Free and Discounted Summer Fitness Round Up

Hi everyone!

Thanks for all the awesome congrats I received yesterday for my "blogiversary." I loved reading the comments on yesterday's post about how social media and blogging has affected people's approaches to fitness and healthy living! It's so cool how the advent of social media has changed the face of fitness, making it a lot more social and allowing people to encourage others, oftentimes people they've never met. There's still time to enter the giveaway for a Sparkly Soul headband and free class at Uplift Studios!

In my early months of blogging, back when I was just a wee young thing, I wrote about how to save money on fitness classes. Everything I wrote is still relevant, but in the summer, there are even more awesome free and discounted fitness class opportunities.

I've rounded up some of the cool, free classes happening around New York City, and also picked some discounted classes to highlight.

Loved trying out beginner pilates at this Lululemon store in Montreal!

Free Classes

I've heard that Bryant Park Yoga is an amazing experience. Hundreds of people practicing yoga in beautiful, bustling Bryant Park, with the New York Public Library looming in the background. Classes are at 10:00 AM on Tuesdays and 6:00 PM on Thursdays through September 19.

The fitness wear brand Lole is hosting Lole Women's Meet Ups that spotlight different studios and instructors from around NYC. The events are semi-weekly on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at Pier 25 in Tribeca. The last one in July is taught by the amazing Michelle Mason of Uplift Studios!

The City of New York runs a program called Shape Up NYC that hosts free classes all around the city at all different times. Classes range from kickboxing to yoga to Zumba. There are even free intenSati classes offered!

Nike offers Nike Training Club workouts with awesome instructors at their E 57th Street store, Mondays at 6:30 PM. Check out Kristin's post describing her great experience at the workout. I believe they do run clubs on Thursday nights at 6:30 PM from their Gramercy store, too!

The preeminent source on free summer fitness classes: Well + Good's Summer Guide to New York highlights many cool workouts around the city, including tai chi, pilates, and even a special Equinox class!

And finally, check out JackRabbit Sports, Super Runners Shop, Lululemon, and Athleta for free classes and run clubs year-round. 

Discounted Classes

FitMapped highlights weekly deals on classes for both NYC and LA. They also post reviews, so you can always check out the studio before you attend a class.

Fitist always posts last-minute deals for studios. I've seen terrific discounts on Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp (work out on the Brooklyn Bridge!), I.AM.YOU yoga, and other cool places. The deals are not summer specific, but since studios are less likely to be full during summer months, there are more likely to be great deals!

Speaking of FitMapped, they're currently doing a Fit Crawl that features different studios with discounts each week. It even stretches out to the Hamptons, for those of you lucky people with a house out there.

EDITED TO ADD: Uplift Studios just rolled out half-price off-peak classes! For Mon-Fri classes at 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, and 5:30 PM, Saturday's 12:30 PM class, and Sunday's 11:30 AM class, Uplift has slashed its prices in half through Labor Day weekend! That means classes are only $16. Get on that, ladies!! (Sorry, guys, Uplift is women-only.)

Through August 31, Revolve Fitness is offering single ride and package discounts.

• Single Ride: $25 (reg. $28)
• 5-Pack: $120 (reg. $135)
• 10-Pack: $220 (reg. $260)
• 20-Pack: $400 (reg. $500)

Of course, if you're interested in discounted cycling, you can always swipe your credit card, hop on a Citi Bike and cruise around NYC! Just be sure to bring a helmet -- safety first :)

Although it's not discounted, Revolve is doing a cool workshop for those interested in biking around NYC: Real Ride 101 Workshop with their Senior Master Instructor and competitive road cyclist, Kristin Kenney. It'll be held Saturday, July 20, and will cover pro-tips on safety, choosing equipment, and fueling for the road. Sadly I won't be in town for it, but I want to take a similar workshop in some point. Biking in NYC scares me!


Do you have any tips on finding free classes? If you don't live in NYC, does your town offer free fitness?

