Shoe Update

So the second pair finally arrived today!  The color is better in person than online.  But once I put them on, the arch of my foot hurt.  It almost felt like it was a little too far back for my foot.  I'm wondering if that goes along with the "barefoot" style, or if they're just not for me.  I wore one of each shoe around for about an hour.  I couldn't even tell I had the Pace Glove's on!  So once I found that those were comfortable I wore both Bare Access Arc 2 for another hour.  I could tell the one I had on for two hours started to feel more comfortable, but at times it still didn't feel right.  I think it has too much arch support for me, but after reading reviews, others seem to really like that about the shoe!  I didn't notice that much more cushioning, but then again I wasn't doing much in them.  The Pace Gloves may be a tad too big, so when I go to return the other pair I'll try on a 1/2 size smaller just in case.  I'm excited to have new shoes for crossfit.  I keep going on my toes for some of the weightlifting, so maybe this will help me out!

I skipped tonight because I technically worked out twice last night (I stayed for the beginners and ended up doing their WOD with my friend),  My arms are a little sore and today had push ups and pull ups, no thank you!  I went for a short two mile run.  I have off tomorrow (and Monday, yay!!) so my plan is to go at 7:30 or 9:00 in the morning.  Then it's off to the Poconos for the weekend.  Two days of snowboarding will be a nice change in workout.

Shoes

Yesterday I had a girls day, with my friend that just started crossfit.  We were on a hunt for workout gear, and I, specifically, wanted new shoes.  I've been wearing my old running shoes from my first two half marathons because I don't want to wear out my new ones before my two upcoming races.  Those shoes are so worn and there is no traction that I'm starting to feel it.  My boyfriend bought Merrell's to use for crossfit earlier this year so I thought I'd give them a shot.  We went to REI, I had never been there but I think it's one of my new favorite stores!  They had two Merrell shoes on sale so I tried on both.  I can't remember the one I tried, but I ended up with the Pace Glove 2.  I'm so indecisive, though, and I'm second guessing my decision.  So I spent the night looking up reviews and other Merrell shoes.  This morning I found another shoes on the REI outlet sight, this was the Bare Access Arc 2, which is actually the shoe my boyfriend has.  They said this one has slightly more cushioning which would make it an easier transition to the barefoot idea.  And it also has the zero heel to toe drop.  The one I purchased has a zero heel to mid foot drop, so I want to see if there's a real difference.  

Once the new ones come in I plan to wear both around and compare them!

Merrell Bare Access Arc 2

Merrell Pace Glove 2

Training Plan

So my goal is to follow the Hal Higdon Novice Plan training plan, but tweaking the long runs to how I trained last year.  I like the idea of tapering before a race and his plan doesn't, but I love the cross training days because they're perfect for my new addiction!

I dread looking at the WOD, and feel worse once I find out what I'm getting myself into.  But while doing the workout I feel invincible.  While stretching I feel on top of the world.  That's what makes cross fit addicting.  That's how I used to feel about running.  Running can just boring when you do it alone and you're seeing the same scenery repeatedly.  Cross fit is different everyday and the support you get is fantastic.  That's what keeps me wanting to go back.  I wish I could get more of my friends to try - one is going tomorrow night... I know she'll be hooked.

Official Member

Monday was my last beginners cross fit class because of the way New Years fell.  The workout was probably the toughest one I've done yet.  Started with squats with weights, did 95 lbs!  Then the torture was row 250m, 21-15-9 of box jumps, 21 body rows, 21 push ups, and finishing with another 250m row.  I have no upper body strength so it was hard for me.  After we stretched I spoke with the trainer about signing up.  I was still debating how often to go, but I told him to put me in for 2x a week because I was afraid to hurt myself between cross fit and running and field hockey (which I forgot started this weekend, oops!).  But after we talked for a couple minutes he convinced me to do 3x a week.  Hopefully I can do that and still muster up the motivation to begin my training plan in the next week or two.

I booked my hotel for the Nike Womens half!  One step closer!!

