A Tale of Two Races

Sorry sorry sorry for being so so so MIA! I have actually had responsibility at work, plus a full class load, and I just accepted the world's most perfect internship--that happens to require that I give up a full weekend day every weekend from now until June, plus lots of friends in town, trying to help friend find apartments, and become mary kay ladies...you get the idea.

In any case today I ran Grete's Gallop Half Marathon. I ran this race last year and it was definitively, the worst race of my life. I stopped several time and wanted to cry a few times! I had never had this happen, but the humidity was around 90% and it was HOT and miserable.

This year was a very different story. This morning it was COLD! Well, around 48 degrees when I left the apartment. I was wearing long black yoga pants, huge sweatshirt pants, my OBAMAthoner dri fit tee over a long sleeve waffle t-shirt, and a retro nylon nike jacket, and a scarf for good measure. I am ridiculous! I checked everything in baggage except my Obamathoner shirt, yoga pants, and fuel belt.

Miles 1-2-awful, I was stiff and my feet were sore from doing extensive walking around the city in heels yesterday, but that wore off after a bit.

Miles 3-4 kind of awful, but not too bad. I was really regretting going out last night, but I hadn't seen one of my very best friends in months, and we had rescheduled like five times. So I had one small glass of wine and a few hours of great conversation.

Miles 5-6- finally hitting my stride, not feeling super energetic, but at least I was no longer seriously concerned that I was going to suffer for 8 more miles.

Miles 6-7-Flying high! At around halfway I started to feel euphoric. I was running a very steady pace and generally joyful. I knew I could finish no question.

Miles 8-11-still rocking it but I felt my first rain drop around mile 6. By mile 8 it was definitely raining...but at least no one had spit on me, like I thought with the initial drop. Nevertheless, I was kind of cold. However, the rain made me run faster and stronger. I wanted to finish before a downpour could start. Of course, it wasn't like I could do five miles in 15 minutes, so I knew I might have to be uncomfortable for around 50 minutes. Fortunately the rain stayed very very light.

Mile 11-13.1-my ipod ran out of gas. I took the time to try and focus and run with my arms. I was annoyed because my playlist was awesome and the battery was supposedly full charged! Luckily, it didn't really effect my run, even if it was less fun in silence. I continued running strong and got my best time ever for a half 2:10:15. Last year, I got 2:25:45, so clearly today was much better.

I finished feeling awesome! So good, that really want to run a marathon this fall, but I need to start putting school first. I recently had an honest reflection about my future career, and I have been putting my social life and my job and time wasting activities first, and those really can not be my priorities. I can excel academically, but I have to work incredibly hard to do it. I have always been jealous of those who can do no work and get 4.0s. So for now academia must come before my beloved friends; my beloved, therapeutic blogging; before my current job and job search; and before running marathons. However, I will still blog a few times a week with new ideas, workout and deals.

However, this race marks my 9th Road Runner Race this season....which means, I AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR the ING NYC MARATHON 2009! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!!!!

This post is getting long, but I wanted to mention a couple cool things.

First, I got my fabulous tee, pictured above at Jack Rabbit Sports. Where I have been 3 times this week, first buying my new amphipod, and then some shot blocks, and then the OBAMAthoner tee. It is really my very favorite store, the staff are so cool! Plus, 10% off every time I go!

Second, the Jack Rabbit Sports Indoor Tri Series is starting, sign up! It's so cool!

Thirdly, did everyone see that Kelly Ripa is once again talking about Physique 57 in a magazine? I love it but three covers? Shape, Fitness, and now Shape again.

A fabulous reader let me know that in addition to the video of Kelly at P57 on the Physique 57 website, Marie Clarie also has a few clips straight from P57 founder Tanya Becker. She also mentioned that there is a new dvd with a similar workout called the Tracy Anderson Mat Workout based on Gwen Paltrow's and Madonna's workouts. It could be worth checking out.

All right off to clean and study study study! xoxo

Please excuse any errors. I was typing really fast.

Thigh Dancing and a New Fun New Blog

Ah thigh dancing. A Lotte Burke and Physique 57 signature. It really is a great way to tone and lengthen your hamstrings, bulk begone!

So here's how it goes. I really wish I had a video of this one, but I have no idea how to do that. Do I need a video camera? Hmmmm

So anyways this is how you thigh dance. This is best to use as a finesse move after a lower body workout.

First put on a great song, such as Baby Got Back or my recent fav, Beyonce's, Get Me Bodied (FAB!)

Now kneel down with your knees hip distance apart.

Now lower your butt one inch from your feet, you should feel the hamstrings activated.

Now shake hips side to side, so you are just skimming your feet. Really feel the beat, so it is not too painful! After about 30 seconds back and forth, start shaking while raising and lowering your butt...feel the burn!

Next up, thrusts. So basically lower to one inch about your feet and then thrust forward, pushing pelvis in front of you. Add overhead punches to keep your mind off the work in your legs.

Thrust side to side-so raise your hips up and thrust and punch to the right and left. Note: all this should look and feel fairly sexual, however, maybe not sexy :)

Final move is the lasso. Swirl your hips to the right as you raise and lower. At the same time, Swirl your arms above your head like you are holding two lassos! Reverse to the left.

Stretch it out!

Oh I just started reading Single-ish a blog by Glamour. It's pretty good!

I have definitely hit my afternoon slump, but I am doing everything in my power not to run out for a Diet Coke!

I hope to do a lower Manhattan run after work, down by the Seaport to check out the Waterfalls. I planned to go during my lunch hour but my girlfriend called, and who can turn down a ladies lunch?