Workout: Runner's Boot Camp

On Saturday afternoon, I hosted a free Runner's Boot Camp taught by my trainer, Amanda. It was the first workout event that I've hosted through this blog and it was so exciting to see it be such a success!

Liz, Rebecca, Lynette, Heather, me, Laura, Ashley, and Michelle!

There were a few cancellations, so nine of us were put through our paces in this challenging workout. We were the "survivors," as evidenced by our oh-so-hardcore pose at the end. Apparently I missed the memo to smile and instead used my... uh... thug duck face?

Just because I love you, I asked Amanda's permission, and we're sharing with you the workout, the playlist, and even what we ate. So basically, you can recreate the whole afternoon!


The Class
We all gathered in Amanda's beautiful backyard for the class. She not only taught the class for free, she also opened up her home to us! And yes, this is in Manhattan. Gorgeous, right?

Amanda certainly brought it to this class! We started with a dynamic warm-up that had everyone sweating immediately. Then we moved on to the two circuits: legs and core. We did legs twice before moving on to two rounds of the core circuit. Amanda finished us up with some stretches that focus on the calves and hamstrings, AKA those areas that are consistently tight.

Amanda certainly brought it to this class! At one point, probably during the star jumps that Amanda threw in between the circuits as a special surprise, Ashley looked over and saying, "thanks, Jen!" I'd earlier convinced her she could totally handle the class after our long run that morning. Oops. Hope your legs are recovered, Ashley!

The whole class felt like a big sweaty party, with people laughing and making jokes throughout, and chatting during every single break. I'm not sure I've ever had such a fun workout!


The Workout
I am SO excited to share with you all the exact amazing workout that Amanda conducted!

What was particularly cool about class was that Amanda explained why she was leading us through these exercises, telling us that the hips and glutes were often the weakest muscles on runners, and those weaknesses lead to imbalances and injuries. She recommended strength training at least twice a week to combat those problems.

The Food and Drinks!
No workout is complete without refueling and rehydrating, right??

From Amanda's Instagram

After class, we hydrated with Amanda's incredible watermelon slushie and 2B drinks, who kindly sent me a sample pack last week and whose products I'll be reviewing (with a giveaway!). Amanda made the oh-so-refreshing drink by blending frozen watermelon, fresh mint, water, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of agave (Amanda uses Conscious Agave, which is a good brand for this sweetener).

For snacks, I provided a few cut-up Picky Bars and Amanda set out berries. We snacked, chatted, and enjoyed the quiet backyard space that is so rare in New York City!

The Playlist
Amanda put me in charge of the playlist, a responsibility I gladly accepted since I love putting together fun playlists and sharing my latest favorite music.

The first song should run the length of the dynamic warm-up and the cool-down should hit right around the final song, the lovely "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World" arrangement by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.


Finally... thank you!
A HUGE thank you to Amanda for leading us in this amazing class and providing such a lovely space for the class to be held. Everyone kept raving about the class and how amazing Amanda was afterwards. She has been an incredible influence in my life, from getting me to start running to helping me clean up my diet and learn to love healthy, fresh foods. I was so glad that I could share Amanda's sunny attitude and tough training with others!

Thank you also to everyone who attended. It was a fantastic afternoon, and I hope to hold another event soon!

Runners' Boot Camp Free Class!!

I have something REALLY exciting to share with you today!!

My trainer, Amanda, is also an incredible yoga teacher and an absolutely kickass class instructor. She had an awesome class at Uplift called Warrior Fight Club that combined boxing drills with yoga for a fantastically sweaty and stretchy experience (sadly, it ended when Uplift switched to their two-classes-only format).

Don't take my word for it, the class was incredible. Amanda knows how to get you sweaty and sore. She was the 2008 Golden Gloves boxing champion, she knows what she's doing. Check her out in this recent Well + Good post!

So I am extremely psyched to get to offer my blog readers a FREE class with Amanda! She has generously agreed to do an outdoor boot camp class targeted at runners that will focus on core and lower body strength, finishing with some great stretches for runners.

