Lord of the Dance: Cardio Barre

January 31, 2014 by camoozle

It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of dancing. I’m an avid viewer of So You Think You Can Dance and various dance movies, including but not limited to the entire Step Up series, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, and Center Stage. I did every biographical report in school on Liza Minnelli. I watch White Christmas even during the summer and I about died when I discovered Natalie Portman would be playing a ballerina in Black Swan. Like so many little girls growing up in a time of outstanding dance movies such as Flashdance and Fame, at one point in my life I wanted to be a professional ballerina. Ballet includes so many things that I love. Tulle, for one. And it’s French. I’m a big fan of things that are French. I soon realized, however, that my body type was not exactly prime for prima. For one thing, my feet are terrible. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about ballet from years of watching it on television, it’s that you have to have good feet.

This is the extent of my ballet career. I'm the one on the left with knock-knees and flat feet.

The beginning and end of my ballet career. I’m the one on the left with knock-knees and flat feet.

I traded toe for tap shoes and tapped my way through elementary and middle school. I even took tap in college for P.E. credit. I Belly Danced with Veena and Neena (in my living room) and took a hip hop dance class so I could Step Up to the streets. However, none of this could prepare me for the hour long, thighs of fire inducing glorious hell that is Cardio Barre.

Cardio Barre is described by PureBarre.com as a total body, low-impact, strength and stretching sequence that tones and lengthens muscles. It combines basic ballet techniques with weights and focuses on tiny isometric movements. The key is to only move an inch or two, but you do this many times. Each toning section is immediately followed by a stretching section, so you strengthen muscles without bulking up. Some sources say that you can burn from 300-600 calories per 60 minute session. And this exercise in anaerobic. Which means you burn calories even after you’re done working out (I find this almost too good to be true).

There are many variations of barre, but my experience has been with Cardio Barre. Cardio Barre incorporates activities, such as high knees or running place, to increase heart rate. The activities are done barefoot or in yoga socks and we use very light weights, 2-3 pounds, for basic arm toning exercises. We squat like 400 times and then lunge for an eternity and then we move to the barre. This is when the real pain begins.

The barre exercises consist mainly of plies but they’re done on your toes so that your calf muscles are engaged. Then you drop your booty an inch or two over and over and over until your legs are literally shaking with fatigue. I reach fatigue about halfway through each section at the barre and it burns so good. I’ve seriously never experienced this type of fatigue in any exercise I’ve tried. And I’ve been around the fitness fad sweeping the nation block.

That badass to my right is the instructor. Her thighs are incredible.

The class wraps up with an ab and core section. Again, tiny, minute movements are stressed. You’re supposed to be mindful of your muscles and a lot of the core exercises are just holding positions. Which is harder than moving sometimes. Barre uses a lot of techniques from Pilates and Yoga as well, incorporating deep breathing and stretching to lengthen muscles. The best part is the focus on posture and form. I have a bit of a slouching problem but in this class, I make an effort to make be regal and tall.

My verdict? I can’t get enough of this class. It’s so incredibly challenging and that first class is intensely devastating. I run, I squat, I lift-weights, but my muscles were not prepared for this kind of workout. It’s a great way to shake up your routine and shake your booty! (Now is the time when you stand up and join me for a booty shake.)

Have you tried Barre? Did it give you the shakes? Who would win in a dance battle, Paula Abdul or Janet Jackson? Let’s talk it out in the comments!

My Feet are Trying to Kill Me

January 17, 2014 by camoozle

It’s that time of year. In 2013, I logged a few Ragnars, a couple half-marathons, and some fun runs and my running sneakers have seen better days. It’s widely known that I have a sick fascination with footwear. I own it all: boots, clogs, flats, Moccasins, Oxfords, Mary Janes, Espadrilles, and chunky heels. I have tap shoes and ballet shoes and boat shoes. My Salt-Water Sandals, flip-flops, and Chucks come in every bright color, and my sock collection is even more impressive. Knee socks and bobby socks and ankle socks and funky patterned socks. My footwear is like a page out of a Dr. Seuss book.

But there is one type of footwear that I despise having to shop for. And it’s all because of my stupid flat feet.

I’ve searched high and low for a running shoe that will not hurt my feet. I’ve read articles and visited experts, all to no avail. It’s always the same, it only takes minutes of running before my feet start to rebel. It doesn’t help that I suffer from Air Jordanitis Syndrome. It’s a side effect of growing up in the 90’s. A tragedy really, it’s responsible for my compulsive tendency to believe that a new pair of shoes will actually increase my running speed and drastically improve my agility. If I could only find THE pair of running shoes. Similar to the holy grail or an easy diet, I’ve heard of their rumored existence, but I’ve yet to encounter them.

