:: Dear Friday... ::

As I sit here and wait for Kyle to come downstairs and join me for our movie night {Dinner with Schmucks} I will bring back my Friday Letters. I think K may be distracted by his new fancy video game controller - but I will forgive him.

Dear Friends: the fact that so many of your marriages are ending after such short time periods makes me sad. i really do wish you all nothing but happiness, but i am still very sad for you.

Dear Blast900: You kicked my booty tonight - holy sweaty face, pants, shirt, body. I cannot wait to see you next Friday. I am LOVING these free classes. Holla!

Dear Stone Mountain: I am unsure how I am going to successfully run around you tomorrow morning. This may be a slow 5 miles.

Dear Birchbox: Ok. I have been a member for 3 months and every box has sucked. I am giving you 1 more month to redeem myself then no more $10 per month for you! Bah Hum Bug.

Dear Work: You're keeping me busy and on my toes and you presented me with a new challenge this week that I am super excited about. I cannot wait to see what I can and do accomplish. :)

Dear Husband: Everyone at work told me how lucky I am to have you and I know I am.  Thanks for delaying your video game playing time to make banana pudding for my company pot luck today.  It was a hit!

Dear Crazy People: Really?! Quit with the random acts of violence. My thoughts were with Tuscaloosa earlier this week and now they're with Colorado.  I know gun control is "liberal thinking" ... but I mean do we need to tighten the requirements on who can and cannot have a gun.  {Granted. Homeboy who went off the deep end in the movie theater appeared to be a smart, upstanding kid.}

Dear Sanibel Island: I am coming for you - it has been forever since I visited you last.  But, my plane ticket is booked and now I'm just getting back in bathing suit shape.

Dear People Reading This: I hope you have a REALLY good weekend!!

total work out random-ness.

Total random work out thoughts.  Compiled over the course of some time...

• I am on a routine and I love my routine and since I cannot do part of my routine this week I feel lost.  But, it is dinner with my maid of honor so it is all okay!
• Legit :: I am beginning to really really enjoy Blast900 and Pure Barre.  I am sad that I will have to break up with my studios after the wedding is done and over.  It is all just too expensive.
• Speaking of expensive studios - there is a new spin studio opening in Buckhead called FlyWheel and I WANT TO TRY IT SO BADLY.  I love love love spin classes and this is supposed to be spin on crack - stadium spinning in a dark room so you cannot stare at your neighbor with boards up front so you can complete against others.  Plus free spin shoes {which is actually kinda gross if you think about it} and free towels {i always forget mine} and free water {which I would have to bring my own because i guzzle, but still} ... seriously, want to try. 
• Speaking of expensive things .. I have an urge to buy more lululemon tanks {for pure barre} but I cannot and will not do it because I HATE running in Lulu.
• I am thinking about running the Charles Harris 10k this weekend.  Can I tough out 6.2 miles?  It is pretty much all flat and downhill.  Decisions decisions my friend.
• And.  I really have not been running.  I have been living in Blast900 and Pure Barre.  I really need to bring the running back in my life.  I miss it.  I have LOVED finding my groove on the treadmill in Blast which means, I will love finding my groove whenever I start hitting the pavement again.
• There is a new gym opening up by my house and it is like $19 per month.  I just may be joining it once they open the doors.  Especially since I will be ditching Pure Barre and Blast - well ditching it some what.....  le sigh.

Oh How I Forgot

I started back up with both Pure Barre and Blast 900 last week / this week.  And let me tell you - I forgot just how painful {{ but awesome }} both are.  I went to Blast for the first time in MONTHS yesterday and you know you're in a hard class / have a hard teacher when people who teach Blast classes attend her class.  Yeah it was pretty rough and today I am hurting.

Pure Barre is a whole different kind of pain and it is probably a good thing that I accidentally forgot my Pure Barre clothes at home on the counter.  =/

I have 9 more Blast classes on my schedule and 29 Pure Barre classes before the wedding with running in the mix too.

Tuesday Thoughts.