We'll be meeting in Amanda's backyard on the Upper West Side, so you don't have to worry about tourists gawking at you in the park as you do a sweaty burpee and/or fall into "child's pose" (AKA praying for mercy).

After the class, we'll refuel and rehydrate with some healthy snacks and drinks, while chatting with Amanda about strength training, yoga, and anything else you might want to ask her! Like how she can do such an awesome side plank...

Amanda has also started teaching yoga in her backyard, and you are welcome to stay and attend her 4:30 PM yoga class at a discounted rate of $15 (bring a mat if you want to stay!).

It should be an awesome afternoon of fitness, food, and fun! AKA the important things in life.

Runners' Boot Camp with Amanda Rose Walsh

(non-runners welcome, too!!)

2:30-3:30 PM

Saturday, June 29

Upper West Side 

(location will be emailed to attendees)

This event will be CAPPED at 10 people so the sooner you RSVP the better (see below form). Please note that I do not know how to close the form after 10 people, so you are only confirmed if you get an email saying you are confirmed! I will keep a wait list in case additional spots open up.

And if it rains, we'll hold the class on Sunday!

RSVP HERE

Please RSVP by June 27! 

BONUS: Fun Fact! Ever wondered why burpees are called burpees? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, they're "named after Royal H. Burpee, [an] American psychologist. The original usage was Burpee test, in which a series of burpees are executed in rapid succession, designed to measure agility and coordination." (source) There's your fun fact for the next cocktail party you attend!

Class Review: 30/30 Class at Pilates ProWorks

Saturday afternoon, I attended a class at Pilates ProWorks, courtesy of Kristine. She set up a 30/30 class for friends and bloggers to try out the studio.

I was really nervous since it was after a long run and I'd never used a reformer machine before, but I'd heard great things about Pilates ProWorks (PPW) and wanted to check them out. I'm so glad I didn't cancel despite being worn out from my 12 miler!

I really liked PPW's space. I'm not a fan of 14th Street, where it's located. I'm just used to the relative calmness of the Upper West Side, I guess, because I always feel slightly jarred when I get out of the subway and head towards Union Square.

Coming off the street, PPW seemed like an oasis with lots of clean lines, bright lights, and cool colors.

And the message is clear as soon as you enter the studio. These workouts are hardcore and they'll get you a hard core.

After explaining a bit about the workouts, Jackie and Jenn split us into two groups with one group starting in the FitFormer (PPW's version of a reformer) room and one in the TRX and barre room. The FitFormer is exclusive to Pilates ProWorks and is made from stainless steel, titanium and bamboo.

My group started with Jenn in the FitFormer room doing a 30 minute version of what I believe was the Pilates ProMethod class. This was my favorite part of the class because I'd never used a reformer machine before and enjoyed learning how to manipulate the machine in all different ways to perform a huge number of exercises.

Most of the exercises focused on the core weren't super difficult for me, but I have a pretty strong core. It was the leg and arm exercises I struggled with more -- the kneeling splits in particular, which focused on the inner thighs, were killer.

I thought Jenn did a great job of demonstrating the highly technical exercises since she had to be restricted to one machine. She definitely made an effort to get around the room and make adjustments, which was a big help. Since there's a limited number of machines, the class is fairly small and allows for plenty of adjustments.

Because I felt like I was learning something constantly, these 30 minutes flew by. By the second half of the class, I was definitely tired, so I was less into the BarreX portion of the class.

I always love a good TRX workout! Everything involving the TRX specifically I loved (and loathed, because that's just the kind of relationship one has with a TRX).

However, the barre moves I was less into. I haven't taken a barre class in a while just because I haven't been into the small movements lately. But if you enjoy barre and want an extra oomph, this is the perfect class, and Jackie was a terrific Barre and TRX instructor.

The afternoon finished with some gift bags courtesy of Real Food Real Life. I haven't tried the products yet but will report back on them!

