Hot Yoga Sweat-iquette

I had a pretty disgusting yoga experience yesterday.

One of the great things about the hot yoga studio downtown is their 11-class punch card with a one year expiration date. This allows me to show up for class every three to five weeks without worrying about classes expiring... and also allows enough time for me to forget how much I don't really like hot yoga at all.

That's not entirely true. I love the feeling of hot yoga - I love being warm - I love the deep stretch that feels otherwise impossible in our cold foggy climate. I also really dig the teacher. But yesterday I was packed into the small space, 2 inches from the wall, and surrounded on three sides by sweaty men.

I can't find anything on the internet about protocol or etiquette for excessive sweat in hot yoga. But the dude next to me had a constant dripping of sweat from five minutes into the class. His shirtless body was covered in sweat pouring out of every pore. The short towel he brought to class was soaked to the point where it needed a trip to the bathroom to be wrung out. It squished under his feet, and it sloshed like a sponge while he rolled out his spine. His sweat was flinging onto the floor around him and forming huge puddles. And some of his sweat drops landed on my mat.

 Needless to say, I was absolutely horrified and grossed out. The presence of dudes in the hot yoga room always makes for a sweatier, wetter class, and the mirrors always fog up. On the bright side, at least this dude didn't stink. 

What should he have done? What could he have done? What should I have done? What would you do?

Would you complain? Yeah, me neither. Photo Credit.

 When I complain about the class to my fam and to E, they ask, "then why do you go?" Good question, to which I don't really have a good answer. I think I'm going to have to let this current teacher go, and try out some less-sweaty, less-masculine classes and see if they fit.

Wordless Wednesday

Transformation

Another Saturday

This week was a step-up week for me, and included two 4 milers, one 7 miler, and my longest run ever, a 14 miler. It was a tough week. I'm quite tired, and the 14 miler was one of my most difficult runs ever. I also joined a 30-day yoga challenge that has been mediocre at best. So...

I'm having constant thoughts that I'm doing something wrong. 14 miles yesterday was so hard I just can't believe that training could be so difficult. Perhaps I forget how hard it is to run a "farthest run ever"? I had to walk half a dozen times. My legs never felt fresh. Some part of my body hurt the whole time.

Am I eating wrong? Should I be cross training more/better? Do I need to stretch more? Is my body physiologically not cut out for these longer distances?

WHAT THE HELL?!
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I took a wonderful ice bath after those tough miles and am so thankful for the posts of other seasoned runners on things like ice baths. I really need to do more research on eating better - perhaps that will help my long runs.

12 down

Done and done. This was a great run. Great runs always surprise me (as do the horrible ones, like Thursday's 3 miler). And I ate my first Clif shot! Holy yumtastic. I ate mocha flavor which tasted exactly like chocolate icing. I believe I was trying to pry apart the packet so I could lick the inside before E rode by and took it away from me. Excellent stuff. No shot bloks on this run.
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I've joined in committing to a 30 day yoga challenge. This is a tough one for me because often I find myself pawning off stretching as yoga. So I'm setting stricter parameters for myself. (1) Yoga must consist of time on the yoga mat (impromptu sessions, or outdoor sessions must include dedicated visualization for my mat) (2) Stay in at least three poses for 5-breath sequences. So that's it. Simple, but enough to make sure that my personal stretching sessions don't turn into yoga challenge sessions.
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I took a lovely ice bath afterwards and ate my favorite post-long-run dinner -- Nachos & Beer. :-)

Nobody Said It Was Easy

...no one ever said it would be this hard...

11 miles was tough. My hardest run ever, I think. I've been working really hard at positive thinking, and creating my own reality when it comes to long running. My runner's book says that a 'mind over matter' approach is best, and that if I spend all day telling myself I'll have a great run, I will. I can't say that I thought only positive thoughts on Friday, nor can I say that I was looking forward to my long run. I was tired, physically and mentally. I didn't want to run, but I did it because I had to. Not really Because I Love It. I also faced the reality of running that long distance alone, up the Haul Road. Not a great idea.

I ended up running 2 miles around the Headlands, 1 mile down to the Haul Road, and then 2.5 up the Haul Road, and then back the whole was. Breaking up the run into 3 parts was the best thing I could have done, I believe, because it helped the mental exhaustion. The physical exhaustion, though, was probably not helped by the running in sand, running up stairs, running up pathways and hopping over logs. Good overall training and conditioning though!
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I'm faced with actually having to register for a marathon now before fall races start selling out. Since I decided not to run Portland, I spent two weeks savagely browsing race listings until I found the right marathon. I've given myself another week to fall in love with it, and I'm smitten. I want to run the Half Moon Bay International marathon. It's so expensive, though, and I know I'll also need new shoes before September 25. It's a lot of money that I just do not have. I need a running scholarship. Plus my $95 entry to the Giants Race in August is no longer being funded by my family. Damn. I might not need much gear, but this is an expensive sport.
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I have a wonderful plan tonight of E's delicious nachos (avocados are on sale! yay guacamole!), a running movie, homemade margaritas, and at least an hour of yoga -- not necessarily in that order. And P.S. My plan to get back to hot yoga this month has failed miserably. Partly due to excessive construction work, running late in the day when classes are held, sunny windy weather that does not make this body crave a hot sweaty yoga room, and the $13.65/class price tag. Got to get back into it.

