On Training Solo

Ah, a new year, new fitness goals. After my decadent one week pass at a different (not quite upscale) gym, it was back to the grind at 24 hour fitness -- where amenities are not just scarce, they are now non-existent. I refuse to pay for towel service, but on top of it, they took away the crappy free shampoo and conditioner and replaced it with foaming citrus soap. WTF? I swear, that chain is scraping the bottom of the barrel. I also realized I loathe co-ed steam rooms. Nothing says awkward like walking into a steam room with 6 men already chatting in their towels, as the woman in her bathing suit trying to get her sweat on quietly in the corner. I may have to cough up the extra dough to make my workout experience the glorious event it should be. A reward for getting your butt to the gym in the first place!

I really missed working out at an actual well-kept, amenities-o-plenty gym with respectful clientele this week. I pushed through my short runs, cardio intervals and a weights class but felt really worn down.

This weekend was one of major fitness accomplishments though. It sort of happened on its own, not planned originally since I took Friday off from working out and felt utterly exhausted. I decided to go back to boxing class after a two week holiday hiatus. There were two other women waiting at the front door when I showed up Saturday. One woman was exceptionally chatty, in full makeup and bragging about how "fit" she already was. I was rolling my eyes in the back of my mind.

The usual trainer wasn't there, so I wasn't sure what to expect that morning. I knew I just wanted that chick to shut up. She mentioned how she already took boot camp in the city during the week. Her cousin is a boxing coach in the East Bay, she already takes boxing classes and well, does bikram too! Imagine that! I just nodded and smiled.

We went over basic step work and arm work. After jumping rope for 7 minutes (which I am getting much better at), I never heard someone complain so much. The woman would not stop talking about how "hard" this was. Insert additional eye roll.
Next up on the agenda was a "fun cardio challenge" proposed by the trainer for getting our heart rate up. The goal was to do as many sets in 15 minutes as possible. A set included 5 modified pull-ups with resistance bands, 10 modified push-ups (working up to real ones) and 15 squats.

I barreled through the challenge and never wavered. I was told I had good formrepeatedlybythe trainer. I was neck and neck with the overly confidant chick. We both did 15 sets in 15 minutes amazingly, but its safe to say she cheated. These things annoy me. She had her friend mark her paper for her to avoid taking precious seconds away from her next move (we had to mark each time we did a set), she went half assed on the way down on squats (pun intended) and a few times (bc I was counting, I'm competitive what can I say) she did 13 squats instead of 15. Whatever you need to make yourself feel better, honey. I know in my heart, I kicked YOUR ASS that day. 150 push-ups and 225 squats is no joke. Then I went to the gym and did more ab work and free weights. I'm beginning to think I'm a masochist.

I woke up Sunday morning with a weight in my thighs I had never known before. I wished to be air-lifted out of bed and delivered breakfast. I could barely move. I knew it was bad for my muscles to just sit and do nothing though. They were reacting to the abundance of squats, build up of lactic acid and I needed to warm up. I skipped my long training run on Saturday bc from past experience, I know attempting to do anything major after boxing is asking for trouble. My body really takes a beating from that class. Don't let the pink gloves fool you.

I took last week off from the training run to give my legs a rest. I had done 9 miles on Christmas Eve and felt I deserved a break. Mile 10 was just lingering out there in the back of my mind all week. I'm going on vacation next weekend though, and there is a chance that this coming Saturday may not include a long run as well, so today was the day. Could I do 10 miles with rocks in my thighs? Would I be working them too much? I figured a long, slow run would be a good way to ease them into movement and burn some fat. I told myself, the minute I start to feel fatigued, stop. I've gotten better at listening to my body.

Training solo for a half marathon is really helping me figure out what my body can handle, and what it cannot. It's just as mental as it is physical. There is something comforting, meditative almost about these long runs I do. I don't run with a group, I don't have a running buddy or partner, I'm not on any forum and I'm ok with it. I actually enjoy it. It's MY time. I don't think about anything except where I'm going on foot, right now. How much farther can I take it, how beautiful is the weather, how strong do my legs feel and how much better my cardio conditioning has gotten. My lungs feel full and capable. My legs feel powerful and capable.

I am reminded of a little piece of inspiration I got at a yoga event this past September (right before I decided to do the half marathon). It was an "inspiration bowl" set up at a vendor booth. The idea was to write and put one in, pull one out. The token I pulled out was this about running.
I keep this in my gym bag to remind me of the capability I have and how lucky I am to use it. I ran by the water today in Emeryville. I warmed up with a .25mi walk and just, well, started. I told myself after 5 miles I would do a mental check-in and see how things were going. Mile 5 came and went. At mile 7 along the Bay Trail , I figured, It's only 3 more miles to 10. Just do it.

10 miles is pretty intimidating, especially by yourself. There's no one to cheer you on, brag to, or push you farther when you're tired -- just YOU. I have to thank the Scissor Sisters, Lady Gaga and Eminem for my personal soundtrack today, as their music definitely pushes me to continue. Even if it's just to the end of the song.

I double backed along East Shore State Park and pushed the last mile as hard as I could. Under 2 hours time, 10 miles done, I didn't die or keel over. I just pulled out a half-eaten protein bar and wiped the salt off my face.

I'm not the fastest runner, but I did it. A one minute walk after every mile helps me. My goal is to be faster than my first half marathon 6 years ago. I was 6 years younger and trained with a group but feel much more in control now. I have a lot going on in my life currently with job stuff (losing it), health stuff, general social awkwardness etc, and running seems to be the only thing right now that I can fall back on. Well, that and yoga, and boxing, and my weights class heh ;-).

The jeans I wore in Hollywood when I was 25 are not so far off, just gotta keep on pushing through my weight loss plateau I'm in and stick to my training. March 25th is still a long way off, but it will sneak up on me I feel. Whew.