Soap N Suds

Derrick's Laundry

This weekend I went to visit Derrick in Virginia and see 3 of his baseball games.  He's having a good season, and by this time of year is usually feeling a little beat up and worn out.  Road trips, games during the week, writing papers, and tests leave little time for anything besides trying to get a decent meal on the run.  Sometimes when we visit I do his laundry.  Freshman year I said to him, how's the laundry situation?  His reply was "not good, I'm wearing yesterday's underwear."  This was the start of my Saturday trips to the Soap N Suds in Williamsburg, clean underwear is a must!  Typically this means 4 washers and 4 dryers full of boxers, t-shirts, sweat pants, jeans, and Tribe wear.
Saturday I skipped my workout to help Derrick with his laundry situation, but I still worked up a sweat 4 loads is a workout in itself!  Sunday I put in a couple miles on the treadmill and ate the hotel breakfast still wearing my workout clothes.  The friendly hostess who I've come to know over the years, brought my omelette to the table and said she had asked the chef who it belonged to.  He said, "the girl in the pink shirt" and her 14 year old grandson the bus boy chimed in with, "yeah the cute one in the black pants."  I told her I was old enough to be his mother, but glad I had run those 2 miles because I guess it was worth it.  Let's face it, the poor kid is 14 and probably gets excited in the melon section of the produce aisle.  We both had a good laugh, still...go me!  I'm worrying a little about skipping workouts occasionally, and hope to put in a few hours today.  But I know my kid has clean underwear this week so I'm happy!       

Staying Injury Free (Barb's Version)

So, I've been sticking to the 10% rule while increasing my workout times and distances.  I've been careful not to overtrain on running since that is my favorite part, and because I have some knee issues on my left (an ACL repair from my former life).  How did I do it you ask?  Well unlike my sister, I never worried about injury.  Ask her about the time we skateboarded down the steep hill at the Elementary School, after which I presented myself at Mom's PTA meeting with a bloody knee.  I'm sure Cathy dared me to do it.  I had plenty of road rash on my knees, hands, and elbows from doing hurdles on a cinder track in high school.  If I fell trying to get 3 steps in between hurdles instead of 4, so what -  that's what the 'cinder suds' were for right?
The ACL happened when I was 25 or 26 and taking karate classes, you can see where this is headed.  I was getting divorced (which is a whole other blog in itself) and I had stayed after the regular hour long class to practice some more flying side kicks.  The 6'4 instructor held the target straight out, and me in all of my 5'3" glory ran.. jumped up.. and kicked it hard.  The landing is another story.  I think my ankle twisted, which sent my knee out to the side.  I heard a snap, which was my ACL saying goodbye to the meniscus and cartilage I also damaged.  I researched the best orthopedic surgeon, and called in a favor from a college prof. who was his good friend to get me into the office fast.  After surgery, and 16 weeks of physical therapy, I had a new knee and new appreciation for staying injury free.  And... a date for my best friend's wedding!  (Also a whole other blog in itself.)  Long story short, I married my Physical Therapist a few years later.  When life gives you lemons ladies, don't just make lemonade.. add vodka and have a party.  A good friend observing my name changes and tumultuous events once said to me that my life wasn't exactly a soap opera.  It was more like a weekend miniseries, at which I laughed hysterically.
Fast forward to 2011 after 3 months of careful workout planning, I agreed to go for my first outdoor ride with my husband...  who is an insane bike rider.  I had already done the treadmill and laps in the pool, but he was happy we could ride together so who am I to disappoint?  We did over 12 miles and I felt really good.  Until Friday night when I realized my SI was out, and I quite possibly had a disc issue in my lower back.  Probably I did too much on Thursday but it didn't hurt at the time.  Fatigue is the culprit of many injuries.  This wasn't completely my fault, I told him what mileage I had been doing so he could gauge what sort of a ride to map.  Did I mention he is an insane bike rider who commonly puts in 40 to 60 miles?  What was I thinking?  Note to self:  do not let husband train me ever again.
My first thought, PANIC!  The Tri is 5 or 6 weeks away, these are supposed to be my best workout days!  My insane biker PT husband fixed the SI but my back is still sore.  I'm doing the exercises he recommends and hoping to get this under control fast.