Since Thursday is Thanksgiving - I doubt I will get a Three Things Thursday out since that will be a family day - so I decided to do Tuesday Thoughts ... and I will not be limited to just 3 things.  I am still in total shock that we are about to be in December.  Like where has 2011 gone?  Time flies the older you get.  =/

1.  We are leaving for Northern Virginia today after work.  We = Me. Kyle. And the 2 dogs.  I am getting a little anxious about the two dogs because I will have to have them the whole time.  I am trying to make Kyle take them on Friday night - Saturday, but so far I am losing that battle. Having the 2 dogs really makes it impossible to run (really having 1 dog does this too) and there are some routes I really like back home.  I just feel REALLY bad dumping the dog(s) on my parents when I know they're more of a pain than anything.

2.  During the week I feel like I am REALLY good at hydrating myself - on the weekends I feel like I am really bad at it.  I don't know why, but I am.  So, I really really want this.  I am probably going to fall into some big amazing marketing ploy & it won't really actually work.    But it is worth a shot?  ...Or I can make a bigger effort to just drink water on the weekends?

3.  I need a December race.  If you're in Atlanta start suggesting.  I don't want to do the one in the Highlands because I predict parking will be a total nightmare and I like my pre-race activities to be stress free.

4.  The Run to the Finish - Holiday Booty Buster Challenge started this past weekend.  And I meant to run this weekend, I really did.  But then I got consumed with Football and Christmas Shopping and Christmas Movies (thanks Hallmark Channel) and dogs and super tiredness and laundry and packing to go home to VA and bathing the dogs.  HOWEVER - I got some miles in at lunch on Monday.  I was not going to let this week go by with 0 miles and 0 working out.  Those miles were not pretty, but they are done!

5.  All I want for Christmas is a new Road ID.  Seriously, especially if I am going to be running outside in the Perimeter Mall area on lunch breaks.  These stay at home moms in big SUVs are scary.  I feel like I am destined to be hit by a car (even in a crosswalk).  Therefore, I would like to have some sort of ID on me.  And I lost my old one ... and I want my new one to have my blood type on it.  And I want the one that attaches to my shoe (that way I cannot lose it).

6.  I need both Pure Barre and Blast 900 to have crazy holiday sales. I want to bring both back into my life after the 1st of the year -- especially Pure Barre, but the classes are so expensive I have a hard time justifying them.  Especially Pure Barre because I feel like you have to go a lot to see results, but I feel like Pure Barre will help the most to make me wedding dress pretty.  I wish things like that were not crazy expensive, I have bills and life to pay for.


....oh how exhausted am I. 

three things thursday–truth edition.

 

TRUTH #1.  I am going to have to make a BIG decision on if I want to continue with Blast900 or not.  I  have a few reasons why I am trying to decide if I want to continue on or not, but it really comes down to money.  It is SO expensive and I go once a week.  I will never ever ever say a bad thing about Blast because it REALLY is a great workout.  But looking at all the money I am spending on it vs. going to the gym – it just doesn’t really make sense.  In addition I am not seeing a real big impact on my running – granted, many weeks Blast is my only workout.  I  just need to decide if it is worth it or not.

TRUTH #2.  Um.  I have a half marathon coming up that I am NO WHERE and I mean NO WHERE near ready for.  I have never had a “DNS” but I kinda wonder if I should even attempt this.  Yeah…. I blogged about this on Sunday but I have been thinking about it ever since.  I am unsure if running 13.1 miles when I haven’t really run more than 3 is worth it – in the past when I have not been really ready, I have at least been in shape enough to push through, walk a bit then run.  But I just do not think that is the case this go around.

TRUTH #3.  I think I have like an OCD personality.  My reasoning?  I tend to throw myself fully into something but I can only really focus on 1 thing at a time.  Last year it was running – this year it is wedding planning.  I wish I could find a way to balance everything, but I tend to let 1 thing take over my life.  Maybe since the wedding is pretty much planned – I just have more candy and candy buffet accessories, the guestbook, welcome bag stuffers, and some super cute signs to buy and then I am 100% done (I think).  Maybe I can take the that time and move it to running.

Three Things Thursday.

