Can't keep runnin' away

I have a complicated relationship with running, so even though

• Last night at the gym my body was begging me to take it running
• Today it was 50 degrees out (!)

I had to do mental battle with the gladiators in my head

• You'll never make it! You'll get tired and quit!
• You're a jerk for being able to run when your sister can hardly walk!

Boring, I know, but hey, recognizing my gladiators makes it easier to battle 'em with giant puffy Q-tips things, n'est-ce pas?

So, how did I get my butt in gear today?

• I put on my workout gear as soon as I woke up
• I told myself, "It's okay to walk. Hey, let's just go for a walk today!"
• I put my shoes and North Face on just in case on my way down to drop off my recyclables

Lo and behold, after sorting metals and paper, I found myself walking out the door of my building. Walking for a few steps. Damn it's a nice day today. And then -- a run.

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Okay, I think I have totally nailed these ASCII divider thingies.

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Jog-a-log down Grand to East River Park, down the East River, and back up Clinton. Several sets of stairs at the grandstand and a few sprinting intervals. Followed by a nice hot tub.

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American gladiator

The show transfixed me when it was around the first time. And now that there's a new batch of gladiators ready to take on mortals as they hit each other with giant Q-Tips, climb up walls, and battle obstacle courses, I can't help but think ...

... dang I really want to be on that show. Or at least play around on the set of it.

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Hitting the weights

It's probably been a year, possibly more, since I've hit the weights. But I was inspired to get back at 'em by a fitness model that I sat next to while getting my hair colored at the L'Oreal Professional Training Institute. That's right, a skinny blonde thing convinced me to remind my ears of the sound of weights hitting industrial strength composite metals.

1. You should've seen the abs on her comp card
2. Turns out that she has a JD she doesn't use
3. Hey, she was reading Tolstoy

Anyway, don't judge a book by its cover, I say.

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Truth is, getting to the gym is very difficult for me. Last month I encountered what must be the most amazing home gym I have ever laid eyes upon. Seriously drool worthy. We're talking, industrial strength floor padding, floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall mirrors, two big flat screen TVs, Nautilus machines, and an erg. It must've been at least a hundred grand to put that sucker in.

Alas, I do not live in that home. I live in Manhattan and the gym that I'm a member of is nowhere near my apartment.

So to motivate myself, I:

• Added a "workout" box to my very nerdy weekly matrix thing that keeps me organized
• Have decided to blog about my workouts

I figure if I can get inspired by my basketball teammate Lisa's blog about marathon training, then ... uh ... I can inspire me to trot my butt to the gym.

Plus, aren't these section dividers cute?

(Say yes.)

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1. Checked out the Kundalini yoga class and chatted with the instructor to make sure that total noobz could come to her class
2. 1 minute on (33 spm / 1:50), 1 minute off on erg, resistance = 4
3. Stretch
   
4. 3 x 8 @ 70 lat pulldowns, 30 second walk with arms above head in between sets
   
5. 3 x 8 @ 70 leg curls, 30 second walk with arms above head in between sets
6. 3 x 8 @ 70 leg extensions, 30 second walk with arms above head in between sets
7. 3 x 8 @ 20 bicep curls, no rest in between sets, stood on tiptoes for middle set
8. 5 Russian twist things on that stability ball thing
9. Walked my downward dog
   
10. Stretch
11. 3 minutes on (32 spm / 1:57), 2 minutest off on erg, resistance = 9
12. Sauna / steam / shower

Noted: I think the protein shake I like might be the cause of my excessive, umm, tooting today. Ahem.

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