Tag Archives: exercise

Running vs. Racing

17 Jun
If this makes you nervous, I suggest you find a smaller race.

If this makes you nervous, I suggest you find a smaller race.

This year I participated in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, a series of races that take place around the country, including New York City. I forgot I’d signed up for it until I saw the reminder notice in my inbox. Crap! My knee has still been giving me a little trouble, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do it. I talked my friend/co-worker Willa into doing it with me, mostly because I needed someone there who’d be able to identify the body if I fell over on the course.

When I began my weight-loss journey, running was the one exercise that I latched on to. I surprised myself with my enthusiasm for it because I’m a self-confessed couch potato. But it spoke to my other inclinations, like thriftiness, speed and convenience.

That’s running.

Racing is an entirely different animal. I won’t say I hate racing because I do enjoy the challenge. I will say that when deciding to race, you need to choose wisely.

Racing involves registration, registration fees, meeting up at a specific time (which is usually early in the morning) and, worst of all, running with a group of people like a pack of animals.

The Corporate Challenge is no different. Thousands of people from corporations across the city participate. The race was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. I didn’t get to the starting line until 7:40 on a humid June evening. I was not happy. While I was slowly making my way to the starting line, I thought of all the reasons I shouldn’t be doing it. Here are a few things you should consider before deciding to do a race.

1. Crowds suck. If you don’t like the feeling of being herded like cattle, don’t register for a big race. A race’s website should tell you how many participants are involved. The Corporate Challenge in New York was so large it was held over two nights to accommodate the 30,000 runners participating. You read that right: 30,000 over two balmy nights. In Central Park. For a 5K. There was a lot of funk going on.

2. Training can be a pain. If you’ve never done any type of race, you’re going to have to train and stretch. Racing is different from running in that the element of competition becomes a factor. I’m not a very competitive person. I don’t like to lose, but I’m indifferent about winning. However, there is a switch that’s flicked once you cross the starting line that pushes you to go a little faster and try a little harder than you would were you just out for your morning jaunt. That speed will test your endurance and stamina. If you haven’t trained, you’ll be puking along the way. And nobody wants to be that person.

3. Wishful thinkers are very slow. Everyone has ideas of what they look like and what they are able to do. Often these ideas don’t mesh with reality. Big races like the Corporate Challenge invite people from all fitness levels to participate. The desk jockey who ran a 4-minute mile in high school probably thinks he’s still got it. He’s also the jerk who registered for the fast heat and will probably get run over and cussed out by the pros.

4. Come rain or come shine. The week of the race, the weather had been really funky. It rained off and on a lot; it even rained the morning of the race. There was still a chance for more droplets to fall during the race. But the Corporate Challenge site said the event generally goes on despite weather concerns. Basically, forget your ‘do and your need to stay reasonably dry. If you can’t handle unpredictable weather, keep an eye on the forecast. Getting caught in the rain on a race is the pits.

The beast had taken over when the race was done. And I can't take a selfie when I'm out of breath, obvs.

The beast had taken over when the race was done. And I can’t take a selfie when I’m out of breath, obvs.

Every time I do a race, I have to talk myself into it. I have to convince myself that  it will be good to commune with people like myself who enjoy the fresh air and freedom that running allows us. Racing tests you in ways that running won’t because competition is a motivator. And in the end, you’ve completed a challenge. The goal of any race is to finish. Sure, you’ll finish after you’ve mowed down people who are moseying on by, but you’ve done it.

Do you plan on competing in any races this year? How do you cope with the crowds?

top photo credit: Derek K. Miller via photopin cc

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Ugh, Cramps!

9 Jun
The struggle is real

Even Lebron James knows: the struggle is real.

As much as I love sports, I am absolutely not an athlete. I am the quintessential couch coach. I can call all kinds of plays from the sidelines of my living room. That’s why I love the NBA Finals. After the Super Bowl, it’s my favorite sporting event of the year.

