*REVIEW* Classpass hit Boston!

"Wow! I really want to try that new spin studio in town, but I don't want to dive in for a full membership." "I wish I could shop around to find the perfect yoga studio for me."

"Hmm my gym doesn't offer the boot camp variety I need in my workouts."

Have you ever said any of the statements listed above? I know I have.

And apparently Classpass was listening!

What is Classpass you may be wondering?

ClassPass is a monthly service that gives its members access to the best studios in their city. For $99 a month, members get 10 classes to be used to visit any studio of their choice up to 3 times per month. 

We want fitness to be accessible and approachable. We want fitness minded people to be able to meet like-minded individuals; where a thriving community and support system can become established.

I was psyched when Classpass reached out to me and asked if I wanted to test out the service. You bet I did!

(Note: While I was giving a complimentary month to Classpass, all thoughts and reviews of studios are my own!)

For $99 a month, you have 10 classes to use at more than 50 fitness studios in and around the Boston area (Spin, pilates, yoga, bootcamp, Zumba, etc), BUT you cannot attend a single studio (no matter how many locations they have) more than 3 times during that month.

The latest studios added to the Classpass website

Reserving classes on the site is simple.

Reserve a class by clicking on one of the venues, and then selecting the class you would like to reserve. Press the “reserve” button next to the class and confirm your reservation, and you’ll be added to the list! You do not need to bring a voucher or print out to class — just bring a photo id. 

New classes are added to ClassPass everyday at noon. Classes are available to be booked on ClassPass for one week in advance.

Now you will be penalized $20 if you do NOT cancel a class reservation at least 24 hours in advance AND you lose one of your 10 classes for the month.

I understand why they do this, but it was a bummer for me as I got injured the night before two afternoon classes and had to cancel. But it was within 24 hours of the classes so I had to pay $40 AND lost 2 of my 10 trials. Boo!! I wish they understood that last minute illnesses and injuries happen.

Currently Classpass is available in Boston, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. I am hearing rumblings that Chicago might be one of the next to get the feature.

***

Let's get to the classes themselves. I was able to use 7 of my 10 classes after 3 were nixed due to canceling last minute. :/

I wanted to use this opportunity to test out the many Spin studios Boston has to offer.

--

My first stop was an easy choice: Flywheel at the Prudential Center. I made sure to attend a class with my friend and Tedy's Team mate Melinda would be teaching.

A single ride will cost you $28, but the first ride is always free at Flywheel.

Now I had attended one Flywheel class before Classpass which you can read about here. Flywheel is an experience of it's own. I would recommend this studio to everyone.

Having the torq board really sets the studio apart from the others. You feel an entire body workout when you walk out the door.

I had to do a 1 hr and 45 minute training ride for my half ironman so I took a double one Wednesday morning with Melinda.

Ohh boy! It was awesome to see how many others did the double as well.

Wins

^ First class is free!

^ Free cycling shoes to all participants (and I did see them disinfecting them in between classes)

^ Padded bike seat covers available

^ Torq board

^ Secure Lockers

^ Showers available

Losses

^ With Classpass, you don't get to choose your bike - it is automatically reserved for you

--> I would definitely go back to this studio!

--

Next up on the Spin studio tour was The Handle Bar at the Fenway Park location.

The Handle Bar Indoor Cycling Studio has two locations: South End and the newer Fenway Park.

A single class at the studio will run you $20. Shoe rental is $2 (unless you are an unlimited rider member then it is free)

I registered for a Wednesday afternoon class, where we were greeted by a substitute instructor named Lena. I had no idea what to expect at the studio and wasn't offered much advice when heading into the studio.

Thankfully I knew how to set my own bike up since I couldn't grab the instructor's attention for help. She started right into the class and I felt lost.

Now I have taken many a Spin class, but this was the first where I couldn't follow along. A majority of the class was pushups and ab work while cycling. So while it was a GREAT calorie burn, I didn't feel like it was a great Spin workout.

I couldn't hear the cues from the instructor so I had to rely on the other participants to get the flow down.

Upon finishing the class, I thought I would never walk into a Handle Bar class again.

After seeing my thoughts on social media I was contacted by the owner Jess who was upset to hear about my experience. She assures me not all classes are like that and would like me to come back and try a different class. So I will do that and follow up with everyone.

Wins

^ Good calorie burn

^ Intimate studio

^ Fast-paced music

Losses

^ Cubbies instead of lockers

^ Lack of instruction

^ Unfriendly desk staff

^ Pay for shoe rental

--> Based on this experience I would not go back, but I will give another instructor a chance thanks to Jess' offer.

--

B Spoke Studios in Downtown Crossing (Federal St) would be my third Spin studio.

A single class would run you $27, but your first visit to the studio is free.

B Spoke Studios had a beautiful bathroom with showers.

Photo Courtesy B Spoke

And good bathroom mirrors for selfies :P

They had complimentary spin shoe rental, but I did not see them disinfecting the shoes between classes. Thankfully I had brought my own shoes just in case.

After putting my backpack away in the secure lockers, I grabbed a free water (17oz - free to all participants) and headed into the studio.

Photo Courtesy B Spoke

I was warned ahead of time that the instructor had an appointment after class and it would be ending about 5 minutes early. If I had paid the $27 I would've been irked.

B Spoke liked to pack a full-body workout - cardio, hand weights, core work - into a 45-minute class.

Feel the beat, clear your head, and prepare to sweat

As I said the class was cut short, but I liked the more Spin focused workout while adding in pushups and core work. We did sprints, hills and jumps.

Nadia, the instructor, did a great job of calling out the cues, making sure everyone's bike was set up correctly and keeping us motivated during the ride.

Wins

^ First class is free!

^ Free bottles of water

^ Complimentary spin shoe rental

^ Secure Lockers

^ Showers

Losses

^ Didn't see shoes being disinfected

^ Not as many classes offered (they are working on including more in the Fall)

--> I would definitely go back to this studio!

--

Final studio on my Classpass tour was Recycle Studio on Newbury St.

A single ride is $22. Oh and I just saw on their website that a new rider can get a full "welcome week" for $30. Wow! That's a good deal.

