Some people who know me claim I'm never in a bad mood.
My sister claims they must not know me very well.
I try hard to stay upbeat and optimistic, but I'm not perfect and they are plenty of things that will upset me or put me in to a funk. One such event happened occurred this morning.
But this isn't a post about getting upset. It's about what I do to deal with it.
After what happened this morning I could have sulked, cried, wallowed, or carried my bad mood all day. Instead I chose to go to the gym and work it out.
I'd just finished a 35 minute yoga DVD, my legs were tired from 5 days of skiing and snowboarding, and I had a lot to accomplish today. All valid excuses for skipping the gym; however, I had a strong reason to go: I'd feel far better afterward.
I threw myself in to a spin class and as the instructor told me to push myself, I did. The louder the music got, the higher I dialed the resistance, and the harder I pedaled, the better I felt. I channeled my emotions physically and as my body tired and my legs weakened, I felt myself letting go of everything. By the end of class, I no longer had the energy to care.
This isn't the first time I've used exercise to get over something and it certainly won't be the last. There's something cathartic about working out - perhaps it's that, regardless of how uncontrollable other facets of life may be, strength and endurance are earned. The harder you push, the easier things get. If only that were true of everything in my chaotic and unpredictable life.rr
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
It's Like Riding a Bike
Muscle memory is a funny thing. Even after years of not doing something, your body remembers how it should feel and will start to make corrections whenever you try it again.
Yesterday was my first day back on the slopes in two years. I have been skiing off-and-on for 24 years and this was the longest I've ever gone between runs. It was strange not to feel completely confident and wonder what I was capable of. My first run was extremely rusty - my movements were off and unfamiliar. I worried I would be awkwardly and uncomfortably making my way down the mountain all day. My second and third runs were similar, but I could feel my arms and legs auto-correcting, trying to fine-tune my movements in ways my brain wasn't yet comprehending. By my fourth run, my brain caught up. My movements became more fluid and I knew what I needed to do to feel better and more in control. I was making a comeback.
Throughout the rest of the day I felt better and pushed myself in more difficult terrain. My first mogul field was ugly - it was icy and despite the hundreds of lunges and squats I've done in the gym my legs were ill-prepared. But I tried again, identifying what I was doing wrong and slowly improving. By the end of the day, my abilities weren't where they were two years ago, but I knew with enough work they would be.
Today was a different story - on my second run I felt completely comfortable. I was gliding down the slope, my motions fluid, my skis an extension of my legs. My poles planted effortlessly; my arms and shoulders moved on auto-pilot, synchronizing with my legs and hips. I could feel myself in complete control. My form needed no correction.
Not all of my runs were as perfect as that one - I had a few less-than-graceful moments in some advanced terrain - but it gave me hope that one day soon I'll be hopping through mogul fields, making it look easy, just as I used to.
Yesterday was my first day back on the slopes in two years. I have been skiing off-and-on for 24 years and this was the longest I've ever gone between runs. It was strange not to feel completely confident and wonder what I was capable of. My first run was extremely rusty - my movements were off and unfamiliar. I worried I would be awkwardly and uncomfortably making my way down the mountain all day. My second and third runs were similar, but I could feel my arms and legs auto-correcting, trying to fine-tune my movements in ways my brain wasn't yet comprehending. By my fourth run, my brain caught up. My movements became more fluid and I knew what I needed to do to feel better and more in control. I was making a comeback.
Throughout the rest of the day I felt better and pushed myself in more difficult terrain. My first mogul field was ugly - it was icy and despite the hundreds of lunges and squats I've done in the gym my legs were ill-prepared. But I tried again, identifying what I was doing wrong and slowly improving. By the end of the day, my abilities weren't where they were two years ago, but I knew with enough work they would be.
Today was a different story - on my second run I felt completely comfortable. I was gliding down the slope, my motions fluid, my skis an extension of my legs. My poles planted effortlessly; my arms and shoulders moved on auto-pilot, synchronizing with my legs and hips. I could feel myself in complete control. My form needed no correction.
Not all of my runs were as perfect as that one - I had a few less-than-graceful moments in some advanced terrain - but it gave me hope that one day soon I'll be hopping through mogul fields, making it look easy, just as I used to.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Lessons Learned
This week has been trying, to say the least, but I managed to stay on track and work out Monday - Friday.
On Wednesday I learned the true value of social running groups. I'd had a bad day at work and all I wanted to do was go home and curl up on the couch, but I promised some friends that I'd go to run club. Reluctantly, I dragged myself to lululemon and was met with... ugly Christmas sweaters. My mood brightened immediately.
