Who Is That?

I caught a glimpse of myself in the window as I was walking in to pick up the girls at school yesterday. I hardly recognized the woman staring back at me.  Actually, that's not true.  I recognized her all too well.  She looked entirely too much like somebody that I used to know (and no, I do not mean she resembled the sexy skinny chic that sings in that Gotye song).

I'd like to say I have no idea how this happened, but I'd be lying.  I know exactly how it happened.  After the Ten-Miler I was injured, burned out and busy.  I limited my running days to keep up with my life and my psyche.  Once I got the stress fracture diagnosis I slowed it down even more.  While taking time for recovery after an injury is certainly necessary, I took it a little too far - skipping classes, turning my runs in to walks and coming up with a million and one excuses ("moving all those boxes was a lot of work" - "I got my exercise today just going up and down the stairs a million times unpacking" - etc).  

The downfall of my healthy diet followed neatly behind my slacking exercise regimen.  While I didn't start hitting fast food drive thrus on a daily basis or anything, I did stop paying attention to what I was putting in my mouth.  You know how it is - a half a cookie here, a few Cheez-its there, just one more piece of pizza...

I haven't stepped on the scale yet.  I don't have to because I can tell from the way my clothes don't fit.  I'm not back to where I was before, but I will be soon if I don't get out of this rut.  Isn't it interesting how you it takes so long to get in shape but so little to get out of it?

Tomorrow is Friday.  If there's anything that can get me back into the groove it's one of Sandy's Outdoor Athletic Training classes.  McIntire Park - here I come! 

Why Clay?

I'm often asked "Why Clay?".  If you've read past posts you can probably decipher that much of has to do with Hyam herself. I doubt she even realizes the ways she inspires me sometimes with the things she says and does.  It comes naturally to her - that's a pretty unique quality.

There are, of course, many other aspects of Clay that I love. I've found it hard, however, to put it into words.  Therefore I've decided to do a series of posts that feature photographss of exactly we do at Clay and why I keep coming back for more.  

I need to be clear that this is NOT an advertisement for Clay. Hyam had nothing to do with this.  It's much more self-centered than that.  This is my way of bragging about all the kick-ass things I do there so you know I'm not just talking smack (even if I am sometimes).  And, if you happen to realize how awesome Clay is along the way... that's a bonus.

To help me tell my story I've enlisted the help of local photographer extraordinaire Beth Daane of Daane Studios.  Beth will assist in chronicling my journey by attending my classes and personal training sessions and snapping live action shots of what I'm up to.  

I'm going to warn you.  I am NOT pretty when I exercise.  I make crazy, ugly faces (a common one has even been termed the "beaver face" by Hyam - see photos below from Clay a few years ago). My skin turns a very unnatural combination of red and purple that even Crayola couldn't create.  Seriously. I'm not fishing for compliments here - it's not pretty.  However, I feel it's necessary to truly show what we do and why I love it.  Yes, I'm taking one for the blog here.  You'll thank me later.  Or maybe not.

If you look closely here you will see the "Beaver Face".

(Photo courtesy of JMK Photography)

Some people are truly beautiful while working out.

I'm not one of them.

(Photo courtney of JMK Photography)

Get Out There

The way my classes at Clay worked out this session (due to work, life, and all that other crap) I am on my own Saturday - Tuesday and then slammed with athletic training greatness at the end of the week.  

Since I'm still struggling with my shins Scout & I are (much to my dismay) temporarily eliminating any running. We're keeping our cardio up, however, by walking at what we consider a fairly fast pace.  Yep, I'm the crazy lady you keep seeing pumping her arms like a freak down the Rivanna Trail (the one you all make fun of...). I've been using the MapMyRun app on my iPhone to keep track of our mileage as well as my pace.  I love it because it tracks all of our outings and enables me to see our progress (or lack thereof).  The one thing I have unintentionally learned via this app is that while Scout is a great motivator for me because he gets me out the door by sitting by it and "patiently" whining waiting, he also slows my pace down significantly with his incessant need to pee on every third tree or bush that we pass (seriously, how much urine could that little bladder hold???).  We average a 14 minute mile together and 12.5 when I leave him at home. He doesn't actually know that do this so let's keep that between us, okay?  (It's totally crazy, but that dog is my best friend and it's important for me to keep him happy). 

On Wednesday mornings I head to Clay for an in-studio Athletic Training class with Hyam. It's no secret I think this woman is the shit and she totally kicks my ass every time I work out with her. So while it's definitely difficult, I love every painstaking minute of it.  Friday's this spring, however, I'm doing something new - an outdoor athletic training class with Sandy Archer.  Sandy is fairly new to Clay but definitely not new to the fitness scene in Charlottesville.  If her name sounds familiar it could be from her days of leaving people in the dust on the UVA track, or from the infamous Arch's restaurant she and her husband Rob own (of which there are now three delicious shops in town) or for the "standing room only" classes she has taught at ACAC for years.  Yep, she's that freaking awesome - and I'm totally pumped to be doing this new class with her this spring.  

