and now the torture rack...

PILATES! today was my first 1 on 1 pilates workout. if you have never seen a pilates studio, think of a medieval torture room without the spikes... in mauve. we started on the cadillac and the magic circle a multiple balls between my legs, behind my back, my neck then moved to the reformer and back to the cadillac. i can't really describe everything i did, but what i can definitely say is that i felt very out of my element. i need to practice more so i can be aware of my posture and getting rid of my chicken neck.

she stuck to the basics... though i can't honestly say what the basics are in pilates. some people would think that because you already exercise that you would be good at this, but this is way different. it was a good workout. different. not the sweaty running, cycling or kickboxing workout, but i had a really tough time and got a bit dizzy. the scary thing, is she was being nice for my first time!

i'm spent.
i need a nap.

noncommittal

no training today. i just got home from a long day at work. dad's surgery is tomorrow morning. he goes in at 9am. they take out the golf ball in his neck. the brother has the first shift~ sleeping over my parents place and taking them to the hospital. the sister has the second shift~ stay with mom during procedure. i have the closing shift~ pick them up. take them home and make sure they're okay. i say "they" because my mom is a wreck... more so than my dad.

seems like the more people i speak with have a personal connection with cancer. wives, parents, aunts, friends, co-workers... not to mention other health issues. it sucks, and i feel like there is more that i can do.

if you know me, then you know that i'm very noncommittal. i rsvp as "maybe" and will not give a definite answer until the last possible moment. i can't even write in my planner with a pen. i use a pencil, and if that's not available, i put it on a post it... just in case. but i feel like i'm not doing everything i can to train for this run. as i said previously, i've got thursday - sunday down. it's monday - wednesday that is the problem... so today, i made another commitment.

the first commitment was to raise money for the leukemia lymphoma society.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/kauai10/atsutaoka

the second commitment was to "commit to get fit." it's basically a 10 week program. once a week with a personal trainer. same day. same time. no cancellations. no rescheduling. no refunds. it sounds harsh, but that's to keep me on schedule.

i'm not in bad shape. my current fitness schedule including my kickboxing classes on tuesday & thursday get me moving. but i have plateaued. my arch is blistered. my knee is hurting. so i need more strengthening and core work. i do not have the disposable income and if i don't raise the money that i committed to, then i'm paying the difference of the $5,000 that i don't raise. but i need this. this is for me and my health. maybe it'll help inspire others to be healthy too.

busy day tomorrow:
run. home. work. hospital. work. parents. teach. parents. home.
will let you know how it goes...

sunday funday = zumba

today is easy run or cross train, so i did a little of both.
i jogged .7 miles (7:20 minutes) to my first zumba class. 1 hour cardio and fun... there are things i don't know how to shake, but it was good. at first i was a bit apprehensive since half the class had special cardio/dance shoes. but once you get into it, who cares! there are some things i don't know how to shake, but i had fun and vanessa's class was awesome. i will be back.

i was planning to stay for the body conditioning class, but the blister on my arch was hurting... so instead of another jog, i walked to get my huevos rancheros for breakfast and blue bottle for my cup o' joe.

class is at 8:15am on sundays... let me know if you want to come with :)