Photo courtesy Recycle Studio

I chose to take a Rebalance Ride one Friday morning.

REBALANCE is made for those who are looking to regain balance through a sweaty, dynamic class with lots of out of the saddle movement. The 45 minute ride will focus on core work/posture which is often overlooked in traditional classes. Get those abs and legs fired up and sweat it out.

The studio is located on the fourth floor of a building on Newbury Street.

Recycle Studio is Boston’s first indoor cycling studio. Here we ride to the beat, choreograph a full body workout and get lost in time. Our studios don’t have clocks, we ride in candle light and sweat with strength.

It has a small changing area with cubbies.

And a great mirror for selfies!

They do a great job of utilizing the space they have and including an area for their classes (yoga,private training, etc) and the studio room itself.

As mentioned above the class is taught to candle light. Anni, the instructor, did a great job checking in with newbies before the class making sure we knew there would be "choreography" and that she would make sure to explain it before the class. She did a great job calling out the moves and I felt up-to-speed the entire ride.

Anni did a great job blending the upper body/core work with a great Spin class of hills, jumps and sprints. I was dripping with sweat afterwards and feeling a full-body workout.

The weights track focused on little movements, which gave me flashbacks of my Pure Barre classes.

Having the lights off really took the focus off the time of the class and put it onto the ride and movements. It was a great way to kick off a Friday morning.

Wins

^ Intimate studio

^ Great instruction

^ Good blend of arms/core and spin work

^ Lights off took focus off the clock

Losses

^ No bike reservation

^ No showers

--> I would go to this studio again!

--

But there is more to Classpass and Boston than Spin studios. I had planned on trying a yoga class and two Zumba classes, but had to cancel those due to injury.

I was however able to make my Barry's Bootcamp class with Sarah of SarahFit.com.

A single class is $28.

I took Sarah's Butt & Legs 1-hour bootcamp class on a Tuesday morning. Sarah did a great job taking us on a quick tour and then explaining how the class would work. On that day we would be doing two circuits: treadmill, bench/weight/floor work ... and repeat!

As someone who doesn't do a lot of weight training (I know I know), I was worried especially since my left hamstring was still hurting. Sarah was great about showing me adjustments to the moves so that I could still take part.

It was a great environment where I realized no one was looking at how deep my squats were or that I was using lighter weights than everyone else. Each person was focusing on their own movements.

Plus Sarah gave great ranges when working on treadmill sprints so everyone felt included. I was pretty proud of the progress I made on the sprints. It wasn't until the second round of treadmill work that I realized you could see what pace you were sprinting at. I am apparently not quick on the uptake. ;)

Let me tell you my butt and legs were DEFINITELY feeling it. Thanks to Sarah for a great workout and doable variations of the workouts.

--> I would definitely give this boot camp another try!

Wins

^ Great workout

^ Uplifting environment

^ They have Sparkly Soul headbands on sale at their Boston location ;)

^ Secure lockers

Losses

^ Not the friendliest/welcoming front desk atmosphere

--> I would go back to this studio

***

Wow! Classpass really let me explore what the fitness side of Boston looks like. I wish it was more than 10 classes a month, but based on the single class prices listed above - 10 classes for $99 is a great deal.

So fellow Bostonians - will you be checking out Classpass?

RACE RECAP: 2nd Annual Race To The Row 5k

How many races do you participate in that take place across the street from your house? Oh is that next to none?

Yeah I feel you on that...

... except when the Race To The Row 5k comes around!

That's right. It takes the wife about 5 minutes (more if there is a stop at Dunkin' Donuts for her) to get to the Start Area of the Race To The Row 5k, which is at the new Assembly Row area in Somerville, MA.

When the inaugural race took part last year, the Assembly Row area was still under construction so the race course lacked a lot of visual beauty. But with Assembly Row in full effect this year, I was ready to enjoy the beautiful new buildings and shots of the Mystic River.

Since the race didn't start until 9:30, I was 1) able to sleep in and 2) could do bib check day of. Woo!

We decided to leave the house just after 8:30 to stop at Dunkins and give us enough time to chat with friends before the Kids Race would start at 9:15.

There were a lot of great local businesses set up near bib pick-up and day of registration.

Somerville's own Runfellow gear

Runfellow also hosts a Tuesday night run club, which changes venues each week, but always takes place in the Somerville-Cambridge area.

b Positive Project out of South Boston

After browsing the booths, we made sure to get a good spot for the Kids Race. It was just about a 1/4 mile and each participant received an adorable Finisher's Medal. (Side Note: I really wish I had entered ;P)

My favorite was this tiny tiny boy with a big Superman cape on. I really wanted to borrow it from him, but he seemed attached to it.

Once the kids and their parents cleared the Start Area, it was time to line up.

I had no idea what kind of time to expect. My body was tired from the workouts the day prior - 1.5 mile swim, 30 mile bike and 5k run - so I didn't expect a PR.

I actually PRed at this race the previous year pulling a 21:59.2... yeah that wouldn't happen again. But I was ready to give it all I had.

The Sun was out and ready to shine out on the pretty shadeless course.

Now the Somerville Road Runners, the group organizing the race, had changed the course from the year prior. We would now be doing 2 loops, which was intriguing.

As we lined up, I distracted myself by chatting with a fellow Nike Run & Walk Club and Somerville resident, Ben. He was coming off an injury so also unsure what sort of race he would have.

The goal as always was to enjoy the run ... and hurry to the beer! ;)

The horn went off and it was a blaze of color in front of me. I tried to keep myself in my own groove and not worry about the folks around me. Which is always easier said than done at the beginning of a race for me.

Since I am working on racing without music in prep for the Half Ironman, I spent most of the race listening to my own breathing and the breathing of the folks around me. Ouch! Not the best soundtrack for a run.

BUT there was a slight out and back portion of the race so I could cheer for my friends after rounding the first turn. YES! I love being able to do that. Plus, I could marvel at the lead pack. Man those guys were flying!!