This is why I need your help, internet friends. I don’t know which shoes to buy. I have about 2 and a half months until my first big race of the season, plenty of time to break in a new pair of kicks. Do I go minimalist or a trusted favorite? Do I dare make the switch to a barefoot shoe? Do I just need to wear my inserts? Show me the way, oh trusted internet!

I have narrowed my search to the following contenders. All pictures have been borrowed from their respective links.

1. Saucony Omni 12

I currently own these and they’re not bad. They worked out okay and still look pretty decent after a year of abuse. They’re not perfect, I still have foot pain and lately I’ve been having some shin pain. It’s unknown if this is caused by my erratic fitness regime or my flat feet but if there’s the hope of that perfect shoe out there, I simply can’t just settle for decent, right?

2. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 13

I took a little quiz on their site and this is the shoe they paired me with. I’m not crazy about it, it seems all the flat foot friendly shoes aren’t very cute. And we all know cuteness matters. However, everyone raves about Brooks. I have ran in Brooks before and they do have a more generous toe box, which I like. But they’re so borrrrrring.

3. Mizuno Wave Sayonara

I have this good friend who writes this blog that I love and she seems to like her Mizunos. This shoe is pretty light-weight and it looks snazzy too. I like the mesh and it just looks fast. This shoe definitely plays into my Air Jordanitis Syndrome. I feel like it will shave minutes off my pace!

4. Merrell Road Glove Dash 2

Merrell

I love this shoe. I have been interested in trying out Merrell for a while now, but I’m extremely nervous about this whole “barefoot” idea. This shoe just screams my style and it weighs a whopping 6 ounces. And it’s adorable. Have I mentioned how much I want to be able to run in these shoes? My fear is that I want them to be “the one” more than they actually will be. Kind of like that guy I dated in college.

5. Newton Energy

Now, I hadn’t heard of these shoes until I started researching my options. I googled “running shoes for flat feet” and into my life these little gems appeared. I love the style, I like the breathable mesh, and they have a kick-ass tread. And it was Shoe of the Year. I dig how wide they are, I’m no dainty dame and my Flintstone feet need a bit of accommodating.

As you can see, I have quite the decision to make. What’s a stylish, yet comfort-seeking, gal to do???

Kid Tested, Mother Approved

December 19, 2013 by camoozle

There was a time in my life, not so very long ago, when I would have given anything to just have a “normal” body. I never dreamed of the oh so coveted thigh gap or the pronounced cheek bones; I had sense enough to embrace my size 9 feet and my big bones. I just didn’t want to be Extra Large. Why couldn’t I just have one of those metabolisms that lets me eat what I want and maintain a healthy BMI? Judging myself by an index devised in the 1800’s is completely logical, right? I abused my body and destroyed my self-esteem and it was a tremendous climb back to positive mental health. When I became a parent, I made it my mission to make sure my children never travel this path. I don’t ever want them to doubt their worth, not even for one second, because of some stupid standard society has dictated as beautiful or smart or acceptable.

My darling gems.

My childhood was filled with running and climbing and hiding and seeking. We built things out of wood and got splinters. We played catch and picked stickers out of our socks. We made mud pies and drank from the hose. We ate carrots straight from the soil and apricots right off the tree. During all this time, I never once thought to worry about my metabolism or my BMI. I was normal.

Oh, how the times have changed. Chicken nuggets, computer games, cell phones, youtube, Minecraft…this is the new normal. It’s normal for an 8 year old to have a cell phone. It’s normal for kids to have McDonald’s for breakfast. Normal has been redefined. This new normal, combined with my daughter’s severe asthma, my son’s hyperactivity, and my history of ADD and depression, makes family exercise not only a priority, but an absolute necessity.

My poor girl after her latest asthma attack.

Getting my kids to turn off the tablet is no easy task, but explaining all my reasons to a five and eight year old would only cause confusion and/or possible scarring for life. We’ve tried many activities. Some result in constant whining and misery for all involved. Others they beg to revisit week after week. So, as dictated by my children, Sophia and Alex, here are our Top 5 Ways to Exercise.

#5 – Organized Sports

The gang was a bit divided on this one. Sophie’s a big fan of cheerleading and gymnastics but we still haven’t found Alex’s sport yet. I wasn’t keen on the idea of my daughter getting into cheer initially. I’ll admit it, I’ve always thought cheerleading to be a bit vapid. I just don’t understand why sports teams need young girls in short skirts smiling and shouting in unison whilst flashing their undies to everyone. But Sophie likes it and the instructor promotes strength training and flexibility, making them do push-ups and yoga poses during their warm-up and cool-down. I’m still coming to terms with it, but I’m trying to be open-minded. It teaches commitment and responsibility to a team, which, unless Sophie plans on going underground, are great skills for the future. It’s a little bit expensive, but I consider it an investment in developing essential life skills.

