Let me tell you, it takes about 12 minutes to go down and back, with going back up taking the majority of the time and by the time I reached the top, I was full on panting. After we got the mail I decided we needed another go at it.

(Part of the driveway, although picture taken from the car)
Rosco and I ran down and hiked back up the driveway twice more. The poor dog was so confused. Each time I turned to go back down, he looked at me like I was crazy. But he couldn’t not come with me. However, each time, he trailed further and further behind me. I think he figured why rush. But by the time I got to the bottom, he would sprint down to me in time for us to go right back up. Needless to say, after that workout, we were both pooped! After our cardio I got in a short stretch/yoga and we were done.
As you might recall, I got in two heavy lifts earlier in the week, so my plan was to get in a hybrid-lift done, while in VT. Enter Friday. I made plans to go on a short hike with my neighbor at 7 am and so I got up at 5:30 for my hybrid lift. For this lift I did a mix between the workout I wrote about here and Heather’s workout she wrote about here. I did two rounds of the workout I wrote, except that I did the two following cycles, separated by jumping-jacks and done stick-of-butter style:
- 5 Squat Jumps
- 5 Squat Thrusts
- 5 Burpees
- 5 Squats
And
- 5 Push-Ups
- 5 Wood-Chops (each side)
- 5 DB OH Press
- 5 Lat Pull Downs (we do have a lat pull down at home)
For the second round, I reversed the order of each set such that I did 4 sets of the lat pull down and only one of the push-up. (If you are confused, definitely check out the post I referenced above as it will all become clear).
After those two rounds, I did Heather’s workout, minus the abs. Thus I did 1 round of her workout, rested 120 seconds and did the second round. Needless to say, that kicked my butt! I then got in 20 minutes of stretching and was ready for my hike by 7 am.
Rosco and I then met my neighbor and went for a 40 minute hike, although it was nice and leisurely. However, while we take a leisurely hike, the dog runs up and down and through the woods and back to meet us and off again, so he got in his exercise. After all this I was home by 7:45 and showered and eating breakfast in front of the computer by 8.
Saturday rolled around and friends of mine came up for a hike on the Appalachian Trail. I had forgotten that the direction we were taking was a steady incline the entire way. Because of that incline, an hour into our hike, we were panting! Thankfully I carried a backpack with a bowl and water for Rosco (and it was nice and convenient for my water bottle too). When it was all said and done, we hiked for about two and a half hours. By the time we got back, both the dog and I were ready for a nap!
Sunday was my last day up in VT. I was planning on doing cardio on the elliptical and then taking the dog for a hike. But that would have been such a cop out as it was beautiful out and I had no excuse not to get outside. I have all my lifting planned for this week while in Boston, so Sunday would either be a plyo or sprinting day or only cardio/yoga. That is when it dawned on me, why not sprint up the steepest part of the driveway and get in sprint work, follow it with 2 runs up and down the driveway, then take the dog for a hike….and that is what we did. If you have ever heard Jodi talk about sprinting uphill and how good it is for your backside, you have probably already sprinted uphill and know how hard it is. After 9 sprints, twice up and down the driveway, Rosco and I got on the trails to finish up with a 20 minute hike. We then went inside and I did a quick yoga stretch for about 20 minutes.

(The end of my sprint – and I gotta say, this picture doesn’t do the steepness justice)
And there you have it. I am now back in Boston ready for a full normal week. But to be honest, I really miss having such an outdoor playground right next to me. 2 years ago I never would have been able to spend so much time away from the gym. But I’ve learned how to be creative and get in some amazing workouts anywhere. Oh, did I mention what running/jogging downhill does for your quads? And all the uphill hiking and sprinting makes for beautiful hamstrings and glutes. So the next vacation your take, or the next time you are way and can’t get to the gym; I hope you can be creative and enjoy yourself instead of stressing out that you are not getting in your planned/traditional workout!