Where's the Beach?

Once upon a time, I belonged to a gym. I went there religiously. I even ran on the treadmills before I figured out the whole outside running thing. Even then, I was at the gym most days of the week lifting weights and/or taking spin classes. I learned to enjoy the environment of the gym. Before I was a member, I only ever worked out at home to my vast collection of Cathe Friedrich DVDs . I was initially intimidated by the gym, most of us are. But I sort of made it my home away from home. I was comfortable with the equipment, the classes, the people. Then the gym closed. I panicked at first. No spin classes? No squat rack? What if I needed a treadmill out of desperation on a bad winter day? Of course I learned to make due. I don't have a squat rack, that one still bothers me, nor do I have a chin up bar (the ones supposed to fit ANY door? Yeah, not a house built in 1890). I have a wide range of dumbbells, an EZ Bar, aerobic step (use as a bench or for step ups, dips, etc.),...

Phew, finally made it to Friday! That means Fun for Friday around here. I've been enjoying recapping my Move.Eat.Live. moments from the week, so I thought I'd share again. And, as always, I would love to hear your Move.Eat.Live. moments as well. Move I've gotten in some good runs this week, including a 10-miler yesterday morning. It's supposed to be uncomfortably hot this weekend. Since I was going to be up at the crack of dawn running yesterday anyway, I thought it'd be smart to get the run done. I had wanted another 12-miler, but will gladly take the 10, especially because it was shared in good company with Amy. I got in some good weight workouts this week as well. I love working so close to my home. This lets me get in weights easily during my lunch break. Plus, slinging some weights around can help if you're feeling stressed. Eat Last night I made a version of my garlicky tomato sauce (sorry, forgot to take pictures but I can assure you it was...

First off, how is it already August? Why does it seem like the summers just fly right on by? Knowing how short they always seem, I have been trying to take full advantage of summer. Over the weekend our typical summer weather returned - hello heat index of 109, nice to see you. The upside was that the pool warmed back up quite nicely making for some fantastic floating and lounging time. The downside, well, 109 degrees is ever so slightly oppressive. However, to go along with our nutty weather this year, the temps have dropped again. Yesterday was 74 degrees - the high, in July? Of course, the Runner Heather is not complaining. The lower humidity and temps definitely made for some fantastic Move.Eat.Live. times this week. Move After some very tough, very hot runs over the weekend, my body was happy for mid-60s and low humidity on Tuesday's run. I got in 8 speedy miles and threw in lots of hills, including running up to the top of the bridge so I could get a good sunrise (aka ...

I know that I mention running here and there, but I've not really talked much about my workouts in a while. I used to post my weight workouts, my running miles, even cycling miles. So, for Fun for Friday , I thought I'd do a little run down on my workout life .  1. Running   I've been consistently hitting 40-43 miles per week and feeling good. However, I know it's time to take a nice back-off week and let my body recovery. I also know that summer is here and as the heat and humidity continue to go up, my running will become more difficult. The summer plan is to maintain a solid baseline and just try to enjoy running.  2. Cycling   I've yet to take my bike off the trainer. Jason put on the clip on pedals and I'm absolutely terrified of riding it now. However, with all the rain we've had, it's been great having the trainer option and for easy access for riding in the early mornings when I'm not running.  3. Weight Lifting   I fi...

Have you ever had a workout mishap, like taking a spill during a run, then you hear repeatedly, "Exercise will kill ya!" And it's often said with a beaming, know it all, told ya so smile right?  Well, maybe they're right? Exercise is dangerous! GASP  Ok, I didn't fall and hit my noggin' this morning if that's what you're concerned about. I'm most certainly not saying that we shouldn't exercise. But face it, sometimes the things we do can hurt us, especially if you're a super klutz like me.  I thought it'd be fun to share just a few of my exercise mishaps over the years: Falling off a stability ball - this has happened many times, thankfully never in the gym where others were there to witness the scene. Hitting myself with a resistance band - those suckers can pack a wallop by the way! Scraping my shins with a barbell - hello deadlift battle wounds Hitting myself with a dumbbell - I've had more ...