December

I still reside on the planet earth. Although sometimes it doesn't feel like it! I have been unnervingly inactive this past month +, so I hesitate to write. Running scares me lately because of the pain. I just want it to go away. The P90x plan lasted a couple weeks and then we just had to let it go. It was great while it lasted, but I won't really do the workouts if E doesn't do them (except for Ab ripper).

I did manage two runs over thanksgiving - one was actually a 1st annual sisterly turkey trot, about 3 or 4 k, I'm guessing. Slight knee pain towards the end, of course. But the run the day before turkey day was 3.25-ish miles with a few walk breaks and I finished super strong. Felt really good, and almost no pain.

Sassy posted a 25 day yoga challenge, which has motivated me to hit the mat, or otherwise stretch in some fashion, every day for the past 10. This has been really helpful in getting my health back on track post-thanksgiving (where things got a little out of hand). I've made a few December resolutions:

• Drink 1 L+ H2O every day
• Yoga every day
• ab work 2x weekly
• 2 weekly runs/yoga
• 2 beers max. per week
• gluten restriction
• sugar phase-out
• no dessert
• sub. coffee for tea
• add fruit/veg to every meal & snack

So, just general guidelines to get me back on track. I try and roll my ITB every night as well. I hope to start adding a few weekly runs this month, and seriously hope to start training again in January. Oh how I hope this will be so.

5 miles + Yoga

The gps failed me on this run. When I look back on my laps it makes no sense, and is totally unreliable in terms of speed and distance. I did run 5 miles with a 9:39 average pace, and there were definitely some hills to contend with. Felt good. Maia was also disappointing - super slow and pokey when we were on the road.

Last night was supposed to be hot yoga, but turned out to be regular yoga. Still felt good, and I'm sore with triceps and legs. Even tree pose was challenging, and I could feel all the little muscles in my feet and ankles kicking in since it's been so long.

I'm still not changing body comp. Perhaps yoga is the missing link. I weighed myself after dinner last night and got 134. It's literally been months - months - since I got that. What's up????

Last night I had 1.5 pints, and they were delicious. Not so good for the bod, though.

warm yoga

Warm Yoga tonight. I admit, I had serious second thoughts about using one of my yoga punches on a 'warm' class, but it was perfect. It was so humid and warm in there I sweated just as much as I do in a hot class.

Today is pathetically rainy and drizzely. I hate it. I wish I could fill out a whole long list of good things, and grateful things, but I am just so over all this rain. I wanted to run for National Running Day, but I know I hate running in the rain. So warm yoga was my fix. As well as whipping up an uber-healthy dinner of carrot-cabbage-apple salad with a side of red quinoa.

It's supposed to rain the rest of the week, which means I will probably not be working and have extra time for a p90x workout. Ha! There, I tricked myself and found something good!

Hot Yoga

Yesterday (Thursday), I went to hot yoga. My inner thighs are still amazingly sore from P90X leg workout. Lunges were a challenge for sure. But I could feel the strength in my hamstrings and hips during the standing poses. Unfortunately, the price of classes is going up in two days. It's already a stretch for me to afford hot yoga time. The plus side is she's adding more classes, with more teachers. This could make it worth it again...

It would be a great idea to condense this workout for myself. E and I both agree it doesn't need to take 60 minutes, especially when you're trying to get in ab ripper as well. I'd condense the back (pullups) into just one set of each kind, alternated with the best of the best leg workouts. Squats, calf raises, lunges... next time I do it I'm going to take the initiative and go through the workout book, pick the best ones, and see how long it takes me. If I could do the whole thing (with minimal warmup) + ab ripper in just under an hour, I'd still have time to stretch when I finished and not feel ridiculous about spending so much time working out.

And on the inspirational front, DOTR just signed up for a 1/2 marathon, on a whim! Wow, would that I could... I feel confident I could sign up for a 10k now and pull it off no prob, which is still pretty cool. But to have a 1/2 feel like that would be quite an accomplishment.

I'm craving beaty burgers again, with a gargantuan salad of arugula, spinach, walnuts and goat cheese feta....

Hot yoga and no run

Sooo... no run since Thursday past. I will use the rain as an excuse - one thing I hate is running in the rain - but I should have gotten out there this afternoon. E and I also had plans for a P90X legs & back workout but the computers got the better of us. Sometimes it's just hard to make things happen around here.

