Cross Train

I've mentioned in the past that part of my training regimen includes cross training.  Up until recently I have been doing Pilates and spinning.  I found myself complaining incessantly about my spinning class.  Really it's not the class I don't like it's the music.  The instructor didn't seem to put any thought into the music for the class.  It was almost like she switched her iPod to her "Crappy 90's music" play list and we were off.  There were several times when she would actually say "Don't focus on the song, it'll get faster eventually."  Really?  Don't focus on the blaring music?  I even went so far as to ask a friend that teaches spinning to give me her play list in the hopes that I could pass it along to my wayward instructor.

Over the holidays I met someone new.  Someone that I strongly believe will change my life.  This person is everything I always wanted...in an aerobics instructor.   She encompasses all the qualities I have been trying to achieve my entire life.  She's tall, blond and skinny.  When this woman walks into a Walmart everyone would turn to look at her and say "Hey, there goes a Pilates instructor."  I'm certain they would say this even if they had no idea what Pilates was.  She substituted for my regular Pilates instructor over the holidays and I discovered that she not only taught Pilates, but spinning, step and core classes.

It was a no brainer.  Leave Crappy 90's spinning for one of her classes at the same time. 

The class?  It is called Cutting Edge Core.  I had know idea what it was or what it would entail but I figured I would give it a try.  So I went.  I was so excited that I was actually the first person there.  When an older man came through the doors I introduced myself and asked him what equipment I would need for the class.  He explained to me that we would need a BUSO.  A BUSO is essentially half of a balance ball that you use in Pilates that is placed on a mount.  It looks like the bubble in the middle of the game Trouble and I must admit I thought it would be a lot of fun to jump on.  I would learn otherwise.

As he was helping me pull out a BUSO for the class she came in, the instructor.  She seemed excited to see me and shook my hand to introduce herself to me.  I didn't bother to tell her we had met before.  I figured her classes are full of short, chubby, brunettes that are trying to figure out how to get those genetics to rub off.  She informed us that we were using not one, but two BUSOs in today's class.  Oh boy!

So here is a short description of the class.  I attempted to get on the BUSOs to do the exercise being demonstrated, I fell off.  I tried, I fell off.  This continued for one full hour. 

At the end of the class the instructor came over to ask me how I liked it.  I smiled and told her it was very challenging.  She told me that it never gets easier.  I thought to myself that she never wanted me to come back.  She must have seen the terror in my face and said it does become more doable, but it will always be challenging.  Ok...I'm up for the challenge.

This weekend I did some extra cross training.  My wonderful in-laws gave me admission to a Pilates for runners class at their gym.  So this past Saturday I left Sam with instructions on the baby and headed out.  I won't bore you with all the details of the class but I do want to share some truly awesome stretch/massages that I learned.  We used a foam roller in the class which is a three foot long cylinder that is about eight inches in diameter.  After a run the instructor suggested laying on top of the roller and supporting yourself in a plank position and rolling over the quads and shins.  Then move to your side and massage the outer thigh or IT band. This is the massage I am demonstrating in the photo below (I'm trying hard to smile through it!).  And finally roll over to massage the hamstring.  I must warn you it will hurt like a mother, especially the IT band massage.  You will probably hate me and swear that you will never read my blog again while you are doing the massage.  But when its over you'll love me again.  Trust me. 

P.S. A couple of you have complained that you are following my blog but aren't getting notifications of new posts.  The "Subscribe" button to the right should resolve that issue.  If you want email notifications of new posts you can subscribe to get them by entering your email there.  I aim to please.

Dave Weber's Words of Wisdom

Lately I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping.  I recently read a couple suggestions on how to fall asleep fast and stay asleep all night and I thought I would try some of them out.  One of the suggestions is to exercise an hour or two before bed.  I thought this was a great idea, I could get my runs in and resolve my sleeping problem once and for all.  The first night it worked well and I was convinced this was my ticket to living a healthier and more restful life.

Tonight...well, tonight did not go as planned. 

Why, you ask.  It's a kind of funny and slightly gross story.  I have been trying to find a suitable beer battered fish recipe for months (if you know one please email me) and thought I would test one out tonight.  Review:  If I was being generous I would say it was bland and heavy.  The photo below is NOT what our dish looked like.  I waited 1.5 hours before deciding to get my training in for the day.



Wednesday's call for speed training.  The speed training consists of quarter mile splits run in 2-2:25 minutes.  Tonight I needed to run 7 of them.  After 4 splits I felt like my failed fish and chips were going to make a reappearance. I had a horrifying flash of me cleaning the treadmill while it was still going.  I stopped running at that point.

While I was traveling for work I used to talk to my dad almost every night about my training.  I was struggling with a grueling work schedule to get my runs in.  One night, I told my dad how I had just finished dinner and was going to hit the treadmill.  He told me then that I should always run before I eat.  He said that I wouldn't get a good run in if I ate first.  To a reasonable person this seems to be common sense.  Apparently, I am not a reasonable person. 

