Bring it to the mat

Yoga bootcamp was on Sunday.  As I've mentioned, 3 weeks ago I took my first yoga class...hot yoga...and I've been addicted since that inaugural sweat-fest.  Head-over-heels in love.

I signed up for bootcamp 2 weeks ago, which promised to talk about the inner discovery of yoga, what brings us to the mat, and how we can better understand the dimensions of the practice.  After my 15 mile run on Saturday, I didn't expect to do much yoga - after all, the instructions requested that we bring paper and a pen...I thought it was a bit more workshop than workout.

I would be mistaken.

For the first 45 minutes we did talk.  I learned about the Red Donut.  We discussed "A Course in Miracles", and the idea that the emotions of our past or even future (worry) are preventing us from being in the present moment. Fear, anxiety, jealousy, rage, apprehension, regret, guilt and so many more, are stopping us from being who we are at our core in this very moment.

We also talked about what brought us to the mat.  Many shared their personal experiences and it made the room seem smaller and more intimate than it really was.  I enjoy listening to other people share even when I do not have the courage inside me to do the same.  Instead of opening up to the group, I spent some time thinking internally about why, once I discovered yoga, I kept coming back.  For me, I came to yoga because I have been bouncing around over the last few months...trying new things in a safe way where no can judge or criticize.  I have been looking outside myself for something to hold onto.

My first session was scary, but I was open to it.  I embraced it and just tried to soak it all in.  The words, the spiritual experience...all of it foreign and yet inviting.  At the end of the class, while laying in corpse pose, I smiled.  I realized that for 1 hour and 15 minutes - I stopped hearing anyone's voice except my own.

That was huge.

No one was telling me who I was or wasn't, what I should do or shouldn't, what I had done wrong or how I had disappointed...it was just me.  I realized while laying on that mat in a pool of sweat, staring at the ceiling, that I hadn't heard my own voice in a long time.  I also realized that as much as I no longer trusted it, I missed it - I needed it - and it was all I had to depend on now.

That's why I come to the mat.  To silence the entire world and let this meek, unsure, and yet persistent voice whisper and whisper and whisper...

Until it's all I can hear again.

Images from a Run

I'm back.

Run rut behind me, I opted to kick it in full gear and hit the 15 mile training run this Saturday.

OUCH.

I actually followed it up with an ice bath because those legs were screaming so loud on the last 2 miles I knew I would be in a world of hurt if I didn't attempt to shock them into quick repair.

Yeah, it sort of worked for yesterday...but today?  I'm walking like I need crutches.  The 2 hour hot yoga session today was supposed to help. Notsomuch.

The good news is that I'm back into the running. Let's focus on that. Although I must say, the pain of 15 made me really nervous about the pain of 26, which means no more ruts for me between now and the end of May.

I'm a bit of a casual runner on the long runs, which means I'm not adverse to stopping to take a picture or two of my journey. Without further adieu, I present "Images from a Gorgeous March Saturday Run in Madison"...

I don't know...but these make me smile every time I see them off the city trail.

Then...an unfortunate discovery on the sidewalk. Someone is very very sad, and I was so hungry at this point I wondered if any of it was still good. Kidding. Or am I? (it's natural peanut butter if you can't tell)

And not to end this on a gross note...here is a true example of Madison style. It's March 19, the temperature just hit 51 degrees, and yes, we have kayakers on the Yahara River.

A good run and a good day.

Grab a shovel

I believe I am officially in a running rut.

The past 2 weeks at work have been a bit crazed, which prevented staying on the schedule.  I snuck in a run here and there, up to 6 miles...but I have missed my long run now for two weekends in a row.

Today I am supposed to be running 14 miles.  Clearly, I am not - unless I am uber talented and have discovered a way to blog while running.  Someone will someday...but I'm willing to bet it won't be me.

I did go to WTF (TRX) yesterday, then 75 minutes of Powerflow hot yoga in the afternoon so I am not completely in a workout rut.  Just a running rut.

This morning, after cursing Daylight Savings Time, I started the routine trying not to think too much about it. I prepared my steel cut oatmeal, had a cup of coffee, put on my tights/underlayer/socks/Brooks, started getting my water bottle ready, spilled water all over the kitchen in an epic failure of the Brita pitcher...

And promptly decided it was a sign that I shouldn't go.

Yeah, it's a pretty deep rut.

I think my major roadblock is the sheer amount of time I have to actually put into the running for the marathon training.  I am slow - turtle slow - so 14 miles will take me roughly 2.5 hours.  It is completely overwhelming to lace up my running shoes and know I have 2.5 hours ahead of me.  It's more than my brain can wrap itself around right now.

I realize mental toughness is at the heart of endurance training.  I've been there for IM and I was so thoroughly exhausted from it when it was over, I took a lot of time off.  Now I'm back at it, and it really is...tough.

This afternoon I have WTF bootcamp, then another hot yoga class.  I am bagging the long run, which I know is such a bad decision, but I'm getting back on the program this week with the short runs to try to build up again.

I know I'm not the only one - comments welcome on you handle the rut...advice appreciated!

Please don't go

The Borders bookstore about a mile from my house is closing.

This is a sad day.