Crossfit and Christmas

December flew by!  I can't believe Christmas is over and New Year's is in a couple days.  I've been so busy that I haven't had time to update, sorry.  But I'm happy to report that I've been at Crossfit for two weeks now.  After the first class, my boyfriend got me a two week gift card for beginner classes that they were giving out to members.  He also got one for his mom!  I didn't go until the next Thursday, because that worked for his mom.  But it also worked out for me because I caught the nastiest stomach bug Tuesday night into Wednesday.  It was going around my job and I could barely eat until Saturday, so needless to say the workout was that much tougher without substantial food in my belly.  In the beginner class we didn't do the same workout as the regular class.  We did a little strength and then we rowed 500 meters, and in the rest of the 10 minute workout we did 10 KB swings and 10 box jumps.  His mom was a trooper.  I went the Monday the 23rd and I got to experience the "12 days of Christmas" workout.  The teacher only gave up 15 minutes to do as much as we could instead of finishing the whole thing.  I got up to the 10th day, but didn't finish it.  That was a brutal workout, but I felt so good afterwards!  Christmas messed up my schedule a little so I ended up going Friday night.  Starting with Clean and Jerks (I'm slowly working on the names!) followed by AMRAP in 10 minutes of 5 push presses, 10 body rows, and 20 sit ups.  It's crazy that a workout is only 10-15 minutes yet I'm so exhausted after completing it.  Tomorrow may be my last beginner class.  I'm debating on if I want to do the 2x a week or 3x a week membership.  I have to remember that I need to train in between all of this so that's why I'm debating.

For Christmas I got a couple running things!  Pro Compression socks, an iFitness hydration belt, a foot massager, and a running vest.  Yesterday my friend and I went for my first run since December 2nd, ouch!  We did a nice slow 3 mile run and ended with a pace just under 12 minute miles.  I need to get back into my routine, end of November I was doing 2-4 miles with a 9:30 pace!!  I'm either doing a 12 week or 10 week training plan, so those would start either second or last week in January.

Crossfit... Attempt #2

So today I ventured to my boyfriend's box.  It's a 25-30 minute drive, which was why I was wary to try them first.   I had scheduled to go the same time he usually attends.  Unfortunately, he got stuck at work and couldn't make it.  I knew his friend was teaching the class so I felt more at ease than I had going to the other gym last week.  As soon as I walked in I felt more comfortable than I had previously.  The gym was much larger and seemed more put together.  The warm up was done as a group, instead of solo, major plus in my book.  People were so much more friendly and willing to help and encourage each other.  Although I'm sure it helped that I knew the coach, I believe he would have taken the time to help anyone new.  They already took down the workout so I'm not sure what everything we did was called.  But we did 30 squats with the barbell, 30 toes to bar, 20 lifting the bar, 20 toes to bar, 10 squats with the barbell, and 10 toes to bar.  I wish I had the proper terminology, but I'm sure that'll come in time.  We did a stretch at the end which was nice.  I know I'm still going to be super sore for two days like last time, but hopefully it'll help a little.  There's a box a little closer, but I'm not sure I even want to go through that awkward first workout when I liked this place so much.  Now I have to suck it up and pull out the credit card and go!

Cross Fit

So I just got home from my first Cross Fit experience.  There aren't many boxes in the area, so I found the closet one and e-mailed the owner.  My boyfriend's cousin started there in the summer, but she goes to the morning classes.  She seems to like it so I had high hopes.  The class started at 5:30, but I showed up around 5:15 because I had no freaking idea what I was getting myself into.  I filled out a form and signed a waiver.  The owner was very nice and welcoming.  He had me do a different warm up than everyone else.  I almost did a pull up!! (I've never done one before in my life.)  He had two workouts planned, I don't know how it's supposed to work so I went with it.  First we did three sets of 30-second handstand holds, 60-second forward leaning rest, 90-second side plank (each side) but they turned into 45 second during the second set.  Then for time we did four rounds of 10 dead lifts (@60%) but I just used a kettle bell and I don't know how heavy it was, 5 barbell roll outs but I had an ab roller, and 400 meter run.  Ouch.  That is all I have to say.  The first part wasn't too bad except I'm horrible at side planks.  And the second set of workout was more difficult than I had pictured, probably because I'm used to just running but now I was using muscles that I haven't used in a long time.  The I didn't come in last, so that was nice.  A couple of the people were nice, but others I didn't get a good vibe from.  Being a smaller gym, they had to know I was new.  Maybe I was expecting too much, but I've heard so many great things about cross fit people being welcoming and encouraging that only two out of 12-15 people even speaking to me wasn't what I had pictured.
I think I'm going to check out my boyfriend's box next week.  It's farther and more expensive, but he rants and raves about it so we'll see how I like it.