After the tough (yet rewarding!) training season last summer/fall, I was definitely ready to take a hiatus from running. The biggest mistake I made between my first and second marathons was the lack of rest. I did not take a break after running the Disney World marathon in January of 2009. It made sense- I had an amazing experience training for and running the Disney Marathon. I didn't want the season to end, so naturally, I kept it going in the only way I knew how- I signed up for countless races and kept running with my running buddies. I ran the Manhattan Half marathon 2 weeks after running Disney, which may seem crazy to most, but why not take advantage of the amazing running shape I was in? Besides, I wanted to get my "special prize" that you get from running all five of the Grand Prix borough half marathons in one year. (OK the special prize is just a patch- but it's the honor that counts!)
Needless to say, I unnecessarily over trained for no reason whatsoever. I had no big events coming up, and there was no reason for me to continue to do long training runs (except to keep my friend Lauren, who was training for a May marathon, company. I had to keep up with the gossip!).
Throughout my second marathon season, my race paces for every distance steadily got slower and slower. Running became emotionally and physically draining, and the only thing I wanted to was be injured so I could just quit. In a way, I was injured- mentally injured. Running was not fun. I couldn't keep up with the people I used to love to run with all the time. I was in desperate need of rest, and as soon as I crossed that finish line in San Francisco, I vowed that I would take a REAL break this time.
And I did! I took a short break from working out, and when I started again, I focused on easy strength training, yoga, and long NYC walks. When I eventually started running again, I would not go longer than two miles- at a very slow pace on the treadmill. If I was struggling to get through a workout, that was okay. I would try again next time.
All those factors got me back on track. Now I strength/cross about four days a week, and this has made running SO much easier. While I haven't really increased my mileage too much (generally won't run longer than a 5K), my speed has improved dramatically. I give full credit to the increased amount of strength/cross training, and intense interval runs.
I alternate between a few different interval workouts on the treadmill. I have stolen them all from the crossfit website, and even though they are simple and short, they can be hard! With interval training, the length of the workout is not as important as making sure are getting a killer ass-kicking. After these workouts, it takes an hour or two to get my face back to its normal color. And I sweat like crazy. It's pretty embarassing actually :)
The interval workout I started with is a .25 sprint alternated with a 90 second walk repeated 8 times.
.25 mile sprint
90 second walk
.25 mile sprint
90 second walk
.25 mile sprint
90 second walk
.25 mile sprint
90 second walk
.25 mile sprint
90 second walk
.25 mile sprint
90 second walk
.25 mile sprint
90 second walk
.25 mile sprint
DONE
1/4th mile may not seem like a long distance, but if you really push yourself (which is the point of this exercise), it will hurt! (in a good way)
The second interval workout I use is slightly more interesting.
1 mile sprint
rest 3 minutes
.75 mile sprint
rest 2 minutes
.50 mile sprint
rest 1 minute
.25 mile sprint
DONE
obviously, the goal is to get faster and faster with each shorter distance. and it is hard to push out a mile as fast as you can when you are not warmed up! This reminds me of our mile repeats we do with Team in Training- 1 mile as fast as you can alternated with a recovery mile- three times. The goal with that workout is to make the 3rd repeat your fastest. This almost never happens :) That workout will come later in the season, and I will keep you posted!
The most recent interval workout I have incorporated uses half mile sprints.
.5 mile sprint
2 minute walk
.5 mile sprint
2 minute walk
.5 mile sprint
2 minute walk
.5 mile sprint
DONE
For some reason this one has become the hardest one. I think this is because I try to run the half miles at the same speed I would run a 1/4 mile. Whatever the reason, I don't really care.
These workouts really work, and none of them will ever take longer than 25 minutes. Intervals always work if you push yourself hard enough. They will make you faster and stronger in every aspect of your life. I have watched my regular 5K workouts get easier and faster without any tears and stress.
I have just begun training for the New York City Marathon with Team in Training (my 3rd season!). So far I have been taking it easy, and not doing to much too soon. I am very interested in seeing how my new attitude and workout regime affects this season.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Back on my feet
I must admit, the last month and a half of my workouts have not been terribly exciting. I am back on the treadmill, and due to the most recent weather shift in NYC, I'm also back in the park! (I give much credit to my running buddy Lauren for getting me out there!)
