Workouts this week: March 26

Blooms near the gym

This week was all about prepping for my race Saturday. So definitely different that my usual week.

Sunday: Bodypump + yoga
Finally back to Sunday Bodypump. I'm still awful at lunges. Then it was yoga—where I kept it really easy and skipped a lot of the flows.

Monday: Off
This was my scheduled off day after many days of workouts.

Tuesday:
I did a 3 mile run before work. (That I should have done Monday according to my running plan, but needed a day off).
After work, I did 5 x 400s that was my speed work for the week. And I walked a mile.

Breaking in my racing flats. 

Wednesday
I skipped gymnastics so I didn't bruise or hurt myself before the race. I ran 2 miles at the Bot Garden. My goal was to find the blue trail. I found it. The hill is super steep! I'll do better next time I run the trail.

Weird pose on two walls. Because why not?

Thursday: Off
Resting for race. I used the time to get my haircut, something I otherwise don't have time for.

Haircut!

Friday: Yoga
I went to yoga and picked up my race packet. I'm not sure if you're supposed to do yoga before a race but I love Friday yoga.

Saturday: Race Day.

Workouts this week: March 19

New trail shoes. Nike Zoom Wildhorse 3. Really like them.

March 19: Off. 

March 20: Yoga
I went to a gentle yoga class today. It was my first time to Monday yoga. We used bolsters a lot. I don't like bolsters really. And I don't like reclining positions. I left the class feeling super relaxed and mellow.

The plan was to go run a mile afterwards, but I didn't want to ruin my chill so I didn't.

March 21: Trail run---super slow
This is usually when I do my long run, but it was 86 degrees, so I decided to scale it back. I went to the Botanical Garden to run, since the trails would be shadier and cooler to run in. And it wasn't a good run.

That first mile, I really had to push myself to run my normal time. And I crashed about at mile 1.5 where the hills starts. I walked the second half of the course and it was my slowest run in a year.

WHY!? Why was this run so bad.
1. The heat. I haven't run in 80 degree weather in a LONG time. I'm not used to it yet.
2. It's a hard course. I ran it 3 minutes faster two weeks ago. But the weather was cooler then. This course is mentally hard too. I kept giving up on the hills. I shouldn't have.
3. I've been tired for a while. After two days off I thought I'd recovered, but maybe not.

So here's hoping my next run is better.

March 22 - Off, short run
I felt bad all day at work. My quads were sore from the climb. I went home and slept. And that's what I needed.

Wednesday is my usual gymnastics day but I skipped it to nap. Then I needed to work out my quads so I did 15 minutes on the exercise bike. Then I was going to go on an easy run. The goal was one mile, but I was feeling good so I did two. Under 8 for both my miles. I always run trails so it's nice to have faster times on the road. I tried out some new shoes.

I found some $115 Pearl Izumi road shoes on sale for $35 at TJ Maxx. They're 9 ounces and I think what I'm going to run in next weekend. They did great. And I felt great on the run. Hooray! Only 9 more miles to run this week.

March 23: long run

I wasn't sure if I was going to do my long run today or Saturday. I decided to see how I felt.

I slept great last night. So I didn't have my usual fatigue going on.

IM Fields. Where I always run.

I wanted my long run to be at Sandy Creek but didn't feel like going out there today. I went to the trails near the university and said I'd run at least 4. Maybe 7. The temperature was good. I felt okay. And sure enough I got to 7. When I get to 9 minute miles I feel like I can run forever. So maybe I should slow down on my runs. I ran 7.09 miles in a little less than 61 minutes. So I'll take that. It was a decent run. About the same as my normal speed. No course records on Strava.

March 24: Friday yoga
I love my Friday yoga class. It's the best way to end the week. Except there was a crazy swim meet going on so kids everywhere.

Also, I want to learn to do a forearm stand.

Bibim-Bop bowl for Friday lunch

March 25: Lots of workouts
I really wanted to do flying trapeze today and had two miles to run to make my goal of 15 miles per week. So I went to the indoor track to do speed work first thing in the morning. I had written down to do 5 x 400s, but for some reason I ran an 800 for my first one. And decided that 800s would be good for me. I did four of those and then a mile since I felt like I should get more miles in. (I really don't follow my training plan at all).

I ran 3:40, 3:41, 3:47, 3:53 and then 7:51. I then hurried home, showered and drove an hour to Atlanta for an hour trapeze class.

That was my birthday present to myself. I had wanted my friends to come. No one came. I was sad for a little but. But I did the class by myself and had fun.

It wasn't my best day.

Running shoe shopping

It's time for some new running shoes. I'm convinced I'm wearing the wrong running shoes—so that's why my achilles hurt and my times are slower. So I went to the fancy running store and got my gait analyzed.

I had the sweetest most patient salesperson in the world, but I think I just wasn't in the mood to buy shoes.