1. I started running at the gym at lunch and it may be a really bad idea.  Because you see, when I run ... I RUN ... and I sweat and I turn bright red ... and then I have to go back to the office.  The other day our VP of Payroll said "you look hot" ... yeah I was.  BUT, I feel like that is the only way I will get my run in because by the time 5:30 rolls around all I want to do is go home, eat dinner, and then lay around.  Laying around does not equal active.  And, my parents are coming in town today till next week sometime and that means working out will be hard unless I do it at lunch... so sweaty lunchtime runs it is. :o)
2. So after one Blast900 class the instructor was talking about heart rate monitors and seeing how many calories were burned (and we all know, I'm not really burning 900 calories) so my interest was perked.  And then there was a guest blogger on Blast900's blog last week who was talking about how it felt like she was dying but by looking at her HR monitor she knew she could push harder and not die.  I really want a HR monitor - but I don't want to buy one because the Garmin I want has a HR monitor as part of it.  But with that said, I don't want to shell out all that money for a new Garmin.  But then I was at Blast Monday and running on the treadmill Tuesday and my mind kept going to a HR Monitor. I wish I had done more research when I bought my 1st Garmin and I could have gotten on with one, but back then I didn't understand/realize/know how helpful and awesome they could be. I mean I could buy the new one (and I have a REI dividend), sell the old one and put that money to the new one... but what if I cannot sell the old one.

3.  My friend Lydia and I went to spin class together yesterday and it was by far the worst spin class I have ever been too. And Lyd agreed.  We actually left 30 minutes in because it was so bad.  She didn't crank the music up, she had zero energy (very blah) and there was nothing happening that made you want to work and want to be there. so we left. yeah, we're slackers.  BUT we both did 15 minutes on the treadmill prior to spin... so that is 45 minutes of work.  makes up for it right?!

three things thursday.

it has been a while since i have done a three things thursday - but since i am trying my very very best to keep this running and working out related, i have not had too much to report on. 

1. i have been going to blast900 once a week, every week for 3 weeks now and it does not get easier, but i have found that it has made me stronger and my endurance is getting better. i thought it would get easier as the weeks went on, but it has not been getting easier since all the instructors make each class different and you never know what you're walking into. i won't get to do it this week since my 6pm monday class was cancelled for the 4th and because i was not even in atlanta...  but i really like it (even though 30 minutes in i say i hate it) and want kyle j to come with me -- the 1st class is free! :o)  they're supposedly looking for locations in northern va, so if they do open locations here i can go when i am home for holidays and when we move back....

2. i really really really want the new garmin forerunner 610. my 405 is like 2 or 3 years old and has been acting REAL glitchy and is not holding a charge very well once it gets turned on and is in training mode, so i want to upgrade. plus i want the HR monitor and I like that is has stronger satellite signals so i won't lose it like i did during the Nashville Half and Atlanta 13.1 last year.  but, i won't let myself buy it because (a) I'm not running enough to warrant buying a new one (b) my 405 works well enough, i just need to remember to put it on the charger after use (c) it is way way way too expensive and (d) because i am in total saving money mode.  but i am allowed to dream of it right? plus in a years time the price should *hopefully* drop.

3. i went home for the 4th of july and did not even get to run at my most favorite running spot ever - burke lake. i totally planned on running it at least once, but my mom's check engine light went out when i was driving it one day and cars with check engine lights on freak me out. whenever we decide to move back to NoVa (kyle needs to stop making excuses especially since he "hates georgia so much") I will run there as often as humanly possible.  i didn't even run the neighborhood - i just laid in bed like a bum and slept till almost 12:00 most days. 

Blast900 -- review number two.

I know I reviewed Blast900 a few months back.  But I feel like I did not give it justice.  I had gone once and took to my blog talking about it.  By no means am I an expert or a pro at it -- in fact I still struggle every single time I go -- but I feel like I can give it a better "review" now that I have gone 4 or 5 times.

I thought by showing a video you may get a MUCH better understanding of what goes on at Blast900.  It is not an easy hour long workout and it really is for people who want to be pushed and want to work.  But if you stop reading here I will let you know that I 100% recommend it.