I have been experimenting with a few interval workouts on the treadmill. I was looking for something with high intensity that would get my heartrate up but not scare me away from running again. The first model I used was the "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" workout. This is a 30 minute interval run where you begin at a moderate speed for 5 minutes and increase the speed by .5mph for 4 minutes, increase by .5 for 3 minutes, etc. For example:
6MPH 5 min
6.5MPH 4 min
7MPH 3 min
7.5 MPH 2 min
8 MPH 1 min
REPEAT
This was a great way to ease my body back into high speeds again. And it DID make me go faster. On days that I wouldn't have much time on the treadmill, I would turn it into a 4, 3, 2, 1 workout. Eventually, I would forgo the 5 altogether and do 3 sets of 4, 3, 2, 1. I was also able to increase the inital speeds and inclines once I became more comfortable.
Unfortunately, I had done just that. Become TOO comfortable with these workouts. Coach Ramon used to tell us that "pain is weakness leaving the body." You need to feel that pain in your training in order to see results. So I went searching for another workout.
I found a workout on the Crossfit website last week that I decided to experiment with.
8 rounds of:
Run 400 meters
Rest 90 seconds
Post total time to comments not including 8th rest.
I was a little skeptical about having such long periods of rest (90 seconds). Isn't resting for the weak? I don't need a break that often! And it's true, I didn't need breaks that long. BUT the 90 seconds of of rest (My rest was a 3.0 MPH pace) every .25 miles allowed my heart rate to slow down enough so my next interval really packed a punch. Extreme changes in heartrate and intensity will warrent the most extreme results, which is why someone doing fast intervals will usually be in better shape than a strictly endurance athlete.
Also, the rest periods allowed me to get to some pretty fast speeds: 10 MPH and faster!
I think these new interval workouts really impacted the success of my race on Sunday. THis Sunday morning, March 7th, I ran the Coogans 5K. This is one of my favorite races, A) because it is only a 5K (a short distance to race) and B) because the race takes place mere steps outside my apartment. Despite all that, I would have been very ready to forgo the race had it not been for my friend, Lauren, who's race number I'd promised to pick up. I had spent the previous night dancing, drinking, AND carb-loading with a slice of pizza at 4AM. By race time, I was running on 2 1/2 hours of sleep with vodka running through my veins.
All these factors led to one of the most successful and enjoyable races of my running career. I don't know if it was because there was zero pressure for me to succeed, or if I had discovered the magic race combination of Vodka + pizza - sleep; but regardless, I am not going to overthink it. For the first time in about a year, I had a truly great run that will hopefully boost my confidence for future runs.
Also, I REALLY enjoyed racing to my "In the Heights" soundtrack. Very appropriate for the neighborhood :)
In other news...
Believe it or not, it is almost time for fall marathon season! I went to a team in training meeting on MOnday night, and now am full force into Team in Training marathon mode. I am very excited to start training again (for the NYC marathon!) in May.
I hope you all enjoy the rest of the beautiful weather!
I have been experimenting with a few interval workouts on the treadmill. I was looking for something with high intensity that would get my heartrate up but not scare me away from running again. The first model I used was the "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" workout. This is a 30 minute interval run where you begin at a moderate speed for 5 minutes and increase the speed by .5mph for 4 minutes, increase by .5 for 3 minutes, etc. For example:
6MPH 5 min
6.5MPH 4 min
7MPH 3 min
7.5 MPH 2 min
8 MPH 1 min
REPEAT
This was a great way to ease my body back into high speeds again. And it DID make me go faster. On days that I wouldn't have much time on the treadmill, I would turn it into a 4, 3, 2, 1 workout. Eventually, I would forgo the 5 altogether and do 3 sets of 4, 3, 2, 1. I was also able to increase the inital speeds and inclines once I became more comfortable.
Unfortunately, I had done just that. Become TOO comfortable with these workouts. Coach Ramon used to tell us that "pain is weakness leaving the body." You need to feel that pain in your training in order to see results. So I went searching for another workout.
