A tad excessive

There are times when you just have to admit that you've gone too far and I'm here to tell you that I've been there...and then some this weekend. You be the judge.

Gold's
This morning I met a friend from the old neighborhood for a spin and core class at Gold's in Rockville Town Center. First of all, there are some serious athlethes in that joint. The spin class was amazing. My friend told me that I would love the instructor and she wasn't wrong. We killed it for 60 minutes. She played great music, did not let up the intensity, had a good sense of humor, loved long walks on the beach...wait...that's someone else. Seriously, best quote of the day was, "You are all athletes and we are going to work out like serious athletes so let's go!"

Right after spin we shifted to the next studio for a very intense 30 minute core class. I wasn't sure what to expect, but had been warned that it would crush me...and...mission accomplished. I was a puddle after class. Unfortunately since I was new they put me toward the front...which didn't really make sense to me. The "good news" was that one of the crazy fit instructors was taking the class too and was working out right next to me. She basically coached me through all the exercises that I wasn't familiar with. Nothing like being exhausted and having a free personal trainer analyzing each if your moves. Didn't she realize that all I wanted to do was take a nap on the mat...and not do side planks?!

Hot Yoga
Since the deal is that it's preferable to take your second class within 24 hours of your firs class tonight I headed back to the Takoma Park studio for my second hot yoga class. I'm still not sure about it.

The good news is that tonight's instructor was really good and I liked her a lot better than the guy last night...even though she seemed to be obsessed with eagle abs.

Tonight's class was Super crowded. Me and my new Indian buddy grabbed mats in the back and prepared for the class. I still can't get over the heat --- 105 degrees, 60-80% humidity and sweating through 26 poses. Surprisingly I think I am fairings much better than the other newbies who seem to have to take regular breaks. I definitely was challenged at times and at one point I realized that my fingers were starting to wrinkle as a result of the moisture. Now that just doesn't seem right.

I think I might be one of Those folks who prefers a more flow/power class vs. all this sweating.

Re-entry

It's my first day back at work and I am grateful that it was completely uneventful. As a result I was able to head over to Tidal after work for their Monday night Snapple group strength training class.
It is incredible how long its been since I've been in Tenleytown.

Unfortunately I didn't get there early enough to really get a good run in on the treadmill before class, which was a bummer. I really wanted to get in 3-4 miles.

Overall it was a perfectly fine workout. I wasn't bored and there was some challenge, but definitely not the same challenge as a morning with HipAHA. That's a bit of a bummer. Makes me feel like I should go home and do a bit more to make up for the missing intensity. I'm used to feeling more spent and I'm definitely used to doing 2/3-a-days.

It's a bit of an unfair comparison --- the duration is different and the workout is completely different.
Regardless, J's class is back in the rotation and I'll be back next Monday night.

All good things must eventually end

So Friday has come and gone...which means that I packed up the truck and headed west.

To say that it was a sad day was an understatement. I had such an incredible experience. --- meeting wonderful people, trying new things, training hard and just living a more quiet and selfish life. It was heaven.

It was the last time I would wake up early, gather my things, kick off my flops and walk over the dune at Atlantic Street for daily HipAHA bootcamp. The good news was that the last workout didn't disappoint. Lots of core mixed in with cardio blasts (suicides and dune runs). Good...good times.

After class they made a little announcement about my departure (tear), they gave me a very nice card and we headed over to Perks for our last after workout coffee break and gab-fest.  I am really, really gonna miss this group. They pushed me hard, they were a lot of fun and they are just good people.

Friday was such a gorgeous day at the beach that after class all I wanted to do was grab my bike for One-More-Ride....but I knew that if I did that then I'd never get home and since I hadn't finished packing I knew I had to just stop living in denial and get moving west.

As I jammed all my gear into the truck, I wondered: (1) how did I originally get all this shit here and (2) I sure have a lot of shit --- most of which I never even needed.

On my way out of town I said good bye to my neighbors and as I headed over the Rt 90 bridge I made one last glance over my shoulder at the shore to say "goodbye good friend...I'm gonna miss you." If I didn't admit a tear came to my eye as I thought about the wonderful "summer camp" I've had over the last two months then I would be lying.

T-minus 48 hours before I have to do my hair, make-up, put on real clothes and shoes...and be a grown-up again.

I'll always keep a piece of this time in my heart and a jar of sand from Atlantic Street on my desk.

