So, funny story… I haven’t actually started running this week yet.  

But, before you give up on me, I will say that snow still covers 99% of all ground surfaces here, and it hasn’t been above freezing all week. So, can you really blame me?

Boot Camp

I have started taking a workout class though. The class meets at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it is designed to be a boot camp to get our bodies in shape for spring break. I’m personally doing it for the free t-shirt we get if we complete eight days of the boot camp.

The class takes place in the new fieldhouse at my school, which has an almost full sized football field in it, as well as a track. The class begins with a one lap warm-up jog around the track, followed by other exercises that we do on the field. One of those exercises includes sprinting down the field at 70% our speed and sprinting back at 90% our speed.

On the first day of class, I did not know what 70% my speed would be because according to my calculations, 70% of zero is still zero.

However, by the time I got to the class on Thursday, I felt much more confident about my abilities and felt so much better when doing the sprints. I actually felt better about doing all of the exercises by the second day, honestly.

The class is set up so you work in small groups (about three people usually) and each person in the group does an exercise for about 20 seconds total and then we rotate the through the exercises at each station (usually three exercises), and then every minute and a half we rotate stations (I think there’s 10-12 stations).

This probably doesn’t sound too bad, and it’s really not, but some of the stations are more intense – pushing a sled, battle ropes, etc. – than others. Overall, it’s a pretty fun class and it’s a mostly female group that attends so that makes it less intimidating. Overall, it’s just a really positive environment.

The class ends with a relay competition. The entire group is split into two teams, and then half of the team lines up at one yard line and the other half of the team lines up at a yard line about 20-30 yards away. Then the relay starts. The first team member has to push the sled about 20 yards or so to the other side of the team, and then the first person on the other side has to push it back. This continues until the entire team has gone through the line. Whichever side finishes last has to do an additional exercise before they leave.

Just so you know, I am not good at pushing the sled. But, I do my best and my team always cheers me on. What makes this class even better is that I don’t even know a majority of the people in the class, and still everyone is so positive and constantly cheering me and everyone else on. Which is honestly why I’m going to continue to go back to the class. Well, that, and I’m really trying to get this free t-shirt.

Also, another FYI, my team has won both times I’ve attended this class, so I must not be holding them back too much.

Did I mention this class is only $1 per session? I wish I had taken advantage of more of my college’s exercise classes sooner. I did not realize they were so much fun, and also affordable.

Since I’ve now been inside of the fieldhouse and feel comfortable using the facility and I think I’m going to start running in there on the track. Well, at least until it gets warm enough for me to run outside, or until enough of the snow melts that the sidewalks aren’t icy. Whichever comes first.

For any experienced runners who may have come across this blog, do you have any advice on running when it’s cold outside?

Special Thanks Corner

Thank you to both of my roommates who have been very encouraging this week and have attended the workout class with me both times. They also basically forced me to go on the first day, because I was very nervous about going and wanted to skip.

Thank you also to everyone who liked my blog on Facebook, or followed me on Instagram this week. I had no idea what sort of reaction I would get from starting this blog, but so far it has been incredibly positive! Hopefully, next week I’ll be able to tell you more about my running experience.

Finally, I’d like to give a super big thank you to Taylor Gonnerman for designing my awesome new logo! I’m so excited to incorporate it into my website. Taylor is an amazing artist and graphic designer. Please check out her work on Instagram (@tagsquared), Facebook, or at society6.com/tagsquared.

One Last Thing

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Finally, if you liked this week’s post, feel free to share it on your social media platforms as well. Okay, that’s all. I’ll let you get back to your lives now.

Week 2:  
Miles run this week: 0.5 
Miles run total: 0.5
Overall mood: Motivated, and a little sore