Happy Friday! Each Friday in 2013 I have challenged myself (and my readers – YOU!) to attempt and take a photo of yourself doing a handstand. Challenge yourself and engage your core and upper body. At the end of the year we can all look back on our handstand journey and see how much stronger we all are!
Two things that I have been adding to my strength routine this week have been planks and pushups. I really would love to accomplish the following things that I believe handstands are helping me with: an unassisted pull up, a handstand push up, or a one arm/hand handstand! I believe that through strength training my upper body and core, I will be able to reach one of those goals!
For planks, I hold the plank position for as long as I can (which is usually a little over a minute)… rest… then repeat one more time. I learned that I need to do planks first … before pushups. Otherwise my core is just done and can barely hold itself up after my pushups!
For my push-ups, I started following the 100 Pushup challenge that I shared earlier this week. However, I decided that I am going to work on endurance and strength. I am doing 50 push-ups each day this week. I start out on my toes (man pushups). When I am fatigued, I do level 2 pushups. I will try to remember to take a video of my level 2 pushup when I get a chance. And if my upper body and core are so taxed from my pushups and planks, I resume girl pushups for the remainder of my set.
I still have a super long way to go to reach the goals I shared above. But I wanted to let you know my goals and what I am doing to hopefully reach those goals! For now, I am focused on continued healing, training for my next half marathon, and just enjoying the journey that I am on!
I would LOVE for YOU to join ME for handstand Friday! Are you just starting out on how to do a handstand!? Start small… challenge yourself! Be sure to come back here and leave me a comment below letting me know you played along!!
how did i forget about handstand friday? i’ve got to get in on this!
You still have time! You can totally do one and tag me on instagram (@RunningRachel) or twitter (again @RunningRachel) 🙂
WOW!! great handstand! I can’t do a freestanding one yet. I’ll be doing mine out in the snow later if I can convince hubby to take a picture.
BURR!! I think THAT is more dedicated than my afternoon park photo/handstand in 50 degrees. LOL
SUCH A FUN CHALLENGE!! I am in recovery mode so no handstands for me at the moment, but once I get the all clear for upper body training in a couple months I am gonna have to try this!
Yay! You rest up and take care of YOU! I look forward when you are given the “all clear” to play along with us! 🙂
DANG IT! I forgot again. LOL One of these weeks I am going to join you!
No worries. You can always join in and tag me on twitter or instagram (I am @RunningRachel ) #handstandfriday 🙂
I am going to have to remember this idea. I love it – but first I need to learn HOW to do a handstand. Eek! It looks like a lot of fun.
I really want to try the handstand Friday but I can just see myself falling over and breaking something, namely me!
On a different note, where did you get those boots?! I really like them. 🙂
haha! I totally understand.
I got these boots when I was a participant in an online bootcamp. The are Earth Footwear brand. 🙂