GOOD NEWS

I got a new job teaching aerobics at BYU starting winter semester. I’ve been subbing there for a year, but now I’ll be teaching four classes a week. Aerobics at BYU is open to anyone in the community (not just students) and it’s the cheapest deal around: $44 for a whole semester (3 1/2 months) and you can go to any of the cardio classes. Here’s what I’ll be teaching:

M/W 6 a.m. (step aerobics)
T/Th 5:30 p.m. (Zumba)

Other cardio classes you can attend:

M/W 5:30 p.m.
T/Th 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 a.m.

So if you’ve been looking for a new workout class, especially once the new year hits, come check it out.

AND NOW THE BAD NEWS

Sort of bad news. I guess it depends on how you look at it. I’ve had four miscarriages this year. Four miscarriages is not usual, especially not four in a row. But hurrah for insurance, which will cover 100% of the recommended tests. Without insurance each test would be $250-$570, and there are eight of them. If any of you have had recurrent miscarriages and actually found out what the problem was let me know.

On the bright side, I like not being pregnant because I can enjoy teaching aerobics and Zumba without the inconvenience of morning sickness, varicose veins, or a big belly.

MORE GOOD NEWS

Speaking of which, I’ll be teaching a new Zumba class in Springville at the Academy of Ballet (200 South Main) tomorrow (Thursday Nov. 12) at 8 p.m. Cost is $3.50.

I’ll also be teaching another 8-week Zumba session starting in January 20th on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. My current session just ended last night. I gave my class a survey at the end to see how to make it better next time. They were a subdued class, so it was hard to tell how into Zumba they were. Turns out they loved it and only wished they could make the class longer than eight weeks.

AND ONE MORE THING

I’ve lost weight since I started teaching Zumba/aerobics last year. I’ve gone down about a size in both pants and shirts. So I have all these old t-shirts and tank tops that I used to workout in that I never wear anymore because they’re baggy.

This week I pulled out one of my old tank tops and took a scissors to it. First I cut off the straps in the back and tied the straps together behind the neck (halter top fit). Then I cut straight down the back and took out a few inches of material to make the shirt less baggy. I saved the material to use for ties. I punched holes down the back side and used the extra material to tie the shirt back together.

It was a good practice attempt. I’m going to try it again on another shirt I actually like. If it turns out well I’ll post pictures. Have any of you done this before?

July 4th was the Freedom Run 5K race. Earlier this year, when I was pregnant, I was bummed because I had been looking forward to running again this summer but knew I wouldn’t while pregnant. Having a miscarriage fixed that, and I started running again in March.

Last year’s Freedom Run was my first ever 5K. Last spring I trained HARD to go from zero running experience and ability to being able to run 3.1 miles without walking. I followed the “From Couch Potato to 5K” training plan (look for it online). It took a lot of sweat and time and effort, but it paid off and I was able to run the entire 5K last year at 29:34. That was 39th in my age division for women, 180th overall for women, and 564th overall.

This year was different. I’m frequently busy teaching Zumba and preparing for upcoming Zumba classes. Making time to get out and run was tricky. I didn’t train hard like I did last year. But–and I was totally surprised to discover this–I didn’t have to. This year I’m in so much better shape (I guess thanks to teaching aerobics) that the very first time I hit the pavement in my running shoes I could trot along without any trouble for the entire three miles. WAAAAY different from last year.

So any time I went out to run this spring was less like training and more like practice, just to make sure I could get through the 5K on race day. My goal this year was just to have fun, and run the whole way, and hopefully get a better time than last year.

How did I do?

Goal 1: FUN

Check. I was actually smiling during a lot of the race. I was enjoying it. This was a big difference from last year’s race, where I felt like throwing up and really struggled to get through it (although I did). Also, my little brother Matt was running the race with me, and it was fun to have a running buddy.

Goal 2: RUN THE WHOLE WAY

Check. Definitely in better shape this year than last. Thank you, Zumba.

Goal 3: DO BETTER THAN LAST YEAR

Check. Official time was 28:59. That’s 31st place in my division, 180th place for women, and 583th overall (out of 2018 finishers, and 1144 of them women). My time and my division placing was better than last year’s. I placed exactly the same this year for women as last year, and I actually dropped in my overall finishing placement. Still, for a pleasant Saturday morning jog, I can’t complain.

The best part was at the end when they gave us all free water bottles that you could take to volunteers who would pump them full of Gatorade out of these giant blue buckets. There is nothing better than ice cold Gatorade after a race, except maybe the satisfaction that you finished the race and had fun doing it.

Running still isn’t my favorite thing to do, but I like the feeling of accomplishment it brings. I think I’m going to go back to step aerobics this week and give running a rest for a while. I miss aerobics.

Last year I started running. And stopped running once it turned cold and I started teaching aerobics instead. All spring long I’ve been meaning and meaning to get out and run.

And I have. A total of three times.

Oops, make that four–I just went again this morning.

Because this weekend I realized the Freedom Run is in five weeks, and I so enjoyed running it last year that I want to do it again this year. Which means I had better practice.

So this morning I went out and jogged for thirty minutes, just to see if I could do it, pausing twice for water. The first ten minutes I was moving pretty slow…but hey, I was moving!

I was stoked to find I can go for thirty minutes, which according to mapmyrun.com was about 3.25 miles. It wasn’t easy, though, so I hope that by practicing it’ll feel better in time for the 5K in July.

Anyone else game for running this summer?