Who Really Needs to Train for a Long Running Event?

My trainer always asks me, "are you going to run this week?" As if training for a long run was something I traditionally did! I haven't properly trained for any run, even the two half marathons I did this year, except for the marathon I ran with Team in Training. Training to me is a task and I am a master at procrastinating tasks. This doesn't seem to bode well for my running events.

In true form, I have not trained for the Too Cold to Hold 15k run this weekend. Why? Mostly because I just don't want to and a little because I have been really busy. These aren't good excuses I know but if you are thinking to yourself that I am weird, crazy, etc., just reread the comment above about procrastination.

I ran in a New Years Day 5 mile run that I thought was only a 5k and wasn't very happy about it, see previous post. I had mentally prepared to run 5k, was in no condition to run 5 miles! Remembering that event made me think this week I MIGHT want to actually run a little to prepare for the 15k. Just a little though, don't want to actually over achieve and be prepared for a running event.

After yoga yesterday I went to the gym to run three miles. I think to myself, three miles will be easy, no problem. Right, no problem...uh, think again. I get on the treadmill, I am all pumped up and ready to go, I got my ipod all set up and start off at a nice 5.7 pace. (I'm not the fastest running, just determined.) After a mile my side hurts like someone stuck a knife in my abs...I walk. Wholly cow I think...this is HARD. What the heck?

I keep going, at a slower pace...and I can only make it to 1.5 miles before I have to walk again....as I walk I consider only going 2 miles and calling it a day. But I've already posted on twitter and facebook that I am running 3 miles, I can't just run 2, that is quitting. Ugh I think....fine...I am now pissed at myself and force myself to run 1.5 more. One good thing about posting what I PLAN on doing is it actually makes me do it.

I love it when a fast, up beat song comes on, I get energized and feel motivated to run. At mile 2 Candy Shop by Madonna comes on...I'm moving now! By the time the song is over I am almost at 2.5 miles...almost done!

I keep running and try to calculate how long it will take me to finish...one song? Two songs...6 minutes? This pondering goes on for another minute reducing the total distance to just under .4 miles. I so have this! At .2 miles I am so done, I increase the speed to 6.7 and just run my little legs to death until I finished. Three miles done in 36 minutes. Not my best time but I did it and I didn't die.

I did 90 minutes of Bikram Yoga and ran three miles....I consider that a good day. I'm going for 5 miles on Friday. The Too Cold to Hold is Sunday morning, let's hope I run better than I did running 3!

Chili and Bikram Yoga Don't Play Well Together

The studio I practice at, Bikram Yoga Dallas, has an introductory package of $40 for a month of yoga and this has produced an influx of new students. Classes are often over 40 people now, which is wonderful, but also means I have to get to class extra early if I want to be on the front row. The front row is the best if you want to be able to look at yourself the entire time, not in a vain way, but to really pay attention to form; also it helps motivate you to try harder. So I got there early yesterday and set up in the front.

The problem with this tactic is I had also had chili for lunch, not a good plan! Chili and the front row apparently do not mix well together.  I was hot, not just Bikram Yoga hot, but scalding hot...and was having a hard time controlling my breath. this was partly due to the large class and the heat generated by the room and also because I was trying so hard in each posture. I am pretty sure being hot in Bikram Yoga is a good thing, as it trying hard in each posture...but on this particular day, both did me in early.

During second set of triangle pose I sat down, big mistake. David, one of the owners of our studio was teaching, he looked over at me and asked "everything ok?" I shook my head yes."Is this your first class today," asks David. "Yes," I say. Then there was some comment about training and at that point I felt like a wimp and got up to do second set of triangle. I mean, really, if I can't get through one class, how am I going to do two classes a day for 9 weeks?

Note to self: Don't eat chili before class, drink lots of water and don't sit down during triangle pose.

Senior Vice President Goes Yogi on Corporate America

Today starts a new chapter in my life. Today I quit my Corporate America career as a Senior Vice President of a national company. To some this might seem scary or even just a little crazy, but I am excited about new beginnings and new possibilities. Life is too short to not live YOUR life. And so, today begins my journey to become a certified Bikram Yoga instructor and teach others the wonderful benefits of Bikram Yoga.

