On Benchmarks

Some of my best friends are men.  I drink beer.  And, while football baffles me, I have learned to cheer for the Yankees.  Still, by no stretch of the imagination could I be considered "one of the guys."  This isn't something I think about often, but last night at CrossFit I kept tripping over my sex and my gender. 

The workout of the day ("WOD") was the Total, one of CrossFit's benchmark workouts which involves a back squat, a shoulder press and a deadlift.  You warm up, and then you have three shots to hit your maximum for each move.  Because it was crowded, we split up into groups of three people per rack.   

The guys in my group were about the same height and lifting the same weights, so we had to adjust the rack height and the plates between their sets and mine.  They were the shortest men present, but still significantly taller than my 4'11".  I managed to use the men's bar for the back squats, but had to switch to the lighter ladies' bar for the presses, which just meant more hassle between their sets and mine.   Despite my efforts, I wasn't much help lugging the 45 lb plates around and I couldn't spot their 225 lb lifts.  I wanted to, but I wasn't sure if I could, and it seemed like a pretty silly risk to take.  It also didn't help that I was the newbie who didn't know where the equipment was etc.  I couldn't pull my own weight, literally, and that sucked.

Putting aside my physical limitations, I discovered that I really don't speak guy.  I'm learning clean, snatch, jerk and all the other lifting terms a girl just doesn't pick up at Equinox, but I can't encourage someone by yelling or cursing at them.  I don't mind that kind of thing directed at me.  I actually appreciate being included, and when the weight is really heavy I mostly tune out what's going on around me anyway.  Still, I can't reciprocate.  It wouldn't come out right.  I can fist bump and "nice" and "good job."  That's the extent of it.

The actual lifting went pretty well.  I didn't know where to start, so I figured I should err on the conservative side.  For my back squats, I did 64, 74 and 94.  For the presses, I did 43, 48 and 48 again.  For the deadlifts, I did 113, 123 and 128.  The numbers mean very little to me right now, but the next time we do the Total I'll have something to compare.  That's the whole idea behind the workout.

I have a hunch, though, that the next time the Total or something comparable comes around, it won't just be the weights that I'm using as a benchmark.  Of course, I'm hoping to gain physical strength.  Perhaps more than that, though, I'm hoping to feel more at ease.  I'm not expecting to be totally at home in that environment, but the next time we do this, I want to be able to deal with my rack setup unapologetically.  That, and pressing at least 53 lbs, will make me one proud chickie.

I'll keep you posted.

-Gym Belle-

The List

I just got back from my 12 mile run, and I totally could've gone another 1.1.  Don't get me wrong, things hurt, and as I entered my apartment building I managed to get leftover GU everywhere.  So gross.  Still, I did it, and it mostly felt good.  I stayed slow and steady the whole way through, finishing in 130 minutes.  When I first signed up for the half, I figured it would take me about 2:20 and it looks like that's what it will be.

The beautiful weather definitely aided my run today, as did my playlist.  It still needs some tweaking, but it's getting there.  Judge me if you will, but here it is:

1. Blah Blah Blah - Ke$ha
2. #1 - Nelly
3. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
4. 'Till I Collapse - Eminem and Nate Dogg
5. Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
6. Call Me! Beep Me! - Beni Arashiro
7. You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
8. Runaway - Bon Jovi
9. Super Trouper - A*Teens
10. It's My Life - Bon Jovi
11. Your Love is My Drug - Ke$ha
12. I'll Be There For You - Bon Jovi
13. I Don't Wanna Be In Love - Good Charlotte
14. Ooh Ooh Baby - Britney Spears
15. Shattered - O.A.R.
16. Take You There - Sean Kingston
17. In My Head - Jason Derulo
18. The Fame - Lady Gaga
19. Gimme More - Britney Spears
20. Let Me Love You - Da Buzz
21. Pull Shapes - The Pipettes
22. Right Now - Akon
23. Let It Rock - Kevin Wold & Little Wayne
24. Don't Cha - Pussycat Dolls
25. Buttons - Pussycat Dolls
26. All This Time - Jason Silver & Sylver Logan Sharp
27. Tik Tok - Ke$ha
28. Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
29. Evacuate the Dancefloor - Cascada
30. Patron Tequila - Paradiso Girls
31. Fire Burning - Sean Kingston
32. LoveGame - Lady Gaga
33. Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
34. Take Me On The Floor - The Veronicas
35. Goodbye - Kristina DeBarge**
36. All The Above - Maino
37. If You Seek Amy - Britney Spears
38. Right Round - Flo Rida
39. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
40. Shut Up And Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
41. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - Black Kids
42. Dangerous - Kardinal Offishall
43. Pon De Replay - Rihanna
44. We Made You - Eminem
45. Since You've Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

** Where I stopped today

- Gym Belle-

Cramping My Style

If you haven't gone outside yet today, do so now.  It's beautiful out, sunny and already 40 degrees.  I was actually really hot during New York Road Runner's Haiti fundraiser race.

10,000 people showed up in Central Park for the 4 mile run this morning, and others joined in virtually through a partnership with MapMyRun.  The event raised $400,000.  It was pretty impressive, especially considering that NYRR put the whole thing together in 18 days. 

The race started out great for me, but I cramped up (again?) during mile three, and mile four was ridiculously painful.  I slowed down a lot at the end.  Luckily, I had started off strong, so my per minute pace was 8:45, my best yet.  I credit Bon Jovi's I'll Be There For You with getting me across the finish line at a decent clip.

The whole cramp thing has me a tad nervous for the half marathon.  It's one thing to grit through the last mile, and quite another to grit through the last nine.  So, I googled.  I can sum up the world's wisdom on the subject as follows:

• Hydrate in the days before the race, but don't drink too much right before.
• Don't eat right before the race (2ish hrs), and avoid protein, fat and other hard to digest foods in your pre-race meals.
• Make sure you're getting enough potassium.
• Stretch before you run, particularly your sides.
• Breath deeply, in through your nose, out through your mouth.
• If you cramp on right, exhale as your left foot hits the ground.
• Massage the crampy area and bend forward to relieve the pain.
• Slow down.

Anything to add?  Let me know.  I'm crossing my fingers for a cramp-free long run tomorrow!  I'll keep you posted.

-Gym Belle-