Like a lot of people, I was halfway paying attention to the first game of the NBA Finals last Thursday. It’s the first game; there will at least be four; it’s two tough teams guaranteed to play a close game; who needs that kind of stress? But at the end, I peeked up from my book to see “King” LeBron James limping then being carried off the court. “What the…?!?!” I said to myself. I hit rewind to find out it was 90 degrees on the court as the air conditioning had gone out in the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Texas, but for some reason it just remains hot there. Just…just nasty hot. And it’s June. In Texas. At the time LeBron needed to be carried off the court, the temperature was in the low 80s with about 70% humidity. In other words, it was damn hot—and that was outside.

I know I wasn’t the only one laughing at the mighty LeBron being carried off the court. But I also understood why.

When you exert yourself the way top athletes do, especially in this type of competition, your body temperature is going to rise. Couple that with the heat in the arena and the lactic acid that had built up in his body over four quarters and you’ve got man down due to cramps.

There’s no other way to say it: Lactic acid buildup is a bitch. When in beast mode, it will slay the beast. Ask any runner, basketball player, football player, fencer, etc. When you get into a groove, it can be easy to ignore the burn that is attacking your calves, hamstrings, triceps.

People who’ve never experienced that type of pain will be the first ones to call LeBron a punk for not continuing to play in such a tight game. Those people are idiots. I laughed because it’s funny watching LeBron getting carried off the court, not because he couldn’t finish the game. As a woman, I’ve had debilitating menstrual cramps. And while it hurts to walk, you can still move. You can’t do that with a Charlie horse. Charlie horse is a cute name, but is not acute pain.

Here are a few tips to help you get through beast mode without falling on your face:

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. It can never emphasized enough: You have to hydrate. Gatorade, VitaminWater, or just good-old H20 will all do a body good. The water acts to counter the lactic acid building up in your system. This keeps your muscles from tightening and preventing Charlie horses. (See: LeBron)

Stretch. The other day I ran in a 5K (post to come). Afterward, I had to go to work to pick up my stuff and my running mate tsk-tsked me because I hadn’t stretched yet. I admit that stretching is annoying. If you’re like me, you just want to get your workout over with and go about your day. That becomes difficult when you can’t move. So take those extra five minutes before and after to loosen up your limbs. Your body will thank you. And drink some water.

Don’t feel the burn. This isn’t the ’80s when people were still trying to figure out how to exercise. Everyone these days is a self-proclaimed expert (including yours truly). The one thing they agree on is pain is not the point. So if your thigh or arms or back starts tingling in an unfortunate way, stop. Just stop it. Move on to something else. Learn the difference between the feeling of your muscles working and your muscles hurting. And drink some water.

Frequency is key. Though you need to stop when the burn hits, increasing the frequency of your workouts helps. The fitter you are, the less lactic acid that will build up. If you’re a once a month exerciser, do you, boo. But you’ll have to compensate that with extra time spent on stretching, eating bananas and hydrating. Please drink some water.

“Bananas taste the best and are the best for you.” Aside from that, the potassium helps prevent the buildup of lactic acid. But I’ll let my girl Chiquita Banana give you the other benefits of bananas. And drink some water.

 

What do you find that helps you with your workout pains? I hope one thing you do is drink water.

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My Annual Self Evaluation

2 Jun
...And it's not even my birthday (anymore).

…And it’s not even my birthday (anymore).

I’ve been lax in posting and in doing so, I missed the most important day ever: my birthday.

The best day ever was May 16 and I celebrated 30 Part 4 with friends and wine. It was great.

I like to look at my birthday as my own personal New Year’s Day. I’ve said before on this blog that I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. But I do believe in self reflection. Every year, I take a little time out from all of the awesome celebrations to look back on the year that was. What did I do? Did I accomplish any goals? Did I make any big changes? What could have been done better? What do I not ever want to do again?

