Can I just say how much I LOOOVVVEE blog giveaways. Just by simply being a regular reader you can win all sorts of fun stuff.
Today I won the 'Reader Appreciation' Giveaway from Zoe at Run, Zoe, Run! She was just givin' away some free stuff. I won a summertime care package that may have included something about 'Peep' flavoured lipbalm. I think my kids are going to fight over that one.
If you get a chance, check out Zoe's blog. Great running and mom related stuff, with the occassional cute picture of her new baby, Goober. She's soooo cute. Kinda brings me back to those baby days, well, just briefly. I got interested in Zoe's blog because she was relating her stories of running while pregnant. I was not a runner until after my babes, but I have great respect for those moms-to-be that can haul the extra weight out around the block, or even out of bed!
Speaking of giveaways, Coach Kelly, over at Secrets of a Running Mom, is hosting an awesome giveaway right now for a FREE RoadID. RoadID are custom made bands for wrist/ankle/shoe etc, that have your important information engraved on it. This is great for the (oh, it will never happen to me) moments when you can't speak for yourself. Great for runners/cyclists/kids/teens/elderly...really anyone.
But please, don't sign up for the giveaway, I want to win a RoadID for myself...'cause I'm selfish that way!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sir, Yes Sir!!
A new dance and fitness studio opened up in town and I thought I should check out the dance lessons for the girls. The conversation went from dance to fitness and the new classes they would be offering. The Bootcamp class peaked my interest as I've always thought it would a great way to get in shape by having someone yell at me.
The instructor offered me a free trial on Saturday morning to check out the class and see what I thought. I debated even going as we had company over the night before I have no self control when it came to the Smirnoff Cranberry-Lime coolers. But come 7:30am I managed to crawl out of bed, pop some Advil and headed to the studio.
I met one of the other ladies in the lobby.
Now, I think I'm in pretty good shape, but I don't really push myself that hard when I work out. I tend to stop before it hurts. My reps top out at 10, maybe 12 if I feel really good. I get a good 'tired' muscle feel the next day, but that's about it. I don't think I thought this through.
The class was small, only four of us, of course it was new so not many people know about the place yet. However, this also meant there was no place to hide. Our instructor, Kevin, was also keen on making sure I enjoyed (and hated) the class to sell me on it, so I really wasn't hiding at all!
The warm up was:
1 minute skipping + 1 min jumping jacks: rep. 4 times
That got our heart rate up, but nothing too crazy...bring it on!!!
Next set was:
18 (yes, 18) push-ups + 18 crunches: no resting
What I didn't understand was that we were to work our way down from 18. So the next set of each exercise was 17, the 16, then 15...you get it...I didn't. I did like 5 sets of 18's...my arms were like Jello. I clued in when everyone else seemed to be flipping to crunches so quickly. I had to ask what I was doing wrong. Apparently I'm a push-up rockstar. But my arms were fried for the rest of the class, another hour and 1/2 of torture which included:
5 reps of 1 min planks + 1min mountain climbers
4 reps of 'bear crawls' + 4 reps of crab walks
24 x 4 reps of squats +alternate lunge+ jump squats + jump lunge
3min wall sits (which I was last to bow out and won me a free pass on the burpies)
10 burpies (everyone else had to do 30)
Just writing all this is tiring my arms. I am sooooo sore. I was sore yesterday afterward. I couldn't even shave my armpits in the shower (sorry hubby). I had to get my daughter to do up my bra.
I rode the bike today to get loosened up again and that seemed to help my legs, but my arms...oh my arms. I didn't know I could work my body like that.
After the class Kevin asked if I did any other exercise. I told him I run regularly. He said that my legs should be okay, but I'll feel it in my upper body. True that, Kev, true that.
So the verdict:
I love that I can be worked that hard. I would never push myself like that if it wasn't for someone else. I think I will wait to take the full class until winter. The fall is so nice to still run outside. In the winter is when I might need an extra kick in the pants to get moving. I will not drink alcohol the night before and I will get at least 7 hours of sleep. I think.
The instructor offered me a free trial on Saturday morning to check out the class and see what I thought. I debated even going as we had company over the night before I have no self control when it came to the Smirnoff Cranberry-Lime coolers. But come 7:30am I managed to crawl out of bed, pop some Advil and headed to the studio.
I met one of the other ladies in the lobby.
Me: So you've done this for a few weeks now?
Her: No, last week, was the first class...I was sore until Wednesday.
Me: GULP!
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| Photo credit |
Now, I think I'm in pretty good shape, but I don't really push myself that hard when I work out. I tend to stop before it hurts. My reps top out at 10, maybe 12 if I feel really good. I get a good 'tired' muscle feel the next day, but that's about it. I don't think I thought this through.
The class was small, only four of us, of course it was new so not many people know about the place yet. However, this also meant there was no place to hide. Our instructor, Kevin, was also keen on making sure I enjoyed (and hated) the class to sell me on it, so I really wasn't hiding at all!