There was no way I would have worked out on my own that evening and that would have been to my detriment. As each mile passed, I felt the stress from my day melt away.
Yesterday I learned how far I've come. During Bikram I was completely focused on my practice, barely noticing anyone around me. This may not be impressive to most people, but when I first started practicing yoga I spent a lot of my class looking around the room at everyone else and trying to figure out how much time had passed. When I fell out of a pose, instead of getting frustrated, like I had in the past, I simply got back in to it. My patience and ability to focus made the class far more enjoyable and reminded me of why I started practicing yoga in the first place.
This morning I learned the value of making a plan and sticking to it. It's been a bit over a year since I started working with my trainer and each time we meet I can feel myself getting stronger. I'm lifting heavier weights and using machines I would have been far too intimidated to try a year ago. When I first started training with Rob, I thought I'd meet with him for a year, then train on my own; now our sessions have become so ingrained in my weekly routine that I can't imagine foregoing them.
Part of reaching the end of a year is reflecting on experiences and lessons learned. I like what I'm seeing so far.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workouts 12-15 of 22 completed.
On Wednesday I learned the true value of social running groups. I'd had a bad day at work and all I wanted to do was go home and curl up on the couch, but I promised some friends that I'd go to run club. Reluctantly, I dragged myself to lululemon and was met with... ugly Christmas sweaters. My mood brightened immediately.
Photo c/o the lululemon Bethesda Run Club Facebook page
There was no way I would have worked out on my own that evening and that would have been to my detriment. As each mile passed, I felt the stress from my day melt away.
Yesterday I learned how far I've come. During Bikram I was completely focused on my practice, barely noticing anyone around me. This may not be impressive to most people, but when I first started practicing yoga I spent a lot of my class looking around the room at everyone else and trying to figure out how much time had passed. When I fell out of a pose, instead of getting frustrated, like I had in the past, I simply got back in to it. My patience and ability to focus made the class far more enjoyable and reminded me of why I started practicing yoga in the first place.
This morning I learned the value of making a plan and sticking to it. It's been a bit over a year since I started working with my trainer and each time we meet I can feel myself getting stronger. I'm lifting heavier weights and using machines I would have been far too intimidated to try a year ago. When I first started training with Rob, I thought I'd meet with him for a year, then train on my own; now our sessions have become so ingrained in my weekly routine that I can't imagine foregoing them.
Part of reaching the end of a year is reflecting on experiences and lessons learned. I like what I'm seeing so far.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workouts 12-15 of 22 completed.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Happy Monday!
I'm usually the poster child for having a case of the Mondays, but today was pretty excellent and here's why:
1) I got in to the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler
2) I got more good news about a running-related project I'm undertaking... updates to come!
3) I had a great ride at spin class this evening
Sometimes all it takes is a few good things to make an ordinary day exceptional.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 11 of 22 completed.
1) I got in to the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler
2) I got more good news about a running-related project I'm undertaking... updates to come!
3) I had a great ride at spin class this evening
Sometimes all it takes is a few good things to make an ordinary day exceptional.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 11 of 22 completed.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Week in Review
It's been a whirlwind week around here. Between holiday parties, work, and workouts I've barely had time to sleep, let alone take inventory of what's been happening. I managed to get three workouts in on Monday - Wednesday, took a break yesterday, and had every intention of getting back in to the swing of things today. When I woke up with an overall tired, achy feeling I knew that wouldn't be happening.
My point is sometimes your body needs a break. I try to schedule my workouts and rest days in advance, but every now and then my body tells me to push it on a rest day or take the day off when I had planned a workout. I've learned the hard way to listen to these feelings, despite the logistical issues they may pose. Some of my best workouts have been on days I'd planned on taking off... and some of my worst have been when I wasn't feeling well and pushed myself to work out anyway. My general rule is to work out if my symptoms are above my shoulders only (unless I'm light-headed), and take the day off if I'm feeling achy and/or my lungs are congested. Another guideline is to ask yourself if you would feel better or worse after working out - today's answer was definitely "worse."
So I'll be spending the day resting and drinking tea. Hopefully I'll be back on track in a day or two!
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workouts 8-10 of 22 completed.
My point is sometimes your body needs a break. I try to schedule my workouts and rest days in advance, but every now and then my body tells me to push it on a rest day or take the day off when I had planned a workout. I've learned the hard way to listen to these feelings, despite the logistical issues they may pose. Some of my best workouts have been on days I'd planned on taking off... and some of my worst have been when I wasn't feeling well and pushed myself to work out anyway. My general rule is to work out if my symptoms are above my shoulders only (unless I'm light-headed), and take the day off if I'm feeling achy and/or my lungs are congested. Another guideline is to ask yourself if you would feel better or worse after working out - today's answer was definitely "worse."
