Back Track and Zumba Fitness!

I've been focusing a lot on form while in my Body Pump class. I'm starting to notice my weights are feeling lighter than usual. I will have to shift from med/small plates to med/large plates on the barbell. Though today I was feeling super strong in the arms and chest - I was feeling weak in the legs. I was also feeling very off balance. I really enjoy my body pump/zumba days - as all the hippy hippy shake em up  dance moves force me out of my robot linear movements ie - run-cycle. I used to FLY through all kinds of sexy latin moves on the dance floor. Now though I feel clunky and odd. I think it is important for all over body wellness to not be a one trick pony.  Dance feels so good to me.

Since hurting my foot on that recent run, I've backed off considerably. The swelling has gone down on the top of my foot and I got a pretty pedicure with shimmering gold polish! I'm hoping to get back out for a quick 3 miles tomorrow after class. - Class meaning, I'm up at USF to move forward in my degree seeking endeavors!

There is a Crew Team that the Uni is trying to build up as this locations single awesome school sport. I talked to the club President about joining them and he was so very positive. Looks like I will be running with the team and doing ERG work outs. (those stationary rowing machines!)

Alright - more later! see you!

Flat tires and sweat bands

Hi there party people. Well. . . looks like I busted a tire. The top of my right foot has this painful bruise feeling lump on it. All of my googling self diagnosis has landed me with the finishing conclusion that I either put on too many miles for my feet to handle - I laced my shoes too tight - or my shoes are ill fitting .. . or i'm doing too much high intensity cardio.

Either way - I need to chill for a few days. It is a shame because I really love running along the forests edge each morning. - Yes I live on the edge of a forest. There is a long stretch of back road near my beautiful home, and though there are times I don't like the long drive I have to make to go shopping or visit friends, - I really love this aspect. Peace and quiet. Peaceful country. . . or swamp.

I've been trying to run more outside as mentioned previously because I became such an indoor girl and was freaked out at the half marathon of the humidity.
This morning I decided to just go out and do two miles easy and then go all out in the RPM 54 spin class with the girls.

Around the last quarter mile I suddenly felt heroic! I was jammin' down the road happy as a clam - feelin' strong! Lovin' life! Breathing the humidity as if it were crisp clear mountain air!! Then BLAST. Something felt odd. Like I wanted to crack my foot but it wouldn't pop over. I went to spin an could feel this occasional weakness in my knees - like an odd sort of buckling. When I got home later and removed my shoes and socks I noticed a lump on the top of my right foot just at the base of the second toe. Its deep down though - not surfaced a lot. It feels like a hard bruised mini egg. Ice- tiger balm. . .and chill.
I really don't want to chill out. I look forward to my morning adventures. every day its different- every day I'm taken to a new place of feelin' fine! When I miss work outs - heads roll!

Anyway speaking of heads. I'm really into sweat bands. I have several but I won't wear them out in public yet. They never stay on my head!! I want so bad to look cool in a sweat band LOL. I see all these cute girls with their cone heads that hold sweat bands and I'm jealous!!. . .Though I was jealous . . I must admit - I am no longer! I've found that my round head can hold a sweat band . . but in a different way. It is more of a Red Sonja or Princess Leia style - More of a Pocahontas - More Karate Kid - More Rambo!!
Behold!

With a round head - the sweat band stays on if you wear it ON the forehead and not just as a headband. I think it looks rad! Though many would disagree. . . I'm going to rock these sweat bands because I'm tired of my eyes burning with the sweat that pours into my eyes! I had to change my facial moisturizer to pure organic jojoba oil because other moisturizers would just burn my face and eyes as soon as I began sweating. I'm someone who NEEDS moisturizer. I feel naked without it. Trust me I've tried nearly every kind of lotion and potion. The thing I love about jojoba oil is that it acts like part of your body. The skin and eyes do not fight it!

I only wear the jojoba oil for indoor workouts - there is a part of me that revolts against the idea of greasing up to run in the sun!!
Alright - signing off for now, I will keep you updated on my foot progress. <3

Building Blocks

I heard this is what Mile 23 looks like. As a non runner trying desperately to run with the gazelles, I can only imagine what mile 23 would feel like. Now that I've recovered from the half marathon "experience". . . yes. . .that is what we will call it . . an EXPERIENCE! LOL. I was silly to not have trained much outside prior to the Iron Girl Half. There was a teeny tiny race - several years ago where I actually won a gold medal for my age group. I beat a skinny girl and stood there in the first position for my cheesy medal and couldn't be happier! - We chatted a bit after the race and she said she trains on a treadmill inside - at that time I was always running outside and used to the heat humidity and pavement.

Not this time LOL. I'm such an AC lover! I love sweating in the AC!!!!! I really enjoy spin classes, which are super challenging --- but somewhere in the back of my mind I remember that spinning classes were supposed to be saved for easy days.  - I love taking Zumba and Sh'bam! I love BODY PUMP and BODY ATTACK!!! Body ATTACK is 30 mins of pure hell actually where the resting pace is . . .RUNNING. We are doing all kinds of high cardio non stop all out jacks and jacks and burpees and pistol squats - mountain climbers . . . and then she says ok run it out and you think . . oh YES- oh YES now we just run thank you thank you .. . .HAH!

I've been taking Total TONE classes and something called BENDER BALL. I'm telling you . . . I did everything except put in longer miles for that half marathon. . ..  I did run - but it wasn't to the extent it should have been.

I've officially signed myself up for the Walt Disney World Wine and Dine Half Marathon on November 10,2012.
 This should be interesting as it is a night race that begins at TEN PM! I've never run even a 5k that late! I think Anna will sign up for the half- with Joe and Jackson going for the 5k. Shaun says shes in for the half. I'm hoping Lara will register - and Matts' Dad would like to run it too. He is a  zippy guy at 64 years old!!

I'm planning on increasing my speed by doing 90 seconds on 90 seconds off 10 times. These workouts really suck. But they get better as weight comes off of me.  Then I would like to do 5ks in the summer to keep me focused and aiming for something. -
- I would like to do a workout where I start at a certain pace for 3 miles - increase speed for 3 miles, decrease speed 3 miles and increase 3 miles.  I'm hoping this will help me break things down better and also try harder to stay in a better place.
I don't want to just go out there and DIE.

I've always been a Nike Pegasus girl. I got these cute nike frees recently with the intent of wearing them just for the dance classes at the gym . . but they were so bendy and weird I just don't feel happy in them. I started out with Mizunos but once I built some leg strength up I moved out of those particular ones which had a lot of stability. - Pegasus has always just been my great friend. . never lets me down. . . But for some reason I decided to run the half marathon in Nike Structure Triax 13. I realize thats an older model but I got them a while ago with the intent of wearing those for my first long run . . so away they hid for years until it was time for them to shine! My feet were hurting so bad at the end of the race - there were no blisters, I put vaseline between my toes and on all the rub spots in the morning before heading out to the race start. . .But I really should have worn my Pegs! Worst experience I had with shoes was Gel Kayano by Asics. Lost a couple tonenails with those suckers.. My second toe is longer than my big toe on both feet, after spending 16 weeks running with a group with the kayanos. . . I realized I was just messing myself up with those shoes! ANyway - that was a long time ago.
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Okay - I'm not worried about not being able to do this. I know I can. It is just a matter of preapring well this time. I have 6 months. 6 months to peel weight off and speed up. 6 months to get myself in gear. I know I will do better. I'm just having a hard time focusing on when and what to run. Now that the Florida sun is starting to beat down - I either have to get up earlier or stop going to my fun dance classes and run at that time instead.

- Either way I will keep you posted!