Try Something New: February: Zumba

Last month my fitness partner-in-crime Heather and I tried a Barre class. I wouldn't call it an overall success. But it was an experience. 

So this month was Heather's choice and she chose Zumba. Old Amelia would never have darkened that doorstep. Rhythm and I aren't friends. But I've got to a point in my life with my own physical abilities that I am loving trying new things that are so far from my comfort levels. It's funny how our January and February classes were both so dance-based. 

I like to "dance like no ones watching" and have lots of fun moving about. Does it look good? Likely not. Since learning to play the ukulele I'd say my understanding of music has definitely improved. But anything is an improvement from where it started from. As a child in jazz I couldn't "hear the beat" or rhythm. At all. I thought it was a made up thing. 

SO! we decided on Zumba and my mother told me an old family friend had a daughter that taught at a small studio in town. So we agreed upon this Saturday. 

The class was 11:15-12:15. Heather picked me up and we arrived at shortly before 11. A group of small girls in leotards were in the studio adorably floating about finishing up their ballet class. We signed waivers and paid our 10 dollar drop in fee. 

The advice I was given was "stand at the back and if there are mirrors, don't look at them." Of course the whole front was mirrors. 

We did steps from different styles of dance like salsa and hip hop. All the steps started out slow and simple and would build into movement combinations. We were told to focus on the feet and not worry about much about arms if it was a challenge and that the point was just to keep moving, even if what you were doing didn't quite look like what the instructor was doing. Which I'm sure it didn't from time to time, or often. 

Overall it was a great time! It was a great workout. I was certainly sweating in a tank top and yoga pants. (This time I googled what to wear to Zumba to avoid the last class in which I just wore typical running clothes.) next time I'd wear capris or shorts. And did you know there was such thing as Zumba shoes? Less tread for more side to side dance motions. Not necessary but fun if it's something you are really into. 

It was neat to learn different dance steps and I felt like I was starting to get it. Then I'd look at Heather and she'd look exceptionally silly. So I knew I did too. It all was moving so quickly that you didn't really have time to look at the others but when I stole a glance I realized none of us made it look like the instructor did, but that's okay! 

I liked how each song was a different "workout" and style of dance with a brief break in between. The moves all followed the song so I'd start to anticipate what moves were to come. 

Some of them I did not get AT ALL. But I was having fun. You can't do a Zumba class without smiling or laughing. 

My negatives are few. I still felt a little out of place, Heather made the comment too that we feel more athletic than a graceful dancer type. We are bootcamp girls and I can't expect any other class to give me the same feelings of home like bootcamp or running. But it was close! The class was largely in part enjoyable due to a great teacher! (The teacher makes the class always. Of course I feel that way.) 

Is it something I'd do again? I think so! I'd like to go with a new friend each time just for the entertainment value alone. Not friends that have a natural rhythm or dance ability. That would be obnoxious :)

Chalk February's "try something new" up as a success! Who knows, maybe I'll inadvertently become a better dancer (with actual "dance moves") as a result :) I look forward to seeing what March will bring! 

Something new: Buddha Barre

This week I received an email from a local yoga/spin studio I used to attend a few years ago. It said that lululemon was coming to our small town for a day to have a pop up store downtown. As a result lululemon so graciously paid for all Saturday classes at the studio. 

So I texted my friend Heather asking if she wanted to attend a free class. She looked through the listings and chose their "Buddha barre" class. I'd heard of barre classes before but didn't know much of it. 

We arrived early and felt a little out of place. I am used to doing all exercises in my running shoes and when I was told the class was sock or bare feet I was a little out of my comfort zone. Poor sad asics thought they were getting a workout today. Nope. 

Neither of us brought a mat but when we saw all the regulars with theirs we were happy the facility provided some. 

The class started on the mats with some yoga like moves with planks, bridges, and various other core activating exercises. 

We then moved to the barre and I was instantly transported back to my dance classes as a child. Spoiler: childhood athletic memories were never positive. 

We did a range of ballet style full body exercises. Kicks and squats and other activities. They were all challenging and full body exercises as you had to focus on engaging your core and keeping your whole frame strong. Also we were often on our toes leading to a great calf/quad burn. 

By the end I was sweating buckets and smelled kinda bad. Sorry to the ladies beside me. It was a great and challenging workout that was definitely outside my comfort zone. 

Positives:

A great workout

Something new- I love new experiences. 

Free class! 

A nice sat morning with a sweet friend 

Negatives:

I felt out of place. 

I didn't know the fancy ballet terms and often was looking around trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing. 

The establishment itself has a bit of a snooty feel. 

Seemed like a fashion show of sorts and here I am in a running tshirt. 

We got silenced for quietly chatting and then split up. (Story of my life)

I kept thinking "what is a runner doing at a barre class"? Improving herself, I guess. 

I am glad I did it, especially the experience with my friend. We had a lovely rest of our morning/afternoon together. The class was from 10:15-11:15 and then we went to the lulu pop up store to check it out as it was open today only.

