Alternative Workouts

Thanks for the encouraging comments about taking a little break from running!  Instead of running, I've been doing some workout videos, taking long walks (like last week I took a 4.5 mile walk around the DC monuments), and playing tennis.  Last night was my weakest workout yet, and I'm not sure if I should really count it.  I played Dance Dance Revolution on workout mode for 40 minutes.

DDR Dance Party!

Does DDR count as exercise?

I can't figure out how to create a poll inside my post :(

September Goals

Ok so I think I got to 26 miles in my quest to 80 in August.  Good thing I never actually signed up!  I'm going to change my workout goals for September.  I haven't been enjoying running lately.  Simply, my goal is to get some form of exercise each day.  This may be going on a run, a class at the gym, or a workout DVD in my living room.  It could even be a long walk.  I'm not going to force myself to run if I don't want to.  I'll pick back up with my running in late September.  I'm working on an 8 week training plan for my annual Turkey Trot 5k!

Post-wedding Lbs.

I just busted the hook and eye closure at the waist of my skirt!  I really need to get back into running to lose these wedded-bliss pounds.

I did get in 6.5 miles on Saturday, but I haven't been finding the motivation to run with enough frequency.  Hopefully the busted skirt will be that motivation.

What Not to Wear

I can pretty much run a 5k in anything. But once I started increasing my mileage, I really started to understand why I need running gear. Here are some of the lessons I learned:

1. Don't run in Soffe shorts. You know, those little cheerleading shorts... I don't even know why I own these. [Actually, I do. I stole one pair from my sister and found the other on sale for $3.99. What can I say, I'm frugal.] The obvious downfall of these shorts is that they are made for little teenage cheerleaders. I like to wear mine pretty loose so as to not look like I am trying to be 16 again, and so my butt cheeks stay appropriately covered, and this is what poses the not-so-obvious downfall of running in the Soffe shorts. The seams in these shorts are actually pretty large. These seams rub against my thighs, which is fine on shorter runs, but very bad for longer runs. Ouchie.

2. This second one also stems from my frugality. The free t-shirts you get for participating in various events definitely are not the best to run in. I acquired most of mine in college, and some of those suckers are really thick! They do not breathe and they make me overheat even on low-mileage runs.

3. Victorias Secrect sports bra. I tried on a bunch of their VSX line of sports bras about a year ago, and purchased one. I guess no one really liked that sports bra since I can't even find a picture of it online.  There are several reasons why I hate this bra:

• Breathing is difficult. This one is half my fault. I bought a 34 and should have gotten a 36. I knew the 34 was tight when I tried it on, but I expected it to stretch out over time like most bras do. So far, there has been no stretching (although I've only worn it about 5 times since I hate it so much). I guess the stitching on the band is super strong. This bra just isn't very elastic at all, which you would think would be a good thing to eliminate any bouncing. However, it really defeats the purpose if you can't breathe.
• The straps constantly fall down. Whoever designed this bra must not have been thinking straight. And I obviously wasn't thinking straight when I bought it either. There is a reason that most sports bras are some form of the racerback design.

So basically I can't even run one mile in this bra without the straps falling down and not being able to breathe due to a band that is too tight and doesn't stretch. Put this bra together with the free t-shirts and the Soffe shorts and I might as well not even put my sneakers on.

Stay tuned for a later post on my favortie piece of running gear! (HINT: It is the most fabulous sports bra ever!)

I want... Penn State Shorts!

I have been wanting these shorts for a while, but my birthday just passed and I forgot to ask for them :(.  I suppose I can wait until Christmas, or at least a sale.

Family Clothesline

So far I've logged 5 miles, which means I am way behind on reaching 80 miles in August.  But I've got a plan and I'm considering another half marathon in October.

Ready to Run

I am back from an almost month-long running hiatus. And, holy cow, I got 4 comments on my last post!

I didn't work out from July 9th to August 1st, but the good news is that I am now married <3

But it's time to lose those honeymoon pounds and hit the pavement!

I saw (via it's what moves me) that Tall Mom issued a challenge. 80 miles in August. I'm in, and I'm going to up the ante by only counting miles run. No walking for me.

Some People!

So I am lucky enough to have a gym with free classes at my work. The only problem with the fact that they are free is that you get random people at the classes. I've been going to my Total Body class every Tuesday and Thursday when I am not on travel for about 5 weeks now. I love the class and the instructor and most of the people in the class. There is a guy who was at some of the first classes, but has been gone for at least 3 whole weeks. Today I got to class on time with one other lady and we both set up our equipment (a step, a mat, two sets of hand weight, and a body bar). She set herself up to the left of the room, and there were Yoga people still on the right side of the room, so I set myself up a safe work-out distance away from her, also on the left side of the room.

Enter guy.

By this time the yoga people had cleared out. He is carrying his step trying to find a space to set up.

I'm so worked up about this I am going to make you all a diagram:

{ok, 10 minutes later, and I am back with my diagram}



And guess where this guy decides to set up his stuff! I am not making this up... he puts his step...



SERIOUSLY?!? He didn't even try to stagger himself! And there was plenty of room in front of us to stagger if he really needed to be on the left side of the room.

So the other lady is like, "you're kind of close aren't you?" And he doesn't really respond. He just basically stands there and looks around. It was clear he was not going to move, so I said, "would you like me to move?" and he was like "yeah". I don't even remember his response being audible. It wasn't in an "I'm better than you and I should be able to workout wherever I want" kind of way. It was more like an "I'm a total idiot, have no social skills, don't know gym etiquette, and have some sort of strange need to put my step at this extact spot" way.

I also have to add that at this point I was established at my spot with all my equipment, and he just put his step down. So now I have to move my step, 2 sets of hand weights, floor mat, body bar, water bottle, and badge over to accomodate him. Why do these things happen to me?

Does this happen to anyone else? Isn't this kind of gym etiquette obvious?!?