I found a workout on the Crossfit website last week that I decided to experiment with.
8 rounds of:
Run 400 meters
Rest 90 seconds
Post total time to comments not including 8th rest.
I was a little skeptical about having such long periods of rest (90 seconds). Isn't resting for the weak? I don't need a break that often! And it's true, I didn't need breaks that long. BUT the 90 seconds of of rest (My rest was a 3.0 MPH pace) every .25 miles allowed my heart rate to slow down enough so my next interval really packed a punch. Extreme changes in heartrate and intensity will warrent the most extreme results, which is why someone doing fast intervals will usually be in better shape than a strictly endurance athlete.
Also, the rest periods allowed me to get to some pretty fast speeds: 10 MPH and faster!
I think these new interval workouts really impacted the success of my race on Sunday. THis Sunday morning, March 7th, I ran the Coogans 5K. This is one of my favorite races, A) because it is only a 5K (a short distance to race) and B) because the race takes place mere steps outside my apartment. Despite all that, I would have been very ready to forgo the race had it not been for my friend, Lauren, who's race number I'd promised to pick up. I had spent the previous night dancing, drinking, AND carb-loading with a slice of pizza at 4AM. By race time, I was running on 2 1/2 hours of sleep with vodka running through my veins.
All these factors led to one of the most successful and enjoyable races of my running career. I don't know if it was because there was zero pressure for me to succeed, or if I had discovered the magic race combination of Vodka + pizza - sleep; but regardless, I am not going to overthink it. For the first time in about a year, I had a truly great run that will hopefully boost my confidence for future runs.
Also, I REALLY enjoyed racing to my "In the Heights" soundtrack. Very appropriate for the neighborhood :)
In other news...
Believe it or not, it is almost time for fall marathon season! I went to a team in training meeting on MOnday night, and now am full force into Team in Training marathon mode. I am very excited to start training again (for the NYC marathon!) in May.
I hope you all enjoy the rest of the beautiful weather!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Crossfit NYC
Happy New Year!
The beginning of each year (decade in this case!) always brings many hopeful resolutions, and therefore, an increased number of gym-goers. I don't think I have ever kept a new years resolution- the motivation of "it's a new year" is simply not enough for me to change my set habits and mindsets. Generally, I do not like to do things on my own. I am lazy. When I wanted to get in shape, I got a personal trainer. When I impulsively decided to run a marathon, I joined the group "Team in Training." Now that I have neither, I have joined a new group to get me to the next fitness level: Crossfit.
I have reviewed Crossfit on this blog before (a free beginners class to let you know what the workout is all about). It is known about being the most intense and efficient workout you can do. I have recently completed the "elements workout" (a series of 6 small classes spread out over 3 weeks), which taught me how to safely and efficiently do the crossfit workouts correctly. Crossfit has a different "workout of the day" (WOD) each day which is meant to be a total body challenge for everyone and anyone- no matter how "fit" you are. The creators of crossfit wanted a functional and intense workout to lead to the most efficient results possible. With successful completion of the elements workout, I received 2 weeks of unlimited "WODs" (which are small classes supervised by qualified crossfit trainers). I am embarrassed to admit that I have not taken full advantage of those unlimited two weeks. Because this is the fastest way to get in shape, it is inevitable that the people who work out here are VERY in shape. It is intimdating. and HARD. It is really hard to make yourself workout somewhere when it is a) out of your way b) really painful and c) you're the worst one there! Fortunately, all the trainers and members create a very close knit and supportive group I feel like I could become a part of. I just need to force myself to step past my boundaries and do something really good for my body. I will definitely renew my contract when my 2 weeks are over and go more often!
The trainers at crossfit also encourage the "paleo diet." The concept is to eat like the cavemen ate- before the agricultural revolution. So no grains, no legumes, no dairy, no sweets. Lots of lean meat and veggies. The maximum amount of nutrients for the least amount of calories.
According to Crossfit, this is Fitness in 100 Words 2.0
Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Sprint and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Sprint, jump and compete hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Lift heavy weights often. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and dominate a sport.