I went in and the girl watched me walk (no treadmills and iPads at this store, like the store my husband went to). I don't pronate. I have a neutral gait. (Nothing learned here.)

And she brought me out about 8 pairs of shoes. And I hated all of them.

I didn't want to be that person. But I was.

The first pair she bought me was hideous. "You're not going to look at your feet when you run," she told me. Like it didn't matter what my shoes look like.

Like she didn't know how important gym outfits are to me. I was horrified. It was the beginning of the end.

The shoes were also too small. My feet measure a 6.5. But I take a 7 or 7.5 in running shoes. I put no stock in shoe measuring devices. I know I wear a 7.5. So that 7 you bring me isn't going to fit.

The second pair had a white bottom—and I would NEVER wear those on a muddy trail.

There was a really ugly pair of Nikes that I didn't even try on.

I told the girl that I was really picky about colors–and would buy shoes just because they're cute. I like pink, purple and blue.

The fourth was a pair of pink and purple Mizunos. In an 8! And they were cute-ish (best looking of the group. Nothing that I would pick out off a shelf). I loved the heal in them. Super comfy. However, I HATED the plate in the shoe. I tried walking in them. And maybe I could learn to like them. I tried running on the pavement and they were SO BAD. It was so stiff. It hurt my feet. I could not run in these shoes on the pavement.

The plate was in the bottom of the shoes. Like the spikes I ran track in. It was uncomfortable and made the shoes very inflexible. Felt like torture to me. After running in them it was a hard NO.

So I kept trying shoes.

I tried a pair of Pearl Izumis and toe box was too big and I didn't like it. The heal also slipped. I tried another pair in a better color at the very end. And it all blurs together. Some were too flat. Or too stiff.

Eventually I tried on everything—except the newer version of the Asics I currently have, which I don't like.

I hated wasting this girl's times. (I hated that she insist on lacing the shoes for me! HATE HATE HATE.) I just wasn't in the mood for shoes. And for $120, I wanted to love the shoes. I didn't love the shoes.

They just had such a small selection.

I wanted a running shoe that was light and flexible. No white bottoms. Preferably in jewel tones.  I was pretty clear about this up front. But kept getting white and lime green shoes.

I went home really upset. That I couldn't find shoes. That I wasted this girl's time.

So I went online and easily found  five our six similar to what I tried on—with better prices and better colors. I think I might just do a huge order and send a bunch back. I just hate interaction of sales people. Just let me shop by myself. I know what I want. And it's not for you to tie up shoes. Or bring me ugly shoes. The end.

I ended up getting two pairs of Mizuno running shoes for $100 on 6pm.com. They were older year models in much cuter colors. So much cheaper. I think online shopping has spoiled me.

No white bottoms here. Someone understands trail shoes! 

Lazy week

I've spent the week nursing my ankle. I only went to the gym three times, which left me teeming with excess energy. I could definitely see the appeal of not being a gym rat and staying home and doing nothing, but I won't do that.

This week I did a lot of toe raises and exercise bike. I iced a lot too. Any day now the ankle should be better.

I was also in athletic shoes all week.

1) I forgot how comfortable athletic shoes are. Wearing my Asics to the grocery store is awesome. Why aren't all shoes that comfortable?

2) I'm used to living in flip flops in the summer. I have to plan outfits around my shoes. It's hard to pull off shorts and shoes—unless they're athletic shorts of you're going for the American tourist look. It's been a challenge. I've been wearing black pumas to work and trying to pass them off as dress shoes. And when I go out, sometimes wearing athletic shoes can look kind of punk.

I might have to start wearing athletic shoes more.

Adventures in Climbing Shoes

Today's adventure was looking for climbing shoes. If the hubby and I are going to climb regularly, it would be nice to have our own shoes. The rentals are always beat up looking and the velcro pops open when I'm at the top of a wall. Not cool!

I couldn't find anything online cheaper than $70-$80, which I really only want to pay $40 for climbing shoes, if I climb once a month or so. The hubby said they were having a sale at the local outdoor outfitters store and texted me a picture of some climbing shoes for $49.99—the same shoes that are $80 elsewhere. I decided to go have a look.

Meanwhile, they didn't have the sale shoe in his size, so he bought $90 lace-up climbing shoes. I sure hope he's going to climb a lot, because at $3 a rental, he'd have to climb 30 times to get his money's worth.

I went to the store later that day. The sale shoe was a velcro shoe, and I think I'd rather have a lace up, so I could tighten it. But I'm not sure it's worth twice the price. It didn't actually matter. The size 7 in the sale shoe was too small. I tried an 8 and oddly that fit. (I have never in my life worn bigger than a 7.5). Only, the catch was that only the display was the sale price. That 7 that was too small was the only $49.99 shoe. The 8 he brought me that was an identical  style was $80. He didn't tell me that until I was trying on a different style, still velcro, but it fit better and was that plum/fuchsia color I like so much. I was't paying $100 for climbing shoes I'd barely use so I left the store without buying anything.

