So it's almost time for my website to launch! Whoohoo! It's almost ready (and it's live so you can get a sneak peek) and my blog will be done from there going forward:
http://chatterrungirl.com/
The blog entries from May, June and July will be carried over shortly and then everything old and new will be available there.
While you're on the page, feel free to give me comments, feedback, requests, etc!
:)
Monday, 9 July 2012
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Pride Run
Reasons I love the Pride Run:
10. It's a small, intimate sized run, yet still a chipped 5km in the City.
9. There's a beer garden at the end.
8. People dress up in hilarious and semi-inappropriate wear. Entertaining, ballsy, and hilarious. (Though I did miss the hot guys who always dress up in the best costumes - Babewatch, There's no place like homo, etc.)
7. The food at the finish line includes Whole Foods, Dufflet pastries and other decadent recovery items.
6. It raises money for a good cause.
5. It's inclusive, accessible, and has an awesome community feel to it.
4. The volunteers. They're EVERYWHERE. And while they may not know all the answers to people's questions, they're enthusiastic and supportive.
3. Free massage/chiro on site.
2. You can chew the air it's so hot, and there's the burn of the 5km, but you still finish smiling.
1. It was my first ever race and the reason I got into running. It was after years of being unhealthy and it was my first race accomplishment and what gave me the passion for running, being fit, and accomplishing goals. (Now I just have to break my PB from that first attempt!).
Pride 2012:
So fun to run with friends from Moksha, Lulu, York, Running Room, and combine all those worlds together.
My first time running a race with an oozing wound (creating a nice visual, aren't I) and a fractured rib.
Came in under 25, and I'll take it. Proud of all who finished with amazing times and kicked arse!
10. It's a small, intimate sized run, yet still a chipped 5km in the City.
9. There's a beer garden at the end.
8. People dress up in hilarious and semi-inappropriate wear. Entertaining, ballsy, and hilarious. (Though I did miss the hot guys who always dress up in the best costumes - Babewatch, There's no place like homo, etc.)
7. The food at the finish line includes Whole Foods, Dufflet pastries and other decadent recovery items.
6. It raises money for a good cause.
5. It's inclusive, accessible, and has an awesome community feel to it.
4. The volunteers. They're EVERYWHERE. And while they may not know all the answers to people's questions, they're enthusiastic and supportive.
3. Free massage/chiro on site.
2. You can chew the air it's so hot, and there's the burn of the 5km, but you still finish smiling.
1. It was my first ever race and the reason I got into running. It was after years of being unhealthy and it was my first race accomplishment and what gave me the passion for running, being fit, and accomplishing goals. (Now I just have to break my PB from that first attempt!).
Pride 2012:
So fun to run with friends from Moksha, Lulu, York, Running Room, and combine all those worlds together.
My first time running a race with an oozing wound (creating a nice visual, aren't I) and a fractured rib.
Came in under 25, and I'll take it. Proud of all who finished with amazing times and kicked arse!
July schedule repost
Happy Canada Day (late!) I always have to recognize that day, as it means a lot to me! I had a great June with so much fun at City Chase and at the Pride Run (review on Pride Run coming shortly!).
What are you doing to get active and shweaty in July?
http://hogtownbunny.blogspot.ca/2012/06/july-teaching-and-running-schedule.html
What are you doing to get active and shweaty in July?
http://hogtownbunny.blogspot.ca/2012/06/july-teaching-and-running-schedule.html
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Hourglass Workout and Energia reviews
I wanted to do a brief review on two new workouts/fitness facilities I've tried out recently: Hourglass Workout and Energia Athletics.
http://www.hourglassworkout.com/index.html
http://www.energiaathletics.com/
Hourglass Workout with Lyzabeth Lopez: I'd wanted to do a new strength training regiment for some time (and am still looking for others if anyone has ideas) as I don't have the time in my schedule to devote to the old amazing sets I had (upper, lower, push/pull, supersets, and a whack of others) because it was a good 3-4 hours/sessions of strength training per week. Also, while I love Body Pump, it's not challenging enough or confusing enough for my body on its own.
There are many bootcamps out there and most focus more on H.I.I.T. cardio interval training and I wanted to focus on leaning and strengthening. Based on reviews and word-of-mouth, I decided to try Hourglass Workout for the 1 month challenge given that Lyzabeth Lopez is a fitness pro and body builder. I wanted something hardcore but fun.
The fee for a month is $200 and includes "Hell week" (the first week is 5-days in a row of muscle confusion and intense workouts), 3 more weeks of 2 x a week workouts, nutrition plans and an outing. It takes place at Venice Fitness at King/Spadina, which is not the nicest of gyms but spacious, not busy, and centrally located. I chose the 6:15pm class and it's a pretty busy one (sometimes it seems a little too busy) but was the most convenient for my schedule.