Again, sorry for the infrequent posting! I will be more attentive, I promise :-)
The beginning of each year (decade in this case!) always brings many hopeful resolutions, and therefore, an increased number of gym-goers. I don't think I have ever kept a new years resolution- the motivation of "it's a new year" is simply not enough for me to change my set habits and mindsets. Generally, I do not like to do things on my own. I am lazy. When I wanted to get in shape, I got a personal trainer. When I impulsively decided to run a marathon, I joined the group "Team in Training." Now that I have neither, I have joined a new group to get me to the next fitness level: Crossfit.
I have reviewed Crossfit on this blog before (a free beginners class to let you know what the workout is all about). It is known about being the most intense and efficient workout you can do. I have recently completed the "elements workout" (a series of 6 small classes spread out over 3 weeks), which taught me how to safely and efficiently do the crossfit workouts correctly. Crossfit has a different "workout of the day" (WOD) each day which is meant to be a total body challenge for everyone and anyone- no matter how "fit" you are. The creators of crossfit wanted a functional and intense workout to lead to the most efficient results possible. With successful completion of the elements workout, I received 2 weeks of unlimited "WODs" (which are small classes supervised by qualified crossfit trainers). I am embarrassed to admit that I have not taken full advantage of those unlimited two weeks. Because this is the fastest way to get in shape, it is inevitable that the people who work out here are VERY in shape. It is intimdating. and HARD. It is really hard to make yourself workout somewhere when it is a) out of your way b) really painful and c) you're the worst one there! Fortunately, all the trainers and members create a very close knit and supportive group I feel like I could become a part of. I just need to force myself to step past my boundaries and do something really good for my body. I will definitely renew my contract when my 2 weeks are over and go more often!
The trainers at crossfit also encourage the "paleo diet." The concept is to eat like the cavemen ate- before the agricultural revolution. So no grains, no legumes, no dairy, no sweets. Lots of lean meat and veggies. The maximum amount of nutrients for the least amount of calories.
According to Crossfit, this is Fitness in 100 Words 2.0
Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Sprint and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Sprint, jump and compete hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Lift heavy weights often. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and dominate a sport.
Again, sorry for the infrequent posting! I will be more attentive, I promise :-)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Back to the old routine
Over the past few weeks, I have learned something about:
a) My diet, and
b) My fitness regiment
I have noticed my energy level dwindling and my skin getting paler and paler (okay, this is normal during the wintertime. But I've been seriously pale). Although there are plenty of reputable sources that confirm that you don't need much protein in your diet, I have a funny feeling I am slightly iron and protein deficient. I have experimented with this hypothesis by loading my diet with dark, leafy green adn meats while limiting refined sugars. This small change to my mostly vegan diet has really made me feel more nourished. To each his own :-)
I still try to stay away from dairy/mis-combining my food groups, but I think it's more important to have a good RELATIONSHIP with food and feel satisfied without the guilt. It is especially important to feel nourished before workouts- makes all the difference in the world.
I have recently "bit the bullet" and got back on the treadmill. When I first became a gym rat and changed my body significantly, I owed that change to three things:
Strength training with my lovely trainer/friend/mentor Marissa
Bikram Yoga
and most importantly, REALLY fast treadmill workouts. Even though I never ran more than 5K on the treadmill (much too boring for that), I found that these high intensity workouts didn't allow me to "cheat" as much as running outside might. I decided to revisit these treadmill runs again.
When I first got back on the treadmill, I was immediately discouraged. I wanted to immediately return to my top fitness level: starting at 7mph (8.30 min miles) and increasing sometimes to 10.5 mph at the end of my workout (that's REALLY fast). I have learned that pushing myself too hard too soon will inevitably lead to failure, and also to a complete loss of confidence (which is what resulted in my unhappiness during my last marathon season). My wise coach Ramon recently set a facebook status update with great poignancy for me:
"Run only if the run you are about to conquer has meaning and satisfies both your body and mind. Stay away from senseless runs, they only damage your confidence and your body."