 We then went for coffee and shared an egg salad sandwich. 

We also decided once a month we'd like to try a new fitness class out of our element. 

January: barre.

 February: Zumba? Stay tuned! 

Running Firsts

Ask any runner which was their most significant or memorable race and more often than not you'll get the answer "my first". I've been running now for coming on 3 years this fall and I've done 4 half marathons. I will never ever forget my first half marathon. The first time you run a distance is full of unknowns, you doubt whether or not you can actually achieve it, then you get to a point where you realize you can and will and once you do the feeling of accomplishment is overwhelming! Though your second, third, fourth...twentieth will have it's memorable moments, there is nothing quite like that first one.

I love to collect running firsts. First time running the entire 6km block without walking, first time running double digits, first time running a half marathon, first run in the rain, first age category medal, first time on the podium, etc.

Today, after nearly 3 years running I collected a new first. One I was hoping never to collect.

You see, as already mentioned, I am currently doing the Get Out There Magazine 30 day challenge (#GOT30daychallenge) in which you are active for 30 minutes daily for 30 consecutive days. It's a great motivator. BUT, as a result of the season my weeks have looked like this:
Monday: ladies bootcamp
Tuesday: Ski
Wednesday: ladies bootcamp
Thursday: run
Friday: run
Saturday: run
Sunday: run

and don't get my wrong, I LOVE to run. However, as it has been cold and snowy and icy and windy all my runs have been indoors. Running on the treadmill is a means to an end. I am thankful for a very nice treadmill in my basement. I am thankful for access to an ipad with netflix. But when I run on the treadmill I feel so challenged, it seems too difficult to "keep up" with speeds that feel like a crawl outdoors...what's with that? And the temptation to step off the 'mill for a quick sec to drink some water or respond to a text or check my instagram feed....well, it's far too tempting. So did I really run that full 8km in 40 some odd minutes? likely more like 5 of the 8. After 4 days in a row of "2 episodes of Friends" on the treadmill (yes this is how I measure the duration of treadmill runs) I feel like I am on groundhogs day.

So sometimes I have to force myself to bundle up and get my butt outside when at all possible. Possible is the hard part. I am at work until 4:30/5ish regularly and by the time I get home it's dark. So many dangers. Living in a rural area the roads are seldom plowed and I have no sidewalk, just a slender shoulder.

Sunday I got outside for an outdoor run and it was pretty darn nice. It was 3 degrees out and the roads were somewhat bare! Except of course for the side of the road on which I needed to run, but for the most part I ran the road until cars came. I was a happy lady.

Tuesdays now I am back to my ladies bible study so I cannot go with the girls skiing. It's fine, I'll go another night. I was overjoyed on recess duty today as it was clear, the sun was shining and there was ZERO wind. Bright blue skies...it was chilly, sure but not THAT bad if you're dressed right. It was -11C I believe.

So I quickly hustled home from school, got home by 4:30, got layered up (thick socks, running tights, running skirt (my hips and bum are ALWAYS cold), base layer, sweater, jacket, neck warmer, hat, mitts, running watch...WHEW. Sometimes I swear it takes longer to get dressed to run 5k than it does to actually run 5k in the winter. I was out the door by 4:51. The sun sets at about 5:15. I had to boogie!

The roads were snow packed, but not too bad. My music lasted about 2km until my phone froze (so thankful for my Polar M400 that doesn't freeze!) so I had to listen to the silence and the crunch crunch crunch of my feet. This is when I started to pray. I continued to run and when I got to about 3.5km I was making my way around a cul-de-sac when WOOP down I went. A new running first ladies and gentleman, my first fall. I've slipped before, sure. But nothing like this, completely went flying, hit the ground: knee, shin, hip. Also, because my music was kaput I also got to hear myself shout some strange noise. I quickly hopped up, embarrassed, hoping no one saw, and carried on. Of course the first ten steps or so were painful but the pain slowly subsided. I am hoping it doesn't get worse by tomorrow but fear that it may.

Other than the fall and frozen phone it was a good run, a beautiful run really with the clear sky, purpleish pink sunset and new fluffy snow covering everything. I also have to remember that my pace is going to be slower on snow and ice, as it should be. Also I had a KILLER (awesome) ladies bootcamp workout last night so I was working out soreness and tightness from that as well.

I am hoping this was my first and last running fall and that as I continue to run through the winter that there are more clear, sunny, mild days for outdoor runs and that treadmill runs wont seem so monotonous.

Get out there magazine 30 day challenge

The New Year brings with it a sense of renewal and a reset button for us all. We reflect back at the past 12 months and look forward with optimism. This reminds me I should post some of my resolutions. I like to make them though I'm never overly serious about it. Personally any chance to critically reflect on strengths and weaknesses and set goals for improvement I will take. It's the teacher in me. 

