It's Christmas in Chicago!!!

Through my whirlwind of activities this weekend.  Saturday night out included dinner at Roka Akor with D for one of his friend's birthdays--and dinner with 9 people, which meant we pretty much tried everything on the menu.  And everything was amazing!  We then had an after dinner drink, and a shot and headed to Underground.  Those of you that know me, know I love my bed at around 10pm.  Dinner started at 8:45, and we were out til 2:30am.  I was quite proud of myself, and it was a great time.

I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed struggled out of bed around 8am for my gym date with Miss Melissa.  And I made it!  30 minutes on stairs and 30 minutes of the elliptical.  Breakfast out with D at Yolk.  Yolk is honestly my favorite breakfast place in the city.  I adore that they don't charge extra for you to eat healthy--egg whites don't cost extra, nor does fruit.  Thank you Yolk!  Then it was Christmas decorating time!!!

I had a Reindeer Tenley-dog to help me!  

The stockings were hung!  

My favorite childhood snowman!  When you turn his nose, he sings Frosty the Snowman.  

Uhhh-mazing!

We put up the tree and hung lights---and then Damon and Reindeer-Tenley needed a nap.  

We headed out to dinner with my friend Scott who was in town visiting from California at Piece .  Another fave of mine, think post-chicago marathon food!  It was great to catch up with him and hear about the awesome new house they just bought.  Um, think there may need to be a Cali trip in the future.  And then I came home to this sight, my house all Christmas-y in stark contrast to the darkness outside! 

You could say I like  love Christmas :)

Monday morning, I did the lovely elliptical and headed to PT to report to Kristen the news about me not being cleared to run.  She said he has never done that before, and she is going to clear me to start running next Thursday, December 8.  YAY!  I did double yoga last night, D picked me up and then ate some of my lovely leftovers while I addressed Christmas cards.  All in all a perfect evening--er, except the fact that my hip has kind of been bothering me.  I'm really hoping it's just tight--will try to go easy on it today.  Oh yeah and I slept in this morning!  Woohoo!  

What have you done to kick off your holiday season?  

Thanksgiving and Northern Michigan!

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving!  It's been a whirlwind (a good one) the past few days.

Tuesday night my bestest and her boyfriend came into town, we had a fun night out at Old Town Social.  

Wednesday morning I went to physical therapy and then a Dr.'s appointment for my hip. The appointment was beyond frustrating. I had been under the impression that at 12 weeks I'd be cleared to run (I'm at 13 weeks post-surgery). The Dr. asked me if I'd been doing the elliptical. Mind you--I hate the elliptical--it reminds me of massive amounts of cross training in college, so I never even asked my PT or my Dr. if I could elliptical.  Sooo...I said "no--I haven't.". His response, "you should do the elliptical for a couple of weeks and then you can try to run." internal thoughts:  Are you kidding me? Why didn't anyone tell me that before? Clearly if I had known I had to do it before I'd be allowed to run--I would have been on the elliptical the past 2 weeks. So frustrated. Still holding out hope my physical therapist may say something different. And of course I plan on being the elliptical every day between now and Monday.

After my frustrating appointment, D and I traveled to Northport, Michigan, where his grandparents live..  This was exactly what I needed to forget my frustrating appointment and be thankful for what I do have.  Especially when I spend a few days in a house that looks out at a beautiful Bay!

Thursday morning, D and I went for a long walk in the woods

played lots of Chinese checkers, watched my packers win and went to the beach side of the peninsula too! It was gorgeous.

Love the Lake Michigan side.  

Sun setting on Lake Michigan Side.  

Friday morning, D and I went to downtown Northport--had the most amazing homemade cinnamon twists and headed back to Chicago.  I had to make it back in time to meet up with these two! 

We celebrated Neha's birthday a few days early, since she was in town from Houston!  First up was Zocalo and then we hit up Hubbard Inn.  I really liked the vibe at Hubbard Inn.  

Today I am back on the workout wagon--went to yoga sculpt taught by Kira.  Then I went to the gym with Miss Melissa and did my 30 minutes on the elliptical.  Hoping to get up my christmas tree today and wrap a few presents before we head out for the evening!

How are you spending your holiday weekend?  

And the rest of the weekend....

Um yeah, it is Tuesday.  Sorry I didn't get around to writing about my weekend until today, but after this post, you should be able to realize why.

Friday
On Friday, D and I went to After Dark at the Art Institute .  Drinks, Appetizers, Modern Wing of the Museum, Music and a New Exhibit.    Great time.  Here are a few pics from the evening:

 Video display synced to the music.  amazing.

The Modern Wing, one of my favorite places in the Art Institute

Dancers/Performers were on all levels dancing.  