After day 1 of Hell Week, I was super sore. This is when I was sold that I was doing the right thing. By week 4, I'm feeling stronger and really look forward to the workouts. I am considering signing up for another month too because I really enjoyed it.
Pros:
-When taught by Lyzabeth, it is a great workout. She pushes, and maintains the pace/intensity of the class. I enjoy the sequencing as it's different every time, and uses equipment I don't have so it's not like I could just replicate the workout at home (gliding discs, anacondas, parachutes, ladders, push/pulls, etc).
-You may start a bit late but you'll end late too and get your full 60 minutes in. If you plan ahead and go to the gym early, they're pretty cool about letting you use the cardio equipment and doing your thing to supplement your workout.
-Variety variety variety - indoors, outdoors, upper, lower, abs, bootcamp style, good tunes - all great things to keep your attention, make you want to go back, and see changes in your body.
Cons:
-A successful enterprise often means moving onto franchising. A few classes were taught by alternate teachers and the quality was not the same.
-Busy classes sometimes mean not enough equipment so you're stuck with the lighter or heavier kettlebell or dumbbells, trying to maintain form or challenge yourself.
-With a lot of regulars there, sometimes, it can feel clique-y for the newbies so be ready to try to make friends. While doing your own thing is fine, since you need to find equal strength partners for a lot of classes, it helps to have allies in the group who you can partner with and who will push you hard.
Verdict:
Try it out if you are looking for something to renew your strength training regiment. Be ready to work hard but find it from within too (it is only as hard as you make it).
Energia Athletics: Energia is on the Danforth between Broadview and Chester. They are jack of all trades in a way - offer spin, yoga, kettlebells, a run club and have a storefront with pretty good merch selection. I had never been there before even though teachers from MYD can go for free and bought a Groupon to check them out.
I haven't been to anything there except the spinning and I've heard good things about their kettlebell classes so I really should go back and try other classes. This review is just about the indoor cycling.
The studio is small/intimate and the equipment is good quality and functioning. The space has windows that open which is refreshing (literally) and allows for good air flow beyond just fans blowing in your face.
The teachers are all very different - some teach time trials, others drills, some to the music they choose for a all-terrain ride.
Pros:
Not too busy, easy to get a bike and no stress/rush.
Friendly staff/teachers who take the time to set you up if you're newer.
Variety in instruction so you can try different techniques on the bike.
Cons:
Seems like spin "lite". Music really quiet (likely due to other classes at the same time) and it really changes the experience of a spin class! Some of the classes seemed low energy,
Tiny changerooms/shower facilities.
Verdict:
Try it if you are newer to spinning. The teachers are attentive and the classes (for the most part, depends who you get and how hard you're willing to push yourself!) are not as tough as other studios so you don't feel like you can't o it. It isn't intimidating and the friendly people will help get you set up.
Also, try their yoga/kettlebell classes!
http://www.hourglassworkout.com/index.html
http://www.energiaathletics.com/
Hourglass Workout with Lyzabeth Lopez: I'd wanted to do a new strength training regiment for some time (and am still looking for others if anyone has ideas) as I don't have the time in my schedule to devote to the old amazing sets I had (upper, lower, push/pull, supersets, and a whack of others) because it was a good 3-4 hours/sessions of strength training per week. Also, while I love Body Pump, it's not challenging enough or confusing enough for my body on its own.
There are many bootcamps out there and most focus more on H.I.I.T. cardio interval training and I wanted to focus on leaning and strengthening. Based on reviews and word-of-mouth, I decided to try Hourglass Workout for the 1 month challenge given that Lyzabeth Lopez is a fitness pro and body builder. I wanted something hardcore but fun.
The fee for a month is $200 and includes "Hell week" (the first week is 5-days in a row of muscle confusion and intense workouts), 3 more weeks of 2 x a week workouts, nutrition plans and an outing. It takes place at Venice Fitness at King/Spadina, which is not the nicest of gyms but spacious, not busy, and centrally located. I chose the 6:15pm class and it's a pretty busy one (sometimes it seems a little too busy) but was the most convenient for my schedule.
After day 1 of Hell Week, I was super sore. This is when I was sold that I was doing the right thing. By week 4, I'm feeling stronger and really look forward to the workouts. I am considering signing up for another month too because I really enjoyed it.
Pros:
-When taught by Lyzabeth, it is a great workout. She pushes, and maintains the pace/intensity of the class. I enjoy the sequencing as it's different every time, and uses equipment I don't have so it's not like I could just replicate the workout at home (gliding discs, anacondas, parachutes, ladders, push/pulls, etc).
