Of things to come...

Man, this blog has been a snoozefest!

Around Christmas I decided to commit to something pretty huge.

Two years ago, when I assisted at a kettlebell workshop, a woman sent out an email to all of the female instructors asking if someone wanted to share a hotel with her because funds were tight, what with her having to pay to fly out from Idaho.

When no one responded, I offered up my couch to her.

Kettlebell types can be....a little fanatic? So I didn't know exactly what I was signing up for. But it was only for a couple days, so why not?

Abby came and we had a freaking BLAST together. She was awesome and I had a great time showing her around the bay area (her first time being in CA!). We've kept in touch ever since.

Since then, she has started doing bikini competitions. NOT something I'm interested in myself, but it was so interesting reading about this huge change for her.

She also went from starting/owning a gym with her hubs to moving back across the country and personal training for a big gym

ANYWAY.

A couple weeks ago, she posted on Facebook that she was so excited to have her first online client. She provides workouts and meal plans, all via email and occasional phone chats, and mentioned contacting her if anyone else was interested.

I was.

I've been less than motivated.

And this came at the height of See's candy and cookies and crap holiday overload.

I asked her about the details and decided to commit to working with her for 6 months. Starting in Feb.

Sorry, but my bff is moving out to Chicago then and I just can't give up my last month of eating all the things with her.

And the food part terrifies me. I'm really terrible at controlling myself around food. And 6 months is a REALLY LONG TIME. 

SO.

Workouts lately have been regular (which is good) and geared towards hopefully preparing myself to not fully die when Abby finally gets her virtual hands on me.

Oh and I heard about a "run 365 miles in 365 days in 2012" challenge that I've taken up. For now. I don't know if running is really part of her program, but I can do an average of a mile a day for now!

I'll keep writing updates about everything regularly (well...that's the plan, anyway) when I start Abby's program in a few weeks.

Get ready for food rage posts!

Omg this.

A brush with bikram.

Over a year ago I bought a Groupon for 30 days of Bikram (hot) yoga. It ended in Nov of last year and I didn't activate it before it's expiration date. Oops. Cut my losses and moved on.

About two weeks ago, I got a reminder from Groupon that this one was going to expire soon, on Nov 30, 2011. I was off by an entire YEAR. Oops.

Today was my first class.

I was a little freaked out, like I am with pretty much any new experience. I changed my clothes 5 times before leaving the house and was still less than confident in my cotton t-shirt and cotton knee length shorts. I was torn between being more comfortable in less clothing and having sweat pouring down my limbs and face. 

I pulled up super early to make sure I would get in for the 6:30 class. You can kind of see inside the studio from the outside, and the first thing I noticed was the dripping sweat all over the windows. GROSS. That just looks smelly. 

I went into the lobby and it was about 90 degrees in there. Ick. I signed in and took a seat and waited until the sweaty mess of a previous class finally came out. While waiting, I noticed the pictures of Mr. Bikram himself all over the place. Including one signed 8x10 of him with his hair slicked back and giant stunner shade sunglasses. Who does this guy think he is? JTT? Seems decidedly un-yoga like to me.

I went in and snagged a wall spot and waited some more. I immediately noticed that it was 1) OMG HOT, and 2) mildew smelly. How the hell do they air that place out?! Sick.

Class finally started.

The instructor was what appeared to be Russian. I could understand approximately 10% of what was coming out of her mouth, so I was forced to be the creepy new girl staring at everyone around me trying to figure out what to do.

About 2 mins into the class, we leaned forward over our legs, and I caught a glimpse of my shins. SOAKING wet. Uh EW. It was so hot in there that the sweat and my skin were about the same temperature, so I hadn't even really felt it.

About 10 mins later, my shirt and shorts were completely drenched. Even having experienced it, I STILL don't know what to wear. I feel like the clothes kept at least some of sweat from running all over the place, but crap almighty it was heavy and hot.

About 4 times I actually thought there was a chance I was going to pass out and considered leaving the room for a break. And then RUNNING FAR FAR AWAY. But I didn't. Although I would have beaten the bendy Princess Jasmine chick in front of me with my now empty water bottle to get just ONE breath of cool air. I swear I was chewing air, rather than just breathing. Ugh.

Towards the end of the 90 min class, I made the mistake of glancing in the mirror. Hair frizzed out to Saturn, beat red face and eyes (???), and...omg....what is that? Why is part of my white shirt pink? Oh, I sweat the color off of my NOT new sports bra? Oh that's cool.

WTF.

So gross.

The class was finally over and I bee-lined for the lobby. Bringing sweats, a long sleeve t-shirt, and Uggs to change into?

I MAKE HORRIBLE DECISIONS.

I stripped my shirt and shorts off and lunged for the door. There I am, in booty shorts, a sports bra, and uggs gulping the 50 degree air like I had just been drowning in heat for last the 90 mins. Because I had just been drowning in heat for the last 90 mins.

I put a towel down in my car, still soaking the seat belt with sweat (GROSSSSSS) and was freezing my ass off 5 mins later because, you know, I was wearing almost nothing and it was somewhat cold out and I was STILL sweaty and had to drive with the windows down because my car INSTANTLY steamed up the second I sat in it.