The Countdown

 It's 7:00 pm on Monday night and I am sitting on the beach reflecting on what an incredible summer I've had here at the beach.

Here's just a slice of what today's activities included --- all never would have happened if I didn't decide to:

(a) arrive at the beach without a plan or a schedule or a support system

and

(b) spend every day saying, "what's the worst that could happen if I tried to [insert verb]"

Bootcamp
It's Monday and that means I said hasta luego to The Husband as he commuted back to DC for work and I headed to Atlantic Street in Fenwick for Travel Bootcamp with the HipAHA chicks.

Parking my car, taking off my flops, walking over the dune and seeing all those high energy and empowered athletes makes me happy. The fact that the majority are women just reminds me how strong and determine chicks can be --- and that's not just b/c we can set an alarm and get to class.  I have met some really fabulous people and am physically stronger than I probably ever have been.  I even have baby guns now.

It was Coach Lori's first class since coming back from vacation and she brought the hammer down.  We worked our asses off today.  It was all about running today --- alternating timed runs in the packed sand (yay!) and a number in the soft sand (boo!).  I am here to tell you that running in soft sand is incredibly challenging and everyone was huffing and puffing after the sets.  There was no rest for the weary as we integrated in strength training for our lower bodies between the run sets.  That's gonna hurt tomorrow.

Stand-Up Paddle Board
Since I was going to test out the SUP in the ocean the following morning, I headed over to Delmarva to pick up an extra SUP leash.  Janis and Chris were there and as usual were incredibly helpful.  Chris showed me how to attach the leash and we talked about my new paddle.  Did I tell you how much I love it???

I also spent time talking to Janis about the business.  She is such an incredible marketer and you can tell that she and George just love what they do.  Kudos to them!

Janis also gave me some great intel about other SUP-ers west of the Bay Bridge that I can hook up with once I get back to reality.

Oh reality...you are just around the corner.

Living in the dark

Sometimes sticking your head in the sand and being ignorant is perfectly fine.

This afternoon I realized a very critical fact and am floored by this news. For the last two months I've been training with a crew of triathletes who are training for an upcoming half Ironman. While that is incredibly impressive and I have been thrilled to be able to hang with these folks ---- I found out today that they are also training for a fall Ironman!!!

What's the distinction? The distinction is that instead of thinking that I've spent the last two months at a half Ironman pace, I have instead been hanging in a program that is geared for folks who will complete a full Ironman in the fall!!!!! Dare I say OMG?!

I guess I never really asked and no one told me all the details about all this extra credit training I've been doing in conjunction with the daily bootcamp classes.

The good news is that I am incredibly impressed with myself. I bad news is that it is going to be a real challenge to keep up with these multiple workout a days once I get back t work. The initial game plan is to make sure I do one workout a day and Lori plans to send me her training block for the next month so that I can aim to virtually train with the group once I move home.

It's a significant goal, but I'm going to try and go for it. Here's to hoping!

Moving makes me happy

Well, that's no surprise. You hear it all the time that a sedentary life blows.

Tonight during yoga I was reminded how much getting the blood pumping and being around other like-minded moving people is such a benefit.

Before class I was chatting up this older woman who religiously attends Thursday night yoga class. She shocked me when she announced that she was 83 years old! 83? I thought she was in her late 60's!

She told me she believes in trying new things and keeping her body as young as possible.

Under the heading of "new things" she told me she took belly-dancing classes for a year and even once took a pole dancing class --- to which her 85 year old husband was quite impressed when she demonstrated part of her routine. Hilarious!

During our poses I would periodically look over at this 83 year old yoga-loving lady and think...she's gotta be doing something right.

Here's to moving and stretching and trying new things!

Sun Salutations

Today it was all about sun and heat and warmth.

I started the morning with Rhonda's beach yoga. Another wonderful combination of strength, balance, stretching and calm. Just as we started our sun salutations, the clouds broke and the sun arrived. Perfect timing.

Rhonda has a great cycle of core and ab work that really knocks you out. I am mega sore.

After class I noticed that Coastal Kayak planned to bring folks over to the wildlife refuge later in the afternoon for an independent exploration of the wetlands. I decided to crash their party with my SUP.

The folks at Coastal gave me directions to Sassafras Landing and after winding around farm and dirt roads I finally arrived at the launch site just after the kayaks were launched. Check it out.

There weren't many people there. Frankly I think it was too hot and folks didn't want to venture out.

I launched my SUP and cruised around the inlet. Only the sound of the marsh birds, my paddle stroking the water and a few kayakers broke the silence. It was just stunning.

