The Groan Heard Round the World

Categories: Crosstraining, Spring Break, Training, Weight training

In an unending quest to shake things up around here, well specifically around my midriff, I went to a new (to me) Barbell Strength class the other day. You already know I am no stranger to weights, so this was no biggie. Or so I thought.

I got to class on the late-ish side and of course had to set up next to the  one, token guy in the class. Since class was already starting by the time I was loading up my barbell I just grabbed for whatever. I’m strong as dirt right? Ha!

As much as I say love weights, they are a side dish to running. You could say that running is the grilled chicken breast of my fitness routine, while weights are like some nice quinoa studded with veggies.Who’s not fond of side dishes?  But lately my ‘quinoa’ I mean strength training, has been getting bland. Because I’m usually short on time, I tend to default to the same exercises, which are no longer challenging my body.

While I do strength workouts for legs, having a barbell slung across my back was a bit of a shock to the system. I’m always worrying about how my run will be impacted the next day. Well I threw caution to the wind and went ahead with the whole enchilada. Let the weights fall where they may. We lunged and squatted. Stepped up and off a bench, dead lifted, cleaned, jerked, curtsied, you name it, we did it. The ole bod was one giant soba noodle when all was said and done and I knew paralysis was imminent.

While yesterday’s run was not what it should have been, I had more in the tank (and my legs God bless them) than I expected. I’ll be returning to this barbell strength class….until it gets comfy.

It’s Spring Break! Not sure that means much of anything to me since we’re not going anywhere exotic or warm. I tell myself I don’t need to get up at 4:45 but I will anyway. I guess I’m off of lunch-making duty so yippeeee!

How do you keep your body challenged? Is it spring break for you?

Magazines and Runners Who Read Them

Categories: Health & Fitness Magazines, Runners World

I was stunned the other day when my Runners World mag arrived with a big THIS IS YOUR LAST ISSUE sign on it. Unlike other mags who start sending renewal info with the second issue of your subscription, they gave me zero notice. None.

Now I’m scrambling looking for a good deal. It seems like I’ve been getting RW forever, long before I was a ‘serious’ runner. I can’t imagine life without it.

This got me to thinking of all the other mags I still get paper copies of, despite living in a digital age. Mostly I like to pull them out when I’m waiting for the kids at their activities. But I noticed this morning I’ve got 3 issues of Fitness still in the plastic wrapper. Oops. That one was part of  a New Year’s ‘too good to pass up’ deal.  Here’s a list of what shows up in my mailbox:

• RW: The same stuff hashed over and over but I can’t imagine life without it.
• Running Times: A tad hardcore but I like it. Plus it was super cheap.

• Experience Life: This is is put out by Lifetime Fitness. I am continuously impressed with the content and read it cover to cover monthly.
• Shape: Subscribed for years. Then stopped for a couple. Then re-upped with a great New Year deal. So far not impressed. I don’t need a celebrity on the cover every month. Do I give a rat’s ass how Jennifer Love Hewitt stays fit? The answer is no. I’d identify with and appreciate more an ‘average’ person. Maybe it’s just me–it’s spring and its about zero here and I’m grumpy? Do you enjoy seeing celebs in fitness mags?
• Fitness: This one is light. The fact that I’ve got 3 sitting here unread is telling.
• Everyday with Rachel Ray: I recently let my Bon Apetit Subscription lapse as it became just too highbrow for my needs. I got EwRR in hopes of finding new meal ideas but I’ve come up short. 

What magazines do you subscribe to? Any food/cooking ones you especially like?