My husband after completing the Gran Fondo ride in Philadelphia

On a good note:  the sleeveless wetsuit fits great and I used it at the pool last week.  I do feel like a mermaid and doubled the amount of laps I could do, so I would highly recommend some sort of wetsuit to all of the beginners out there.  Also I survived swim class tonight despite my
back which is starting to feel better thanks
to PT.
Funny:  I was so worried about my
back that I forgot to pack towels for
swim class.  Luckily I realized this in the parking lot and grabbed 2 Tribe Baseball "rally towels" from my car and another small towel I had in my  cargo hold for wet baseball games.  Moms carry a lot of junk in their cars, but it comes in handy sooner or later!
       

Locker Room Chatter

As I move work locations, I'm getting used to new routines. I will have to spend more time working out at my Stamford gym now that I won't be near my New York City corporate gym. It's been interesting in the last year to observe different gym cultures - particularly when it comes to the ladies locker room.

My corporate gym is abuzz in the early morning hours with the professional women all starting their day. The gym and locker room are small but sufficient, and I've found myself surrounded in the conversation of twenty- and thirty- somethings talking about their weekends in the clubs or worries about upcoming deadlines. Being a decade or two older than them, I often feel like an innocent bystander to my younger days.

At my Stamford gym, I'm a decade or two or even three younger than my fellow locker room ladies. They are talking about their weekends with their grandchildren or worries of upcoming medical procedures. I'm the innocent bystander foreseeing my older self. Sometimes I'm one of only a handful of women during the early morning or late evening hours as I appear to be a rare breed - a NYC commuter.

It's curious the sense of modesty the younger woman impose on themselves. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a nude woman in the locker room. Somehow towels are conveniently wrapped and dropped behind the closed curtains of the changing rooms and the showers. Despite their toned muscles, there is a real desire to keep their bodies hidden.

Not so with the grandmas. Their bodies show their age, and they don't care. There is even a very large changing room and the showers provide ample changing areas, but the senior women take it all in stride and just go for the convenience of dressing at their lockers.

So what do I do? -- I fit in to either environment and play by the "cultural rules". I'm quite content in my middle age. I have more confidence and discipline than in my younger days. I'm of course very happy to be healthy and hopeful that all of this exercise will pay off to keep me looking younger as I age. But, we all must age (or the alternative isn't that appealing either) and so I plan to accept what happens with my body and like the grandmas, keep on working out and not being afraid to show off whatever the results are.

Thanks Ron!

I have the good fortune of a new opportunity at work but the bad fortune of having to move buildings and leave my much loved corporate gym. But, I take with me lessons from a wonderful mentor.

Until this past year, it was a long time going back to high school since I've had a coach. In my adult life I've had many exercise instructors but a coach brings you something more than just instruction. We actually use the word "coach" a lot in the business world to talk about the mentoring process. A good coach does more than just tell you the mechanics of how to do something better. They help take you to new levels, provide extra motivation, and are also very honest with you when they know you can do something more and better than you think you can.

A year ago I walked into my corporate gym thinking it would be just like any other gym. Finding the gym in the first place proved to be a comic endeavor. I knew it was on the 19th floor but there was no "19" button in the elevator. Upon inquiring, I was told you had to take the stairs. Whatever staircase I ended up in was obviously not the right one -- I became stuck as all doors were locked! And, it was hot! Fortunately, I had my cell phone and got just enough signal to call for some help. The person at the gym had no idea where I was so it took a few tries!

I looked at the class schedule which was always my main criteria for any gym. There was a morning class called "circuit training" that fit my schedule so I planned to go the next day. Then, that night, my right leg fell into the gap between the platform and the subway car so the next day was spent nursing my injuries. In fact, it wasn't until the next month that I was ready to get back to the gym.