#4 – Video Games

Yep, video games can be good for you! Sophie loves the Wii Fit. She likes the running and yoga the best. Occasionally, we’ll bowl together or play tennis. Alex enjoys to Xbox Kinect because he gets to pretend to use a lightsaber. For the record, his actual response was “lightsaber fights”. Also, you can pretend box. This is great for relieving family tension. My personal favorite is the dance game. I don’t know what it’s called, but I’m perfect on the easy setting. Video games give the illusion of gaming but it’s really good exercise. Like when you blend carrots in with your spaghetti sauce.

#3 – Hiking

My kids love nature and every couple weeks, we try to go on an adventure. Sometimes it’s the local trail, Sycamore Canyon, where we scan for foxes and coyotes. Or if we’re feeling more social, we head over to Mt. Rubidoux to climb our way to the cross at the very top. We’ll venture over to University of Riverside’s Botanical Gardens or we might just walk to the park down the street. Taking the time to enjoy the bits of nature in our concrete suburbia always turns into a learning experience.

#2 – Swimming

Living in Southern California is definitely a factor when it comes to this activity. We can swim pretty much 9 months out of the year and when my grandma belongs to the golf club down the street and can get us into the heated pool, the likelihood of us using said pool skyrockets. I have two little fish. They’ll swim anywhere, anytime: the beach, the pool, the front yard sprinklers, the fountain at Starbucks…if it’s even the least bit warm out, my kids are in their suits. We spent this summer at a local water park and pool. It was the best $120 I’ve ever spent. Not only were they occupied all day during summer break, but they were exhausted when they got home. Which means they slept well. Which means I slept well.

#1 – Trampolines

By far, the activity that they beg and beg for is to go to Sky Zone. Located in a warehouse, Sky Zone is a big room filled with trampolines. You purchase time on the tramps and you just jump. The first time we went, we purchased an hour and by the end of our time, we were pooped out. There are different sizes and shapes, and some fully enclosed for dodge ball tournaments. They have a pit of foam blocks that people can dive into, which my kids like the best. I did it once but trying to climb out of the pit zapped my energy like no other. They even offer a fitness class. It’s stunning that something so easy as jumping on a trampoline can work your body so hard. Trampolines are no joke.

There you have it, Sophie and Alex’s Top 5 Ways to Exercise. My children are fairly adamant that these activities will be loved by all your families and that you all try them. (That was verbatim, btw). Reject those unrealistic standards and normalize being unique. Make family fitness the new normal.

All I want for Christmas…is a runcation.

November 29, 2013 by camoozle

Today’s the day. People all over the United States are engaging in the frantic nocturnal scramble for commerce. There will be some running involved, hopefully no running over. Maybe a little kickboxing. Some deep breathing exercises. All in the effort to save a little cash. And believe me, I need to save a little cash! This year, I’ve spent more money on runcation and race entry fees than any other non-essential expense. Quicken showed me this cute little pie chart and the category of “Race Expense” was the third biggest piece, right after “Mortgage” and “Household”.

I don’t how this happened, I had a race budget! But you know, after SoCal Ragnar, I had to do Napa so I could get that double medal. And all my friends were running in Washington, I couldn’t let them have fun without me. And I had to do the Wine and Dine after Tink, because of that Coast to Coast medal. And there was no way I was going to run in Disneyworld and not take my kids to other happiest place on earth. Oh, and after experiencing the awesomeness of the ROC race in San Diego, I just had to do it again in Anaheim. And so the story goes. I have a hard time saying no to races and when I do say no, I’m green with envy when I see my running mates posting pics on facebook!

This year, I don’t want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need…are you hearing Mariah Carey yet? All I want for Christmas is to race! So here it is, my Runcation Christmas List.

1. Any East Coast Ragnar or any Trail – I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile now. And I’m dying to get the Scoot Chicks in a van. D.C., Cape Cod, and Ontario are high on my list, but really any of them would be amazing. The trail race is a new series. Instead of a van, you camp and the race trails loop out from the camp site. It’s a different kind of relay but I’m anxious to take it on!

2. E.T. Full Moon Midnight Half-Marathon – Sci-Fi is kind of my thing. Just ask my X-Files and Star Wars ringtones. This course runs along Highway 375, which was named Extraterrestrial Highway by the federal government, in the Nevada desert in the middle of the night. Oh, and did I mention it borders Area 51? The whole idea of this race gives me chills.

3. Spartan Sprint – It seems like everyone I know loves these races. And I love dirt and I love adventure so I think I might love this race. Of course, I also think I’ll need to beef up before I attempt something like this. My upper body strength sucks. So push-ups, here I come.

