Working Out on The Go

I've discussed previously how not having a gym membership has effected my workouts.  However, I have now found another bonus to not having a gym.  

During my summer travels I have been many places with no gym.  While someone who uses machines at the gym, or even free weights only, might be stumped as to how to workout, I have not made a change in my workout routine.  

Of course you can run anywhere.  You just lace up your shoes and go.  Sometimes I've been taking Seamus, my GPS watch to find out how far or fast I'm going and other times I've just been winging it and going on feel.  I have run in the rain and HEAT.  And while these are the most fun or perfect runs, not having an air conditioned gym to fall back on fosters a "no excuses" mentality.  If I skipped every run with adverse conditions, I don't think I'd ever work out!  

I also love that my Crossfit workouts can be done anywhere.  My push up, sit up and sqaut routine can be done literally anywhere.  I did it on the back lawn of where we stayed in Maine many times.  While the neighbors may have looked at me a bit funny, I didn't skip a beat.  As a matter of fact, I actually loved working out outside so much I was a little disappointed when I went home and was forced back indoors.

So, while not having a gym membership has its downfalls, (particularly in the winter), during the summer months, I'm not missing it at all!

Hanging Out in Purgatory

I recently went to Purgatory Chasm in Massachusetts.  Its a place I used to go a LOT as a kid.  My parents live close by.  We recently visited them and decided it would be a fun day trip.  I had never taken my husband and we've been married almost ten years!  

I was a little concerned that it was going to be the victim of childhood imagination and that when we arrived, it was going to be smaller and not as grand as I remember it being. It was just as I remembered it.

The center chasm is 1/2 mile in length and it goes down quickly.  You are walking through a chasm with rock faces on both sides of you that reach up hundred of feet.  While they don't allow you to climb the "walls" you can play around on the rocks as much as you'd like.

There are caves to plays in, holes that come up out of now where and lots of cool rock shapes to play on.  Its more of a "scramble" than a hike.  We had our doggie with us and my husband had his big camera so we didn't do a ton of playing around on the rocks.  However, it was a lot of fun.  

My parents enjoyed it quite a bit too I think.

It was funny though, they told me all sorts of stories of things I did when I was a kid.  Climbed a wall when they weren't looking, went through a small crack, you name it.  I was a lot more cautious as an adult thinking of all the ways I could get hurt...lol.

They have made lots of improvements to the park since I was a kid.  A new parking lot, an improved pavilion, a program building and a LARGE playground that is cool at any age. 

Sometimes you can be a kid again.  Oh and there was a wonderful farm that sold home made ice cream right down the road.  It was a great ending to a great day!

Meat

I still don't like meat.  However, I know that the more and more training I do, the more protein I need.  I will eat meat, however, its not my favorite.  And when put on a plate with rice or potato, or really any starch or carohydrate, the rice wins out.  

However, all of this has been leading to sugar issues, etc so I've been working very hard to find more protein in my diet.  

I've almost had to set my mind on no carbs, which then leads to the proper amount of carbs...lol.

I've started eating hard boiled eggs.  I make a bunch at a time and then have them in the fridge as a grab and go snack.  I also got back into cheese sticks.  So yummy and I can grab it and eat it on my way out the door.

I've also fallen in love with the new Gatorade "recovery" drinks.  They have one that tastes almost like regular Gatorade, but has 16 grams of protein.  Its a great alternative to protein shakes, when I can't be home with my blender.  

I also made home made bean burgers.  All sorts of yummy ingredients went into the food processor, then I grilled them up and they were better than anything I've ever had out of a box or at a restaurant.

So, while its been tough, I've been slowly making changes and making more protein choices.  Its been positively impacting my training thus far.  Maybe I'm imagining it, but I am going to continue to work to have the amount of protein I should each day.

Booty Shorts

Okay so I've always wanted a pair of booty shorts....you know those booty and leg hugging shorts that seem to show every last detail of your behind.

From the time I was in high school, I was unhappy with my booty and thighs.  And so I hid them.  I didn't wear long pants, but my shorts were baggy and hit a certain length.
And for the record, when I look back at photos of myself in high school, I'm not sure what the heck was  wrong with me, thinking my thighs were big!

Let's fast forward....I've been running for a while now and always wanting to try booty shorts, but I've always been waiting for the perfect time to buy them, the perfect pair to wear.  I made up a lot of excuses.  Some of them were valid and others were just mental games I was playing with myself.

Well this summer I went to my favorite athletic store and decided that I wasn't leaving the store until I tried on another pairs of shorts to find the perfect pair for me.  My husband dutifully sat outside the waiting room, nodding and giving opinions.  Even when I came out in the another pair of black shorts, seemingly the same as the last 12 pairs, he was supportive.

I did find the right pair and I bought them.  They sat on the chair by my bed for a while with the tags still on.  Then I took the plunge and cut the tags off.  Then they sat in my running drawer for a little while.  I thought about what tops would go with them etc.  I thought about how I would wear them and where.

Well I recently went away from home and I grabbed the shorts and packed them as one of only two pairs of running shorts for two weeks.  (I washed and dried by hand every day).  I got up one morning and out of impulse and necessity, put the shorts on.

