Wednesday, April 29, 2015

New Sneaks



So a friend of ours, CS, has been looking for new sneakers ever since she took up running as she hasn’t had a new pair in 7 years.  She’s been looking since last summer/fall and has tried a few pair but wasn’t satisfied with anything.  Last week she finally bit the bullet and went to Aerobics First to get her foot measured and fitted for a sneaker.  She asked if we wanted to tag along.  Sure.  Twin 1 received a $115 gift certificate for Christmas for Aerobics First so thought it was the perfect opportunity to see what they have and maybe find something for herself.  Twin 2 just tagged along for the ride with no intentions of buying anything.

So last Sunday CS picked us up at noon and away we went.  We got down there and CS was the first (and only we thought) person to look at sneaks.  While she was getting her feet examined/measured for shoes we thought we may as well to see if we were wearing the right shoe as it’s been awhile and the shoes we wear are no longer being made (different version anyway).   So CS found a pair of sneakers (Thank God!!) and it was Twin 1’s turn.  She quickly found a pair.  Then the sales person asked Twin 2 if she wanted to find some as well.  Sure, why not? 

$170 later we walked out.  

We both bought New Balance which is a different brand from what we’ve been wearing for years.


Twin 1 only has had hers on for about 15 min so far when she took the dogs out and they felt like they have less cushion then the shoe she was wearing but then after a few minutes she didn’t even realize they were a different shoe.  



Twin 2 wore hers around the house and doing a few workout videos.  They certainly have more traction than her current ones.  They feel good on the feet and not much different than her current ones so they should be keepers.




Of course we won’t make the decision to keep the sneakers until we get out and run a few k’s a few times which we hope to do this weekend and on a regular basis starting May 1. 
 
Some tips we learned while we were there:

1.      Always buy a shoe a half size bigger than what you normally wear.   We’ve always heard this and never did know the reason why.  The sales lady measured our feet sitting down and then when we stood up our feet grew a half a size from the weight being distributed over the foot. 

2.    Tie your shoes with your foot resting against a wall or something so you won’t tie them too tight. Tieing them with your foot up will result in a looser shoe with your foot flat and therefore your foot will not fall asleep from the laces being tied too tight (which has happened to us on occasion lol). 

3.   If possible go get your shoes at a place where people know what they are talking about especially for running.

4.    Wear non cotton socks when running/working out as these can cause blisters.  People often blame the shoe but it’s actually the sock that’s to blame.


Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, April 22 - REST DAY!

Thursday, April 23 - HIIT 15 & Sculpt 30 - DONE!

Friday, April 24 - Fire 55 EZ - DONE!

Saturday, April 25 - Core 20 & Stretch 40 & HAIRCUT DAY!! Our hairdresser is going to Uganda for a bit for a missions trip and we would like to wish her all the best and hope she makes it back safe and sound ready to cut our hair.  We got her very last appointments before she leaves.  We both skipped this workout.

Sunday, April 26 - Fire 45 & Stretch 10 - DONE! We also made up the Core 20 from Saturday and on Wednesday on our rest day we plan to do the Stretch 40 from Saturday.  We both despise this video as 3/4 of it is yoga and we do not like downward dog etc.

Monday, April 27 - Fire 45 EZ & Stretch 10 - DONE! We are now starting Week 3 and only 9 more weeks to go :-)

Tuesday, April 28 - HIIT 25 & Stretch 10 - DONE!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Tip Tuesday

Chill out.  After finishing a big race, try soaking in a cold bath for 5 to 10 minutes and consider wearing compression tights.  Both can aid in decreasing inflammation in your legs and speed the rate of healing


Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, April 15 - REST DAY on new program

Thursday, April 16 -  Fire 30 & Stretch 10 - DONE.

Friday, April 17 - Fire 55 EZ - DONE.  Twin 2 almost didn't get it done but was committed and did it from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Granted there wasn't a lot of energy left come the last routine but stuck through it to the end.

Saturday, April 18 -  Fire 30 Stretch 10 - DONE.  Again, Twin 2 almost didn't get it done but ended up doing it from 10 to 10:30 p.m.  Twin 1 didn't do it today but made it up Sunday.

Sunday, April 19 - Core 20 & Stretch 40 - DONE.  Twin 1 also did her Saturday's workout. Never again making any up cause she was working out for 100 minutes.  She learnt her lesson.

Monday, April 20 - Fire 45 & Stretch 10 - DONE  Twin 1 is having problems with volume...she is not sure if its the DVD or the TV.  This workout she followed along to the actions and then when there was 17 min left the volume finally came on so she could get the cues on the moves as to what was next.  

Tuesday, April 21 -  HIIT 20 & Stretch 10 - DONE

We are on a roll!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Tip Tuesday & Boston Marathon


As a rule of thumb, put in one easy day between hard workouts (more if you're feeling fatigued) and take at least one full day off a week.  During training, reduce your mileage by 15 to 20 percent every fourth week.

Did anyone watch the Boston Marathon yesterday?  We typically don't we knew of a few peeps who were running it.  This year Twin 1 taped it and Twin 2 watch the finish line camera all day.  It kinda makes us want sign up for another race.  I said kinda.



 

Monday, April 20, 2015

Motivational Monday & Resolution Update


New Year's Resolution Update:

NEW GLASSES!!!



Four months in and one resolution/goal checked off our list. 