So I'll be spending the day resting and drinking tea. Hopefully I'll be back on track in a day or two!
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workouts 8-10 of 22 completed.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Jingling All the Way
This morning I ran the Jingle All the Way 8K, but I almost didn't make it to the start.
Last night I set out all of my race gear, packed my bag to check, and set my alarm. Or so I thought. 8 hours later, a phone call from Emily woke me up. She was wondering where I was because we'd agreed to meet 40 minutes before the start and I was nowhere to be found. As it turns out, my alarm was set for the wrong day. I leapt out of bed, threw on my gear, and ran out the door. I made it to gear check with 15 minutes to spare.
The forecast called for a cool, rainy morning, but it was overcast and in the mid-50s before the race. The race started 10 minutes late, but no one seemed to mind. We were too busy checking out everyone's holiday-themed outfits.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 7 of 22 completed.
Last night I set out all of my race gear, packed my bag to check, and set my alarm. Or so I thought. 8 hours later, a phone call from Emily woke me up. She was wondering where I was because we'd agreed to meet 40 minutes before the start and I was nowhere to be found. As it turns out, my alarm was set for the wrong day. I leapt out of bed, threw on my gear, and ran out the door. I made it to gear check with 15 minutes to spare.
The forecast called for a cool, rainy morning, but it was overcast and in the mid-50s before the race. The race started 10 minutes late, but no one seemed to mind. We were too busy checking out everyone's holiday-themed outfits.
Lots of santa hats and antlers at the start
I have to give the other runners a lot of credit because most people started in the appropriate area for their pace. We didn't have many slower runners blocking our way and also didn't have many faster runners blowing by us. Emily and I kept a slow, steady pace, somewhere in the neighborhood of 9:55, through the first 4 miles. The race had a bunch of double-backs, which I usually despise, but they gave us an opportunity to spot our friends and people-watch. Some highlights were a menorah hat, juggling santa, and group of runners in bunny-print onesies.
I decided to push things harder the last mile and was able to drop about 20 seconds off of my overall pace per mile. I attribute a lot of that to the all-out sprint I started as I heard the Cupid Shuffle approaching the finish line. Unfortunately, no one was dancing.
Sweaty reindeer at the finish
I found Emily and we headed off to meet some friends and American Odyssey/Ragnar teammates at brunch. When we got there I noticed two of our AOR teammates were also wearing their race shirts and had to snap a photo.
This race was a fun way to close out the fall racing season and catch up with friends. I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about it next year!
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 7 of 22 completed.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Yoga at Home
Thursday's workout left me pretty sore and I debated taking Friday off, ultimately deciding it would be worth it to do some yoga and stretch out my muscles. None of the times my bikram studio and gym were offering classes worked with my schedule, so I decided to try a DVD I got in my Popsugar "Must Have" box last month.
I don't have any extra space in my condo, so moving furniture around to create a space to practice was a bit of a workout itself. I could have done with more space than I had, but I did the best with what I could.
I probably should have done a bit more research (or read the DVD case), because I was in for something far different than the serene yoga session I had in mind. Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy DVD is described as "yoga meets toning to sculpt sleek muscles." Whoops. I chose to do the 55 minute "fully loaded challenge" and was feeling the burn within the first fifteen minutes. That said, the video was pretty easy to follow and didn't require advance knowledge of yoga (though it certainly helps).
I still prefer going to a class, but I'll definitely use the DVD again when work picks up and I can only work out at crazy hours. It will be nice to have an option other than cardio machines after a long day in the office.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 6 of 22 completed.
I don't have any extra space in my condo, so moving furniture around to create a space to practice was a bit of a workout itself. I could have done with more space than I had, but I did the best with what I could.
My home "yoga studio"
I probably should have done a bit more research (or read the DVD case), because I was in for something far different than the serene yoga session I had in mind. Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy DVD is described as "yoga meets toning to sculpt sleek muscles." Whoops. I chose to do the 55 minute "fully loaded challenge" and was feeling the burn within the first fifteen minutes. That said, the video was pretty easy to follow and didn't require advance knowledge of yoga (though it certainly helps).
I still prefer going to a class, but I'll definitely use the DVD again when work picks up and I can only work out at crazy hours. It will be nice to have an option other than cardio machines after a long day in the office.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 6 of 22 completed.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Kicking Off the Holiday Season
Last night was my first holiday party of the 2012 season. If it's any indication of what's to come, I'm in for a lot of fun, festive cocktails, and unhealthy (but extremely delicious) food. That all sounds super until I think about it in light of the fact that I will be laying out on a beach in Mexico in less than a month.