I can't tell if it's a "I don't like it because it's crowded and gross and I suck at it and how can it possibly be good for you to sweat THAT much" or a "I don't like it because I suck at it, so I need to put my head down, charge ahead, and keep doing it to get better at it" kind of SUCK.

29 more days left on this effing Groupon.

I will get my money's worth, damn it, even if it kills me or ruins ALL of my workout clothes.

Born to Run

This is the Clif Notes version of the book I'm reading, Born To Run. I may or may not be totally and completely obsessed with it right now. The book is SO interesting.  I think my brother told me about it a long time ago, and I saw it for super cheap at a bookstore and decided to pick it up. As a rookie runner, it's fascinating.

10/16/11

With the half marathon done, I'm excited to get back in the gym and work on some strength....WHILE continuing to run. I don't want that to completely fall off this time like it did after my last half.

Back to my buddy, LG Crossfit!

Today's workout:

Workout:
Hang Squat Snatch
Find 1 RM. Then back off 15-20 pounds and do 3 doubles.
(I got to 65 lbs. Definitely not a true max but, as I've said before, I'm not comfortable failing at my gym, so it's hard to go too heavy. HeaviEST I've done in a while, though, so there's that!)


Then:
7 Rounds
5 KB Clean and Push Press (L/R)
7 KB Snatch (L/R)
10 KB Swings

(I did this with a 12kg in 14:20. I haven't done ANY real kbs in a while, so this felt pretty good)


I finished my workout with a 3 mile run. In converse. If barefoot (or close to) is truly the best thing for you, shouldn't no support Converse also be good? Thought I'd give it a try. It actually felt pretty good. It's amazing how much more you can feel about where you're placing pressure on  your feet when you don't have a bunch of cushion under them. Not sure I"ll run in them every time, but I liked it.

Inspired

I'm feeling very inspired.

I'm reading Born To Run. It's amazing and has sucked me in and makes me want to embrace a running lifestyle.

I'm inspired by my old college buddy, Doug. We used to work out all the time together in college and almost get kicked out of the gym all time (he was the only one there nutty enough to STAND on a physio-ball and do squats). We've kept in touch here and there through the years. I occasionally am reminded of his story and, while sad, is very moving and motivating. ONE day I'll be inspired enough by him to actually try out what he is the poster child for, TRX. One day.

Every time I consider getting back into regular kettlebelling, which is currently, I'm inspired by an old client, Heather (and faithful reader of this neglected blog! Hi, Heather!). I've trained a LOT of people and athletes. Few kicked more ass or worked as hard as she did. We haven't worked together in quite some time, but I still think about her badassness.

I need to draw on these inspirations and use them, rather than just think about them. It's time to really get my ass into gear.

The end :)

Now I'm off to my first post-race run.

Run run!

I ran my first half marathon two years ago. At the start, I could already tell it was one of my "on" days. I felt great and light and moved pretty well. At mile 10, I totally psyched myself out, because I had never run more than 10 miles before. IN MY LIFE. Those last 3 miles were torture and whoever said you get an adrenalin rush at the last mile could suck it because every step was heavy and hard. After that race, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. And insanity. I could barely walk for 3 days, thought I broke or fractured my foot and I never wanted to do it again and didn't run for 2 years when I...decided to do it again? Is this like the decision to have a second baby? The memory isn't nearly as bad as the event actually was?

I started training 3 months ago.  It started off a little rough, but got better. Then I fell on my face. No big deal.

3 weeks before the run, Nicole decided to do it with me. 2 days before the race her boyfriend, Rob, decided to do it, too. I thought they were slightly insane for signing up so close to it, but they're both super athletic and I sure as hell wasn't going to be the one to plant a seed of doubt. That's the worst.

We showed up bright and early yesterday morning with my #1 cheerleader, LeGreg. After checking in a bag and getting ready and stretching and meeting up with another friend and doing all the things, it was go time.

I had said from the get go that I wasn't planning on staying with anyone during the run. Not because I was sure I'd be a speed demon, or something, but because the race was SO hard for me last time that I knew adding an unpredictable element, like worrying about someone else's pace, would be detrimental. It's had enough focusing on your own pace when you're surrounded by thousands of people. I stuck with our other friend for 3 miles before she told me she was going to walk for a while. Then I was allllll alone.

This race was SO much better than the last time. I considered walking for juuuuust a block or so about 83x last time, although I never actually did. I didn't have that at all this time. I hit the 10 mile marker and got pumped that I only had 3 miles left. 3 miles sounds a lot shorter than 35 mins, so I opted to not think of the time. The last 3 miles felt like they flew by, especially the last one. So different than 2 years ago. SO much more...enjoyable! During and after the run, I felt confident that I could make this an annual event. I mean....we'll see, but at least it's a thought this time!

I crossed the finish line to find LeGreg, his parents, my mom and her friend, and my brother/sis in law/nephew waiting. The support was awesome!

Nic and Rob finished shortly after I did, both running more than twice as far as they'd ever run before. EVER. BEFORE. That is so legit. They kicked ass.

After all was said and done, we hobbled back to my parents house for a no pool pool party and lounged around, eating mac n cheese and drinking beer for the rest of the afternoon.

I was passed out by 9pm last night. Felt pretty damn good!