-You may start a bit late but you'll end late too and get your full 60 minutes in. If you plan ahead and go to the gym early, they're pretty cool about letting you use the cardio equipment and doing your thing to supplement your workout.
-Variety variety variety - indoors, outdoors, upper, lower, abs, bootcamp style, good tunes - all great things to keep your attention, make you want to go back, and see changes in your body.
Cons:
-A successful enterprise often means moving onto franchising. A few classes were taught by alternate teachers and the quality was not the same.
-Busy classes sometimes mean not enough equipment so you're stuck with the lighter or heavier kettlebell or dumbbells, trying to maintain form or challenge yourself.
-With a lot of regulars there, sometimes, it can feel clique-y for the newbies so be ready to try to make friends. While doing your own thing is fine, since you need to find equal strength partners for a lot of classes, it helps to have allies in the group who you can partner with and who will push you hard.
Verdict:
Try it out if you are looking for something to renew your strength training regiment. Be ready to work hard but find it from within too (it is only as hard as you make it).
Energia Athletics: Energia is on the Danforth between Broadview and Chester. They are jack of all trades in a way - offer spin, yoga, kettlebells, a run club and have a storefront with pretty good merch selection. I had never been there before even though teachers from MYD can go for free and bought a Groupon to check them out.
I haven't been to anything there except the spinning and I've heard good things about their kettlebell classes so I really should go back and try other classes. This review is just about the indoor cycling.
The studio is small/intimate and the equipment is good quality and functioning. The space has windows that open which is refreshing (literally) and allows for good air flow beyond just fans blowing in your face.
The teachers are all very different - some teach time trials, others drills, some to the music they choose for a all-terrain ride.
Pros:
Not too busy, easy to get a bike and no stress/rush.
Friendly staff/teachers who take the time to set you up if you're newer.
Variety in instruction so you can try different techniques on the bike.
Cons:
Seems like spin "lite". Music really quiet (likely due to other classes at the same time) and it really changes the experience of a spin class! Some of the classes seemed low energy,
Tiny changerooms/shower facilities.
Verdict:
Try it if you are newer to spinning. The teachers are attentive and the classes (for the most part, depends who you get and how hard you're willing to push yourself!) are not as tough as other studios so you don't feel like you can't o it. It isn't intimidating and the friendly people will help get you set up.
Also, try their yoga/kettlebell classes!
Saturday, 23 June 2012
The Chase (was) on!
Another City Chase come and gone. One of my favourite events to do annually. This year, my partner was Matt again (reunited after a successful 2010) but I didn't realize that I wouldn't be able to do the August Chase so I wasn't able to have a team "That's What She Said" reunion with Whitey.
For those of you who don't know what City Chase is, it's like the Amazing Race and puzzle/scavenger hunt type event that is a fun, crazy, urban, non-linear course adventure. There are about 30 clues to choose from (some are mandatory, some have later start times, some end early, etc.) and chasers have 6 hours to complete 10 (that include the mandatory ones). Usually, the winning team finishes in 2-3 hours while many people don't complete the requisite 10 in the 6. There were 600 teams this year, for a total of 1,200 participants.
Matt and I (the GoKart Stumblers, renamed White Banana as our rap group) completed the 10 required checkpoints (and did not go beyond and do EnduroChase, where chasers continue beyond 10 to see how many they can get) in 3:50:00. We thought we'd only done 'ok' because our time wasn't great considering it was a good 45 minutes off our 2010 time. But when we crossed the finish line, we found out we were in 26th place - which was ridiculously surprising and GOOD!
So while there were a ton of different clues and check points to choose from, and that Jer, who should seriously consider a job with CSIS, mapped out for us and got us all strategized by doing our research and figuring out where we should go, here is what Matt and I ended up doing:
-Hard Rock Cafe: 8 mile style, Matt and I had to write a rap with some required words and have a battle against another team. We (clearly) won and took the prize while the other team had to write out all the lyrics to a Beastie Boys song.
-East end of town: Matt had to do my make-up as a hillbilly. I couldn't get the latex on my teeth off afterwards and had a black tooth for most of the morning.
-Monarch Park: Frisbee golf. We rocked it.
-Greenwood Park: Palmolive + plastic bags/tarps + big hill + water = BEST WATERSLIDE EVER. Screw the other sporty stuff we did for 2 check points here. Matt and I did the hill twice.
-Ran with soggy shoes and soaked pants to the EMS station at Eastern and Knox. Decided to be firefighters instead of saving a baby.
-To Cloud Garden we went for some parcour. We rocked that shit!
