Hello friends. How’s summer treating you? I know it’s not technically summer until June 20 but with the kids out of school and 90 degree days, it sure feels like summer. Finn’s summer will look like a mix of babysitters and camps. I’ve also adjusted my work schedule to be home in the afternoons on the days that he’s with me (I’m done most days with in-person stuff by 1-2p anyway since I start so early). He’s got a friend over right now for a playdate which gave me a minute to jump on my laptop and write this post while they’re entertaining each other.
I have a few updates for y’all on TransRockies training, work, workouts and some special events I have coming up.
TRANSROCKIES TRAINING UPDATE
I am 46 days out from the TransRockies Run and to be honest…my training is not where I hoped it would be at this point. I feel good about getting out on the trails for some longer efforts recently but those have been few and far between. Day-to-day running has been pretty non-existent between a bad chesty respiratory thing I got from Finn that sidelined me for two full weeks and a lot going on at work.
I did make it out to Crowders last Saturday morning for a very sweaty 13.1 miles on the trails with 2600 feet of climb. I did the Triple Peaks run again and it’s a good one to be just 45 minutes outside of Charlotte.
I was supposed to hit Doughton Recreation Area on Monday for a 16 birthday miles on the trails but thunderstorm and flash flood watches made me opt out. I was really bummed to miss that birthday outing and training opportunity.
I’ve resigned myself to spending more time on the stair climber than I ever have in my life and I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would haha. I’d like to get back to being consistent with running at least four days a week for the next six weeks. Finally, I have two weekends coming up when I don’t have Finn that I’m planning to do triple long efforts on the trails (Fri/Sat/Sun) to help prepare me for six days in a row on my feet in Colorado. Even though it’s called the TransRockies “Run” we’ll do a lot more power hiking than running.
WORK UPDATE
Work has been busy, busy but in a good way. Earlier this year I decided to make a new gym that was opening in Charlotte my new fitness home and I feel like I’m finally settling in and finding my groove at The Health Club. My days are a blend of personal training and group exercise – and it’s a perfect mix for me. I log a lot of hours out on the training floor with clients.
And I spend a lot of time in this room teaching and working with other instructors to support their needs. I shared a while back that I launched a new Flow + Lift format at the gym and that’s been fun to get going. It’s 10 minutes of dynamic yoga flow to warm up, 30 minutes of strength training and 10 minutes of yoga stretch to cool down – all in a heated room. So sweaty, so hard.
I’ve also just started teaching our Sculpt format and I’m super pumped about that. It’s more mat pilates-esque with lighter weights, more repetition and different props. I’m really enjoying sequencing workouts in different ways and cannot wait to expand my skills in this area.
While I teach a lot of yoga (and have consistently for 14 years), it’s been a minute since I taught group ex like this and it’s been great for me. I LOVE the energy of group.
I do still pop over to Charlotte Yoga a few times a week to teach power yoga. It fills my cup in such a special way.
One challenge of group fitness is that I have to do so much of the class with them whereas when I’m training clients or teaching yoga, I just demo here and there and mostly adjust/correct form. I’m teaching around five group classes a week and I’m trying to find a groove where I am still able to run consistently and get my own heavy lifts in. I haven’t found that sweet spot yet but I know I’ll get there.
Given the extra physicality, I have been focusing a little more on recovery. Luckily, we have sauna, steam, hot tub and cold plunge at the gym. Cold plunge is soooo hard for me but leaning into it for reducing inflammation. Our cold plunge is REALLY cold (like 45 degrees) so I typically just get in up to my hips for a minute at a time to help legs. I did go all the way under last week and it completely took my breath away.
UPCOMING EVENTS
I have a couple of upcoming events that I wanted to share.
This coming Saturday (June 21), I’m partnering with Dana Childs to offer a special evening of yoga and energy healing. We’ve done this event together several times and it’s always so powerful.
And in July, I’ll be leading a workshop on all things backbends at Charlotte Yoga as part of our Summer School Series (my brainchild 🙂 ). It’s going to be an awesome summer of yoga learning!
BOOK ONE OR MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS HERE
And that brings us up to speed for this post!
QUESTIONS
Stair Climber – love or no thanks?
What is your favorite type of group exercise class to take?
Cold plunge – have you tried it? Thoughts?
Since you don’t really like them, Stacy Sims has spoken about cold plunges not being great for women (different for men). She’s spoken about it on several podcasts. Just thought I’d toss it out there since you don’t seem a fan anyway haha
I tried an unofficial cold plunge in the absolute frigid ocean in canon beach, OR last year. Similar kind of take your breath away feeling and it ached. I just ran in, dipped under and ran back out. But I totally get the appeal. It was exhilarating.
Love a stair climber! It’s a piece of machinery that makes me sweat like no other and any opportunity I have to use one, I do! I’ll actually be hiking the Inca Trail in October so I would love to see a PB Runner Stairmaster workout on the blog!
I came here to catch up and thank you for always posting such inspiring content. I love it!!! And I love your app too.
I’m so sorry to hear about Zoey!!! I am holding you all in my heart. I am still not over sweet Sullie. My own doodle is 11 and your “sniffing walks” with Sullie are what we do most of the time these days. I wish our dogs could live forever.
I have been embracing the stairclimber! We had an exceptionally cold/snowy winter in NE Ohio and on September I will be doing the Rim to Rim, spend the night (at a lodge!) and hiking back! Lots of up & down!
Excited about your Transrockies event! I even told my friend that we should do Carver Gap! Love the trails and hiking/running!
Hugs for you Finn, Zoey and Benji!