I set out for a ten miler yesterday with the WF training team, thinking I had things under control.

• Healthy (check)
• Breakfast (check)
• Familiar with Route (check)
• Evenly Paced Team Mate (check)

What could go wrong? Never have these words rang truer [except perhaps from every blonde girl who meets her untimely death in the first five minutes of a summer horror flick.] I was doomed from the start.

May I take a moment to reflect upon the fact that I finally landed myself an “evenly paced team mate”? His name is Ferdinand, and we were a milage match! Really and truly – on Haviland Hill, he was right at my heels. Galloping down Park Ave, he was just two paces back. Up Holden Street, I could hear his even steps trailing me. It was about the time that I reached Route 190 when I realized something had gone awry.

Rebecca, the leader of the pack (cue the Shangri-Lahs) hadn’t doubled back by me yet. And it seemed odd that Bob would have us crossing such a busy road. I turned around and sure enough, Ferdinand was at the peak of the hill. We scrambled back to 190 one last time before determining that something was not right (cue Madeline soundtrack).

By the time we got back to the club, I knew exactly where I had gone wrong. Poor Ferdinand forgave my transgression. What a guy! I can’t say that I would have done the same if I was in his [running] shoes.

When I woke up this morning, my legs felt heavy, but I’d committed to running the Foley 5k at noon. I managed a 23:30 (if only because my high school track coach was watching) and promptly limped my way home.

The last race I ran at Foley Stadium was in 2002 when it was all tar and divets. Ten years later, it looks like a million bucks (check that – seven million bucks), but the feeling of pride when I crossed the finish line felt exactly the same.

After the race, I told Coach Murph that he must have done something right because I still love to run. Even on the days when I get lost, or feel sore, or mislead my new friend Ferdinand – I love to run.

Need I remind you that Worcester Fitness was recently declared the best Health Club by Worcester Magazine? You don’t have to remind the half marathon training team – heck, we staged our own photo shoot this weekend to celebrate. I’m thinking that Worcester Mag should do a full-page spread…

*Note adorable new maroon tops

Amid all of the pose striking and camera clicking, we also managed a nice showing in the Jay Lyons Memorial Road Race; a strong tail-wind blew us right across the finish line. It felt special to take part in a race that honors a hero from the city of Worcester and supports fellow Doherty High School graduates.

We’ve got a big ten miler coming up on Saturday, and then I’m hoping to muster up enough strength for Sunday’s Foley 5k to support the Worcester Public Schools.

A note from Aquagirl’s literary-fitness corner: if you’re feeling a little Katnissed out, pick up a copy of Divergent by Veronica Roth. Talk about an inspirational distopian heroine! Tris will have you dominating that treadmill in no time.

As I played under the fashionably early summer rays this week, New York Times Mag reporters were hard at work, breaking the news that exercise keeps your brain just as fit as it keeps your body:

“Go for a walk or a swim. For more than a decade, neuroscientists and physiologists have been gathering evidence of the beneficial relationship between exercise and brainpower. But the newest findings make it clear that this isn’t just a relationship; it is the relationship. Using sophisticated technologies to examine the workings of individual neurons — and the makeup of brain matter itself — scientists in just the past few months have discovered that exercise appears to build a brain that resists physical shrinkage and enhance cognitive flexibility. Exercise, the latest neuroscience suggests, does more to bolster thinking than thinking does.”

MEANWHILE at Camp Putnam: we hosted four straight (woe is me inducing) work days, during which time I graduated from painting lady to hammering lady at a rate unmatched by my peers. It was definitely a workout in its own right, but my running schedule didn’t get back on track until I arrived in Manhattan for the end of the week.

The reservoir loop in Central Park is a real stunner; however, my Saturday morning run felt awfully lonely without the WF training team to back me up. ALSO, I think I retroactively thwarted the physical rewards of my half-marathon regimen with a salmon benedict brunch at Nice Matin and a world famous slice of Momo Milk Bar pie.

NO MATTER, they can’t take my new cognitive flexibility away from me! Gotta love those folks at the New York Times - they’re always telling me just what I want to hear.

(But Refinery tells me what I want to wear! Check out these new trainers.)

This week Worcester Fitness lost one of its long time, special members.  Betty has been a member of our club for over 20 years. Even at the age of 85 Betty came in almost every  morning.  She enjoyed the Spin classes,the swimming pool and socializing with the other members.  Her infectious smile and warm personality were just a few of her remarkable traits.

Betty became an avid runner in 1979.  She ran 6 marathons;  3 of them were the Boston Marathon.  Besides her athletic accomplishments she was very active in the community.  She participated in numerous  fundraising activities such as March of Dimes, The Jimmy Fund, The Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Avon Breast Cancer Walk.

Even though Betty is not with us anymore, she will always live in the hearts of everyone that had the pleasure of getting to know her.

Rest in peace, Betty.  You will be greatly missed at Worcester Fitness.

I attended Fordham with one of Bloomingdale’s creative directors, and I’m not saying this new ad campaign is an homage to me, but…

Stumbled across this gem while purchasing a new Longchamp bag (Bilberry Open Tote: happy birthday to me!)

Aquagirl isn’t the only part of Worcester Fitness that’s on trend this season – you’ve probably also noticed the new flatscreen displays and the posh front room. Our club is the picture of class!

The half-marathon training team enjoyed yesterday’s recovery run around Indian Lake. It’s a good thing we kept it short, because I had a late night at The Moody Blues show on Friday at the Hanover Theatre. I may have brought the median age way down, but those dinasours sure can play late into the evening.

With all of the upcoming 5k’s (Jay Lyons, Foley, Katie’s) I’m finding it more and more important to split my time between speed work and long runs. A dash around the lake was exactly what I needed!

In other news, my nutrition has been skeptical. Armsby, Citizen, Kaizen…oh my. I need Dara-Lynn Weiss to come count my calories. I plan on sending my polaroid to all of Worcester’s finest restaurants with a note demanding that they refuse service. Top that off with a visit from the Easter Bunny and you can just about roll me out the door.

Luckily, Howe’s Farm Stand is open for the season – let the fresh fruits and veggies prevail!

This week, I accompanied my middle school students on two college tours in the city of Worcester. We’ve been talking a lot about goal setting, so I thought it would be smart to expose my students to the expectations of higher education. Both schools’ tours were all around lovely until they were asked about the city of Worcester. I will not embarrass these institutions by naming names, but I will say that their answers were abysmal.

• Tour Leader #1: What is there to do around Worcester? Well, there’s the Blackstone Valley Plaza. It has an American Eagle AND a Coldstone!
• Tour Leader #2: What’s living in Worcester like? Well, you’ll never need to leave campus…unless you want to attend a “Greek” function – and the school provides transportation for that, so you won’t have to walk the city streets.

I was more than a little mortified on behalf of these two highly esteemed universities. Further more, my students were heartbroken at the diminishment of our local community. On this morning’s team training run (we braved the “city streets”), I had seven miles to reflect on the portrayals I had heard put forward to prospective students. It wasn’t hard to arrive at some pointed conclusions:

• First, we ran by Forest Grove Middle School. I remember taking a trip to Foothills Theatre with our performing arts classes during the eighth grade. Foothills closed in 2009, but its successor, Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, has done quite well. Tour leaders would be wise to mention this cultural epicenter which will host the likes of Bill Cosby, Dr. Maya Angelou, and Blue Man Group in the coming months.
• Next we passed by the American Antiquarian Society, an independent research library that is free and open to the community (including college students) – certainly a unique and valuable resource our city has to offer.
• As we rounded the corner of Highland Street, I caught sight of Elm Park, America’s oldest public park, which boasts an exquisite “Art in the Park” exhibit and a fantastic stART on the Street festival.
• The trails of Newton Hill peeked out as I turned up Haviland Street. Friends of Newton Hill maintain a disc golf course, and host an annual 5k on the gorgeously kept trails that wind behind my alma mater, Doherty High School.
• Haviland and Beechmont made for a painful climb, but I kept moving in hopes of spotting the peak of Bancroft Tower, a picturesque castle, tucked away in the center of a beautiful residential neighborhood. The city puts on a haunted house in the tower every autumn that will knock your socks off.
• We exited on Flagg Street, just up the road from my old stomping grounds at Flagg Street Elementary School, where Mrs. J instilled a love of literature in her students. It’s no wonder that Mrs. J treasured poetry, in a city with a world class community of writers, as showcased weekly by The Poets’ Asylum.
• Next, we passed by the three decker where I grew up – just across the street from Institute Park, where there was never a shortage of concerts and civic events. Institute Park continues to host community events, of note is the upcoming Jay Lyons Road Race on April 29th.
• As we wound past the club, and along Indian Lake, I recalled learning to sail a Sunfish at Shore Park.
• When we finally turned down Drummond, a steep hill characteristic of Worcester’s terrain, we emerged near the Worcester Animal Rescue League one of Worcester’s many nonprofits that aims to engage young people.
• I should also mention the world class art museum, the diners, the rail trail, Shrewbury Street…

At the end of my run, I felt exhausted, nostalgic, and proud of my city. With so much to offer, the question remains, do outsiders realize what makes this place special? I suppose the answer is no, and I can’t say I mind setting the record straight. Worcester’s cultural fabric should be a selling point for local universities, and a wise admissions department will learn to use our unique community to their advantage.

Last weekend, I survived my first New York Half Marathon. We’ll call it a dress rehearsal for the Worcester Half in June.

The scenery was gorgeous; Central Park is always a stunner, but I typically bypass Time Square to avoid being goaded into comedy clubs or plowed down by eager tourists. On the morning of the race, there wasn’t a funnyman or a tour bus in sight! It was all runners and Gu, and I loved every second of it.

I spent most of this week bragging about my 13.1-mile feat to friends, neighbors, and strangers (I trap them in the elevator.) People usually give the requisite, “Oh, wow, thirteen miles? That’s really – impressive!”

With my most obnoxious flair, I tilt my head, pout my lips, and correct them: “Thirteen POINT ONE miles!”

I subsequently pat myself on the back and brag about some of my lesser talents (headstands, roller skating, my flawless Macarena…)

And then I made the mistake of going all braggadocio on one of my colleagues. She looked at me and said, “A half of a marathon? That’s like when the students tell me that they did half of their homework…it’s like – so what?”

I’m here to tell you that when I crossed that finish line, I would have rather sat through four straight showings of Spiderman Turn Off the Dark, than run another 13.1 big ones. I get it – completing a full marathon is major. Majorly terrifying. The Worcester half-marathon will mark my fifth half, and I have yet to consider taking on the ultimate challenge. I’m hoping that if I run enough halves, eventually I’ll feel prepared to brave the whole.

Who knows, maybe with some proper training, I could cross the finish line in June with a little more confidence than I did on Saturday. Until then, I’ll be wearing my medal and my tinfoil blanket to the grocery store, fishing for compliments.

Thinking of getting this one framed.

Happy Team Training- And may the odds be ever in your favor! (I sometimes pretend I’m Katniss while I work out – totally normal behavior. Honest.)

On Saturday, our first training run took us for a loopy figure-eight that wound the team around town like tributes in an arena. Bob set a brisk pace and despite the 32 degree chill that blew right through my lucky reindeer sweatshirt,  I did my best to follow. Needless to say, this run brought lots of hats, gloves, and leggings to the party. I should add that the boys claimed to “hate” running tights – but  you can’t fool me guys, I know nothing says leisure like Spandex. (Even Peeta wore Spandex to the opening ceremonies #SensitiveBakerProblems.)

Big race this weekend in the big city. Wish me luck! And if anyone wants to catch the midnight showing of The Hunger Games next week, you know I’m your girl.

It’s official – Aquagirl has been signed for a second year of fitness fun! In fact, yesterday I stopped by for an official WF photo shoot. Seven takes and 3.1 miles later, I left Worcester Fitness feeling confident and accomplished.

I spent most of February vacation in the California desert on long, slow runs – so my treadmill speed work came as a welcome departure. I’ve been gearing up for a 13.1 mile tour of New York City on March 18th,  and I’m feeling remarkably healthy.

This time around I took Bob’s advice and decided to supplement my milage with consistent cross training. Once a week I train with the Boston College master’s swim team, clocking about 3,500 yds in the ancient BC rec-plex. I love splashing around with some other serious swimmers, but attending practice means that I roll into my driveway around 10 p.m. In addition, I try to squeeze in pool workouts at Worcester Fitness’ beautifully renovated pool each week, but I could seriously use some local swim buddies.

It’s no secret that I struggle to concoct my own productive workouts without the help of massive moral support. Thankfully the half-marathon training team starts up on Saturday at 9 a.m. sharp. I can’t wait to meet some new training partners and run my little heart out!

Now playing on Aquagirl’s ipod:

“All Day Today” – Hospitality

“Somebody That I Used to Know” – Gotye

“La Grande” – Laura Gibson

“Bounce” – Calvin Harris

“Don’t Run Wild” – The Del Fuegos

Michele BEFORE picture

Michele AFTER picture!

I first met Michele a little over 6 years ago. Michele and her 10 year old son AJ were part of my evening water fitness class. I have to admit it was the first time  I had ever seen a Mom and her young son work out together. It was great to see. The fact that her son was allowed into the club was the deciding factor in Michele’s decision to  join Worcester Fitness.

Michele works for the Department of Children and Families in Worcester.  She is the Supervisor for the foster care unit. Some of Michele’s hobbies are hiking, indoor rock climbing, cross country skiing and target shooting. She also likes to canoe. For the last 13 years she has been a “Hockey Mom”. Her next goal is to become a Mom that plays hockey. When she starts playing I will be sure to go watch a game.

Over the past year, Michele has lost 96 pounds. It has taken a lot of hard work and discipline.  Getting to the gym 4 times a week is Michele’s goal. Stretching, strength training and core work are all part of her routine .  45 to 90 minutes are also spent in  the cardio area each visit to the gym.  She loves to watch the Bruins games while doing her cardio workouts because it makes the time go by faster.  When she can’t make it to the club, she finds some activity to do at home.

Michele’s goal is to loose 4 more pounds by her birthday April 1st. She plans on sticking with the dietary changes that have worked for her. Carbs,white rice, pasta and  white bread are no longer part of her daily diet. Large servings, going to buffets and second servings are now a thing of her past. Although this takes a lot of will power, Michele knows what needs to be done and simply does it.

The Worcester Fitness Team  and fellow members are her favorite things  about the club. She finds the Team helpful whether she  is asking about a piece of equipment, a certain exercise or just showing her how to change the station on one of the TV’s.  Although she has not gotten to personally know any of the other members she finds them very approachable. Michele hopes to overcome her shyness and go into MacDonald’s Tavern and watch a Bruins game with some of her fellow members.

Michele’s words of wisdom to fellow members are “Don’t ever give up.  Get up and get moving! “ Even when you are tired from a long day at work GO to the gym you will feel better for it.”