In the year that was, I moved into a new apartment, I started this blog, I began writing more at work and I took the best vacation ever. I also was admittedly lazy in my workout routine. I didn’t keep in touch with family and friends as much as I should have. And I gained a few pounds.

Taking time out to look at where you are and where you’re going is essential to getting back on track or even finding out if you need a new track to get on. Goals keep you focused. That’s why most company’s do annual reviews of employees. Sure, it’s helpful when you’re lobbying for a raise. But it’s also good to see if what you’re doing is working for you.

I admit that I’ve been lax in posting, so I’m going to do more. It’s almost summertime and this is the best time to be active. The weather bright and warm, there are people to see, there are tons of activities all ripe for my commentary. So, to you skinny readers, I promise to do better.

In doing that, I’m going to take better care of myself. My weight is my own personal demon. I’ve admitted to self sabotage and now I have to commit to self care. I know how easy it is for me to gain weight. And I know the tools I need to keep myself healthy. With all the activities I plan to take on this summer, it will be the perfect testing ground for future posts and workouts. So, I’m right on top of that, Rose!

GIFSoup

And of course, I’m going to call my father and my grandmother more. It’s just a given.

When do you self evaluate? And what are your goals for yourself when you do so? Are you staying on track?

photo credit: Steve Wilhelm via photopin cc

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Time Really Is on Your Side

31 Mar
Every day is a chance to make your time valuable.

Every day is a chance to make your time valuable.

I’m showing my age but back in the day, I used to love Allen Iverson. He looked like a guy that would have lived in my neighborhood. He wasn’t the tallest player, but he balled so hard you had to respect him. He was just fun to watch.

Allen Iverson, despite his talents, had a knack for sticking his foot in his mouth. One of his most famous incidents came after the 76ers lost in an early round of the playoffs and the coach commented that Iverson had been missing practice. During a post-game interview, Iverson was asked what he thought of his coaches comments and he had the best. Response. Ever!


“What are we talking about? Practice!”

Apparently Iverson just didn’t have time for it. He thought his skills were enough to keep him going. And now look at him. He’s bankrupt. He’s become a joke of the league, despite recently having his jersey retired. People look back on AI and talk about “practice,” not his skill. It’s sad.

There is a point here. Iverson didn’t have time for practice and as his career went on, it began to show. Say what you will about my man Kobe Bryant (and I’ve heard it all, so that wasn’t a real invitation), but he knows the value of staying up on your game. Kobe plays with broken wrists, jacked up ankles and sprained anything. He rehabilitates what needs work and he moves on. Kobe recognizes that you give time to the things that matter.

Despite what you’ve heard, there are enough hours in the day. Excuses are what people use to justify the reasons why not. I’m not blaming you. I’m just explaining.

I’m not perfect. I’ve made plenty of excuses myself. At the beginning of my weight-loss journey, all I did was make excuses about time. “I can’t work out tonight; it’s a new episode of ‘Grey’s Anatomy.” “I’ll have to order out tonight. I don’t have time to wait on things to thaw.” “The time it will take me to work out and get home, I won’t have time to do anything else.” “I didn’t [insert necessary activity here] because I didn’t have time.”

The fact is I did have time. I just didn’t use it wisely, and I didn’t prioritize my needs against my wants.

There are 24 hours in a day (shocking, I know). Think about that. How much time to you really need to do the things that have to get done? Are any of those to-dos things that need to be done or things you just want to do?

I’ll give you my full 24 hours (if I’m using them wisely)

7:15: alarm goes off
7:45: actually get out of bed to brush my teeth and get dressed
8:15: take the dog for a walk
8:30: pack my lunch and gym bag
8:40: eat breakfast
8:55: catch the train to work
9:25: work out
10:30: shower and change
10:50: start work
12:30-2: have lunch sometime in this time range
5:15-6: evening snack
7:30-8: finish work sometime in this time range
8:30-9: get home to walk the dog
9:15: dinner
2: bedtime (i’m a nightowl)

All of that is flexible. Sometimes my alarm will go off at 7:15 and I won’t get out of bed until 9. That kills my morning workout, which means I have to work out after work. It’s not my preference because I like to have my evenings free, but it is the sacrifice I make to achieve my goals.