So in accordance with the "New Years, new me" sense Get Out There Magazine has made a 30 day challenge in which participants are asked to be active for 30 minutes daily for 30 straight days starting today, Jan 5. I think it's a great idea personally. Some days are easier than others I'm sure but I look forward to the push, the challenge. #GOT30daychallenge 

Gear review: polar M400

I was so blessed to have won a polar giveaway contest this week. It seems a dream come true as a running watch is something I've always wanted but they are all so pricey and there are so many options. How do you choose? Easily. Win one! 

So it was announced Tuesday and I passed along my mailing address in anticipation. 

To say this week was crazy is an understatement. The last 2 weeks before Christmas the kids are crazy, filling in for missing staff, a crazy snowstorm Thursday which led to running kids out to the road to their parents as cars were in ditches and across the road, add in finding out my pregnant best friend was having an emergency c section in Waterloo as baby girl's heart rate dropped, to having to push my car out of the snow...yeah. It was a week. So getting home Friday from work and seeing a package at the door was so exciting. 

First, before all else, I had to take a selfie 

I knew I wanted to get in a run (treadmill as it was 6 by then and pitch black) before I got too hungry. 

Post run I opened my watch and started playing. 

It's so simple and easy to use. I'd read a few reviews online once I found out id won it and I mirror a lot of what I'd read. 

It's light. A little large on a slim female wrist such as mine but I like big watches. 

It's comfortable, I could easily wear it 24/7 as intended. Not certain about during showers, but I slept in it last night and that was fine. Though I may not do so regularly. 

It's more than just a running watch. It tracks your activity levels and syncs with an app on the iPhone with just the press of one button on the watch. 

It is neat to see just really how often you are sitting and standing. 

Disclaimer: Before you judge my amount of time sitting I have to let you know today I drove the 2 hours to Waterloo to see Ashley and baby Harper for the 12-2 visiting hours and drove the 2 hours back. I am so in love with my neice. 

I had originally planned on taking my watch for its first run this morn but when I got the text from Ashley to come at 12 that took priority. So we got back around 4:30 and with minimal daylight left I quickly suited up to run my subdivision 5k. 

It was about -1 so decent weather but for some reason the roads hadn't been properly plowed since our Thursday snowstorm and that snow has turned to slop on the road so my run wasn't overly speedy or straight or dry...but a run is a run! I love how big the screen is and so easy to read. It also beeps every "lap" which I've set to 1km to let me know my splits. 

It's nice to have the freedom to run without my iPhone if I want. I used to use mapmyrun and hear I can sync my watch with my mapmyrun so I can keep tracking with the app. The downfall to that is I will miss my music and the safety of find a friend when I'm lost and so my parents can track me in a race. But be read the polar M400 has a "return to start" feature when you're running and lost it helps you get back to where you started. I also know I can still bring my iPhone if I wish but I don't have to. Come winter I try to run headphone free anyway for safety. 

My watch won't freeze like my iPhone or take on water (water resistance to 30m). Consistent, visible feedback, much more accurate Gps than mapmyrun. 

Workout summary 

I like the reminder of my daily activity and how to reach it with suggestions such as walking or jogging for a set time. 

I love how personalized I can make it with 4 different options for main watch face, personalized sport profiles for what I normally partake in. Personalized goals. 

I mean, it's the first and only watch of this  type I've ever had but I have no complaints, I love it. 

It also came with a heart rate monitor that I'm excited to try out. It came with a usb cable to connect to my computer to sync workouts, set goals, track activity, personalize sports and favourites. And that's just what I've learned so far in less than 24 hours. 

It's so simple yet smart, user friendly yet complex, big and easy to read yet light. I can't wait to learn more and play more. 

Plank a day: week 1

So I've officially been plank a day-ing for one week now, 7 days. 

Planks are a weak spot for me. Okay, core is a weakness in general so I figure planking every day will do nothing but help me. I've also decided that the minimum I will allow myself is 1min. I've been tracking my progress in my notes:

As you can see I started off pretty good and was showing progress daily. Then Sunday hit. I don't know what happened but for the next 3 days my planks were brutal. It was all I could do to make it to that minute. 

Fast forward to today. I've learned that if I'm feeling good to ride it out until I no longer can hold on, and then give it ten more seconds. I can usually tell whether it's going to be a good one or not by the first 10 seconds. I could tell today it would be good. I like to watch my progress and can't wait to see my planks go beyond 2 minutes and then...who knows! 

Hydration review: reload

I chose to try this one as the package was small and the flavour said watermelon. Mmm 

It says to mix with 10oz but I put it in a bottle that's likely just over 20oz and even then the product likely could have been watered down more. 

It needed to be well mixed for a little while and came out looking like this.

It tasted delicious! Very sweet which I like. Almost reminded me a bit of bubblegum floride. I understand that may not sound appealing but if you're looking for a yummy taste it's got it. I may tire of it as it was sweet but zero sugar content. 

It did the trick. I'm a satisfied customer. 

I'd potentially purchase it.