Warrior Dash DC...

Spartan Race and Warrior Dash* races are all the rage in amateur racing these days.  Those adventures that combine strength, endurance, the chance to leap through fire, and enormously silly costumes as participants launch themselves toward the finish line in hopes of glory and beer.  Indeed, the finisher "medal" at the Warrior Dash is a proper viking helmet - horns and all.  There was a time when I thought to enter such a test of my warrior ethos (in truth, I did register for one that I scratched due to last minute overseas travel) but no longer. Since my back injury in 2010, I have made a fragile peace with my sacroiliac joint allowing me to run and do yoga, but I'm not interested in launching into an affair that may set me back again in order to look silly and cross the finish line covered in mud (I can find mud on a great trail run).

Well, it appears my avoidance has caught up to me after all...it's called the urban jungle.  Yes, even residential DC can present the amateur runner with obstacles to test agility, balance and the ability to stay upright on two feet.  Just what were these obstacles I encountered in the shadows of the illustrious capitol building?  River fording - a great crossing of the sidewalk span drenched by the man watering said sidewalk (yeah...I said that right, watering the sidewalk).  The chaotic crossover* - balancing while hopping back and forth to avoid teetering into one of the many holes created by missing sidewalk bricks.  Storming Normandy* - dodging the bikes, baby carriages, other determined joggers and crazy canines dashing across my path.  And last but not least, Hell's Hill* - the final sprint back up 6th Street NE to Stanton Park on that great incline.  Yes, I completed my own Warrior Dash today....now where's my fuzzy warrior helmet and beer?

On a more solemn note, I ended the day with a touch of perspective and inspiration.  As my yoga class was getting set to start, a group of ladies entered together, one of them holding herself upright using the forearm crutches symbolic of her cerebral palsy.  Her ability to fully participate in the class was hampered by her disability, but she was there, on that mat, bringing peace to her body in meditation while the rest of the class bent and twisted to their hearts content.  Let me remember not to let my aches, pains and impediments be a crutch for not "being present" for myself and my well-being.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.24
Time:   34:07 (average pace of 8:02 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, Stanton Park
Feeling:  Settled and in complete working order

*These terms are fully credited to Warrior Dash.

Continuing with the cross training...

I had every intention of getting in 4-5 miles over lunch and then hitting the yoga class at the gym tonight. Well, it was for very good reason that the lunchtime run was shelved, or rather it wasn't shelved but I had zero breathing space in the schedule to accomplish it. I'm actually fairly excited about the why of it. If you have an interest in foreign policy, tune in to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee mark up tomorrow afternoon.

So the best daytime intentions aside, I needed to maximize very limited time this evening since I not only wanted to get in the yoga class, but also need to pack to leave the country again on Friday (I'm already behind in this regard. If you know me, you know I have a very detailed packing plan for every trip and the bag is usually ready to go several days ahead of time in case the schedule gets messed up). I made it to yoga.  I already feel more bendy.  It was more of a gentle yoga class, which I need for stress and recovering from Monday night's tough class, but still contained a series of more challenging balance poses and an abs series. With the bikini season around the corner I can use all the abs help I can get. After all, while I'm no heifer, I'm definitely not the chick of 7 years ago with 10% body fat. Come June you'll be able to tell if I've stuck to pushing a greater number of abs exercises into my routine...that is also assuming I'm still not blazing white and you're are blinded by my skin tone so can't see whether my middle is toned...on second thought...:)

I ended the night with a brief jog on the treadmill just to tick off a couple more miles and get my heart rate up.  Don't get excited, it really was nothing to jump up and down over, but it was movement.  I hope to get in 7ish miles tomorrow so that at least I hit the monthly goal before getting on a plane Friday morning, because if my next location doesn't believe in air conditioned fitness centers like the Emirates, then the next week is guaranteed to be less than inspired.  Trust me though, I've already started working on a back up plan.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  2.52
Time:  22:01 (average pace of 8:44 per mile)
Location:  24 Hour Fitness treamills and group ex room
Feeling:  I'm glad I won't be back to yoga for a week and a half, the wrist needs a break...still hurts pretty bad

Plyowhoa...

I know athletes should cross train - mix it up to maximize. Problem is, I'm basically a one-trick pony that dabbles elsewhere. I do like yoga, I do like kayaking, I'm a pretty decent swimmer, occasionally I try something else and I definitely skimp in regular strength training, but I only tend to find consistency in running. That's why I'm going to try to readjust myself a little and get back on the yoga mat a couple times a week (gets that strength training without having to drag myself into the weight room) and maybe toss in some other activities here and there.

Tonight I hit up the yogalates/plyo/ab attack/arm weights class - better known as mind/body bootcamp, at the gym. I used to be a regular in this class, but then Mondays became crazy town and I just could not get back to Annapolis in time. I remember why I love to hate the class now. Erica is one tough cookie. Aside from my wrist still killing me (yeah, that's an embarassing foray back into strength training that I'll save for another day...or never) so having to be very deliberate about moving through that joint, I am fairly certain my abs will join the screaming tomorrow. God bless it running 10 miles is easier than an hour in that room. All that said, it feels great to move the body in that way and hopefully I can get it to pay off for me again.

I also could not totally take the day off from running since I am going to lose at least one, if not more days, this week. Now, granted, I can't really call a couple miles on the treadmill before having to hit the mat for bootcamp a real run. But hey, the miles add up in the end and if all I can accomplish in the time I have is two miles, then its two I may not otherwise have added to the total this year so no complaining. Anyway, I'm looking forward to a nice session with the pavement tomorrow. Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles: 2.01
Time: 16:54 (average pace of 8:24 per mile)
Location: 24 Hour Fitness Treadmill Zone and Group X Classroom
Feeling: Good tonight, I expect to remember muscles I've ignored by Wednesday

And now its April....

So we've had a pretty decent weather swing this week thanks to the arctic blast that came through. Monday it was 20...today it was 50. My body isn't quite certain if we're running in winter or spring conditions. Anyway, I'll take the slightly warmer temps because it means I can wear my crops and only one top layer.

Today's run was interesting. Like I said I would earlier this week, I went back to yoga last night...and Di kicked our asses! It was more like boot camp than yoga. So needless to say, my whole upper body is pretty useless (and for you non-runners, the upper body actually carries you while running instead of just being additional weight). In fact, my upper body basically screamed with every step. Otherwise it was a nice sunny day out for a jog around the city.

Stats -
Miles: 4.02
Time: 34:19 (average pace 8:32 per mile)
Location: Capitol Hill and Lincoln Park
Feeing: Pretty decent, though a little sore up top.