Blast can and will seriously kick your butt.  The nice thing about it is you work 100% at your own pace but with a push.  When on the treadmill you work at a runner, jogger, or walker pace and me ... yeah I start as a jogger and then rotate between walker and jogger ... but when "walking" ... it is not a stroll in the park it's a power, must get to the sale at the mall walk.  The ultimate goal - to burn the 900 calories, but I highly doubt I have ever actually burned 900 calories.  You rotate between the treadmill (running, sprints, crazy steep hills) and the floor (core work, arms, back, weights, bands, balls, if it can torture you - they have it) -- it is killer fast interval work.  Each class is 1 hour and each "block" is a certain length of time.  Most recently for me it has been 5 minute blocks (5 minutes on the treadmill, 5 on floor, 5 on treadmill, 5 on floor ... got it?) but there have been 10 minute blocks and shorter than 5 minutes.  Last night... we did 1 minute on the treadmill, 1 minute of work around the treadmill... 1 minute back on 1 minute off (hello pain).  

Each time I go I ask myself why I keep doing this to myself.  I have never sweat so much when working out.  But I keep going back because I know that I get an amazing workout there whether I burn the 900 calories or not.  What I really like about it is that the instructors (as tough as they are) don't really call you out for slacking - they gently nudge you to say I see you and there is something about their way of saying it or looking at you that you feel like you're letting your parents down so you up your speed or you don't hold onto the treadmill for dear life (even if you stop holding on for just 5 seconds HA!).  The people who teach the classes are just positive and peppy and there is something about the music that drowns you out. 

Every week and workout is different so I never know what pain I am stepping into, but that is kinda nice.  I am REALLY hoping that this tones me for my wedding and gets me faster and stronger for my running.  I never know exactly how many miles I run each time I am there so I guess around 2.5 since my treadmill always says 4+ .... but since we keep them running when we're on the floor I never really know.  But I know the sprints (which I'd like to thank Richard for giving me the confidence to actually SPRINT) and the crazy hills will get me stronger and hopefully faster.  I will report back after my half marathon in October!

The first class is always free so if you're in Atlanta and have not yet tried it out or if you are passing through for business and want something new -- they have locations in both Buckhead and Dunwoody.  Tim Tebow even did Blast when he was in town a few months back.  And... of course let them know that I referred you and report back on how you like it! :o)

30 day challenge. week one.

so I started my 30 day challenge this week and I had this whole entry planned out to tell you all about my little victories and everything amazing I did this week.  and then my week happened and let’s talk about how good I did not do.  I don’t want to say I did bad, because I didn’t do BAD but it really was a horrible attempt at greatness.

monday. I started with a vengeance. I went to blast900 that night – atlanta traffic was so bad the teacher was 15 minutes late but I stuck around because it was day 1 and I had to do it. and I did it and it was hard. but 100% well worth it. the class only had like 8 people in it (normally there is 25 but I think since it was dunwoody over buckhead that mattered) so we all got a little extra “loving” attention from richard.  I normally slack on the sprints – but he wouldn’t let me so it gave me the much needed confidence to do them well every time going forward.

tuesday I was still going strong. I pushed through a 1.74 mile hilly run that was awful because I hurt from blast and because it was hot and humid. (hello atlanta summers). I wanted to quit around mile 1 but I made myself turn right instead of going left and going home. my neighborhood is really hilly.

wednesday I planned to hit spin class, but my legs hurt so I bailed. and then I just crawled in bed for amazingly bad tv. thursday… I planned to go to the gym. but I didn’t. and once I again I did nothing.

friday we did walk the dog for 20 minutes in the rain. saturday, I walked the dog as well – I slacked. I woke up accidently at 6:30 am when it was 65* and should have gotten out of bed and RAN but I watched Gilmore Girls instead.  but sunday I wouldn’t let myself be a total slacker and I hit the gym for a 30 minute swim.  annnnnd I gave mulligan his 30 minute walk.

I also did HORRIBLE on the no sweets … well horrible is dramatic I had some and I also had 1 glass of wine at a work function on thursday.  Oi.  I guess things in moderation is better than gorging myself.

next week will be better – and I am starting off with blast900 again.  I think it is all about figuring the week out and working out around what muscles I worked the day before … however I need to run more than not run since I signed up for the atlanta 13.1 race in october since I liked it so much last year.  on saturday morning I have my free fitness evaluation & personal trainer consultation/workout so I know for a fact he will kill me.  oh well…. onto another week! =)

I am doing it. 30 day challenge that is.

