LAPS:

In high school, I was on the track team.  I wasn’t the fastest, and I wasn’t the slowest.  Running was just fun.  In college, I ran only when required (I played basketball and volleyball at a small school during my freshman and sophomore year).  Once I stopped playing, I stopped running.  Until… one morning in a 6 AM Body Pump class my girls in class said I should run with them (before class BTW).  I did, and the day I made it 5 miles without stopping, I signed up for a marathon.  There were some doubters, but 18 weeks later, I finished the Chicago Marathon.  That was in 2004 and I’m still going.  I love all distances (actually… I hate the 10k, but tell myself that I will love it), but the 5k and half marathon are my favorites.  Sometimes, I run seeking out a PR, and sometimes, I run for fun.  Artete is the women’s team I race with, and my coach, Coach Michele, keeps me moving, even when I think a new PR is impossible.

LUNGES:

As mentioned above, one day I just quit running…. and then… my college roommate invited me to a step aerobics class.  I was TERRIBLE!  Honestly, I ran from the studio before they could ask me to not come back.  Thank goodness that first experience didn’t deter me.  I kept coming back and moving towards the front row.  After class one day, the instructor came over and said I was good and that they were looking for instructors.  At the time, I thought she was crazy, but I signed up for a training and started teaching shortly after.  That would have been 1994.  I hope to think I’ve come a long way since then!  Now I’m certified in Les Mills BodyPump, BodyCombat, BodyAttack, GRIT, Spinning, and I have an AFAA certification.  In the past, I’ve been Yoga and Pilates and will still sub these on occasion.  However, now that I’m +40… my body is craving more and more yoga and core work.  Maybe there’s a recertification in my future…

In my opinion, BodyPump is the best of all my classes (think lunges).  It helps in the laps department, and with overall muscular strength and  endurance.  Outside of teaching my classes, I enjoy participating in Yoga (most styles except the meditating/chanting stuff), riding my beach cruiser, looking at my fancy road bike (I will get on that thing… stay tuned), SUPing, and swimming (more laps).

LEATHER:

Here’s the truth… I grew up in a rural community and shopping to us was a trip to JCPenney a couple of towns over.  My sense of fashion didn’t really start to take place until my sister got too embarrassed to let me tag along.  It was then that I upped my cool factor.  By the time I reached high school, I had my fashion sense honed in a bit… I was voted “Best Dressed” my senior year…. still proud of that one BTW as there was a ‘lil competition that year.  Today, I live in a beach community where flip flops and hoodies are considered fashionable.  Still trying to live up to my Best Dressed title, I refuse to adhere to the beach town uniform.  Don’t get me wrong, I love flip flops and hoodies as much as the next person, but I also love heels, hot jeans and dresses.

Words to live by…