chicago marathon training: week 2

Week 2 of Chicago Marathon Training
Monday, May 23: Strength Training Week 5, workout 1
Tuesday, May 24: United Relay 5k - Group Stage 318
Wednesday, May 25: Strength Training Week 5, workout 2
Thursday, May 26: Medium run, 8 miles at CP; 1:49:56
Friday, May 27: Medium run, 6 miles at CP;  1:23:53
Saturday, May 28: Soldier Field 10 Mile; (10.10 via Garmin) 2:25:23
Sunday, May 29: Rest Day

Week Total Mileage: 27.69 
Marathon Training Mileage: 56.14
YTD: 426.32

This was a super busy, fun week as far as running goes (and work too, but that's not always as fun). 

My coach from Sweat Tracker was actually in town for a conference, so Monday night I went into the city to have dinner with her. It was so great to meet her in person. We talked running, upcoming strategies, and life. I feel like having met in person we have strengthened our bond as coach/running student and it's awesome. Something about talking with someone face-to-face adds to the relationship (duh). Also, she agreed to meet for pizza, so I mean... she's super cool.

Coach Val and I at Gino's East :)

Two days after running the Chicago Spring Half Marathon, I was back where that finished at The Park at Lakeshore East to take part in the United Relay Group Stage 5k. Little did I know I'd make some new, awesome friends and have a BLAST. 

I'll have a blog recap soon about the Relay, but you can read my initial post on it when I first registered if you're interested in reading what it was all about. 

It turned into a very laid back 5k, as about half way through we decided to stop and take photos, meet up with some of the other runners, and then stopped for group photos by Buckingham Fountain... and then walked back to the park. The crew had some time to kill, knowing that some of the legs coming up were cycling, so time would be made up then. Seriously, I had so so so much fun and really look forward to running again next year (and hopefully being available to do more legs!). Here's my BibRave review.

So much fun at the United Relay of America Chicago Group Stage!

Strength training has been getting tougher each week, naturally. It takes longer to complete each workout, approximately 30 minutes as apposed to the beginning few weeks which were about 15–20 — this is of course when you are beginning to learn all of the different exercises, and then as weeks progress you up the reps and add in advanced forms. I never though I could sweat so much using nothing but my body weight and occasionally a medicine ball or small weights. I'm going to be honest with you. I have very weak arms (part of the reason strength training was needed — I think you remember I've also mentioned my weak core haha). Anyway, I'd been using 3 pound weights when weights were needed, and a 5 pound medicine ball. I attempted 5 pound weights this week, and let me tell you. OW. After about 15 reps my arms were killing me. Maybe I need more time before jumping up more... :-/ (embarrassing!).

Thursday was a medium run with 8 miles. I ended with an average pace of 13:44. Not horrible for that distance, for me. I'm still trying to get used to this summer weather... it could take all summer haha.The humidity is just so draining — dehydrating you no matter how much water/electrolytes you're drinking and your body can't cool off because the sweat doesn't evaporate. Woof.

Thursday I also headed to Fleet Feet Chicago to grab packets for the Soldier Field 10 Mile on Saturday. While there, I grabbed some new gear (sports bras and shorts) while they were having a sale, and my pal Mike helped fit me for some new shoes. I love my Nike Lunarglide, but I needed another shoe to alternate with when I have back to back runs. While I could probably get away with more Lunarglide, I thought I'd give another style a shot. I ended with the New Balance Vongos. I'll keep you updated on how those go. For now, I'll just be wearing them for errands and walking, then some short runs to break them in.

Friday was a 6 mile day. I had a 13:59 pace on this run. I was not feeling the heat and was feeling so drained early on. I walked the last half mile of this run because I was starting to feel sick, but I refused to not get in my 6 miles.

Saturday was race day! I had a BLAST meeting up with so many friends at this race — Angie, Josh, Rachel and her husband Mike, Eric, and Jacob. We took some fun photos (naturally), and all headed our separate ways for race time. I'll have a full recap eventually (I have so many to catch up on), but it was fun. In the meantime you can read my BibRave review. Mom and I ran/walked 30/90 intervals. Again, the heat was not my friend come mile 6ish, but we kept on truckin'.

Two of my best buds - Josh and Angie.

Sunday was a welcomed rest day. I had the whole day free, and though my intentions were to do laundry and cleaning, my husband convinced me it was worth skipping to sit outside with the dogs on our back porch. It was warm out, but in the shade it was lovely because there was a breeze. Though some pesky bees kept bothering us (and our dogs attempting to eat said bees), it was nice to just relax for once. We shared some new brews and chatted.

I hope you guys don't mind my week in review gets written nearly a week after the fact haha. I've been busy with work and running and life in general, so it's just the way it is ;)

How is your training going? What's your big upcoming race?

pure barre class recap

Hello guys and gals! As some of you know, I tried out my first Pure Barre class last night. Let me tell you, it was a doozy! 