I am sick so my creativity and motivation has been zapped. so uncreative that I originally titled this blog “30 day challenge” – sound familiar? It should.  It is what I called my last entry.  Then all I could think of was “I am doing it”

So here we go.  Starting Monday. Something active EVERY day. no excuses.  To kick it off I ordered a kettle ball workout (with kettle ball) since everyone RAVES about them.  And I am hoping that Blast900 in Dunwoody is unflooded (that isn’t even a word, but I will let it slide since I am sick) by Monday.

I think the hardest part will be that during this 30 day challenge thing I will (1) go home to VA and I always mean to work out but never do and (2) my parents will be in Atlanta so I am gonna have to work something in.

AND… just call me an overachiever but I have decided to take it a step further and cut sweets out of my life for a month again. And limit myself to 1 diet coke per day.  And. No alcohol. 

Wish me luck.  I am gonna need it. =)

30 day challenge.

One of the blogs I read (Lawgirl Runs) is doing something called a 30 day challenge.  If I understand correctly, it pretty much means she is doing something active for 30 days straight.  A few months back I did a 30 day personal revolution and surprisingly I did REALLY well.  So here I am thinking that if I make myself do my own personal 30 day challenge I may do much better at this working out thing than just relying on me to do something.

So I am going to let this idea marinate a little bit and then maybe, quite possibly do it.  I just have a hunch it would be hard since I'm going home soon and home to me equals total laziness. And I would have to start after I kick this summer cold that is beating me up right now.

I think I could totally do it since I told myself that once this cold is dunzo, I would start doing Blast900 each and every Monday after work.  And that is 1 day out of the 7 covered.  And dog walks are something active too... I could totally do this.

I will keep you posted.

I have said it before, but something has to give

Running is the greatest metaphor for life because you get out of it what you put into it.

:: Oprah Winfrey ::

This time last year I had run 1 full marathon, was gearing up to run my 1st half of the year, and had run a handful of 5ks and 10ks and had 1 more full and 2 more halfs on my schedule.  I had gone through at least 1 pair of running shoes and done countless loads of running clothes laundry. This year. We're in March and I have barely gotten 12 miles in ALL YEAR.   and i want to call myself a runner. 

The quote above by Oprah could not be more truthful.  If I went out to run a 5k tomorrow, I would struggle but that is because I have not touched or nurtured my running relationship this year.  I have 100% put it on the back burner and moved work to the front.  As I have been screaming all year I am ready for a change and want to figure out how to get running back into my life.  Maybe not racing in 2011, but at least running.

I want to put my goals on paper.  I want to tell you how I hope to run at Stone Mountain every weekend starting this weekend and that I want to do Blast900 twice a month and that I want to rejoin a gym and actually use it and that I want to do runs in the neighborhood after work before it gets too dark.  (wait i did tell you)  I just know that I won't get anything out of my running and I will not be successful at Ragnar or Savannah or even the Brookhaven Bolt if I do not start moving and getting back in the groove.

Yesterday morning I started my new job.  But not the new job that I told you about on Thursday. I chose to stay with the company that I have been with since I moved to Atlanta.  They have been so great to me and have been my family and the position they countered me with on Friday fits my career goals.  Right now, I am in the branch assisting with the transition and then I move up to corporate. And with the corporate move I hope that there will be a balance where I can work and do what I love, but I can also fit in the time to go to the gym. And if that means rejoining LA Fitness because it is just up the street rather than upgrading to Lifetime then so be it...

But if there is 1 truth that needs to be presented is: something HAS to give.  Running has to work its way back into my life.  Maybe I give up sleeping in on the weekends or I give up the Lifetime marathons or I push myself out the door rather than staying late every night to finish up a project at the office. ....but something HAS to give.

blast900 coupon. :: another one for you atlanta kids ::

we should all know by now that i have a hate/love relationship with Buckhead's Blast900.  Hate it when I am there... love it a few days later. 

I have ANOTHER opportunity for you to get 3 classes for REAL cheap!  Atlanta's Half Off Depot has a coupon for 3 for $25 [normally - one class is $28].  That is a 70% discount ... saving you $84.00!   Seriously... you have to try this workout.  Buy the coupon HERE (not confirmed but it may be for their Dunwoody location only)

If you're still wondering what Blast900 is ... here you go.