DJ before live music started

Saturday

I headed to the suburbs to take a yoga sculpt class at Corepower's newest suburb studio in Naperville, Illinois.  It was a great class and I got to check out the new studio.  Look!

The fireplace is 2-sided so you can see it in the studio too!

Front desk, check in area

Studio #1, mirrors are along the wall opposite the window. 

This is a good example of what most of the studios look like.  Clean and relaxing.  I am jealous of the two-facing fireplace.  Oh and I had company.  Lauryn joined me for class!

Hi Lauryn :) (borrowed from FB)

Next, we grabbed lunch at Whole Foods, and then I met my step-sister for a bridesmaid dress fitting.  Here's a picture of the happy couple!

(borrowed from FB)

I drove the lovely commute back into the city.  Those of you who don't live in the Chicago area will not understand, but for some reason, every day, regardless of time, day, etc, there is traffic on 290 getting into the city and it always takes longer than planned.

D and I headed to a Make A Wish event Saturday evening at The Griffin Lounge.  

Slightly awkward pic and makes me feel like I need a tan, but D looks good!  

And there was music and dancing!!!  

As a side note--I have a real issue with Chicago "clubs" as they don't have dance floors.  If you have table service and no dance floor, you are deemed a "lounge" in my eyes.  Even though this was called a lounge, this was the first "club" I have gone to in Chicago that actually had a dance floor.  

Sunday

D was a trooper Sunday morning and let me teach him the whole Sculpt flow before I had my practical Sunday afternoon!  

Monday

Physical Therapy and then a super busy day at work because of my two day work week.  Headed to a double yoga session after work for a great C2 flow and a yoga sculpt class.

Tuesday

Ann, Kira and I went to c2 yoga this morning and tonight I am going out with my best friend and her boyfriend who are coming into town from New York City (and a few of his friends).  

See you two as soon as I get home from work tonight!!

Oh yeah and tomorrow I have off work, and I see my Dr.---hopefully next time I blog I will be telling you I am cleared to run!  

Certification...

First and foremost, on Sunday, I received my certification in yoga sculpt!  Yay!  I still need to complete a program through Corepower to teach at Corepower studios, but I should be done with that by mid-December.  For the certification and final week, I had to teach another "teacher-in-training" the hour long class.  I amazed myself by doing this without notes.  Homework for week 4 also included coming up with a yoga sculpt playlist...

SCULPT PLAYLIST

Prelude To A Kiss     2:10    Alicia Keys     

Someone Like You    4:44    ADELE            21       

Better  Than  3:31    John Butler Trio                               

Only Girl (In the World)       3:56   

Beautiful Girls            3:45   

On the Floor (feat. Pitbull)   3:51   

Without You (feat. Usher)    3:28   

Sexy and I Know It    3:19    LMFAO          

We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)          3:36    Rihanna         

Dynamite        3:24    Taio Cruz      

Sexy Chick (feat. Akon)         3:16    David Guetta 

Firework        3:48    Katy Perry     

Southern Girl 3:23    Amos Lee      

The Wind       4:31    Amos Lee      

Cannonball     5:10    Damien Rice              

Lullabye         3:58    Amos Lee       

In the sculpt flow, you start out kinda slow, then speed up, and then slow down for the last 10 minutes or so of the class, hence why there is a big variation of types of music.

What other songs should I keep in mind for my playlists?  What are your go-to workout songs?  

Apologies for Radio Silence

The last 5 days have been busy.  For me to admit that--HUGE deal.  (oh and I haven't had internet at home)  Sorry!

Quick Recap.

FRIDAY
lovely day of work and recovering from my first cold of the season.  D and I went to an alumni event for the Journal I was in during law school and spent some time with this lovely lady!

Saturday

Yoga. yoga. and more yoga.  I went to a C1.5 class, observed Kira teach and went to another studio and practiced my teaching for another two hours.  Basically, from 1pm-7:30pm, I was at a yoga studio.  Had some sushi with D for dinner and called it a day.

Sunday

I met this one at the gym Sunday morning

Miss Melissa

Melissa has run more marathons than I can count and trained a whole bunch of her high schoolers for the Chicago marathon this year.  I walked on the treadmill for a bit while I caught up with her (while she ran--so jealous).  Then left her to get in a workout.  And then, more yoga in the afternoon.  I had class from 1:30-5:15 and took a C1 at 7:30.  Is it bad that your nose is so stuffy the instructor brings you a kleenex in the middle of class?? Hmmmm..  

Monday

Gym time. PT. A FULL day of work, My Packers and practice teaching during halftime.  D made me an amazing dinner (steak, roasted potatoes and asparagus) and then volunteered let me teach him the first 20 minutes of my yoga class for practice.  I'm so lucky! 