Overall I really enjoyed the class. Union Square is a bit far for me, but I'd love to schedule a pilates date followed by Union Square Greenmarket shopping sometime. I really liked the studio and would love to take a 60 minute Pilates ProMethod class.

The Facts:

Length - 60 minutes for 30/30, 55 minutes for other classes
Cost - $35 (first class is $25)
Location - Union Square (47 W 14th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, second floor)
Skill Level - Anyone! I'd never tried a reformer machine before and was fine, and others were new to TRX and were given plenty of instruction.

Christmas Fun & Pfeffernusse Recipe

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend! The past few days have been relaxing and full of family fun. Also full of a lot of Pfeffernusse, a spice cookie that my family makes for Christmas every year, which I included a recipe for below.

After a call to discuss a pro bono project with my supervisor Friday morning, I spent the afternoon running a couple of miles before taking a barre class with my mom and sister at a brand new studio in a nearby town. At 3 classes for $30, I had to try it!

Unfortunately, the class was a bit too easy for me. However, since I have 2 more classes, I think I'll try another instructor and see if I can get a good workout. I sweat a lot when I work out normally, even in barre classes, so the fact that I was dry the entire time was disappointing. Fingers crossed the next class is better!

rural roads make for great running :)

The rest of the weekend was spent buying last minute gifts, running on some gorgeous country roads, and being extremely lazy. I baked cookies with my parents and enjoyed a delicious quinoa salad at one of my favorite local cafes to make up for all the cookies. I sat on the couch a lot. It was a lovely weekend.

the "downtown" area -- the town has a Dutch influence, hence the windmill 

Then, I ran 12 miles on Christmas Eve Day. It was another tough run -- I started when it was about 34 degrees out and it never got above 38 degrees. However, that didn't stop the clouds from opening up. Despite forecasted sun, I ended up running in freezing rain (when it's 4-6 degrees above being snow, I think it qualifies as freezing).

The middle miles were rough and slow, and since I was running in my town I was mainly running through residential neighborhoods there wasn't even interesting sightseeing. I wanted to run on a trail, but my parents asked me to run in an area with plenty of people so they wouldn't worry. Town run it was! Their house, their rules :)

The run was a slog, but I pushed through and got the miles in, finishing with an 8:57 mile! I feel very ready for Monday's New Year's Eve Half-Marathon. Although right now the forecast is saying high 20s or low 30s, cold for Washington... ahh!! Hopefully my breathing is ok! Whatever happens, I'm really happy I put a race on my calendar to keep me active while home in Washington.

yumm -- lots of avocados were consumed

I refueled post-run with a delicious Christmas Eve dinner of Mexican food, and of course lots and lots of cookies. Not very traditional, but I was happy -- I love Mexican food! After some caroling and watching the Nutcracker, we trotted off to bed (with visions of sugar plums, stockings hung with care, etc.)

thank you, Instagram, for capturing the glowy-ness of our Christmas tree 

I had so much fun picking out gifts for my family this year, so it was wonderful to see them open their presents. A few of them were even fitness-related (what can I say, I'm obsessed). I got a foam roller for my dad, who's new to running and has back issues, and an Erica Sara Designs Say It Do It bracelet for my mom to help keep up her gym motivation. I also received some great items as well, most of which were for running, of course. Nothing like a stocking full of nuun to make me happy!

Merry Christmas, Mason!

The rest of this week will be full of taper goodness, with just a couple of short runs, some yoga, and lots of foam rolling!

Elf for Health

When I saw all the Elf4Health chatter on Twitter, I was curious what the challenge was. It's basically a series of mini daily challenges to keep you healthy during the holidays, but it also involves matching up with a fellow Elf to support them! I loved the idea so much, but unfortunately I found out too late to participate in the first rounds. I am signed up now, though, and was matched with Sophia!

