One of Those Days and Marathon Help Needed…

This morning started off wonderfully! After almost nine hours of sleep I popped up bright and alert. Equinox was calling my name as was a make shift interval workout!

The ADD Workout

10 mins on elliptical: 5 elevation, 5 resistance, goal to keep it above 180 steps per minute

10 mins on stairclimber: level 9 focusing on not holding the rails and engaging my core

15 mins incline walking: 3.8 mph, incline 10

5 mins running at 6.2 FINALLY! It felt a bit awkward and I was scared the entire time but it was a great sign!

60 pushups I did 20 pushups and then one minute of plank 3 times

3 minutes planks

5 minutes stretching

By the end of this workout I was a hot sweaty mess! It felt AMAZING to run on the treadmill after 17 days of not running thanks to the ATV accident and my back injury.

Over the past week, I have been receiving treatment at Westside Spine and Sports Medicine.

Westside Spine and Sports Medicine is a comprehensive rehabilitation center specializing in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, located on 3rd floor, 244 west 54th Street, West Side of Manhattan, New York .

During my three treatments I have received massage, heat and cold therapy, and electrical stimulation. Based on my daily pain, it seems like they have been working quite well. When we started my pain throughout the day during common activities was around a 7 on a scale of 1-10. Now, the pain is around a 3-4 and that is only after a long period of walking or running.

Unfortunately, I waited a week after my injury to see a doctor as I thought I had only bruised my back. If I had gone earlier my treatment could have started immediately. Lesson learned: upon injury, try and see a medical professional within 24 hours.

After my running success, I was sad that the rest of my Monday would be spent doing consumer research in New Jersey. Don’t get me wrong, I love consumer research but not on a Monday. Oh well. My day was spent on the other side of a two way mirror listening and watching people discuss their relationship with fragrances. It was very interesting and I’m already looking forward to Wednesday’s shop alongs.

Breakfast was eaten en route but consisted of my standard oats, fruit, and tea.

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I was pleasantly surprised by the research facility’s healthy lunch options. They ordered Panera and included soup, salad, and sandwiches in the order. I went with a huge salad and a bowl of the garden vegetable soup with pesto. This was filling and kept me warm since our room was freezing all day!

We didn’t get back into the city until after 7:30pm! It was definitely one of those days. I walked five blocks to a salad place for dinner only to realize I forgot my wallet at home. *sigh* After that fiasco, I decided to spend the evening watching Royal Pains and munching on All Bran and blueberries instead.

I’m really not sure why but I am loving this show.

Now, for some serious help needed. I am running the ING NYC Marathon in 131 days. It’s time to make a training schedule and get down to business. However, since this is my first marathon, I could use some help. Here are my goals:

1. Finish under 5 hours

2. Start training on July 5th

3. Complete at least 2 20 milers

4. Strictly adhere to my training schedule, at least from a weekly mileage stand point.

5. Use yoga, swimming, and spin as cross training while also maintaining my focus on core and muscle strength.

Anyone out there have any suggestions? This is a little overwhelming for a novice.

Have a great rest of your Monday and happy Tuesday! I’m already looking forward to the long weekend. Until then, here is a glance at this week’s workout schedule:

Tuesday: Run 1 mile at 6.2 pace, Body Conditioning class, PM yoga

Wednesday: AM spin PM yoga

Thursday: Run 1.5 miles at 6.2 pace, Cardio Sculpt PM yoga

Friday: noon spin and swim session

This is a tough schedule but we’ll see if I can do it!

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Bethenny Frankel, Operation Beautiful, and lots of Pride

Living in New York City is all about taking advantage of experiences for two Southerners like me and Bo. Therefore, this afternoon Bo and I ventured two avenues away to take in the Gay Pride Week 2010 NYC Pride March. We knew this would be a site to be seen as it was the parade’s 40th anniversary.

The parade began at noon and ran from 36th and 5th and ended in Greenwich Village at the location of the 1969 Stonewall riots.