This weekend I am going hiking for the first time in forever. I am nervous, and I'll let you know how it goes! The boy I am dating suggested it, and of course, I am totally swooning that I found a boy that would suggest a fitness related date! Although hiking clothes aren't too cute. Maybe I can work the girl next door thing? I typically don't write too much about my love life, but that is also because the last guy I was dating read my blog. So shhh!

Have a great weekend!

The Right to Bare Arms

Cliche title, I know.

Physique 57 did not disappoint last night! I even ran into one of my good girlfriends and marathon buddy, who I haven't seen in weeks. We were both ridiculously excited to get off the wait list and into Magen's class.

We did some great arm exercises that I can really feel this morning, so I thought I would share them with you.

These 4 easy moves will really have you feeling the burn. The great thing is that they require zero equipment.

1.) Regular push-ups (20)

2.)Push up planks with tricep kickbacks. Still in push-up position. Bend and lift your right elbow straight up, so your arm is in a V from your shoulder to halfway down your chest. Next extend arm straight behind you alongside your body. Bend back to V position and lower to the full plank push up position you started in. Repeat on right side. Do 10 on each side.

3.) Still in plank push up position, do push ups lowering your body with your elbows pointing at the wall behind you. Your arms should be very close to your sides. These are killer, aim for 10.

(Bonus move: drop to forearm plank and alternate touching right and left knee to the floor for 30, then do 30 with both knees lowering and lifting together.)

4.) Reverse push ups. Flip over and get in crab walk position. Knees are at 90 degree angle to the floor and arms are straight, so your body is elevated in a straight line from knees to shoulders--stomach facing ceiling. With hand facing your feet do 20 tricep dips, then point hands toward wall behind you and do another 20 tricep dips.

Enjoy a well deserved stretch!

Super Strength and Stretch

Strength work and stretching are not things I really like to do by myself. If I am in a class or being coached, it's fine--cause someone is making me do it, and everyone (except those few people who feel the need to rush out the second the "workout" is over) is doing it.

However, on my own, it's much harder to get motivated. My running buddy always makes fun of me for not wanting to stretch because "it's the easiest part!"

Recently, I have tried to do more of both. While strength can be a bit boring, you do see at least a little difference, pretty fast. We all know that stretching probably helps prevent soreness and injury, but I have really just started committing to it for vanity purposes. The added strength shortens the muscles, and I need to elongate at every change I get!

So I have started mixing up my strength by combining a few workouts out of magazines or blogs or just from exercises I know. I especially like killing two birds with one stone, such as lunges with shoulder raises, etc.

Here is what I did on Saturday

I basically do one set of each of the following routines, and then about 15 minutes of stretching, holding each pose for at least 20 seconds (more on stretching in another post).

So here it is:

From David Kirsch's Bikini Body Workout

Your bikini boot camp workout
2 minutes - Light stretching including Good Mornings and Good Mornings with Knee Bends
1 minute - Jumping Jacks
30 seconds - David's Platypus Walks
1 minute - Shadow Boxing with crossovers, Uppercuts and Knee Bends
1 minute - Plié Squats with Calf raises
2 minutes - Reverse Lunges with Front Kick
1 minute - Squat Thrusts with Medicine Ball
1 minute - Scissors Reverse Crunches
2 minutes - David's Donkey Deluxe
1 minute - Bench Steups (if possible) with Tricep Kickbacks
1 minute - Pushups

Full details and description

Then one set from Chandra's workout....stealing!
Jump rope (fake) – 100 reps
Squats – 20
Jumping jacks – 50
Roundhouse kicks – 15 per leg
Jump rope – 100 reps
Donkey kicks – 15 per leg
Jumping jacks – 50
Walking lunges with curl/press – 20 reps
Run in place, high knees – 1 minute
Reverse crunches – 15 reps
Full body crunches – 15 reps

So see her blog for this workout and more fabulous ones!

One set of each from Jenna's lower body routine

2 minutes running on treadmill (to warm up)
4 sets of 15 walking lunges with 10 pound weights in each hand
3 sets of “jumping squats”—squat down, leap up, point toes, land back in a squat. 15 reps
2 sets of Hamstring curls on machine. 15 reps
2 sets of calf raises, 20 reps
2 sets of squats on that machine where you lay down and push the weight with your legs (Don’t know the name?)
2 forearm plank poses. Hold for 45 seconds each time
2 sets of reverse crunches, lifting legs and butt while holding onto post behind head on mat. 18 reps each set
2 sets of crunches holding 10 pound weight (legs at 90 degrees, crunch up while holding weight behind head)

I just found out I got off the waiting list for Physique 57 with my favorite instructor tonight, so she can kick my butt for me! It took two weeks to get off the wait list! Magen is so worth the wait!

Today's Workout

Okay yesterdays workout, but for the sake of tagging, today's.

Thursday:

30 minute elliptical

600 crunches-different variations. My favorite: plank position, alternating touching your knees to the ground quickly--or jogging it out as they say at Physique--then touching both knees down together, then touching hips to the ground, right then left. This one REALLY works the obliques.

I walked about 30 blocks to where I was having dinner.

So I managed to stay out way too late with friends Wednesday and Thursday, and ended up not getting to yoga either morning! Boo. I wake up early enough, but I don't have the energy!

Tonight I am just planning a regular running, elliptical combo with at least 25 minutes of strength.

This weekend I will take you on a virtual run through my favorite battery park city route and resume my rock your body challenge with a great workout to do while watching tv!

Oh Hungry-Girl isn't always my fav, but today she has a GREAT post!

Happy Friday!

I felt like I needed a picture, and one of my favorite things about the beginning of spring in the city is seeing the cherry blossoms open up. It is always a serendipitous surprise!