Trainers doing pushups for charity - that's me in the middle
Anyone who regularly reads my blog has probably noitced that recently I’ve been MIA. The truth is I have been swamped! Between a full book of clients, office work and my own training I have been running around like a crazy person. Online updates and, unfortunately sleep, have taken back seats recently to other things. Just a little update on what I’ve been doing: We had our first Health Fair at Custom Bodies Fitness, Irvine on October 10th.
Outdoor cycling class
It was a great success and we hope to see it grow next year.
The day after the health fair I woke up at the crack of dawn to run the Long Beach half marathon. It was a great race and I achieved my personal best of a 1:55, yippee! The course is flat and fast and is well-organized. It’s a fun race and great for beginners. Wanna try it out? Visit the marathon web site to sign up for next year:
As fun as the race was, between the increase in training and the planning for the health fair I came down with a gnarly cold – two days off work one week and a day and a half the next. I never do that! Did I stop to rest and recover? OF COURSE NOT…five days after my half marathon I had the Camp Pendleton Mud Run to complete. Now, I would normally recommend to any client who felt as crappy as I did that she forget about the second race. Rest. Recuperate. Get well. However, I was running on a team in Camp Pendleton. And without 5 people the team is disqualified! I had to find a replacement or run with a horrible cold. Oh no! So a frantic search began for a replacement. I found one, then lost one, found one, then lost one…until the day before the race I realized, cold or not, I was running. Now, the Mud Run isn’t too bad as races go. It’s 6 miles of trails and obstacles and is tons of fun. However, anyone who has ever run it knows about that darn hill. It’s awful! A long, seemingly never-ending slope that just kills you! This is the hill I was worried about. I just felt worn down and tired. I was never going to survive the hill. I woke up grudgingly the next morning, drug myself to the starting line and prepared for a painful race. It started out ok. Then I hit the hill. I couldn’t breathe, I was exhausted and felt dehydrated. So, for the first time in my life, I walked the hill. WALKED IT! Anyone who knows me knows walking is not an option in a race. But the cold won and walk I did. 1 hour 27 minutes later our team finished. Not an overall bad time and I had a blast with my 4 awesome teammates. I actually can’t wait for the June race. If we are all healthy I think we actually have a chance of doing very well. The Mud Run is one of my favorite races of the year.
My awesome team of ladies!
If you are looking for a challenging and belly-laughing fun race to do with friends check it out here:
http://www.camppendletonraces.com/
After the Mud Run I got sick…again! So I have been plodding along ever since attempting to rest and give my body a break. Last weekend I finally did just that, rested. I went to my parents’ house and after two days of sleep and mom’s cooking I finally feel back to my normal self. The moral of my story? LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! Sometimes, you just need a break. Rest and recovery are just as important as exercise itself. And I discovered it was time to take some of my own advice. I sat down and had a serious discussion with my busy self. It was time to stop, take a breath and take some time for myself. And I give the same advice to you - “me time” – it’s invaluable – take time each week for yourself to revitalize your body and rest your mind. No matter how busy you are, how many obligations you have, find a hobby just for you. Here are a few of my favorite ways to spend “Erica time.”
Yoga: yoga can provide a challenging workout or a resorative hour of meditation. Either way you will finish rested and relaxed. And yoga is great for both strength and flexibility. My fave studios in OC are:
Triad Yoga in Irvine: http://triadyogaca.com/
Yogaworks: http://yogaworks.com/
Turn a page: One of my favorite reads recently: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s a great read for anyone going through a period of soul-searching. And it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy – http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm
Walk on the beach: Nothing brings me peace like an early morning walk on the beach, with no one but the surfers and seagulls to keep me company. Ok, so not everyone lives by the beach, but a walk in one of your favorite outdoor spaces can quiet the mind and soul. Sometimes it can be better than a gung-ho workout at the gym. Take a moment, look up to the sky and take a few deep breaths and appreciate the wide open space.
Meditation: I love to spend a few minutes doing what I call “thankful meditations” before bedtime. Pick a relaxing pose (my fave is Viparita Karani http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/690 ) and spend just 5-10 minutes thinking about all the people in your life for whom you are thankful. Just 5 minutes thinking about your friends and loved ones will relax you and make you smile. And it has a way of melting away the stress in your life and helping you remember what is truly important. What a great way to finish your day.