Pure Barre

Here's a little bit of info about Pure Barre (from their website):

Pure Barre is the fastest, most effective, yet safest way to change your body. 

In just 55 minutes you will achieve a full-body workout concentrating on the areas women struggle with the most: hips, thighs, seat, abdominals and arms. The Pure Barre technique is low-impact, protecting your joints by avoiding any bouncing or jumping. Each strength section of the workout is followed by a stretching section in order to create long, lean muscles without bulk. The technique works to defy gravity by tapering everything in and lifting it up!

The concentration involved while taking Pure Barre allows you to block "life" out for the hour, creating the mental benefits similarly obtained by the practice of yoga or meditation. A transformed body and a clear head in just one hour—it doesn't get much better than this.

I met with a friend to try it out together, so after work we met at the River North location. About 15 minutes before class, we went inside and filled out a waiver. The woman working the front desk explained to use that if we wanted to get the special new client package, we could do so after class or within 24 hours online. She also let us know where the lockers were and how to set the locks. There was one bathroom, a small changing area, and a water bottle filling station (I thought that was pretty neat). She also let us know which pieces of equipment we would need to start out with and where to find it.

Grip Sticky Sock

When we walked into the studio, it was already pretty packed (we were two of the last people to enter), and not knowing how much space we needed, we kind of walked around like idiots trying to figure out where we should go. Luckily, one nice gal said she could move over so we could squeeze in together. 

When I read it was ballet-inspired, I was expecting to work on some core muscles and do some toning by using some ballet-esque moves. WRONG. For the most part, when they say 'ballet-inspired', it seemed mostly like they meant the studio – mirrors and barres along all of the walls. I don't feel like any of the moves we did were inspired by ballet itself, though. However, I never took any ballet classes, so maybe I'm wrong? I guess I should have known better from watching the video and reading the descriptions haha. Oops. I was also expecting a bit less intense. The ladies in the video made the moves look easy! Haha. That was not the case for this girl. I feel like there should have been a few more sweaty, red faced, hard breathing people in the video ;)



It was definitely one tough workout! They mean it when they say 'Lift, Tone, Burn'. Ouch. I feel like I am relatively in shape. I run 3–4 times a week, getting faster each year (though not fast by any means), and I've begun to do some strength training more frequently. However, this class kicked my butt and made me feel completely out of shape! I was using muscles I apparently have not been using, like, at all. Honestly, 15 minutes in I felt like I might pass out or vomit, so I stepped outside for a few minutes to cool down. Talk about pathetic haha. The women that were working at the front desk area came over the check if I was ok and needed anything. They were super sweet, but I just needed a bit of cooler air and to take some deep breaths. After a few minutes I felt better and returned to class to sweat some more.

It was super intense the first 20 minutes – which was using the hand weights (I only used the 2lb set), working on arms. I was dripping sweat 5 minutes in. I was obviously the only newbie, as everyone else new and anticipated the changes in movements and transitions from one thing to the next. 

After that it calmed down a bit, though the class was still working it hard. We used small balls, stretch tubes, and a mat for the rest of the exercised. During leg exercises I was shaking so much, as well as with the abs. I took a few breaks here and there to regain composure and to fix my form. When I get tired, form goes out the window. The barre was used for abs, legs, seat, and then we did floor exercises for more seat, hips, and thighs. It's amazing how tiring such small movements can be! I also had to skip some of the exercises, because the position we had to take on the floor bothered my hip a LOT. As in, sharp pangs each time I tried. I was ok with it on the other side, but I felt like a lazy bum just sitting there waiting for the next moves.

The class was fun, but it really wore me out. I was happy that the time went quick—no dragging. Even though it's a bit pricey, I'd say it's definitely worth the money. You could tell everyone in the class was working hard, evident by the sweat (though not as much as me haha) and shaking legs/arms/abs. I was sore when we left—it was tough to carry my bag haha—and I woke up with sore muscles just about everywhere (though my legs feel ok... does that mean they are the strongest part of my body? Most likely). I'd say from the pains, I need to work on my core and arms/back the most.

Online I had read that it can take up to 10 classes to get the hang of it – I can definitely see that being the case for me. Obviously with each class, you'd understand more of the movements, plus you'd be building up your endurance and strength with each one. Our teacher was very friendly, and you could see her going around the room helping people with their form. A couple times she came by us to push my back a bit, or give us a tip about what we should be doing (I couldn't always understand the lingo, or when it was a bit faster paced, so I often just took a quick break to check out what everyone else was doing). She was also around after class to answer questions, if anyone had any.

They have a deal for new customers, a cheaper unlimited package, however, the class times were a bit limited and a lot of the days we were interesting in going were already booked (only wait list available). That's a bit of a bummer. 

A little more about Pure Barre if you are interested:

What is Pure Barre? 
Utilizing the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements set to fantastic music, Pure Barre is a total body workout that lifts your seat, tones your thighs, abs, and arms, and burns fat in record- breaking time. 

