June 3, 2015

Happy National Running Day!

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I don’t often write about my running anymore here, but since National Running Day is today, I figured I’d share a little bit about why I run while doing ballet and how I recently started running again.

Why do you run?

I run because it relieves my stress and helps give me a cardio boost. Even though running has been one of the hardest things to start and re-start, I really enjoy it.

How do you plan to celebrate National Running Day?

Given my toe injury, I won’t be doing that much, but I’m hoping to make it out to one of Philly’s trails for a quick run if anything. I was hoping to participate in a specific National Running Day activity, but unfortunately that won’t be happening now.

How many miles have you run so far this year?

Not very many, but I just started getting back into running at the start of May. I’m hoping I can add more and more as this year continues.

What big events do you have on the race calendar so far this year?

I’m super super excited for the Philly 10K (a race that goes through Philadelphia’s neighborhoods) that’s put on by Philadelphia Runner.

Before I leave for a run you must have:

Lots and lots of water. I usually make sure to grab essentials (keys, phone, GPS watch, etc.) too.

Do you have one favorite app to track your runs?

My favorite app was RunKeeper, but now I use a Garmin Forerunner 220.

Who is your favorite running partner?

HQ by the river!

HQ by the river!

HQ. We run pretty much every run together. (This photo was taken on national running day a few years ago!)

What races have you ran so far this year?

I haven’t run one yet, trying to pick a 5K to run in the next few weeks, so if your near Philly and have a recommendation, let me know!

If you had to give someone one piece of advice about running what would it be?

Same as I would for ballet, don’t give up! It doesn’t necessarily get easier, but it does get more enjoyable.

Describe your relationship with running in one word:

Difficult.

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July 18, 2013

Philly Love Note: Philadelphia Runner

Here’s my recent Philly Love Note to Philadelphia Runner that was originally posted on Campus Philly.

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Favorite Spot: Philadelphia Runner

I am: A runner practically as slow as a turtle.

Years in Philly: Four

Current Home: Templetown

Back in January, I decided I was going to run the Broad Street Run despite being injured and  never having run much before in my life. I ended up selling my bib to someone else, but I didn’t give up on running. I probably would have though, if it wasn’t for Philadelphia Runner.

Philadelphia Runner is more than just a running supply store. They carry all of the best running gear and running shoes, and they’re great at helping you find what shoe is best for you. Besides being an awesome store, they also serve as a community for runners by hosting events, workshops, and weekly runs. Don’t fret about joining in on these events if you’re just starting out–they’re very beginner friendly. All paces are usually welcome at their weekly runs and other events.

My favorite event is their monthly scavenger hunt, the Urban Scramble. The Urban Scramble starts at their Center City store at 16th and Sansom, where you receive a list with about 10 businesses, which you must run (or walk) to to collect a raffle ticket to be entered for prizes at the final stop. You don’t have to make it to every business, but there’s usually time to make it to most of them even if you’re slow like I am. The course usually covers 4-5 miles and you’re given an hour and five minutes to complete it. It helps if you bring a map of Center City to help plan out your route once you get the list of businesses. Last time I forgot my map and I ended up running right past one of the businesses (oops!) This is my favorite map to use since it covers all of Center City and parts of University City, which are sometimes part of the course.

All raffle tickets are placed in one big bucket at the end. Most of the prizes are from the businesses you’ve picked up tickets from, but there are usually quite a few Philadelphia Runner gift cards given away too. It’s free and a lot of fun to do with a group of friends. At last month’s Urban Scramble (held on June 20th), the final location was the Schuylkill River Trail where Philadelphia Runner hosted a great cookout afterwards.

While they haven’t announced the next Urban Scramble, they’re holding weekly runs throughout the summer. Young Involved Philadelphia is launching a monthly running club with Philadelphia Runner, with the first one on July 16th. The run will be out to Race Street Pier with a post-run happy hour [with the first round of drinks on Philadelphia Runner]. Don’t miss out on a way to network with other young Philadelphians and runners alike.

Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a beginner like me, Philadelphia Runner is a great store to check out both for the products they offer and the great events they host.

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June 11, 2013

A Photoless Race Recap: Strides for Stroke 5k

Yup, I forgot to take a single picture. HQ and I ran our first 5k race this Sunday, the Strides for Stroke 5k in Philly.

Well, other than this screen shot of my nike + data.

Well, no pictures other than this screen shot of my nike + data.

HQ agreed to run with me at my turtle-like speed of 12:30 per mile and we did the entire race together. We ran most of it, only slowing down for a few water breaks and when my tummy wasn’t super happy (ugh, it was like that all weekend)–but we got it done. While it was cool to run on an empty Martin Luther King Drive, the slope of the pavement was rough on my shins.

 

My official time was 38:29. I’m already looking at another possible 5k for the end of the month–but the heat was really tough to deal with already at 8:30 in the morning.