4. Rock ‘n Roll Half-Marathon – It’s pretty simple…music is awesome, running is awesome, running to music is double awesome. The best part about this race series is that it is EVERYWHERE. Madrid, Scotland, Ireland…oh, how I dream of the day I can run in a foreign country! I might have to settle for L.A. this year, but one of these days…

5. Challenge Nation – This is the Ultimate Urban Scavenger Hunt and like a lot of these races, it’s everywhere. I can’t think of a better way to explore a city I’ve never been to before. It’s part physical, part mental, and a whole lot of adventure. The race part is a 5k and there’s prize money to be won. If I can’t be on Amazing Race, then I’ll gladly settle for this!

6. John Muir Trail – This isn’t a race but it’s top on my list of things I must do before I die. The trail is 211 miles long and runs from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney in California. It’s a hike, you carry your stuff on your back and sleep in a tent. No showers, no bathrooms, just me and the Sierra Nevada Mountains…and probably some other people because I can’t see myself doing this alone.

How Not to Train for a Half-Marathon

November 1, 2013 by camoozle

Today is the first of November. The holiday season is officially upon us. I know this because Target says it is. I’m suffering from a severe sugar hangover from yesterday’s spoils. Report Cards have been completed and Parent Conferences are scheduled. And I have exactly one week until the Disney Wine and Dine Half-Marathon.

Vic, Brooke, Meri, and I will be converging in The Sunshine State to participate in race shenanigans and general tomfoolery. I can’t wait to see my chicks! And to enjoy Disney with my favorite people. And the thought of running 13.1 freaking miles while I’m there is making me nauseated. Why? Oh, because I’ve pretty much blown off training.

This is frighteningly typical. I am the worst procrastinator. It’s what I do best. And I usually come through in the bitter end, I do my best work under pressure. The problem is, with running, this is a terrible strategy. I am an expert at not training. So here they are, my dirty little secrets. The Do Not’s. As a bad example, I feel it’s my duty to share my horribly ineffective habits.

#1 – Don’t Stop Running the Month Before

Yeah, it’s true. I haven’t ran actual mileage since Ragnar last month. I’ve continued my cross-training and various activities, like hiking and climbing, but I just haven’t hit the pavement. I know I’m going to suffer for it. My knees are going give out at about mile 10. My back will start to ache from the hours of impact. I know this because I do this to myself each and every time. I can only hope my muscle memory kicks in and the dozens of squats pay off.

#2 – Don’t Feast on Graham Crackers and Milk Every Night

My diet’s pretty much gone straight to hell. I’m a stress eater. And a bored eater. And a celebratory eater. And I’m not eating the things I should be. As a result, I feel sluggish and swollen and just blah. My mood is suffering, my energy levels have plummeted, and my digestive system is wrecked. And it’s lame because I know how much better I feel when I fuel properly.

#3 – Don’t Try New Shoes, Especially if You Have Weird Feet

I’m compulsive when it comes to running shoes. I’m always searching for the perfect pair. My flat feet and overpronation make it difficult to find shoes that feel good. So when I hear someone rave about a shoe, I simply must try it. I will probably wear my trusty Saucony, but I’ve been walking and doing R.I.P.P.E.D. in the new Nike Free. Whenever I switch it up, it takes a good 5-10 minutes of soul wrenching foot pain to adjust.

#4 – Don’t Stay Up Watching Netflix All Night

Yeah, good old insomnia is making a come back. This is probably linked to my bad eating and sluggish energy levels. I’ve been living on coffee the last couple weeks and I’ve watched a dozen independent documentaries on juicing and/or vegetarianism. Not that I’m actually taking their advice or learning anything. Except that I have a sick fascination with docudrama. Getting proper sleep is going to be especially important for the Florida race since I’ll be dealing with a time change. I’m gonna need a bed time this week.

#5 – Don’t Wear Short Shorts

This is mainly for those of you who, like myself, are boycotting the ridiculous thigh gap. Most of my races are ran in costume and forsaking comfort for costume awesomeness, while this may be super cute, is not always super wise. Don’t misunderstand, I’m a fan of super cute, but there’s nothing that says you can’t look super cute in capris. Every time I race, I make a poor clothing choice and I spend the first three miles trying to figure out how to fix it.

You’d think I’d learn from my mistakes, but I swear there’s an inverse relationship between me having to do something and my desire to actually do it. I still have a week to get somewhat on track. And there’s no minute like the last minute, I always say. Unless it’s the last minute of my half-marathons. Then it’s the longest minute in the world.

The Most Important Thing About Me

October 25, 2013 by camoozle

My 8 year old daughter recently had to write a paragraph on the most important things about herself. I was excited to read this because my daughter is quite precocious. She comes up with some pretty unique ideas and I couldn’t wait to read about her view on herself. She included a lot of the typical 8 year old priorities: her pets, her toys, she wants to be a comedian when she grows up…but the MOST important thing about her was quite alarming.

