The Edge

Today in bootcamp, I felt my body getting close to the edge.  The edge is where improvements are made but it can also be the point of injury if I'm not careful.  I'm thankful that tomorrow is a rest day and next week is a step-back week.  I like working hard and pushing myself but I need to keep an eye on the overall goal so that I can get to Austin healthy and ready to race.  I have some lofty goals both for this upcoming race and for the next couple of years too.  I'll save those for a future post but I'm glad that I was able to hear my body loud and clear tonight. 

Need Advice

I love changing up my workout routine and I love Groupons.  Today's Groupon is for 5 weeks at the Riverplace Athletic Club for $50.  Normally, that would be a no brainer for me...  BUT, this Groupon has be started by 1/15/2011.  SO, I'd basically have to start using in in early December.  My concern is that it might be too much with the marathon training.  On the other hand, weight training two days a week combined with a couple of yoga classes a week might be just the right thing.  The last two times I was marathon training, I only did the running during training but I've been so loving having Warrior Camp and now bootcamp on top of the running...  I don't want to drop to just running and lose the improvements that I've been making or be sad that I don't have more variety.  

So, what do you think???

Camp Whore

Another day, another camp!!  I'm a camp whore!  I just can't turn down a groupon if it is related to getting a good workout.  Tonight, Ty and I went to our first in a month unlimited at Bootcamp RDFT.  It was different than classes at ADAPT in that ADAPT attracts more men and more serious athletes.  That said, it was still a great workout - just more oriented to women and, perhaps, weight loss than strength and power.  I definitely got a great core workout.  Basically, there were five areas and we rotated through each area is groups of 7 or 8 (I think it was an unusually full class).  We then took a quick water break before breaking out again into four groups and rotating again through each area.  We did a quick warm-up and cool down too and the hour absolutely flew by!!

Tomorrow, we are taking the intro class so it'll be interesting to see how that compares to the standard class.  We are going to aim for 4 classes a week - Tuesday will be Bootcamp, Wednesday will be Intro Bootcamp, Saturday will be TRX and Sunday will be Bootcamp again.  We are having to make some exceptions to work around our work schedules but that's the basic plan for November - YAY!!  

I didn't do my three mile run yesterday so I'm planning to make that up on Friday but I did do five today and it felt amazing.  Faith was home sick (I hope you're feeling better!!) so I was solo with my tunes. 

Ow... ow... OOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

We focused on arms last night at Warrior Camp.  I am so sore I could barely wash my hair this morning.  Shampooing is overrated. 

Warrior Camp

Holy hell, did I work out hard last night!!!  First, you should take a look at this video of the Warrior Camp instructor's phyisical abilities.  Okay, I tried embedding a video but it was just taking too long.  Follow this link instead and watch the video...  http://www.adapttraining.com/camps/warriorcamp.html.  Seriously, it's amazing! 

In last night's class, we did pre-testing.  If I were taking the four week class instead of just the free first week, we would spend the last day of class doing the post-testing and I imagine the improvement would be pretty impressive.  Alas, as it is, I'm pretty pathetic on the upper body strength.  But, then again, we don't call ourselves the T-Rex's for nothing!! 

First, the entire class did a timed wall sit together (I lasted over 2 1/2 minutes) and then we went to a variety of stations to be assessed.  I couldn't even manage one chip up but did manage four whole push-ups (boy style!).  Then, I couldn't get up to do the wall assisted handstand so I had to do 2 minutes of downdog instead - which was obviously a piece of cake and the only easy part of the testing!  Then, we did these flexed delt arm hang things...  I only lasted ten seconds there.  I did pretty good on the elevated lunges - lasting 28 seconds with my right leg back and 45 with my left leg back.  Lastly, we did this brutal exercise called ADAPT shuttle runs.  Two weight benches are placed 10 yards apart and you have to run back and forth 10 times for a total of 200 yards.  At each bench, you have to step or jump to the other side of the bench and back all while carrying a 7 pound medicine ball between both hands that you can not drop or take even one hand off.  I managed the first go round in 1:38.  Then we got a one minute rest...  and I finished my second round in exactly 1:38 - which was pretty impressive because they only tell you that you need to finish the second round within ten seconds of your first time. 

Needless to say, it was tough and also pretty depressing to find out how out of shape you can be and still manage to complete marathons.  Tonight's class will just a normal class so I'm really looking forwrad to it...  even if I know it's going to kick my butt!! 

Am I Crazy?!?!

Today's Groupon is for a month unlimited TRX and boot camp classes at a gym SW.  Not only am I seriously considering it...  I'm trying to get Ty to agree to do it with me in November.  Looking at the schedule, we could hit the 10:30 TRX Intro and Recovery after our long runs on Saturdays.  On Sundays, we could make the 9:00 boot camp and still not miss too much football.  There is a class almost every evening around 6:00 - if we hit one or two of those a week, PLUS marathon training, it would be AWESOME!!! 