"In each hour-long session you’ll burn 900 calories by alternating short, intense treadmill blocks with full-body strength training. You’ll feel challenged and motivated, no matter what your fitness level, and with a workout packed with creative, dynamic exercise concepts, you’ll never get bored."

running goal two - started.

goal two. blast900. it is pricey but i want to do it at the minimum 2 times per month. it is a killer work out and can do/will do a lot for my stamina and running

I am off to a good start - now I just gotta keep it up.  This morning a friend and I went to Blast900 in Buckhead for a crazy hour worth of hill repeats, sprints, arms, legs, core, intervals, endurance training and much more.  We did everything in 5 minute intervals (5 minutes on floor then 5 minutes on the treadmill ... and you just keep rotating for a full hour) and used everything from hand weights to weighted balls. My arms were BURNING about 3 minutes in and I wanted to puke while doing core work. ...and in total, we probably ran about 2 miles on the treadmill.

 I have mentioned Blast900 a few times before, but if you're wondering what it really is this is their website. To be 100% honest, while you're there... it is hell.  But after the fact, you feel really worked out and if this does not help my running, by god I must not be pushing myself hard enough.

If you're in Atlanta and wanting to try it .... your 1st class is on the house. From there is it $28 per class so it is kinda pricey, but if you go HERE you can buy 3 classes for $34 rather than $84 and save yourself some cash.

I probably won't be there next weekend, but I will for sure be there in 2 weekends.

2011 Goals Created.

as well all know from my previous post i did not do so well on my 2010 goals. but no fear - I am not going to be too hard on myself for I will be the first one to stand up and say I (a) let work rule my life (b) chose to be a runner who slept in on weekends and (c) was a slacker.


for 2011 i wanted to set both goals for my running and personal life. and with that statement - here are my goals for the year ahead of me.

RUNNING

goal one. find a work.life.relationship balance with the world of working out and running. 2010 was all about getting the job done and sacrificing runs. 2011 will be about getting the job done but also getting my work out in. how this will happen... tbd.
goal two. blast900. it is pricey but i want to do it at the minimum 2 times per month. it is a killer work out and can do/will do a lot for my stamina and running.
goal three. focus on the little races and increasing speed and stamina. I would like to run a sub30 5k this year and run a 10k in under a hour and a 2 hour half marathon.
goal four. vary the workouts. if that means rejoining a gym, that means rejoining a gym to get in swimming and spin. or just finding the local rec center and seeing what they have to offer.
goal five. run more than 500 miles in 1 year.
goal six. find a running buddy or group to hold me accountable
goal seven. train for big races. fully train. stick to the training schedule.
goal eight. not run a marathon. (you're probably saying WHAT?) but i would like to focus more on finding and making a routine and a balance between life, work, and running so when i do decide to do another one I am 100% committed to all the runs and workouts.


PERSONAL

goal one. floss more. wear my crest white strips more often. i have a wedding that i need REALLY pretty teeth for.
goal two. read more. i'd like to read at least 1 book per month. 12 books per year.
goal three. save more. spend less. 110% stick to my monthly budgets.
goal four. find a house to rent here in atlanta to give my crazy dog a backyard to run in.
goal five. volunteer with an organization. no idea yet. if you have ideas, please send them my way.
goal six. one diet coke per day. all year long. cut back on the sweets. eat healthier.
goal seven. take kyle to an alabama football game. in bryant denny.
goal eight. take 1 bubble bath per week. 4 spa days per year. learn to decompress.

....i hope everyone has a safe and happy 2011!

