• Friends,  Fun in Chicago,  Working On My Fitness

    I’m Showing You What I Did So You Can Imagine What I’m Doing

    It is early (5:30 a.m.) and I am already dressed in my black workout pants and black sponsor t-shirt: Midwest Mania begins today! The Mania is a fitness conference that is full of workshops and lectures for personal trainers, instructors (that’s me!), and others in the fitness industry. (For me, it’s nothing like BlogHer, because MY fun at Mania is actually going to the sessions. Wocka wocka wocka!) Last year I worked the conference (it’s a cheaper way to get continuing ed credits I need for recertification), and at the staff party, I won the choice of either going for free this year (and not working) or working part time…

  • Working On My Fitness

    We Did It!

    This picture was taken by Secret Agent Mama with the PEN E-PL1 camera that Olympus was kind enough to loan me! Yay us! Michelle and I completed the Blogher 5K this morning! Michelle ran just about all of it; she had to stop at certain intersections to figure out which way to go! I ran more than half of it before I alternated running and walking. I have a blister the size of a quarter on the bottom of my foot that I got over the last two nights while hoofing it all over Manhattan in non-sensible shoes (THANKS, annoying sandals…NOT!), and that bothered me a bit. Plus? It was…

  • Working On My Fitness

    Goal #1: ATTAINED!

    Gah! I was really, really hoping to do one last vlog, especially today WHEN I COMPLETED MY FIRST GOAL (woot!), but I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off, getting ready to fly out to New York at o’dark thirty tomorrow, and the thought of waiting for the vlog to upload and process and…well, you get the idea. Quick summary: I got very little sleep last night (what else is new?), mostly due to my ongoing mental insanity about what I still needed to do around here before leaving town for five days, but also because there were really bad storms starting around 3:30 a.m., which…

  • Music,  Working On My Fitness

    Couch to 5K Mini Update: The Penultimate Workout

    I just returned home from my Week 9, Day 2 run and wanted to tell you about it, but first I wanted to say thank you so much to all of you who piped up with advice and encouragement when I hit the wall on Friday; you all really came through for me. As you know, I’m swamped, but I wanted to respond to comments and I can save myself a few minutes by responding here, quickly. Sarahndipitea: I did not even know that there was special Couch to 5K music out there! I checked it out after you left your comment and was amazed. I didn’t download any yet,…

  • Working On My Fitness

    Hitting A Wall Really Hurts.

    As you are more than aware by now, I am nearly finished with the Couch To 5K program, and will do the BlogHer 5K in Central Park next Friday (one week from today!). I did my Week 9, Day 1 run today (well, if you can call it that), which is supposed to be thirty minutes long, and crumbled. I ran for the first eighteen or so minutes, then completed the rest of the time alternating walking and running. My legs felt like lead. I was discouraged. I couldn’t get rid of the “I can’t do this” thoughts. I came home and cried. I’m frustrated because last week, I felt…

  • Music,  Working On My Fitness

    Couch To 5K Update: See Ya, Week 8! Bring On Week 9!

    Shortest update so far! I don’t even remember what I said…but I am runningrunningrunning today and wanted to get this posted, so totally don’t make fun of me, K? The playlist I used this week can be found on last week’s update post: Click here. And here is the version of “Defying Gravity” that I TOTALLY ADORE! (You’re welcome!) ©2010 Suburban Scrawl

  • Music,  Working On My Fitness

    Couch to 5K Update: Almost There!

    New playlist for Week 8:Give It To Me (Madonna—Paul Oakenfold Remix)Defying Gravity (Idina Menzel—Funky Junction Remix) (no link: this mix isn’t on youtube!)Teeth (Lady Gaga)Sorry (Madonna—Paul Oakenfold Remix)What You Waiting For? (Gwen Stefani)Junebug (B-52’s)Everytime We Touch (Cascada)Don’t Stop Believin’ (Rosetta Stone Remix) ©2010 Suburban Scrawl

  • Do I Really Want My Readers To Know This?,  Working On My Fitness

    Couch To 5K Update: How Slurpees and Kate Pierson Got In The Way

    When you’re done here, scoot on over to my review blog to read about who inspires me: you can enter to win a $100 Visa gift card and get the scoop on winning $1000 from BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness! This week’s playlist (click the song title to grab a listen!):1. Bad Romance (Starsmith remix): Lady Gaga2. Defying Gravity (Funky Junction remix): Idina Menzel (I’m not linking this one because I couldn’t find this remix online)3. Spente le Stelle (Yomanda remix): Emma Shapplin4. Hiphip Chinchin: Club des Belugas5. Big Ditch: DJ Icey6. Buffalo Stance: Nenah Cherry (Relax, it was my cool down!) Oh, and in case you couldn’t picture…