Tuesday

As much as I don't like discussing work on here, it does take up at least 40 hours of every week, if not more. (Yes, I went to law school and yes, I am an attorney--that's the extent I'll get into on here).  I had an oral argument on Tuesday morning that I should have spent Monday night preparing for, but it turned out ok--I'll get the ruling in 3 weeks.  Tuesday night I caved to my desire to watch the only two shows I watch weekly on tv.  Biggest Loser and Parenthood.  When I lived in Arlington with these girls,

Lauren, me, and Sara

we watched the show a lot.  Truth be told, it was a love of Lauren and I--but Sara would watch if we made her ;).  

Wednesday

Measurement day at PT.  My physical therapist will take all my measurements and send them to my Dr. so he can gauge my improvement at my appointment next week.  She is confident he will release me to run (think run/walk program).  The news is making me giddy and nervous.  I don't know that I have ever gone 5 months without running.  What if I forgot how to do it?  What if I'm slow and will never be fast again?  What if I injure myself again?  Definitely apprehensive.  I think it will go away once I start, but the nerves are definitely there.  Kira and I went to a C2 class night and then went out to dinner.  Honestly, a great way to end the day.  I needed yoga yesterday.

Thursday

This morning I went to a C2 class and the teacher was talking about moving meditation which is what you often get from yoga, specifically the vinyasa flow.  She began to discuss how you can get it in other forms of exercise, like biking (people who bike for miles and miles) or runners.  I never had thought of running that way, because I often work through my problems in my runs, but the release that comes, when your brain has nothing else to think about--that must be when I reach a moving meditation.  I thought it was an interesting perspective.  

What do you think about the concept of a moving meditation?  Are there other forms of physical fitness in which you are capable of attaining a moving meditation?  

Hood to Coast 2012!!

Yesterday, I got this email....

office@htcrelay.com	6:07 PM (15 hours ago)
to me

Congratulations Leah,

A Team Captain from The Hood To Coast & Portland To Coast Relays has asked you to join their team! You will be part of a select group, participating in The Mother of All Relays! As such, you will be able to officially register within the online roster management program and be able to:

•       Update your email and home address
•       Update "RACE PACE" 10K time
•       Add/change your race shirt size
•       Sign the waiver
•       Find out your team number
•       Much more!

HOOD TO COAST 2012!!!

I will be running this race with my college cross country and track teammates and some who I haven't even met yet (who were younger than me)!  

Meg, me and Whit (From Left to Right)

Catie, me and Whit *(From Left to Right)

These are just a few of the girls, but I can't imagine college without them!  (The good pictures were before digital cameras and will need to be scanned in ASAP).  I was in culture shock when I left my tiny town in the midwest for school in DC, but having a team immediately helped.  I got to host a lot of our recruits and I'm happy to say almost all of my recruits came to American.  Whit and Meg both came and stayed and look at us 10 years later!!  

We've been trying to get into Hood to Coast for 3 years and finally got in this year.  I'm sad that a few of my teammates are going to miss out, because their busy having kids (Liz) and such, but I hope this becomes an annual event and a way to see these girls every year.  

Hood to Coast is relay race, in which each person runs several legs varying in distance and difficulty from Mt. Hood to the Coast of Oregon.  You run through the night, headlamps are a must and you basically don't sleep for a day and a half, unless you're great at sleeping in vans.  Sounds like a blast right!?!?  With these girls, it will be :).  

Have you done Hood to Coast or another relay race?  Any tips?  

Quick Update and Yes, I survived the Swim!!

(and I apologize for the lack of photos in this post)


Tuesday night: Courtney and I met at the pool for some laps.  I cranked out 500m fairly easily considering I have not been in the pool since before surgery.  This is promising!  I'm going to try to make it back in this weekend for a bit further swim (maybe 800 or 1000)

I didn't even feel my hip, except when I pushed off the wall on the turn, which makes complete sense.  Hip is still not ready for that type of impact (like jumping, etc).

Wednesday morning:  Physical Therapy.  It's nice to finally get back to some of the exercises I was doing pre-surgery.  My therapist also informed me that she's going to have the surgery in February.

Wednesday night:  I had an ambitious plan of hitting the gym before I went to an alumni event at Second City.  But, my cold had other ideas for me, so I came home, heated up some soup and then D and I headed to Second City.  The show was great and it was a good night of laughs!  

What's going on the rest of this week and weekend?

 I'm sure you can guess my answer!!! YOGA!!! 

Stacked Workouts

Because I have physical therapy two mornings a week, my workouts get congested, like they did last night and this morning.  I had physical therapy bright and early Monday morning at 6:30a.m., so that meant yoga needed to happen last night.  I still needed one more yoga sculpt to meet my "requirements" for teacher training.  I needed four more c1's, so it was time to double up.  I managed to make it through both yoga sculpt and c1 without my body getting too tired.  Yay!  Only 3 more c1 or c1.5's to go!  

