Some Like It Hot

I love a good deal. Anytime I can save money, I'm all over it. Especially when it means trying out something that I've wanted to try. Enter Groupon. I saw an offer for Hot Yoga and at $19 for 5 sessions, it seemed too good to pass up. Of course, I'm never one to do anything crazy alone, so I quickly recruited Sam to join me. After obsessively researching the topic and hydrating myself to the point of drowning for five days I was ready for my first class.

Sam and I chose to start with a 90-minute Hot 26 class. From what I can tell, this is basically a Bikram class with a different name. Twenty-six poses, two times through. I'm not going to lie, the heat is intense, but I kind felt like a bad ass in there. There's something empowering about raising yourself off the floor in a Full Locust and seeing sweat pouring off your face. And surviving my first class? Priceless. I went to the same class yesterday and clearly wasn't properly hydrated because I was fighting blackouts during the first two segments. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The bright side was that I nailed a few of the poses I struggled with the first session. Camel Pose has my heart.

Now that I've attended a couple of classes (which by no means makes me an expert on the subject), here are my preliminary pros and cons:

Pros:
*I've finally become a water drinker and wonder how I've survived all this time as an athlete without it. I grossly underrated its value.
*It challenges me mentally and physically.
*The heat and sweating makes my skin glow for a solid 24 hours after taking the class.
*Muscle-toning benefits
*Yoga is great for runners

Cons:
*Unpredictable - but yoga has always been this way for me. There are days when I just can't find my balance but I wouldn't blame this on the heat.
*The heat can make you lightheaded and/or nauseous.
*Cost - it gets a little pricey when you figure the clothes, equipment, and membership. I consider it to be a good investment, but others may not appreciate the price tag.
*Grandiose claims of toxin release and calorie-burn may not be that accurate which is only a con if that's why you're doing it. Which I am not.

Hot Yoga is definitely not for everyone - some gyms have deals for first-timers who are unsure if it's something they would enjoy. My gym has 15 days for $15 and a friend of mine goes to a gym where they can bring a friend on Thursdays at no cost to the friend. These are both great options for Hot Yoga wannabe's to test the waters before taking the plunge.

Ruuuuuuning in the rain!

They're here. If you didn't read my previous blog you probably don't know who "they" are. I'm referring to my new running shoes: the Brooks PureConnect 2. After three days of tracking them on their journey across the country like Carmen San Diego, the UPS man delivered the precious cargo to my door late this afternoon. I was literally squealing with delight as I opened up the box. Are your sunglasses handy? You might want to put them on. Feast your eyes on these beauties:

Could you just die?? In their blinding neon glory, they were (and are) all I had ever dreamed of and more.....so much more. Is it just me, or do splashes of neon automatically make shoes look faster? Despite the fact that I was still in my dress and tights from school I laced up and ran to a mirror to check them out. I was quite a sight to behold, let me tell ya! The ridiculousness of my outfit was too much to bear so I quickly changed into my running gear in anticipation of a 2-mile rest run around the neighborhood - right after I waited for my phone to charge. Ugh. Of course, by the time it was charged, the rain from earlier had started up again. So I waited some more.

4:00 - still raining - perhaps a trip to Target for a new running shirt is in order.

4:30 - I went home empty-handed but the rain appeared to be letting up. Fingers crossed!

5:00 - IT STOPPED!!

I quickly put on the rest of my gear (it was dark by now so reflective additions had to be made - safety first!), leashed up Darcy, and out the door we went. The rain held off for ohhhh, the first 5 minutes. It started out as a light drizzle but I would definitely say it was raining by the time we finished the second mile. To me it actually felt really good - rain is refreshing when you're working up a good sweat.

So what did I think about the shoes?? Well.........

Hashtag: RUNHAPPYINDEED!!! It was love at first stride. If I had to choose three words to describe these shoes they would be light, speedy, and grippy. They are ridiculously light with a glove-like feel which makes you feel super-fast and despite the wet roads, they had great traction. I ran my first sub-9 minute mile in months which means that not only do I love them cosmetically, but I also love them functionally. Can't get much better for a first run straight out of the box!

I am so glad that Sam & Kendra encouraged me to try the PureConnects. I was sure I was going to be a PureFlow wearer for life but these actually fit/feel better to me. I hope I continue to feel that way during my training for the Special Kids 15k at the end of March.

Happy New Year - A Year Late

Today is the first Monday of the new year, which Kathy Lee & Hoda told me is the most depressing day of the year. Ya know, vacations and holidays are over and it's back to the daily grind. Were you depressed? I sure hope not. I certainly wasn't and I think that sentiment was shared by all teachers in Middle Tennessee. Our winter break was extended by two glorious "inclement weather" days and I'm enjoying every second. I can drink wine and watch The Bachelor guilt-free tonight. Yay!

Speaking of the new year, I am pretty sure that the word resolution is the most used word used in social media right now. Most people resolve to lose weight, eat better, give up this or give up that, etc. I prefer to take a goal-approach because, let's be honest, I rarely never manage to keep my resolutions anyway. Is the word "goal" really "resolution" in disguise? Perhaps, but we'll go with it anyway. My 2014 goals are:

*Become a faster, stronger runner. I ordered new kicks (Brooks PureConnect 2) yesterday and I'm literally twitching from excitement to hit the pavement in them (when they finally get delivered, of course)
*Be a stronger, more independent woman and stand up for myself when I should. I am not a doormat, after all. I did not do this very well in 2013 so it's something I want to improve on in 2014.
*Travel - with the exception of a lunch date with my dad in Alabama over Fall Break, I didn't leave Tennessee for a whole year! Unacceptable. Perhaps a destination race??

In addition to my goals, I saw an idea on Pinterest to write down all the good things that happen throughout the year - surprises, successes, goals achieved, good times, ect., - and throw them into a jar, or in my case, an owl vase to be read on New Year's Eve. I've already written a few down and tossed them in. Hopefully it will continue to heighten my awareness to the little things in life that make me happy :)

 

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014.

 

Cheers!