Week 9 of P90X – Big Gains & a Fast Run!

We’re just finishing up Week 1 of Phase 3 (that’s week 9 of 13 total) and I must say I’m feeling great. They say that you really see results during Phase 3 and we definitely agree! I reported in my post on Phase 2 results that I had only lost another .6 lbs but a day later I was down another 2 for a total weight loss of 11 lbs!

We did Chest and Back and Shoulders & Arms on Tuesday and Thursday respectively, for the first time since Week 3. It was incredible to see the gains we made!

Chest and Back Gains from Phase 1

Chest and Back was the workout that I saw the most progress. I actually felt that this workout was harder than Week 1 now because I could actually do all of the moves. During Week 3, I recorded 5 push-ups on my feet and 15 on my knees during the first exercise, which is Standard Push-Ups. During Week 9, I was able to do 22 push-ups on my feet!!  Other significant accomplishments include doing 8 Diamond Pushups on my feet before going to my knees as well as doing 12 Dive-Bomber Pushups (which I couldn’t do at all during Week 1). As for pull-ups, I’m still only able to do about ¾ of one. I’m hoping I may be able to do a chin-up tomorrow during Legs & Back since pull-ups are easier on the days that you don’t work your upper-body.

Shoulder & Arms Gains from Phase 1

I also noticed a big change during Shoulders and Arms. During Phase 1 I used mostly 8s, 10s and sometimes 12s for most exercises, but during Phase 3 I was able to curl mostly 12s and 15s and 10s and and 12s for shoulder and tricep exercises. The biggest change that I saw was that I was able to do 20 Side-Tri Rises as compared to 13 during Week 3!

Running Speed

This week was “recovery” week for my running group. Unfortunately it doesn’t coincide with P90X’s recovery week but I think it worked out well. Last week we recovered from weight training and this week we recovered from hard runs. I try to get in 3 runs a week – 2 mid-week runs of 5-6 miles and then the group long run on Saturday. However, this week I only got in a 6 mile run on Tuesday (we intended to run on Thursday but the San Diego State game was on and although we didn’t go there, we are loyal San Diegans and had to watch!).

Since I don’t like to feel like a slacker, Asia (my running buddy and fellow P90X grad) and I decided we would try to run the 8.5 mile long run today at a hard pace. We decided that we’d try to average a 8:59 pace, so that we could claim that we have run a long run in the 8s. We started off VERY fast, at about a 8:35 pace for the first three miles. WE took a GU at mile 3.5 since that was where the aid station was set up and then slowed down a bit. However, we came in at the end sprinting, and finished with an average pace of 8:51 minutes/mile!

 This is a huge accomplishment for me, since my goal for so long was to break 2 hours during my half marathon (a 9:10 pace). I finally achieved that goal in January (barely with a 9:05/pace) so running at ease (we talked nearly the whole way) at 8:51 for 8 ½ miles was very encouraging. Part of me starts setting my sights on PRing again in my next half marathon, but a big part of me has doubts since it is VERY hilly and considered the most difficult course in San Diego. We’ll see. I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself to PR since my real goal is to finish the marathon, not to PR at La Jolla. If anything, I can PR for the America’s Finest City half marathon which I just signed up for. This one takes place in August and is the third race in the San Diego
Triple Crown. This is also the same race that I tried to break 2 hours at last year and failed (2:01:59!) when I hit the hill at mile 12.

Just Keep Pushing Play

I can’t believe how far we’ve come in just 9 weeks. I feel SO much stronger, I run faster, I look better….it’s truly incredible! I have worked out consistently for the majority of my life and have never seen results like I’ve had with P90X. We are in the home stretch now with 4 weeks to go and I am excited to see how my body changes even more over those 4 weeks!  Until then, we’ll keep pushing play (and keep hitting the road for those runs)!