Hamsters December 2009

[quagga]

12/1 - 6-mile run in the moonlight.

Possibly the most sublime run I've had -- the sky was clear, it was not too cold, the moon was so bright that my shadow followed me the whole way, I didn't even need my headlamp, I saw only car, the barren orchards unbelievably beautiful, and it was quiet quiet quiet (I don't run with headphones or music). *sigh*

When I was done, I felt like I could have run another six miles.

What a way to start the month!

Happy Hamstering everyone. :happy:

[squirrel]

I will be doing an hour of Zumba tonight. Two more classes and then I'm done. The class is ending until spring, but I wouldn't take it again with that instructor anyway. I need to find another aerobics type class to take. Maybe a form of dance, or even zumba again if I can get a good teacher.

[squirrel]

I am currently looking into these classes. Any of my neighbors wanna join with me? It's in Milwaukee. I plan on taking as many of them as I can, which will somehow work out to Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. lol I guess I'll have to take Pole on Tuesdays and Saturdays!
(Do you think it's doing too much? Biggest Loser people work out 8 hours a day. lol)

Belly Dance Aerobics
Belly dance aerobics involves exercises designed to tighten and tone your waist, hips and abdominal muscles through easy-to-follow isometric movements. This class will help to enhance your overall flexibility and general conditioning. Bring leotards, a large scarf or veil and a towel or mat.
Mon., Feb 1-Mar 22, 6:00PM- 7:00PM
$27 Residents/$40.50 Non-Residents


Body Sculpting
Use bands and weights to tone all areas of your body. Improve your mind, as well as your self-image. Bring your own weights and toning band. Wear comfortable, loose clothing.


Mon., Feb 1-Mar 22, 7:00PM- 8:00PM
$27 Residents/$40.50 Non-Residents
OR
Thu., Feb 4-Mar 25, 7:00PM- 8:00PM
$27 Residents/$40.50 Non-Residents

ABsoGLUTEly Fit
Work on your upper and lower abdomen. You will be targeting the gluteus maximus area to the back of your thighs. Look and feel better. Wear comfortable clothing.


Thu., Feb 4-Mar 25, 6:00PM- 7:00PM
$27 Residents/$40.50 Non-Residents
OR
Wed., Feb 3-Mar 24, 7:00PM- 8:00PM
$27 Residents/$40.50 Non-Residents

American Tribal Style Belly Dance
American Tribal Style belly dance is based on group improvisational and synchronized movements that are a fusion of Traditional and Folkloric dances from the Middle East, Africa, Western Europe and Asia. This style of belly dance embodies the strength, beauty, and femininity of the dancers. This is a beginner class that teaches basic movement and posture, while working all muscles of the body, but focuses on the back, arms, abs, and obliques. Required: Zills (finger cymbals can be purchased at first class, $15). Recommended: Hip scarf.

Thu., Feb 4-Mar 25, 7:00PM- 8:00PM
$23 Residents/$34.50 Non-Residents

[quagga]

12/2 - 5-mile speed workout under the light of the moon. I feel good!

Last night's run was much more serene.

[bluedawg]

tuesday:
60 minutes ashtanga yoga

thursday:
60 minutes ashtanga yoga

next tuesday, my instructor is holding a yoga mala instead of class, and it will last for about 2.5 hours(!). it's 108 sun salutations and 15 minutes of savasana. it will be held from 4-6.30pm, but people can come for part or all of it. i wouldn't be able to come until 5pm (our usual class is at 5.15pm), so i'm considering doing the second half. still, sounds daunting.

squirrel, i've found that zumba is a 'pick it up as you go, and don't stress if you don't get it at first' kind of thing. the very first night that i attended, a few of the women in my class got irritated with my teacher for not going slowly through each song's steps before getting started, and my teacher seemed equally frustrated that they were trying to be so careful and systematic about it. it sounds like zumba is supposed to be freewheeling and booty-shaking and not so much with the careful choreography. having been on poms all through high school, i really wanted to "get it right" and "be precise," but i learned to let go of that for the most part after witnessing the first-night-sassy-ladies. :silly:

[squirrel]

i really wanted to "get it right" and "be precise"

That's tOtally what I feel like. My friends don't like it, either, so I think it's the instructor. But I'd be willing to take it again with a different one.
That, and the girl who always ends up in front of me is like, perfect at it, so I kinda wanna crawl in a hole when the instructor makes the lines rotate and she's behind me and I'm all struggly and stuff.

[quagga]

12/3 - 4-mile moonlight recovery run

It was a great run, but my ears got really, really cold! brrr.

[gladcow]

last night - 1.25 hours of vini yoga

my teacher is back! :banana: she learned some new stuff!