She wrote that the MOST important thing about her was that she’s skinny.

Gasp! Choke! Surely, this must be a mistake! My child can’t possibly be that shallow!

How could this have happened? I spent my young life with eating disorders and poor self-esteem and I spent my young adult life recovering from it. It wasn’t until I read the book “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole that I really made peace with food. I’ve gone out of my way to promote healthy eating habits in my children. I don’t make them eat when they don’t want to. I limit their food choices. I make sure they pay attention to their bodies when they’re choosing snacks. It’s always been the one thing I want to protect my children from – food and body issues. And yet, somehow, my daughter came to the conclusion that being skinny was the most important thing about her.

She’s got spirit!

My gut reaction was to start looking for the culprit. Who did this to my child? Was it the Disney Channel and their preteen sitcoms? Or because we let her do cheerleading? Was it the kids at school or the commercials on television or the magazines or the books…

Was it me? Was it my five gym memberships and my protein shakes and my race medals? These are good things, right? Exercise is a good habit, right?

It could very well be all of the above. It could be none of these. But somehow, in her 8 year old brain, healthy and active translated to skinny.

I made her change it. That’s the benefit of having my kids attend the school I teach at. I can obnoxiously intervene any time I want! And intervene I did. We had quite the discussion about how body shape doesn’t make anyone any better than anyone else. We talked about how people come in all shapes and sizes and that what matters is how people treat others. We came up with better adjectives. Active, strong, athletic…and we finally agreed upon healthy.

Healthy. We rarely see health being advertised on television. No celebrity is revered for their excellent organs or spectacular blood pressure. At one point in our evolution, healthy meant viable meant offspring meant survival of the species. And now healthy has become a synonym for skinny.

I do not accept. My kids deserve more. They’re always watching, listening, learning the rules, learning how to cope, taking this world apart and putting it all back together so they can see how it works. And how it’s working lately is not so hot.

Hopefully, I cleared this up with my girl. Because the most important thing about ME is this job called parenting. It’s the most important thing I’ll ever do and being skinny isn’t going to make it any easier. But being physically and mentally healthy just might.

We are the champions!

RagNapa!

October 14, 2013 by camoozle

The Ragnar Relay Series has this persistent deal where you can earn a double medal for doing certain races within the same year. It’s all very clever because even though I already have a Gold Rush medal for running the SoCal and Napa relays in 2011, I simply had to do it again! I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for extra bling.

Plus, look at the pretty!

Getting a team together for Napa was no easy feat. Ragnar changed their website and it is ruining my life. I had the hardest time finding runners to fill our team. I had to search on Facebook by posting on the Ragnar page and the Napa page that the ninjas were in need! I was still searching for runners up until the week of the race, which has never happened during any of my races as Captain. Finally, Facebook and my new fella, Ian, came through in the end. A full team we did have.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Bringing a new, only recently declared, boyfriend along on a 200 mile relay might be the death of a budding relationship. But if you think about it, Ragnar is a huge indicator of character and/or the ability to follow a theme; two factors that are huge when I consider a prospective love interest. Besides, if we can survive Ragnar and not hate each other in the end, this thing might actually have a chance.

We’re cute.

So Ian, the new dreamboat, Amy, the RIPPED chick and climbing buddy, and myself all piled into the van for the eight hour drive up to San Francisco to meet the rest of our team. Some veteran ninjas were running, Josh, Crista, Dana, and Greg. Shanta’, Paul, Dru, Amy H., and Becca were our new ninjas.

The first time I ran the Napa course was the inaugural year. I was eager to check out the changes to the course. The biggest change was a new start line location. The race started at Golden Gate Park. Google severely mislead me to believe our drive time was about twenty minutes shorter than it actually was so after picking up Josh and Crista, we raced to the start. Normally, you’re supposed to be there an hour early to check in and get your stuff. Yeah, we were there just 15 minutes before our 7:30 AM start time! We rushed through the gear check and the safety meeting, and got Josh all pinned up seconds before he took off.

Runner 1 ready to take off!

I was in Van 2, so it was time for us to rest. Or rather, make ninja stars and play at the beach. I was runner 7 this time, which is, by far, the best running position. Not only do you get to start off the race for Van 2, but you’re the first one done! Instead of sitting around waiting anxiously for my turn, I knocked out my 4 miles out and was ready to play. A tagging I shall go!

This is how ninjas train.

These first legs were pretty enjoyable. We were all feeling pretty good and ready for real food by the time Amy K. passed on to Van 1. We traveled to the next major exchange in lovely Santa Rosa and decided to find a restaurant. We ended up eating at this cool pub and taking in some electrolyte recovery drinks.

Waiting for Crista!

Here she comes!

Finishing up my first leg.

And Ian finishing up his first Ragnar leg ever!

