Cross Training, Day 1

Last night was the first time since I decided to become a runner that I've done something besides, well, run. I went to one of my favorite classes at The Women's Club, The Lift Plus. According to www.thewomensclub.com, The Lift is an "exciting weight training class utilizing a specially designed barbell, steps and dumbbells. No fancy footwork, just simple and intense resistance training set to motivating music." Since the class on Tuesday nights is The Lift Plus, the instructor usually throws in a minutes of jumping jacks, jogging in place, or other super-fun (that was sarcasm) things here and there to get our hearts pumping.

I like this class for a number of reasons. 1. The instructor, Stephanie, is cool. 2. You don't have to be very coordinated, which keeps my flailing to a minimum. 3. I'll be honest here. If I try to weight lift on my own, I look like a fool. Or a tool. Whichever noun you're more comfortable with. 4. I just am not dedicated enough to force myself to do squats and lunges outside of a peer-pressure setting. (I HATE lunges. Hate them. I could get into all the things I would rather do than lunges, but it might get graphic, so I'll spare you.) Anyway, going to this class makes me feel like I've done a bit of resistance training, so I don't feel bad about skipping it the rest of the week. (I know one day a week of resistance training is not enough. I'll get there. I promise.)

During the class, I was excited to find that I was able to hold the plank position for 3 sets of 30 seconds. (Modified plank, of course.) If you don't know what "plank" is, get in the push-up position, with your arms extended all the way. Suck in your stomach. Now stay like that for a while. If you can't do that, do it in the modified push-up position, with your knees on the ground. Fun stuff, huh? Before Christmas, I could hold the plank for about 3 seconds. (I'm not exaggerating.) I'm really excited to find that my core has gotten a lot stronger from running!

I'm hoping to get in some swimming this weekend for my next round of cross training.