This morning was a c2 class with my fave yogi Kira   I have a swim date with this one tonight.

Courtney aka Courtsport is my other lil one from high school.  She was a freshman when I was a senior and we spent a lot of time together running.  Fast forward 10 years, literally, when Courtsport moves to the city and we realize we belong to the same gym and are both interested in triathlons.  Um, hello training buddy.

(pre-race 2010)

Unfortunately, Courtsport and I have a knack for injuries.  We both have had hip issues.  Courtsport broke her foot last fall, a Jones fracture, and has been on the mend, but has managed to get a stress fracture in the process, while I managed to have hip surgery.  We are a pair to say the least.  So we're meeting at the pool tonight, the only mutually agreeable activity our bodies can handle at the moment.  Here's hoping we are triathletes together for a long time coming!

Here's to triathlon training 2012!!!  

Crazy Busy Weekend.

The past few days have been super fun, but super busy.

On Thursday night, I went with my mom and D, to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater to see Follies--great show, highly recommend it!

Friday night was my Kira date.  Kira and I became friends after an introduction at a happy hour and random downtime in NYC when we were both there over memorial day weekend in 2010.  Despite having gone to the same law school and having similar friends, we hadn't hung out.  I met an amazing girl and now am fortunate to have her as a great friend.  We hit up double yoga, a fave of ours, a C2 class, and Yoga Sculpt.  Then had dinner and drinks at my place and headed to a cabaret show.  Sidetracked to the bar briefly and made our way to Kiss Kiss Cabaret Show.  It was interesting to say the least..  Here's a picture of the entertainment in the lobby....

Saturday night was one my lil one's wedding.

She was a freshman, when I was a senior in high school and ran cross country and track and played basketball, so we were around each other a lot.  It was a beautiful wedding and great to be reunited with a lot of my former runner buddies!!

Congrats to Kristina and Eric!!!  

One and Done

Last night D and I did make it to On Your Mark.  First up was Rhythm Ride.  Perhaps I should have thought more carefully about my workout plan (and the fact that I haven't been on a spin bike in a month or done any other intense cardio).  But nope, went ahead and signed up for two classes.  This class was intense.  There were only 3 people, so there was a lot of personalized attention and the teacher didn't spin with us;  she just stood and directed us.

These are what are bikes looked like:

.                                            (Photo Credit:  CycleOps)

I continually had problems staying clipped in on my right pedal.  After coming out at least 4 times, I finally had to switch bikes mid-class.  The teacher came over and confirmed that the pedal was messed up, not my shoes.  I did really like the bikes aside from that technical glitch.

We did everything based on cadence.   This meant I was d-e-a-d after this class and opted not to do Just Strength.  I'll be honest, if the classes had a 15 minute break between them, instead of 1 minute break, I might have been able to do it.  But instead, I headed home, played with my seemingly now healthy Tenley-dog, watched Biggest Loser and Parenthood and cooked reheated homemade pumpkin chili for dinner.

Moral of the story:  More cardio is needed in my life.  Any suggestions on how to up my cardio, if I can't run (besides doing more spin classes)?

Sick Puppy and Revised Weekend

On Saturday, I hit up two more yoga classes, yoga sculpt and a c1.  Spent the evening out in the burbs-shopping, grabbing dinner and heading to the movie theater to watch Ides of March.  Sunday D and I planned to try out On Your Mark, but my sick puppy had other plans for me.

(photo is from way back--but she was sick in this pic, too)

I was up with Tenley every two hours on Saturday night, and finally caved at 8:00am to start calling the vet.  We got a 10am appointment, but I was afraid to leave her alone, so Tenley and I crawled back into bed  and D went to two classes.  He came home tired, sweaty and sore--I was jealous.  

Off to the vet we went, and ended up having to leave her there for an IV (for dehydration) and medicine.  No virus was found, so that was good, but she's laying low this week and staying home from doggy day care.  

The rest of my afternoon was spent at teacher training and didn't have it in me to stay for another yoga class.  My body was tired--I think a rest day was exactly what it needed.  It actually got 48 hours of rest before I hit up a Halloween themed yoga sculpt last night and a c2 class this morning with Kira.

Tonight I am finally taking my first class at OYM and  I am pumped to try out Rhythm Ride and Just Strength.  

Rhythm Ride: Cycle class to music. Drill based class while jamming out to excellent tunes.

Just Strength: Think outside the box with weights, bands, tubing and TRX focus on building strength.  No cardio drills here.

(descriptions from website)

Just Strength will also hopefully fulfill my second music/weights requirement for teacher training.  

What are your favorite group classes that incorporate music and weights?