weekly workouts // november 26

Monday, November 26 – today started in the CorePower Yoga Grand Avenue studio with a lovely class lead by Pegah. While relaxing into child’s pose, she started class by asking: “What does balance mean to you?” My answer today: Finding physical balance on my mat. We flowed through a really fun balancing sequence that included two of my favorite poses – figure four into galavasana (flying pigeon). It’s been at least a year since I’d done that transition… so fun + challenging! Galavasana is hands-down (pun intended) one of my favorite arm balances.

Yoga stats: vinyasa, 60 minutes.

Tuesday, November 27 – another juicy vinyasa class! Not sure if it was practicing mid-afternoon or if it was thanks to practicing two days in a row, but I felt bendier than normal. It didn’t help much, however, with today’s most challenging posture: compass. I’m pretty certain it will be years before I can bend into this pose! Holding prone frog and pigeon were equally tough; my mind kept wandering!

Yoga stats: vinyasa, 60 minutes.

Also, I love the buddha at the Highland Park studio. Any suggestions on where to get a similar one (preferably without the candle)?

Wednesday, November 28 – I’ve been fighting something all week, and despite going through nearly an entire box of Kleenex, I hopped on the trainer for a quick hour. I followed Frayed Laces’ #trainertuesdays workout one that included one-leg drills and intervals of low cadence + an easy pace spin. Sweat dripped. Snot dripped. And, I didn’t have a towel. Or tissues. It wasn’t pretty 🙂

Bike stats: about 15 miles, 60 minutes.

My Garmin mysteriously disappeared last week. My only idea of where it went: I left it on the trunk of Nick’s car in the garage after biking last Wednesday and that it had flew off into the alley when he backed out. Fingers crossed that’s not the case and that it turns up.

Thursday, November 29 – still not feeling 100 percent, so I rested tonight on the sofa. Perfect.

Friday, November 30 – Pegah’s 8:30a vinyasa class centered again on finding balance. The sequence was similar to Monday’s class… more galavasana practice! Today’s balance extended off the mat to some time on the trainer, relaxing at home and a lovely evening enjoying dinner + wine with good friends.

Yoga stats: vinyasa, 60 minutes.

After yoga, I hopped on the trainer for Frayed Laces’ #trainertuesdays workout two. After the seven-minute warm-up and one leg drills, I modified the four-minute spin-up + recovery to four intervals of two minutes hard + two minutes easy. The workout rounded out with three minutes standing + one minute recovery times five. Another sweaty spin session.

Bike stats: about 15 miles, 60 minutes.

On a related note, my bike needs a serious tune-up. It won’t even shift into the two lowest gears. Yikes.

Saturday, December 1 – today was one of those runs… er, was it the pinot noir last night? 😉 I was sluggish, slow and had a side ache for nearly all of it. Thankfully, Nick and Sonia kept me motivated the entire run down Summit to the river and back, otherwise I probably would have called it quits just a couple miles in.

On a happy note… I found my Garmin! After being missing for 11 days, I had given up hope that it would turn up. But, it somehow did in the most random spot: the pocket of my puffer vest. I have no idea how it got in there, but I’m thrilled to have found it.

Run stats: 6.42 miles, 60 minutes.

Sunday, December 2 – what a fantastic foggy morning for 1,319 feet of stair climbing! I joined coach Matt at the cathedral for several rounds of Saint Paul stairs, including the super steep ones near the James J. Hill house. Ninety minutes later, my legs were toast. Klutzy me, I nicked my ankle with my shoe; I didn’t even notice it until we were finished.

Run stats: 5.61 miles, 1:29:41.

Weekly stats: The first week sans swimming in a looooong time. And, I actually kinda missed it.

Bike: ~30 miles, 2 hours
Run: 12,03 miles, 2:29:41
Yoga: three classes, 3 hours

This week: It’s back to reality this week, as I start my new gig. Workouts will be much of the same, including #trainertuesdays workout three, vinyasa, P2X running and in the pool at least once.

What’s on your fitness calendar this week? Have a great one!