I am a lover of books and bookstores.  I can stroll through a bookstore for hours, running my fingers over intoxicating covers, perusing synopses, absorbing author bios, flipping through the pages and imagining the writing and the writer...the story unfolding, the characters either coming to life as each page turns - or finally getting their moment in the sun after living in the confines of the writer's head for years.

I have a kindle, but I have yet to embrace it.  I want to like it...and I know someday I will, but can anything replace the feeling of the book in your hand? The profound moment just before you embark on the journey?  The feeling of something so light, but yet so heavy in what it will do to your life?

And I miss seeing what others are reading. Whether on a plane, or at a restaurant by myself, or in a coffee shop...it offers a glimpse into their world - who they are on this day, what interests them, who they choose to spend their time with.  It's a conversation starter or ender, but at least it's a conversation.

I will miss the Borders store.  It may miss my mastercard.  I have more books than I can probably ever read, but I picked up a few more tonight.  The possibilities are so endless, I just can't resist.

Sunday Morning Alphabet Soup

We are mixing it up a bit today.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this list on KC's blog and since it's a slow and easy Sunday morning, I thought it would be fun to participate.

Feel free to join the party...

A~Age: 38 and 11 months.

B~ Bed Size: Queen.

C~Chore you hate: Folding laundry.

D~Dogs: 2 – Homer & Annie.  I miss them.  They are living with their dad right now.

E~Essential Start your Day Item: Coffee, darker the better.

F~Favorite Color: Pink – sad, but true.  Especially pink bikes.

G~Gold or Silver: Silver.

H~Height: 5’ 6.5”  the ½ inch is very important.

I~Instruments you play: Steering wheel drums and air-banjo.

J~Job Title: Brand manager.

K~Kids: All have fur.  2 dogs (see above), 2 cats, Kodi and Katie.

L~Live: Madison, WI – home of IMOO, provider of cheese curds, Kringle, Miller Lite, & endless bike paths.

M~Mom’s Name: Delores.

N~Nicknames: Holmer, Ironmin, Mindelina, Minderella, Mindo, MJ.

O~Overnight Hospital Stays: 4^th grade, 3 nights for pneumonia.

P~Pet Peeve: Apple eating in my presence and bad spelling.

Q~Quote from a Movie:  One-Two-Three-Four...We’ve got disco war, folks!  Starsky & Hutch.

R~Right or Left Handed: Right, and right-brained.

S~Siblings: Younger sister, Emily; younger brother, Chip.

T~Time you wake up: 7am, after 4-5 snoozes of the alarm

U~Underwear: Let’s get to know each other a little more before we start discussing our delicates.

V~Vegetable you Dislike: Spaghetti squash. Which I guess is also considered a fruit. Go figure.  Either way, it's like worms on my plate and that doesn't go over well.

W~What Makes You Late: Everything. It doesn’t matter how much time I’ve given myself to leave/get there…still late.

X-rays ~You’ve had Done: Teeth, neck, spine, chest.

Y~Yummy Food you Make: Banana pancakes.  Also known as the only meal I can’t screw up.  Yet.

Z~Zoo Animal Favorites: Hippopotamus.

Hot Child in the City

Hi, I'm IronMin and I am a hot-yoga-aholic.

It's been 2 days since my last session.

As part of my "year of self-discovery", I am pushing myself to try new things.  Running, swimming, biking will continue to be my travel companions on this journey.  They are so ingrained in my life and I am both thankful for the lessons they have taught me and the experiences I have embraced because of them.  With that solid foundation I am ready to branch out and see what else is out there.

Enter Groupon.  In this spirit of confession I may as well announce this as well: I am addicted to Groupon. If you haven't checked it out, go to the website to see if it's in your city.  Crazy discounts on spa treatments, restuarants, workout classes/facilities, stores...all await you.  Every day I get another deal served up and it is almost as exciting to see what it is, as it is to actually make the purchase.

A few months ago there was a deal for Inner Fire Yoga in Madison.  For $20, 1 month unlimited yoga. Since the place is actually called Inner Fire - I'm sure you have concluded it is all hot yoga.  I have never tried yoga up to this point so some friends laughed at me for starting with hot first.  "Don't you want to just try it before you move into a hot room with it?"

Stepping in cautiously?  Not my style.  And believe me, it gets me in trouble more than I care to admit.  See previous years of posts for confirmation.

Last Sunday I started my month with a 90 minute class.  It's classical style hatha yoga, if you follow such things.  I still have to learn what that means, but since it's week 1 I'll cut myself some slack.

90 minutes.  Within 3 I was soaked in sweat and it felt...so...GOOD.  I honestly don't think I have produced that much sweat, ever.

I fumbled through learning the postures with help from the instructor and by the end of the class, lying on my back on my mat in the savasana pose I caught myself smiling.

I am addicted.

I went to the Tuesday class, then pulled myself out of bed Thursday morning for the 60 minute flow class.  Not much can pull me out of bed at 5:30am.  Trust me.

I go back Sunday night after WTF class for another 90 minute session.  After each class I literally feel lighter.  It is so cleansing and centering.  I think that's the reason for the accidental smile at the end of the first class - for a moment, just a moment...I felt a wave of peace.  Completely aware of myself, and totally calm about it.

In January I tried WTF and LOVED it.  In February, Hot Yoga and LOVED it.  What's next?

I can't wait to find out.