You want me to what???

Ever push yourself beyond your comfort zone....I mean REALLY push it? If we followed the advice on a Lu Lu Lemon shopping bag, we would be doing 1 thing per day that scares us....among other words of wisdom to follow. Well, I usually pride myself in pushing to the limit but of course, I think we all do within our own comfort zone. We tell ourselves that little extra bit is a real push when in fact it might just be a nudge. Don't get me wrong, there is no shame in that. After all, we progress or run the risk of being stagnant! Well tonight I was pushed into a definite non comforting area when my Crossfit instructor took one look at the kettle bell I had carefully selected for tonight's metcon andToledo me to put it back and get the heavier one. I dutifully listened of course, jokingly asking if she was trying to kill me lol. Her answer rang true....we will only grow and progress if we push orpurselves beyond what we think we are capable of...only then can you see true gains. After all, the athlete that's lifting that heavier weight got there because they pushed themselves out from a lighter one. Makes sense and while tonight's metcon was hard, I have to admit she was right. I proved it to myself while at the same time, reminding me of why enjoined this gym in the first place.....to push and test my limits!

7th heaven....

Well technically that was 7km today and while I wasn't necessarily in heaven, I felt pretty good.  Sun shinning, breeze blowing - nice summer day for a run.  My legs held up for the second day in a row back into it.  Thank you legs!  It would have been extra nice to jump into a big pool after that run but alas...work calls and the shower had to suffice.  Oh and apparently I'm known as the boss lady who runs in my building lol...okay - I'll take it :) 

Shall we do lunch?

Ahhh....lunch time run near the lakeshore.  Finally a decent day to fit one in - hot but a good breeze to make it bearable.  A short 5km which was what I needed to get in that '1st' fun after my lazy hiatus!  Not gonna lie - felt a bit nautious a few times, but I kept it going.  Lesson for the rest of summer - water always comes with me even for a short run.  I really went through it today!  Now if I can only turn down the red in my face lol.

Confessions of a couch potato!

For the past 2 weeks I have been playing the role of the " couch potato"...and might I add, quite convincingly! Between the work stress, hot humid weather and the not so great food choices....I have really been a tad, shall we say, displaced. I mean, I really need to retrieve this recreational running warrior in me and get my sorry a***** out there! I fear I have signed myself up for two races, one of which occurs in just 2 short weeks and I'm wondering how in the he'll I'm gonna pull this off! One thing's for sure.....I need to haul my butt up off the lazy train and out "there" where I can see some results. I'm not onto give away my money so wish me luck....let's just see if I can do this and not wind up in the physio's office!

Go Long......

There's something deceptive about a long slow run...your heart isn't pounding out of your chest every second and so you almost feel like it's a walk in the park, that is, until you finish and realize just how tired your legs are!  Today's run, a long slow 10km.  A beautiful sunny Sunday morning.  My pre-run smoothie - tried the somewhat Paleo version - cocconut milk, but cheated and added protein powder.  To my surprise, the smoothie kicked in nicely during my run when I would normally feel quite hungry.  Dried appricots in my pouch helped as well.  It's all about finding what works and what doesn't!  I'm especially impressed and grateful my legs help up today considering I just ran 6km last night.  

Passed a lemonade stand - note to self, bring money next time.  Those kids looked like they were hoping to make a buck :)  The great part about a morning run, I'm done - and can enjoy my day!

I love sprinklers!

Just put in an 8km run on this bright sunny beautiful June day.  Can I just say.....thank heavens for sprinklers and shady trees!!!!  It was a hot one!

Notes to self:
- please drink way more water during the day
- Gelato may or may not be the best pre run snack - just puttin that one out there
- I love love love love my new Vikram 5 Finger shoes - like running on a cloud even when your legs hurt and your heart feels like jumping from your chest!
- Your brain and body try to play tricks on you when you're tired......The Garmin doesn't lie - when you think your pace is outta whack...it's not.....when you think your heart rate must be off the charts....its not.....nice try body but Garmin whispered the truth to willpower this time around :)
- did I mention sprinklers are a god send on a hot day? 

Nuff said!

Born to Run....an inspiration

If you're a runner, a Crossfit'er, or any type of fitness enthusiast, have I got a book for you.  Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World (Author:  Christopher McDougall).  I just recently read this book and I have to say, not only was it hard to put down, every time I started to read, I felt the urge to go for a run!  It's an incredible story of a tribe of super runners  - the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's Copper Canyons.  For them, running is a way of life.  Intertwined in this story you will find incredible research on the merits of barefoot running (the reason behind my recent purchase - Vikram 5 Finger shoes) as well as well placed anecdotal exercise physiology research.  Being a science head myself, I truly appreciated that aspect to the book.  I think it will become one of those books you just might read over and over again when you need a bit of inspiration.