Worcester Fitness wants Michele to know we are proud of her and will be happy to assist her with anything she needs to help her reach her goal.  Good luck Michele and keep up the good work!

To whom shall I bestow my Worcester Fitness Access Pass? I understand that the offer expires on 2/29, so time is of the year-leaping essence. I’ve narrowed the list of possibilities down to five finalists:

1. Dianne Williamson – I’ve never been brave enough to change the channel in the TV Garden, but this fellow Bravo loving blogger might have the gumption. We could trot on treadmills and banter snarkily – every Worcester girl’s dream!

2. Rachel Bilson – Go ahead, try to tell me that you don’t watch Heart of Dixie – not to mention RB’s recent splash on Funny or Die. We’ll be bffl’s yet…

3. Channing Tatum – I think he’d be a stud in the Zumba studio. Did you know he once appeared in a Ricky Martin video?

4. Parul Sehgal – NPR’s divinely sharp new books editor. We could pump some iron while we ponder the The Marriage Plot like the finest fitness nerds in all the land.

5. Wes Welker - On second thought, he’d probably drop the pass.

Final decision TBA. In the mean time, bribes are encouraged.

Somebody forgot to bring her lululemon to the gym today…

In my defense, my day begins at 5:30 a.m. and it gets awfully dark in that closet of mine. Imagine my surprise when I reached into my gym bag twelve hours later, and pulled out a child sized, cut-off, sled-dog puppies tee that I bought five years ago at an Alaskan flee market for a quarter. I could have sworn I grabbed the lulu, but all I got was the lemon.

I guess I could have packed up at that point and called it a day, but exercise is my daily calm – it’s my inner peace – it’s zentastic.

At my mom’s office, everyone meditates together after lunch (as a kindergartener, I called that nap time, but I guess if you have a masters degree you can call it whatever you want.) She claims that it helps everyone stay stress-free and grounded. Unfortunately, at my place of work – there’s no standing meditation date; my thoughtful reflection time has to wait until later in the day when I can settle in at the pool or on the treadmill. This physical activity is imperative to my mental and physical well being!

So, there I was, staring into the mirror surrounded by classy ladies in their work out duds – and I in my 1987 off-the-shoulder Iditarod top. I did what any sporty fashion-victim would do, I popped in the headphones, and tried to avoid making eye contact with anyone on the way up the stairs (even though I’m sure you’re all super down to Earth and wouldn’t dream of judging my retro gym-wear…)

First, I would like to apologize to your friends and family, as I know that this is Access Card month. Let’s be honest, the parking lot was packed with aspiring club goers this afternoon (probably really trendy ones too), and I broke a fashion bylaw. Thou shalt not wear husky-pup screen prints on the treadmill.

It won’t happen again. I don’t usually dress like that (at least not while I’m in the lower-48.) I swear! I’m not just an Uggs and sweatpants sort of girl! I am a workout professional!

You have my word: I will pack my gym bag with the light on from now on.

Well, Zumba Tone and Babyoncé have arrived in my life, and all is well with the world.

Let’s start with the ZT: awesome due in equal parts to the instructor (Sarah – great name!) and a Zumba 2.0 mentality that maintained the party but never ditched the workout. Sarah was like an athletic Penny (yes, that was a Happy Endings reference) who brought enthusiasm, intensity, and personable leadership to the Zumba sanctuary. Evidenced by my aching quads, Zumba Tone is a delightful departure from the routine. Loved it! From what I understand, there’s another demo tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.

As for Bey, Jay, and their totally cray baby gurl (Blue Ivy Carter), if you haven’t heard “Glory feat. B.I.C.” then you’re the cray one.

Have a great week Worcester Fitness!

Welcome to 2012, the year of Swiss Spa diets, sweatworking, and fidgeting fitness.

I could claim that 2011 was a promising year for my health, but if I’m being honest, it ended with two Ditch Plains hotdogs covered in Mac and Cheese.

Resolution #1: Cook my own meals at least five days per week.  I was intrigued by an article about the Beau-Rivage Palace in the Swiss Alps where women can lose weight while eating morning cheeses and afternoon chocolates. According to these chrono-nutrition experts, you can target troubled areas when you eat the right things (however sinfully delicious) at the right time of day. It’s all about the enzymes ladies and gentlemen.

Resolution #2: Why go out on the town with my friends and colleagues when I can sweatwork instead? Ok, so I think that Courtney Rubin had “client services” types in mind when she wrote this article, but the concept is simple: in a sweat stricken and cell phoneless state of exhaustion– people are more accessible.

Resolution #3: “Incidental activity” isn’t enough; this girl needs to schedule her workouts. I won the lottery. You know, the lottery where you get to run a painful half marathon while you wear a paper number on your chest and one of those timer chip things that inevitably flips up and digs into your ankle? Watch out New York Half Marathon! I’m back on my training plan and feeling…old.

It has been an exhausting semester of teaching and learning, but finals are finished and the holiday break is right around the corner. In honor of completing my intensive poetry course work, I have composed an especially horrendous piece of lyrical magic for your literary pleasure. I just had to get it out of my system…

Twas the week after finals, a time free of stress,

Not a care in the world at Worcester Fitness.

The sneakers were laced, double knotted, with care,

In hopes that Joe Santa soon would be there.

The runners lined up on their mills with their treads,

While visions of baked goods danced in their heads.

Away to the weight room I flew like a flash,

Set forth for the leg press and sat with a crash.

With one hopeless push, so lively and quick,

My quads were diminished, couldn’t move a lick.

More rapid than eagles, the trainers, they came,

Santa whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Kat P! Now Bob B.! Now Rebecca and Picky!

On, Zumba! On cycling! On fitness most tricky!

Whip her in to shape; get a medicine ball!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

They’ll tend to my health in this holiday season,

I’ll stay motivated and they are the reason,

I’ll hear them exclaim, “Aquagirl’s out of sight,

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

***Hot musical tip of the week: Bieber’s “Drummer Boy” (no joke).

I’m not sure I should even be telling you this, because the whole thing was downright covert.

On Thursday, I ran in a Turkey Trot to top all trots. To be perfectly frank, it wasn’t even a sanctioned trot. That’s right, I’m a rebel.

In fact, it was just a bunch of rebel trotters, all trotting on the same five kilometer route at the same time. Unofficial, yes, but trot we did–like our lives depended on it. You’d trot too if you were dodging Widoff’s customers and Thanksgiving travelers in the depths of Kelley Square.

Our pace was leisurely, but it mattered not. We were all in it for the guilt free baked goods and beverages that lay at the finish line.

When & Where? The Grey Hound Pub hosted us at 9 a.m. in an “unofficial”-Thanksgiving-free-fun-run around Worcester.

What was the course like? I would definitely give this race another go around. The course was flat, the scenery was splendid, the price was right, and the racers were low key.

Who? The trotting crowd was an eclectic mix of looming Worcester Rugby players and lovely local fitness enthusiasts (even a few familiar faces from Worcester Fitness!)

This race has the Aquagirl stamp of approval…BUT be sure to wear your brightest Turkey Day gear because there are no traffic stops, and those Widoff’s patrons get pretty rowdy at the finish.

This weekend, I visited one of my superbly athletic friends down in Fort Myers. I took a late flight out of Worcester on Thursday evening, and just hours later I found myself prancing in the palm tree playground.

My friend suggested that we run the Midpoint Madness 5k, a moonlight race in honor of Veteran’s Day on 11/11/11. The two of us are on a lifelong mission to race together in all 50 states, and we figured this would be a perfect occasion to check Florida off the list.

For a State fraught with all-you-can-eat early bird specials, overweight pop-stars of the 1980′s, and an eternal carnival season…there sure was a lot of fit competition. Seriously, there were some middle aged women who could eat me for breakfast (that was not a Waffle House reference).

The female race winner, age 41 (#justsaying), crossed the bridge in an impressive time of 18:41. I trotted in about five minutes later, finishing third in my age group with a time of 23:31 (not bad for a fledgling athlete!) They gave me a trophy as a nice souvenir, and I was off to eat some funnel cake and take in an Eddy Money concert in no time. Just a regular night in Fort Myers…

I was hesitant before the race because, while I’ve been trying to squeeze in frequent short-hard-workouts at Worcester Fitness, I haven’t run over two miles in a month. My approach at healthy intensity proved effective. I still felt strong in my last mile, and my ITB didn’t act up one bit. Sometimes it’s all about moderation and dedication.

And, while I will never again sit through a Night Ranger set at the Coconut Festival, I’d be more than willing to give the Midpoint Madness 5k another shot next year. Well done Fort Myers Track Club! There’s nothing Aquagirl loves more than a well organized 5k and some funnel cake.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve had Monster Mash on repeat all day, and you showered at Worcester Fitness because the well-pump is celebrating Halloween by dressing up like a snow man.

No, that doesn’t sound like you? You’re a part of the 25% of Massachusetts who didn’t lose power?

Here’s the more operative question: Would you like to invite me over for dinner? I will do the dishes. It will be a graveyard smash.

At any rate, it’s no tragedy that I wound up on Grove Street today. I’ve been feeling awfully guilty about my recent slip in attendance. I even dressed up as an aerobics instructor for Halloween to compensate. Unfortunately, dressing the part isn’t always good enough.

It’s the same old excuse: “There aren’t enough hours in the day.” But, new research from the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Japan says that “hours” aren’t necessary. Fitness can be achieved from short exercise sessions just as readily as lengthy sessions. Gretchen Reynolds reports that these sessions, “to be effective, must hurt.”

So, no more excuses. Making it to the gym doesn’t have to be an all day event. Every little bit counts!

Here’s a quick monster-mash-up playlist to get you started:

Rihanna – “We Found Love”

Beyonce – “Countdown”

Dev – “Bass Down Low”

Happy Halloween!

Say it ain’t so ez-tone! The New York Times reports, “More dashed hopes for those seeking a perfect derrière!” I should have known better than to trust a Kardashian in spandex.

That is not to say the fitness industry is all glitz and sham these days, in fact I’ve been gleefully inspired of late (as has my derrière). Healthy people are generous people! Working out doesn’t just make us look great, it makes us feel great too. To paraphrase the wise Elle Woods, happy people want to make other people happy too. Here are some happy fitness initiatives for the month of October:

To start, Worcester Fitness has instituted a new fundraiser for breast cancer research. For every mile you run on a “pinked out” treadmill, the club will donate twenty-five cents to Dana Farber. I heard Kat Pittinger decorated all of the treadmills herself. Despite a brief stumbling block when she realized that the “Pink Out Your Treadmill Instruction Booklet” was written in Spanish, Kat has since hired a translator and tracked 503 pink-treadmill-miles!

I should also mention that Kat will be running the NYC Marathon in just a few weeks, and it’s not too late to support her “Run for Something Better”. Kat is running to help fight child obesity through school-based running fitness programs. Kat’s route will even take her to my old stomping grounds in the Bronx, and while I insist that there’s no better borough for a dollar slice, I think she’ll be in the market for Gatorade and Jelly Belly Sport Beans.

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to participate in the Major David Brodeur 5k in Auburn. I’m just going to come clean, one of my students beat me…but she always does her homework, so I’ll let it slide this time. In all seriousness, I was thoroughly impressed by the ease with which this first-time race was organized, and I feel confident that it will continue to grow. The money raised will provide scholarships for Auburn students who wish to participate in extracurricular activities.

Last but not least, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the hike up Mt. Wachusett that I survived today with the help of a hundred energetic eighth graders. We learned about glaciers, laughed about legends, and worked up a good sweat.

With or without the Shape Ups, my derrière and I are back on the move and eager to set the tone for the month of October.

With wedding season upon me, I’m finding that there’s little recovery time in my fitness schedule. I’m not just talking recovery from maniacal adventure races (see photos!), but like the rest of the working world, there’s also a dissipating recovery period for things like teaching, studying, and part-time jobbing it all over this town. The bottom line is this: my health is a priority, and as busy as life gets, I still want to look fab in a little black dress.

I’m looking at four formal events in the next two weeks, and even though I’ve been reading a lot of Wallace Stevens for class (“The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream” and all that jazz), I’m trying to manage my diet and exercise frequently…no matter how adorable the cupcake tower or the chocolate fountain may be.

So here are a few ground rules I’ve set for myself:

• Dance! Word on the street is that you burn between 600-1,000 calories an hour  by dancing.
• Mind My Drinks Rory Freedman will be the first to tell you that beer is for frat boys and Skinny B’s only drink organic wine.
• Moderation Mireille Guiliano speaks for a nation of thin French females when she says that moderation is a girl’s best friend. Don’t be afraid to try new flavors and experiment with your taste buds (hence my first bite of goat at yesterday’s Nigerian royal wedding) but be sure to try a lot of little portions in your travels.
• Hydrate If the waiter is refilling your water glass with every pass by, you’re doing something right (especially if he’s cute!)
• Stay Active It’s getting too cold for waterski season, which means I’m wise to hit the gym at least three days per week if I want to successfully pull off my Sparkle & Fade knit swing dress.

I have no doubt that the weeks to come will bring exotic dishes, strenuous dancing, Chilean Sauvignonasses and perhaps most importantly, oodles of cute waiters. My life is so hard. See you on the treadmill!

Yesterday, this Rugged Maniac was teeming with adrenalin and grinning my way to the finish line.

I’ve never been to a race quite like this one. I made my way through wacky obstacles and shoulder-deep mud. I finally got some use out of the swimmer’s shoulders that have plagued my lady-like existence for years. Most importantly: I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more (and I didn’t even have to put slices of bread in my shoes). The Rugged Maniac course was like a grownup playground built for athletic nuts like me!

As for the boyfriend (the same arch-nemesis who never trains but always beats me in races), I think he’s finally met his match. On the starting line, he could be heard saying things like, “Don’t worry sweetie, I’ll wait for you so I can lift you up over the walls.” On the race course he could be heard saying things like, “Wait for me!”

Notable competitors consisted of the following:

• Old lady birthday party (w/ tutu attire)
• Men in business suits
• Marines (Who also gave me a t-shirt for my 1:39 chin up hold, thank you very much!)
• Wet suit guy
• Mullet men

Feeling empowered and reinvigorated, I am back in the fitness game. What’s next? Another half marathon? My first full marathon? An open water swim?
A triathlon? Perhaps, but at the forefront of my mind is a pending victory over my arch-nemesis at the yearly Turkey Trot. Watch out, here I come!

About a week ago, I thought it would be cute and hilarious to sign the bf and I up for one of those adventure-races. At the time, I was picturing a little mud and maybe a hopscotch course along the way. After all, I didn’t sign us up for the “elite heat” and it’s only a 5k…

Yesterday I got this email:

Your friends think you’re crazy and your loved ones are concerned for your safety, but something restless stirs deep down inside – you won’t be constrained by temperate society. You’d rather break than passively watch life pass you by and you ask, “How can I know myself without knowing my limits?”  Most shake their heads, content with vicarious existence, ignorant perhaps.  Still, some hear you, and together you will gather.  Your day draws near, glory impatiently waits.  Soon you will have the right to declare, “I am a Rugged Maniac!”

