One Person's Fat is Another Person's Fit

This morning, while standing on line at the local Stop and Shop, a woman asked me if I ran every day. I explained that I did not, however I had finished my first 50K the day before. I really don't think she understood what that meant, because she didn't look impressed, shocked, or incredulous. She did tell me that I looked amazing, so I told her that spinning and kickboxing were my mainstays and that she should look into them.

It's really nice when random people give you a sincere compliment. This lady was a slightly heavy but active woman, and to her I look great. I think I look a little shoddy, but I was reminded that one person's fat is another person's fit, and that I should appreciate myself a little more. On that note, the guests brought something in a bakery box. I'm going to go investigate. 

Why My Mom is Awesome

I have a great mom. She's put up with quite a lot over the years, and for some reason my key still works whenever I come home. She always comes to my races and washes my icky workout clothes, even at the last minute, so I look stylish when I sweat. She is such a good sport that she showed up at yesterday's 50K finish line three hours early (she didn't believe me when I said I wouldn't finish before 3pm) and stayed until I came in. Everyone should be as lucky as I am in the mother department. She's not perfect, but she's pretty close. Happy Mother's Day!

Humbled by the Trail

My knee did freak out. I ran, walked, loped, and hobbled my way through my first 50K (which was actually 34 miles... hmmm?) in 8:02:40. I'm not ready to talk about it.

Officially Nervous

In ten hours and four minutes I will begin running my first 50K. I am officially nervous. I can't find my second pair of WrightSocks. I don't think I'm hydrated. I ended up eating popcorn for dinner... again. I need to make my breakfast. What if I don't wake up? What if it rains? What if my knee freaks out again?

My goal is to finish under six hours. Call me at 2:30pm EST.

Vibrams at Kickboxing

In an attempt to keep my posts about kickboxing fresh for you, I decided to wear my Vibrams to class last night. This is actually the second time I have worn them to kickboxing, but the last time was several months ago. As you know, my tight hamstrings have been messing with my knees. I have been nervous all week about hurting myself before tomorrow's 50K, and have even worn sneakers to work. (This is entirely acceptable at my place of employment. I just think I look like a tool wearing sneakers with a skirt.) Last week my knee was killing me after Coco's kickboxing class. I wore my favorite pair of Nike crosstrainers instead of my Frees, but still no dice. Maybe the extra cushioning was the problem? Was I willing to risk a knee problem to get my kickboxing fix this week?

My knees felt awesome throughout the entire kickboxing class and into Zumba. This morning I woke up pain free. Maybe I should wear my Vibrams to the gym more often.

EQ 360: FIRE

Equinox has added some interesting new classes to the schedule. I attended EQ 360: FIRE, which stands for Fast Integrated Reactive Exercise, this evening.The EQ 360 classes use the new Step360™ Pro. This thing seems to be the lovechild of a traditional step and a BOSU. A flat surface (like the top of the step or the 

underside of a BOSU) is placed on top of two inflated rings of plastic.

Assia Winfield is one of my favorite instructors. She split the class so we spent half an hour doing cardio conditioning and dance moves on the floor, and the last half working on the Step360™ Pro. I wish we had spent some more time working with the Step360™ Pro, but it was a good class just the same.

 Like the BOSU, the Step360™ Pro promotes improved balance and stability. You are going to see results more quickly from doing lunges and squats on an unstable surface than on the floor or on a traditional step. The Step360™ Pro seems easier to use than the BOSU, and is probably safer. Someone always fell off the BOSU during group fitness classes. I've rolled my ankle on it more than once. I did like the little pads on the bottom that kept the BOSU from moving around. The Step360™ Pro has nothing underneath the inflatable chambers, and I don't care what the website tells you, it does move around.

Step360™ Pro

Can I Get a Buddy for This?

http://www.marinemarathon.com/MCM_Event_Series/Crossroads_17_75K.htm

I have recently become obsessed with trail running. This 11.03 mile race takes place on Saturday, September 17th in Prince William County, Virginia. I'm fun to travel with and there's going to be a festival afterwards.