I started Bikram Yoga in 2006 when I moved to Dallas and was looking for something to "do" besides go to the gym. One day on my way to work I saw a sign next to the grocery store I frequented, "Bikram Yoga." I thought to myself, "I wonder what kind of yoga that is."

I looked up the website, signed up for their introductory package and proceeded to almost die in my first class. At temperatures of at least 105 degrees and 40-50% humidity for 90 minutes while moving through 26 postures, who could blame me?! Christina, my first yoga instructor joked in class we had about 45 more minutes, this was after about 70 minutes of class and I thought I was going to have to run out of the room. Bikram Yoga is possibly hardest physical activity I have ever done, and I love it.

Since then I have consistently practiced sporadically, if that makes sense. I have good intentions but life tends to get in the way and there have been periods of more than several months where I went to Bikram Yoga one or two times a month, if that. Then there are times when I go every day and can't get enough yoga! The latter has been the case recently since I made the determination I was going to teacher training.

I have the fortune of being apart of a great studio with wonderful teachers and really caring mentoring studio owners. I've traveled throughout the country and by far, Bikram Yoga Dallas is a step above the rest. You can't help but be inspired to do more, be more and try harder. And all of that leads to great things within and a desire to compete in yoga championships. I have completed three yoga championships representing Bikram Yoga Dallas and feel each competition has improved my focus and physical practice. Every time I finish training for the competition, I feel inspired and wish I had the ability to just teach yoga to others.

Several years ago I attend a weekend seminar retreat with Rajashree, Bikram's wife and was again, was completely inspired to become a Bikram Yoga instructor. But my more sensible, rational and realistic mind won and I pushed the thought to the side. This time however, I am making the leap and letting the "yoga mats" fall as they may.

My father recently asked me why I go to Bikram Yoga and my response was because it's hard! And it sometimes smells and people tend to throw sweat and well, you are sweaty yourself and the heat is awful and sometimes I want to run from the room. All these things seemed to puzzle him and then he realized, it is BECAUSE of all these "challenges" I NEED/WANT to come to yoga, so I can overcome all the obstacles and my yoga practice can win over all.

So please join me in this new adventure and new chapter, it will be nothing less than amazing, whatever it brings. Bikram Yoga Training, here I come! Namaste

One Down, Just 23 more

It is the first day of a new year, new decade and new Bike Run Yoga Challenge (BRY Challenge). I ran my first BRY Challenge event today, an easy 5k that turned out to actually be a 5 mile run! I should pay better attention to what I sign up for!

I signed up for what I thought was the New Year's Day 5k run near my house. I thought it was perfect, close and short; a good way to start off the year. I picked up my shirt and number yesterday, never occurred to me to look at the shirt. I looked up the race info again online yesterday and still didn't notice it was a 5 mile race.

It was FREEZING when I got up. I walked to the race, it was only 1/2 a mile from my house. I ended up jogging just to stay warm. Frost was still on the ground and the leaves were cracking under my feet because they were pieces of ice.

As I stood around waiting with the other runners, a lady comes on over the loud speaker and is explaining the course. "You are going to take a left on Lawther, go about 2 1/2 miles down. At Tiffany you are going to turn left and come back on the trail. Someone will be taking photos at about 4 1/2." What?! What mile? I turned to the guy next to me, "how far are we running?" "Five miles," he says. I say, "oh, I thought this was a 5k."

He looks at me a little funny and says "is this the first moment you realized it was 5 miles?" "Uh, yes!" And at that point people took off and I didn't have time to think, I had to start running! So 5 miles... Here I come!

It was blistering cold and at moments I was cursing at myself for not wearing gloves. And the nice man at Run On that convinced me NOT to buy long running pants, that capris would be enough, was ABSOLUTELT wrong! Long pants were a must! My calfs were very cold. My fingers were freezing and my hands were in a permanent fist shape, I could barely move my fingers. And yet, I was sweating, unbelievable.

I made it to the finish line... A little beat up but I finished. As I was running mile 4 and I could feel my glut muscles working, I remembered a conversation I just have with my personal trainer, that I need her bc I would never push myself to my max on my own. Running is no different. I COULD have run faster... But I would have had to work harder and it would have hurt more. And heck, it is January 1 for goodness sake! I have 23 more events in my BRY Challenge, no need to blow it out on the first event. Plenty of time to shine.

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