do you tabata? + virtual race

This morning I knocked out two challenges...after a whole week of not working out it felt SO good to be active even though I must have blew my nose 16 times while running! This sinus infection still has a hold on me.
First up...the race.

I bundled up a bit, but it really wasn't overly that cold out this morning.
I decided on an out and back and headed out. turnaround I'm not a fast runner at all...at my fastest during this run I was around an 8:30 pace. at my finish line! I love virtual races because they push you to get out there and do it! (Even maybe when you shouldn't due to illness, but it's all good!) And it is nice to feel some accomplishment since I usually run around 10 miles on Sundays because it is my long run day.

I came home and headed to the basement to knock out the new to you cross train challenge.
The plan? 12 new cross training experiences in 2012. One a month. I put on exercise tv and browsed through. I have to say...I've done a lot of different types of exercise so this is a hard challenge, but I was intrigued by one workout...tabata intensity. Do you tabata? I have to admit I have done bits of this in bootcamp, but never a full tabata workout. What you do is go all out for 20 seconds and then you rest for 10 seconds. And then you do it over and over again. The video that I did started with a quick warm up and then started...some of the moves were squat jumps, jumping jacks, burpees, mountain climbers, etc. I was a huffing and puffing in my basement. I think this is a great workout if you feel like you need an extra cardio boost. And now for a very unflattering photo.
Squat jump.
I'm excited to continue this through 2012.