The premise of this class is that we meet at a different park in Charlottesville to do cardio and strength training in a new and fun way outside.  We started our first week at Belmont Park, which is just a few blocks from Clay. During the class we did everything from running laps around the park, to Killers on the sidewalk, to pull-ups on the bars. to lunges up hills, to crazy tandem exercises where we pull each other across the basketball court with bike tires wrapped around our waists (not as crazy as it sounds, but definitely as difficult!). While the workout is intense the time flew by - and I can't wait to see what Sandy has in store for us this week!

I'm often asked what I love so much about Clay.  This is just one example of what keeps me going there week after week, month after month.  I NEVER get bored - and neither do my muscles.  There's always something different that challenges both my body and my mind in a new way.   I've learned that though the BOSU is a really cool training tool that can be used in a million different tortuous ways, I don't have to have one to get a good workout in.  There are plenty of things I could do right in my own back yard (if I wasn't afraid that my neighbors would report me to social services on the premise of insanity).  

So my challenge to you this weekend is to get outdoors.  Find a trail and go for a hike - run a few laps around your neighborhood - check out a new park in our area - whatever makes you happy - just get out there, do something new and have some fun! 

Viva Mexico

To say that this today's Athletic Training class was difficult would be an understatement. But slowly, after 5 days of poolside butt-sitting, too much tequila and nachos - so many plates of nachos - my body is starting to come back to life. 

The Spicy Chicken and I were fortunate to spend a few days in Mexico celebrating the 40th birthday of great friend of ours this past week.  If you know anything about the two of us you know that while we definitely work hard, we play even harder.  And after the difficulties of the past few weeks we were more than ready to play.  

While I'd start the day with plates of amazing fresh fruit and made-to-order egg-white omelets, the accompanying mimosas and bloody mary's quickly mitigated any of the earlier healthiness.   I'll be honest and say that my training went dry after I sweated out a few margaritas on the treadmill Day Two (4.0 miles in 45 minutes). However,  I'm fairly certain we worked off at least 1000 calories on the dance floor (we were literally wet from head to toe in sweat!), and though the week was devoid of any crunches, my abs were literally sore from the constant laughter.  Fun doesn't even begin to describe our week. 

So where do I go from here - after hitting it hard for several weeks and then completely plummeting to a lazy alcoholic stupor for several days? As always, I head back to Clay for a kick-ass work out from Hyam.  If there was one thing I needed today it was that and Hyam, of course, delivered.  It'd be easy to continue to let things slide but I actually couldn't wait to get back into things (and Hyam's text "want to see you" text last night didn't hurt either!).  That's the thing about your body (and Hyam!) - they are always ready and waiting for you to take care of it.


The Ten-Miler is going to be here before I know it so I'm pulling my running shoes back on and hitting the pavement tomorrow.  See you on the Rivanna!  

Back from Vacation

This quote from Hyam pretty much sums up my first day back at Clay:

"I see a lot of huffin' and puffin' 
but not much moving, over there Amy!" 

And you'll see proof of it on tonight's Make Dan Sweat. 

Life is Like a BOSU

The other day a few friends and I were sarcastically expressing our "love" for the BOSU on Twitter.  I admitted that I have a love-hate relationship with this piece of equipment.  Love because it's so good for so many parts of my body.   Hate because, well, it can really suck.  (Not to mention that it's a known fact at Clay that it's not safe to stand next to me when proprioceptive abilities are called into play, which they are every second you're on the BOSU). 

If you haven't used a BOSU I challenge you to try it (most gyms have them). Essentially it's half a balance ball with a flat middle that can be used for a million different exercises and for every part of your body.  At Clay we use it for everything from push-ups (inverted with the round part facing the ground) to jump squats and lunges -  and everything in between.  What challenges me most, however, is balancing on it.  


I fall off every once and awhile (ok, quite frequently) but I always get back on.  It reminds me a little of life and this journey that I am on.  Last week, for instance, was a fabulous week.  The kids went back to school, work started flowing, and I was back on my regular schedule at Clay. I lost 3 pounds in a week and felt like I was balancing with ease! This week, however, was quite different.  It started off great - with a killer workout at Clay in the new studio.  I was pumped when I left there - certain my balance was completely in check.  However, a few hours later it all changed.  M got a migraine that afternoon, the Spicy Chicken was really late from work and at 6 I realized I'd forgotten to defrost the fish so our healthy dinner didn't pan out. Tuesday I got a call from the nurse again and found myself driving to the school at 2pm instead of taking my afternoon run with Scout. Due to M's illness I had to miss an important committee meeting at 5, which frustrated me enough to eat chocolate for dinner.  On Wednesday school was on a 2-hour delay so I missed Clay and that afternoon K came home with a fever (again no run). The Spicy Chicken was late, stressed and drinking wine that evening so I, of course, had to join him. Today is Thursday and I am sitting in the living room with K at my side as we are waiting to head to the doctor's office.