Normally, the night run is my favorite. However, about an hour before we were supposed to start running, it started to rain. And not just a nice, misty sprinkle, but a torrential downpour. I have horrible vision and neglected to procure any contact lenses before leaving for Ragnar. And I swear, Santa Rosa has the most poorly lit streets in the world. You can see where I’m going here, right? It’s like the perfect storm. I had to take my glasses off because they kept fogging up and my head lamp was illuminating nothing but the rain drops. All I could see was the streaks of light reflecting off the rain. I was running much slower than normal because I was afraid of slipping or running into something. I must have been over-focusing because after awhile, I noticed there weren’t any other runners in sight. And I hadn’t seen a Ragnar sign in about fifteen minutes. When I got to the end of the street and there were no directions as to where to go from there, it hit me…I was lost. At 2 AM. In the dark. In the rain. And I couldn’t see. This totally crushed my spirit. It was the first time ever I wanted to give up in the middle of a race.

Preparing for the rain!

I started walking toward this gas station on the corner, thinking I could ask for directions. I notified my team that I had indeed gotten lost and that I wouldn’t be arriving as planned. I pulled up the map on the Ragnar site, (Thankfully I had service! Yeah, smart phones!) kicking myself for not downloading the pictures earlier. I asked the cashier which way I had to go to get back to the course and he pointed me in the right direction. When I saw those blinking butt lights, I jumped for joy. Overall, I ran about a mile over the intended 6.6 mile leg. Which wouldn’t have so bad if there hadn’t have been a ginormous mile-long incline at the end. Which I mostly walked. By the time I handed off to Ian, I was cold, tired and cranky.

I don’t remember much more about the night runs because, with a gentle nudge by the crisis averting boyfriend, I curled up on a bench and passed out. This was also the first time I got a decent amount of sleep at a Ragnar! We didn’t have to run again until about 10 AM, so I was rested and ready to finish up my legs. It was still pouring down rain but Van 1 came in ahead of schedule.

Supporting our Runner!

My last leg was an easy peasy 3.1 miles on a beautiful trail along a river. The rain turned from downpour to a lovely light shower just as I started running. There wasn’t a one mile to go marker on this leg so when I neared the exchange, I was actually really bummed. I wanted to keep running! But my turn was over and now it was time to play!

Me and Amy playing in the grapevines.

The rest of my team finished up easily, running along the vineyards of Napa. It seemed like everyone turned on the speed and before I knew it, we were crossing the finish line. It was a Ragnar of firsts, the first time I got lost, the first time I actually slept, and the first Ragnar with a new beau. Who impressed the heck out me, I might add! This is the beauty of Ragnar, even though I’ve participated in this series a whopping 8 times, it never gets boring.

Double Medals!

N.W.A. Napa 2013

Climbing the Walls

September 24, 2013 by camoozle

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m a bit attention deficit. A couple years ago, I was diagnosed with Adult ADD and Depression. I get distracted easily, I switch topics, I talk during movies. Actually, I talk all the time. I can’t stop the thoughts from flowing out of my brain and into the universe where they are likely clogging up some cosmic energy highway. And I get bored. A lot. Right now, I’m bored with my fitness routine. In one way, I love routine. It’s dependable and I know what to expect. I know I won’t fail because I’ve done it before. For example, I know I can run a half marathon on very little sleep and/or training and still live. Yeah, I might be miserable the whole time and it’ll probably take me the entire four hours to finish…but I am confident I will finish.

Inevitably, there comes a point in my workout routine where I give up. I stop going to the gym. I hit snooze when my morning run alarm goes off. I give in to a bunch of cravings that I haven’t indulged in months, which usually means chili fries and beer for dinner. Staying fit for me really is a two steps forward, one step back process. And I’ve totally made peace with that. But in order to recharge my fitness battery, I need lots of different activities. I’m a member of five different gyms. FIVE. I’m paying five different establishments when I could, theoretically, weight train in my living room and run my neighborhood for free. Instead, I’m spending a small fortune because of my workout ADD.

One of the places I’ve joined is Hangar 18 Indoor Climbing Gym. I don’t know what I was thinking when I signed on for this. I’m afraid of heights and I have trust issues…rock climbing probably isn’t something that is going to come naturally to me. I struggle with it every time. And that’s why I’m hooked!

Or it could just be the shoes.

My first experience climbing the indoor rock walls tested all my limits. First, I had to properly settle into my harness. There is nothing more flattering than a strap of canvas cutting off the circulation to your groin. I spent a great deal of time worrying about the way the harness made my butt look. Someone was going to be standing down below me. I wanted to make sure they had the best view I had to offer. Once I was uncomfortably strapped into the device, I had to sit and listen to this dude teach me how to belay my climbing partner. Do you even understand how hard it is for me to sit and listen when there are colorful things to touch? I thought the training would make me feel more secure but my partner was my strong, yet tiny, friend Amy. I was seriously doubting her ability to support my weight if I fell, even with the help of the pulley system and her amazing biceps.