Warriors!

[Everyone needs proof of their win!]

 Have you ever wanted to revisit your childhood and do Field Day all over again? Maybe even just a little?

On Saturday morning I headed over to Fenwick for the first of three Warrior Day Challenges hosted by hipAHA. I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by how fun it was.
Imagine two teams competing against one another in a series of team-based challenges --- obstacle course, tag-team racing and a final tug-o-war in the ocean.

In a two-to-one final --- Team Hunters (the team I was on) was victorious over Team Titans!!!
After a hard fought and sweaty battle a number of us immediately headed to the ocean and dove in. A welcome relief to the morning's activities.

Looking for a little balance

[Believe me...it was choppy out there!]

This morning I hooked up with hipAHA for their stand-up paddle board bootcamp class over at Coastal Kayak in Fenwick.

I've always wanted to try this and was looking forward to the class.

Decked out in a bathing suit top and board shorts I looked through the racks of water shoes and got ready for Lori to hand me my paddle and paddle board.

No surprise that it took me a minute to get oriented and balanced on the board. Pretty quickly we were paddling with the wind down the Bay.

The good news is that I only fell off once when we were practicing how to spin the board around in a circle. Bonus that I didn't get stung by any of the baby jellyfish that were periodically floating by.

The bad news is that the wind really picked up and we ended up paddling over to a big cove to do our bootcamp exercises on the boards. Imagine doing leg and core exercises while balancing on the boards. I'm gonna feel that later.

We soon discovered that there was no way that we were going to be able to paddle against the wind and back to our starting point. Luckily the guys from Coastal Kayak drove over and rescued us!

Looking forward to next Thursday's class!

Best Laid Plans

I really hate when I do something really stupid ....but who doesn't?

Though this really has nothing to do with training, it does have to do with running, navigating an obstacle course and the agony of defeat.

Everyone knows I hate the stress of rushing around and being late. With that in mind I thought I had it all planned out --- changed my train ticket for an earlier departure out of Penn Station, took the subway and left with a lot of time.

As I was sitting in the Acela Lounge waiting for my 3 pm train and on a conference call I hear "final call for the 3 pm Acela to DC." Are you freaking kidding me???!! Crap!!!!!!!!!!

I jumped up, grabbed my stuff and bolted for the escalator --- clearly almost knocking people down along the way. Unfortunately as I reached the platform the train...pulled...away. Do you feel the heartbreak and hear the gasp of despair?

Luckily I practiced mental fortitude as I stood in an ever winding line to be rebooked on the next train --- which of course was cancelled, but I was able to grab a seat on the 5 pm Acela.

The good news is that I have a ticket. The bad news is that my chatty, single-focused approach to life once again burned me in the ass.
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Oh No, Pepco

After all the threats of bad weather over the last few weeks it finally happened. It actually snowed... And it's still snowing.

Instead of running outside after work I planned to run on the treadmill at work. When the weather turned I thought, "hey, maybe I should just focus on getting home and I'll just jump on my EFX machine later tonight."

Would have been a grand plan if the power didn't go out soon after I got home. Bummer.

Since it was absolutely gorgeous outside I grabbed a snow shovel and started shoveling the stairs...then the walkway...and then the driveway. Needless to say I think my mailman will love me in the morning.

I'm here to tell you, the snow was heavy and wet. I'll count it as a cross-training opportunity.

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Go Gluts!

Last night I decided not to get wrapped up in the impending snow storm and instead decided to just do an efx workout.

A bit bored with my usual cross-training mode, tonight I tried a new workout that was all about gluts. Wow...that was intense.

My unintended reward was that I was so hyped up after my late-night workout that I couldn't fall asleep. :(

Cruisin'

I was pleasantly surprised by all the mileage I was able to get in last week while on the cruise. I ended up doubling my scheduled time!

Though I didn't run, I was able to get in almost a daily swim at the mini-lap pool and three spin classes.

The spin class instructors were these two highly energetic Aussies with a preference for going hard and playing Australian pop songs. I left each of the classes drenched in sweat.

Aside from the swimming and spinning I even got in some ocean kayaking in St. Maarten. above is a pix from the beach we launched from. The winds were quite strong so we ended up paddling around the Bay and eventually landed at a neighboring cove to snorkel around. After checking out the reef and lounging around the beach, we launched our kayaks and headed back. Needless to say, my arms were sore the next day.