We both successfully completed the Monday challenge of calling an old friend to chat. It's funny -- I rarely call people other than Sourabh or my parents! It was nice to chat with an old friend and figure out when we'll be seeing each other over the holidays. We ended up getting a white Christmas after all when it started snowing around 11 AM, so Tuesday's challenge of taking a walk with the family was a no-go since there's nowhere to walk around my house and the roads weren't plowed. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the challenges and getting to know my fellow Elf more!

Pfeffernusse Recipe
Makes roughly 4 dozen

These cookies are nutty, spicy, and full of deliciousness. You could use them as run fuel if you're a whole foods-fueling runner since they're basically sugar and nuts with some flour thrown in, but no dairy to cause phlegm (my nemesis when running). If you want to make them sweeter, roll them in powdered sugar after they come out of the oven. If you want to make them vegan, here are some suggestions for how to replace eggs in baking. Otherwise, enjoy a semi-healthy and extremely tasty spice cookie.

Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup honey (warm)
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
3 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 1/2 tablespoons cardamom
2 teaspoons fresh finely ground black pepper
4 teaspoons fresh ginger
2 cups finely ground hazelnuts
2 cups finely ground almonds
4 cups unbleached flour (can substitute 2 cups regular for 2 cups whole wheat flour)

bonus: you can fit a lot on one baking sheet!

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine sugars and eggs.

3. Add honey, soda and spices then mix.

4. Fold in nuts then add flour gradually. You may need to combine using your hands as the dough becomes quite thick.

5. Round dough into 1 inch-thick balls, place 1 inch apart on non-stick pan or on parchment paper and bake 12 to 15 minutes.

6. Let cool on wire rack (option to roll in powdered sugar here).

How was your Christmas? Are you running any holiday races? Any special holiday recipes?

Class Review: KettleX Class w/ Lorna Kleidman

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Lorna Kleidman's  PR rep reached out to me, asking if I'd like to try a kettlebell class with Lorna. I'd used kettlebells a bit in a few classes I'd taken, so I was interested to learn more and take a class dedicated to kettlebells.

When I read more about Lorna, I realized I'd be taking a class with a three-time world champion and world record holder in kettlebell sport. Exciting! And... nerve-wracking!

Lorna, holding a kettleball

When I arrived at the Upper East Side Fitness Cell Collective, I felt even more intimidated. There ended up being only four people in the class, and they were clearly regulars who knew the method and Lorna well (she greeted them all by name). However, this turned out to be fantastic! Lorna was able to give everyone attention, sensing when someone might start giving a bit less effort and encouraging them by name. Since she didn't focus on anyone too much, besides helping me learn proper form, it never felt like she was calling out other students. She was also just a friendly teacher, so I never felt like I was left out of the "kettlebell clique." In some classes, where everyone appeared to be BFFs with the teacher, I have felt like a bit of an outsider. So I always appreciate a teacher who makes new students feel welcome.

Lorna's form corrections were very helpful. I find that I don't always "get" what an instructor is saying to do. (I can't lie, I may also have gotten distracted by Lorna's incredible abs and guns. If that's what kettlebell can do, I guess I need to use them more!) She would rephrase her suggestion, giving me something to visualize. For example, in a squat, telling me to visualize a rod from my pelvis to my sternum, so that I only could hinge from my knees and hips. This really worked and helped me figure out the kettleball swing we were working on. I've found that just because someone is an expert at something, does not mean they are going to be a good teacher. Thankfully, that wasn't the case with Lorna!

The class was a mix of different circuits, which I always like because it keeps things moving and you can't get too bored by any one exercise. After warming up, we worked with light (15 lb) and heavier (25 lb) kettlebells, doing a variety of exercises. Then we did a ladder, which worked like this: 30 seconds of kettlebell swings then 30 seconds of push ups, with a different interval each time, going up to 1 minute of kettlebell swings (VERY tough) then back down to 30 seconds again. We concluded with some tough abs work using the kettlebells before stretching as a cool down.