This summer, warrior-spartan-extreme-adventure style races have popped up all over America, and I want in.

The first person to tell me about one of these muddy 5k’s was a very talented friend of mine who runs (much too fast) for Central Park Track Club. “Full contact,” she informed me. I thought, ‘Ok, new elite running trend. Wish I could keep up.’

Then, I heard it on the radio. Ramiro was raving about the Warrior Dash in Amesbury. “Flaming obstacles!” he said. I thought, ‘Ok, new celeb trend. I need my own reality show.’

Last week, I heard it from my mother. “One of my wild friends talked me into it,” she explained. ‘Ok, if Aquamom can do it, so can I!’

So, I’ve got my eye on the Rugged Maniac race in Southwick, MA on September 24th. How does one begin to train for something like this? The Rugged Maniac website suggests “full-body workouts” and distance running.

Expect to see me at the gym a lot in the coming weeks. As for my boyfriend, who I also signed up to “Climb over walls up to 7’ high, crawl through mud under barbed wire, hop from stump to stump over a pit of water, slide down a 60’ water slide, navigate a web of pipes, jump over fire and face many other challenges,” I say: You’re on your own dear and you’re going down.

I’ll be honest, I’ve always seen myself as more of a Daphne, but today I’ve accepted the inevitable truth. I am a Velma.

It all started way back in the winter when I was running on my favorite treadmill, Sophia, taking in the latest episode of Millionaire Matchmaker. Eyes trained upon the Worcester Fitness TV Garden, I noticed that the captions looked exceptionally blurry. No, it wasn’t just the tear in my eye when Patti had failed yet another money hungry model/actress/dancer/Kardashian impersonator. It was clear that I needed glasses.

Last week, I finally called up the trusty folks at Fallon to make an appointment. When they asked me where I wanted to schedule my eye exam, I opted for St. Vincent, figuring I could stop by Worcester Fitness after the appointment.

Wearing my Worcester Fitness duds, I turned quite a few heads in the optometrist’s office. The receptionist asked, “Are you going to work out on the sixth floor? That’s a very nice gym up there.” Yes, I nodded like a proud country club mother. Yes, that’s my gym up there. It is indeeeed very nice.

The doctor also noticed my Woo Fit t-shirt. “Going up to the sixth floor? I love it up there!” I winked back at him to share in our moment of health club allegiance, and he proceeded to shoot a large puff of air into my left cornea.

The technician next door suggested that I buy a pair of sunglasses as well, but I politely declined, telling him I would only be wearing my new glasses for night-driving and for watching reality TV shows at the gym. “Oh, that gym upstairs? Oh, that place is reeeal nice,” he said.

During the summer, I try to be as active in the sunshine as I possibly can. The nice thing about the St. V’s Worcester Fitness is the way it makes you feel like you’re outside. The immaculate windows and dazzling skylights provide enough Vitamin D to satisfy the model/actress/dancer/Kardashian impersonator within me.

After my run, I stretched out under those miraculous skylit rays and got to work on some weighted crunches. Momentarily blinded by the sun, the medicine ball slid from my hands, crashed square into my gut and sent me sprawling. I looked around sheepishly to see if anyone had noticed. They had not.

‘Maybe I’ve been a Velma all along,’ I thought, and I pranced right back down to the sunglasses kiosk where I found myself a pair of workout-fashion-glasses that Daphne would have killed for.

Martha Schiff  has been with Worcester Fitness for 5 years.  I have had the pleasure of being her personal trainer. She is not only a client but we have become close friends.

Martha was 76 when she first came to the gym with her husband Warren.  After a few training sessions Warren decided  the gym just wasn’t  for him so he dropped out.  Martha decided to stay  and she is still with me 2 days a week.  She does cardio, strength training and stretching.

Many times people have come over to us while Martha was working out and expressed how impressed they were with her.  She can touch her toes,squat and do a crunch better than some people half her age. When people compliment her she gets a smile on her face from ear to ear.   I just love when she smiles like that!

Sometimes Martha is not quite up to working out but she comes anyway and is always glad she did. You will never hear  her complain  and she is always in a good mood.  The world needs  more people like Martha in it!   Her favorite things to do are walking, exercising , going out for a good lunch and  telling  stories. I   enjoy listening to her stories about her life.

As I said before Martha is a great client and a very good friend and I am  very glad to have her in my life both professionally but personally!

Keep up the good work Martha.

Picky

Aquagirl here, your one and only source into the fitness advice of the New York Times elite. Ok, me and 1,438,585 other Sunday subscribers, but there is a new online access policy, so let me be your guide to the latest and greatest findings on the fitness pages.

***

First order of business: Diana Nyad. Biding her time during the WF pool renovation, Diana has decided to take to the sea for a jaunty 103 mile swim from Cuba to Key West. A youthful 61 year old, Ms. Nyad enjoys jellyfish, shark cages, occasional dollops of peanut butter, exercise induced hallucinations, extended tongue swelling swims, and long walks on the beach. Lizette Alvarez reports that older athletes excel at endurance sports and predicts that Nyad will find success this year (despite Ms. Nyad’s unsuccessful attempt at the same swim when she was 28.) This adventurous undertaking is slated to take Nyad 60 hours with brief stops every hour and a half to tread water and swallow a scrumptious bit of “predigested protein”. Aquagirl is standing by, and would like to remind Ms. Nyad of Aaliyah’s immortal advice: Age ain’t nothin’ but a number.

***

Next up: “For Runners, Soft Ground Can Be Hard on the Body”. We all know that running results in injury. Stretch, roll, ice and ibuprofen all you like, but running is not an athlete-friendly sport. Inevitably runners end up with aches and pains, and someone recommends going anti-pavement. Gina Kolata reports that injury rates are not directly affected by the decision to run on soft ground or hard concrete. Doctor Warden, interviewed for Kolata’s article, compares switching surfaces to increasing milage or switching your shoes. Kolata writes, “Abrupt changes can be risky.” Gradual changes are always best for the body, and the switch to soft surfaces is no exception.

***

Another NYT gem that caught my eye this week: “Tips to Avoiding Injury in Zumba Classes” by Walecia Konrad. Apparently running shoes (built solely for forward momentum) are not fit for the Zumba classroom. I know, I know, we’re all feeling like Miley now. “Who’s that chick that’s rockin’ kicks? She’s gotta be from outa town.” Don’t fret girls, there’s still room to ditch the workout and join the Party in the USA.  Try wearing thin soled workout shoes, make sure you’ve got some elbow room, and always warm up.

***

Until next time, this is Aquagirl, signing off with your NYT Fitness Page highlights of the week.

Lately I’ve been in full-on aqua mode. I spend weekdays in the pool, teaching swim lessons, and weekends on Long Pond, waterskiing until the sun goes down. For the last few years, my first trip to the pond truly tuckered me out. Waterskiing requires a whole different set of muscles that usually go unused during the winter months. This year, felt a little different.
Somewhere between the half marathon training, Saturday Zumba sessions, spin-classes, and Kat’s lifting regimen…I think I got back into shape. I feel like a slalom star out there and I can tell that all of my hard work at the gym has really paid off. Not only is my core endurance cooperating  but I’m getting my aqua-fix too!

I have it on good athority that a summer playlist is the key to success. Taking the suggestions of my trendiest friends into account, here are a few highlights from July’s workout playlist:

The Cults – Go Outside

Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend

Foster the People – Warrant

Beyonce – Run the World (Girls)

Nicki Minaj – Super Bass

This month I chose Aimee Stakowski as member of the month.  When you see Aimee working out it is like watching a Lioness.

She is VERY focused and not distracted by her surroundings.  She is on a mission and completes it effortlessly.

Aimee has been a member  for thirteen years.  She started working out after having physical therapy for a serious knee injury.  Her admiration for Ellen Green and the rest of the Worcester Fitness staff keeps her coming back.  She  finds the staff friendly and helpful.  Aimee also loves the atmosphere and the other members.  She finds Worcester Fitness a fun place to work out.

Aimee has had 3 surgeries on her knee and currently waiting on a 4th.  It took about a year to finish her rehab. She is going to put the 4th surgery off as long as she can.  In Aimee words she is not going to have it until she can not walk anymore.  Hopefully that will be later rather than sooner!

Her workout routine consist of

Weight training 5-6 days a week

Cardio 6 days a week  varying intensity

Yoga may be part of her routine in the near future.

Staying healthy and keeping the strength in her leg to avoid surgery are her main fitness goals. She is always “striving for a better me!”

“I’m so glad I didn’t go the gym today” are words you will never hear Aimee say and has never heard anyone else say it.  She loves the gym and working out and it shows!

When you look at Aimee’s picture in this blog you might not recognize her but if you look around and see a women in great shape and ready to take on the world you will find her.

Great work Aimee!  Keep it up.

That does it, three half-marathons in six months…it’s time for a new game. I’ve been itching to try a triathlon for a while, but I just watched 127 Hours, and I’ve developed a bit of an irrational fear around biking excursions (Nalgene bottles, large boulders and Dido as well, actually.)

I thought it would be safest to face my fears in the cozy confines of Worcester Fitness, so I reported for duty at Danleigh’s Tuesday spin class. Danleigh should have a byline under her class description; Danleigh: a woman with a vision.

“You’re riding to the beach,” she said.

Ok, I can dig this. I like the beach.

“We’re starting to climb,” she said,

A little hill? No problem D.

“Stay in the saddle!”

Ride ‘em cowboy.

“Bring it up two gears.”

Are we there yet?

“Two more gears!”

Who really likes the beach that much anyway? I forgot my sunblock Danleigh, and this hill is ummm…kicking my butt.

“Bring me up two beers!”

Danleigh! I came for a workout, woman.

“I SAID bring it up two gears! You can do it guys, final climb!”

Aquagirl’s selective hearing strikes again.

Needless to say, I survived Tuesday’s beach trip, and Danleigh brought the pep. Despite my wildest fears, James Franco only popped into my beach-trip-vision once or twice and he seemed pretty harmless, so I guess I can start listening to Dido again. Fear: obliterated. Thanks Danleigh.

Well, the big race has come and gone, and I couldn’t be happier with my team training experience. I don’t know if you’re aware, but our club is chock-full of fascinating characters. I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 15 weeks getting to know a few of them.

I think that some superlatives are in order:

Jamie gets the…Rookie of the Year award! In honor of her very successful first-half marathon.

Mary gets the…Early Riser award! For her unfaltering dedication on early Saturday mornings, and her friendly encouragement along the training course.

Mike gets the…Fantastically Fluorescent award! For his rockin’ runner’s wardrobe.

John gets the…Class Clown award! For his many clever quips.

Matt gets the…Cooler Ruler award! For his artisan skills and his generosity.

Geoff gets the…Friendliest ’till the Endliest award!

Elijah gets the…Sleeker Sneaker award! In honor of his first pair of real running shoes.

Rebecca gets the…Bumps and Bruises award! For tending to our many ailments.

Bob gets the…Fearless Leader award! For his constant guidance and tremendous patience.

Ryan gets the…Super Trooper award! For showing up rain or shine and giving it his all.

Kat gets the…Terrific Trainer award! For wearing hilarious pants, making me feel right at home, and keeping the potluck classy.

It was a beautiful day for a run, and my city never looked better!

"Aquagirl"

The last time I visited one of the Boylstons, I was in it for a two dollar movie; however I found myself charmed by the quaint towns of NoWo twice this weekend.

On Saturday, we completed our final team training run with a steady six mile trek on the West Boylston rail trail. My knees are feeling a lot healthier these days, but running on a soft surface doesn’t hurt either. Here’s hoping I can handle all 13.1 miles of the Wormtown pavement next weekend!

This morning, I drove out to Boylston, where Worcester Fittness’s very own Kat Pittinger coordinated a stellar Memorial Day event: Katie’s 5k. The high school band pepped us up and a light rain cooled us down. Thanks to a friendly neighborhood route, jam-packed with local supporters, I was able to navigate the hills without much trouble. To cap off a great morning, the Worcester Fitness Training Team cleaned up at the award ceremony. I am happy to report that Katie’s 5k was unquestionably the most well organized run that I’ve attended in Central Mass this year.

So, what’s in store for my final week of training before the Worcester Half Marathon? I’ll be spending the next three days chaperoning 150 eighth graders in our nation’s capitol. It might not be a more traditional training method, but I’ve got a feeling that they’re going to keep me on my feet.

"Aquagirl"

Dear Mr. Bourassa,

Please excuse my absence from Saturday’s group training run. I promise to make every effort to be more conscientious in the future. I hope you will understand…

X I got tied up saving the world from the rapture’s impending doom

X I’m resigning as resident WF blogger to sell Ostrich eggs at the Smorgasburg Flea Market in Brooklyn

X Watching Beyonce’s fierce new video for Run the World (Girls) on Youtube rendered me immobile for 24 hours

X Harold Camping invited me to his end of the world party

X Xtina offered me a spot on The Voice after hearing my acapella compilation: ‘Best of Ramjam’

X My dog ate my homework

√ I was whisked away to NYC. I completed the long run in Central Park. It was totally dreamy.

I promise to make up any additional work I may have missed. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely,

Aquagirl

"Aquagirl"

5/15 Things to do:

Crush trash talkin’ middle school boys in a five mile road race

5/16 Things to do:

Work my ultimate victory into Monday’s lesson plans, complete with mile-split breakdowns and a reenactment of my epic crossing of the finish line

5/17 Things to do:

Revel some more in my success over sassy 14 year olds

5/18 Things to do:

Come to the frightening realization that I’ll be running a race almost three times as long as the Jules Fiver for Cancer in just three weeks when the Worcester Half Marathon rolls around

5/19 Things to do:

Cry a little

5/20 Things to do:

Buy one of those fancy titanium necklaces off of a middle schooler in the lunch room and hope for the best

5/21 Things to do:

Ten mile training run!

Looks like I have a busy week ahead of me…

In all seriousness, I had a great time today, running in Auburn to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I was the second five miler female to cross the finish line, and the first in my age group– due in equal parts to Bob B’s stellar training program and the rambunctious eighth graders who kept me moving.

"Aquagirl"

Yesterday, we ran our first ten miler and it felt great! I haven’t done a training run longer than eight miles since last summer, and with my recent nagging knee pain I was pretty nervous, but Bob set us up for success.

Courtesy of KP

The Anatomy of My Ten Mile Run:

Mile 1 – Take it easy! Don’t go out too fast. Enjoy the Grove Street scenery.

Mile 2 – Be careful on the down hill. Salisbury St. isn’t kind on the ITB if I’m overzealous before my body has warmed up.

Mile 3 – Crank up the NPR on the Haviland/Beechmont climb (geeky distractions work wonders) and use those Aquagirl arms for momentum.

Mile 4 – Water station– perfect timing B!

Mile 5 – Half way holler. This calls for some Tom Petty.