....and she's cancelling the Tuesday lunch class that I just recently fell in love with, so I'm back to square zero with upping my practice :umm:

[quagga]

12/5 - 6.4-mile long run

It was so cold in the morning!! 39F

[squirrel]

Saturday, 1 hour Pole 2. While other, lighter girls are able to flip upside down, I cannot. But I keep trying. :)

[quagga]

12/6 - 3.3-mile run

[quagga]

12/7 - 4.5-mile run

My companions were the stars - Orion, Ursa Minor and Major. And nary a car the whole time. Cold (34F), dry, and clear.

[squirrel]

Last night, 1 hour Pole 2. I am sore today. She gave us some grippy stuff for our hands and I got a renewed sense of bravery and was able to do a bunch of stuff without slipping. :)

[sitting_vegan]

Dec 8- Finally back! I have been feeling like I'm fighting something off for a wk and a half now...
3+ mi walk (Tollgate to stop sign and back), stretching

[bluedawg]

next tuesday, my instructor is holding a yoga mala instead of class, and it will last for about 2.5 hours(!). it's 108 sun salutations and 15 minutes of savasana. it will be held from 4-6.30pm, but people can come for part or all of it. i wouldn't be able to come until 5pm (our usual class is at 5.15pm), so i'm considering doing the second half. still, sounds daunting.

welp, i did it... some of it. i couldn't show up until 5.10pm, so i started when i got there (some people had been going since 4pm) and i made it to 70 before she asked us to stop and stretch before savasana. it's done in 4 sets of 27, and she gave us little beans and a shot glass to count as we went along. :silly: i made it through two full sets and well into my third before i had to stop, so i made pretty good time, i guess.

tuesday:
70 sun salutations! :sunny:

[quagga]

12/9 - 4.7 mile tempo workout

ETA: Oh yeah, it was really cold (by California terms) -- 27F. We noticed the grass crisping up with frost.

[squirrel]

Didn't go to my last zumba class last night. Going to an open pole class tonight with a few friends who are new to it so that should be fun. :)

[quagga]

12/12 - 9-mile long run, in the rain.

I missed my recovery run this week because of the company christmas party and my failure to plan... Boo.

[bluedawg]

thursday:
60 minutes ashtanga yoga with a sub who (unfortunately) annoyed me

[squirrel]

Saturday:
Last Saturday Pole 1 class. I think I'll try to stick to classes during the week, since this seems to really eff up my weekend, since it's pretty far away.
Tomorrow will be my last Pole 2 class, but I'm starting it over again on the 22nd.
I keep taking the same classes over again since they're fun, I obviously get a good work out from them since I'm sore as heck after each one, and I still haven't mastered everything yet. There's a Pole 3, but I'm askeered of that right now.
In January, I will be taking water aerobics with 2 friends, as well as some other kinds of classes. I'm not sure what, yet.

[quagga]

12/13 - 2-mile recovery run

[squirrel]

I just signed up for a 12 week water aerobics class! :thumbsup:
Tonight: 1 hour of Pole 2, final class before I restart it next Tuesday. :laugh:

[sitting_vegan]

Still not feeling well! Went to the dr the other day. Got some antibiotics.

Dec 17- 55 min walk (PPP/Swagger)

[quagga]

12/17 - 5.5-mile tempo run; 10 1/4 mile intervals as 10K 'race' pace with 50-second rest.

After the heavy rain last weekend, the vernal pools are filling. It was a warm evening (50F) and at the beginning of the run, frogs were calling to each other. It was lovely.

Race day is this Saturday!

[quagga]

Race day!!
Jack Frost 10K in Bidwell Park
12/19 - 10K race in 1:05

Distance Pace Avg HR Max HR
1.00 Mi 11:04 156 160
1.00 Mi 10:51 161 168
1.00 Mi 10:39 163 165
1.00 Mi 10:26 166 170
1.00 Mi 10:06 169 172
1.00 Mi 9:14 176 181
0.29 Mi 8:33 182 186

TOTAL: 1:04:45.12

It was an awesome run and I even passed people in the last two miles. I had a kick in me! (and not from champagne).

[sitting_vegan]

Dec 23-3 mi run/walk (Tollgate) Stretching

Still recovering. :(

[bluedawg]

saturday:
went back to the gym after a looooong absence!
30 minutes cross-trainer (2.65 miles), which kicked my ass
40 minutes weights
20 minutes abs & stretching

[sitting_vegan]

Dec 24- 3 mi run/walk Tollgate, stretching

Dec 26-3.9 mi run, stretching. (Tollgate to stop)

[bluedawg]

monday:
32 minutes cross-trainer (2.76 miles)
40 minutes weights
20 minutes abs & stretching

[bluedawg]

wednesday:
32 minutes cross-trainer (2.74 miles)
40 minutes weights
20 minutes abs & stretching