Mile 1: 7:29

I may or may not have picked a couple near me after that first mile and set a goal to get ahead of them at some point in the next mile. Sometimes it is a fun game to play and a way to push yourself in a race.

As we hit the end of the first loop, I waved to the wife, gave Jillian (creator of Runfellow) a high-five (pictured above) and checked in with the body. I was hot and I could tell the legs were slowing down.

I picked myself up by posting my halfway mark selfie to the interwebs before bearing down and finishing off the race.

Not one of my finest mid-run selfies

At least with the double loop you know when the Finish is coming.

Mile 2: 7:38

Now I never actually saw the Mile 2 marker, but when my Garmin buzzed I tried to dig deep and give it everything I could for the final mile.

I was back-and-forth with a couple of girls during Mile 2 so I kept them in my sights during the final mile.

I can't tell you how many times I repeated to myself Beer Beer Beer during that last stretch.

The volunteers did a great job directing and cheering on the runners.

I definitely won over the water stop with my Sparkle Skirt! ;)

Oddly enough not so many comments on the BEER socks, which surprised me.

Oh and yes these were thoughts during the final 1/2 mile of the run.

Mile 3: 7:40

Just get me to the BEER!

Final Finish: 23:46

Sweet. I was definitely happy with that. The quads felt good and the left hamstring was a bearable dull pain. ;) Baby steps.

According to the results I finished 79th overall and 10th in my division. Yeah! I never end up in Top 10 of my division.

After crossing the Finish Line, I headed right into the post-race party for some food and beer.

Thanks to Harpoon Brewery and J.P. Licks

I can't pass on mint chocolate chip ice cream at 10am.

Oh and Ernesto's pizza - great crust!

The post-race party was treated to the musical stylings of the IT Band.

It was a great vibe and always fun hanging out with my fellow Slumbrew Happy Soles.

The Race To The Row 5k is such a great local race and I cannot wait to see the race flourish over the years.

I will see you at the 3rd Annual race in 2015.

***

Did you Race To The Row? What was your favorite part?

Monday Musings: Weekend of Workouts & Wedding Wonder

Weekends this summer have been full of workouts, laughs, love, friends and family ...but not a ton of rest! So you can imagine this past weekend was right along those same lines. ;) My wife actually got up early on Sunday to get her 4 mile run in before we walked over to my 5k race and she quipped later that day: "Wow, I don't know how you do this getting up early to workout thing all the time."

It made me smile to myself. Now she appreciates the early mornings I put in so that we can have more time to spend together. :)

Sunday marked just two weeks until the Pumpkinman Half Ironman. Wow September 7 will be here before I know it. This weekend I needed to really buckle down and focus.

The workouts started bright and early Friday after a great weigh-in. Did you hear I am happily back in the 150s?

My goal on Friday was to get 4 hours in on the bike, but that didn't happen. Between a Recycle Studio Spin workout and a bike tide out to Bedford from Somerville - I spent about 3 hours in the saddle.

But I still haven't gotten 56 miles in on the bike and I need to do that before the race just to show myself I can do it. So guess what is on the docket for this upcoming week?

The bike is so mental for me. My body knows it can do it, but the mind gets nervous and overwhelmed. Time to shut the brain down.

The rest of the Friday called for relaxation and blogging. Isn't that what all the cool kids do on a Friday night? :)

I had an early morning on Saturday. I wanted to hit up the 8am Weight Watchers meeting and claim my Ace Your Summer Challenge bling for having attended 10 of the last 11 weeks of meetings. Woo!

It is such a nice and welcoming group. I am happy to attend their meetings and occasionally sub before I return to long run Saturdays this Fall.

I was smiling from ear to ear as members of the group talked about the fun they had attending the Nike Run & Walk Club that I have been helping to host. They talked about feeling welcome without thought of pace or fitness level. Exactly the kind of group I have been trying to create. :)

Full of motivation and inspiration, I headed to the pool to get my 1.2 mile time trial swim done.

During the entire swim I felt strong and like I could keep swimming for days. :) I guess that training is paying off. :P It was a great morning in the pool full of entertainment from the kids' swim classes going on on the opposite side of the pool from me.

Once I was out of the pool, I had to race home, quickly change and head to my cousin's wedding dress appointment. How cute are the cards our friend Lauren made to judge the dresses?

They are so my cousin. :)

Since I never did the wedding dress shopping thing myself (maybe some day), it was a complete learning experience. It really is a live version of Say Yes To The Dress. My cousin found a style she liked, but didn't say yes to a dress at the first location.

My cousin & I working the duck lips

She inevitably found her dress at appointment #2 of the day, which I wasn't able to make.

While my Saturday afternoons were canceled last minute, I wouldn't waste the time by getting in my BRICK workout with my #1 supporter the wife by my side.

She humored me while I blabbered on about nothing for two hours on the bike trainer and then jumped on her bike while I knocked out a quick 5k (26:34) to shake the legs out.

She also listened to me curse out the wind for blowing in my face for the entire run. Not sure I could've said: "Are you serious wind?" any more than I did. Haha.

We decided to cook in on Saturday night and enjoy a lovely meal outside in the backyard, while the pups played.

Please note: it is the wife who is drinking Pumpkin beer in August. #TheShame 

The wife made Skinnytaste's Weeknight Skillet Sazon Chicken Tenders and it was delicious!! We paired it with our once a month treat of yellow rice (yum) and steamed broccoli.

After a fantastic dinner outside, we finally watched Muppets Most Wanted. It was cute but not nearly as good as the Muppet Movie from 2011.

Now while the wife got up early on Sunday to run I slept in until 7:15am - woah! Late I know. ;) But it was great to lounge around and snuggle some pups until she came home.

The Race To The Row 5k I was running on Sunday didn't start until 9:30am AND was located across the street from my house which meant a late departure time. Boy I wish all of my races were that close.

It was a fun morning with lots of friends. I will post a recap of that race shortly.

I wasn't sure how my body would handle the race since I had done a 1.5 mile swim, 30 mile bike and 5k run the day before.

But as you can see it was pretty speedy. I ended up 79th overall and 10th in my division. Woo! I never reach the top 10 in my division so that was exciting.

