I have a DATE tonight!

With my bathtub and some Epsom salts!!

I did Power Yoga today.

No. We did not do this position today!

Remember when I said Yoga Ain't For Sissies?  Well, the class I took today is like regular yoga...on STEROIDS!!  I should have known it was going to be difficult when the instructor asked me before the class if I REALLY like to work out!  She followed up by telling me I would be introduced to every muscle in my body and some of them might not like me tomorrow!  And to think, I chose this class over Group Power because I thought it would be easier!

I amazed myself because I could do more moves than I thought I could.  In the last few months of working out I have increased my strength and flexibility quite a bit.  I'm still not a human pretzel, nor will I ever be, but I did bend in places I didn't think I could, and held some poses I know I wouldn't have been able to a couple of months ago.

I would go back next week...but I'll be traveling to Dallas for my grandfather's 90th birthday!  So, darn, no Power Yoga for me next week.  Shucks.

Have you ever done yoga?  Do you have a favorite pose?

Thanks for stopping in, come again soon!
:D

Yoga Ain't For Sissies!

Images borrowed from HERE

Since I ran for the first time in five weeks yesterday, and since I don't want to go too hard too fact, I decided today should be a bit of a "recovery" day.  I considered doing "Group Power" (weight lifting in a group to music).  The last time I did that I was sore for days, so it didn't seem like much of a recovery.  When I saw "Body Flow" on the schedule of my fitness club I thought, "Yoga, some stretches, some relaxation...that would be a fairly easy class."

WRONG!!!

Yoga ain't for sissies, lemme tell ya! 

Images borrowed from HERE

In addition to that little known fact (by anyone who has never taken a yoga class), I learned that I'm much more flexible than I thought I would be.  There were only a few moves I had to do the "option" (meaning, "If you can't contort your body into a double pretzel, the 'option' is a single twisted curly-que.").  That was mostly a product of the other thing I learned....

I have virtually NO strength in my lower back.  When I did the "Extreme Abs" class I found out I have no glutes at all, so I think my lack of muscle goes from my mid back all the way down to the top of my leg!!  It's very hard to work a muscle you just can't find!!

Images borrowed from HERE

Overall, I liked the class.  I think it's very good for balance and flexibility.  It didn't SEEM to work my core, but I'm fairly confident I'll feel it more tomorrow than I do right now.  My ankles were screaming at all the balance work, but I'll definitely go back.

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out a good workout schedule.  "IF" I'm able to get back up to 6 miles, I'll be doing the 1/2 marathon training.  My weekly mileage will start ramping up, but I know I still need strength and cross training.  I'm just not sure when to schedule everything in.  Can I strength train on the days as the "shorter" runs?  Is yoga considered "cross training"?  I think these are the kinds of questions that "should" be covered in the training I'm signed up for.  CAN'T WAIT!!

Thanks for stopping in, come again soon!
:D

Week 5 Recap

HAPPY EASTER!!!

WHAT I DID

I didn't run at all this week.  :-(  

As I said last week...I thought I might have a stress fracture.  The x-rays were negative (thankfully).  I went to see a physical therapist, hoping to get some exercises to strengthen my calf.

I also volunteered at an 8K race Saturday--FUN!!

WHAT I LEARNED

Interestingly enough, when I went to see the physical therapist, I found out there is certainly "something" going on in my calf.  You see, I had a bad car accident about 15 years ago.  I had my left leg kind of propped up between the seat and the door.  I hydroplaned and hit an 18-wheeler.  I didn't break the leg but it was basically smashed and did major soft tissue damage to that calf.  It seems as though there's most likely some scar tissue in there that's causing an issue when I run.  The therapist did some e-stim on it with a focused cold laser machine.  She said there aren't any exercises that will heal it, but e-stim and massage therapy are about the only things that have any hope to "fix" the problem.  

The Black Knight told me he had a stress fracture one time that didn't show up on x-rays, only on the MRI.... If my calf continues to hurt like it did the last time I tried to run, I'll probably force the issue and get the MRI done.  I don't think that's going to be the case because it has been feeling a lot better since the PT visit.

I also learned how much work it takes to put on a race.  ((Note to self-ALWAYS thank the volunteers!!))

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO

Cross train!  I met an ultra runner who HIGHLY suggested yoga.  She's not the first runner who's said that, so I think I'll make that a priority THIS WEEK.

I have a massage therapy appointment Wednesday and a PT appointment Thursday.

I'm going out to run again tomorrow.  I can not wait.  I have missed it this week like I miss breathing when I have a head cold!!  (Can you say addict?!) 

   
Thanks so much for stopping in.  Come again soon!
:D