This upcoming week HQ and I have tried to plan out our training a little bit more (thank you, Temple University for still letting me have access to the gym this summer) to include some cross training and some indoor running (on an indoor track) to help us beat the heat and this miserable rain. Running outdoors on the track during the summer just isn’t my thing (I still plan on getting some outdoor runs including our weekly long runs). I hope we can fit in a swim either Wednesday or Friday too. Ballet will hopefully happen Saturday morning (Thursday I’ve got friends possibly visiting and Philadelphia Runner’s Urban Scramble)–but I’m also heading home for birthday weekend so it’ll depend on my schedule.

What does your week look like?

 

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June 4, 2013

Weekend Workout Fails

It was ridiculously hot in Philadelphia this past week–but that’s not really the reason for my workout fails–a couple of other things have gotten in the way as well. This week has been:

Monday (Memorial Day): No ballet ’cause of the holiday and I had just ran on Sunday and Saturday so I squeezed in Day 02 of 30 Day Shred before heading back to Philly.

Tuesday: 2 Mile morning run. Seems like I’m on track, right?

Wednesday: Day 03 of 30 Day Shred, which starts to get a little bit easier. My boyfriend and I avoid running outside cause of the heat.

Thursday: Ballet in like 100 degree weather. Tough, but doable. I still wore my legwarmers, but for the first time in months I wore just my leotard. My instructor actually STOPPED class to ask if I’ve lost weight. I feel like I have (and I think that I have) even though the scale hasn’t shown much of a difference (5 lbs, maybe, and it fluctuates a LOT). I definitely look toner.

Friday: We got a late start, so a 1 and half mile is super painful. I was dehydrated and HQ was having leg problems, so we decided to call it quits.

Then over the weekend…I failed. I did nothing. It was a super rest weekend I guess. I was supposed to go to ballet Saturday morning–then I slept in because of lack of sleep. So to make up for it I had planned a 3 mile solo run for Sunday, and I didn’t go again because of lack of sleep.

Monday: Supposed to wake up for #MondayRunday (haha). I woke up at 6:45 to thunderstorms. It only kind of clears up throughout the day (so the track we run on probably stayed wet). I did fit Day 04 of 30 Day Shred in though–but I need to look for cardio alternatives to do during the cardio segments (The video has you doing 3 sets of 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, 1 minutes ABs). My legs HATE jumping jacks and things on my hardwood floors (it was fine at my parents on a cushioned carpeted basement floor). So I’ve kind of come with a substitute list thanks to Google: walking planks, diver push-ups (aka Hindu push-ups), steps (I’ve just got to find something to step up onto–I live in a studio apartment), swimming (on the floor) and punches (which are already featured in the video). If you’ve got alternative leg-easy cardio recommendations, lets hear ’em.

Plan for the rest of the week: two more 30 day shreds (probably Wednesday and Friday), an easy 2 mile run Tuesday, a 3-4 mile run with Philadelphia Runner to Rita’s for National Running Day, ballet on Thursday, 3 miles Friday, ballet again Saturday but no pointe…because of 5k race on Saturday. AND lots and lots of stretching and foam rolling. Hopefully HQ and I can stick to this schedule…we’re so bad at making a plan to get things done.

What is your weekly exercise plan? How do you plan out your workouts?

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April 4, 2013

Balancing Ballet, Life and Work

Over at my internship’s homepage we’re currently asking,  “How do personal choices about family and love affect your life/work as an artist?”

While none of us make a living out of being recreational ballet dancers, sometimes life, family, work and more can get in the way of dancing as much as we’d like. It can even affect our performance in our ballet classes (a late Friday night out can kill my Saturday morning ballet class just like a busy day of classes and school work can kill my Thursday night class). I often give up ballet classes to get more work done, go see a performance for an internship, or just because I’m plain old too tired.

Luckily, I have an amazing dance membership that allows me to take as many or few dance classes I want for a month, so I can take some “me” time when I feel like it’s necessary and I don’t have to feel strapped into a schedule. Not only that, it allows me to shift what days I want to do ballet. For instance, my boyfriend and I are participating in an “Urban Scramble” tonight with Philadelphia Runner, where we’ll be running around to different businesses in center city to collect raffle tickets. This makes me really glad I’m not chained to taking classes every Thursday–I can go on Saturday and Monday instead.

I'm super excited for this.

I’m super excited for this.

What I’ve learned recently, as I’ve mentioned, is that balancing things so that I’m happy is key. Just like I don’t want to push myself with running, I don’t want to feel like I HAVE to go to ballet when I’m not feeling 100% or a fun activity comes up. I need to make choices that make me happy. I can both do a fun activity with my boyfriend on Thursday and still fit in time in the ballet studio this week.

How do you balance ballet/dance and the rest of your life?

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