I obviously prefer running over most other activities, but I enjoy mixing it up and cross-training as well. Years ago I managed a gym and would just workout there with friends to get my weight training done and go to the occasional yoga or Pilates class. After I quit there (and started running more often) I was without my cross-training element. I stopped doing strength training or would do it maybe once a month at home with body weight exercises. It definitely wasn't enough though.
I had joined Orangetheory when it first came to New Orleans and found it was a great mix of cross-training that helped me stay on track for a while. I eventually had to quit though because I couldn't make it as often as I wanted (and all the good teachers were leaving). So after I left them, I needed to find something that would hold me over. That's when I found ClassPass! I first heard about them through my part-time job at Athleta. They had sent us codes to use for half off the first month, so I figured I'd give it a try! I'm glad I did too, because I love it! If you aren't familiar with the app, it's a great concept! Depending on your plan, you get so many credits a month. You use those credits to go to classes at local studios that are a part of ClassPass. The classes range from cross-fit to yoga to cycle and everything in between. You can even use it when you are traveling to other cities who have ClassPass! It usually works out to be cheaper than most studio packages too. There are a few restrictions to it though. You can only go to the studios three times a month or they charge you more credits per class after. There are also premium spots at studios that will take up more credits if you select them. These aren't huge deals for me though. If you only use it for yoga, you can find different studios all over town to use without going to the same one 3 times. I have even received emails from different studios offering supplement packages at cheaper rates if I wanted to use their studio in addition to ClassPass!! I think the biggest thing for me is the cancellation window. I totally understand the need for it, but if you don't cancel within 12 hours they charge you $15. (If you are a no-show to the studio it's $20.) My biggest gripe with that is, shit happens! What if I get sick an hour before class? What happens if a mom has to go pick up her child from school because they got sick? Things happen unexpectedly. I personally think they should follow the studios cancellation policy, but if you really are unsure of what the day will hold, just wait to schedule the class an hour before! The app has allowed me to try some things out I never would have paid for (Jazzercise!!) and I've found some new classes I want to continue going to! It's also helped me do more yoga and stretching to help with my running. I never get bored! If you are the type of person who needs some variety or doesn't want to commit to a gym, I highly recommend trying this app out! If you need some (financial) motivation, here's a link for $30 off your first month!! http://class.ps/hAEQk Give it a try and let me know what you think!!
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2018. A new day, a new year. A new opportunity to better ourselves. But why should we have to wait until this day to make a promise to ourselves that we will be better? Shouldn't we be making that promise when it originally comes to us? Michelob Ultra recently did a campaign of Anti-Resolutions and Living Ultra about this same idea( www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lcs6QJn9HE ) and it's what I was doing for 2017 without realizing it. I was living for the day and not waiting to put it off until the New Year.
After my marathon in Jan 2017, I thought, "Okay, I can do this again. I can mentally handle this." I kept up with running to keep improving and keep up my health. Then when I got chosen to run NYC, I made a commitment to push myself through the training despite the 90+ degree heat and 100% humidity that comes with South Louisiana summers. At time I told myself "I can run, why push yourself training so much?" but then would remind myself that you can't improve if you don't work at it. So I worked at it. I missed football games with friends to run for 13 miles alone. I missed family pumpkin carvings to run 20 miles alone. Just me, my music, and my thoughts. No one was going to make me better except me. Why should a date on the calendar matter so much to starting something? Since I started "Living Ultra" in 2017, I decided not to make resolutions for 2018, but promises. I promised myself that I'm going to continue working hard (or harder) to improve my running. I promise that I will work on getting another World Marathon race entry. I promise that I will live my life to the fullest and not let others change my mind. (If I want to skydive, then I'm going to skydive; if I want to try something new, I'm going to try it!) I promise to make time for friends. I also promise to be more disciplined. I want to stick with my routines and good habits. I hope 2018 brings about great things though. I am hopeful that this year will be my best one yet. I'm running Chicago, Disney Princess, Best Damn Race, and hopefully a few more. Maybe we'll start a family this year. I'm hopeful new opportunities will arise as well. Whether you have resolutions or not, the year is what you make it. If you start 2018 off positively, I believe that can help carry you through the year more optimistic. Make this year YOUR year. Be the best version of yourself that YOU can be, don't try to be someone else. And remember to Live Ultra. Have a Happy 2018 y'all! I have a real love hate relationship with the holidays. I can't be the only one right? I love giving presents, and cooking, and spending time with my family, but sometimes everything else just makes it miserable!
Daylight Savings is such a bummer; who enjoys the sun setting at 5pm?! No one can drive once daylight savings starts either! The holiday traffic is horrendous. People turn into such Scrooges. They are more worried about getting to their destination before you and will run you off the road to do it. But the biggest bummer (to me) is the weather. In the Gulf South, winter for us is rain and cold, it's cold that Northerners would laugh at, but for us it's cold! When I'm off work, all I want to do is lace up my Brooks and run. I often can't though because by time I get home from work it's already starting to get dark and it's either raining or cold and 90% humidity. Nothing about that is motivating to get out of the house and I refuse to get a treadmill because it is just so BORING! I usually workout in studios, but I'm taking a break from them right now until after Christmas. I plan on hitting Yoga, Pilates, and Cycling pretty hard after the holidays to step up my cross-training routine. I was doing Orangetheory for 2 years, but just recently quit. I enjoyed working out there, but it was time to move on. After the holidays I'll be trying out Studio Hop and Class Pass to see which one is a better fit for me. I'll also be trying out a Bikram yoga studio in New Orleans, which I'm really excited for! But until then, I'm stuck staring out my window at the depressing weather. Other than the weather decreasing my motivation, there is the pressure to spend more time with family and friends. I feel super guilty if I can't fit it all in. Brunches, parties, making cookies, simply hanging out, it all becomes increasingly overwhelming. I know you can't be everywhere at once, but I wish I could! Do I go to the work Holiday party or do I hang out with my family? Do I go to the movies with friends or do I stay at home with my husband? Throw in my part-time job and it becomes a whole cluster! (I don't know how people juggle everything they do with children and can't imagine what's going to happen once I throw one into the mix!) During these times, I have to remind myself that missing a run or two is okay. I won't die and can make it up later. I won't automatically gain 10 pounds from skipping a run. When I do finally get to squeeze in runs though it's pretty magical. The stifling heat of Southern summers is gone and my times are immensely faster. I feel more confident in my runs and myself as a runner. If I go after work, the Holiday lights are starting to come on and it brightens up my runs even more. The park I normally run in sets up a huge light display that is filled with families making memories. I am reminded of childhood holidays of decorating the tree and playing with all my Nana's Christmas villages. Despite all the hustle and bustle and Scrooges though, the holidays are still a pretty magical time. Even though I complain about these things, I know there are people who would love to have these problems during this time of year. I understand the importance of family and how much it hurts not having some around. I know there are parents who struggle to feed their children during the year and can't even begin to figure out how Santa is going to come. I try to give back all throughout the year, but especially around the holidays. I encourage everyone to donate your old clothes and running shoes and anything else you can to those who need it more than we do. (Vietnam Veterans of America will pick up from your house for free and don't make a profit off your donations.) At work we raise money for families of our students who need some extra help. Sharing, giving, love, and compassion; these are the real reasons for the holidays. I hope everyone has a great holiday season and a wonderful New Year! |
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October 2018
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