This is so true. Since the marathon, I have tried to accomplish this- I want to ENJOY my workouts, not fear them. Setting my expectations too high will only discourage and weaken me. I have taken these treadmill runs slowly, and have seen improvement! I have energy I haven't had in months! Today, I actually took the stairs to the 6th floor of school instead of the elevator! I have also noticed a change in my body. A small change, but a good one.
Basically, we should just do what makes us happy. Sometimes I don't want to get on the treadmill, but I know I will always feel better when the run is over (and during!). Even if it merely serves the purpose to sweat out toxins (especially after a late night), that is a run well spent. However, it is not healthy to be governed by guilt. It is JUST RUNNING!
PS - check out this weird piece of news:
"Question
Craving and chewing ice: A sign of anemia?
Is constantly craving and chewing ice a sign of anemia?
Answer
from Ruben Mesa, M.D.
Possibly. Doctors use the term "pica" to describe craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, cornstarch or paper. Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency anemia — although it may be associated with other nutritional problems as well.
It's not known why some people with iron deficiency anemia crave and chew ice. Researchers from one recent study suggested it may be because of ice's pain-relieving properties, since some people with iron deficiency anemia experience tongue pain and inflammation (glossitis). The same researchers found that ice has a new and better taste to some people who are iron deficient.
In some individuals, pica is a sign of emotional problems, such as stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder or a developmental disorder.
A thorough medical evaluation can help determine if pica is due to an underlying medical condition. If the cause of pica is an emotional or developmental issue, cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful. "
I really LOVE chewing ice! I think I need to find a new "addiction" for the winter...ice chewing is a little cold for the season :-)
a) My diet, and
b) My fitness regiment
I have noticed my energy level dwindling and my skin getting paler and paler (okay, this is normal during the wintertime. But I've been seriously pale). Although there are plenty of reputable sources that confirm that you don't need much protein in your diet, I have a funny feeling I am slightly iron and protein deficient. I have experimented with this hypothesis by loading my diet with dark, leafy green adn meats while limiting refined sugars. This small change to my mostly vegan diet has really made me feel more nourished. To each his own :-)
I still try to stay away from dairy/mis-combining my food groups, but I think it's more important to have a good RELATIONSHIP with food and feel satisfied without the guilt. It is especially important to feel nourished before workouts- makes all the difference in the world.
I have recently "bit the bullet" and got back on the treadmill. When I first became a gym rat and changed my body significantly, I owed that change to three things:
Strength training with my lovely trainer/friend/mentor Marissa
Bikram Yoga
and most importantly, REALLY fast treadmill workouts. Even though I never ran more than 5K on the treadmill (much too boring for that), I found that these high intensity workouts didn't allow me to "cheat" as much as running outside might. I decided to revisit these treadmill runs again.
When I first got back on the treadmill, I was immediately discouraged. I wanted to immediately return to my top fitness level: starting at 7mph (8.30 min miles) and increasing sometimes to 10.5 mph at the end of my workout (that's REALLY fast). I have learned that pushing myself too hard too soon will inevitably lead to failure, and also to a complete loss of confidence (which is what resulted in my unhappiness during my last marathon season). My wise coach Ramon recently set a facebook status update with great poignancy for me:
"Run only if the run you are about to conquer has meaning and satisfies both your body and mind. Stay away from senseless runs, they only damage your confidence and your body."
This is so true. Since the marathon, I have tried to accomplish this- I want to ENJOY my workouts, not fear them. Setting my expectations too high will only discourage and weaken me. I have taken these treadmill runs slowly, and have seen improvement! I have energy I haven't had in months! Today, I actually took the stairs to the 6th floor of school instead of the elevator! I have also noticed a change in my body. A small change, but a good one.
Basically, we should just do what makes us happy. Sometimes I don't want to get on the treadmill, but I know I will always feel better when the run is over (and during!). Even if it merely serves the purpose to sweat out toxins (especially after a late night), that is a run well spent. However, it is not healthy to be governed by guilt. It is JUST RUNNING!
PS - check out this weird piece of news:
"Question
Craving and chewing ice: A sign of anemia?
Is constantly craving and chewing ice a sign of anemia?
Answer
from Ruben Mesa, M.D.