As a result......I have decided to undertake a methodical and ambitious running plan, leading up into fall.  An 18 week marathon training schedule, 3 races of increasing distance, Crossfit to make me stronger, culminating into what I hope is a successful full marathon in Oct.  That will be my second one - the last one dating back about 10 years!  In the meantime, I will be experimenting with a healthier diet, hoping to make some of my own energy bars and nutritional fuel for the longer runs.  So far, I have discovered that cocconut water works nicely on a long run - energy and fluid in one.

Stay tuned.....this is only week 1! 

Did I just do a handstand?

Yes....some time has passed since I last wrote....and now....it can all be summed up best in one word "CrossFit"!  If you've never heard of it, you will, it you've never experienced it, you will either wish you had or hadn't - there are no "in betweens".  As for me, I'm hooked.....dare I say slightly addicted.

It started with a 4 week bootcamp that was a few attempts in coming - mostly because, well, frankly, the program scared me a wee bit.  Just take a look at any CrossFit website and you too might feel more than slightly intimidated.  Thankfully I jumped in to the deep end and just started swimming.  Now just try and stop me from going.  A bad cold and work travel has kept me out for a week and I'm itching to go back....soon, soon!

What can be said for a program that combines intense physical activity, part power lifting, part gymnastics, part 'out of the box' sport conditioning - it is truly an experience.  Not for the faint of heart mind you.  There have been workouts where I would have sworn my heart and lungs jumped out of my chest.  Times where I thought perhaps death would be less painful....and yet, I love it.  Then again, that's part of who I am as an athlete  - the more challenging, the more I like it.  CrossFit is about so much more than looking good in your summer clothes - it's about beating your last # for rounds in time, or gaining strength on a chin up - or kicking your own score on the number of dips you can do on a set of rings.  Seeing strength and cardio gains will both amaze and delight you because it's you - you are your competition. Oh sure, you have others in the class you're trying to beat but really, when it comes down to it - it's your score that matters - did you do better today than last week!

Of course I haven't forgotten my running...and now, it's time to introduce the two, get them working in sync.  After all, race season is soon upon us.  I can't wait to see the gains I've made as a result of the strength and power I have developed.  Should be an interesting season!

Happy workouts!

Goin for a world record....

Of doing nothing that is :)  Yes, I admit, my running and exercise has been sporadic at best.  This needs to change.  My moods, my disposition and my general sanity seem to ride on the amount of exercise I do.  Too little, never a good thing.  Well trip planning does kick one into high gear especially when the trip involves a bikini and a beach.  So that's it, my motivation.  This past week, I committed to eating right and I have to say, I did pretty darn good.  Now it's time to step it up a notch and get back to working out.  Oh, and one additional motivator...I await my fate of the NYC Marathon lotto - by April, I need to be in top shape to undertake the training for a Nov marathon should I be selected....we wait and see and in the meantime, I gotta get my butt to the gym!  Coffee's first though!

Reunited...and it feels so good....

By chance this was an "off" day from running, I might have just  inadvertently re-ignited my love for weight training.  Upper body and core today - no legs to make sure I"m ready for tomorrow's speed workout....and I found I let it go -just had fun with it and remembered what I loved about lifting weights.  I have to say its been a very long time since I actually looked forward to lifting weights and I miss it. 

I began lifting in University and I trained with the big guys - pushing myself beyond what I ever thought was possible.  I liked it because the workouts were similar to what I had experienced as a gymnast.  Having alot of guy friends who were football and basketball players came in handy for sure.  They taught me alot about training.  Several years after I was still lifting but not nearly to the level I had been in school.  Then it seems things just faded off, perhaps I got bored or just needed to try something new.  There is a simple satisfaction with knowing you can push your limits and watch your muscles react with strength and agility. 

I hope this is start of something beautiful!!! :)

And so it begins.....

I would have to say I've always considered myself an athlete.  I started off in dance, moved to competitive gymnastics, and when I retired from the sport at the tender age of 18, I needed another outlet...and so began my love affair with running.  Like many relationships, running and I have had our ups and downs.   There are times when nothing else will calm me, relieve my stress or make me feel as good.  There are days when it’s all I want....and then there are the days when I can’t even be bothered to lace up my sneakers!  Of course, being the “athlete” and a true Gemini (aka bored easily) I dabble with other things – yoga, weight training, spinning and of course, dance! 

Running, it would seem, remains my staple.  I can say to my credit I have completed a marathon, several ½ marathons, a triathlon, and a series of 5 and 10km races.  My competitive nature will never allow me to just run for the sake of running.  I am, after all, a very competitive person, continually pushing myself to reach new heights.  People ask why....why do you run and push yourself to such extremes.  Well that’s an easy answer.....because I can!  So it was no surprise when I decided to sign up for a speed training program at my local Running Room store.  This week marked the start, and if our mile repeats were any indication, this is going to be one heck of a ride! 

Pushing myself to the limit, that’s what I enjoy – in work, in play, makes no difference.  I may have morphed from a competitive athlete to a weekend warrior but make no mistake about it....I am a warrior!  Oh and the reference to “red”...my red hair of course!