What does Pure Barre do for my body? 
By taking Pure Barre classes, you will burn calories and gain lean muscle. Its low-impact, isometric movements target and tone certain areas of your body, and your heart rate will go up and down depending on how hard you work. 

How soon will I see results? 
You can see results in just 10 classes! For optimal results, classes should be taken at least 3-4 times per week. Your actual results will vary, as it depends on how often you are coming and what you are eating! 

Do you have different levels of Pure Barre classes? 
All classes are the same level as the technique was designed to work for people at all levels of fitness. That way, you can choose the class that suits your schedule, rather than being forced to work out at a specific time based on the level of class. The positions and movements are basic - it’s how deep you work in them that makes the difference. We are constantly changing our music and moves to keep each class fresh and exciting. In fact, you should never experience the exact same class twice! Studios periodically offer a few specialty classes, as well as intensives. 

Why does my body shake? 
When your body shakes, it means your muscles are reaching the point of fatigue, which is a good thing! Your goal is to have the muscle group you are targeting during a specific section of class shake every time. After the shake, you will stretch, to elongate the muscles while they are warm and malleable. This leads to long, lean muscles!

Beer flight = YUM. Great for post-workout, right?

I forgot to take any pictures with my pal, and since phones aren't allowed in the studio itself, I didn't get any of the inside. BUT... we did go out for drinks afterwards, so here's a picture of the flight we shared :)

Anyone else try a class like this? Was it hard for you? Does it get a little easier, the more you do it? Did you use sticky socks?

*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post in any form. I paid for my own class. I was not asked to review it, but wanted to for any one that might be interested. I also like to document my own experiences – it's one of the reasons why I started the blog, after all.*

friday five: this summer i will...

It's Friday Five time! I'm linking up this (very lovely) Friday with the DC gals: Courtney of: Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia of: You Signed up for What?, and Mar of: Mar on the Run. The theme for this week is: 'This summer I will... 

1. Eat healthier. I'd like to eat more salads, fruits, veggies, and chicken over the summer. I'll be (attempting to) limit my fast food and fattier meals in exchange for healthier ones. Wish me luck, because I'm going to need it! I'm hoping with some willpower and routine, it will become easier. It's not like I eat our every day, but I do love me some Cheetoh Puffs, Doritos, pizza, and cheeseburgers, and when the craving calls, I usually answer :-/ I am writing this post as I eat a salad for lunch, which I packed up this morning before leaving for work. It took some time to gather it all together, so I'm quite proud of myself for getting it done haha. Not to say that I'm giving up everything that's unhealthy, just trying to limit the amount I eat.

2. Start Doepy training. Ahh! Can't believe July 1 will be the beginning of training for the Dopey Challenge. Scary, though the heavy mileage doesn't come until September, where it starts hitting 13+ miles, and the inclusion of a week with 4 days of running instead of 3 (there are 6 of them total, I believe). I'm following the Jeff Galloway plan up on the runDisney training page, as I also use his run/walk method. I figure it'll give me my best shot in finishing all of the races. Note that I am not concerned with my time for any of the races, just that it's within the time limits.

3. Start cross training on a regular basis. I'd love to get into swimming, but I have yet to find a gym or location that's close enough to home or work and is a reasonable price. Other than swimming, I'd like to start riding a bike, and try some other forms of cross training to see what I enjoy most. 

4. Strength train. I suppose this can fit in with cross training a bit, especially if I start swimming (that builds arm strength, right?), but I'd like to build and tone up my muscles. I don't have much strength in my core or arms, and would love to fix that. I really think it will help my running, and maybe even increase my speed and help prevent injuries. I'm pretty concerned with getting burnt out from running or injured once the heavy miles hit in the late summer/early fall. I want to be prepared, and I think cross/strength training will help. Along with pre/post run nutrition, figuring out how to foam roll, and just overall taking care of my feet and body post runs. All of these things are key to keeping me in tip top shape for training :)

5. Spend time outdoors (with plenty of sunscreen and hats, of course). Whether it be reading (I want to do a lot of reading!), walking the dogs (as long as it isn't too hot for them), picnics in the park, hanging out with friends at their pools – I want to be outdoors enjoying the fresh air, instead of being cooped up inside being lazy and unproductive on the couch. I'm really hoping for a fairly mild summer, so that I can stand being outside long enough to enjoy it! I'm not a fan of 90+ degrees (or 80s, if I'm being honest with you, don't hate me).

EXTRAS: A few other things on my list include: 

• finish getting the office organized, cleaned, and have it stay that way.

• go through clothes and donate things no longer worn.

• organize my closet and dresser drawers.

• spend time with my family.

What's on your summer to-do list? Any fun vacation plans? Do you foam roll? Can you come over and teach me how to do it? What form(s) of cross training do you do, if any? Looking for tips or recommendations, please :) 

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts and link up if you are joining in! There are always a lot of blogs linked up, and it's interesting to see everyone's takes on the theme. I suggest taking a look at a few (or all, if you have the time). Have a great weekend, everyone!