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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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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Yoga at the Great Lawn

A few weeks ago, I received an email blast from Flavor Pill

Help us break a world record! Register now to join 10,000 people on Central Park’s Great Lawn, all downward-dogging at once. Yogi Elena Brower leads the class; comedian/beatboxer/musician Reggie Watts performs, along with sonic healer 13 Hands, slam poet Buddy Wakefield, drum/dance troupe O’Nkosi Rhythms, cellist Garth Stevenson, and yogic bassist Wah!. Each mat is yours to take home (thanks, JetBlue), along with a bevy of goodies from SmartWater, Alternative Apparel, and Chico Bag

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This is a perfect example of the fun NYC events I love participating in and therefore I quickly registered hoping I’d be one of the 10,000 lucky participants given a pass.

Fastforward a few weeks and as luck would have it, I was offered VIP tickets and a few for fellow bloggers and readers. While I don’t consider myself a VIP of any sort I’ve never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth and gladly accepted.

After posting some tweets about the opportunity, I ended up heading to the Great Lawn today with Theodora, Lauren, Jess, and Rebecca. Blog Pictures 2010 256

After meeting at 84th and Park, we headed towards the VIP tent per our instructions. We had all read on Twitter or the news that the lines were crazy. We thought it may be an exaggeration. How could the lines be so bad when they were PLANNING the event for 10,000 people? Well, it was no exaggeration. Everything Katherine, Dori, Missy, and Jes had tweeted was true. As we turned the corner we saw it!

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Yes, that is the FRONT of the line! Luckily we were quickly escorted to a table where we received the “orange ticket” which would allow us Blog Pictures 2010 248front row yoga placement, stage access, massages, swag, and more.

Blog Pictures 2010 251The first table had great Yoga at The Great Lawn t-shirts compliments of Alternative Earth t-shirts. The t-shirt is super comfortable and soft even though they are XL.

Blog Pictures 2010 252The next table featured a green swag bag. The bag  is a reusable grocery bag made by Chico Bag which even has a nifty pocket that it FOLDS into when you’re not using it!

As soon as we walked past the tables there were tons of cameras on this lovely yogi so I figured I’d snap a picture of her as well. Later, I found out that she was the woman leading the yoga.

Blog Pictures 2010 250There were three different tents set up for press and VIP bracelet holders. Under the tents were barrels of Vitamin Water

Blog Pictures 2010 254 Blog Pictures 2010 255Awesome Gaiam Balance Ball Desk chairs to test out. I really want one of these for my desk at work. I wonder if they’ll allow it if I buy it. They are only $79.95 on Amazon!    In addition, One Lucky Duck was sampling their delicious desserts, Siggi’s had five flavors of yogurt they were sampling and giving out, I snagged my first Kind Bar, and received a few yoga coupons. I can’t wait to sample these items in my lunch tomorrow. I’ve seen Siggi’s yogurts on Tina’s blog numerous times but have yet to try them. Blog Pictures 2010 257After a hanging around and sampling products we decided it was time to find a prime spot on the lawn. We couldn’t believe the crowds of people that had already gathered on Central Park’s Great Lawn! This event was going to be a success and we were so excited. Blog Pictures 2010 258We were able to snag a spot in the front, left area. We had a clear view of both the screen and the stage!  Blog Pictures 2010 261We were in awe! All we could do for the first few moments once we reached the lawn was turn around and take in the scene of people.Blog Pictures 2010 259Blog Pictures 2010 265How cool is the Manhattan skyline in the background?! I felt like I was getting ready for a huge Central Park concert! Blog Pictures 2010 260We set out our FREE Gaiam yoga mats (Thanks JET BLUE!) and began to wait.                                                    Blog Pictures 2010 263Luckily, while we waited we were able to have some fun together!Blog Pictures 2010 266

We sampled the treats!                                                            Blog Pictures 2010 278Blog Pictures 2010 267Blog Pictures 2010 268 We took pictures.

Blog Pictures 2010 269 Then the clouds started to roll into the area.Blog Pictures 2010 270 And people talked, and talked, and talked.

Blog Pictures 2010 271 In fact, by this point it was 7:25 and we were all starting to get a little bit annoyed. The wind was whipping, the crowd had reached a great mass, and yet guys kept talking on stage and laughing. Even though we were towards the very front we couldn’t understand half the commentary.

Blog Pictures 2010 272   Blog Pictures 2010 275 Clearly, this was quite the event since there were cameras everywhere! Blog Pictures 2010 277  Then the guy in the wild suit announced that we had in fact set the world record. Evidently, he works for the company and was there to make it official!

Blog Pictures 2010 279 Everyone clapped and the world was happy because they saw yoga in their future. A yogi finally took the stage!Blog Pictures 2010 280  Blog Pictures 2010 282 Then the rain started and the umbrellas came out. What happened to “yoga rain or shine?”Blog Pictures 2010 283 A crazy guy rushed in front of us as we were trying to get our omm on as we prayed the rain would subside.Blog Pictures 2010 284 This happy face and thumbs up means we’ve just been told that the yoga will continue and the park service has given word we can continue yoga in the rain! Let the omms begin!Blog Pictures 2010 285 Blog Pictures 2010 286 Blog Pictures 2010 287 Blog Pictures 2010 288 And we did yoga. For two minutes that is until the lightening and thunder forced them to call it quits. Blog Pictures 2010 289 Am I mad? No, I’m sad that the event didn’t have a warm, sunny evening as I was looking forward to some hot yoga on the Great Lawn. But, I had a great opportunity and a fun evening with wonderful girls. I was part of something that will most likely not happen again in NYC and luckily Lauren grabbed us a cab for the 60 block trip home. That, along with all this swag makes for a great night experiencing NYC.Blog Pictures 2010 295 Blog Pictures 2010 291

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