I'm no teetotaler and I love food, so not drinking and refusing to eat at parties is out of the question. I want to try everything! So what's a girl to do?
My plan is to keep working out regularly and eat as healthy as possible on my "off days." Ever since I got back from Morocco I've been craving fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy, but hearty, meals. I've been eating a lot of baked fish and chicken, gilled meats, quinoa, and salads. As for vegetables, I'll take them any way I can, but prefer them fresh or steamed. Hopefully this will cancel out some of my bad eating habits at parties. I can't help myself when it comes to dips and cheese trays.
This week I've done pretty well with workouts. Run club on Wednesday was a great reminder that I don't have to work out alone - it's far more fun with friends! I had a great time catching up with the lululemon Bethesda run club crew during our chilly evening run. Our run was after dark and parts were in quiet areas where we could see the stars. It reminded me a lot of my night legs during relays, except I had some great people telling entertaining stories to keep me company. It also made me feel much better about my 8k coming up on Sunday.
Yesterday I worked out with Rob during lunch. It was a tough workout, heavy on squats, lunges, and balancing exercises to get me ready for my ski trip. I am starting to get a little concerned because my left hamstring has been acting up the past few workouts. It gives a little warning (not much), then seizes up. If anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear them.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workouts 4 and 5 of 22 completed.
I'm no teetotaler and I love food, so not drinking and refusing to eat at parties is out of the question. I want to try everything! So what's a girl to do?
My plan is to keep working out regularly and eat as healthy as possible on my "off days." Ever since I got back from Morocco I've been craving fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy, but hearty, meals. I've been eating a lot of baked fish and chicken, gilled meats, quinoa, and salads. As for vegetables, I'll take them any way I can, but prefer them fresh or steamed. Hopefully this will cancel out some of my bad eating habits at parties. I can't help myself when it comes to dips and cheese trays.
This week I've done pretty well with workouts. Run club on Wednesday was a great reminder that I don't have to work out alone - it's far more fun with friends! I had a great time catching up with the lululemon Bethesda run club crew during our chilly evening run. Our run was after dark and parts were in quiet areas where we could see the stars. It reminded me a lot of my night legs during relays, except I had some great people telling entertaining stories to keep me company. It also made me feel much better about my 8k coming up on Sunday.
Yesterday I worked out with Rob during lunch. It was a tough workout, heavy on squats, lunges, and balancing exercises to get me ready for my ski trip. I am starting to get a little concerned because my left hamstring has been acting up the past few workouts. It gives a little warning (not much), then seizes up. If anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear them.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workouts 4 and 5 of 22 completed.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday... Funday?
Mondays are usually pretty bad. The weekend is over, I inevitably oversleep, and it's back to the weekly grind. Yesterday was different. While my day still started slowly, I spent my morning entering the lottery for the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler and signing up for the Maryland Double, which consists of the Frederick and Baltimore half marathons. I find there's nothing that motivates me to work out more over the winter than looking forward to spring races.
After my morning race sign-up spree I knew I needed to hit the gym. I decided on an hour-long cycle challenge class. The class was much better than last week and I got a great workout in, finishing in time to watch the Redskins win.
Monday was a fun day, indeed.
For those of you counting:
MYB workout 3 of 22 completed.
After my morning race sign-up spree I knew I needed to hit the gym. I decided on an hour-long cycle challenge class. The class was much better than last week and I got a great workout in, finishing in time to watch the Redskins win.
Monday was a fun day, indeed.
For those of you counting:
MYB workout 3 of 22 completed.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Run It Out
Yesterday I was having a bad day. After a few hours of sulking, followed by a few hours of catching up with friends, I realized the only cure to my Sunday blues would be a trip to the gym.
I was feeling pretty sore from my barre method class, so I didn't want to push things too hard. I was resigned to pedaling along on the elliptical when I remembered I have an 8K coming up next weekend. So I jumped on the treadmill and hoped for the best.
Whenever I take a long break from running I worry about what will happen when I return. Will I be significantly weaker? Will I injure myself because my muscles won't know what to do? Will I be slow and hate it? Luckily, my legs knew what to do and I was able to knock out 4 miles at a 9:13/mile pace. Not my best work, but not too shabby for taking time off. It also helped my mood immensely.