I at least could find the gym the next time. At the base of the staircase is a sign that reads "your workout starts here". I'm quite sure the person I met next was the one who put it there. Ron, the morning trainer-in-chief, took one look at me and knew he would have some fun that day. Not realizing that everyone else would be wearing the standard issued gym clothes - a t-shirt and gym shorts - that the gym provides and launders, I showed up in my Danskin attire that had helped me fit in at my previous -- and much more expensive -- Equinox gym.

Having not exercised as much in the last month due to my injury, I was already a notch behind the class. And, the other few people in the class were all two decades younger than me! Ron began by yelling "I'm in a bad mood today". I quickly recognized that he had that drill sergeant quality that I had come to recognize through my work with my U.S. Army clients.

What I could tell right away is that this wasn't a standard, latest fad class. This was Ron's class. And, Ron just does whatever he wants -- which is whatever he thinks will inflict the most amount of pain. But he's smart enough to take you to your limit without injuring yourself. I survived the class, but it wasn't pretty. I'm guessing Ron was betting I wouldn't be back for another but that's because many people don't come back.

I did come back for another -- and for a year. You never know what to expect with Ron's workouts. Some days are more aerobic -- running up and down the 19 floors with boxing gloves on punching Ron along the way -- and others are strength days in the gym. Thanks to Ron, a weight room is no longer daunting for me. A year of Ron's workouts and I have some well toned muscles. In fact, I had to go out and buy some new, heavier weights for my home gym.

At the end of January, Ron told us he would be out for a couple of weeks due to some surgery. As I had suspected early on, Ron is a former special forces Army guy. Yes, he's tough, and he's lived a large portion of his life with shrapnel in his body. When the doctors opened up his chest, they couldn't believe how much shrapnel there was and so the surgery was much more complex than they had imagined. When Ron didn't come back to work after a couple of weeks, we all began to worry. After another couple of weeks some people abandoned the gym without Ron's motivation kicking their ass.

Two months went by and as I was walking in, I heard his famous yell, "I'm in a bad mood today." Now, however, I know Ron better. Ron has seen the worst and always bounced back. In fact, he was proudly showing off the scar running the full length of his chest. He is more than your standard issued instructor -- he's a coach and a mentor -- both in how he lives his own life and how he helps you lead yours. The real translation for his famous phrase is "I'm going to make you stronger today".

Wetsuits Full or Shorty for Me?

So I borrowed my neighbors 2 ORCA wetsuits, which I have decided are aptly named because I looked like a beached whale on the floor struggling to get them on in Thank God the privacy of my bedroom.
It was the best ab workout I've had all week.  This has also convinced me that I do not want one with full legs.  So I started my search for a "shorty".  I actually got brave and ordered 2, hoping one will fit.  I went with the Camaro brand because I fall nicely into their size chart.  One is from Seirra Trading Post sleeveless (25% off for new customers)  and the other is from LL Bean with short sleeves (currently 20% off).  Both are under $100 delivered, have easy return policies,  and I'm optimistic one will work out.  I ordered swim socks from Wetsuit Warehouse and I think I will be warm enough with easier on/off ability.  I will report on my purchases and returns next week.  Also, I completed 18 lengths Thursday in the pool. 8 in a row with 4 freestyle, one side stroke, one backstroke, and 2 more freestyle.  Then I put on the flippers (something new I did in class Tuesday) and did 4 awesomely fast lengths.  After which I freestyled and side stroked my way to 18 with a couple small breaks.  I'm hoping my wetsuit turns me into a mermaid.

Also, embarrassing moment number 3,572:  my locker got stuck.. picture me in my 2 piece - one leg standing on top of the bench, and the other on an adjacent locker trying to wrangle mine open.  A nice lady with crutches came to my aid and shoved her crutch in the gap and helped my pry it open.  Why does this stuff always happen to me?

