Try a New Thingy: Episode 2

It's another week and another new cross training experience. Yesterday I took a class at my Y called BodyPump.  I didn't know much about the class other than that it was strength training with barbells, and suitable for all levels of fitness. I had noticed it was on the schedule a number of times per week, and I had previously walked by the class on my way to the indoor track. I was interested to add more rigorous and organized strength work to my running training. I already do some light strength training, but not quite enough minutes or times per week for my current running goals. And I hate lunges so much, a group class was the only way I'd be doing those!

I was a little nervous about what weights to pick. I eyed what items other class members had grabbed and walked over to the weight rack. I couldn't tell what weights would be right for me, so I watched the woman next to me pick hers. She looked pretty strong so I rounded my picks down from hers. Good thing, she turned out to be the instructor!

The class was challenging, but not overwhelming for a first-timer. Today, my quads are a little sore and my upper body is really sore. There are tiny muscles in my armpits that I didn't know I had!

I really liked the musicality of the class; the movements were timed to switch with changes in the music. I got the feeling that the playlists are kind of standard for these classes, which makes me wonder if it will be the same music next time I go? 

Another positive is getting an intense workout without getting intensely sweaty. It's a great lunch break exercise option since I can go back to work without a full shower.

The only negative was that the focus seemed more skewed towards upper body. I'm happy to strengthen everything, but legs had a much shorter set than everything else. It could be this instructor, this day, or just my perception, though. I'm definitely interested in giving it another try. Maybe making it a regular workout once or twice a week. Looking forward to getting even stronger! 

Throwback Thursday: Way Back

I was an athlete from a very early age...

Although I think this was the only time I played racquetball!

Throwback Thursday: Dumbo Double Dare 2013 - 10k Day

Since I'm writing this more than a year after the race, I don't have much to write in the recap. But I can say I would love to do these races again. :) I love running through the Florida parks, but Disneyland has some kind of extra special magic for me. 

In the slow lane through Radiator Springs

I love the Red Car Trolley!

These guys had the longest line - at least 10 minutes.

I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!

I really was running late. Despite doing a good speed of run/walk intervals, my character photo stops put me over the official pace of a 16 minute per mile average. This was my first Disney 10k, so I hadn't really thought in advance about how it's difficult to make up the waiting-in-line time over just 6 miles, as compared to the Disney half marathons I've done. Luckily I was never close to being swept, so finishing 3 minutes below pace wasn't an issue.

After finishing, I joined my family for breakfast at Storytellers Cafe. We enjoyed spending most of the day in California Adventure. Princess A spent a lot of time at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Later in the afternoon we visited Disneyland. Dinner was at Steakhouse 55 - delicious! It was a fun filled and exhausting day - Princess A even fell asleep before dessert!

Try a New Thingy: Episode 1

During Goofy marathon and a half training, nearly every day of the week was filled with a specific workout: short run, cross train (bike or elliptical), tempo run, walk, long run, strength train, rest day. Near the end of training I was starting to long for a day when I could try something different. I joined the Y at the end of November, which contributed to my feelings of workout wanderlust. The long list of group classes, the pool, and ooh, a rowing machine! On lap 34 of the indoor track, anything looked good. I sometimes circled around envious of the lunchtime yoga or spin class. 

It's not that I couldn't do other workouts during marathon training, it was more about how I prioritized my time and not wanting to jeopardize training with something brand new. Today, I had the chance to try something new. 

It's called the Lateral X, and it's an elliptical style workout with more of a side-to-side motion. It was easy to get started and definitely worked my quads, but I had assumed it would give more of a glute workout. The pictures on the machine indicate a few different motions one can do, so maybe I need to do a little research online to see how to optimize it's use for my training. 

Looking forward to my next new cross training day!

The Twenty Miler Poem

From December 21, 2014

Zero to One

Catching snowflakes on my tongue. 

One to Two

Ate my first Gu. 

Two to Three

Gah, that pain behind my knee. 

Three to Four

Snowplow! (and I lost my ability to rhyme...)

Four to Five

Nothing special, just keep moving

Five to Six

Lemonade Honey Stinger chews (these are pretty tasty!)

Six to Seven

"Trail not maintained" = soaked feet

Seven to Eight to Nine

Am I seeing things? Yoda made of leaves and a wombat went by

Nine to Ten

Gu and on the main street again

Ten to Eleven

Ooh! Hidden park and disc golf course

Eleven to Twelve to Thirteen

I've really got to pee!

Thirteen to Fourteen

Running by Princess A's school

Fourteen-point-five

Bathroom at the Y

Fifteen to Sixteen

Shortest day of the year for real 

Sixteen to Seventeen

Eat some Swedish fish 

Seventeen to Eighteen

iPod and me recite Alfie the Christmas Tree

Eighteen to Nineteen

Second wind! Finish strong!

Nineteen to Twenty

Joy to the World!

#TBT Throwback Thursday: Grateful for the Trail - 20 miles

Throwback Thursday - December 23, 2012

• The farthest distance I would go before the marathon
• The ultimate "enjoy the journey" test
• Just me and the trail for 5 hours

J and I both had to cover 20 miles while we were visiting my parents for the holidays. They live on top of a small mountain in New Jersey - winding roads, steep hills, no sidewalks - not great even for a short run, much less double digit mileage. So we had done some searching for a suitable running location in advance. We decided on the Columbia Trail. It was perfect. It was mostly packed dirt with a little gravel thrown in for good measure. Despite the trail being an out-and-back, there was plenty to see, and I have the pictures to prove it! Horses, cows, rusty cars, a Christmas tree farm (!), an ambulance (!!), a fairy house, etc.
[PHOTOS TO BE ADDED]

The day before, I slammed my toe into a door jamb - hard enough that I actual fell down from the initial pain. I thought about postponing my run, but decided I needed to get it done.

Once I got out on the trail, I was feeling particularly zen; there was nowhere else I was supposed to be. My goal was a 15-minute mile, with the hope of a 13 or 14-minute-mile in the marathon. This training run was slow and steady, lots of walking, maybe 2-3 short running intervals per mile. After 10 miles, I was exactly on pace and feeling good. The weather was a perfect New Jersey December day: Partly to Mostly Sunny, 40 degrees, not too windy. Somewhere around 17 miles my knee decided it was done. Even just walking was painful. I stretched for a minute, altered my stride a few different ways, slowed down, sped up, but really just grit my teeth and got through it. It was getting dark and colder as my watch ticked past 5 o'clock. Just a few tenths to go...and done! Twenty miles COMPLETE!

It was challenging, it hurt, but I knew I could complete the full distance.


Two words sum up how I felt about this run: Grateful. Accomplished.

Wordless Wednesday - New Fuel Edition