I'm not a big treadmill fan, so I cut things off at 4 miles and spent some time on the ergometer. For those of you who aren't familiar with the erg, it's an indoor rowing machine and one of my favorite machines. If you're doing it properly, you will work your legs, arms, and back. If you're doing it wrong, you'll probably end up hurting your back. It's a lot of fun once you know what you're doing, burns a lot of calories, and is a great way to mix up your cardio routine. Just have someone show you how to do it properly before you begin. I have a lot of former rowers in my life, so I've had a lot of tutorials over the years. I highly recommend it.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 2 of 22 complete
I was feeling pretty sore from my barre method class, so I didn't want to push things too hard. I was resigned to pedaling along on the elliptical when I remembered I have an 8K coming up next weekend. So I jumped on the treadmill and hoped for the best.
Whenever I take a long break from running I worry about what will happen when I return. Will I be significantly weaker? Will I injure myself because my muscles won't know what to do? Will I be slow and hate it? Luckily, my legs knew what to do and I was able to knock out 4 miles at a 9:13/mile pace. Not my best work, but not too shabby for taking time off. It also helped my mood immensely.
I'm not a big treadmill fan, so I cut things off at 4 miles and spent some time on the ergometer. For those of you who aren't familiar with the erg, it's an indoor rowing machine and one of my favorite machines. If you're doing it properly, you will work your legs, arms, and back. If you're doing it wrong, you'll probably end up hurting your back. It's a lot of fun once you know what you're doing, burns a lot of calories, and is a great way to mix up your cardio routine. Just have someone show you how to do it properly before you begin. I have a lot of former rowers in my life, so I've had a lot of tutorials over the years. I highly recommend it.
For those of you counting:
MYB Challenge workout 2 of 22 complete
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Barre-d
Yesterday I went to my first barre class and oh my god was it hard. I had high expectations - ballet dancers are in insanely good shape and I'd been warned by multiple people to expect a tough class - but this class far surpassed it. I may not be in the shape I used to be in, but I think I'm still in decent shape and I had a hard time getting through the class without taking any breaks. It's definitely not a class I could take every day.
The class was a mix of ballet, pilates (not that I've ever taken a pilates class, but this is what some other ladies said), and yoga. I recognized some of the poses from various yoga and ballet classes I've taken over the years, but the sequence they were in was totally new. We used hand weights for a lot of the arm workouts and I managed to get a good workout in using only 1 pound weights. Yes, 1 pound. I was surprised too. The class alternated between arm, core, and leg workouts, often incorporating multiple muscle groups in to single exercises.
The studio, Barre3, is a great space in Georgetown. It has somewhat of a rustic look, with stone pillars and exposed wood beams in the ceiling, but has the traditional wood floors, mirrored walls, and barres of a ballet studio. It was a welcoming space with a large area in back for storing your stuff and changing. They also had a childcare area. If you're looking to check out a barre method class I would definitely recommend this studio. The $25 per class fee is a bit steep, but they run a lot of specials. I was able attend a special class for only $10.
The class was a mix of ballet, pilates (not that I've ever taken a pilates class, but this is what some other ladies said), and yoga. I recognized some of the poses from various yoga and ballet classes I've taken over the years, but the sequence they were in was totally new. We used hand weights for a lot of the arm workouts and I managed to get a good workout in using only 1 pound weights. Yes, 1 pound. I was surprised too. The class alternated between arm, core, and leg workouts, often incorporating multiple muscle groups in to single exercises.
The studio, Barre3, is a great space in Georgetown. It has somewhat of a rustic look, with stone pillars and exposed wood beams in the ceiling, but has the traditional wood floors, mirrored walls, and barres of a ballet studio. It was a welcoming space with a large area in back for storing your stuff and changing. They also had a childcare area. If you're looking to check out a barre method class I would definitely recommend this studio. The $25 per class fee is a bit steep, but they run a lot of specials. I was able attend a special class for only $10.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Moving My Booty
Forgive me for my absence. It was tough going to get workouts in through jet lag, sickness, and the parade of gluttony that was Thanksgiving weekend. I managed to squeeze in a 10K Turkey Chase and a session with Rob, but other than that I haven't done a thing. It feels awful.
I need to get myself back in shape before my ski trip on the 21st. There's nothing worse than having to leave the slopes early or stick to easier trails because you're out of shape and your body can only handle so much activity in one day.
As I was telling myself I need to get back on the trails and in the gym regardless of what holiday-related excuses come my way, I spotted the Move Your Booty Challenge. The challenge is 22 workouts before 2013, starting today. This is perfect for my purposes - I'll get in most of the workouts before my trip and keep up the good work while I'm on vacation. I think working up a sweat in mogul fields can count as a workout - it certainly feels like I've been doing hours of squats afterward!
First up: a barre method class this afternoon. I've heard it's a lot harder than it looks, so I'll be sure to report back.
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