Uber Tasking

Uber-tasking is like Multi-tasking on steroids.  I've been "occuper comme l'enfer", which is french for "busy as hell".  It sounds so much nicer in French, oui?
I've been helping Dad clean out Grandma's house, which has proven to be a daunting task.  Aunt Care and I spent 3 hours alone on the kitchen.  Some of the things we threw away from the refrigerator made me wonder if she had really passed away from food poisoning.  But I remarked that I was glad she didn't waste any of her final days with cleaning, and that I was happy to do it for her.  Work has been very busy which we are grateful for in this bad economy, but I would like to get home before 10pm this week.   We've made several trips to baseball games, 3 weekends in Virginia and a day-trip to Delaware last weekend.  So far the season has been cold, rainy, and windy... motherhood is not for wimps.  I'm on a committee for a local charity sports auction, so there have been early morning meetings and the main event is this Saturday.  Oh, and I managed to pinch in some minor surgery (just a benign polyp that was causing heavy periods) no worries.  But I had to take a few days off from training and a week off from swimming.  I'm gradually working my way back in the pool and enjoyed a great workout last Thursday.  Meanwhile, I have decided that I need professional help.  Not mental as you may be thinking, but in the pool.  I've signed up for 4 swimming lessons at the local college to improve my breathing technique.  So tonight I'll be "nager mon âne loin" which is French for "swimming my ass off" at the college.  It sounds so much better in French, oui?

Staying Injury Free (Cathy)

I've always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to injuries so my strategy has always been to avoid them. Of course, no one goes seeking an injury, but my extra cautious nature has probably also held me back from progressing in sports as much as I otherwise could. With three months of hard work training for the triathlon behind me, nothing would bum me out more than an injury preventing the final two months of training for the June triathlon.
So, I had some trepidation approaching last week's ski trip to Lake Tahoe -- especially, after my friend Sarah reported on Facebook that she was coming home from her latest snowboarding endeavors in a sling. I had already ruled out snowboarding and decided I would stick to skis after last year's bunny hill attempts at learning snowboarding ended in minor injuries for both my husband and me. At least with skis, I had over 20 years of experience to back me up. But then again, my friend Claudette, who has been running for that many years, just reported a running injury that caused her to have surgery.
My other strategy was going to be to stick with the intermediate runs. This lasted all of 2 hours on the first day and then I became bored. So, why not try Ellie's run -- that black diamond looks reasonable. I tackled it successfully.
After lunch, our friend Charlie joined us and we found ourselves on a lift with a lone snowboarder looking for ski mates. "Let's do Pinnacles," everyone else eagerly declared. Hmmm...that's the one with the sign that says "Extra caution. Ungroomed conditions". The peer pressure got the best of me so I said, "Why not". A minute later I was standing on the edge of a steep cliff that the others so easily whizzed down and yelling "I hate you!" to them. I inched my way backwards for about ten minutes to at least get the best angle and somehow made it down upright. From there, the rest of the run seemed easy and by the time I got to the bottom I was saying to my ski mates "what a great run"!
So, I was not destined to fall on these harder ski runs, but as I was humming down a particularly easy intermediate run on the second day my ski caught an uneven pile of snow and I found myself on the ground thanking my helmet for saving my head as it hit the ground. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when the second fall that I took was on a green run where the surface was as flat as can be. I thankfully escaped three days of some aggressive skiing (for me) without injury. Then, the morning we were leaving I almost fell down the stairs...but caught myself before any damage could be done to my ankle.
I should know by now that I'm likely not going to injure myself on a black diamond ski run. I'm more likely to injure myself just going to work as it was a year ago this week that the infamous subway accident occurred. I was attempting to get on a crowded subway car when my right leg fell into the gap between the platform and the subway car. I still have the remnants of the bruise on my derriere and the scar on my leg from the stitches.
I was brainstorming ideas in my mind for this week's blog post as I was doing my Sunday laundry. The idea came to me shortly after stubbing my toes and thanking the injury-free gods that they didn't appear broken. After all, my friend Diane recent Facebook posts recount the trials and tribulations of a broken toe that kept her from playing tennis.