Lorna was not a shrinking daisy, either. She was encouraging, but she would push you if she sensed you flagging. In that minute-long kettlebell swing interval, at one point I put down the kettlebell. Lorna immediately noticed and pushed me, yelling "c'mon, Jen!" Ahh ok, ok. I picked it up and kept going. Thanks for not letting me slack, because it turned out I could keep going. I'm not sure I've ever sweat that much in a pure strength workout.

Lorna and me -- her "jeans" were actually fun leggings meant to look like distressed denim! 

Besides KettleX, Lorna teaches a Kettle Step class that combines step movement with light kettlebells. In addition to teaching classes at the Fitness Cell Collective, Lorna also teaches a kettleball class at the 50th St and Broadway Equinox. If you're an Equinox member, you can check out her class and learn a lot about kettlebells!

$50 is unfortunately a bit steep for me as a student, but once I start working next fall and my workplace is closer to the location, I would definitely take the class again. And if I join Equinox next year, I'll make sure to drop by Lorna's class!

Details
Length - 1 hour
Cost - $50 at Fitness Cell Collective, free at Equinox if member
Location - Fitness Cell Collective - Upper East Side (328 E. 61^st St., 4^th Floor, between First & Second Ave), Equinox - 50th and Broadway
Skill Level - I think a beginner to exercise could just use very light weights and be able to follow along fine.

Goals & Weekend Update: bossy pets & new blog friends

I knew the weekend was off to a wonderful start after a great class at Uplift Studios. I've written about Amanda's Warrior Fight Club class before, a mix of yoga and boxing, but she has seriously stepped up the class. I was considering taking another class after, but by the end I was completely exhausted. And her abs section was absolutely killer! 

Later on Friday, I met up with Beth to pick up our race bibs for Sunday's Join the Voices! 5 mile race in Central Park. We grabbed salads, chatted, and had a nice leisurely walk around the Upper East Side. I finally headed back to work on my part of a group project paper (cue groans about working in groups) and ended up having a mini photo shoot as I walked around the Reservoir. Somehow a grey day turned absolutely stunning as the sun set.

I grew up on a lake so I love seeing ducks -- they remind me of home

sunset + skyline

Saturday morning, Sourabh and I took Mason to the vet. He got a clean bill of health, but apparently is rather "bossy" so that's something we'll be working on with him in the coming months. He's a rescue and is pretty issue-free, but he isn't the best trained little dog so it's something that we have to focus on more.

"me? bossy?"

We stopped by Magnolia Bakery as we walked back from the vet and I got a coffee to power me through the group meeting I had to attend all afternoon. More group project fun! (That's sarcasm, FYI)

Magnolia has the right idea about how to celebrate winter -- baked goods!

Thankfully, I had something really fun to look forward to. A yoga and dinner date with Ashley at Strala Yoga with an instructor I hadn't taken before (Priya -- she was wonderful!) and Angelica Kitchen. I hadn't met Ashley in person before but we'd tweeted many times and I was really excited to meet her.

I love this print in Strala's dressing room

We ended up having such a great evening! The class was so relaxing and left my legs and hips loose and open (which I think led to a good race performance the next day -- recap to come). Angelica Kitchen was delicious and I can't wait to go back and try more things. And I just loved Ashley. After a really difficult year, she was still so sweet and upbeat. It is so much fun to meet fellow bloggers and healthy-living-enthusiasts. We were already planning future yoga and dinner dates before the evening had even ended.

SO excited to dig into this over Christmas break!

To make the day even better, I came home to my Christmas present from Katie, my undergrad bestie who clearly knows me too well. She sent me The Sprouted Kitchen, a whole foods-focused cookbook filled with beautiful photography and recipes that I can't wait to try. But her note also said that, to balance out the healthiness of the book, I should expect some cookies. Cannot wait. She is the best. baker. ever.

Besides the race, Sunday also included Erica Sara Designs' Trunk Show, where I picked up another Christmas present. Meeting more runners, wine and cheese, and gorgeous jewelry -- perfect cap to a weekend (especially since the rest of Sunday has been spent working on that group project...)