Following the race I had a couple of hours of downtime before we headed to a wedding celebration for my friend Nicole and her partner Melsen. It was a lovely afternoon in Brookline with friends.

They had a great spread and a make your own burritos area, which totally was up the wife's alley. I ate most of the large salad they had available. :P

Our crew has gotten older and maybe more mature? Okay not at all more mature, but it was fun to come together to celebrate love and friendship.

With a busy weekend in the books, it was great to come home and just vet out for the rest of the evening.

I went to bed Sunday night with a happy heart, a complete Weight Watchers food tracker and renewed energy for the week ahead.

***

Since we know I am - for now - just enjoying adult beverages on the weekend, here are a couple of the local brews I tried:

Berkshire Brewing Company

Tap Brewing Company (Haverhill, MA)

Both were full of hoppy goodness...

***

Two other notes for this week:

1) I have a $10 off discount code for the Max Performance Buzzards Bay Sprint Triathlon on September 14.

Use code: WOMSBUZZ14 (code expires Friday, August 29)

2) I am holding a giveaway for a free entry into the inaugural South Shore Half Marathon in Norwell, MA on November 2.

Feel free to enter here.

***

How did you stay active this weekend?

45 Hours On The Cape...

The Summer 2014 can NOT be described as the summer of getaways. Between local races and training for the Half Ironman, we have had very little free summer to take advantage of the awesome scenery New England has to offer. I mean we put up with the dismal winter for this very Summer!

So when I received a race bib through New Balance to take part in the Falmouth Road Race on August 17, we thought we would make a weekend out of it.

Okay okay... 45 hours!

That's right. We did as much of summer on the Cape as we could in 45 hours ... including sitting in New England traffic. :P

Why 45 hours? Well I led two Weight Watchers meeting on the Saturday morning, which delayed our departure to the Cape to closer to 11:30/almost Noon.

So the dogs and I attempted a selfie while the wife got us much-needed Dunkins (aka Dunkin Donuts) for the traffic trip.

We were setting our for Sandwich, MA. My parents have had a camper there for two years and because of my race and training schedule I've never been there before. #DaughterFail Note this would be the pups third visit to the Cape. Yeah they have a rough life.

I was surprised there wasn't more traffic seeing as how probably half of Boston would be on the Cape for the race. But I guess most were heading down either Friday or morning of.

Now I am not really a Cape person. I feel most Bostonians are either Cape people or Maine/Vermont/NH folks. Any Bostonians agree or disagree? Well I tend to head to Maine when given the opportunity, but free housing on the Cape helps. :)

So we arrived in Sandwich just before 2 (stellar time even with my necessary bathroom break) and were excited to see my parents' camper.

How cute? My dad built the porch himself. :) It is SUPER spacious inside. I couldn't believe it. We got a little tour of the campground and their camp friends before heading out to see Sandwich.

And they are just six steps from this great pond.

Well, first the pups needed to see the water.

Apparently the world revolved around them.

I lucked out and a Tedy's Team-mate Allie was able to pick my bib up for me so we didn't have to take over an hour out of our Saturday afternoon to go and pick it up. Thanks again Allie! :)

My parents took us on a tour of Sandwich starting with lunch at Cafe Chew (which was not a hit with me) then we took a walk along the Sandwich Boardwalk.

How cool are the dedications on the planks along the Boardwalk? I tried to read every single one and I may have missed some, but I didn't notice one "WIll You Marry Me?" plank. I was shocked.

After a lovely walk on the Boardwalk, we headed back to the campground to relax. Oh folks! It was the first afternoon in I don't know how long that I just chilled. It was fan-freakin-tastic. It gave me A LOT to think about for next summer.

Oh and Harpoon decided to join me for the occasion. ;)

I did this while the wife took my dad's kayak out for a spin around the pond.

The dogs really have the handle on the "vacation" thing.

Am I right?

Big thanks to my parents for dog proofing the porch.

I am so thankful for this wife of mine who puts up with my crazy running adventures. She was the happiest with this trip - well excluding Disney of course. ;)

I am working on revamping my Fall once the Half Ironman is over to get us back down to the Cape at least a couple of times before their campground closes for the winter.

Now Sunday morning called for a 5am wake-up call for the Falmouth Road Race so Saturday Night we decided to grill in - steak tips, corn on the cob, veggies, potato salad, etc.

Mmm I love weekends.

My mom stayed back with the pups while my dad, the wife and I piled in the car to head to the race. Between the race and the after-party Tedy's Team BBQ, we ended up back on site about 2pm.

Thanks Tedy for a great party!

We could've headed right back to Boston then and there. Sit in lots of traffic. But we didn't want to do that. So we decided to hang around for one more peaceful evening and get up at 5am on Monday to head home.

Best decision we could've made.

It was a lovely relaxing Sunday afternoon.

The rain started after we got back so the wife and pups went for a nap, while I checked out bad TV. Sometimes I miss having cable. :P

Once the rain cleared, the wife was ready to get out and move.

Tori was able to take a fellow camper's Sunfish boat out on the pond, while I sat back on the porch and vegged. I really can't put into words how awesome that felt. Again thinking about how I would shape my Summer in 2015 (hint: more relaxing).

Before we left the Cape, I wanted to make sure the wife got a Lobster roll so we headed to Sesuit Harbor Cafe.

It was a bit nippy sitting outside, but a great atmosphere. I wish my mom had told us it was BYOB. I was jealous of the people around us with their solo cups and wine. ;)

My food wasn't good, but the wife loved her Lobster roll so that is all that matters.

We had a low-key evening in the camper before calling it an early night.

5am came too soon.

But it was a great choice.

We had zero traffic heading home. A beautiful sunrise. And were both at work on time.

I remember checking the car clock when we pulled into our driveway and it was before 8am... hence the 45 hours (or so) on the Cape.

Sometimes you never know how recharging 45 hours away can be on your soul.

***

Do you do mini-vacations during the Summer months?

Face It Friday: Oh Hey 150s 8/22/14

Throughout my weight loss journey I have always wanted to banish certain numbers on the scale. Like once I got out of the 230s, I never wanted to see them again. Once 199 popped up on the scale, I said OHHH HHELLLLO ONEDERLAND. We will never be breaking up.

