Physique 57, yoga and biking

These are all activities I like to do on my rest days...right, when I should be resting! However, torture seems to be my middle name so when someone suggests a class, I can't say no.

Monday was a rest day, just with an advanced yoga class and me teaching a class thrown in.

Today, I trudged over to Shambhala for a wonderful 7am class with Sarah S. My outfit told the story - I had on blue rain boots, blue lululemon crops and a purple Helly Hanson rain jacket. pretty stellar fashion show.

After run/walking there at 6:30 am, forgetting that it's 1.5 miles away, I proceeded to sweat the entire class. Then, i hopped on a train and met Jeremy at Equinox for an hr bike workout. He decided I wasn't sweating enough so he upped the anty and made me work harder - by standing up on the bike, going faster and and adding resistance. I, of course, listen and do what I'm told.

Then, I decided that since I'm in Manhattan, and it's rare to find me on the isle of Manhattan, that I should take a class that I can't get in Brooklyn. Romina was going to Physique 57 and I decided, sure, why not?

HOLY GOD!!!!!!! I haven't done Physique 57 in a few months and it showed. You think you have strong legs but you don't. it's crazy. it's a workout that involves small movements using a ballet bar, a soft volleyball size ball and pain. your legs shake and quiver and it's unreal.

off to bed for a 7:30am workout.

week 12

The week started off great. I think i was on a high from the a great long run and having a fun weekend. The week ended pretty poorly.

Mon: 4 mile run - a solo run which was very much needed. However, then I did a Bikram yoga class and holy shit, all i can say is GROSS! It smelled and there was so much sweat. I didn't really get what we were doing and couldn't get into it b/c I was so hot and the room was so stuffy. Not to mention the fact that every time I looked forward, i saw the crotch of the woman in front of me and the old dude next to me was sweating like the river Nile. Not my favorite way to sweat but I did it. check!

Tues: Track workout - glorious last track workout topped off with ice cream and getting lost in the Red Hook projects. (7.5 miles)

Wed: 4 mile run with Jess around Dumbo, Flushing and up Vanderbilt to the lululemon Showroom. Then we met the lulu run club and did about 2.5 miles.

Thurs: bike ride! i finally got back on my bike. rode 15 miles around Prospect Park. My legs were happy.

Fri: 3 mile run to pilates class. Jess and I took an Ellie Herman pilates class. Highly recommend her - if you don't know where your core is or how to engage it, she'll show you.

Sat: 21 miles. Ugh, this felt pretty crappy. It was hot and humid and by mile 16 I was done. I had to walk every 10 mins or so. Finished it and then rushed off to work. Didn't help that i was on my feet for the next 12 hrs.

Sun: One Mile Continental Race. I had a goal here, a BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) around this race and I didn't make it. I didn't even come close. I knew it was going to be a rough race when I woke up and then when I was warming up and my legs weren't turning over. I ran it in 6:19minutes. Okay, but not my goal, which was sub 6 minutes.

The race is awesome and I love it. It's one mile along 5th Ave, from 80th-60th St.

rounding out the week: 44 miles, 2 yoga classes, one pilates class and 1 bike ride

graduation day

Tonight was our last track workout. 10 mind-numbing, chest throbbing, puke inspiring workouts. Jess and I had set a goal to run with the A group by the end and we did it! Our times were in line with the A group and we are thrilled.

After, we went for ice cream at Louie G's in Red Hook and then got a little lost on the way home. We got a nice tour of the Red Hook housing projects....

For some reason, i can't remember all of my times. It was dark by 7:30, when we were running our last lap. I have no idea why those 2 thoughts go together but I feel like the darkness has something to do with me not being able to remember my times. haha.
2x600: 2:20, 2:18
2x800: 3:04, 3:06 (i think...)
2:600: 2:14, 2:16

Now we have to do a few more weeks of track workouts by ourselves....stay tuned.

glorious rest day

well, it was a rest day for me - yoga and walking. I dragged my sister to lululemon's last outdoor yoga class in the Prospect Park on Sunday morning. It was a beautiful day and my legs enjoyed the stretch and mini vinyasa flow. Kathryn, on the other hand, wasn't too thrilled. She's a runner as well but hasn't gotten into yoga yet so the poses were a tad challenging.