Possibly. Doctors use the term "pica" to describe craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, cornstarch or paper. Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency anemia — although it may be associated with other nutritional problems as well.
It's not known why some people with iron deficiency anemia crave and chew ice. Researchers from one recent study suggested it may be because of ice's pain-relieving properties, since some people with iron deficiency anemia experience tongue pain and inflammation (glossitis). The same researchers found that ice has a new and better taste to some people who are iron deficient.
In some individuals, pica is a sign of emotional problems, such as stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder or a developmental disorder.
A thorough medical evaluation can help determine if pica is due to an underlying medical condition. If the cause of pica is an emotional or developmental issue, cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful. "
I really LOVE chewing ice! I think I need to find a new "addiction" for the winter...ice chewing is a little cold for the season :-)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
new workouts!
Once again, I apologize for the long hiatus!
This past month I have been trying to get back into a workout routine. I have been dealing with laziness and lack of money, which is a bad combination when I need a lot of motivation to workout and push myself! At times like these I miss having a trainer.
At the beginning of the month, I took advantage of an introductory week of yoga at Bikram Yoga Union Square. I always enjoy doing these intro week specials (I have also completed them with Bikram Yoga NYC and Bikram Yoga Harlem) because you can do yoga as much as you want for only $20! What a deal!
Bikram Yoga Union Square had a completely different vibe than the other studios. I referred to it as "Bikram Yoga Bootcamp." It was realllly hardcore. I felt like it was much more of a workout than other classes I've taken. It was also kind of scary. The instructors clapped loudly when they wanted us to change postures! and they kept us in the postures wayyy longer than I was used to. The heating system was also different than the other Bikrams I've done, so it took me a few days to get used to the heat. In other words, I was on the floor a lot. I am really glad I did this intro week (especially because I got to explore Union Square), but I will probably not go back fora while. It is pretty expensive compared to what I'm used to, and is slightly more pretentious than other yoga studios I've been to. But I did enjoy getting my butt kicked!
Another workout I tried this month was "Crossfit NYC." I was traveling to Kentucky the week after the marathon (to visit my friend and former roommate Kate and her wonderful family), and this guy I was sitting next to on the plane highly recommended it. I decided to check it out, and signed up for a free beginner workout. This studio is located on 26th and Broadway, and the first thing I noticed when I entered was how empty it seemed! It was not full of machines like most gyms I am used to, but an interesting assortment of weights and block type things. The 2nd thing I noticed was the girl working at the front desk- my friend Sara, who played horn with me in brass quintet last year and graduated from MSM in the spring! She was formally a trainer at Crunch gym on the upper west side and recently converted to the Crossfit studio. What a pleasant surprise!
My beginner class consisted of two 20-something year old sisters without much workout experience, this other guy (who looked like he worked out) and myself. This "workout" was more of an introduction to what Crossfit is, but our trainer promised us that even with just the two 4-minute workouts we were going to do, we would be in agony the next day. Bring it on.
The first workout we did involved squatting down to a medicine ball (so you couldn't cheat; you had to squat down alll the way). We had to squat as many times as possible in 20 seconds (ouch) then had a 10 second recovery time. We repeated this eight times so it added up to four minutes. Our "score" was whatever the lowest number of squats in any of the given sets was. (For example, I started out with 16 squats in the first 20 seconds. By the 8th set, I was down to 12. My score was 12). We needed a LOT of recovery time after this one. Especially the guy in the group...his score was 19! And he was feeling it.
The second workout was similar to the first workout, except it involved push-ups instead of squats. I am pretty out of shape, especially in my upper body, so I did the girly knee push-ups. I ended up with a score of 8 (which was pretty happy with. These got very difficult very quickly).
My body hurt more the next day than it did the day after the marathon. It was awesome. I LOVE feeling sore because that means my body is changing. Unfortunately, I can't afford to do this quite yet, but as soon as I can afford a package, I am in. I want to be buff and in shape. I bet this will help with the running too!
In running news- I have gotten back on the treadmill. I haven't really gotten past two miles yet...but it feels good to push myself and really sweat like my old treadmill days. Soon I'll be back up to my 5K treadmill workout (which is really made me lose weight a few years ago).