Etc etc as the number on the scale went down to the goal decade ... 150s.

I never thought I would be so happy to call that decade home. When I first got there, I checked my dcotors records and the last time I was at that weight was 7th grade. What up 1995! That's right. At goal I weighed what I weighed when I was in junior high.

Isn't that insane?

As someone overweight most of my life (even though it didn't always look it thanks to my height - 5'8'), it was hard to adjust to being in such new terrain.

I swore to myself I would never leave that decade again.

Well life happened this year and that decade left me. I saw numbers I hadn't see in years.

I felt like a failure. How could I maintain goal for 2 years then let a new job and unhappiness take it all away?

Well as we know I reclaimed the journey on June 13 and have been so happy with the progress made thus far.

Not only is the number on the scale going back down to where it should be, but I am feeling more balanced.

When I hit goal, I was not doing the amount of exercise and endurance training I am doing now. THAT is a huge adjustment: fueling, hydrating, refueling, etc. It is a whole new ballgame.

Again one I thought I would never be in, but am happy with how my fitness journey has evolved over the last few years.

And today I am happy to report I am BACK in the 150s!!

YAAAYYY!

It is NICE to be back.

But more than what that number says is how I feel. I feel leaner and more toned.

I know there shouldn't be so much emphasis on the scale, BUT I would like to move less of me around during my races. I think of it more for my athletic dreams now than a certain number or a clothing size.

This past weekend wasn't pretty. We were on the Cape and I had a blast. I indulged and enjoyed it. Mmmmm pizza!

But as soon as we pulled back into our house at 7am on Monday morning, it turned right back to business.

I am proud of myself for estimating the best I could this weekend and NOT throwing my hands up in the air when I saw the negative number hit triple digits. I put my head down and did the best I could to chop it down.

I made sure to focus on the Good Health Guidelines as I do every day. It really shapes my day and I feel better overall when I check those off. Plus the smiley faces are awesome. ;)

Overall I am pleased with my last week. I felt good all week and tried three new Spin class (which I will review on the blog next week).

I wanted to emotionally eat yesterday due to tiredness, stress and overall crankiness. Knowing I had weigh in today I stuck to the snacks I brought in my backpack and avoided tripping a guy for his Kit Kat Bar. Ohh it looked so good though.

Thankfully today is Day One of my week so I start with a clean slate.

The rude people at Weight Watchers penalized my success by docking me a Daily Point. How rude? ;)

But once again I will do my best, but roll with the punches.

***

Today, I registered for my friend Shannyn's #virtualpugrun 5k! It has a sweet medal and you can check out the info here.

She is offering a 1-miler, 5k and 10k.

***

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Do you have a goal decade?

#Giveaway: 3 Free Entries to take on the Big Bad Wolf

Annddddd the winners ARE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Because Eddie O is such an awesome race director he is letting me give away not 3 but 5 entries to the race! WOOHOO!!

Thank you to everyone that entered. You can still register for the race! I hope to see you all there.

***

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Okay what if I say the Big Bad Wolf is ACTUALLY a 5-mile trail race in Ipswich, Mass?

Don't worry there aren't any actual wolves or animals involved in the running of this race - just fun, trails, friends, laughs, and beer!! Well there might be a wolf or two on sight because...

The Second Annual Big Bad Wolf 5-Mile Trail Race will take place on Saturday, September 13 at Noon at the Wolf Hollow, a wolf sanctuary, in Ipswich, Mass.

Registration includes a great VERT shirt + free food & beer at the after-party (sponsored by Notch, Slumbrew, Downeast Cider & Ipswich Ale).

That's right folks! Like all Cambridge 5k and VERT Races there will be an EPIC post-race party after the 5-mile trail race with a dance-off and great brews from four local breweries.

Slumbrew Happy Soles love a good post-race party

Oh and there may be a costume contest too...

Run in your best wolf or wolf related running costume and you could win a great prize in our post-race costume contest!

Now Ipswich may seem like a trek from Boston, but it really isn't. With a Noon start for the race, you won't have to wake up early to grab the commuter rail. Eddie O, race director extraordinaire, also has a free shuttle set up from the commuter rail to the race start.

If you are nervous to check out your first 5-mile race or first trail run, the Big Bad Wolf is a great way to break into either! There is a great support system amongst runners, volunteers and spectators.

The course map is a loop so you never feel alone and see familiar faces all along the route.

Here's a description of the course:

Fast & flat course over grass fields and dirt roads. The course starts & finishes @ Wolf Hollow and follows the Maplecroft Trail from Essex Road to Argilla Road and back. The course is well marked with signs and course marshalls. There is a water stop near the halfway point (polo field).

There are some slight inclines on the course, but nothing too strenuous like other trail runs might have. It truly is a course for all fitness levels.

I can't wait to take on Big Bad Wolf for a second year with the Slumbrew Happy Soles.

So now that I have you psyched up for the trail race and party of 2014, it's time to make it even better...

I am giving away not 1 but 3 entries!

Sayy wwhhaaa??? Raise the roof! Woo Woo!

I know.

So here's how to enter.

The giveaway will run from Thursday August 14 (2pm ET) through Friday August 22 (10am ET)!

The winner will be selected and announced on Friday!

*RACE RECAP* The 2014 New Balance Falmouth Road Race

It's not every day you are invited to participate in one of the world's most-recognized road races. But luckily this year New Balance did just that for me inviting me to run in the 42nd Annual Falmouth Road Race (7 miles) on August 17th.

As always all thoughts on the race are mine and of course honest ... ain't nobody got time for lyin'!

This would be my second time running Falmouth. After being selected in the lottery, I ran it in 2012 during the 40th anniversary when they offered a rare medal for Finishers because of the big anniversary.

Following 2012 race

We opted to head down to the Cape the day before the race and hang out at my parents' camper in Sandwich, MA - a short 30 min or so ride to the Shuttle Buses for the race. I was happy to NOT be one of those racers riding down from Boston on the morning of OR forking over an arm and a leg to pay for a place. :)

I want to thank my Tedy's Team mate Allie for picking up my bib and special welcome gift from New Balance at the Expo for me while we made our way down to the Cape in traffic. Allie came through in the clutch.