I am CRAZY excited about today's race, but I want to write it up in a proper recap and there is so much I want to write about, so I'm saving it for tomorrow. For now, let's go to goals!

Last week's goals

Here's how I did last week:

• 1 spin session (check -- spin session with Holly Rilinger at UWS Flywheel and it was awesome!)
• 3 runs -- 2 speed sessions, 1 long run of 8 miles including a race! (check-ish -- one run wasn't super speedy, but the second was and it was successful! See tomorrow for race recap)
• 2 yoga practices (check-ish -- warrior fight club is half yoga so basically 1.5 yoga classes)
• 2 strength sessions (oops, only did 1)

Goals for this week
I'm happy with how well I did with goals last week and want to keep it up this week!
• 1 spin session
• 3 runs -- 1 speed session, 1 medium run, 1 long run
• 2 yoga practices
• 2 strength sessions minimum

What are your goals for the week? Did you run a race this weekend? Do you have a bossy pet?

Goals & Weekend Update: Friends and Fitness

I had such an amazing post-Thanksgiving weekend, full of old and new friends and lots of exercise, that I want to recap it before laying out my goals for this week and how I did on last week's goals.

Weekend Update
I spent Friday being lazy and watching movies, doing some yoga, and getting dinner with a friend and seeing Lincoln. The movie was really good, but what stood out was Daniel Day Lewis (of course). His performance as Lincoln didn't seem like a performance, it just seemed like Steven Spielberg had conjured up Lincoln for his movie. There's no way it's not going to be one of the 10 Best Picture nominees next year! As for Black Friday shopping, I can't decide if it's awesome or terrible that my only Black Friday purchases were Knicks gear and exercise-related. I picked up a running water bottle from Athleta since the fountains around New York are shut off for the winter, and I'm excited to receive my first Oiselle purchase soon! I ordered the runfinity scarf and a long-sleeved run tee. I'll update with my thoughts when I get them.

On Saturday, I took a wonderful Uplifting class with friends from my firm, Lauren and Hana. It was so great to get back to Uplift Studios. It had been too long! I hadn't taken a class with Michelle in quite a while, and she did a great kickass interval-based class. Hana loved the studio and we were all exhausted by the end.

Michelle had an amazing playlist with some terrific mashups that had me searching SoundCloud for more mashups. I ended up finding a ton that I'm so excited to run with in the coming weeks.

After hanging out at Uplift catching up for a bit, we parted ways and I headed uptown to meet up with Abby and join her on her first post-marathon run. We kept a slow pace since she was just a tiny bit sore from, y'know, Boston qualifying at the Philly Marathon on Sunday. In her first marathon. No big deal. (In case you don't know, Boston qualifying is a huge goal for runners around the world, and many runners work for years and are never able to achieve it)

We ended at JackRabbit Sports -- they were having a big Black Friday (weekend) sale that we wanted to check out. I picked up a pair of Brooks for only $50! I needed a pair that gave me greater support for over-pronation so finding a pair of Brooks for such a low price was really exciting. Beth met us at JackRabbit and we met up for brunch and drinks. New discovery: grapefruit mimosas are delicious. It was so great to sit down with some fellow running-obsessed friends and chat for several hours, and I loved getting to know both Beth and Abby better.

it's gotten SO cold, but Central Park is beautiful as always

I can't lie, today was kind of rough. In the best possible way. I had already committed to taking a Refine Method class with Lynette today and wasn't about to cancel on her, but when Holly Rilinger posted on Facebook that she was leading a Nike Training Camp session on Sunday morning for free, I knew I had to hit it up. So it was a double day, despite already being pretty tired from the Uplifting class on Saturday.