Also, it felt great to walk 4-5miles. My knees didn't hurt after the run but they definitely didn't want to run on Sunday so walking was good and kept me loose.

20 miler

Jess and I finally did it - we completed a long run feeling strong and without being bitch-asses. We are extremely proud of ourselves. We did the 20miles in 2:53 and finished the last mile at a good clip. Another aspect of this run to point out is that half of it was uphill. And not the kind where you see the end; the uphils were the slow, gradual kind that gives Park Slope it's name.

We choose to keep the run in Brooklyn this weekend for a change of scenery. I've heard that people run around the Greenwood Cemetery and it's a decent loop so we went for it. Starting at Borough Hall, we looped down to Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge Park and then down Furman to Atlantic to Henry. At 9th we cut over and thus began the gradual uphill climb to Prospect Park. One loop in the Park and then we were out Ocean Parkway and over to Greenwood Cemetery. The entire flipping loop is uphill!! Stopped at mile 13 to buy some water - the dude at the gas station seemed impressed that we were running.

Ran back into the Park, up the hill on the east side (for the second time) and then ran out at 9th. We choose this route to end so we benefited from the downhill. I like to forget about the up and downs in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill. The roads (Henry, Clinton, Court) start uphill and then a slight downhill and then they incline again before hitting Atlantic.

We ended at the Brooklyn Bridge Park and then hobbled up the world's steepest (after a 20 mile run) hill and treated ourselves to Gatorade and a coffee.

Sidenote - do not run in grey running crops or colored tops! Stopping to stretch on the sidewalk, Jess pointed out my crotch and boob sweat. It looked like a peed my pants. Gotta talk to lulu about their colors and sweat. the Swiftly Tech wasn't helping my situation out either...i was a hot, sweaty mess and it showed.

1:30

Tonight's track workout is proof that i have gotten faster after 8 weeks of track workouts. I ran our first set of 400s (4x400) in 1:41, 1:38, 1:40, 1:41, then I did a mile in 6:38 AND then I ran 4x400 in 1:30, 1:29, 1:30, 1:30!! i felt sluggish on the last 2 but kept up the pace. very happy with myself.

now i'm icing and stretching my legs.

Saturday in SoHo

Due to a hectic weekend, Jess and I moved our long run to Monday. That left Saturday open for a "fun" run. I miss the SoHo run group so I joined them on Saturday. Romina, Jess and Jeremy - I miss running with you!

We ran 7 miles along the West Side Highway and then I raced back to Brooklyn for an outdoor yoga class with Derek Beres. It was the best thing for tired, sore legs.

track

we've got 2 more left and they are not getting easier.

this week we did 3x2k (5 laps around the track) at 10k pace. My 10k pace is faster than I thought. I ran them in 8:59, 8:40, 8:54.

Felt pretty good and stayed consistent. Jess beat me the second and third set by about 5 seconds. She loves the longer set workouts.

the weather is getting cooler and I love it!

Dedicating this one to Hurricane Earl

We didn't get rain, just wind and beautiful weather. Earl, you're my favorite hurricane. Jess and I banged out 18 miles (on a sweet tour of Manhattan) this morning and feel great.

Needing to switch it up a bit, we took the A train up to 125th St and Morningside Heights to start our run. Jess has been having some back issues since I forced her to do box jumps and burpees with me (you can't do those torturous activities alone). However, she toughed it out to run 18 with me - and stay on marathon training schedule.

After a quick stop at McD's (where the women working were so nice and let us use their bathroom) we were off. Ran around Morningside Heights park and then out to Riverside Park before cutting into Central Park via 97th St. So nice to run in a different part of the city.

Ran around Central Park, ignoring Harlem Hill and happy to do it. Exited after a loop and a half at 59th St and finished up our run in Battery City via West Side Highway.

