Formula 57

This morning I tried Formula 57, a Physique 57 class created by one of my favorite Physique instructors, Chanelle.  Formula 57 is an uptempo remix of the classic Physique 57 ballet-meets-pilates class and the Mat 57 pilates class. 

The vocabulary of movements will feel familiar to Physique-goers, but there are a few twists.  For example, we were asked at several points to do one thing with one leg while moving the other leg in opposition, or to do a bicep exercise with the right arm while working the tricep of the left.  I'm not so much a rub my tummy and pat my head kind of a girl, so this was pretty tricky.  

Also, in the traditional Physique 57 classes, you tend to work one muscle group till it fatigues and then leave it alone.  In Formula 57, we were constantly switching around and repeating muscle groups.  I never knew what was coming next.

Formula 57 is super fun, but, like it's creator, it's no joke, so if you're new to Physique, you may want to hold off on it until you've got the techniques down. 

-Gym Belle-

Heels Over Head

CrossFitters are always looking for ways to make the difficult more challenging.  One way to take push-ups up a notch is to do them while standing on your hands.  (Or, if that's too easy, you can do handstand push-ups on rings.)

It's been many years since I could hold a handstand outside of a pool, so I do these against a wall.  When I first started doing CrossFit, I'd get into a headstand position and push up from there to start.  I found that less scary.  Now, I just kick up straight into a handstand which is actually way less taxing.    

I don't have the strength to lower myself all the way down so that my head hits the floor and push back up to full extension.  Yet.  So, in the mean time, I place abmats beneath my head to shorten the distance.

Last Wednesday's workout called for a lot (45 total) of these bad boys, so I used two ab mats.  It's funny because I look at the picture and I can see that the difference between the down and the up is negligible.  But wow.  I managed five in a row on the first round, and it went downhill from there.  I squeezed out a few more singles, but after that I was back to regular push-ups to finish the workout.

I ran this morning, but might head over to CrossFit tonight where handstand pushups are once again on the agenda.  I'll keep you posted.

-Gym Belle-

A Thousand Words, Indeed

Two nights ago, I did something I've never done before: I ordered one of those insanely over-priced digital photos of myself in a race. 

The email advertising the pictures from the Newport half came while I was going through my pictures of the New York City Marathon, so perhaps I was just caught up in race excitement?  Or perhaps I felt obligated since Capstone had managed to capture nine decent shots of me near the finish line?  In any event, it was an impulsive decision.  I didn't study the picture too closely until after I'd received my purchase via email the next day.

When I opened the file, I felt pretty silly.  While this was a great race, I am so not happy in this picture.  The four minutes preceeding this particular moment had been hell.  Usually, I sprint towards a finish line.  That day, I had sprinted too early and wasn't able to charge the end.  I wanted to be done, and I thought I might be sick. Why had I wanted a picture of this?

And why this picture?  I'm making a face.  Admittedly, this isn't as bad as my usual running grimace.  Still, my brow is furrowed.  I'm red.  I'm clutching what must be the remains of my GU.  And holy heel strike, Batman!  Do I really run like that?

As I considered the image more, though, I saw something different: I'm running.  Not only that, I'm about to cross the finish line of my second half marathon.  I'm five weeks away from my next half marathon.  In fact, at that very moment, I had several more races planned and not once did I contemplate not running them, despite the pain.  Even then, I was looking forward to the next.

So, I think it's safe to say I've made sillier purchases.

-Gym Belle-

Have you ever bought an official race photo?