The session at Nike was amazing. Holly was a fantastic instructor, which I would have expected given her spin class, but one thing that I really loved was how sports-oriented the workout was. Holly is a former pro basketball player, and I felt like that came through in how she led the workout and started it -- team cheers on three, lots of partner-oriented work, and even a basketball-style shuffle around the room. We did two 10-exercise circuits by time, doing each exercise for 1 minute, and there was extra core work in between the two circuits. I left Nike and walked through Central Park to Refine Method, feeling tired but energized in that great way you feel after an amazing workout.

the Sunday morning crew!
(source)

I was left exhausted, but today was amazing. When the first jumping jacks started at Refine, I wasn't sure I could push through, but I did. I was able to put in real effort and almost perform as well as I would have at a normal class. I loved pushing myself to my absolute limits and seeing how far I could go.

But um... I'll be doing some less intense strength work this week. Because my legs are gone.

Last week's goals
Here's how I did last week:
• 1 spin session (done and loved it!)
• 3 strength training workouts (ended up with 4!)
• 3 runs for at least 15 miles (only got two runs and 10 miles in)
• 2-3 yoga practices (1.5 - a bit with my trainer and one video practice)

Goals for this week
This week's goals:
• 1 spin session
• 3 runs (2 speed sessions, 1 long run of 8 miles including a race!)
• 2 yoga practices
• 2 strength sessions


How was your Thanksgiving weekend? Any fun Black Friday purchases?

P.S. My trainer Amanda went to Haiti recently to teach yoga to children there. She's written an incredible series of posts about her time there: part 1, part 2, and part 3. Give them a read if you have a few minutes and want some inspiration!

My Fall Fitness Itinerary

Now that I've run my half-marathon, I am currently lacking in fitness goals. Sure, I want to do speedwork so that I can break a 2 hour time and yes, doing a pull-up has always been something I want to be able to do, but there's currently no date circled in red on my calendar for some big fitness goal I'm working toward. Now is the perfect time to try out some new studios!

My rest week pre-half-marathon left me itching to get back into the studios I love, so I'm already going to Physique 57 and Pedal NYC this week, after trying Refine Method Monday night at a class organized by Dori at their brand new Upper West Side location. (Refine was great, but I just couldn't put 100% into it because it was the day after my half-marathon, so I want to go back before I write a review.)

Along with taking another Refine Method class, here are a few of the other studios I'm excited to try in addition to my first loves (Uplift Studios, Strala Yoga, and Physique 57). Think of it as my "Fall Fitness Itinerary."

SurfSet Fitness

(source)

You do a workout on a surfboard that's attached to these inflated rubber disks that create rolls like waves. Apparently it's a killer core workout, and as someone who rarely feels like my core gets worked enough since it's never sore, I think this might just be the cure.

(source)

Also, SURFING! I want to learn so much and I've heard SurfSet makes learning how to surf easier. Given my horrible balance, I'll need all the help I can get, so this would be a perfect baby step. Sadly they're on tour for a while and won't be back in NYC until November.

Chaise 23

(source)

New clients get 3 classes for $33 in October! This is another boutique studio that has an innovative tool they're using, only this one is totally unexpected -- a chair!

(source)

All of the exercises are centered around the chair. A friend tried it and said it worked her core really well, and I am all over extra core work, so I'm looking forward to trying this place out!

Barry's Bootcamp

(source)

A celebrity favorite, I haven't tried Barry's out yet but I've been dying to after hearing raves from several friends. Supposedly it's an absolutely killer workout that leaves you dead by the end. So basically I have to do it. When did I become such a masochistic sweataholic???

(source)

Classes are interval-based utilizing cardio on the treadmill and strength-training on the other side of the room. Different days focus on different areas of the body, and there are a few "all over" days, too.

Flywheel Sports and FlyBarre

(source)

I can be a tad bit competitive, so I love the idea of pushing yourself via the torqueboard at Flywheel. (The spin classes give you the option of having your speed, RPM, etc. up on a board so that you can "race" others in class.) I've also heard great things about FlyBarre from people online, so I need to see how it compares to my current favorite barre studio, Physique 57.

(source)

Love the stadium-style seating!

SoulCycle

(source)

FlyWheel's rival (and the original boutique cycling cult). I might go just to buy a grapefruit candle, which they're famed for, since I love me some grapefruit scent.