I did get to Hot Yoga on Monday, and am feeling it in my arms and legs. For every 2-pushup vinyasa the class did, I did three-. It was nice, and I paid for a 5 class punch card and will be inspired to use them before we leave town on June 8. Finally, she's adding more teachers, and more classes, which is a relief, but she's also raising the prices which I can barely afford as it is! Tuesday we worked so long and so hard (construction!) that I just didn't have it in me after a 9 hour day to do my long run, let alone a short run.

I still haven't made it to the pool either, which is mostly because my potential swimming partner has been under the weather.

This post is full of excuses - not good. My resolve is firm, and I'm not blaming anyone or getting upset about my lack of exercise because I know this comes in cycles. I still feel good, and I'm not eating too poorly, so I can wait a few more days for the opportunity to get my heart rate up.

I really would like to start getting my mileage up this summer. I know I can do it (especially if I have a deadline!). I've been looking at some super-cute running skorts and just drooling. I would love to feel like I deserve something special like this, and like I deserve new running shoes to support my habit. REI's upcoming sale might be the key to me taking the opportunity to splurge on myself.

3 miles while sick

This week has been mostly about being sick. 1 whole week has passed and I still have the cold that won't quit. Granted, I should probably be taking it easier than I am (no running or hot yoga) but the weather has been great (but windy!) and I get so sick of sitting around all day.

Yesterday afternoon I ran just 3 short miles up Big River. I haven't purposefully done that short of a run in months, so that was kindof cool. Then I decided last minute to go to hot yoga. In the future, running and yoga should not happen on the same day. It just takes it out of me a little too much. However, I'm aware of a new restorative yoga class starting next week, which could be wonderful! I'm getting a little tired of attending these yoga classes so regularly because they end up being so similar. I desire a little more creativeness in my yoga, thank you!

I am looking forward to feeling better this weekend and taking another run, a massage on Monday, and restorative yoga on Tuesday.

Yoga (& thoughts on blogging)

My plan to go to hot yoga two times this week is foiled, as the studio was closed on Monday and Tuesday. I remembered the Wednesday a.m. class taught by a different teacher and decided to go. She led an almost identical series of poses but incorporated personal thoughts and opinions cleverly disguised as a "yogic lesson". Seriously? The class was fine though, and not as hot as normal.

I've been feeling really tired lately, perhaps because I'm not sleeping very long or very soundly. I bagged my Monday run upon returning from Boonville. Yesterday I knew a run wasn't in the cards because of torrential rain and severe wind. And today I chose yoga over a run and have no plans to run in the 40mph wind tonight after work. I will run tomorrow, and get down at least five miles.

I'm still feeling some pain in my hips (psoas) from pushing myself those extra two miles on Saturday. The pain was intense but I decided to try running through it. Probably not a good idea when it comes to that particular area of my body.
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I spent a lot of time online today reading running/food blogs. Some reek of leftover teenage body angst channeled into an adult forum (eating disorders disguised as health discussions). In public, they can pretend they have nothing to hide (this is especially true when I see photos of thin women paired with in depth discussions of calorie counts). I'm not trying to judge, just observe.

One thing I do envy from these bloggers is their sense of community - they have running partners, running groups, and running friends. I am alone in all this, and it makes me want a running penpal!
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We'll travel to Auburn this weekend, the self-proclaimed Endurance Capital of the World. Sounds like there are lots of good restaurants, some great running trails, an amazing running store and a few good vegetarian restaurants (oh yeah! and a hot yoga studio!). I hope to find time amongst the tournament to indulge in these things. Running in a new place (probably alone) highlights several safety issues that I'm unsure how to tackle.

Yoga

Went to hot yoga last night and absolutely despised the new music playlist. R&B-hiphop-alicia keyes-type music that, honestly, if it continues, would make me not return to yoga. E says I should say something about how I feel, and maybe it will come to that. It's funny how music can have such an effect, and is so intensely personal. Is this "pole-dancing-playlist" really that different from the usual playlist? And on the same note, I sent E an amazing new song and he said he couldn't stand it. He downloaded two songs from a band he heard last month (unheard of!) and I was thoroughly unimpressed. But a lot of music does have mass appeal - speaking of: Jack Johnson has a new album coming out! So the yoga was good, and I really pushed myself but am not sore at all. P90X Yoga did make me sore a little bit on Sunday, so maybe need to mix it up more. She really does lead the same sequence of poses every class.

My last run was on Friday. Yes, I needed the rest over the weekend, and I'm having extreme pms symptoms this week, but there is no excuse for not putting down even just 3 or 4 miles on Monday or Tuesday. It's now mid-week and I'm scheduled for 5 miles, yet my 8 mile long run didn't happen on Monday. Maybe I need to revamp my schedule - it seems easier to put in runs on Friday and Saturday, and I should do my long run after two days rest... I'll think it over, preferably during my 5 mile run this afternoon. :-)