Archive for August, 2010

Holy Cross Fit, Batman!

{ August 12, 2010 @ 6:36 am } · { Cross Fit, exercise, Gymsperiment }
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My fingers can barely hit the keys.  My arms want to slump back to the sides of my body and stay there forever.  The major muscle groups of my body feel like jello.  The culprit?  Cross Fit.

This morning I went to my strength & core gymsperiment.  I have taken this class once before from a sub, so it was a little choppy and I didn’t really get a good feel as to whether or not I would like it. I really wanted to try it from the original instructor. I walked in and there was a sub, again.  Judi, the sub, quickly stated, “Jenn said you were a willing group and I could do whatever I wanted with you guys.”  So she proceed to lead us through her typical Cross Fit class.  Seriously, Holy Cross Fit, Batman!  I may never walk again.  First she made us do two straight minuets of push ups.  I started all on my toes and shit, but ended on my knees begging for mercy.  From there we shot into sit ups for two minutes.  When I was in high school, we would take the presidential physical fitness test, and we had one minute to do as many sit ups as possible.  I could always do something like 50 in a minute.  I looked like a yo-yo popping up and down.  Today I did 30 in two minutes.  I guess two babies and 22 years of avoiding ab work has caused my yo-yo to lose some of its string.  After that she started us on this crazy plan:  some insane exercise for one minute followed by a minute of rest.  So one minute of “thrusters” (squats with weights), one minute of squats, one minute jumping off and on my step, one minute of throwing my body onto the ground and then hopping back up.  We did this three times.  After the third one I thought, thank God, I survived, at least I can go home now.  Judi had other plans for us.  My brain must have blocked some of this because I can’t really remember what we did.  I know we counted backwards, and there was a bar raised over my head.   And I know it’s difficult to raise or even use my arms now.  But after that we did get to stretch and go home. : )

Would I do this again?  I think I would if I knew what I was getting into from the start.  Having it sprung on me was a bit challenging, especially since my knee doesn’t always want to track right.  Seriously, this class could have been called Squats 101, and that is hard when you have knee issues.  On the flip side, if I’m ever going to be like Batman, able to jump from tall buildings without injury, then I need more cross fit.  I’m looking forward to feeling sore in a few hours.  And maybe this class has inspired me to get out there and go run.  Running seems much easier than this insanity.  I have been avoiding running since Haulin’ Aspen on Sunday.  Today’s advice: Find your inner Batman!  You’re not working hard enough until you start yelling HOLY COW!

Excuses

{ August 10, 2010 @ 2:35 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I can’t go running today because:

1. I’m supposed to rest after a race.

2. My ankle hurts.

3. I’m too tired.

4. The dog kept me up all night.

5. The dog is being a bad running partner, so I won’t go because he’ll keep everyone else up when I leave.

6. One of my kids might feel sick tonight, so I better not plan on waking up early.

7. I just don’t want to go.

8. I have nothing to run from, so why run?

9. I’m too hungry.

10.  I just don’t want to.

Gymsperiment: Water Aerobics

{ August 9, 2010 @ 12:38 pm } · { exercise, Gym, water aerobics, Women }
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I hate the gym.  Over the years I have had many friends take me to classes, or offer to join the gym with me.  I have always said, No.  Perhaps I just fear that if I go into one of those classes I’ll look ridiculous.  This summer we’re doing daily swim lessons at the gym.  In order to “legally” go to the pool after lessons and swim, I decided to buy a family gym membership.  Along with this pass I have decided to conduct a “gymsperiment.”  For the month of August I am going to try different classes in the hopes that I will find something that I enjoy doing.

Yesterday I ran the new seven miler at Haulin’ Aspen.  Traditionally, the day after a race is supposed to be for rest.  With that in mind, I thought, Water Aerobics is like rest, right? That is unless you have a teacher who expects perfection:  she doesn’t want to see you bouncing when you should be walking, or making fists when you should be creating more resistance by using open hands.  I had no idea how hard core water aerobics was.  I guess I owe my mom an apology (for many things) “I’m sorry I ever doubted that H2O class was less than exercise.”  To make matters worse, I was greedily taking advice from the 60 plus year old woman next to me who was schooling my butt.  She offered one tidbit of advice early on and then I just hounded her every time the instructor gave us a new assignment.  She attends class everyday!  Her last bit of advice was, “Buy water shoes so you stop slipping.”  Yes, it was like dancing on a slip slide for a complete hour.  And every time I tried to get away with slacking off a little, either the instructor or my new dance partner would come over and correct my form.

If I decide to try it again, I think I’ll have to attempt the deep end.  After class the instructor told me, “Make sure you stretch your calf muscles all day, you’ll be surprised how much of a workout this was.”  So much for resting my legs.  Maybe I’ll sleep in tomorrow.

Good Thoughts:

1. I finished 34 out of 51 women in the 7-miler at Haulin’ Aspen.

2. Rob took the kids on a breakfast picnic while I was racing.  I think they’ll talk about it until they re 20.  It was adorable.

Haulin’ Aspen

{ August 8, 2010 @ 2:56 pm } · { exercise, Haulin' Aspen, Running }
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We arrived at Miller Elementary just in time to wait in the 10 minute port-a-potty line. Luckily our 7 miler didn’t start for another 40 minutes. After re-locating our water bottles we made our way to the start line to watch the half marathoners take off. I didn’t recognize the crowd. After doing so many races around town, I usually know a few people, but today had a different feel. The crowd was young. And I think they were out-of-towners. They had that oxygen-deprived look in their eyes. And they seemed to be panting ever so slightly as they crossed the street to enter the trail. I’m still amazed that I can run 10 miles at this altitude, but find I’m out of breath at the top of my stairs.  I watched from the sidewalk and cheered for runners.  I even saw someone I knew, a first timer–Anna.  Afterward, I sat down on the curb and waited for my race to start.  The cutest woman came over to me looking very concerned and said, “Aren’t you going?  The race started!”  I love moms.  I gently explained that I was in the next race, the half of a half marathon race. I sat on my curb and found my locals.  The ever awe inspiring Connie, and many other friendly faces from the learn to run group.  We found more friendly learn to runners working as volunteers along the way.  It felt great to find smiling faces.  The first four miles were on Phill’s trail, which is where I ran the Dirty Half in June, so I tried to remember to keep my feet up .  It was a true roller coaster with lots of short steep inclines and declines.  I felt great unless the sun got through the trees. That’s when I remembered to pour water over my head instead of in my mouth.  Once we found the first (and only) water station I realized we were only about two and half miles away from the finish line.  I dumped water on my head and took off into the heart of Shevlin Park.  At one point we found a perfectly tree-lined path to run down and we crossed the river on a rail-less bridge carved out of a fallen tree-trunk. I absolutely love running in Shevlin Park.  At the mile six marker I paused to check on my friend and have a quick sip of water.  The trail in front of me was flat and familiar, I knew there was nothing but a nice long flat stretch and a short, but steep decline to the finish.  Something in me clicked and I took off.  According to my Nike plus band I ran an 8.30 mile.  It probably had me confused with someone else, but I have to admit I couldn’t believe how quickly me feet and legs were moving.  As I ran down into the crowd and over the finish line I felt great.  I even had a beer and ate some brownies before catching the shuttle back to my car.  If you’re in Bend in August you should try the Haulin’ Aspen race.  Next year, I think I’ll run the half, who knows maybe by then I’ll be running marathons.  This is where you roll on the ground laughing.

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