Tuesday, January 29, 2013

TRX Fail

I apologize for the dearth of posts - between my computer not working and being injured I've been offline in more ways than one.

Three of my college friends stayed with me in my tiny condo over the weekend.  It wasn't an environment conducive to making healthy choices (hello champagne and baked brie), but my friend Katie and I managed to sneak in a workout on Saturday morning.  She had tried a TRX workout a few weeks ago and loved it, so she searched the DC area for a class we could attend.

Crunch gym in Chevy Chase offers a Saturday morning TRX class and a free one-day guest pass to anyone who signs up on their website.  With literally nothing to lose, we decided to check it out.

Within hours of signing up on the website we were contacted by a membership representative at the gym.  He sent multiple emails, which had us worried that we would be pressured to purchase memberships when we showed up.  We decided to get to the gym early, as we'd been told they would give us a tour.

Um, not so much.

We arrived at the gym about 40 minutes before the TRX class, and without the gym tour (or accompanying hard sell) we were told about, we had a chance to get some cardio and gossip in.  I usually work out alone, so it was a treat to have someone to talk to as I pedaled along.

We made our way to the group fitness room 5 minutes before the class began and most spots were already taken.  I hadn't looked up anything beforehand about TRX, so I had no idea what to expect.  I wish I could have seen the look on my face when Katie brought over straps to clip to a hook on the ceiling.  She had to do it for me!

TRX is a suspension-based workout that uses your body's weight and resistance to build strength.  In most gyms you clip a set of straps to a ceiling and use them to do a wide range of different exercises.  There's a large margin for error and incorrect form with these exercises, so it's important to have someone show you what to do.  A crowded class isn't the best environment to try this equipment for the first time, especially with an instructor that isn't paying much attention to people's form.  Unfortunately, that's what we had on Saturday.

Luckily, I was able to self-correct by looking at the instructor and other people's forms and using the mirror.  Katie was working out next to me and gave me some good feedback.  Unfortunately, it wasn't much of a workout.  I left with more energy than I came with, and wasn't sore at all on Sunday.  Katie told me it wasn't as good as the first class she took - the exercises we did weren't as challenging and the music and instructor weren't as good.  I'll take her word for it, but I'm not sold.  I would try the equipment on my own or with a trainer, but I don't think I'll be trying a TRX class again.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

That "D'oh" Moment

I've long hated the elliptical*.  Regardless of how high I increase the resistance and incline, or what interval workouts I try, it still feels like a long monotonous series of pedal strokes.  While I ellipt, time creeps by more slowly than it did during Thursday night lectures in college.  Luckily, the only time I need to use the elliptical is when I'm injured.

Unluckily, I injured my foot on Saturday night.  I'm still not sure what I did to it - there could be a small fracture on one of my toes or it could be really bad bruising - but after three days without any cardio (I did some weightlifting on Tuesday) I knew I needed to get my heart rate up and my foot wouldn't be able to handle running.  Like it or not, I was relegated to the elliptical.

As I grabbed my keys and gym pass out of my purse, my hand brushed against my iPad.  I immediately thought about how I'd downloaded a movie and how frustrated I was that I couldn't get it to play on my TV from my iPad.  When was I ever going to watch it?

I swear to you, if I was a cartoon I would have had a lightbulb flash above my head at that moment.

I got an iPad mini because it was small, light, and convenient to carry around.  I sometimes see people reading Kindles at the gym, which are around the same size, but it's pretty much impossible to read on a treadmill - I have a hard time focusing on the gym TVs while running.  My iPad is the perfect size to prop up on the elliptical like a magazine and, unlike reading, I don't have to focus too much to watch a movie.

It was perfect.  I got through the first half of the movie (Pitch Perfect - don't judge) and could have kept going if I didn't have to get back to the office.  I'm saving the second half for Friday morning's workout.

Awards season is starting up and I'm desperately behind in watching nominated films.  Something tells me rehabbing my foot is going to be productive in more ways than one...

*I also dislike the stationary bike outside of spin class - sitting down during my workout makes me feel like I'm working less, and those seats start to hurt after a while!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Exciting News!

Click here.

Scroll down until you see "Kristin R."

Yup, that's right, my favorite race director made me an ambassador!!

I've loved running the American Odyssey Relay the past two years and am so excited to have an opportunity to promote and give back to such an amazing race!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Oof

There are 5 times in my life I've taken Advil because I know I'm going to be extremely sore the next day, when:


As I said yesterday, one of my New Years' resolutions is to lift weights more often, so I went to a weights class at the gym this evening.  The description from the club's website says:

BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. This 60-minute workout challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls. You'll get the results you came for – and fast!

I'd never used a barbell before and thought I'd taken it easy using light weights.  Ten minutes in to class, I knew that wasn't the case.  By the end of the squat series, my legs were shaking.  As we cooled down, my triceps were already sore.

The class is broken in to segments, each of which concentrates on a different muscle group or exercise.  I started each segment thinking I might want to increase the weight I was using, and ended it out of breath with tired muscles.  One by one, my legs, triceps, back, and shoulders were worked hard.  By the end of class, I was ready to go home and curl up on the couch.  I stopped by the grocery store on my way home and could barely carry my groceries - it probably didn't help that I bought cartons of milk and orange juice.

I know I'm going to be really sore tomorrow, but it's totally worth it.  I'll be back to that class once my muscles recover - it's a fun way to keep one of my resolutions.

Monday, January 7, 2013

A Belated Start to 2013

I'm a little late on a New Year's resolution post, but I have an excuse...

I started 2013 off in poor form.  Like many 20-somethings, I spent the first half of January 1st in bed, nursing a painful reminder of the prior night's over-indulgence.  When I finally got out of bed and got myself together, I realized I had a lot of work to do.  I'd barely finished unpacking from my ski trip and I was leaving for the airport again at 5am the next day.

I spent four days lying on the beach, eating delicious (not-so-healthy) food, and relaxing in tropical paradise.  It was amazing.  I took that opportunity to unplug and escape, truly leaving behind the stressors associated with my day-to-day life.  And my running shoes.  Which means...

Today was my first workout of 2013.  I may have started the year slowly, but it's time for me to kick things in to gear.  While I was sleeping in and sipping pina coladas, my calendar crept closer to numerous occasions on which I'll need to squeeze myself in to little cocktail dresses and sultry evening gowns.  These dresses fit snugly before my holiday season indulgences and vacation laziness - now the pressure is on to get myself back in to shape.

After my first day back in the office the last thing I wanted to do was go to the gym, but I knew the longer I waited, the harder it would be to get up and start moving.  I dragged myself to spin class and sure enough, the harder I pedaled and the sweatier I got, the better I felt.  I'd forgotten how good a workout feels.

Since it's not a New Year's resolution post without a list of resolutions, here is what I resolve to do in 2013:

  • Complete 22 workouts a month (inspired by the Move Your Booty Challenge I completed last month)
  • Eat healthier
  • Get more sleep
  • Lift more weights
My goals for 2013 include:
  • A half marathon PR
  • A marathon PR
  • Completing a trail race
Happy belated new year!!