The warm up was:
1 minute skipping + 1 min jumping jacks: rep. 4 times
That got our heart rate up, but nothing too crazy...bring it on!!!
Next set was:
18 (yes, 18) push-ups + 18 crunches: no resting
What I didn't understand was that we were to work our way down from 18. So the next set of each exercise was 17, the 16, then 15...you get it...I didn't. I did like 5 sets of 18's...my arms were like Jello. I clued in when everyone else seemed to be flipping to crunches so quickly. I had to ask what I was doing wrong. Apparently I'm a push-up rockstar. But my arms were fried for the rest of the class, another hour and 1/2 of torture which included:
5 reps of 1 min planks + 1min mountain climbers
4 reps of 'bear crawls' + 4 reps of crab walks
24 x 4 reps of squats +alternate lunge+ jump squats + jump lunge
3min wall sits (which I was last to bow out and won me a free pass on the burpies)
10 burpies (everyone else had to do 30)
Just writing all this is tiring my arms. I am sooooo sore. I was sore yesterday afterward. I couldn't even shave my armpits in the shower (sorry hubby). I had to get my daughter to do up my bra.
I rode the bike today to get loosened up again and that seemed to help my legs, but my arms...oh my arms. I didn't know I could work my body like that.
After the class Kevin asked if I did any other exercise. I told him I run regularly. He said that my legs should be okay, but I'll feel it in my upper body. True that, Kev, true that.
So the verdict:
I love that I can be worked that hard. I would never push myself like that if it wasn't for someone else. I think I will wait to take the full class until winter. The fall is so nice to still run outside. In the winter is when I might need an extra kick in the pants to get moving. I will not drink alcohol the night before and I will get at least 7 hours of sleep. I think.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tiny Brick
I'm not even sure if it qualifies as a brick at all, it's just so small...
Last night the kids were sleeping over at Grandma's so Mr. B and I had a nice grown up dinner. Afterwards we didn't really have plans and no kids so I did what every sane mother of two kids would do....
I went for a run!
I headed out at about 7:30pm, which is earlier than I normally would with the kids at home (after bedtime of course). It was so nice out, warm but not too humid, daylight but not sunny, sun slowly starting to drip down the skyline. As beautiful as it was I just wasn't feeling the run.
I promised myself to be out for at least 20mins, but at about 5 mins in I realized I reeeaaallllyyy had to go pee. For those of you who know me, your probably are not surprised by this and even wonder how I function during the day without going to the bathroom every 5 mins. However, it was just the excuse I needed to head back home early.
I came home, made my 'pit stop' and immediately headed out again, but this time on my bike! That's right, I'm hard core like that. I strapped on my helmet and rode that baby up some serious hills. Things you should know:
1) Mr. B 'surprised' me with the bike a couple years ago after he found it by the dumpster at work
2) The last bike ride I took was last month with Mr. B
3) The time before that was about, oh...20 years ago!!!
I don't what I was thinking, but I sure did like the change of pace, a much faster pace too. Bikes go really fast downhill!
So that was my brick...15min run + 20 min bike ride
I even considered going for another run after I got back on the bike, but then I opted to try walking to the mailbox first and realized my legs were not ready for a duathlon...yet!!
Last night the kids were sleeping over at Grandma's so Mr. B and I had a nice grown up dinner. Afterwards we didn't really have plans and no kids so I did what every sane mother of two kids would do....
I went for a run!
I headed out at about 7:30pm, which is earlier than I normally would with the kids at home (after bedtime of course). It was so nice out, warm but not too humid, daylight but not sunny, sun slowly starting to drip down the skyline. As beautiful as it was I just wasn't feeling the run.
I promised myself to be out for at least 20mins, but at about 5 mins in I realized I reeeaaallllyyy had to go pee. For those of you who know me, your probably are not surprised by this and even wonder how I function during the day without going to the bathroom every 5 mins. However, it was just the excuse I needed to head back home early.
I came home, made my 'pit stop' and immediately headed out again, but this time on my bike! That's right, I'm hard core like that. I strapped on my helmet and rode that baby up some serious hills. Things you should know:
1) Mr. B 'surprised' me with the bike a couple years ago after he found it by the dumpster at work
2) The last bike ride I took was last month with Mr. B
3) The time before that was about, oh...20 years ago!!!
I don't what I was thinking, but I sure did like the change of pace, a much faster pace too. Bikes go really fast downhill!
So that was my brick...15min run + 20 min bike ride
I even considered going for another run after I got back on the bike, but then I opted to try walking to the mailbox first and realized my legs were not ready for a duathlon...yet!!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Music Monday
Here are the latest diddy's I can't seem to get out of my head....
Okay...I have officially been 'Foo'-ed. I have never been a huge Foo fan, but one listen and you can't help but join the following. These guys know how to rock! The middle section of the song when he wails..."I never wanna die, I'm on my knees, I never wanna die..." intense!!!