Obviously I didn't just stumble off this week - I threw myself to the ground. As a parent, this is what you do when something happens with your kids, but it's where many of us let things get out of control.  It's inevitable that life is going to get tough and we're going lose our balance at times. Sometimes we even fall off. The important part, however, is that we hop back on and keep trying.  It's not always easy - and sometimes it's embarrassing (like in the middle of class - or on a public blog!).  But one thing I learned from the BOSU is that sometimes the falling off isn't so bad because when you get back on you discover that you're getting stronger and you can do it!


K is asleep on the couch so I'm heading to the garage to use the jump rope I got for Christmas (love this thing!).  I probably only have a 30 minute window before she starts calling my name again, but if I don't climb back on the BOSU right now I know it will be even harder to do tomorrow.  

"Nothing tastes as good...

...as skinny feels."  This quote was made famous by Kate Moss a few years back.  I'm not up for debating Kate Moss but I would argue that it's not so much being skinny that feels so good, but rather being healthy and being strong.  

(Plus, I'm fairly sure if given a few minutes I could come up with a list of things that come pretty close to tasting as good, if not better, than being skinny).  

This is what feeling good looks like to me!

Healthy, strong and thin! 

I got up this morning with a renewed sense of what I needed to do and how I needed to get there (making a public promise to get back on track is a fairly strong  motivator).  Still, I found myself calculating the time it would take me to get everything I needed to get done before I could  crawl back into bed. That desire, however, disappeared quickly while at Clay this morning.  

I'm not going to lie - getting back on that bike wasn't easy.  I struggled through some of the challenges, but it felt great.  I worked off over 500 calories and walked out of there ready to start checking things off my list.  

Here's the crazy part - what made me feel so great wasn't  a Diet Coke (I haven't had one) or the leftover donut from Carter Mountain (it's still there) or a few extra hours of sleep (though I could still use those) - but rather eating a healthy breakfast and exercising. Go figure.

Who feels good now, Kate Moss?

Renewal: Part 1

I'm not going to lie to you...every Tuesday and Thursday morning I wake up with butterflies in my stomach - the words "I don't want to do this" usually running through my head. After dragging myself out of bed I reluctantly put my workout clothes on and head to the kitchen. I woefully add whey powder to my greek yogurt (which already tastes like chalk) because I know that without some protein there's no way I'm going to make it through the work out....and I seriously cannot look at another egg.  

Thirty minutes later I am in the car driving frantically to the studio (because I stopped to check my e-mail before heading out the door and am now late) while sucking down as much water as possible - hydration is key in this process, too.  Once parked I sit the car for an extra thirty seconds and tell myself, "It will be great." Though I usually don't believe it.

When I step into the studio, however, all of that trepidation disappears. Surely it has something to do with the lighting, the colors, the floors, etc. that Hyam chose so carefully when she was designing the space, but mostly it has to do with the fact that the studio - with all it's torturous looking contraptions, balls, weights, ropes, etc. - has become my haven.  It's where I go to rid myself of the stress, anger, frustrations of the week - as well as those extra calories I know I shouldn't have taken in. When I walk in the door I see the women I spend every Tuesday and Thursday with - working together to better ourselves inside and out.  They inspire me - they push me- and they lift me up. What was I so afraid of?

Fifty-five minutes later I am red-faced, hot, sweaty, in desperate need of a shower and...completely renewed.  What takes place between that first squat and last quad stretch can surely be attributed to more than one scientific theory, but what it comes down to for me is that it works.

War Wounds

While getting ready to go out last night I noticed a raised red spot on the side of my chin.  I attempted to hide it with cover-up and moved on (covering redness is a way of life for pasty-skinned girls like me).  It didn't cover very well, however, and when I got home both of the girls made a comment about "the red thing" on my face.  Nice.

It wasn't until I sat down to brag to the Spicy Chicken about the intense workout I had that day that it dawned on me what "the red thing" was - my very first Workout War Wound!  If you saw the things Hyam makes us do you wouldn't surprised by a facial injury, but even I have to admit this one happened out of sheer spasticity (is that even a word?)!

During our first workout she had me throwing a medicine ball against the wall over my head, catching it, squatting and then throwing it again.  This medicine ball was leather (see photo below), heavy and and had to be thrown hard to get it to come back to you.

Yesterday we did the same exercise.  In my fatigued-state, however, I did not realize that the ball we were using looked more like this: 

Obviously this one takes a little less force to get it to bounce back so when thrown with great intensity it will come back hard and fast.  Thus, if your face is in the way it will hit it - and scrape it - and if I'm really lucky - eventually bruise it!  

Are you feeling sorry for me yet?  I didn't think so.