Thursday, December 13, 2012

Thursday's Three

1.  I managed to do something that threw my lower back out of wack and Tuesday at work my right sciatic was killing me by the end of the day.  I think it might have been a very steep hill I ran down Monday, but not sure.  So yesterday I ...gasp.. skipped my run and went to the chiropractor instead.  I had referred in my little sister also since she was feeling out of wack so I got a free visit. YAY!   The chiropractor laughed when  he looked at my back and said he didn't even need to write a new note my back was the same as my sisters and we had the same problems.  No doubt related to packing kids on one hip all the time and running.

My back is feeling much better but I took the day off yesterday and will take today as a rest day too.

2.  Race photos from the Run Turkey Run 5k on Thanksgiving. The first is much better than the second.

 Here I have the "I might heave" look
3.  Totally random, but it annoys me when I see jumping jacks listed on workouts.  They seem like a filler move to me.  Unless you take them low so they can really work out the legs better.  I never do a workout if I see jumping jacks listed.  I immediately discount the entire workout.  Maybe I am being a little hard on them, but if I seem jump lunges/ split lunges, I am on it!   Jumping jacks are more like a warm up move to me. They always seem to be listed on workouts on Pinterest!  Aaack!  I saw four this morning first thing.

What is your take on jumping jacks?  Am I missing something with them?

23 comments:

  1. Lol...yeah I guess I can see how jumping jacks can be a filler. Never looked at it that way!

    I have a feeling a chiropractor is in my near future for the same reason as you! Kids/baby carrier on the hip and then running with a weak core! OUCH!!

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  2. Squat jumps are so much better!!! They are intense!

    Hope your back doesn't give you any more problems. Maybe you need a kid on each hip to balance out!!

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  3. LOL, jumping jacks are definetley a warm up movement. :-)

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  4. Laughing at your jumping jack dislike! I agree, though, I think they are better left as a warm up move.

    Glad you got the back straightened out. How our kids do a number on us! ; )

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  5. Is jumping jacks like jumping rope? It's not a strengthener, but gets your heart rate going? No? Maybe? I have no idea.

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  6. I guess I see them as a way to keep your heart rate up between moves maybe? I hate jumping jacks though. Squat jacks are better:) Glad your back is feeling better:)

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  7. Once I gave up stretching before running, I started doing jumping jacks for a warm up, I think jumping rope is a much tougher way to go! : )

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  8. I look at jumping jacks as like Jumping rope...more cardio. heart rate accelerater

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  9. I think they're more of a warm up for people with advanced conditioning. People who don't run lots of miles, though, could probably get some cardiovascular benefit from some thrown into the mix, though.

    I hope your back feels better than normal soon!

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  10. I've always done jumping jacks as a warm up in martial arts, never as a workout. Unless it was a boot camp style workout that just wanted to keep your heart rate elevated. That's all they are good for!

    I hope your back heals quickly!

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  11. Glad the chiro can help! I've been going to one for the last couple of weeks and my ITB issues are now non-existent!

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  12. Definitely warm-up! Sounds like you and I need to get together and drink some coffee and commiserate over our messed up backs :)

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  13. I think jumping jacks are just a maintenance move, for when you don't want your heart rate to fall too much but you also don't want it to accelerate.

    Take care of your back!! You're being smart to take the time off.

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  14. I hope your back feels better soon!

    I'm not well versed with circuit workout type things but I generally don't like jumping jacks because they bug my ankle shin whatever. I'd rather do lunges or something like that.

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  15. Jumping jacks are just to get your heart rate up. They're not meant to make you stronger or anything like that, but if you're doing a lot of strength exercises, it is sometimes important to also keep your heart rate up. So yes, they're a filler... a filler that's keeping you moving. Definitely more effective in a warm up, but I totally see why they can be used throughout a circuit.

    Glad to hear your back is doing better!

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  16. agree with those above- jumping jacks is just for HR. We do those at bootcamp in between circuits just to keep HR up... its either that, running, burpees, or mountain climbers.

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  17. Funny to read your thoughts on jumping jacks! :)

    You made a good call going to the chiropractor instead of running. Body work is so important to keeping injury free.

    Thanks for sharing your race photos! I don't think the last race I did even took any. Thank goodness for my dad!

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  18. I agree with most of the comments about jumping jacks, I think... and you. They are a filler for when we need to keep the heart rate up while transitioning to a different movement. Hope your back is better.

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  19. i'm with you that they're fillers... side note... in school we had to do 'dragon jacks' (dragons were our mascot). jumping jacks while spelling out DRAGONS while doing them... so dumb.

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  20. That sucks about your back but at least you got the free visit? I always thought of jumping jacks as a way to keep your heart rate up in between the real moves. So yes, I guess they are filler.

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  21. Hope your back is feeling better after the trip to the chiro. I agree with Alyssa about jumping jacks. I think I did too many of them as a child in PE so they are not my favorite.

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  22. I'm with you on the jumping jacks!

    Hope your back is feeling better!

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