I don't know about you, but when I hear the word, " Tabata " I immediately think of a cardio workout. Tabata workouts typically include exercises like burpees, squat jumps and mountain climbers for an intense interval workout. However, the tabata set up (20 seconds on 10 seconds off) can also be used with resistance training as well. No, it's not quite the same fat-burning cardio workout as a normal tabata workout, but it provides a great circuit style workout that can be a welcome change from your typical resistance training routine. It is important to note that proper form is more important than the amount of weight you are lifting. When you do a weight workout based on time rather than number of reps, you typically have to go lighter with your weights to ensure good form. Begin your workout with 10-minute warmup on treadmill and/or using dynamic movements to warm up the muscles. Some examples include: jumping jacks, leg swings, no weight lunges, no weight squ...

It was another weekend of productivity and relaxation. I love that balance. We had a cool down Friday night. Jason and I decided to take advantage of that and put our run off just a bit. He went to go watch his nephew's last football game, and I scrubbed and cleaned around the house. It felt good to be productive right off the bat. When he got back, around 11, we headed out for a run. I was planning on 10 miles for the Fall 5 or 10 Miles Virtual Race Series . Jason was planning on more like 8. It was gorgeous out, low 60s, but crazy windy. At first I thought it was coming from the north, but then realized it was also coming from the west. Actually, it seemed to be swirling. It definitely made it more challenging. Jason dropped around 7-ish miles and I continued on. I decided to head north towards a park. I stopped and took a picture when I hit my 10-mile mark for the race. My watch picture didn't turn out at all (1:24:24), but I did get a nice picture of the park at leas...

Party! Did someone say Party?? It's a Pin it Party and I'm all about that. I might be addicted to  Pinterest .  I mean, where else can you be inspired to shop, cook and decorate all in one place? Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean is hosting another Pin It Party . Basically, the idea is that everyone highlights 5 posts that they think are pin-worthy and worth a second look. If you like it, you pin it! It's a fun way to also look back at posts and remember recipes or workouts you might have forgotten about. 1. Biceps Triceps Superset Plus Bonus Burn I've enjoyed doing this workout a few times now, so I thought it was a good one to share again. It's a great time-saver workout, but also includes a great bonus burn to really burn out the muscles at the end of the workout. Everyone loves that right? 2. Calories are Not The Enemy This is one post that I definitely think needs to be revisited. Calories are not immediate fat cells. Calories are fuel for ou...

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for new workout ideas, especially when it comes to weight lifting. I tend to get bored pretty quickly with the same routine week in and week out - and so do my muscles. At the same time, I don't always have a lot of time to spend lifting weights, and am pretty sure most of us don't. But, that doesn't mean you can't get in an effective workout. I love supersets as a quick workout, but decided to change my strategy last week and go with trisets for the same muscle group - in this case it was back and biceps. Originally, I had thought it would be more of an endurance type of workout. Not so much major muscle building because I knew I would have to go a little lighter with my weights. But I ended up reading a pretty good article explaining trisets in more detail and discussing why they are actually good for building lean body mass. With a triset workout, you're keeping your muscles under tension, working for the e...

It's Thursday, and I've had some random thoughts, so we'll go with the theme of Thursday Thoughts - also known as "What's on My Mind." It's funny how many random, fleeting thoughts you have flitting around your brain constantly. Sometimes you remember them, most of the time you don't. And it's funny that it's usually the lesser important thoughts that somehow stick around. During my morning run on Wednesday, I took a route that put me close to the river for this spectacular sunrise. It made me question why more people don't get up early to enjoy this beauty. We only have so many sunrises to see in a lifetime. Speaking of, even though I was looking forward to "sleeping in" this morning, I felt like I had really missed out by not getting up earlier to run again. I often wonder why people are just so ugly to each other or feel the need to say something ugly for no reason. I saw a post shared on Facebook with the kids of ...