-Down to check out the Running Room and passed on that one (the eating of the meal worm and touching of repticles or arachnids is soooo 2011).
-Went and TRXed at the Goodlife at Union.
-Did some carabiner rope puzzle at the water and a block away, did some blindfolded kayaking.
-Crossed the finish line and decided to beat the crap out of each other with some American Gladiator style jousting.
14km later, with a belly full of Halibut burrito and beer, I am home.
 |
| Soaked but SOOOO happy that we did water slides twice! |
 |
| Best two out of three... |
 |
| VICTORY! |
Monday, 11 June 2012
July teaching and running schedule!
I'm so physched for an AWESOME summer! I'm training for a tri (whoop whoop!), did Hourglass workout (review coming soon!), may do me some Jock Yoga, and am just overall pumped about being outdoors and training for some new stuff. Here's what's going on in July!
Teaching lots so come sweat it out. Hot yoga in the summer? You know it! I like it as it acclimatizes my body to the heat outside while detoxifying and lets me keep up my regular practice of breath and a calm mind.
YOGA
Moksha Yoga Danforth:
Wednesday, July 4, 4:30pm Moksha
Friday, July 6, 8:30pm Karma
Monday, July 9, 6:30am Moksha
Wednesday, July 11, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, Moksha
Thursday, July 19, 6:30am, 9:30am, Moksha
Friday, July 20, 6:30pm Moksha, 8:30pm Karma
Monday, July 23, 6:30am, Moksha
Friday, July 27, 8:30pm, Karma
Monday, July 30, 6:30am, Moksha
Moksha Yoga Downtown:
Monday, July 2, 4:30pm Flow, 6pm Moksha
Tuesday, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 9:45pm Moksha
Also, exciting news! Stay tuned for more info but my website will launch AND I will be delivering a Yoga for Runners workshop on July 15 at 7pm. Save the date!
RUNNING (and other activities)
The training for the Seawheeze 1/2 marathon continues with the lululemon crew so come out every Thursday at 6:30pm and Saturday morning at 8:45am at the Eaton Centre lululemon for some fun running. We'll have special guests and a social so stay tuned for announcements on Yoga & Running with Alice!
At CCRR, Sean Croon will be coaching the marathon clinic which starts in June but kicks into high gear in July. Pumped to do this clinic with all the usual suspects. I'll be running with the Rats on Tuesdays at 6:15pm as much as possible, do hill work on my own Wednesdays, and then run with the clinic on Sunday mornings at 8:30am.
On Sunday, July 22, I will be cheering on the folks doing the Toronto Triathlon Festival! No races for me, can you believe it?
Teaching lots so come sweat it out. Hot yoga in the summer? You know it! I like it as it acclimatizes my body to the heat outside while detoxifying and lets me keep up my regular practice of breath and a calm mind.
YOGA
Moksha Yoga Danforth:
Wednesday, July 4, 4:30pm Moksha
Friday, July 6, 8:30pm Karma
Monday, July 9, 6:30am Moksha
Wednesday, July 11, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, Moksha
Thursday, July 19, 6:30am, 9:30am, Moksha
Friday, July 20, 6:30pm Moksha, 8:30pm Karma
Monday, July 23, 6:30am, Moksha
Friday, July 27, 8:30pm, Karma
Monday, July 30, 6:30am, Moksha
Moksha Yoga Downtown:
Monday, July 2, 4:30pm Flow, 6pm Moksha
Tuesday, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 9:45pm Moksha
Also, exciting news! Stay tuned for more info but my website will launch AND I will be delivering a Yoga for Runners workshop on July 15 at 7pm. Save the date!
RUNNING (and other activities)
The training for the Seawheeze 1/2 marathon continues with the lululemon crew so come out every Thursday at 6:30pm and Saturday morning at 8:45am at the Eaton Centre lululemon for some fun running. We'll have special guests and a social so stay tuned for announcements on Yoga & Running with Alice!
At CCRR, Sean Croon will be coaching the marathon clinic which starts in June but kicks into high gear in July. Pumped to do this clinic with all the usual suspects. I'll be running with the Rats on Tuesdays at 6:15pm as much as possible, do hill work on my own Wednesdays, and then run with the clinic on Sunday mornings at 8:30am.
On Sunday, July 22, I will be cheering on the folks doing the Toronto Triathlon Festival! No races for me, can you believe it?
Sunday, 10 June 2012
When covers are better than the original...
Like we all know that J-Lo's I'm real wasn't all that good till she collab'ed with ja rule... and that Nelly made N Sync's girlfriend.
Check out this cover. Awesome little ladies.
Check out this cover. Awesome little ladies.
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