Does this harness make my butt look big?

Once our instructor turned us loose, fear immediately took over. The idea is to keep to one path, using only the grips that are color coded for a specific climb. The climbs are rated by difficulty. That red one I’m on in that pic was rated as super easy…the second to the easiest climb in the building. What makes the task so difficult is that you have to problem solve as you’re climbing. You’re supposed to survey the layout and find the best path up with the holds you are given. It’s like a game of chess, only with more sweat. My problem is that the best path isn’t always evident to me so I waste a great deal of energy just holding on while I determine my next move. Then my hip would start to cramp or my fingers would give out. Then I’d think of falling and how that would probably catapult poor Amy into the air. It was an awful sight in my head.

This was my problem. I couldn’t get out of my head long enough to focus on figuring out a strategy. And I realized, as I was straddling this wall and holding on for dear life, that this was a metaphor for my entire life. And you know what I did? I gave up. Yep. I called down to Amy that I was ready to fall. She tried to push me, telling me I could do it, but I felt so uncomfortable with my new epiphany that I couldn’t stand to be up on that wall for another second.

I tried a second climb but it ended pretty similarly to the first. Halfway up and I bailed. I was starting to piss myself off. The more I failed at this, the more motivated to conquer my fears I became. I didn’t make it all the way to the top that first day of climbing. I still haven’t made it all the way to the top. But there’s something therapeutic that comes from the stress I feel during climbs. It’s exhilarating to know I am strong enough to literally lift myself up and over a mountain. Even if the mountain is made of plastic. I’m excited to see where this exercise will lead me. And I’m excited to experience what it will be like when I finally reach the top.

Like a Boss

“Chick on Chick” – Episode V – All Eyes on Vic!

August 30, 2013 by camoozle

Are you ready for the scoop? I’ve got the goods on our Chick Vic! This is the fifth installment of our “Chick on Chick” series aka the one in which Cam asks Vic a bunch of random yet very important questions. In case you missed all the action, click here to learn more about Jess, Brooke, Bec, and Meri.

“Vic”torious!

I first met Vic during the Merrell Down and Dirty Mud Run in Philly. We were both there to roll in the mud with chick Meri and I’ve been trying to get her in a Ragnar van ever since. Between chasing down homicides and running marathons, this chick knows how to have an adventure! We all know Vic’s an inspirational runner, but I wanted to get down and dirty with Vic. Really ask the hard-hitting questions, about important stuff like toenails and reality shows. So here’s the 411 on this top-notch reporter and superior pig roaster (which may or may not occur simultaneously).

Cam: First things first, how many toenails do you have?

Vic: “You know you’re a runner when….”
All of my toenails are on my feet. (There’s a sentence I never expected to write!) But only 6 of my 10 toenails can be described as normal. I’ve pretty much lost one toenail per marathon. My left foot looks great and the nails on my right foot, well, look stressed. I often paint them in the summer to hide how horrible they really are. I pretend it works, but I know it doesn’t. And I cringe when I get a pedicure. It’s rather embarrassing so I rarely go.

Cam: Gimme your Top 5 Bands of all time.

Vic: I love music, but am the girl who never knows names of bands, songs or albums. Don’t get me wrong, I can belt out a 20-year-old song with the best of them but if you ask me what it’s called and who sings it, I will come up blank pretty much every time.

So instead, I’ll tout my favorite all-time band, The Beatles. John, Paul, George and Ringo – I feel like they’ve been with me through many stages of my life. I have many albums, including the coveted Sgt. Peppers’ on LP, though don’t ask me where the coveted paper dolls went. The Beatles are tried and true and have stood the test of time. I can pop on an album and sing along… And I’ve been to Penny Lane, Abbey Road, Strawberry Fields and the famous Cavern Club. Too bad I never met Jude.

*Please Note*

Vic receives 1up for this response. I, too, claim the fab four as my most favorite band of all time!

Cam: What is your most cherished item in your closet? Besides your running shoes, of course…

Vic: I don’t really have one cherished item as I destroy clothes. I have skirts I wear often and one super flattering dress that makes weekly appearances in the summer months. One special item that’s been in my closet for 28 years, is hooded sweatshirt from my childhood. It’s an old swimming zip-up hoody from 1985. Yes, I still have it. Yes, I still wear it. Yes, I’ve tried to part with it more than once. No, I’m not giving it up.

Cam: If you could live in any era, which decade would you choose?