We both felt really good...well, I slowed down around mile 15 or so while Jess killed it! and that was AFTER her fall. Yes, Jess took a major digger on our run. We'd just had our 2nd GU and needed to find a water fountain asap. There's an area of WSH just north of Chelsea Piers that has a bit of a speed bump crossing the sidewalk. Mind you, it's painted red and there's a sign AND we've run past it before - both commenting on it. Jess tripped on it. I heard a yell and when I looked back, there she was, flat on her back. She got up and kept going. I didn't want to laugh and I think I was too tired to laugh so we just kept going. Enjoying a good chuckle now though.

We both finished strong this time and i'm feeling great, even after working for 7 hrs at lulu. So, I dedicate this run to Earl and his cool, breezy nature.

tall boys=reward for running

Jess had a great idea on Monday night - let's run and then grab a beer. She ran the Hood to Coast Relay Race out in Portland, OR on Fri/Sat with family and friends and rocked it - running 3 legs of 6, 5 and 7 something miles, uphill, in the dark, backwards, with a monkey on her back. Okay, just kidding on the last two, but you know what I mean. Those relay races are tough and not just physically b/c you are in a van with 5 other people and racing around 200 miles to run and then sit for hours on end. Totally fun just totally draining and a great reason to celebrate our 6 weeks of intense training!

It was so hot during the day that we decided to run at 8:30pm in hopes of not melting on the sidewalk. We put on our speed shorts and coolracer tanks, grabbed our IDs, some cash and were out the door. We ran across the Brooklyn Bridge, bought tall boys (Big Joe style) and walked across the bridge with our well-deserved beers.

Week 7: 8/30-9/5

Started off this week determined to feel good, eat well, and not crash like I have been on the past couple of long runs. The focus this week is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Monday: Joined Mary for a kick boxing class on Monday morning. Jess and I were going to run around 5pm but it was hot, hot, hot so we put off the run till 8:30, after I taught yoga.

Jess just completed the Hood to Coast Relay Race with her friends and family on Fri/Sat. She ran 3 legs, 6 miles, 5 miles and 6 miles, and mostly uphill and in record time!! She's a badass and we needed to celebrate. She had a great idea - run and then drink! So, we ran across the Brooklyn Bridge and then bought tallboys and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Stay classy Brooklyn.

Tuesday: Started off the morning with a yoga class at Mala. It was a bit more intense than I thought it was going to be. We were up in handstands and forearm stands! It was fun but hoping it wouldn't affect my track workout. It didn't - thank god! It was a pretty hot day; hot and humid but being in Florida for a week changed my idea of what is hot and humid. It's gross up here but it's GROSS down there. Drank tons of water and ate really well all day so I was excited for track.

Workout was: 4x600 with 200 recovery and 6x400 with 200 recovery. I was very excited about my running/performance. I ran the 600s: 2:27, 2:24, 2:21, 2:24 and then my 400s were totally consistent!! 400s: 1:34, 1:34, 1:33, 1:34, 1:33, 1:34. And I actually followed my coach's advice and ran the 400s slightly faster than my 5k pace instead of all out sprinting. I'm hoping this translates well for my goal of a sub 6 min mile in 3 weeks at the Continental One Mile race.

Wednesday: We switched it up this morning and did a short run with some boot camp type exercises. My co-worker and friend, Mary, gave me some great exercises for us to do so we did our own outdoor boot camp on Cadman Plaza. gotta love burpees, pushups, box jumps, sit ups, lunges.

We ran that night with the lululemon Run Group. Jess took one group on a long run so she got in about 7 miles, 8 total for the day. I ran 7 total for the day and hung back with the beginner runners. Who, by the way, I'm really proud of - they made it up the Prospect Park hill without a problem! Coconut water by O.N.E revived us. Highly recommend Coconut Water with Passion Fruit. It's very good and not too sweet.

Thurs: 4 mile run and it was rough. I felt tired. Yoga later that night in Prospect Park

Fri: rest day!

Sat: Good long run-for all of us, finally!!!!!! yah 18 miles in 2:34 hrs and we felt great!

Sun: 3 miles on a treadmill and a spin class.

total miles: 42 and I was hydrated the whole week.