Happy Thanksgiving!
This past month I have been trying to get back into a workout routine. I have been dealing with laziness and lack of money, which is a bad combination when I need a lot of motivation to workout and push myself! At times like these I miss having a trainer.
At the beginning of the month, I took advantage of an introductory week of yoga at Bikram Yoga Union Square. I always enjoy doing these intro week specials (I have also completed them with Bikram Yoga NYC and Bikram Yoga Harlem) because you can do yoga as much as you want for only $20! What a deal!
Bikram Yoga Union Square had a completely different vibe than the other studios. I referred to it as "Bikram Yoga Bootcamp." It was realllly hardcore. I felt like it was much more of a workout than other classes I've taken. It was also kind of scary. The instructors clapped loudly when they wanted us to change postures! and they kept us in the postures wayyy longer than I was used to. The heating system was also different than the other Bikrams I've done, so it took me a few days to get used to the heat. In other words, I was on the floor a lot. I am really glad I did this intro week (especially because I got to explore Union Square), but I will probably not go back fora while. It is pretty expensive compared to what I'm used to, and is slightly more pretentious than other yoga studios I've been to. But I did enjoy getting my butt kicked!
Another workout I tried this month was "Crossfit NYC." I was traveling to Kentucky the week after the marathon (to visit my friend and former roommate Kate and her wonderful family), and this guy I was sitting next to on the plane highly recommended it. I decided to check it out, and signed up for a free beginner workout. This studio is located on 26th and Broadway, and the first thing I noticed when I entered was how empty it seemed! It was not full of machines like most gyms I am used to, but an interesting assortment of weights and block type things. The 2nd thing I noticed was the girl working at the front desk- my friend Sara, who played horn with me in brass quintet last year and graduated from MSM in the spring! She was formally a trainer at Crunch gym on the upper west side and recently converted to the Crossfit studio. What a pleasant surprise!
My beginner class consisted of two 20-something year old sisters without much workout experience, this other guy (who looked like he worked out) and myself. This "workout" was more of an introduction to what Crossfit is, but our trainer promised us that even with just the two 4-minute workouts we were going to do, we would be in agony the next day. Bring it on.
The first workout we did involved squatting down to a medicine ball (so you couldn't cheat; you had to squat down alll the way). We had to squat as many times as possible in 20 seconds (ouch) then had a 10 second recovery time. We repeated this eight times so it added up to four minutes. Our "score" was whatever the lowest number of squats in any of the given sets was. (For example, I started out with 16 squats in the first 20 seconds. By the 8th set, I was down to 12. My score was 12). We needed a LOT of recovery time after this one. Especially the guy in the group...his score was 19! And he was feeling it.
The second workout was similar to the first workout, except it involved push-ups instead of squats. I am pretty out of shape, especially in my upper body, so I did the girly knee push-ups. I ended up with a score of 8 (which was pretty happy with. These got very difficult very quickly).
My body hurt more the next day than it did the day after the marathon. It was awesome. I LOVE feeling sore because that means my body is changing. Unfortunately, I can't afford to do this quite yet, but as soon as I can afford a package, I am in. I want to be buff and in shape. I bet this will help with the running too!
In running news- I have gotten back on the treadmill. I haven't really gotten past two miles yet...but it feels good to push myself and really sweat like my old treadmill days. Soon I'll be back up to my 5K treadmill workout (which is really made me lose weight a few years ago).
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
a busy month of travel!
I'm sorry it has been so long since I've posted, especially since so many exciting things have happened! Like A MARATHON.
Two weeks ago, I headed out to San Francisco (my first time on the west coast!) to run the Nike Women's Marathon. I was nervous, excited, relieved and sad (all at once!) for that weekend. Nervous, because I knew what I was getting myself into. Excited, because team in training is an AWESOME group and I knew I'd have an incredible time. Relieved, because I knew that come Monday, I wouldn't have to run for a VERY long time. And sad, because this incredible group I've been running with for five months was reaching the conclusion of its time together.