Nothing about the weight-loss process is easy. You have to sacrifice time for things you want to do for things you have to do. Prioritize your goals and see how they fit into your schedule. If somethings don’t work, you’ll have to decide if what you need is more important than what you want. It will all make sense in due time.

How do you manage your time when working toward your weight-loss goal?

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Beauty and the Beast

24 Feb
The keys to beast mode.

The keys to beast mode.

One of the main reason many people decide to diet and exercise is so they can look good. Is it shallow? Maybe. Does it have its benefits? Absolutely.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to drop a few pounds to be beach ready by summer. Some people want to drop a whole human in order to look good at their weddings. People who take this approach, I’ve found, are very sensitive about their appearance. These people will have a problem with what I call “the beast.”

The beast is what happens to you when you get in a zone in your workout. After weeks of trying, you’ve gotten into the supported headstand at yoga. You’ve completed that fourth mile and are on your way to the fifth. You’re able to peddle through third position in high gear without giving up. You’re in beast mode! Congratulations!

The price you pay for beast mode is sweat. It’s sticky, wet clothes. It’s limp hair. It’s the look of a drowned rat. Yay! You can work out. Boo! You look like you’ve just survived a shipwreck.

How can those of us who take pride in our appearances reconcile the process that does this to us? Here are a few tips to let your pretty girl rock while you sweat it out.

Bright Is Right. One of the reasons so many running clothes are bright is because you need to be seen, especially when you’re running in the dark. One of the added perks to these bright colors is that it can literally brighten your day. Wear that bright tank top to the gym one day. Think of your workout wardrobe as a mood ring. If you want to pump up your energy, wear something red. If you need a perky pick-me-up, try something green or yellow. Color looks good on everyone, so try one to boost your mood.

Post-Sweat ‘Fit at the Ready. I’m a firm believer in preparation, and this tip is all about preparation. If you know you’re going to bang it out on the weights, grunting and sweating all over the place, have your change of clothes ironed and hanging up in the locker room. Motivation is a good way to keep a positive outlook. If the beast comes out in the gym, at least you know she’ll stay there.

Tie It Back. Nothing says keep it moving like a good pony. When I was growing my natural hair out, I couldn’t wait until the day I could just pull it up into a ponytail. A sleek pony will do the trick every time. Right now, I’ve got my hair braided, which was my go-to style when I began my weight-loss journey. Braids can be pulled up into a pony with ease, and it always helps you put your best face forward.

Smell Goods. Your toiletry bag at the gym should be stocked with the following: your favorite body wash, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and lotion. If you need to wash your hair after the gym (I don’t), an unscented shampoo will work. You don’t want to overload the senses when you walk out. A light-smelling lotion will offer all the whiff you need when you step out.

Confident Strut. One of the reasons ‘Yonce can say she woke up like dih is because she worked her butt off to do so. If you are between ideal weights and still in beast mode, no one will really know but you. So strut your stuff, diva. You’ve worked hard. You’ve put in work. You may not have gotten right where you want just yet, but you are on the path. So get your get ’em girl shoes on and Naomi Campbell walk because you did the damn thing today.

Never let the thought of the beast keep you from embracing it. Getting into beast mode is what will get you to your goal. It’s the fire you have inside pushing you to where you want to be.

Plus, being in beast mode is just temporary. We don’t walk around sweating all day (I hope). No one curls 10-to-20-pound weights all the time. It’s something we do to achieve the goal. And if your goal is pretty, then you’re going to have to deal with the ugly.

How do you reconcile your inner beast with your need for beauty?

photo credit: Arya Ziai via photopin cc

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