Mile 6 – Let the real climb begin. Girltalk is my only friend here (download the new album for free dollars– trust me, it’s an essential part of the half-marathon training kit).

Mile 7 – Will this hill ever end? Don’t let Elijah out of your sight girl!

Mile 8 – Water station #2– good to see you intern : )

Mile 9 – Start the descent…

Mile 10 – Run the Heart. We’re home free!

Needless to say, I’ve been limping around ever since– but it’s nothing a little foam rolling, some ibuprofen and a big bag of ice can’t fix.

"Aquagirl"

Yesterday’s run turned out to be a debacle. It was the first long training run I’ve managed since my impromptu 13.1 mile tour of Ithaca a few weeks ago, and my body was less than thrilled.

First of all, I showed up late. A special thanks to the Holden Little League for  shutting down Main Street so I could watch the entire opening day parade #roadrage. When I finally got to Worcester Fitness, the group had already left, so I tried to recall the proposed route. Here’s where my faulty memory took me – it was a different run than everyone else’s, but what can I say, I march to the beat of my own drum– even if it sometimes takes me in the wrong direction. I was hurting pretty badly after my six mile trek, so I went inside and spent ten minutes on the elliptical machine to finish myself off.

Bob Bourassa had two words for me: foam roller. He said that ITB issues, like the ones I’ve been fighting, are best tackled “On a Roll”. The foam roller is exactly what it sounds like, a big log ‘o foam that can roll out tightness and increase blood flow. Consider that toxin-flushing roller my new best friend.

Now, you’d think I’d be losing sleep over the fact that there are only five measly weeks left before race time – but that’s the least of my troubles. My real problem: The Auburn Fiver for Cancer, a 5k for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on May 15th. I’ve been challenged to this race by half  a dozen of my finest middle school students, and I’ve been talking some serious game. That gives Miss Aquagirl just two full weeks to get healthy again.

Let’s hope Bob’s foam roller can work some magic.

"Aquagirl"

When I was in the fourth grade, my next door neighbor, Mary-Jean, shared a golden piece of advice with me. She claimed that the human body would continue burning calories for thirty minutes after it stopped exercising. We were elated by this bit of healthful knowledge, and naturally, we spent the remainder of our fourth grade days sprinting the two and a half blocks to White Hen Pantry in our Keds. Upon arrival, we would proceed to clock precisely thirty minutes, devouring guilt-free Hostess Cupcakes and mindless liters of RC Cola.

I’ll start by admitting that in the fifteen years since Mary-Jean shared her pearl of wisdom, I hadn’t stopped to consider her credibility until today. I will also admit that when I walked in the door from my run today, I immediately went for my Easter basket. ‘Plenty of time for water later,’ I thought, ‘That thirty minute junk food window is key!’ Oh Mary-Jean, how wrong you were.

This week, New York Times reporter, Gina Kolata‘s “Personal Best” column focused on a study set to disprove Mary-Jean’s thirty-minute-indulgence theory. Sorry MJ! According to Kolata, a “carefully designed” study completed by Appalachian State University showed that only intense exercise yielded bonus post-exercise calories burned. What qualifies as intense? An effort that makes you “breathe too heavily to carry on a conversation” sustained for at least 45 minutes.

There you have it, another fitness myth dispelled, and years of Hostess Cupcakes to feel guilty about.

"Aquagirl"

Talk about illotibial torture…that arch-knee-hip combo is killing me. I suppose it’s due punishment for unprecedented long runs. Any tips from my trainer friends out there?

While resting, icing, and ibuprofen-ing myself into a healthful oblivion, I’ve also been absorbed by some pointed New York Times articles that came out this week. Particularly striking is James Vlahos’ “Is Sitting Lethal Activity?”, published on Thursday, to establish sitting as a bonafide killer.

Vlahos profiles Dr. James Levine (no relation to Avril) whose research aims to answer the question, “Why do some people who consume the same amount of food as others gain more weight?” During initial studies Levine searched for a “magic metabolic factor” to answer his prayers. No such luck. The secrets of obnoxious-dessert-eating-skinny-girls everywhere remained elusive.

Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated Dr. Levine?

The simple answer came six years later with, you guessed it, motion-tracking underwear. Data collected with these prophetic panties indicated that unconscious movement made all the difference. Thoughtless calorie burners like fidgeting, taking the stairs (praised as “The Best Exercise” in Friday’s Times), and walking down the hall prevented weight gain. Likewise, Vlahos reported, “On average, the subjects who gained weight sat two hours more per day than those who hadn’t.” Here’s the kicker, Vlahos cited a number of studies which found that sitting equates to a shorter lifespan.

Alpa Patel of the American Cancer Society found the following:

The men in the study who spent six hours or more per day of their leisure time sitting had an overall death rate that was about 20 percent higher than the men who sat for three hours or less. The death rate for women who sat for more than six hours a day was about 40 percent higher.

Australian journal Circulation found:

For each additional hour of television a person sat and watched per day, the risk of dying rose by 11 percent.

According to the New York Times, workplaces are scrambling to design environments that allow employees to stay active. My favorite idea of Dr. Levine’s is the “treadmill desk”. Moreover, he suggests that we pull the chair out from under society as early as possible. What does he have in mind for all of those blossoming sk8er bois out there? “Chairless first-grade classroom[s] where the students spend part of each day crawling along mats labeled with vocabulary words.”

All my life I’ve been good, but now, whoaaa, I’m thinking it’s time to take a stand. Sing it Avril.

"Aquagirl"

On this here birthday weekend, I had a chance to catch up with some family in Ithaca, NY; and wouldn’t you know it, my visit fell on the weekend of Ithaca’s Skunk Cabbage Half-Marathon. My stepdad suggested that we sign up for the race, and unable to turn down a challenge, I pinned on a number and took off.

Here are a few things that Ithaca is known for: its gorges (ha), its HILLS (ouch), its Skunk Cabbage (gross), and its disproportionate number of frat-boy joggers (I’ve seen cuter). Ok, so I may have failed to mention a few of Ithaca’s finer points but they’re not important here.

What is important is how different this race was for me. When I ran the Charleston Half in January, I had a marvelous run. I felt good. When I ran the Skunk Cabbage Extravaganza this morning, I found myself engaged with an exercise in mental fortitude. Epic fail.

Finished the race: check.
Ran the whole way without stopping: check.
Added eight minutes to my time: check.
Got passed by exactly 257 frat boys: check.
Trained properly for a half marathon: ?

While our fitness training team is making major progress on our training regimen for the Worcester Half in June, I was by no means ready to race today. I should have stuck to the cake and gone out dancing. Instead, I won’t walk for a week. What’s that expression? A year older and a year wiser…

Happy birthday to me.

You would think being  a 55 year old women with a 14 year old daughter, working 45-50 hours a week at 5 different places would be enough of a challenge for anyone.  So why do I keep challenging my self.  To be truthful when I set  a new goal for myself  and accomplish it not  only does it make me feel physically better it  makes me feel better about myself.  Isn’t that what life is about ?

Last year at this time I went to the Dr and found out my weight and my blood pressure were higher than I liked.  I knew I had to make some changes to get back to where I wanted to be.

Although I am a fitness instructor and personal trainer obviously my body needed  a challenge.  At this point I decided to take up walking each morning before work.   I started walking around Indian Lake  every morning at 6am.   Not only was I getting great exercise I was enjoying the beauty of the lake while most people were still sleeping.  Most days the lake was calm and looked like a mirror.  Such a beautiful sight.  After 8 months of walking both  my weight and blood pressure significantly decreased and they are lower than they have been in years.

Now it is the new year and we all know what happened in January.  I could no longer walk outside  and the treadmill just wasn’t enough.  I needed a new challenge so I decided I would try Kat Kamp.

I knew Kat Kamp was going to be a challenge because most of the participants were much younger than me and I heard the workout were tough. I swallowed my pride  and went off to Kamp.  The class was a challenge but I am proud to say I think I held up  pretty good.  After a couple of classes I teamed up with Rebbecca. Rebbecca is one of the physical therapist here at Grove St.  During one of the classes we had to run laps  up and down the hall.  Forgetting Rebbecca  is an avid runner I tried to keep up to her.  I thought my lungs were going to explode.  AH HA  a new challenge.  Not only did I decide I was going to get to the point that I could keep up to her I decided to take it a step further. I decided I wanted to run the half marathon with her next June.   After talking to Kat and Bob Bourassa ( our running expert) they assured me if I started now I would be able to do it.  Thanks Kat and Bob for your support and motivation.   I need it.

Many Saturday mornings as I was walked  by the big studio I  heard  the music from the Zumba class and thought how much fun would that class would be.  The next week I decided to take a class. That was 7 months ago and I am still taking it every Sat morning. It is a very high energy work out that is so much fun you don’t even think about how hard you are working. If you like to dance do your self a favor and take one of these classes.  Jessica and Lena and Sara are great instructors with lots of energy.

Just as I thought I had enough challenges I was once again accepted a new  challenge.  This Wed  while enjoying some down time at the gym I suddenly remembered there was a new class about to start.  So down stairs I go to join  Joanne’ s Powermax class.  Joanne is one of our new instructors. We were lucky enough to get her to come work here after the gym she was working at closed . Once again my body was pushed to to the limit. Due to my work schedule I only did 30 minutes and  I think my legs were ok with that.  Hopefully next week I can do the whole class and push myself just a little bit more.

So to with all that being said  set some new goals and give your self some new challenges and have fun do so.  Your body and mind will love you for it!

"Aquagirl"

Just ten weeks to go before the Worcester Half Marathon, and training is kicking into high gear! Yesterday, the training team ran six long miles on a deja-vu tour of Indian Lake. Coach Bob paced us on the lengthy double loop.

But, the deja-vu buck doesn’t stop there. Lately, I’ve been spotting people from my past life as a Worcester girl on a daily basis. I am blessed with a magnetism for the awkward run-in. Here’s a sampling of my recent Worcester Fitness sightings:

• Spotted in the parking lot - Football Boy, who lovingly nicknamed me “Sea Trash” in middle school as an adorable tribute to my budding skills in the pool. My mom said he just had a crush on me <3
• Spotted on the treadmill – The Boy Next Door, who used to be sort of rowdy on the school bus during elementary school, but it looks like he’s really matured. For goodness sake, he’s even got facial hair now.
• Spotted stretching by the TV garden – Sassy Former Co-Worker, who politely asked, “You go to the gym?” I guess I need to go a little more often…
• Spotted in the locker room – Mrs. Big Time Administrator, who never recognizes me beneath my sheen of sweaty -glistening, despite my over zealous attempts at waving her down.
• Spotted at the bubbler – Friendly Dad, whose son I never managed to call back after one date, five years ago…oops.
• Spotted at MacDonalds – Skinny-Fabulous High School Friend, who was really, actually her this time.
• Spotted on the Arc Trainer – Woogurl! who is all smiles after her well deserved super-victory.

I’m never surprised to spot a familiar face at the gym, because Worcester Fitness is simply the place to be these days. Exercise brings all kinds together, especially in Worcester where fitness is a common denominator. Healthful living inspires dialogue with those around us, both new and old. (Someone should have told Football Boy that years ago…would have saved him a lot of time coming up with clever nicknames ; )

"Aquagirl"

During today’s five mile training-run, we discussed the merits of exercising with an ipod. I admit that you’ll never find me on a treadmill sans ipod; however, when given the option of sharing in the company of real, live people while running – I’ll take it.

On days when lonely long-runs are my only option, I find myself craving the attention of NPR’s masterfully crowdsourced-companion, Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me! I download episodes on my ipod, and listen to them during workouts.

What can I say, I’m a sucker for Carl Kasell….and a big nerd.

In honor of St. Patrick’s day, and my favorite Wait, Wait! game, I’ve created my own Worcester Fitness-Listener Limerick Challenge.

1. If you loathe the idea of a jog

But can’t bare to look like a hog,

Says Michigan State,

You can lose the most weight

If you own man’s best friend. Buy a ____!

2. If you’d like a trainer who chats,

And calculates your fitness stats,

I know a girl,

She’ll give it a whirl,

The best program for you is ____.

3. If you are an N.B.A. chap,

Success doesn’t fall in your lap.

Nine hour of sleep,

is a promise you keep.

On game days you must take a ____.

Answer Key

1. DOG: Researches from Michigan State University reported that dog owners are more likely to get regular exercise than non-dog owners, thereby elevating their level of fitness. Forget the Treadmill. Get a Dog.

2. KAT’s: Kat Pittinger is one of many personable staff members at Worcester Fitness. Check her out!

3. NAP: The New York Times reported last week that N.B.A. players swear by the restorative benefits of napping on game days. Napping on Game Days is Prevalent Among N.B.A. Players

*Two out of three correct answers makes you a winner! Let me know if you want my voice on your answering machine…but trust me, I’m no Carl.

"Aquagirl"

I just stumbled upon New York Times journalist, George Gene Gustine’s “Urban Athlete” column. I found myself considering many of his wise justifications for Warming Up to a Cold Run, on yesterday’s group run at Worcester Fitness. Gustine’s motivational tactics (and my interpretations thereof) include the following:

• Running as Therapy - Saturday mornings are the perfect time to reflect back on my wild week in the middle school classroom. Believe it or not, all of my most unique and successful lessons have been dreamed up during training. It’s a time to channel one’s inner fourteen-year-old, and to subsequently pray for the return of one’s fourteen-year-old metabolism.
• Misery in Numbers – I can’t even tell you how wonderful it feels to run with others after a long, lonely winter with just Sophia to keep me company. Sophia is a treadmill. Enough said.
• New Terrain – Rather than running my usual boring routes, Coach Bob promises to provide weekly adventures, brimming with uncharted territory. It has been six years since I lived in Worcester. It feels like it’s about time to hit the streets and explore my city.
• Down for the Count – I can completely relate to Gustine’s tendency to count as he runs. I’m a swimmer, after all, and there’s not much to do under water but count laps, strokes, and seconds. On my runs I find my self obsessed with lamp posts. Sprint two, jog one. Jog two, sprint one. I can’t stop…maybe that was Gustine’s point all along.

I cried today. Right after I decided to put the aqua back in Aquagirl.

Once upon a time I was a division one swimmer, but these days I’m lucky if I talk myself into the pool every couple of weeks. It didn’t help that upon suiting up this afternoon, I realized that I had forgotten my goggles.

To keep myself engaged in a pool workout, I find that I need to write out a practice ahead of time with reps, distances, and intervals (even if they’re not what they once were.)

My main set today, goggle-less mind you, consisted of the following:

5x 100 yards (100 yds=5 lengths in the WooFit pool) alternating freestyle/backstroke

-Freestyle 1:20 interval

-Backstroke 1:30 interval

I managed to keep all of the freestyle repeats around 1:05 and the backstroke repeats around 1:15, allowing for about 15 seconds of recovery between each.

I wept the whole ride home; gosh darn chlorine.