A black and white photograph of The Stonewall Inn, showing half of a sign that was placed in the window by the Mattachine Society several days following the riots

The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. They are frequently cited as the first instance in American history when people in the homosexual community fought back against a government-sponsored system that persecuted sexual minorities, and they have become the defining event that marked the start of the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

The parade featured three Grand Marshalls this year:

Dan Choi

Dan Choi

Lt. Choi’s selection and acceptance of the honor of NYC LGBT Pride Grand Marshal marks the first time in U.S. history that an openly gay male on active service with the U.S. Armed Forces will be an LGBT pride march Grand Marshal.

Judy ShepardJudy Shepard

In October 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard lost their 21 year-old son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Matthew’s death moved many thousands of people around the world to attend vigils and rallies in his memory.

Constance McMillenConstance McMillen

Constance McMillen is a Mississippi high school honors student who fought back when her school told her she couldn’t take her girlfriend to the prom.

Talk about Operation Beautiful. These are certainly people who have stood up for their beliefs in peaceful yet powerful ways.

Today’s parade was filled with colorful characters, cheers, and plenty of dancing! I was surprised that the parade wasn’t more dense as I have heard a great deal about this parade historically and expected it to be constant music and dance. Instead there was normally a minute or two before each group of marchers.

There were lots of faces but only one that I recognized!

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Bethenny from Real Housewives of NYC was throwing out beads and showing pride in a Skinnygirl Smart Car.

Enjoy the pictures!

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Get Out of the Gym

Unfortunately, I spend approximately 60 hours per week sitting inside under fluorescent lights. Therefore, come Friday at 5pm all I want to do is spend hours outside. As you’ve seen in previous posts, we find numerous ways to get our weekly dose of Vitamin D.

Weekend trips out of the city that are VERY activeIMG_2944

Reading or playing around in Central Park with friends

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Drinking and eating outside

and last but not least, breaking a sweat outside! I prefer to participate in outdoor runs, boot camps, and yoga classes all weekend long versus    stepping foot in a gym.

Therefore, I was excited when NYC fitness diva, Jes, Fit Chick in the City                      invited her readers to a free Fit Chick Boot Camp in Central Park this morning. The instructions were clear: bring nothing except yourself and a bottle of water, show up at 9:30, and get ready for a sweatastic workout!

I met the lovely ladies in Columbus Circle before venturing into the park. Luckily, weather was on our side as it was sunny and hot by 9:30.

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For the next hour, Jes took the five of us through a great workout in the shade and SUN of Central Park. We were inspired by the Intensati   workout taking place a few steps away and the fighting ninjas filming below us. Okay, maybe the ninjas just made us laugh. But, regardless, what I loved about this workout is that the entire time we were working out we were also enjoying our surroundings.

Jes kept us in a small area of the park but used everything around us as props including bridges, steps, park benches, and the grass. The workout consisted of more squats and lunges than I think I’ve ever done, some great pushup action on the bench, plank reaches, side steps, dips, step ups, and running. Thank you for organizing this Jes and being so generous. We all had a blast meeting other readers and bloggers (hi ladies!!) while also breaking a sweat and lunging our way to a body like Jes’.

After an hour of outdoor boot camp I was craving three things: –

-Vita Coco

-A pool

-A strapless workout top as I got some wicked tan lines today

Luckily 2 of the 3 took place at my next stop, Equinox. The Columbus Circle location features a 25 yard pool equipped with pull bouys, goggles, and kickboards.

Today, I returned to the pool. I have a love/hate relationship with the pool because I know it’s good for me and I love what it does to my body but I hate and dread it because it’s so hard. It had been 4 months since I stepped in a pool and was ready to conquer my fears! 25 laps and 625 yds later my time was cut short due to some crazy Iron Men that decided they owned the pool. Oh well. I finished happy and excited for my next swim. I’d like to include at least 1-2 swim workouts per week as my back continues to mend. It’s a great cardio activity and is impact free.

 

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The rest of the afternoon was spent with Rebecca on the rooftop of her gym, Club H! What a great day it’s been thus far! Now it’s off to dinner with Melissa and Frank.

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