Dirt in your skirt blog

Day 9… Welcome Elsa & Bessie

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Margaret Schlachter

World meet Elsa, my new kettlebell! Elsa is Russian Red, however I didn’t have to go all the way to Russia to get her. Luckily, all I had to do was head down to my local sporting goods store and picked up all 25lbs of her. Elsa popped her cherry in today’s lifting session. As I write this I think I am still on a high from today’s workout sessions. It was great after the active rest day yesterday to get back to the trail running and lifting program. Stellar day on the trail, just muddy enough to make it interesting! Stayed close to home and went up onto Killington, VT for a quick 2 miles. After a full day meeting I was eager to get on the trail. I got a little zealous and ended up doing 2.4 miles through the ski trails and hiking trails on Snowshed, K1 Base Area, and Ram’s Head. As I was running I was trying to think of what the course is going to be like for the Spartan Beast in August here. I felt light on my feet and had a good run overall. I’ll try to get the map up later tonight.

Trail Run – Killington, VT
Elsa on top of Bessie
(Not my backhoe in the background)

Distance: 2.4 Miles

Time: 32:28
Average: 13’29″/mi

After the run headed right to the gym for a lift while still warm. I modified a workout I had been sent as a WOD from Spartan Race. They have some great workouts! In this workout two different exercises are paired together and you are going for correct form, maximum speed, and minimal rest.

Lifting Session
Warm Up – 2.4 Mile Trail Run

DB 20lb 1 Arm Snatch 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
Box Jump 2, 4, 6, 8 10

55lb Hang Clean 4 x 6
Pronated Reverse Pull-ups 8, 6, 5, 5

Kettlebell Swings (Elsa – 25lb) 3 x 15
Speed Squats 3 x 15

Last But Not Least – Tractor Tire Flips 3 x 8 flips

Feeling better good after the workout. Yes, I do have a tractor tire in my possession, as my sister would say who lives in NYC and works in the theater, “Of course you do you live in VT!” She thinks we are all cows and farms in the state and we all own tractors. I upped the weight on 1 Arm Snatch and I am feeling good. Each day I remind myself of the goals, Spartan Beast and ultimately World’s Toughest Mudder. For a taste today this is what I did to qualify for the World’s Toughest Mudder check out the video below.