Here we are again; it’s time to give you my weekly Couch to 5K update. If you didn’t read my first update, you can catch up here. You know what they say about the “best laid plans”, right? (No? Okay, click here.) Don’t worry, I didn’t quit the program. Remember, though, how my plan was to actually do the workout FOUR times per week instead of three, to accelerate my training a bit, and that the fourth day of the week would be a repeat of the day before? The plan was to NOT move ahead to a more challenging workout on the fourth day, because I was worried I’d…
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Couch To 5K Update: Mind Games
Remember how I started the Couch To 5K (C25K) program? And remember how, when I started it, I said that my only goal was to finish it but in the fastest change of heart and mind the world has ever known, I signed up to do the Blogher 5K this August? Well, I thought I’d give you an update, not only because many of you asked me to “keep you posted”, but also to continue holding myself accountable. When I started the program, I decided not to stick with the three days per week that the program prescribes. I decided to do what my friend Jen is doing, and go…
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I Nearly Gave Myself Whiplash With This One.
Remember how I started the C25K program? Remember how I said that I wasn’t planning on doing a 5K, that my only goal was to finish the program? Yeah, about that… I changed my mind…again. I will be doing the Blogher 5K in New York’s Central Park this August*, because how great will THAT be, to do a 5K in one of the most fabulous places in the entire world? Go big or go home, you know? Hold me. *With one of my roomies, Michelle. Anyone else doing it? ©2010 Suburban Scrawl
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I Always Said I’d Never Do The Couch To 5K Program. (Never Say Never)
I have never liked running, ever in my life. Even as a kid, I don’t recall enjoying a simple, quick run across a field just to meet a friend. The required mile-long runs in P.E. class when I was a teenager? I dreaded those days immensely. Plus? I was nearly always last coming back. As an adult, I also despise running. How much? Well, as I told a friend on Facebook this week, I hate running with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. That’s pretty deep-seated, don’t you think? So it makes TOTAL sense that, when I decided that my routine needed shaking up (again), I settled on…running. The…
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If Not Now, When?
Normally we don’t get up for less than $10,000 a day, but on Sunday we got up at O’Dark Thirty (3:15 a.m.) for one of the few other reasons we’d ever get out of bed at that time: Bike the Drive! Bike the Drive is an annual bike ride (duh) in downtown Chicago on Lake Shore Drive, which is one of the busiest (and most beautifully equipped with spectacular views) streets in town. The organizers close the LSD (yes, we really call it that) to cars for the morning, and it’s a phenomenal experience. The total distance, if you do the whole thing, is thirty miles. The last time we…
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This One’s For Huckdoll, But You Can Enjoy It, Too.
Let’s try something new, shall we? First, right click on this and open it up in a new tab so it plays while you read. If you’re at home, turn it up too, why don’t you? It never matters much, what kind of mood I’m in before teaching a group cycling class. Once I plug in my iPod, press play, and crank up the volume as high as I possibly can without feeling like I’m going to blow out the speakers, the endorphins start flowing and I feel like I can conquer the world. Being an instructor also adds a different dimension to class. I won’t lie: there’s a great…
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How Are Those Fitness Resolutions Coming?
Did you make a broad fitness resolution at the stroke of midnight on January 1st? You know, something like “I’m going to join the gym and really use it this time” or “I’m going to be skinny in three months”. Okay, here’s some straight talk. Pull up a chair. Wait, never mind: you’re likely to be sitting already, being at the computer and all. Fitness resolutions? Bah. If you’re going to make a commitment to “get fit”, the odds are pretty good that you will fail unless you make it specific. It’s not good enough to say, “I’m going to get fit this year”, unless your personality is such that…
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She’s A Maniac…
I just returned home last night for the final time after a weekend of driving back and forth daily to the Midwest Mania fitness conference in Rosemont, Illinois–about 25 miles from my house. I am exhausted, but in a good way. As an ACE-certified group fitness instructor, I have to take part in continuing education in order to recertify every two years, and a great way to earn lots of CECs (continuing ed credits) at once is to go to a fitness conference and be a part of classes and lectures presented by Master trainers, coaches, and other respected individuals connected to the fitness industry. The cost of CECs (and…
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Spinning the Wheel, Part Two
I posted yesterday about how to get started taking group cycling classes. Today I want to cover some class etiquette. I have to put the disclaimer out there that I can’t speak for all instructors; this is what *I* prefer in my classes*. Most of these things are based on the principle that a group fitness instructor (or any type of teacher, really) has a large number of people to take care of for that hour, and using common sense can help improve the experience for everyone involved. 1. Please come to class wearing proper attire. I discussed what proper spinning attire is in yesterday’s post. What I will add…
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Spinning the Wheel, Part One
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be working at a fitness conference and will be away from home (and my laptop! eek!) from very, very early in the morning until late in the evening, through Sunday. Imagine the BlogHer conference with spin bikes and kettlebells instead of computers. And probably no $3 Patron margaritas. (Bummer.) Oh yeah, and I won’t know anybody there, in real life or not. Well, not at first. I can talk to anyone and am sure to make some friends before the weekend is over. Anyway, I thought it would be a great time to put up a post about starting spin (group cycling) classes. As an instructor, I’ve…