If you are serious about running this race with me, send an email to inshapeoutofmind@gmail.com

Proud to be an American

Today I am even more proud to be an American than usual. I have been listening to Darryl Worley's Have You Forgotten? (absolutely not!) and remembering that red, white, and blue are the colors that don't run. In honor of this momentous occasion, here are some pieces that a proud American can get sweaty in.

 K-Swiss makes the K-Ona S in American flag. The K-Ona S is a lightweight shoe perfect for fast days, races, and triathlons. I've been dying for a pair for MONTHS. They're $100 and my birthday is in August.

 K-Swiss also makes these bike shorts. There's a version for triathlons as well.

I recently received these supersick Knockaround sunglasses as a gift. I've been wearing them everywhere! I desperately wanted to wear them for my last race, but alas, it was pouring rain. 

New Sneakers for My First Ultra

This morning I went to Eastern Mountain Sports in Carle Place to get a pair of trail running shoes and some special socks for this Saturday's race. EMS moved across the street last November (I had no idea; I asked), and the new store is located across the street at 204 Glen Cove Road.

I was promptly directed to a shoe guru named Jason who was very helpful (and cute!). He gave me a pair of Brooks and two pairs of La Sportiva trail running shoes to try on. The La Sportiva shoes felt the best, and we decided the all-purpose pair were better suited for my needs. Slight problem. They are grey and orange. Grey is practically my favorite color, but I hate the color orange. I hate it almost as much as I hate clowns. I think I hate the color orange because I hate clowns. I almost asked if he had them in any other colors, but I figured he would've told me if he did, and I was slightly embarrassed to admit that I have a clown-phobia-caused disgust of a color. Otherwise, the shoes are sick!

Jason helped me pick out double-layer synthetic WrightSocks. The Dri-WRIGHT II fabric wicks moisture and the double-layer offers padding for the 31 miles I will be covering next week. As much as I love my Old Navy cotton fitness socks, they have a time and a place, and an ultra is not one of them.

I hurried home to throw on some shorts and a tank. I couldn't wait to try out my new socks and shoes on the trail in the woods across the street from my house. The weather was 68 degrees and sunny, perfect running weather in my book, and I ended up getting a nice tan on my face and arms today.

Now I'm not scared of many things; I'm scared of mediocrity and clowns. I don't care for rats, and they make me kind of nauseous, but it's only mediocrity and clowns that terrify me. But I kept on getting nervous while running on the small trail in the woods... What if I accidentally stepped on a den hidden beneath a pile of leaves and I was attacked by disgruntled animals? What type of animals live in the woods of residential areas on Long Island? No one knew I was out there, and I don't think death by angry skunk is the way I want to go.

I ran around the trail for a while, before heading out into Oyster Bay and down to Roosevelt Beach. I ran along the beach, and then headed back up Mill River Road. Yesterday my IT band freaked out after a mile and a half. Today I ran over 3 miles without a problem, and then only after pounding pavement. After that, I stayed on sand or the embankments on the sides of the road, and my leg felt much better. Hopefully a sensible approach to exercise this week will prepare me for Saturday's 50K.

Kayaking on the Long Island Sound

Today I was invited to go kayaking with a friend from college. I love kayaking! When I was at the Island School in high school, we went on 3-day and 10-day kayaking trips during the semester. Those are still some of my most fondest memories. I also went kayaking in Canada when I was at whale camp as a child. (I was a strange, marine mammal loving child.)

I drove up to New Rochelle to see Lis, and we headed over to the beach club where her kayaks are stored. We had a nice paddle along the coast up to Larchmont and back. The weather was absolutely beautiful today, and it was so nice to be out on the water. We were paddling against the wind on the way out, but the way back felt more difficult because of the waves. I'm hoping my arms feel sore tomorrow because I remember kayaking being a great arm workout.

I love outdoor exercise, especially the kind you can do with friends. If anyone would like to buy me a kayak, I would love them forever. Hint hint.