San Francisco is a great city. I would love to be able to explore the city (and not on foot. for 26.2 miles). I feel like I really associate with the laid back vibe of the city. People are friendly. The food is good. The only aspect I didn't really like was the HILLS. My friend Lauren had a great idea for exploring the city without tiring our legs out before the race. We took one of those double decker tour buses and got to see everything without wasting any energy! I felt very much like a tourist.
The race was very hard. It was a much tougher course than I imagined, and the hills kept coming. I was, however, proud that I completed it no matter how miserable I felt the entire time. This is what I wrote in my journal the morning of the race as kind of a pep talk:
"Marathoning is a microcosm of your life- the strength and effort you use to push through this achievement is the same willpower used to fight through hard situations in life.
I can do this. And I'm going to have fun.
Think about what I am running for. Think about life and what I want to do.
It's just running. I just need to make it from the start sign to the finish. Easy :-)"
This is why running is so emotional for so many people. It becomes much more than just running- it becomes your self. When you devote so much time to one event, your success or failure can really mess with your mind and spirit. Coach Ramon insisted that the achievement of an endurance event is not about race day- it's about the training and hard work you put into it. That being said, the person who starts a marathon is not the same person who finishes one. While running, you have so much time to think about giving up, and that makes it so much more rewarding when you cross ths finish line. This particular marathon was a very teary-eyed one for many- I'm sure our coaches were very relieved when they didn't have to deal with our emotions anymore :-)
From now on, fall will always equal marathon season for me. And New York City is the place to be to experience the marathon magic. This weekend, New York was a very exciting place. Not only was it Halloween weekend (on a Saturday no less!) but it was also marathon weekend. For the first time, I actually got to be a spectator at a race and witness (instead of experience!) the true emotional sport marathon running is.
Have a wonderful week! I'll post more about the marathon(s) soon.
Two weeks ago, I headed out to San Francisco (my first time on the west coast!) to run the Nike Women's Marathon. I was nervous, excited, relieved and sad (all at once!) for that weekend. Nervous, because I knew what I was getting myself into. Excited, because team in training is an AWESOME group and I knew I'd have an incredible time. Relieved, because I knew that come Monday, I wouldn't have to run for a VERY long time. And sad, because this incredible group I've been running with for five months was reaching the conclusion of its time together.
San Francisco is a great city. I would love to be able to explore the city (and not on foot. for 26.2 miles). I feel like I really associate with the laid back vibe of the city. People are friendly. The food is good. The only aspect I didn't really like was the HILLS. My friend Lauren had a great idea for exploring the city without tiring our legs out before the race. We took one of those double decker tour buses and got to see everything without wasting any energy! I felt very much like a tourist.
The race was very hard. It was a much tougher course than I imagined, and the hills kept coming. I was, however, proud that I completed it no matter how miserable I felt the entire time. This is what I wrote in my journal the morning of the race as kind of a pep talk:
"Marathoning is a microcosm of your life- the strength and effort you use to push through this achievement is the same willpower used to fight through hard situations in life.
I can do this. And I'm going to have fun.
Think about what I am running for. Think about life and what I want to do.
It's just running. I just need to make it from the start sign to the finish. Easy :-)"
This is why running is so emotional for so many people. It becomes much more than just running- it becomes your self. When you devote so much time to one event, your success or failure can really mess with your mind and spirit. Coach Ramon insisted that the achievement of an endurance event is not about race day- it's about the training and hard work you put into it. That being said, the person who starts a marathon is not the same person who finishes one. While running, you have so much time to think about giving up, and that makes it so much more rewarding when you cross ths finish line. This particular marathon was a very teary-eyed one for many- I'm sure our coaches were very relieved when they didn't have to deal with our emotions anymore :-)
From now on, fall will always equal marathon season for me. And New York City is the place to be to experience the marathon magic. This weekend, New York was a very exciting place. Not only was it Halloween weekend (on a Saturday no less!) but it was also marathon weekend. For the first time, I actually got to be a spectator at a race and witness (instead of experience!) the true emotional sport marathon running is.
Have a wonderful week! I'll post more about the marathon(s) soon.
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