…starting over… rebuilding it all …

it is time to get back on the running wagon.  i have taken over a month now to do basically anything and everything but work out and run {i have loved the dinners and drinks and hours of lifetime movies}.  i have noticed that my endurance and ability to do things like long dog walks is not where it was this time 2 months ago….

everyone is creating their 2011 race calendars. i have 3 things on mine. a 10k, ragnar, and rock and roll savannah. holla if you're a slacker. HOLLA!

so. to start my 2011 off i am going to run the polar bear run (how fitting with my foto friday lazy polar bears) on jan 22. that is 7 weeks till my next race. it is just a 5k and last year i was getting over the 5k distance… but i think it is the perfect way to ease myself back into running.

i plugged into runners world smart coach and plugged in my “want” 5k time of 30 minutes. made a training plan for 7 weeks and came up with this:

 

week	date	mon.	tues.	wed.	thurs.	fri.	sat.	sun.
1	12/6 - 12/12	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 2	blast 900
2	12/13- 12/19	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 3	blast 900
3	12/20- 12/26	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	east run 3	XT	easy run 4	blast 900
4	12/27- 1/2	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 3	XT	easy run 5	blast 900
5	1/3 - 1/9	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 2	blast 900
6	1/10- 1/16	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 3	blast 900
7	1/17- 1/23	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 3	XT	RACE DAY	blast 900

so here is my training plan… which this month will be hard with heading to Charlottesville VA for Kyle's best friend’s wedding and then going home to DC for Christmas… but I am bound and determined to get in work outs on both trips. ….plus i am going to start making blast 900 a weekly occurrence in my life.

it is kinda weird to see such low miles, but i think it is going to be more fun than anything because there will be no pressure and it will let me ease back into this running thing….  ….now i just have to remember to work out on my designated kyle/barbie gym days.

Blast900 - killer workout in Atlanta.

If you're in Atlanta and want a killer workout in 1 hours I have just the thing for you. Holy Moly. Blast900 is structured to burn 900 calories in 1 hour and good grief does it make you work.  This past week they had a Groupon for 3 classes for $25.00 and normally 1 class is $28.00.  Of course, I slacked and missed the deal, but had been intrigued and read countless awesome reviews and wanted to give it a whirl.   I signed up for my 1st class and got up early Sunday morning for what I expected to be a total sweat fest.
Their website advertises on the front main page " Countless scientific studies prove that the most dramatic way to change your body is through interval training, alternating high and relatively low intensity exercise. BLAST900's unique interval-based workout "shocks" the body out of its comfort zone, and has you continually burning calories for the next 24 hours. BLAST is what you're not already getting, but everything you've ever wanted from a workout. It's circuit training meets bootcamp, all grown up. It's THE ULTIMATE WORKOUT. "  ....and honestly, they do not disappoint. 4 minutes in my body was already feeling it and i was wondering what i had gotten myself into. when on the treadmills they give you the option to work at 3 different levels {walker.jogger.runner. - i was a jogger. the runner was intense} and then for all the floor work they do offer modifications.  but seriously. you're pretty much MOVING for 1 hour straight.

about my killer work out: well. it is a mix of treadmill speed work and hill work and strength training and core work. i started on the floor with kettle ball push ups. i spent the first 10+ minutes working my arms with the kettle ball with a combo of lunges. we then swapped with the treadmills and did speed work, hill work, and endurance building.  i felt at home on the treadmill since i love running. then BAM back to the floor for hand weight work. by this point, my arms, yeah they wanted to fall off. my breathing. totally labored. then back to the treadmill for lots of hills. big long hills. lots of walking for me. then back to the floor for jumping jacks, squats, jumping jack/squat combos. more push ups. (has it been a hour yet!?) then back to the treadmill for running. then back to the floor for core work. and i finished on the treadmill with sprints. 

Just a preview of what it is like you can check out this video:


long story short: we moved around A LOT and it made the time fly by. my legs were shaking by 30 minutes in, 5 minutes in my arms wanted to quit. Christie worked us out. and without hesitation I will say I will be sore tomorrow. I thought being a marathoner meant I was in pretty good shape - ugh not so much.

if you're in Atlanta and looking for a way to change up your normal work out routine try it out.  ...or just try it out if you're not looking to change up your routine. The 1st class is free and well worth it.  I keep debating back and forth if I want to make 2011 another year full of racing or if i want to focus more on quality over quantity and focus on speed and building stamina and strength. but i have decided that i want to make blast900 part of my work out routines. every runner needs interval and strength training right?! :o)

it is kinda pricey at $28.00 per class, but remember your 1st one is free so why not just try it out?! I figure I will do it again. Once I condition my unused muscles it won't hurt as much and something like this and the different transitions can only help my running right?!