I have always had respect for Dave Grohl since his Nirvana days. It's only taken me , like 15 years to figure out he's still got it. Recently, Mr. B and I found the Foo Fighter documentry on cable and good sucked into the story of the band. There is some serious history with these boys and it's great to see them all grown up with responsibilites like wives and kids but still have an edge to them. I have found myself revisiting old Foo songs to find that same edge that I may have overlooked before. If you like this, check out Learning to Fly and The Best of You.
Bonus: Foo Fighter videos...these guys have a great sense of humour. As gritty and raw their songs are their videos are funny and lightweight. You can tell they just like to play music and have a good time. The Learning to Fly video is worth watching just for the characters all the band members play.
Foo Fighters: Walk
I have always had respect for Dave Grohl since his Nirvana days. It's only taken me , like 15 years to figure out he's still got it. Recently, Mr. B and I found the Foo Fighter documentry on cable and good sucked into the story of the band. There is some serious history with these boys and it's great to see them all grown up with responsibilites like wives and kids but still have an edge to them. I have found myself revisiting old Foo songs to find that same edge that I may have overlooked before. If you like this, check out Learning to Fly and The Best of You.
Bonus: Foo Fighter videos...these guys have a great sense of humour. As gritty and raw their songs are their videos are funny and lightweight. You can tell they just like to play music and have a good time. The Learning to Fly video is worth watching just for the characters all the band members play.
Arkells: Whistleblower
This is a great song from a Canadian band from Hamilton, ON. I swear, great music lives down the street from me! I've been impressed with most of the stuff I've heard from them the past couple years. I don't know too much about them, but if you like this, check out: "Oh, the Boss is coming" which is on replay when I run and "Pulling Punches", which has a great beat for keeping a good pace. Sorry about the video on this song, I guess they don't have an 'official' video on Youtube yet.
The Reason: Where do we go from here?
And yet another Hamilton, On band making waves in the music scene. They're getting some good airplay on our Toronto station and I'm okay with that. I can't get enough of this song. I look forward to other stuff they might have coming out. But this song, well it's just awesome. It's catchy and I love the lyrics, kinda running related...'where do we go from here...we trudge along, the only road we know...' I guess any song can be turned into a running related song if you think hard enough.
That's all I got for now....what's new on your playlist?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tagged!
In the blog world, being tagged is like getting a chain mail letter. In some ways its a little dreadful, because you feel obligated to do it. But on the other hand, you are pleased that someone remembered your name and thought to put you on their 'tag' list.
So, with special thanks to Sandy at Sassy Runner Girl...I've been TAGGED!! Actually I'm grateful because I've been struggling with a new post idea but I'm not ready to get all deep on ya'll just now. I'll save it and do this instead.
The deal is this:
I got tagged to come up with 7 links off my own blog that fall within the pre-determined categories. I'm also supposed to tag some other bloggers, but this has been going around so I'm afraid of double tagging. Plus if you read this you might have an idea of how well I do at these things.
I've had a hard time answering some of these. I don't feel my blog has generated enough attention to be helpful or controversial...I'll be faking some stuff.
And now on with the task at hand:
Okay so that's my list. What do you think? I'm curious about my readers thoughts about past posts. What have you enjoyed most? What do you want to hear/see more of? Any feedback is great! Maybe I can even come up with something controversial for the next time one of these lists comes floating along.
So, with special thanks to Sandy at Sassy Runner Girl...I've been TAGGED!! Actually I'm grateful because I've been struggling with a new post idea but I'm not ready to get all deep on ya'll just now. I'll save it and do this instead.
The deal is this:
I got tagged to come up with 7 links off my own blog that fall within the pre-determined categories. I'm also supposed to tag some other bloggers, but this has been going around so I'm afraid of double tagging. Plus if you read this you might have an idea of how well I do at these things.
I've had a hard time answering some of these. I don't feel my blog has generated enough attention to be helpful or controversial...I'll be faking some stuff.
And now on with the task at hand:
Most Beautiful: Post One
I think this is just a reminder of why I started this thing. I haven't gone back to read it for a while, but I should in order to keep focus.
Most Popular: Bitch'n Kitchen
I'm not sure why this was popular. I think it has something to do with the catching title, or the picture of the homemade lasagna. I'll have to post more food pics to get attention I guess.
Most Helpful: ABC's of Me
It's probably more informative than helpful. This was a fun 'tag' that had me talking a little bit more about myself.
Surprise Success: Running Like a Mother
I actually got a comment from SBS herself!! I was (and still am) very happy about the surprise reader. Although I never did get that shirt :(
Most Proud:The Good the Bad and the Awesome
I'm just proud of the race, not necessarily the post. 10 miles in my back pocket and proud to tell the world about it.
Most Controversial: Break's Over Back to Work
Again, not really controversial, just got some good feedback from readers.
Not Enough Attention:What's Black and White and Read All Over?
I just thought that announcing my personal running goals in a public forum (albeit a local newspaper) would've generated more attention. That's all.
Okay so that's my list. What do you think? I'm curious about my readers thoughts about past posts. What have you enjoyed most? What do you want to hear/see more of? Any feedback is great! Maybe I can even come up with something controversial for the next time one of these lists comes floating along.
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