At the start of tonight’s spin class, Ed told us that his life long dream is to conduct an entire cycling session with a soundtrack made up exclusively of Phish. I didn’t mention that to fit in more than one song, he’d have to extend the class by at least seven minutes. I did, however, consider what my own spin playlist would sound like.

__________________________________________________________

Under the guidance of a few music-savy friends, this is what I settled on:

1. I Want To – The Best Coast

2. Night by Night – Chromeo

3. That’s Right – Girltalk

4. Paris – Grace Potter

5. Riot Rhythm – Sleigh Bells

6. Real Life – Tan Lines

7. Bang – Rye Rye & M.I.A.

8. Triple Double – Girltalk

9. I Just Love You More – Kate Nash

10. All of the Lights – Kanye West

p.s. Great class Ed!

"Aqua Girl"

I’m about to give you an inside look at one of Worcester Fitness’s most exclusive clubs: The Half Marathon Training Program.

Secret Exclusive Behind the Scenes Type Picture!

If you’re kind, you won’t tell Bob Bourassa that I’m divulging all of his expertise to the masses. Here are a few of his secrets revealed:

• A good half-marathon program involves cross training. This is perfect for an Aqua-G like me, for two reasons. One, I’d really like to do a triathlon this summer. And two, it’s about time that this Aquagirl get her butt back in the pool.
• A good half-marathon program requires Dynamic Stretching, rather than more traditional stationary stretches.
• A good half-marathon program requires very little treadmill training, but when the treadmill is your only option, you should add an incline to avoid injury.
• A good half-marathon program focuses on the details. Here’s one that caught my eye: Runners can change their shoe-lacing styles to avoid irritation. Do you find yourself constantly embarrassed at the nail salon by your black and blue toes? Try this lacing style!

Let’s keep these little insights between friends…or Bob will have to kill me.

In other news, long runs for the training team (I think we need a team name, don’t you? Send suggestions my way.) are on Saturday mornings. This means that yesterday may have been my last Zumba class for a while. I was upset that it wasn’t a Jessica week. I’m not a dancer, but Jessica makes me feel like Bristol Palin!

In an effort to ease my pain, I wrote a haiku as yesterday’s Gym Class Write Up.

Jazz squares and grape vines

I am a dancing hippo

Hava Nagila

"Aqua Girl"

Cardio Tone = 2 parts step-aerobics + 3 parts strength training + 1 part yoga

Cardio Tone Soundtrack: Classic pop hits of 1998, including (but not limited to) Destiny’s Child, TLC, Mandy Moore, and the Titanic soundtrack.

Cardio Toners: An older crowd, but the class is as rigorous as you make it.

Cardio Tone Vibe: While it seems that this class has a number of regular participants, everyone was more than willing to help out the new girl. There was friendly chatter between sets, lots of smiling, and plenty of encouragement.

Cardio Tone Instructor: Randi (not to be confused with the Idol judge, or the wide receiver), a tough little lady with abs of steel and a powerful voice. She’s considering expanding her repertoire to include motivational ringtones that Worcester Fitness members can download for constant support.

Overheard at Cardio Tone:

Randi – I’m taking my kids to see Pawn Stars at the Hanover Theatre.

Sweet Older Woman #1 – You’re taking them to see what???

Sweet Older Woman #2 – That’s my husband’s favorite show!

Sweet Older Woman #1 – Oh dear…

Cardio Tone Schedule: Tuesdays at 9 a.m. in the large studio

"Aqua Girl"

Yesterday I met my first Zumba dude. To be honest, I’m a little surprised that there aren’t more Zumba dudes floating around out there. What guy wouldn’t want to practice his moves with a bunch of pretty, dancing ladies?

It didn’t take long for me to realize that Zumba dude wasn’t just there to pick up chicks. On the contrary, he was working it harder than anyone else. He was a Zumba master.

It wasn’t until I tried to strike up a conversation that I realized I knew Zumba dude from somewhere else; there was a Worcester celeb in our midst. Based solely on his passion for Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-parties^™, I know a certain Councilor-At-Large who has my support next election season.

I’ve never been to a Zumba class with Jessica that I didn’t enjoy. I think I like her instruction because she doesn’t talk too much. Jessica leads by example, and sets you free. On the other hand, one of the reasons that I enjoyed Sharon’s Sunday morning spin class today, was her constant encouragement. Her choice of music brought me back to my Four Year Strong roots, with a variety of pop-punk to keep us cycling.

I’ve noticed that all of this fitness forethought has really started to affect my decisions outside the gym as well. Last night at the Northampton Brewery, I even talked myself into a spicy shrimp and avocado salad. Now that’s some delectable self control!

Of course, if my dedication should ever waiver, I’ll just put on my Super Team shirt, to remind me of the smiling, supportive faces that await me at Worcester Fitness.

"Aqua Girl"

I think it has been long established that teachers eat nothing but apples. It’s one of our trade secrets. I will, however concede that on Valentines Day, I adhere to a strict chocolate diet, which culminated this year with an impressive Bocado experience.

While I recognize Worcester’s increasingly impressive restaurant scene as a positive for my beloved city, I also recognize the personal dangers that Aquagirl must face. To be frank, I’ve gone out for dinner the last five nights in a row. This despicably delectable behavior must stop.

I’m the sort of athlete who needs a goal to motivate my fitness, and I’ve set two goals for the next six months. By July, I would like to complete the Worcester Half Marathon on June 5th, and a local triathlon to be named; both of which will require extensive training.

At first I thought maybe I’d just invest in a vibrating platform like Serena Williams, and rely on my natural talent. But, upon further examination, the Worcester Fitness Half Marathon Training Program sounds like it was just about made for me. The first workshop is February 24th, and I will see you there!

"Aqua Girl"

Zumba, I’ve got news for you. There’s a new lover in my life, and his name is Spin Class.

Before I begin, you should know that packing for Spin Class is best when it entails towels and water bottles that rain from the sky. I, unfortunately, missed the precipitatory-cycling-jackpot, and had to beg for my spin essentials. Thank god for the friendly ladies of the front desk, and Ed.

Now, seeing as my only impressions of Spin Class had been gathered from an article about the very exclusive, trendy, soul cyclers who are taking over the earth, I was nail-biting nervous. However, Ed not only loaned me a towel, but also led the class in applause to commend my very first spin experience.

Ed, who teased us with classic rock all evening, only to let our workout spontaneously climax with “Lady Marmalade”, was perhaps my favorite part of spinning. He kept things interesting, providing constant guidance and encouragement. Also a plus, he managed to side step my pre-conceived notions of a Vaporex-Unitard clad spin instructor who barks out Pat Benetar songs with bated breath.

Ed is a real guy. A real guy with a tank top, an extra towel, and a passion for cycling. I’ll be back Ed.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve blogged…it’s also been a while since I’ve counted my points up.  But, I have continued to work out.  Some of my working out has included painting the interior of my home, going sledding (which really entails pulling my two boys around on sleds–hard work), running and running around having snowball fights, etc.  So, I have been active.

I’ve been watching and admiring two other Superheros….Aquagirl & Woo Girl.  They have both been so dedicated and they were fierce competitors too.  But, I knew quite a while ago that I couldn’t hold a candle to either of them.  In plain English, they kicked my butt!

That’s not to say that I didn’t make a major change in my life.  Now that the end of the Superhero challenge has come, I would love to just sum up my experience as well.  The 3-months was truly appreciated and has made me make positive changes in my life.  In just three short months:

• I am more toned
• I am more fit
• I have more stamina
• I have less aches and pains
• Worcester Fitness has created a new “habit” for me….fitness & exercise
• I FEEL GREAT!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to WORCESTER FITNESS and to KAT PITTINGER for this WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY and for creating a habit in my life that will hopefully extend my life, set a great example for my children & others,  and make me a better person overall.

Take care everyone!

-Super Shape-Shifter

I spent the night clubbing (ski clubbing, that is) at Wachusett, reflecting on my last three months of fitness.

This superhero contest has taught me some important lessons…

1. The support of others is an invaluable motivator.
2. Worcester Fitness is the safest gym in town. Don’t bother locking up your valuables; I never did. On second thought, maybe some people wouldn’t really consider my Taylor Swift fan club cufflet “valuable.”
3. Don’t get attached to your treadmill. She loves all gym-goers equally.
4. Zumba is no joke. Shorty can I visit you at work…
5. There’s no time unfit for a cozy pair ‘o Jeggings.
6. A killer playlist can equate to a fantastic workout.
7. The TV garden is not a real garden. *emoticon : (
8. People at Worcester Fitness always hold the door for one another.
9. People are impressed by butterfly during a swim workout.
10. People like puppies.

Thanks for everything Worcester Fitness!

Here’s to all those visual learners out there:

I don’t know who my Zumba instructor was today, but it might have been my favorite class yet. I guess she usually teaches Monday night Zumba at the gym downtown.

Zumba Group Exercise Class – 60 min (45 min point max)
Dog Walking – 30 min

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I managed to dodge cabin fever today by slipping out to the gym for a few hours. I can’t help but notice that people at Worcester Fitness have been friendlier than ever lately. I would like to think that this is merely an indication of the superheroes’ rapidly growing readership…but let’s be honest, it can be chalked up to the obvious fact that Worcester Fitness maintains a very friendly gym-culture.

Over the course of the last week, I had an in-depth locker room conversation about my passion for Michael Kors, recommended my favorite Zumba instructor to a bubbly girl on the mat next to me in the weight room, and received a killer complement from a WooFit head honcho. Someone even said that I run like a gazelle, not to be confused with Giselle, but I can dream.

Positivity=Productivity

Thanks for another jam packed day of fitness!

30 min – walking (ie: snowshoeing with puppy in tow)

45 min – Strength Training (and I’m ready to bump up the weight again!)

35 min – running

20 min – cool down swim

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We missed Jessica at Zumba today. Here’s a haiku I wrote during class, to sum up my feelings on the session, sans our usual, lovely instructor:

backstreet’s back, alright?

wiggle, wiggle, wiggle girls!

head set. belly shirt.

In other news, I’ve been getting outside a lot with the puppy. She’s not quite old enough to start going on runs, but she can scamper through the snow like a champ.

Also, I’ve been reading a really cute blog called Fit Chick in the City that I highly recommend. Frequent features include ways to combat “exercise ADD”, how to manage your “dreadmill” workouts, and tactics for spicing up your sweet potato diet. Well done, from one fit chick to the next.

1/28 – 40 min walking/galavanting with the puppy in the snow

1/29 – 60 min group exercise (45 point max)

45 min strength training

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Another snow day. So, I decided to go play at the classiest place I know, Worcester Fitness.

Top five things that make Worcester Fitness Classy:

1. No cell phones permitted in the workout room. Very Luke’s Diner-esque, if you ask me.

2. Skinny mirrors in the weight room. There’s something so fab about a slimming reflection.

3. The prevalence of classy decorum (ie: artwork and fishtanks.)

4. Mouthwash, cue-tips, and hair dryers in the locker room, to keep me so fresh and so clean, clean.

5. The sophisticated irony of housing an establishment named MacDonalds within such a mecca of fitness. I’m warning you, don’t try ordering a post-workout Big Mac, you’ll only be disappointed.

1/26 Running – 30 min

1/27 Lifting – 40 min

Running – 30 min

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I felt compelled to get back into the weight room after reading Gretchen Reynold’s article, “Phys Ed: Brains and Brawn”, in yesterday’s NYT. Allegedly, ” endurance and weight training seemed to make rats smarter.” I figure, if rats can do it, why can’t I?

Before I go any further, I’ll say it again, well done to whoever controls the Worcester Fitness playlist. On my last two gym visits, I have heard the likes of new Robyn and old school Spice Girls. Tell me that’s not taste.

Speaking of great playlists, I’m always listening in on the spin class, and it sounds totally intense. I definitely want to pop my head in one of these days and spin myself into a tizzy. Think I can handle it?

Anyways, I rocked the weight room and then hurried home to my sweet little puppy, a.k.a. my new training partner. Think she’ll be prepared to help me train for the Worcester half-marathon in June?

Strength Training – 45 min

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I found myself faced with another #snowpocalypse today, so I took a leaf out of @woogirl’s book and strapped on the snow shoes. I should preface this story with the fact that I live at a summer camp #davidwainfilms. This means that during the summer I have no less than 150 roommates. During the winter, I could sit outside all day and never see a soul #perksofbeingawallflower. So, my moonlight snow-shoe trek through all of the villages was eerie to say the least. Creaky cabins, shadowy lodges, and towering snow drifts kept me moving at a swift pace. I haven’t been snow shoeing since last year #hibernate. To be honest, I usually hide inside during the winter months, opting for pools or treadmills #gymdiva. But, today’s adventure reminded me of what a rigorous workout arctic exercise can provide #tundratackler.

As for my Friday night, I plan to curl up by the fire with a copy of In Search of Midnight @mikemcgee and read myself silly. I know…I’m such an English teacher #wordtothenerd.

1/21 Walking (ie: snowshoe #extravaganza) 45 min

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#peaceoutgirlscouts

Today was the student-faculty dodgeball game. Ouch. My hand eye coordination is lacking.

I wanted to regain a little confidence, so this evening I hopped in the pool for an easy swim. Here’s a copy of my workout:

2x 500 (250 swim/250 kick, 250 swim/250 pull)

1×400 IM (kick, drill, swim)

100 cool down

I enjoyed my race so much over the weekend, that I can’t stop googling unique races. Here’s the winner thus far – The Doughnut Run5k Ames Iowa. “I’m not sure that it’s a great idea to run while stuffing your face full of glazed doughnuts, but the Iowa State Triathlon Club seems to think it’s not a problem. Here’s how it works: at each aid station along the route, you have the opportunity to scarf down doughnuts. If you eat one doughnut, you get to take 15 seconds off of your time.”

I guess if I don’t land a yearlong gym membership at Worcester Fitness, I can just start training for this 5k next door at the Crown Bakery.

Here are my beauty shots from the half on Saturday…enjoy!

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My half marathon felt incredible! The sun was shining, the crowd was cheering, and my legs kept moving. We got into Charleston late the night before, but I was wide awake at 6am, ready to run. My running-super-star-manhattan-model companion naturally won her age group in the 10k, but I really surprised myself by placing pretty well in my race. I was the 75th woman out of 865 female finishers and I averaged 8:20 miles for a finishing time of 1:48.
The race brought us through adorable downtown Charleston, lined with boutiques and palm trees. Then the course worked its way north until we arrived at the riverfront. I think that they enlisted just about every musically inclined resident in the state of South Carolina to perform along the way. I also managed to make dozens of friends (due in large part to my jeggings, which were a big hit.)
At the end of the race we were greeted with large quantities of shrimp and a Tom Petty cover band. All in all, I give the event an A+. People were just so friendly. They didn’t even object when I performed dramatic renditions of The Notebook, as we ran past filming locations from the epic romantic classic.
We spent the rest of the weekend stomping our way around Charleston. On Sunday we walked a total of ten miles, spanning the entire peninsula. Not to mention, I ate and danced my way down Market Street until the wee hours of the morning.
On Monday I clocked five more miles on my Frye boots, before boarding a plane to snowy New England. We concocted a master plan to do 50 races in 50 states. All sorts of races in all kinds of places. Let the next adventure begin!
Well, I’ve been promised pictures of my jegging-clad 13.1mile tour of Charleston by Wednesday, so rest assured that they’re on their way. Until then, stay warm and dry.