Vic: My husband and I chat about this often. I’d love to have seen what life was like in the 30s. I know it was amidst the Great Depression and World War II, but it’s also when the city I live in hit its stride. I’d love to know what Rochester NY was like in its heyday. It was a simpler time, and the downtown where I work was BOOMING. Plus, my father was a child in the 30s and I would have loved to have known what he was like as a kid. Would we have been friends?

Cam: Which superpower would you want?

Vic: I’d love the ability to transport myself in an instant. I want to travel across the country, or world, in a flash. I don’t get to see my loved ones as often as I like – my sister lives in Australia, my cousins are in Ecuador and my best friend and parents are a six-hour drive away. I’d pop in for dinner, family gatherings or emergencies and to surprise my loved ones.

Cam: Who are your heroes?

Vic: There are so many I could say, but I will go with a homegrown hero, Susan B. Anthony. An independent woman at a time in history when women toed the line, Anthony fought for equality. She was a key advocate for the 19th century women’s suffrage movement — and didn’t back down from a challenge. She voted in 1872, full well knowing she would be arrested for her action. She wanted to make a difference for others, to be heard. “Failure is impossible,” she said. I try to remember that motto any time I face a challenge.

Cam: Cast your perfect reality show.

Vic: Do I get to pick the people in it? I’m not a huge fan of reality TV, but if I could pick anyone from recent history to put into a room and interview, I’d round up Walt Disney, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher, Steve Jobs and Bob Woodward. All incredible trailblazers in my eyes.

Trailblaze on, my friend! Do you have any questions for Vic? Do you also love the Beatles? Chat with us in the comments!

Let’s Get R.I.P.P.E.D.

August 13, 2013 by camoozle

A couple years ago, my sister asked me to come with her to a workout class our friend was teaching. Exercising in public has never really been a positive thing for me. For one thing, I sweat. A lot. Like enough to cause concern. “No, I’m not going to pass out. I’m fine, I promise. I have overactive pores!” Second, I’m clumsy (See exhibit Ninja Down). Jumping around in unison with a large group of people usually ends badly for me (See exhibit Interpretive Dance). Third, I don’t look good in a leotard. Group exercise immediately conjures up the image of Jane Fonda in this little striped number and there’s no way I could pull off this look.

Needless to say, I was skeptic. And out of shape. I had just recently grown a human and my body jiggled in all the wrong places. The last thing I wanted to do was go out and make it jiggle in front of others. But I had to do something and I’m easily persuaded by peer pressure so eventually, I found myself at a R.I.P.P.E.D. class. I had no idea what to expect. Just that I needed weights and a yoga mat. And lots of water. I eventually discovered I’d also need a towel for sopping up the fruits of my labor. Oh, how naive I was that first class. Minutes into the warm-up, I was already winded. And then came the jumping. And the squats. And the push-ups! Oh, all that is holy, the push-ups! By the ab section at the end, I was on the verge of vomiting. That class kicked my ass like no other. I lumbered over to the front desk, trying not to dry heave, and promptly bought a thirty-class pass.

My sister, Sarah, our instructor, Amy, and me demonstrating R.I.P.P.E.D. at a 5k race.

Over the next few months, I attended class two or three times a week, sometimes running the three miles to the gym before. I felt myself getting stronger and stronger, until I could actually do real push-ups. And yet, R.I.P.P.E.D. didn’t get any easier. I couldn’t understand! After 6 months, I was stronger than I’d ever been but I still left my workouts completely drenched in sweat and hardly able to walk the next day. I even got certified to teach R.I.P.P.E.D. but the program continued to challenge my endurance. Turns out, that’s the way, uh huh, uh huh, they like it.

Getting certified!

R.I.P.P.E.D. was designed to be plateau proof. It incorporates six elements of fitness: resistance (which is basically arms), intervals (cardio), power (large muscle groups i.e. squats), plyometrics (agility), endurance (kickboxing), and diet. There’s also an ab section but they didn’t include it in the acronym because RIPPEAD wasn’t as catchy. These sections can be taught in sequence or out of order for an added challenge. There are 13 seasons now and the instructors like to mix and match the routines so that the class never gets boring. And a 50 minute R.I.P.P.E.D. class can burn between 750-1000 calories. That’s an insane amount of calories! The best thing about this type of exercise? I know what’s coming and I know how much further I have to go. Each section is about 6-9 minutes long and I can push myself as hard as I want to. Or I can ease up a bit when I’m not feeling so hot. It’s the only workout I’ve experienced that has truly transformed the shape of my body.

And it’s time to get back to it. My workout needs a reboot and R.I.P.P.E.D. is just the program to do it. Since running has become my main focus, I haven’t spent much time in the R.I.P.P.E.D. gym but I recently started going back. Running can only do so much when it comes to definition, especially with regards to upper body. It’s time to get ripped!

Do you have a “go to” workout regime? Do you loathe group exercise? Any classes I should try? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Scootadoot

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Author Archives: camoozle