I haven't talked much about my weight workouts lately. Since I have been running and biking more, I've been keeping my weight workouts split up and on the shorter side. This allows me to fit them in during lunch or right after work fairly easily. This loose plan goes along nicely with my 7 tips for fitting in workouts . I know I am going to do them, but not always exactly when. But having them thought out and ready to go makes it easier to fit into my schedule. Last night I went with biceps and triceps. Because I was trying to fit in the workout in a specified timeframe, I went with supersets. Supersets are when you perform two exercises in a row without rest. They can make for a quick, efficient workout. And if you want to take it one step further, add in a bonus burn at the end, which is what I did last night for a Biceps Triceps Supersets plus Bonus Burn (ouchie). *21’s explained – 7 reps starting at bottom and curling halfway up. 7 reps starting at to...

Happy Tuesday! One day closer to the weekend right ;-) This morning I managed to knock out a really good 10-mile run. I am loving getting the long runs done during the week. Jason started off with me for about 3.5 miles then I met up with Amy. The weather was fairly pleasant, definitely getting used to this unseasonably cool weather we're having. I also got in 6 solo miles yesterday morning. And while I wasn't just jumping out of bed ready to go, I know that it's a great way to start the day and to ensure that I get my workout done. People often question how I fit in all of my workouts. It's not always easy. I don't have any more extra time than anyone else. Granted, I don't have children, but it's not like I sit around idle. I work full time and am also now working a second job as a fitness trainer. I still have to maintain the house (or attempt to do so), usually I make dinner, and at some point catch up with my husband. So, how do I fit it in? Som...

I've been lucky enough to have been fairly active the majority of my life. And over the years, my activities have definitely changed. Sometimes it's out of necessity, sometimes out of inspiration. I thought it would be fun to share my fitness journey and inspirations. Gymnastics - I started this when I was maybe 4th grade, mostly because my sister was a rough-and-tumble kid and we kind of did everything together. I hated it though. I am NOT a daredevil.  Ballet - Near the end of 5th grade my dear friend (who is no longer with us) did nothing but talk about ballet. She convinced me to try a class. I was literally in love the moment I placed my hand on the barre. That was it. It was my everything. It was were I went to escape, to just be me, to feel beautiful.  Weight Lifting - I credit my sister and Cathe Friedrich for my love of lifting. Sarah had started doing tapes (yep good old VHS tapes) like The Firm. I could wield those 3 pounders like nobody's busin...

Here's a new tip for everyone: If you run 6.4 miles in the morning then do legs in the evening (even light legs) then decide to get up and run 10 miles the next morning, you will regret it. Just sayin' Clearly I don't always make the brightest choices when I work out. I definitely didn't plan that out very well. In fact, I hadn't planned on legs at all on Monday evening. I was just going to do biceps, triceps and some abs.  But, I got going and thought, "Hey, why not toss in legs for fun." Because, you know, leg workouts are oh so fun right? So, I did so without really thinking about the next morning's run. Apparently it was a better workout than I had though, either that or I've been such a slacker about leg work that any little bit bites now.  Let's just say this run was on the tougher side. It was around 80 degrees (yes, at 5:30 am), and the humidity and dew point were nice and high. You know, that kind of muggy, thick, war...

TGIF! Hope everyone's had a good week. Mine has been a little hectic, but all good. I got in some really great runs, a fun bike ride with Jason and Amy, and also enjoyed a great lunch with a good friend (she was my physical therapist) who unfortunately moved away. Even cooler, literally, I got in a great 8 mile run in unheard-of-for-July temps - 68 degrees. Um, what month is it and where do I live again? Not complaining though. It was nice not being drenched by mile 1. I've done something similar to this before, using the letters of FRIDAY to talk about the week. I thought I'd do it again just for fun (and 'cause I can LOL). F - Fitness: running, riding, lifting R - Recipe: Greek Style Kale Couscous Salad (will share on Tuesday) I - Inspiration: Inspired by my dad who refuses to let age define him D - Day break: 2 pictures of this morning's sunrise. A - Awe: In awe of the progress my niece is making in her fitness journey Y - Yikes: How on ea...