1/13 Running – 30 min

1/15 Running – 108 min (60 min point max)

1/16 Walking – 130 min (60 min point max)

Dancing – 45 min

1/17 Walking – 65 min (60 min point max)

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Today I felt like a kid again while I watched the school cancellations scrolling across the Worcester Fitness television garden. It felt like a cruel joke every time they made it through the A’s without quenching my thirst for snow day. The joke was only made crueler by the fact that the new national football champion shares my employer’s namesake, and the six o’clock news felt it pertinent to flash my school’s name all over the screen, confusing my eyes as they searched achingly for any indication of a cancellation. I love my job. I’m not sure any of my friends really look forward to going to work everyday like I do. But, the first snow day of the year is magical! Ice cream for breakfast, pajamas inside-out and backwards, bedtimes-be-darned MAGICAL!

While pining for a snow day, I also managed to get in a decent workout. I ran for 30 minutes, and every quarter-mile I bumped up the speed. By the end of my run I was feeling great at 7:15 mile pace. My friends from Sleigh Bells kept me company.

News flash, the superintendent just called. It’s official – SNOW DAY! That can only mean one thing…ice cream for breakfast. Don’t tell the other superheroes.

Running – 30 min

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I thought once the New Year was here I would have an easier time getting to the gym, but it hasn’t gone that way.  Although I am often active, pulling my kids around on sleds, running around the yard having snowball fights, painting bedrooms, etc… I haven’t really counted the time or points.  It’s ok though, I know that I’m still getting a different kind of a workout.  I am still active.

I can certainly tell when I haven’t been to the gym in a few days and have missed my gym routine.  It doesn’t take very long for my body to revert back to its old ways.  The knee pain comes back; the stiffness comes back…so I just need to keep active.  I also feel so much better when I get to the gym a few times each week.

So, with that being said, my plan is to try to save up to join a gym when this competition is complete.  It is pretty clear that I will not be winning a free year at Worcester Fitness.  I commend the other Super Heroes….they are great examples of fitness and they’ve done a great job with sticking with it.

Here is what I have remembered to count:

1/6/11 –               Strength Training – 35 minutes = 26.25 points

Elliptical – 35 minutes = 52.5 points

1/10/11 –            Blogged = 20 points

TOTAL = 1811.75 points

Yesterday was my last long run before the big race. I decided on a destination route, because, for whatever reason, it seems like time passes more quickly when I’m going somewhere. The wind felt brutal, and I had inexplicably managed to wipe all of the music from my ipod, with the exception of  a copy of the Never Shout Never album that was loaned to me by an eighth grader. Once was cute, but after three consecutive listens, I was ready to return to my days of Chuck Taylor’s and hanging in the Friendly’s parking lot.

About seventy minutes after my departure, I met my ride at the local high school, eight miles from our house. I put my feet up for a while, thawed myself out, and hydrated like a champ. I am ready for those 13.1 miles on Saturday! I am equally ready for the free shrimp at the finish line.

My half-marathoning, New Yorker companion emailed me today to tell me she’d booked us a hostel in Charleston. This feels fitting, as I braved the hostels of Europe with her when we were in college.  Between our low-budget southern bell vacation, and our marathon-jeggings, you can expect a few good tales of mischief on this race weekend.

Running – 68 min (60 min point max)

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Today at Zumba, our instructor reminded us that it doesn’t matter if you get all of the steps just right, what matters is that you keep moving.

She’s right – when I just keep moving, it’s so much easier to make fitness a part of my life. Taking a few days off makes it very difficult to get back to the gym. Maybe that’s the secret, the holy grail of fitness, just keep moving.

Some days my movement is more strenuous than others. Some days I have more time than others. Some days I am more motivated than others. But the bottom line is, when I just keep moving, it becomes difficult to stop.

The trick is, once fitness becomes a part of my life routine, my activity must continue to evolve. Heavier weights, longer milage, funkier Zumba…I’m on my way!

60 min – Group Exercise (point max 45)

40 min – Strength Training

30 min – Running

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This afternoon, the woman a few treadmills down from me kept bursting into fits of laughter. It should be added that she was no speed walker. She wasn’t even a jogger. She was a full on olympic bodied running machine. And despite her lighting pace, she was overflowing with jubilation.

I, on the other hand, aimed to distract myself from the pain of running by subsequently shifting my attention between episodes of Hannah Montana and Dr. Phil. I understand that it’s a good thing to hurt once and a while. I know that discomfort means I’m working hard. But, I wish I could run like a maniac and laugh like one too. She looked like she was having fun, and man was she moving quickly.

Happy Friday everyone! Tonight you can find me at Flying Rhino where I plan to eat enough sashimi to feed a small army.

30 min – Running

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I’m back on the treadmill, and feeling fine. I took some wise advice from my fitness blogging guru of an aunt, who reminded me, “There is a difference between Health and Fitness. Health is watching what you eat and walking the dog for exercise or because you like it. Fitness is work. It should feel like work and when you are done you should need someone to tie your shoes for you!”

She suggested interval work. So, today on my 30 minute treadmill run, I bumped up the speed every quarter mile until I reached my max speed, and then I worked my way back down the same way. The workout went by quickly, as I was monitoring distance and speed more than the devilish clock.

Aunt Kathy couldn’t make the drive from Cape Cod to tie my shoes, but the woman’s got a gift. Not to mention, if I look like her in 25 years, I will consider myself cosmically lucky. *Cue Sister Sledge…

1/4 Running – 30 min

3147 Points

I’ve been away for a bit.  The Holidays can be crazy.  The boys were home for 11 days.  We had both sides of the family over for Christmas Eve.  We also had all of our windows and deck slider replaced, so lots of construction was going on.  During all of this craziness, my husband and I decided to change all of our rooms around too.

Although I’ve had lots of “domestic” exercise, I didn’t really time things to be able to count points for it.  No big deal because something tells me I am being left in the dust on this one.

I managed to get back into the groove today, visiting Worcester Fitness in the evening.

12/18 – Elliptical 45 minutes = 67.5 points

1/3/11 – Elliptical 45 minutes = 67.5 points + blogging 20 points

Grand total = 1713

Off I go!

Another school vacation is winding down, and my mileage is creeping up. I went for a tough eight miler today, only made more difficult by my lack of consistent training. The last three miles were pretty painful, but my half-marathon is just two weeks away, so it’s time to get moving!

The weather was so beautiful that I ditched my lucky sweatshirt in a secret-spot half way through the workout. I bedazzled it years ago, so if you’re even thinking about taking it, you should know that I can recognize its sparkle pattern from a mile away. Maybe I should add it to my half-marathon ensemble in Charleston. Nothing says PR like jeggings and a bedazzled crew-neck.

 This week, I did manage to fit in a short run, plenty of dancing at Max Fish, and a lot of stomping around Manhattan in the snow. A run in Central Park proved torturous on Wednesday, so I opted for a hike up five floors of The Guggenheim’s Chaos and Classicism instead. No points included, but I highly recommend.

Bring on another week Worcester Fitness!

12/26 20 min – running

12/29 45 min – dancing

1/2 70 min (point max at 60 min) – running

3067

I feel so much guilt (once again).  I need to just accept the fact that the Holidays can put the brakes on a routine and I need to go with that without stressing.  As it is, I’ve stuck with this regiment for so much longer than most efforts to stay in shape in the past.  Whether it was my home elliptical workout or my interval running at the soccer field…it never lasted more than a few weeks.  I am sticking this out to the end (that being 3-months, sadly).

The brakes on my routine come from being a parent.  As a parent, I’ve found that my priorities have changed dramatically since having the boys.  It has been my choice, and an easy one.  They are my priority.  I truly enjoy spending time with my husband and my boys.  This makes it difficult to drive the 30 minutes to the gym, spend an hour or more there and then drive the 30 minutes back home.  That is over 2 hours that I could be spending with my family.  But, I am also working at extending my life so that I will be here to see my children grow up, have their own families and enjoy the future with them.

So, in order to keep the interest going, I had the pleasure of meeting with Kat once again and modifying my routine at the gym a bit.  I will focus more on cardio and ab-exercises, and reduce my strength training to once or twice each week.  I’ve come to the realization that I can usually only spend about an hour at the gym.  This may fit better, although it isn’t going to earn me too many points against these other super heroes….as you’ve probably seen, they are still kicking my butt to the extreme at this point.

Which brings me to my title:  “A blog about not blogging”.  I’ve been neglecting you and my duty to blog.  So, the previous few paragraphs are my way of justifying my absence.  My intent is to get back to this routine in 2011 and to once again push myself.   Until then, enjoy the Holidays, as I will be enjoying every moment with my boys and my husband.

Off I go!

As promised, I was whisked away on a Christmas adventure, which involved a lot of stairs (you try staying on floor 29 during peak elevator season) but not too much running. I picked out an adorable new puppy on my way to NYC, where I got to have a surprise visit with my half-marathon partner in crime. I can take home my pretty little puppy on January 23^rd, and I am counting the days! She’s a bird-dog, so she might be just the energetic companion my long runs have been missing.

To make up for all of my holiday cheer/fitness negligence, I went for a tough 7 miler yesterday in the snow. My new favorite site for measuring routes is called Run Tracker. For most of the workout, my lungs were killing me, but my legs felt great.

Now, I had planned to spend this week in D.C. and get some serious training done in a kinder climate, but my flight was cancelled due to a raucous blizzard.  As a compromise, my D.C. buddy and I have agreed to meet in the middle. As of tomorrow, I am off to the city for the second time this week.

I’ve been listening to a lot of poetry while I run. It keeps my mind off of the mileage, and my eyes off of my watch. Taylor Mali probably has the most plays on my ipod at this point. I used to intern for him during college, not to mention that he’s a true teacher’s poet. I’m hoping to make it to the Urbana Slam tomorrow night, where maybe I’ll catch him in person.

So, here’s to snow storms and Central Park training. Stay warm!

Running – 60 min

2873 Points

I attended my first Wednesday night Zumba class at Worcester Fitness tonight, and it was divine. Relaxed lighting, plenty of room to move, a few new dance numbers, and a younger crowd; I was in my element.

Fun Fact: I read somewhere that there are 12 people in America with a Zumba logo tattoo. Do you think that’s the next step for me? Maybe I should go to a few more classes first. You know, really make sure I’m ready.

Another Fun Fact: I heard on CNN that the word “Zumba” comes from a Colombian term meaning “to buzz like a bee.”

Tomorrow, I will not be at the gym, as I am being whisked away on a surprise Christmas adventure. I hope it’s not to a Zumba sponsored tattoo parlor, but one never can tell. Wish me luck! Happy Holidays!

12/22

Running – 30 min

Group Exercise Class – 60 min

2733 Points

First, I just want to say that I’m not sure who controls the master Worcester Fitness play-list, but you’re totally up on the British girl rock. A little Kate Nash, a little Lily Allen…you’re after my own heart.

I’ve been running and lifting like a pro, but between fig & cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches from the Abbey, crab stacks from the People’s Kitchen, and Christmas cookies from my super-sweet-students, I think I might be edging backwards.

I did a long run outside on Sunday, and if you own a t-shirt that reads “where-the-heck-is-oakham” then you know that ending with 148 to Lincoln Road was a real killer.

Drum roll please…

12/16 Lifting – 40 min, Running – 20 min

12/19 Running – 50 min

12/20 Lifting – 40 min, Running – 20 min

12/21 Running – 40 min

2608 Points

Like most people, I’ve had a very busy week…..Christmas gatherings, a little more volunteering at the boys’ school, shopping, etc.  I know that there are so many people out there that can fit in a workout, but over the past week, I’ve been completely unable to.

So, part of this post is a confession…forgive me, but it’s been one week since my last workout.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to amp up my cardio/aerobic exercising.  I mean the strength training is great, but I think I want to work more on slimming down my lower half.  So, my workout is shifting.  I will spend more time on the elliptical.  I’m looking forward to chatting with Kat a little more about modifying my current plan.

Totaling is easy:

12/11 – Treadmill 30 minutes:  30 points

12/18 – elliptical 30 minutes:  45 points, Bogged: 20 points

Grand Total:  1558

PS—Trailing way behind, but still feeling pretty good.

Today was one of my favorite days of the school year…the eighth grade  ice skating field trip. Middle school field trips are fascinating for a number of reasons. First, because I get to observe my kids in their natural habitats. Second, because I get to witness a lot of students show leadership in athletics who don’t typically show leadership in the classroom. And third, because Miss Aquagirl gets to stretch her legs.

After a long day of trekking to and from the ice-rink, and skating around like a mad-woman, I decided to give my legs a rest and go for a swim.

This afternoon at Worcester Fitness, I did this easy stroke workout:

Warm-up – 3×200 (Free, IM, Free)

Butterfly – 200 kick, 100 drill, 2×50 swim

Backstroke – 100 drill, 100 swim

Breaststroke – 100 drill, 100 swim

Free – 4×75 pull, 200 kick

100 cool down

My cap broke half way through, but the extra drag made for an added challenge. Note to Santa: this might make for a fab Christmas gift…

Here are my weekly totals:

12-12 30 min running

12-13 40 min running

12-14 40 min running

12-15 40 min walking, 60 min skating (no points…sad face), 45 min swimming

2288 Points

I wanted to get back into the swing of things with a low impact workout, so I decided to stick with what I know best – swimming.

It took me about an hour to complete this basic recovery workout:

4x 200yds (alternate free and IM)

4x (100 kick, 100 pull, 100 drill) Fly, Back, Breast, Free

cool down

I met a fellow Fordham enthusiast during my swim. He said that Worcester Fitness is the safest and friendliest gym around, then he welcomed me to the family. Now that’s hospitality!

This morning I went to Zumba. If you haven’t been to Zumba at Worcester Fitness, you are missing all of the fun. Seriously.

After Zumba, I lifted and went for an easy run on the treadmill. It’s nice to feel energized again.

Swimming – 60 min

Group Class – 60 min

Strength Training – 40 min

Running – 20 min

1932 Points

Dear Worcester Fitness,

Long time no see. I miss you dearly. It has been a rough couple of weeks.

Well, I’m eight pounds lighter now, but not in the good way. I was hoping to shed a few pounds at the gym, but vanity has played an evil trick on me by landing me with a good old fashioned stomach bug. The doctor told me that once I start feeling better, I should stick to a “BRAT” diet  of bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast (I wish it stood for brownies, Reese’s, and  assorted treats…a girl can dream). At least I’m back at work.