Now normally the New Balance Falmouth Road Race starts at 10am, but this year it had a 9am Start Time. This meant a 5am wake-up call for my support team (dad and wife) and me.

You may ask for a 30 minute drive to the Shuttle Buses why would I be up so early?

Well the Falmouth Road Race is a point to point race, which means myself and 12,800 of my closest friends need to take those Shuttle Buses to the Start area in Woods Hole. Shuttle Buses run from 5:45-7:45am.

My Tedy's Team mates would be meeting around 6:30/6:45 at the shuttle bus area so I wanted to hook up with the crew before we boarded the buses.

What a fine looking crew!

Around 7:30am, we got in line with our friends to board the school buses.

It was a quick ride up to Woods Hole. The Falmouth Road Race volunteers are amazing and have the loading and unloading areas running like clock work.

We unloaded in Woods Hole and headed to find the port-o-potties. There were ample port-o-potty areas available to the runners.

Usually Falmouth offered strict corral placement and policing, but switched it up here in 2014 with pulse starting.

This year, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race is introducing the “Pulse Start” system as an improved plan to start large numbers of runners within a venue site of limited size. This system is possible due to use of chip timing, that allows for all runners to receive an accurate time based on their crossings of the official start and finish lines. The "Pulse Start" has received excellent industry-wide runner feedback.

Goal: to give every runner the best experience possible

• This includes the ability now to run from the start with less congestion on the course

• Pulse intervals within each pace group are set at time intervals [approx. 2 minutes between] thus allowing for less congestion at the Start and on the course

• Each pace group will have multiple pace starts

My Tedy's Teammate Meg and I would be running together and decided to line up between the 8 and 9 min pace signs. There was a great atmosphere on race morning with amazing weather and a bunch of talented elite runners on site (Oh Hey Meb!).

MulletMarathon.com

After having the pleasure of meeting a couple of blog readers and the brains behind Somerville's own Runfellow gear, the pulse starts began.

Coming off the quad injury in the previous week I didn't set high expectations time wise for the race, but kept the main goal as Having Fun!

With over 12,000 runners meant a lot of tight running at the beginning of the race. The first three miles of the course are the tightest and also feature a majority of the hills and shade.

The self-seeding is a tricky game to play as many participants line up incorrectly resulting in tripping, elbowing and generally unsafe running conditions. I always line up in the area closest to my actual pace in order to keep the course safe and you should too. Runners Safety Moment From Me To You

Meg and I were doing the best bobbing and weaving that we could to try and get into a groove where we could find a comfortable pace and run next to each other. It was Meg's first time running Falmouth so I was playing guide the best I could.

Mile 1: 9:03 Mile 2: 8:49

I thought the race did a great job with the number of water stops available and trying to keep them balanced between the left and right sides of the road.

Not many races can beat the breathtaking views of the ocean that Falmouth has. The Sun was shining and the water was glistening. My quads felt pretty darn good even as we battled through the ups and downs of the first few miles of the race. It was my pesky left quad that was being a stick in the mud. It isn't a sharp or alarming pain just a constant reminder that the hamstring will require rest post Half Ironman (Sept 7).

Meg and I have done most of the long training runs for Boston Marathon together the past two years so we have a pretty good rhythm when we run together which I love and had missed. It can get pretty boring running alone without music. So we were able to use this time to catch up.

Mile 3: 8:39

Now the extra joy of this race was hitting the 3.5 mark and realizing we were already halfway done. Hey oh! Falmouth is definitely original with it's 7-mile distance. The story behind it says that the race creator, Tommy Leonard, was at a bar in Falmouth and someone said to him that he couldn't run home, which was about 7 miles away in Woods Hole. And that is how the race was born. Well that is what rumor says.

(Note: more on the history can be found here)

Halfway there selfie

The spectators along the course cheer with the same enthusiasm and dedication as those at that drape the roads along the Boston Marathon route.

Residents offer up their own water stops and even put aside what it will due to their water bills by spraying water from garden hoses across the course. Ohhh it felt awesome each time I ran under one.

There are bar owners and locals playing music and holding up signs everywhere you turn.

Additionally, you can find cheering sections for each of the charities running in the race along the course as well.

I may or may not have gotten shafted by a little kid looking for high fives. Apparently mine wasn't good enough for him. #Ouch

Mile 4: 8:21 Mile 5: 8:30

The crowds were really digging the Sparkle Athletic skirt and my Wonder Woman socks. I was getting a ton of cheers and loving the support. Falmouth puts your name on your bib if you sign up before a certain date, which is also a great motivator during the run as random strangers are calling out your name.

It seemed as soon as we hit Mile 5 the weather was taking its toll on some of the runners. Many were starting to walk or slow down. I was still feeling good. Thankfully Meg was willing to hang back with me and keep the pace where it was. I honestly didn't even know what pace we were at because I was so focused on the action around me and keeping in tune with how my body was feeling.

I was pleasantly surprised when my Garmin buzzed at Mile 5 with an 8:30 pace. :)

Mile 6: 8:27

The crowds are thick and rowdy as you head into the final couple of miles, which really carries you to that final hill that you know is coming during the last mile.

But once you crest that hill you KNOW it's all downhill to the Finish Line. As you top the hill, you see the glorious sight of the huge American Flag that flies over the Finish.

Yes I get teary when I see it thinking of the thousands of folks that have run this race before me: family, friends, Olympians.

Mile 7: 8:14

It was a truly beautiful day and the race was over before we knew it. I had a great run into the Finish and even saw my wife and dad just before crossing.

Final Time: 1:00:49 (8:42 min/mile pace)

Once I saw the Finish Time, I wished I had lined up earlier or pushed it harder to break one hour. I had finished the 2012 race in 58:10. But with injury, etc, I was happy with the results.

And I fulfilled my main goal: I had fun the entire time. :)

My Garmin gave me 7.1 miles on the nose, but the official course description says 7 miles so we will go with that since I did do extra bobbing and weaving along the way.