Anyone think this is too much and might lead to overtraining?  What if I promise to slow down and focus only on marathon training (with maybe a little cross training) in December and January? 

Brick?

I'm not really sure if today's workout would technically count as a brick because there was around three hours between my run and my bike ride.  It's okay, though, because I still feel like a total bad ass for running three miles AND biking three and a half today:).  Faith is still a sicko so I was solo once again.  It's odd how quickly I've gotten used to having a daily running buddy after years of running solo on week days!!  This has been a very active week for me and it has left me feeling pretty energized and looking forward to a good long run on Saturday;).  Wish you could be there with us, Jody!!  

 

Aerial Yoga

So, I had my first aerial yoga class today.  But, first, let me tell you about yesterday!!  Faith has been ill with a cough and the chills so she's wisely opted to rest.  Yesterday, I ran a fast 3 miles at 9:15 pace which was followed by some body work.  After that, I headed to my first Pilates class.  My abs were already fairly well worked from the Socks class so Pilates was a killer workout!!  We did a decent about of core work and then spent the second half of the class doing some good arm work.  Basically, all my muscle groups were well worked yesterday!!

Today, Faith was on rest again, so I opted for a longer 5 mile run which I did in a 10:10 pace - nice and slow as compared to my recent Wednesday night Red Lizard runs.  Then, I went to aerial yoga - which was both awesome and a little scary.  First of all, all the moves involved either a set of straps with three handles of varying lengths and/or a sort of fabric sling - both of which are securely hung from the ceiling.  A lot of the moves are done with one foot on the floor which allows for some really great stretching as the sling naturally sways.  I even had one successful inversion - the instructor could tell that I was super nervous so she really helped me through that one since I was the only newbie:).  The rest of the class was kind enough to clap for me once I'd completed the move which was both nice and welcoming.  Overall, it was different but in all the right ways.  I'm looking forward to more and I'd really encourage you to give it a try if you ever get the opportunity.  

Fitness Class

Aerial Yoga

 
All the strength training talk from Jody and Faith was inspiring me right about the time that a Groupon came up for the Diva Den.  The place is near my house, the Groupon was $32 for a month of unlimited classes and they had class that I was interested on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday around 5:30.  So, I bought one!  Then, when I was exploring their website, I found another deal for a week's free pass.  Add it all up and I have pre-registered for SIX weeks of classes!  


Tonight was the first class and it was called Sock It To Her.  Basically, there were eight of us in a big class room with eight poles and no shoes.  It was primarily a leg workout with particular focus on the inner and outer thigh areas but I can already feel that we did some good stuff for the abs too!  I'm impressed by how shredded my legs feel in just a thirty minute workout.  


Tomorrow, I'll be going to a 45 minute Pilates class and then Wednesday will be a 45 minute aerial yoga class.  I'm very anxious to see what the heck aerial yoga is all about...  stay tuned for updates on the other classes. 

Biking!

My fellow bloggers, Faith and Bones, are both accomplished bikers.  Faith doesn't drive so she does the vast majority of her commuting (both work and personal) by bike.  Jody and her boyfriend Eli have biked the McKenzie River Trail which is a 26 mile trail with several highly technical stretches.  I, however, have not been on a bike much since I was 15 years old.  

About two years ago, I decided that I wanted to start biking again to add a cross training  element to my running.  So, out we ran to the bike shop and bought two bikes.  Which have pretty much sat uselessly in our garage ever since.  After a trip to the bike shop last night to have my tires filled and get some advice, all that changed today!  

As Ty and Onya headed out on their three mile run, I was right beside them on my bike!  It was wonderful - it felt really good.  Growing up, my step-dad and I did a lot of biking.  I fondly remember the beat up, faded blue pouch on his handlebars where we could stow our books on the way to the library or the little treasures that we found along the way.  As we passed a bunch of fallen apples, I really wished that I had something like that so that I could bring some home to the chickens.  Once that childhood memory was triggered, I found that I was reliving some of the joy that I had as a youngster biking.  My mom never joined us so it was something that was just for the two of us and it was a special bonding time whether we were out running errands or on a ride for fun.  My step-dad, as seen below, was a man ahead of his time with the bike commuting thing!  

Joe and Jess dressed up for Halloween - he was dressed as a member of Devo and I was a witch;). 

That little tangent down memory lane aside, I'm really excited to incorporate biking into my regular exercise.  After a three mile run at lunch plus tonight's biking, my legs feel good but tired - just the way I like them:).