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Tanning

So we finally did it.  We bought tanning minutes.  After talking about it all winter we decided to purchase some once Spring arrived (we believe it's here).  We will each tell you about our first tanning session at the new salon in Timberlea.

Twin 2:

After work last Wednesday Twin 2 picked up Twin 1 and went to purchase tanning minutes/sessions.  When we walked in there was a guy sitting at the reception desk.  We both thought that was weird as we have never seen a male employee at a tanning salon.  Tanning yes, an employee no.  So we go in and pick out which package we want and then have to sign a waiver and fill out our name, address, age, etc., etc.  As the employee is entering my (Twin 2's) info into the computer he looks up at me, looks back down, up at the computer, back and me and says "Ummm...did you just move about 3 months ago?" I looked very strangely at him and am a little creeped out by this question and say "Yes?".  Then he says "You bought my house".  We chatted for a bit and then I asked him if he was still in the Timberlea area.  He says "Yes, I moved to such and such a subdivision" and Twin 1 says "That's where I live".  Small world. 

So I decide to tan for 6 minutes in a lay down bed.  I was excited about this because a friend had told us that they have a chocolate waiting for you on your bed.  I thought to myself that I had better get a pic for the blog.  So I go into the room and see what was waiting for me.  Perfect.  They give you 4 minutes to get ready for your tan before the lights turn on and your tan starts.  I asked before I went in if it starts automatically or if you have to press the button (issue with another salon last year).  I was told it started automatically after the 4 minutes were up but if I was ready before hand I could just press the start button.  Ok.  Sounds good.

When I get in the room I look for the timer.  Now all the other beds I have tanned in either have the timer on the side or the inside of the bed so you can start it when you are all ready to go.  I didn't see one.  So I'm looking around the bed everywhere and can't find one.  I stand there and just look around the room and finally see a blue box on the wall with the number 3 (3 minutes left before the tan starts).  Ok great.  If I am ready early I need to press the button then get into the bed.  Weird, but whatevs.  So I get ready and get my lotion on, etc. and now notice a "2".  Ok, I have time for a pic of the chocolate.  So I'm searching for my phone which is under the heap of my clothes, jacket, etc on the floor.  I get it out start fumbling with it trying to get the camera on.  I look at the wall and notice the timer flashing "1".  Agh!  Get in the bed, get in the bed.  So I drop my phone and get in the bed.  I'm laying here and thinking I'm forgetting something and I can't for the life of me remember what it is ... GOGGLES!  I NEED GOGGLES!  So I climb out and search in my purse for them and then quickly climb back in the bed mere seconds before my tan starts.  Finally I can relax.    


Twin 1:


I didn't tan the night we purchased minutes so I went on Thursday after work.  I walked in and the male employee (whom we met the night before) said that there was about a 20 min wait for a lay down bed but the stand up bed was available.  Did I want that? Sure.  I found it strange that the stand up bed was available and not the lay downs as I assumed most people would want the stand up because the bulbs are higher intensity and therefore a shorter tan.  Anyway in I went.
I looked for buttons on the wall thinking it would be the same as the lay down beds but there were none. Ok, no problem.  I got ready and I looked inside the bed and saw a clock on the machine but it wasn’t counting down the normal 4 minutes before the lights come on or telling me how many minutes were entered into the system.  I then assumed the minutes would show when I pressed the start button so I pressed it and checked to see if said 5 min. (I asked for 5 as it was my first time tanning since last year).  The clock read 10:00 when I pressed start.  10 MIN!!! I’M GONNA BURN, DID HE NOT SET THE TIME???!!!
Anyway instead of getting dressed and checking with him I got in and said I’ll just stand in here for a bit until I think 5 min is up so I kept hopping in and out to look at the time. It was easy to hop in and out as I had NO idea how to close the doors as all the other stand up ones I have been in before had a handle on the inside of the door for you to open and shut it from the inside.  I closed them as much as I could reaching around to the outside but they were still open.
 
When the 10 min were up I got dressed and left.  The employee wasn't at the desk when I came out of the room so I’m wondering if he noticed he forgot to set my time and didn’t want to be there when I came out in case I stayed in there for 10 min and came out as a lobster ….. AND I didn't get a chocolate :(

We have both gone tanning a second time and those sessions were easy peasy.  Everything worked as it should have.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Workout Wednesday

We have done nothing since last Wednesday.  We decided to not do the 10k in Fredericton in May so we started a new workout program on Monday, April 13th called Turbo Fire so we only have two days to report.

Monday, April 13 - 2 videos  - Fire 30 and Stretch 10 - Twin 1 check, Twin 2 check.

Tuesday, April 14 - 2 videos - HIIT 15 and Stretch 10 - Twin 1 check, Twin 2 check.  Favourite video of the program as it is only 15 minutes long.  While it is a short video it is a high intensity interval workout. That means you go has hard as you can for 1 minute intervals with 1 minute breaks.  Works up a sweat for sho.

This 12 week program will take us to July 4th, 2015.  We are hoping to keep up with it for the full 12 weeks as we always stop half way through.  We have turned over a new leaf and are getting Motivated so that Motivational Monday we posted on Monday is for us!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Tip Tuesday



Make sure you have some really enjoyable runs, remembering to smell the roses along the way.  That way you don't become caught up in the training-is-everything syndrome.