Since it wasn't an anniversary year there wasn't a Finisher's Medal - man I wish they did one - but I can't be too picky I know.

Meg and I grabbed a water before heading to the Finish Area to find both of our families. The post-race grub included Cape Cod Chips, pretzels, peanuts, bananas and Yasso bars. Mmm I grabbed a Mint Chocolate Chip Yasso Bar (2 PPV) and it was delicious.

But I was ready for a celebratory beer. We headed off to the post-race Tedy's Team BBQ, which was being held at a house just a mile away from the Finish Area. A little post-race shakeout walk.

The hamstring was feeling a little tight, but the rest of me was feeling great! My dad and wife caught me up on their morning, their delicious breakfast and their race spectating highlights.

I will say a highlight for me was when a little boy that I was the real Wonder Woman because his dad led him to believe it. The excitement on his face was priceless and I wanted to take him home with me. :P

The BBQ had delicious Samuel Adams beer, Papa Ginos pizza, snacks, veggies and more. Thank you again Tedy's Team for having my family and I.

I think I even have Tedy's kids participating in my birthday virtual 5k fundraiser. They understand the awesomeness of a Finisher's medal. :)

Tedy Bruschi and I

After an amazing morning, it was time to head back to Sandwich and relax the rest of the day ... the Cape way.

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Thank you again to New Balance and Tedy's Team for a great Falmouth Road Race.

Have you run the Falmouth Road Race? What is your favorite part?

Racecancer’s Boston 5k Summer Series: Race #4

Boston Summer Nights are made for 5ks along the Charles River. Thankfully Racecancer is giving me six chances to take in the glorious views of the water during the Boston 5k Summer Series. August 14th marked the fourth installment of the race and the weather was perfect - 6:30pm start for Women's Only 5k and a 7pm start for the Co-Ed 5k.

I got there a tad early to walk around and take in the sponsor tents. Since I have the season pass for the race series, I use the same bib for all 6 races so I didn't need to pick anything up.

The week prior to the race I experienced a quad injury, which left me with 5 forced rest days. For those that read this blog, you know that is unheard of in my world recently. ;) So it was tough.

The 5k would mark my first run since the injury so my goal was to take it easy.

But I am a horrible pacer when trying to take it easy during a race - I get swept up in the adrenaline of a race. I turned my Garmin over so I wouldn't be tempted to quicken up my pace if I felt I was running "too slow."

I was excited to be testing out my New Balance gear for the first time in a race - I had previously worn it for cross training and practice runs. Aren't those Foam Fresh 980s sweet?

Just before 6:30 I moved myself over to the Start Area for the Women's Only 5k.

My goal? Make it through pain free.

Race Director, Alain, spoke to the crowd briefly and shared a moment of silence for a member of the community's family member who had passed away from cancer. After the moment and race instructions, we were off.

The good thing about a race series means you become very familiar with the course. Knowing the course means less focus on going the right way and more about taking in the views.

Mile 1: 8:09

Even when the Garmin buzzed at Mile One, I went against my instincts and didn't sneak a peek. I was feeling good and wanted to focus on that.

Thankfully there wasn't any quad pain during the race. Now the pesky left hamstring pain took the forefront. I guess it was masked the week before by the quad pain.

It is a lingering pain from May and I know with more rest it will heal ... which I can do once the Half Ironman is over.

I want to commend the 5k for having two water stops on the course (Mile 1 and Mile 2). It is greatly appreciated by the runners.

Now I am doing this race alone and without music so it is all me and my thoughts during the run. ;) Which is a tough thing sometimes. The self-doubt and negative talk can come out in full effect. Trying to banish it is what I am working on.

Mile 2: 8:06

I passed on the water at the second water stop, but the volunteers were cheering everyone on loudly. Something I truly appreciated since this stretch of the race is a little light on the views/fan fare.

As I took the left onto the Arsenal St bridge, I smacked right into two guys standing with their bikes in the middle of the path. The race takes place on an open bike path, but I don't think these guys were ready to share the road. I let them know that there were a bunch of runners behind me and to make sure they stay on one side of the road.

It is all about sharing the road path folks!!

Once over the Arsenal St bridge, you take a left and head straight back to the Start on the path. This is a shady area along the water, which is great for a selfie break.

Now this is why I tell people to take multiple shots. Not every one will be a winner. ;)

(Read more at Mid-Run Selfie)

Mile 3: 8:04

I made sure just before Mile 3 to readjust the outfit before crossing the Finish Line. Gotta look good for those Finish Line photos. ;)

Final: 24:57

Very good for having come off rest and keeping it conservative.

After grabbing some water and stretching, I was debating taking part in the Co-Ed 5k as well (women's entry gets them into both races), but decided to keep it smart. I had the Falmouth Road Race (7 miles) on the Sunday and didn't want to risk any further injury.

But I did make sure to cheer them off.

It was a great turnout and I know folks had a great after party at Miller's Boston Ale House with Clown Shoes on tap.

I celebrated my 5k with my Chocolate Milk at home. At some point I will make it to an after party ... well I have 2 chances left. :P

Speaking of the next Boston 5k Summer Race is September 4 and you can register here (6pm for Women's Only and 6:30 for Co-Ed).

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Will I see you there?

Face It Friday: Lack Of Activity 8/15/14

5 days of forced rest for my sore quads threw me for a mental loop this week. As you all know my Weight Watchers week starts on Friday so by Monday I usually have anywhere from 30-50 Activity Points depending on what my training plan has in store.

Well when I plugged my little Activelink into my computer on Monday morning I had 2 APs. That's right folks 2. Ouch!

I was held out of activity Thursday-Monday. It was rough. I hated seeing my Fitbit barely recording steps and my Activelink lacking in lit up lights. It was frustrating, but I knew it was the best thing for my body.

But I had a big weekend that needed those APs.

That's right folks. You can see a pretty big negative number up in the tracker.

This past weekend I filled a few cravings I had been having: Chinese Food, chicken tenders, etc. Oh and attended a wedding too.