Today I was feeling a little more energetic, so I dragged my after-school group outside for a walk. It was chilly, but we managed a few laps around the soccer field, and it felt good to get some fresh air.

Here’s hoping for a happy and healthy holiday season…

Yours Truly,

Aquagirl

Walking – 30 minutes

1722 Points

The other superheroes are doing such a great job!  I applaud them!  I only hope to do half as well as they’re doing.

I did show such great dedication today.  I decided to go to the gym right after work…as a matter of fact I left work early so I could get to the gym and them make it home in time for one of my boys to go to karate.  I changed at my office.  Unfortunately, I forgot to pack socks…..typical white sports socks.

So, there I was, at the gym with my black dress socks, and non-matching workout clothing.   I was a bit embarrassed, but that is what I call dedication!  I could have gone home, but I didn’t.  I faced my wardrobe faux pas head-on.

Yes, that was me today in the weight room and on the elliptical with a bag on my head.  Just kidding.

Update…

Monday Strength Training 30 minutes = 22.5 points

Elliptical 30 minutes = 45 points

Wednesday Strength Training 30 minutes = 22.5 points

Elliptical 30 minutes = 45 points

Blogging today = 20 points

Grand total = 1463

Off I go!

Can you believe it’s already been a month?!  I cannot.  It’s Day 32 of this fitness challenge / Superhero contest.

Great news…the exercising is kick-starting a little weight-loss again.  I had hit a wall but now seem to be slowly losing a bit more, which is always a good thing.  I’ve got to give some of these people at the gym soooo much credit.  I see women in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and older working out and trying to stay healthy.  They are quite an inspiration.

I’m anxious to meet with my personal trainer, Kat, again.  I’d like to make a few adjustments.  I pictured having a 20 year old lower half by now.  I know that’s unrealistic, but a person can dream.  I think I need to be a bit more aggressive with my butt, hips & thighs.  I am officially challenging Kat to fix them.  I would settle for the lower half body of someone who hasn’t had kids yet!

The Holidays aren’t helping…I’ve been eating unhealthier lately.  Between Christmas parties, friend get-togethers and all the baked goods and hot chocolate that are being passed around, I’m feeling like I have to work even harder just to maintain.

Totals & Update:

Wednesday, 12/1 – Strength Training 35 minutes = 26.25 points

Elliptical 30 minutes = 45 points

Saturday, 12/4 – Strength Training 30 minutes = 22.5 points

Elliptical 30 minutes = 45 points

Sunday, 12/5 – Blogging = 20 points

Previous blog adjustments = 216 points (only counted 2pts/blog, should be 20/blog)

Grand Total = 1308 (YAY!)

Off I go!

I was under the false impression that super heroes do not get sick, but alas, I have been out of commission for almost a week now.

I voiced my concerns about falling behind in this competition to my little brother, and with a totally straight face he asked, “Why don’t you just start leaving a dozen donuts in the locker room everyday? You know, to level the playing field.”

He’s 11, so we’ll have to forgive him, but I kindly explained that super heroes root for one another, and only super villains knock each other down.

Anyways, last night I decided to give the gym a try, so I set the treadmill to “forever pace” and got to work. Forever pace is what I call the comfortable speed at which you could run forever, reserved generally for long-slow-distance workouts.

I ran for 30 minutes, and I was actually starting to feel pretty strong, considering the circumstances. By the time I got home, I felt so drained that I crawled into bed at 7pm for the third night in a row.

A wise man (of the professorial sort, not the nativity-variety) once told me that a teacher should never be absent in her first three years. This morning I could barely lift my head off the pillow. I called in. I slept until two.

Mostly I’m just upset that for the first time in my career, I won’t get a perfect-attendance award this quarter. What can I say, I love a good certificate. But, what can you do? Even super heroes get the sniffles once and a while.

12/2

Running – 30 minutes

Total Points: 1752

There are definitely days when I cannot workout due to my schedule and also the schedule of my husband and boys.  I am definitely transforming into a different person though.  I’m very lucky to be able to get into Worcester Fitness every other day or so sometimes.  But, one of the positive changes in me is that on the days that I cannot make the gym, I feel a bit “out-of-sorts”.  It’s as if my body is craving the workout!  Imagine that?!  Something is definitely wrong with me…or right with me, depends how you look at it.

I did start to get a bit discouraged because my competitor super heroes are really kicking my butt.  They seem to be VERY athletic in comparison to me.  But then the Super Hero Fan put it all into perspective for me.  She reminded me that I am making an incredible change and that I will benefit from pushing myself whether I come in first or dead last in this competition.  She’s absolutely right.

My new goal is not to win this competition, but to complete the three months, pushing myself to be in the best shape I can possibly be in.  It is becoming addictive to work out!

Since my last blog post:

11/27:  Gym – Elliptical 30 minutes = 45 points

11/28:  Gym – Elliptical 30 minutes = 45 points

Yard work (2 hours) but 30 minute max = 15 points

11/29:  Gym – Strength Training 30 minutes = 22.5 points

Elliptical – 30 minutes = 45 points

11/30:  Blogging = 2 points

Grand Total = 933.25

Off I go!

Today, I went to my first Worcester Fitness Zumba class. I’m just going to throw it out there; I’ve got moves. After all, I once received copious dancing instruction from my little gems at the Bronx Boys and Girls Club. That’s not the sort of thing a girl forgets.

(Ok, I’ll be honest, there were times during Zumba when I felt like Cam from Modern Families during the flash mob. But, never the less, I held my own.)

Last Spring I took a Zumba class at my alma mater, Forest Grove. The Worcester Fitness version was similar (right down to the instructor’s cargo pants,) but I enjoyed the added sprinkling of pop music and the delightful mirrors that kept me on cue. Who can resist a room full of middle-aged women grooving to Ray J? I will definitely be back.

11/27

Group Exercise Class – 1hr (45 minute max for points though…)

Strength Training – 35 minutes

Total Points:  1672

I’ve been doing pretty well lately, making it to the gym every couple days or so.  I’m very proud of myself.  If you can remember from previous posts it’s been soooo long since I’ve had any organized exercise plan.

I even made it in pretty early on Thanksgiving morning.  I thought I’d been one of only a few that had this plan, but NO.  Worcester Fitness was PACKED.  I decided to try something new and use the elliptical machine.  Chugging along beside me was my friend, Super Hero Fan.  I wanted to look fit, so I pushed myself on the elliptical.  She tried to keep up and did an excellent job.  Of course, she never noticed that I had to lower the resistance and the incline a bit in order to keep going without passing out.  Ssshhhhh, don’t tell Super Hero Fan.

Another thing I’ve come to learn is that if you’ve never used on of these huge gym elliptical machines, then don’t just let go of the handles to open your bottle of water or you will end up falling on your butt and being quite embarrassed.  Thankfully, I was able to grab back on before that happened.

I feel like all the working out I’ve been doing for the past few weeks has been all in preparation for one day…Thanksgiving dinner.  I ate and ate and ate.  I rationalized: I’ve been working out so it’s ok to eat a little extra stuffing, a little extra potatoes, and a little extra dessert.  We’ll see how the scale reacts when I step on it Saturday morning at my Weight Watchers meeting.  I’m sure it won’t agree.

We’ll see what the next week brings.  I’m feeling left in the dust by Aquagirl.

11/24 – Strength Training 35 min. = 26.25 pts.

Treadmill 30 min. = 30 pts.

11/25 – Elliptical 30 min. = 45 pts.

11/26 – Blogged = 2 pts.

TOTAL = 758.75 points

Off I go!

Disclaimer: I am about to make some serious excuses here

So, I ran about a minute slower than my game plan. It was below freezing. Plus, we stood on the line foreverrrrr[brrrrr] (vouch for me Kat…) rendering my warm-up useless. Must be because Wachusett Fitness has nothing on Worcester Fitness. Am I right?

Regardless, I finished with the woman who ran 22:00 in 2009, so either we both had an off-day, or the cold was a serious factor. The guy who won last year also ran about a minute slower this year. (Yes, I am totally nuts for spending my Thanksgiving on coolrunning, comparing year to year.) Sigh.

On a more positive note, last year I was the 15^th female finisher, and this year I was the 9^th female finisher. Not too shabby in a race of 694. Of course, if you had asked me yesterday, I would have thrown my bright orange Turkey Trot shirt at you in an uncontrollable fit of rage (just ask my poor boyfriend who beats me every year without training, and has to pay the price by enduring my foul mood.)

By midnight I was shopping off my disappointment at Wrentham Outlets. I only trampled a half-dozen people in Banana Republic on my way to the sequins sweater rack.  Sequins sweaters make everything better.

Today, I registered for Santa’s Toy Trot 6 miler. I’m all about the trots.

Then, I went for a 5 mile recovery run. I made such a recovery, that I even stopped to tango in the middle of the road when Habanera came on my ipod (one of the many benefits of relocating to the country.) Watch out Worcester Fitness Zumba, I’m coming for you.

11/26

Running – 30 minutes (including warm up/cool down)

11/27

Running – 42 minutes

Point Total: 1592

I feel great!  This morning I went to do a little workout with my favorite super hero.  I thought we were going to be ahead of the pack and was surprised to see how many of us had the same idea.  Burn off some extra calories and make room for the pie!

Today I tried the elliptical for the first time, wow that was different from the treadmill.  I liked it and can’t wait to get back on it.  I did almost fall off though; next time I need to open the water bottle before starting.

Thank you Worcester Fitness for being open today.  It was a much better choice to be with you sweating it out instead of my other option…standing in line, or by the looks of it this morning, standing in the mob at Widoff’s!

I am totally paranoid that all of this lifting will make me look like an East-German Swimmer, circa 1976. I suppose the alternative is that my muscle turns to Jello.  I’d better root for the former.

I’m trying to get back in the pool more often, but it’s tough to motivate myself without a team. This “workout” feels a lot closer to the truth:

Swimnetwork – A Retired Swimmer’s Workout – Mike Gustafson, Senior Analyst Commentary Blog Article.

It’s nice that the Worcester Fitness pool is 20yds, because when I swim I don’t worry about my times. For as long as I can remember, I have worked out in a 25yd pool (or 50m on truly torturous occasions.) The change in venue makes swimming less serious, and I find that I can just enjoy a thousand yards or so, without always looking up at the clock.

This morning I woke up at 5a.m. to go for a run before school. I’ve been running on the rail trail this week to get my lungs ready for cold air, but I have yet to prepare myself for early morning exercise. It feels like a long time has passed since the days of morning practice, and today was no more comfortable than I remembered. I’m pretty sure the neighbors thought that a half-asleep, mascara-faced Girlzilla was out for her morning jog. I’m also pretty sure that they were correct. Rawr.

Tomorrow, I hope to run my 5k in under 22 minutes. The race starts at 8am in Holden. See you there!

11/22

30 minute run

35 minute lift

11/24

20 minute run

1428 pts (I didn’t realize blogs were worth 20pts, so I had to recalculate. Good stuff!)

I haven’t been able to blog in a week or so, but I have been to the gym! I’m feeling stronger and stronger.  Working out has been improving my knee too.  I don’t feel the pain I was feeling when walking up and down the stairs any longer.

Now, I’d like to work on my stamina.  I still feel like I cannot run for more than a couple of minutes.  I’m waiting for my Vibram FiveFingers to come in…they’re on back order.  Or, at least I’m using that as an excuse to not run.

I have a little fear of running.  I get awful shin splints, even if I just walk really fast on pavement.  I’d love to figure out how to avoid that.  I stretch, I warm up, I ice afterward….still, lots of pain.

I’ve been having a little trouble balancing my Weight Watchers eating habits with my new fitness plan.  Working out makes me sooooo hungry.  Plus, I’ve got so many other things to track that tracking my food points and my exercise routine has been a bit tough for me.  I must say I’m doing better than I thought though.

I’d like to really push myself now and take full advantage of this great opportunity.  My next goals are to really tone up my “lower half”.  It has seen better days.

A quick catch-up:

11/19 – 30 minutes treadmill; 60 minutes strength training.

11/22 – 30 minutes treadmill; 60 minutes strength training; minimum 60 minutes heavy duty housework (although I can only count 30 minutes towards points)

This brings me to a total of…….DRUM ROLE PLEASE…..

655.5 points!!!! I think I really need to step it up a bit to even come in anything but last!

Off I go!

My city weekend was a success.

On Friday I went with some friends to a show at Terminal 5. If my understanding is correct, I can claim points for dancing.
Kate Nash=dancing (She classed up the sequins leotard, need I say more?)
Peggy Sue=dancing (solid new find)
Super Cute=bizarre (they might have a brand new pair of roller skates, but I’ve got a headache from their seven minute banjo tune about pigeons)

On Saturday we went down to the Bowery Poetry Club where I exercised my brain (understandably we don’t get points for that, but it feels worth mentioning.) I enjoyed David Austell’s reading, though it can’t compare to most of the recent features I’ve seen at Worcester’s own Poets Asylum.

Last night my college roommates got together for our fourth annual Thanksgiving celebration. In true Lorillard Place fashion, we all bailed on cooking, ordered Chinese and devoured three store bought pies. At some point in the night I made a binding pinky swear that I would run my half-marathon in Jeggings that we purchased at the bodega. Photos to follow in January.

This morning I tried to redeem myself by going for a 4 mile run in Central Park with my favorite track-star. We’ll both be running the Charleston half together in January. She went easy on me, but it felt really nice to have a little scenery and get off the treadmill. It’s also helpful to have a training partner who you can chat with during a run. Wish she lived a little closer…I miss having the daily support of a team.

Oh, and I have some bittersweet news, people do not wear bikinis in Charleston in January. Don’t worry Kat, I’ll keep up with those ab-exercises anyway.

11/21 Weekend Totals:

Dancing – 45 minutes
Running – 35 minutes

1047 Points

Yesterday I lifted all by myself, and I didn’t even break anything, bones OR equipment.

Is it just me, or do all of those mirrors turn even the most humble gym-goers into images of Narcissus. I found myself doing it too, betwixt pumping iron; ‘One, two, mirror, four, five, mirror, seven, eight, mirror…’

After warming up my body in the weight room, I was much more comfortable hopping on the treadmill for a serious run.

*Note to self, don’t blow off the pre-race warm up

I ran a 5k in 23:30 (not bad for a treadmill run!) I can’t take all of the credit, M.I.A. kept me going. Lynn Hirschberg, you might not think that the girl is up on her Sri Lankan history, heck, she might have even tweeted your phone number to the American public, but you can’t deny that she’s pretty darn catchy.

11/18
Running – 25 minutes
Lifting – 40 minutes

Total points to date: 944

Today was exercise tapas. There was a bit of lifting, a bit of running, and a bit of swimming; just enough of each to make for a fulfilling afternoon.