I ran down Main Street and I honestly felt like everyone was staring at me.  I was concerned that people were whispering about "Why someone my age or size would wear those shorts."  As the weeks went on I wore the shorts, over and over again.  Every time, thinking about it a little less. I also marveled at how comfy they were to run in.

So now, after weeks of having these shorts, I don't think about them, or myself in them.  I love wearing them.  And they have come to represent something so much bigger than a pair of shorts.  I love myself, no matter what size I am.  I love running and I am proud to get out there on the streets every day.  Of others are judging me, they need to first look at themselves, because I am strong, happy and free.

Here are a picture of the shorts....and I know what you're going to say...they're not even that short or tight...baby steps people....

Family

I recently took a trip to our family's home in Maine.  It sounds very Martha Stewart-esque, but its really simply an old, charming house on an island off the coast of Maine.  Its been in our family for almost a century.  Although it is visited from time to time by different members of the family, the week of the 4th of July is the big event.  We all go out to spend about a week together.

Although eight people doesn't seem like a big number it does seem like it to two people (my husband and I) who live alone in the quiet.  This year we also had two doggies.  Ours, who is almost three and a puppy of just four months old.  They added to the chaos.

So what do we do while we are out on this island?  We play games, watch movies, swim in the quarries, run, walk, hike, crafts, etc.  Its a great time.  We laugh a LOT, eat a lot of great food and attend the island's 4th of July festivities.  (The festivities consist of a parking lot with some booths that sell food and baked goods and raffle tickets and a small but very funny parade.)

This year I was struck at how excited I was to go out to the island and spend time with my family.  I feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world that I get to spend my vacation and my time with my family who are also my best friends.

This is my "little" cousin and I.  She's 16 now and this is our classic pose.  She was 4 when I met my husband and I started teaching her to drive on this trip.  Wow!

Every few years the island saves up enough cash for a fireworks display.  This year was one of those years.  I got to watch them from the back of my car, under a blanket eating ice cream with my little cousin.  Le sigh.

On the island lobster is cheaper than other meats like chicken.  The island exports more lobster than any other place in the world.  So its fresh and yummy.  I won't even eat lobster any where else.  We have one big lobster dinner and then lobster rolls all week.  Yeah, its tough, but someone has to do it.

Yoga

I'm obsessed.  I love yoga and I'm completely bitten by the yoga bug.  I'm not sure how it happened.  I did yoga last year when I was injured and I liked it.  I try to do yoga as part of my 2011 training program.  I usually fit it in once a week or so....but not always (getting a doggie who thinks yoga time was play time didn't help matters).

However, when I was away from home a few weeks ago I steadily did yoga every other day.  All of a sudden I wasn't concerned with how long the video was going to last.  I was really focusing on the practice.  I was finally able to do some of the poses that I used to roll my eyes at.
Most importantly, I WANTED to do more and not turn the video off.

I know that yoga is about more than a firm butt (despite that being a great benefit), its about inner peace and calm.  These are things that are hard to come by in my life.  I will admit that sometimes I'm a bit to much like Parker Posey's character in You've Got Mail.  Yoga gives me permission to take the time for myself.  The time to quiet my mind.  And thus far, yoga is the only thing to do this.

So while I do yoga from a DVD in my living room, I'm considering taking some classes in a studio with a Yogi who can help me get better in my practice.  I'm especially interested in hot or power yoga.
So I've just spent the past hour researching yoga studios in my area and planning out how and when I will fit it in.  (I am also considering buying myself a new yoga mat and or towel, who doesn't love a little fitness shopping?)

I will keep you all posted as to how it goes.  However, I am determined to make my love of yoga something that roots itself in my life and helps me become a calmer and more focused version of myself.

Two A Days

I've been doing the same workout routine for about six months now and I wanted to shake things up while I was out of town.  I didn't really want to increase my mileage that much all at once as I am still restricted on my per run mileage due to my hip injury.  I have also been experiencing some issues with my asthma that have made longer runs challenging.

So I brainstormed about how to overcome these challenges and still put some great miles in while I was out of town. It came to me (after a little Googling) to try two a days.  I would run 2/3 of the mileage for the day in the morning and 1/3 in the evening.

I started this at the start of the week and I loved it.  Doing two a days allowed me to take less time to workout and get back to the house to spend time with my family.  I didn't feel pressure to go out for a "long run".  I loved the freedom it afforded me.

I was also better able to track my asthma and how I felt.  I have quickly found out that while my energy levels are highest in the morning and my mind loves a 6:00 am run, my asthma is wide awake then too.  Later in the day it has quieted down and I'm able to run without so many symptoms.

So while I used to think two a days were crazy things saved for school teams trying to win the championship, I've changed my tune.  I love them.

I also love the idea of heading out after a long day and clearing my mind from a long day's work.  Its something I need and has paid off dividends in the two weeks I tried it out.

The timing of all of this has yet to be seen at home in my "normal" work environment.  However, I am changing things up with my business, traveling more and working less on a daily basis now and I hope that affords me the time to continue my two a days in the coming months.