Bikini by Memorial Day? Oh, yeah.

Anytime - Downtown Indy

About six months into dating, Marathon Man convinced me to put a gym membership into my monthly budget...that is, if I had a monthly budget. I prefer to call it a mental monetary guideline. Anyway, he got me signed up at his gym, Anytime Fitness, for an acceptable monthly rate. It's probably looked down upon to say the exact amount, but if you're like me, you would want to know. Let's just say it's between $24-26/month. And I can use any of its locations in the country 24/7. Sounds good, right? Well, now, I really had no excuse not to go to the gym. I had played right into Marathon Man's hands, who had since become my free personal trainer. My trainer's name was Lars, a la the film Heavyweights, so that I could compartmentalize between the boyfriend and the trainer. Who really wants her boyfriend measuring her thighs or recording her weekly weigh-ins? So when we were in workout-mode, Lars went into action. He showed me what I could do with things called dumb bells, leg presses, knee raises, and the worst word in the English language...squats. Even though, I was sometimes the only female in the strength and conditioning area of the gym, I was beginning to feel my way around and get comfortable with some of those initially intimidating machines.

Anytime - Downtown Indy

Now that Lars isn't with me in the gym, I am actually going to the gym every evening that I am free, which is most. I also put together a revised workout based on the exercises Lars taught me and some which I found online. My target areas are Abs, Glutes, Hammstrings, Quads, Lower Back, and Calves. After about 6 times, I noticed that I was starting to have a defined abdominal. I couldn't believe it. Bikini by Memorial Day, here I come!

Anytime - Downtown Indy

The Best of Indy Series: Monument Circle

My first memory of downtown Indianapolis was going to Market Square Arena to see a Disney on Ice production when I was three or four. Since then, I have been downtown hundreds and hundreds of times. I love this city. It's not perfect, but it's a great place to live, work, or visit. Here's why:

 

Monument Circle

• Roundabouts are all the rage now, but don't blow this one off. It was probably the first in Indiana.  
• Drive around the Circle. A couple of times if you want. And put your windows down while you're at it. Listen to the sounds of the Hoosier city-life.
• Walk around the Circle at night. Preferably while holding hands with your guy or girl. Trust me. You'll get all warm inside. It really is romantic.
• Visit during different times of the day and in every season.
• The Circle has a different look and feel during the working hours versus the evening hours. In the spring, on the first moderately warm day, watch as people rush out of offices to eat their lunches on the steps of the Monument, basking in the warm sunshine that has been absent most of winter. During the summer, see the sidwalks transform as Starbucks and the South Bend Chocolate Company create inviting patio spaces for customers. In the fall, look up at as the Colts Blue Horseshoe lights up the windows of the Indianapolis Power and Light Building. And at Christmastime, button up your knee-length wool overcoat and Burberry scarf and enjoy the Christmas lights streaming down the Monument.
• The PR Girl's Tips
• There are actually two driving lanes on the Circle, although they aren't marked. The right lane is for turning right onto the upcoming street. The left lane is for bypassing the sometimes backed-up right turn lane.
• There are 1-2 police cars always parked at the south end of the Circle if you need assistance.
• There is an entire sub-culture of motorcycle riders who park in front of the South Bend Chocolate Company on any given evening, especially if the weather is nice. They will hang out on the sidewalk there for the entire night.
• There is free parking on the Circle. If you're lucky enough to find any.

 

My 1st Marathon Training Schedule

I have a confession. This is not my first marathon.
But it will be the first that I plan to finish. I actually ran in the Berlin Marathon back in September, because Marathon Man's father had an unused bib (see Running Lingo page). I decided to run the first 5 kilometers of the race and then pull out - just to get a bit of the experience of running in such a major race. And plus I wanted to spend time with Marathon Man. The run was actually tolerable and maybe even the tiniest bit enjoyable. Did I just write "run" and "enjoyable" in the same sentence? The energy and enthusiasm of the crowds and music was quite contagious, and also I was only doing a 10:40/min pace, so I had no stress on my cardio and lungs.

So even though, this is not my first marathon, this is my first time training for a marathon. For the next 4 months, I hope I have the focus and dedication it takes for 26.2 miles. My training schedule is taken from http://www.halhigdon.com/. I think Marathon Man used this for me when I trained for the 10k we ran back in June 2012. Since this is my first marathon, I am doing the "Novice 1" schedule. No need to kill myself. We'll wait until the actual race for that.

Marathon Training Schedule: Novice 1

WEEK	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
1	Rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	Rest	6	Cross
2	Rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	Rest	7	Cross
3	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	Rest	5	Cross
4	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	Rest	9	Cross
5	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	10	Cross
6	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	7	Cross
7	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	12	Cross
8	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	Rest	Half Marathon
9	Rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	10	Cross
10	Rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	15	Cross
11	Rest	4 m run	8 m run	4 m run	Rest	16	Cross
12	Rest	4 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	12	Cross
13	Rest	4 m run	9 m run	5 m run	Rest	18	Cross
14	Rest	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	Rest	14	Cross
15	Rest	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	Rest	20	Cross
16	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	Rest	12	Cross
17	Rest	4 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	8	Cross
18	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	2 m run	Rest	Rest	Marathon

I'm actually supposed to start training today. Oops. I think I strained my hip flexor muscle (don't worry, I had to Google what it was too), and so I haven't been running for the past week. Not fun. Especially, since running means I get to eat more. So, I am going to the massage therapist tonight to see if she can tell if anything is horribly wrong. I have no pain right now in my hip, but I'm scared that once I start running, it will come back. I'm wondering if I will have to take a long time to heal. I hope not.

So if all goes well, tomorrow, I will give the 3 miles a shot and see how the hip feels afterward.