To all the both reasonable and unreasonable people that aspire to move their tushies a little faster one day, I hope you enjoyed my dad's words of wisdom.  As for me, I am going to get my runs in during the day and I'm planning on reading an extremely boring book before bed.  Suggestions?

Just Like Starting Over

Four months to the race!  This week was the first official week of my marathon training.  All the running I've done up to this point has been what I would like to call my psych up phase.  This is the real deal now.

The last time I trained I used a training schedule called The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer (TNRMT) which I highly recommend for first time marathoners.  It of course has a training regimen but it also tons of information about running and how your body will react to it, psychological techniques to training and nutritional information.  My Aunt Margaret used it when she trained for her race and recommended it to my dad who recommended it to me, and my husband and my brother and my brother-in-law.  Suffice it to say it is highly recommended by our family.

In my quest to improve my race time I've acquired another training book that I've decided to use this time around.  It's called 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon.  It has training regimens for a 4-hour, 4:15, 4:30 and 4:45 hour marathon.  I'm shooting for 4:30 for my race in Nashville.  However, I'm not as impressed with this book.  Sure it talks about what to eat and wear but it doesn't include the all important mental aspect of running the race.  So I've decided to reference TNRMT throughout my training.

I must admit my first week of training did not go off without a hitch.  The training schedule is as follows: Monday - run, Tuesday - cross train, Wednesday - speed training, Thursday - run or cross train, Friday - rest, Saturday - long run, Sunday - rest.  I got everything in...just not on the scheduled days.  As a mommy I have responsibilities to my son.  He always comes first.  Linus did not feel well this week and fitting training in proved to be a challenge.  But like I said I got it all in.  And I can feel it.

I'm trying to be careful not to fall into the trap of saying I couldn't run because Linus this...or Linus that.  I guess the blog will help me avoid that.  I encourage my readers to take me to task if I start to use my baby as an excuse rather than an inspiration.

The first week of training is the hardest in my opinion.  Even though the mileage this week is only higher than the taper down weeks it is extremely difficult to get back into the swing of things physically and mentally.  At several points during the week I thought to myself "What have I gotten myself into?" and "I'm never going to be able to do this again!" But the first week is hard.  It was hard when I trained for Delaware and it's going to be hard this time too.  My body hurts because it is trying to makes itself stronger for the next week, and the next and finally the race.  I forgot how hard the first week is because it's more pleasant to think about how good I felt in week 10 when I was cruising along thinking how much I like running 15 miles at a time.  I know the last sentence sounds crazy but I promise that really happens!

This is a week that I definitely needed my dad to encourage me.  It's weeks like these that I really miss him.

I Resolve

I dislike it when people say that they don't make New Year's resolutions.  I want to say "Oh, really?  Are you so perfect that you don't want to take an opportunity to improve yourself in the new year"  I NEVER say that, since it is slightly bitchy and I am usually resolving to be less bitchy in the new year.  If you happen to be one of those realist that choose to refrain from the resolution hoopla and now you know what I'm really thinking when you tell me you aren't making a resolution, I'm sorry.  I think apologizing is what a nicer, sweeter Laura would say in 2012.

In all seriousness, I've had several conversations about being kind and thoughtful, and niceness in general with my mom lately.  When you experience a loss of a loved one you appreciate the small kindnesses that people do in a different and more impactful way.  A hug, a card, a phone call that in the past may have been forgotten a few days later are now cherished moments during a very difficult time.  Losing my dad has changed me in that I feel the need to be more thoughtful and caring to people that need it.  I've actually looked back at how I've reacted to death in the past and I've been a little ashamed.  In 2012 I resolve to be able to offer a cherished moment of comfort to someone that might need it.
I used to make resolutions that I had no chance of meeting, like being able to wear a size 2 by my birthday in May.  And then eating all the left over Christmas cookies on January 2nd.  I've changed my ways in my old age.  I'm still eating the Christmas cookies, but I try to set myself up for success. Two years ago I resolved to run a marathon with my dad.  And five months later I did it!  It's still pretty awesome to think about.  However, as you may have read in my past blogs, after I completed my race I got fat.  Really fat.  And lazy.  The lesson I've learned from that experience is to make a goal for the whole year.
This year I'm a little worried that I'm returning to my old ways of over reaching my potential, but I have a lot of support and inspiration so I'm going to go for it.  My resolution is to run three marathons in 2012.  Nashville, TN, Canton, OH and another in the fall (I'm pulling for NYC or Honolulu).  Again, I am going to try to use this blog to keep me honest about my three race goal.  So I guess that I also should resolve to write regular updates too.  I should probably stop there.  My resolution list is getting a bit lengthy here.  Let's recap...#1 three marathons #2 regular blog updates #3 nice Laura #4 thoughtful Laura.  It's going to be a busy year. 

Dear readers I'm dying to know what you will do to improve your lives in 2012. Do you have a resolution this year?  Who's going to run with me this year?