I actually didn't track after 5pm Friday through Sunday night. I didn't want to know. But then I woke up with that nagging inner guilt on Monday morning and faced the music.

OUCH!

But it was fun and I do not regret any of the choices I made.

I still hit my Good Health Guidelines and my water goals during those 3 days.

Now I know I need to improve my weekend habits, but for now this type of balance is working for me and the social engagements that creep up. Keeping indulging and adult beverages to the weekend is definitely making a difference.

So like usual I tightened up the eating on Monday, but still didn't have the activity to counteract the damage.

Luckily my quads starting feeling better on Tuesday so I was able to swim on Tuesday, bike on Wednesday and run a little on Thursday. Something was better than nothing. Those three days led to the 14 of my 18 APs for the week.

I cannot remember the last time I had as few as 24 APs in a week. I thought for sure I would have an automatic gain just because of that. It worried me for future weeks when I can't keep my AP level to the usual 75-100 APs I've been clocking.

I knew I would face the music this morning. Whatever happened would happen. I enjoyed the weekend and made sure to keep my injury and health at the forefront of my mind for the week. I didn't force an extra workout just to try to earn back some extra APs because my body wasn't ready.

Well, I stepped on the scale today and was down 0.5 lbs from last Friday's unexpected gain. Woo! I will take it.

I really didn't care what the scale said because I feel good. The good routines are outweighing the bad. The balance is being found. I am getting back into a groove.

The progress in the last nine weeks is great. It is more than the 17.8 lbs I have relost, but the healthy habits are outweighing the bad. The motivation has been refound. The light rekindled.

So this morning, I changed my Weight Watchers goal weight from 155 to 157. The 155 was a number set by my doctor, but it seems my body is happier in the higher end of the 150s.

Hey! As a girl who used to sit in the 230s, I will love any number in the 150s.

From here on out my personal goal will be 155 and my WW goal will be 157 (giving me a range of 155-159).

And I am almost back there.

I really beat myself up over this weight gain. How could I let this happen after 2 years at goal? How could I let myself, my readers and my members down? Then I remembered: I am human. Life happens. It is how you respond to it that truly defines you.

I am a fighter and will continue to learn and adapt as my lifestyle and fitness levels evolve. Finding a balance is crucial.

***

How do you handle unexpected rest weeks?

A Weekend of Falmouth Road Race Activities With New Balance

The Falmouth Road Race is an internationally known event. Runners come from ALL over the world to participate. It is crazy to think the race started 42 years ago with just 92 people participating in the first race. 92!

I ran Falmouth for the 1st time in 2012, the 40th anniversary, and there were over 12,800 people registered to run. Now THAT is a successful race.

Post-2012 race: Rarely do they offer a medal, but they did then for 40th anniversary

The race is so popular there is a lottery in place to get a bib to run. Well, unless you are one of the 5 guys that have done all 41 Falmouth Road Races or one of those world-famous Olympic types coming to win!  If you aren’t chosen in the lottery, you can still get a bib by participating with a charity team.

Either way, it is an EXTREME honor to experience a Falmouth Road Race

I have spectated many a Falmouth Road Race. My dad and uncles were all big runners in the 90s and early 2000s so I was in attendance at a fair number of Falmouth Races, but never participated. Why would I have? We all know I didn’t pick up the running bug until 2005. Before that, running was as gross to be as brussels sprouts.

A rainy start to the 2012 Falmouth race

So I am wicked excited to be running Falmouth on Sunday (August 17) for a second time this year thanks to New Balance. I have the honor of being one of the local bloggers they are sponsoring to run. Thanks again New Balance.

My New Balance training gear was off the hook

I will definitely be rocking the Fresh Foam 980s on my feet on Sunday to compliment my Tedy's Team singlet and Wonder Woman socks. You know I need to rock some capes on the Cape. :0)

Besides the race on Sunday, New Balance will be hosting additional events: 

* EXPO Fun (Falmouth High School Field House, 874 Gifford Street) is always amazing & hey you need your bib. Right?

Friday, August 15, 10 AM to 9 PM
Saturday, August 16, 10 AM to 6 PM

Be sure to stop by and see my girls at the Sparkly Soul booth and tell them Weight Off My Shoulders/IrishEyes sent ya. ;)

* The Quarterdeck Restaurant will be offering Tommy’s New Balance Seafood Run from Thursday-Sunday. This limited-time dish consists of sautéed shrimp and scallops with grilled asparagus, blistered heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil served over lobster ravioli and finished with a Pinot Grigio lemon sauce. Named for Falmouth Road Race founder and Quarterdeck patron and employee Tommy Leonard, the dish will give runners the carbohydrates and protein they need without weighing them down for the big race. The Quarterdeck profits from the dish to Cape Abilities.

The dish will run you $26.99 and The Quarterdeck Restaurant (164 Main Street, Falmouth) will donate 25% of the profits from the Tommy’s New Balance Seafood Run dish to Cape Abilities.

* Girls Night Out event on Friday, August 15th at the Casino Wharf FX called “Race Day Ready”. The evening kicks off with a 2.5 mile fun run lead by Sarah Brown of Team New Balance. Following the fun run participants of the sold-out GNO event will get to ask Sarah questions about how she prepares for important races, enjoy complimentary massages, cocktails, appetizers and exciting giveaways.

* Saturday, August 16th boasts the high school mile, wheelchair mile, youth mile and finally the elite invitational mile featuring Team New Balance Athletes Sarah Brown and Stephanie Garcia starting at 5PM at Falmouth High School.

Photo Courtesy of Falmouth Road Race

As part of NB SparkStart, a global campaign with the aim of helping children discover and nurture their movement spark; New Balance will host a SparkStart zone featuring an obstacle course, cheering signs, and fun temporary tattoos. Children attending Saturday night’s mile events are invited to visit the zone and share their movement spark.

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OOhhh and I need your help!! Which Sparkle Athletic skirt should I rock for the race?

1 ... 2 ... or 3!

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While I will only be in town for the race itself on Sunday, I really hope anyone in town checks out all of the weekend's events.

Will you be running Falmouth this year?