Kat created a great strength training regimen for me, and helped me get acquainted with the deep, dark downstairs of Worcester Fitness. She also gave me some ab exercises, thank god. This girl had better be bikini ready for Charleston in January. Do people wear bikinis in Charleston in January?

I also got a chance to speak with the resident running expert, who gave me some great ideas for track workouts.

I am half excited and half terrified about the Turkey Trot next week.
I am officially signed up for the Charleston Half Marathon in January.
And now, I am looking for a 10k or 5 mile race in December. Any recommendations?

11-16 Totals:
Strength Training – 30 minutes
Running – 30 minutes (3.75 m)
Swimming – 20 minutes (1,000 yds)

P.S. Locker Room Lady, the plans will go forward this evening as discussed.

P.S.S. Look, I’m even making friends! Thanks Worcester Fitness…

I am one week in and I have to tell you all that I feel awesome!  I am so happy to be back at the gym.  So far I am breaking myself in slowly with the activities I am doing since it has been a few years since my last trip in.  I am currently logging hours with the treadmills and then stretching it out.    I have met with Kat and been oriented to the facility.

I only hit a couple of difficulties so far, one technical with the web site, and one medical with blisters.  They have some really cool blister pads these days.  I was able to pick some up at the local Walgreen’s and was soon on my way again.  This is the first chance I have had to post a blog since the problems with web site access from the week end.

My next attack is to begin adding some exercises like crunches.

If any of you super heroes have any suggestions, I am all ears!

I had such great intentions today.  I was going to drop the kids off at school and head right to the gym to really push myself to my limits.  However, as I discovered when I arrived at the gym, I thought of everything that the boys needed for school today and seemed to have forgotten everything I needed for a good healthy workout.

I had no water bottle, no headphones, no i-pod….nothing!  Not even any cash.  I managed to scrape up enough for a banana (as I had also forgotten to eat).  I am such an amateur at this!  But I persevered.

I did what I could without making myself sick.  I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill and did 60 minutes of strength training.  I tried to visit the bubbler frequently so I didn’t dehydrate.  Fortunately, there was no loss of consciousness today.

I’m proud that I’ve kept on a routine.  Routines are tough for me, but I’ve made the gym every other day for the past week.  I’ve worked on both my cardio and strength training consistently.   I have also been able to bump up my weights a bit, which I am VERY excited about.

Feeling stronger and healthier is now what is keeping me at it.  It’s a great feeling!

Off I go!

Hills are like baby showers. Long, slow, and painful, but at the end of the day, you know you’ve done a good thing.

I hadn’t run uphill in about two weeks. One of the perks of going to Worcester Fitness after work is that I don’t have to run in the dark. However, I run on the treadmill, and I have yet to delve into the world of mechanical incline.

Today, I ran four, hilly miles. It was the sort of route where no matter how many hills you run up, you never seem to go back down. I staggered home exhausted, but proud of myself for taking on a challenging route.

I spent the rest of the day imbibing cannolis at, you guessed it, a baby shower. I swear, those gifts were piled higher than any of the hills I had tackled in my lifetime. And so, my pile of cannoli wrappers grew into a sticky hill of its own. When the gifts had dwindled, and I had successfully eaten as many Italian sweets as there were sheep-themed baby gifts, the mother-to-be sidled by.

“Thank you so much for coming. I’m really glad that you’re here,” she said to me.

It was one of those really genuine expressions of gratitude that one doesn’t anticipate as an obligatory invitee of a baby shower.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I said, and I think I even meant it.

So, thank you hills. I mean that. Even though I find you torturous to endure, in the end you’re something authentic.

11/14 Totals:
Running – 35 minutes (4 miles)

As I had mentioned in previous posts, I haven’t worked out in over 20 years…and I mean going to a gym, with a routine and strength training.  Of course, I get the typical workout with my boys…playing tag and running around like maniacs in the yard.  In the past, I’ve played volleyball and racquetball, but that’s nothing like a fitness routine.

I woke up this morning in such pain.  My neck hurts (the muscles), my shoulders, my arms, my ribs, my hips, my legs, etc, etc…But, I’m excited.  It means that I am making a change.  I’m pretty sure that my body is not rejecting the idea of exercising.  It is saying “Wow! That’s what exercise feels like!”.

I had to do something.  Every time I put my pants away in the closet, they seemed to shrink on me.

So, for tonight, I will just try not to sneeze….because it hurts!

Of I go!

Today was Inner Beauty Day at work; no makeup allowed.
When looking at yourself in the mirror makes you squirm, it’s time to go out and find better things to do!
Besides, the whole thing was very Corinne Day of us. How chic! We fancy huh…

Today was also the last day of my class’s book drive for northern Uganda. The perfect day to stop squirming at my makeupless reflection and get to work! Our partners Invisible Children have been wonderful about covering all shipping expenses of any books found on their wish list. As of today, we had sent off 700 volumes to Invisible Children! However, 1,000 wishless books remained scattered about my classroom like lonely puppies at the pound.

They had been staring at me for weeks, tattered dog-ears perking up every time a visitor opened the door of Room 203. ‘Hmm…What to do with those strays.’ The custodians were getting antsy, as all of the sad little paperbacks milled about my classroom, night after night.

Until one day, on my way to Worcester Fitness, I cut through the Shaw’s parking lot and stumbled upon a gargantuan, blue book-drop center. Big white letters read, “National Children’s Reading Foundation.”

‘This is it!’ I thought. I had found the perfect home for my 1,000 homeless pets. I peered inside the ominous black hole, where one drops their books. It looked lonely in there. But, at least they’d have each other. Dr. Seuss could surely keep an eye on wily, old Shakespeare (I mean, they don’t just let anyone become a doctor.)

So today, twenty-eight of my little darlings (two troopers on crutches, might I add) formed a good, old fashioned assembly line and carried 1,000 books out to the monster truck I had contracted for the day. Ok, it was a 15 passenger van, but whose keeping track?

I spent an hour in the Shaw’s parking lot, tossing my precious puppy/doctor/books down the darkened shoot, and into the royal blue, book-drop abyss. For all I know there could be palm trees and a jacuzzi in there (I guess logistically that might not work.)

When I was finished, all that remained was one very sore Miss Aquagirl, 23 cardboard boxes, and 5 milk crates (I know, the warning on the side, right? Well, honestly Guida’s, isn’t “federal offense” a little harsh? It’s all about the word choice folks. And I’ll just say it, they make great storage receptacles.)

Next, I drove my monster truck over to Worcester Fitness. I ran 4 miles on the treadmill and biked for 20 minutes to mix things up.

So, happy Inner-Beauty Day! My eighth graders gave 1,700 books to charity. Maybe I should go makeup-free more often. Then again, Kate Moss only did it that once…

11/12 Totals:

Running – 35 minutes (4 miles)

Biking – 20 minutes

Strength Training – 30 minutes

Day 8 of the Superhero Challenge

I went to the gym first thing this morning to tackle my strength training that Kat was nice enough to teach me last night.  I first warmed up on the treadmill and then headed downstairs to the new Fitness equipment.  I started my first set off pretty slow, trying to remember where all the adjustments were that I needed to make on each machine.  The seat adjustment was pretty consistent…I’m short, so always put it on the shortest setting.  By the second set, I sped things up a bit.  I’m very proud to say I didn’t fall from the pull-up/dip machine yet!

I forgot to watch the clock, but know it took me somewhere between 40-60 minutes to complete two sets, but I was going slowly, trying to figure things out.

I LOVE those machines!

I headed back upstairs and spent more time on the treadmill to stay loose.  30 minutes.

I felt great about my workout this morning!  I feel so motivated and confident that I will make changes.  In just a matter of 8 days I feel so much more energetic.  I’ve been eating pretty well and taking my vitamins again too (almost every night).  And, just so I can physically see what kinds of changes happen with my body over the next three months, I measured myself when I got home….waist, hips & thighs.

The hardest part is starting the lifestyle change.  Once the wheels are turning, there’s no denying that exercise can make significant changes with almost every aspect of your life….weight, energy, mood, strength, etc.

I am happy.

Off I go!

First let me say that I’m sorry for the long post.

I had quite an eventful day today.  In hindsight, it’s a riot…

My day started off well with a 30 minute workout on the elliptical.  I got myself and the boys ready for school and out the door we went.  There was only one problem…I left my house / car keys in the house.  We tried all the doors & all the windows to no avail.  My 6-year old was almost hyperventilating and sobbing that we were going to die outside in the cold.  I calmed him down and suggested that we begin walking to school.  It wouldn’t have been so bad, but I was wearing dress shoes with a heel.

We made it to school only about 20 minutes late.  Then I began the trek back home.  By now my feet were burning.  I managed to reach my sister on my cell phone, who had a spare key to my house.  I was almost home when she arrived to pick me up.

I ran into the house to put another layer of deodorant on, attempt to fix the mop that was on my head (windy morning) and grabbed my keys.  Off to work I go.  The story goes on and on from there, involving an armored bank truck, a train, a state trooper and an empty tank light.  Needless to say, I got into work a bit over an hour late.

At work, I proceeded to cover my toes with Band-Aids to cushion the many many blisters that had formed during my walk to school and back.  On the positive side, I added 30 minutes of brisk walking to my point count today!

At the end of the day, I picked up the kids at after-school-daycare, brought them home, and my husband and I were out the door again to attend their parent/teacher conferences.  Back home again to change, and off to Worcester Fitness I went to meet with Kat for my “Plan”.

I was very excited.  I have an action plan that I intend to work with aggressively.  I truly want to take full advantage of this opportunity.  The pull-up machine frightens me, but Kat has reassured me that no one has fallen off of it yet.  Hopefully I won’t be the first.

So, my tips of the day:  If you have a crazy schedule like mine, which many people do…balancing family / children, a job, my own business and the kids’ sports…you obviously find it difficult to make a routine out of a workout.  My plan is to put my workout times onto my calendar as an appointment.  It may vary every day, but I will make sure it is part of my weekly schedule.

The same goes for eating healthy foods.  If you plan out your menu ahead of time, you will eat better.  Plan out your whole week ahead…both exercise & your meals.  It truly takes the load off and prevents getting lazy, making excuses and eating unhealthy foods that you barely have time to throw together.

Oh, and I confirmed today that you cannot earn points in this contest by drinking in the bar attached to Worcester Fitness.  Bummer.

Off I go!

Boy, this is so much tougher than I had thought.  It’s my Day 6…Tuesday, November 9^th.  Let me catch you up:

Confession #1:  No workout yesterday, Monday (Day 5)…ran out of time.

Confession #2:  No blogging yesterday, Monday (Day 5)…ran out of time.

Moral of that story….NO POINTS ON MONDAY (Day 5)!!!!  Bummer.  But, don’t get excited you other “Superheroes” because I’m gonna….I don’t really know what I’m gonna do yet, but something good and full of points!

One thing I was able to do yesterday on Day 5 was to have my first visit with my personal trainer, Kat Pittinger.  We did my fitness profile.  I did brace myself to hear the results.  On the positive side, I’m not as completely out-of-shape as I had thought.  On the negative side, my Aerobic fitness was completely pathetic, although they nicely describe it as “Needs Work”.  I’d get into all the “Thigh Skinfold” details, but I don’t want to gross anyone out with my body fat content.  Let’s just say that those areas may need a little help too.

Confession #3:  Day 2 of starting to take a multi-vitamin and I forgot to take them already.

My routine (starting today!) is to set my cell phone alarm to go off 35 minutes earlier in the morning and getting on the elliptical for 30 minutes.  I was successful with that today!  YAY for me!  That was the extent of my exercise today though.  I worked from 9am to 8:30pm, so this limited me.  I barely saw my kids today and I do not like that at all.

Confession #4:  My son got a gift album for his 6^th birthday from his Aunt.  In a gift album are lots of fun items to choose from.  You pick one, order it and it comes in the mail for free.  He didn’t really see anything that he would like, so I ordered myself an i-pod for the gym.  I look at it like it will help him in the long-run because I will live a longer and healthier life.  I can rationalize anything!

Have a great night.

Off I go!

I decided to give Sophia a break on Sunday, so I went for a rail trail run instead of going to the gym. I figured that my lungs had better get used to cold air before the Turkey Trot.

This will be my third consecutive year running Holden’s Thanksgiving 5k event. During my first year, I was still a healthy college girl, and I broke 21 minutes with ease. Last year, after starting my full time teaching job, giving up exercise, realizing I couldn’t cook, and eating out more nights than not, I barely broke 24 minutes.
Ok, so it’s 2010, I’m a superhero and my goal is to run under 22 minutes.

Sunday afternoon, I ran the section of the rail trail that spans Rutland, Oakham, and Barre. The musical styling of my favorite hipsters, Matt & Kim, kept me company (I don’t care if NY Mag says that “hipster is dead,” just as long as Worcester Mag will let me keep wearing my lumberjack button-ups for one more season.)

Five miles, 40 minutes. Not bad. No swim today…even my soul-sucking college swim coach usually let us spend Sundays on dry land.

11/7 Total:
Running – 40 minutes (5 miles)

Ok, we’re on the upswing!  I was finally able to get over to Worcester Fitness on Grove Street and take a nice tour of the facility.  I love it!  It’s not intimidating like some gyms.  I also spent 30 minutes on a treadmill which was quite an accomplishment for me.  I’m very happy about this.

The humorous part was probably watching me try to figure out how the machine worked.  I tried to act like it wasn’t my first time, but I’m not so sure I pulled that off too well.  I’m easily excited and some of those treadmills have TV screens on them!!!

During the middle of the day, I also logged some playtime with the boys.  We had a great game of freeze tag incorporated with hide & seek.  Although it doesn’t count towards my points and as another Superhero, Scott Blinn had said in his post, any activity helps to keep you fit.

In the evening I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it but I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical as well.  I thought I was going to collapse!  I stuck it out and I’m sure it will be worthwhile.  My body doesn’t agree with me right now though.

I’m anxious to see Kat Pittinger tomorrow and to hear what the plan is for me.  I haven’t a clue as to what to use at the gym…never mind how to use half the equipment.  It will be really great to have a plan in place.

I’ve never had a personal trainer either (obviously) so I’m hoping she is easy on me at first.  I am quite a light-weight when it comes to handling exercise.  No stamina.  But, I hear she will be the one to fix that.

All I know is that I’m exhausted and ready for bed!

Have a great night.

Off I go!

Sometimes you know when you hear it, sometimes you don’t.  Fortunately for me, I heard the bells ringing loud and clear this time.  A couple of months ago, one of my dear friends, you know her as Super Shape-Shifter, mentioned out loud to me that she was going back to watching what she is eating and wanted to get back into some resemblance of being fit.  I jumped right on that gravy train and here I am!

Your Super Hero fan!

Deep down I always wanted to get back on track, but when you get too comfortable with your life it is really hard to switch it up.  This was just the push I needed, and believe me; I am prepared to take full advantage of this opportunity.  I am headed back to the gym and changing the way I treat myself with the food I eat.

I am a Super Hero Wanna Be!