I liked the way these 5.10 Rogue shoes fit better than
the other shoes, but not for $100.

Now the hunt is on for inexpensive climbing shoes.

The nerdy girl's guide to indoor rock climbing

Most everything you wanted to know about going indoor climbing….

1. You should try indoor rock climbing. It can be a lot of fun. And it's a cerebral workout without being too intense. If you could climb trees when you were little, you can do this. (And maybe you'll even feel like a kid again!) You won't feel like you're working out—but you'll be exhausted the next day.

2. A lot of gyms run groupons or deals, so check for discounts before you go.

3. You'll want to go with someone. This really isn't a solo workout as you'll need someone to belay you—ideally someone of similar size. A weight differential can be problematic say if a tiny girl goes with a burly guy. But this can work—then the girl will just have to be extra careful when belaying the guy down the wall (hook into the floor or get a staffer to help spot you.)

4. What to wear? Workout clothes. Capri's might offer more protection than shorts when your legs graze the walls and shorts are going to ride up when you put on the harness. Also, bring socks!

5. When you get there, make sure to rent climbing shoes. They help you grip the holds and can make climbing a lot easier.

6. Every place has a different belay system. Some places make you thread the rope, others have auto belays. Auto belays are easier. Most places make you pass a belay test. Some places will offer a free tutorial (which is great) before you climb, others have scheduled hour belay sessions, others leave you to figure it out for yourself. Obviously, places with auto belays and intros offered at any time are going to make it easier for first timers. Most websites will give you an idea what to expect.

Learning how to belay

7. When you're ready to climb, look for color coded tape (see the neon green and white tape in the back of that picture). Most places offer routes marked off in tape. Check the wall for the key. Red may be easiest, green the second easiest, white the hardest. Check the wall for the colors and start with some of the easier routes.

8. Not sure where to put your hands or feet? Ask your belayer. Take a second and think. Or try the wall again. You don't have to get it right the first time. And you can always try again.

9. Try bouldering. It's like rock climbing without the belay. These walls don't go especially tall and have gymnastics mats underneath. This is a good way to learn about climbing and routes without belays, levers and ropes. And you don't have to go higher than you want.

10. Watch the little kids. They know where to put their hands and feet and if they're nimbly climbing a route, it may be a good route for you to try when they're done.

And don't get discouraged. If bouldering is getting difficult, go back to a climbing with the belay. Take a break.

Stay for an hour, maybe two. Try climbing, belaying, whatever looks fun. Don't be afraid to try the slide they have set up for the kiddos.

Workout in awesome shoes

Ozzy guarding my favorite shoes.

If you're going to workout, you should do it in shoes you love. Get a pair in crazy colors—something that makes you happy to work out in.

These Asics might be my favorite pair ever (though a pair of Addidas from high school cross country might be my first love.) I saw a girl at the gym wear a pink pair and wanted them instantly. I found the purple version of these shoes at a nearby sporting goods store and didn't like the price ($$$$$). So I tracked the price on Amazon before I finally got them at a lower price. And I'm so glad I did.

These shoes make me smile. I get compliments every time I wear them. And despite being purple, I swear they go with everything! I'd get a few more pair if I could.

I got these shoes after spraining my ankle. I couldn't jump and if I had to do circuit training (instead of jumping), I wanted cute shoes. I hadn't bought a new pair of running shoes since 2010 since I never really ran or worked out. While I don't really run anymore, I like the way running shoes feel on my feet. They're light and snug. And I don't do enough jumping in circuit training to warrant cross trainers (which I really don't find as cute.)

My husband then decided he needed new running shoes too, so it was contagious apparently. (Ozzy would also like a new pair of shoes.) 

So, get shoes in your favorite color. Something that fits your foot. If you're a runner, go get a fancy stride analysis done. 

I know that some brands work better for my foot than others. In high school, I swore by Nike's. Now, their styling seems boxy and the colors aren't too my taste. New Balance was all the rage when I was in college, but their shoes are too wide for my feet. I've bought several pairs over the years and never loved any of them. They go unworn and I give them to my sisters or the donation bin years later. I'm digging the current Asics styles. I love all the bright colors. 

If you can, try on the shoes in the store. I'd warn that mall stores tend to have lesser quality, cheaper made shoes (I.e. J.C.Penney where I worked for years) as these stores have almost last pick in athletic styles. Go to a big super store or a little mom and pop shop. 

The best prices, however, are going to be online.

I adore the search feature at 6pm.com. You can search for yellow cross trainers in a size 8. You can view all Women's Brooks shoes. It's just wonderful.   

Happy shopping! 

(Note to nerdy girls. NEVER EVER EVER workout in Converse. Just don't do it.)