Four-day work weeks always throw me off kilter. Compound that with just getting back from vacation and I am absolutely out of sorts with my days. It's Wednesday, but sort of feels like both Tuesday and Thursday at the same time. Just me? Not only am I feeling off kilter getting back into the groove of needing to know what day of the week it actually is, I'm also trying to get back into my usual workout schedule. Yes, I ran and did the elliptical and abs in Florida. But it was still not my normal schedule of times, or even workouts really. I did get in 7 happy miles on Sunday plus did biceps later in the day (I was itching to lift after not having access to weights on vacation). Monday I opted for weights (back and legs) and some kickboxing. This morning was an early-morning run - another 7-miles. It was warm and humid. Summer has arrived, and I feel like it's already affecting my running. It just felt hard. But now I need to figure out when to schedule in my other wei...

This weekend was all about enjoying the beautiful weather, enjoying the idea of slowing down and relaxing, and enjoying time with my mom for Mother's Day. Saturday started off with a run with Jason. It was warm, but not terrible. Wind was directly from the north and slapping you in the face. Though, as I started to get warm, it actually was welcomed. Jason dropped off at the house at 6.25 miles. I was planning to hit 8 miles since I had already done my weekly 10-miler on Thursday. As I set off to finish my run, I realized I was feeling really good. My legs were itching to keep on running. I was just enjoying the beautiful morning. So I ended up with another 10-miler. I almost went on for 11, but decided it'd probably be in my best interest, or my foot's best interest, to reel myself in. I've never done two double-digit runs in a week before. After getting cleaned up, I studied a bit for my ISSA Personal Trainer Certification before heading out to meet my mom for l...

Working Out This is one of those weeks where Wednesday feels like Thursday. Anyone else having that kind of week? I guess I'm still thrown off after returning from Long Beach last week. It's always hard to get back on track after any vacation. You spend so much time just trying to play catch up that you don't really even get to rest up. Luckily, I have another trip coming soon. We'll be heading to FL for a super lazy week on the beach in a couple of weeks. I always look forward to this particular trip as a way to completely unwind. No agendas, no scheduling, no set plans other than to enjoy. While I enjoy checking out new sights, scenery, restaurants, shopping, etc. on vacations, sometimes it's nice to not have any plans. Just "be." Do you prefer to "be" or "do" while on vacation? Maybe a combo or maybe just depending on where you go? One thing I've been doing is keeping with my workouts at least. I may not be able to ke...

I hope you bear with me. This is definitely not the typical Fun Facts/For Friday Post. But, I think it falls into a "Fact" at the very least. I don't know exactly why, but after yesterday evening's run, I started to think back to and reflecting on my running transformation. Maybe it's trying to figure out why I'm so hell-bent on running despite being injured? You see, honestly, about three years ago I still refused to call myself a runner. No joke, look back at my past blog posts if you wish. Or, better yet, you can check out the post where I specifically say " Why I'm not a runner ." Oh, and notice the date is July 2010. So, um, not that long ago really. For some reason, I associated calling myself a runner with having an all-consuming passion, running crazy distances, or crazy-fast paces, and being in an elite secret club. What I didn't understand was the deep-seeded passion that comes with running. Ok, so the first point does end...

Rocking the XTrain Monday hit me hard today. Not only was it just flat out Monday, we lost an hour as well. Talk about a double whammy. At least it was sunny again today though. That's always a plus, especially after Sunday was a wash out - as in, you needed a boat to get anywhere. No running still, so that meant indoor workouts. Which really translates to an XTrain Weekend courtesy of Cathe Friedrich. Saturday I went with Cardio Legs. I really enjoyed the workout (as much as you can enjoy being tortured mind you). She includes a plyo style exercise then follows that up with a weighted leg exercise. Definitely keeps your heart rate high. It's definitely not a heavy leg workout, but since I can't do that right now, this works really well. It's one of those workouts that's kind of deceiving too. You know it's tough, but you are going non-stop and don't have time to really think about the aftermath. The aftermath is having to hang onto the railing when g...