Bikram Shhhmeeekramm...

I don't remember the first time I heard about Bikram Yoga but since then, I have always wanted to try it.  There is something fascinating about doing Yoga in a 104 degree room... Masochistic?  Yes, I  rather am when it comes to fitness.  The harder, the more challenging, the better! Exception with weights, I just get bored when I am in a weight room.

Living in San Antonio, I have the opportunity to take 10 days of Bikram for $20.  That is a great price, considering it's like $150/month.  Pretty expensive considering you are putting yourself through immense suffering.

I took the plunge and drove myself to the Bikram studio because we are moving in about ten days and I won't get another chance. I was REALLY nervous when I got out my car, walked into the studio and was briefed on what exactly I was going to be putting myself through.

There are a few rules in a Bikram class:  1.  No talking  2.  No leaving to use the restroom  3.  No shoes or other personal items allowed in the studio  4.  Drink water when directed  5. When the door closes, it closes and you can't come in  6. New people go to the back of the room.

I had been drinking water all day to prepare myself for the adventure I was about to behold, I had to pee REALLY bad.  I went into the bathroom and every stall was taken by people changing.  I waited to go pee for like 5 minutes!! These people were taking forever.  Why couldn't they just get dressed in the locker room like everyone else?  Quickly peed so I could go get in the smoldering HOT room.

Got my mat, towel and walked into what I really think Hell feels like.  The smell was so rank, I was more frightened of the foot, BO, and butt smell than the heat.  I didn't know how I was fully going to be able to breathe because of the stench.  Plus there was not a spot in the back of the room!!  I went to the front.

The teacher rang a bell, came into the room and everyone stood up.  He immediately made me go to the back of the room and SQUEEZE between two other newbies.  I felt so uncomfortable just getting up to move to another spot, how was I going to get through this class?

People don't wear much to this practice, for obvious reasons.  It was a little strange for me to see the men just walking around barely dressed and being comfortable in their skin.  Nothing against them, I just haven't seen that much skin, even in my dancing days.

We started with some breathing exercises and made it through about 4 poses before we were allowed to drink water.  We moved all together through 26 poses, some more challenging than others.  I actually felt really good during the class and I didn't suffer dizziness, being lightheaded or nauseousness.

I went back to yoga the following day and the second class was actually felt harder than the first.  The studio I went to didn't smell bad and I will be going back there again.  I also have had a really hard time sleeping and running yesterday was more of a challenge.  My goal is to try and loosen up my tight hamstrings, so far it's not working, they hurt more than ever.  The best part about class is when it's over and you get to walk out.  I have a long way to go with this practice and I am sad we are moving and I won't be able to continue.  The price is not very affordable either.

This is where I went: Bikram Yoga of San Antonio

My kind of slushy...

Texas gets hot, and it gets really HOT in the summer.

Sometimes when I run in Texas, I feel like I am going to die due to the extreme temperatures, even on a morning run before the sun rises.  Just imagine stepping out of your front into what feels like a big blanket.
You do get a breeze sometimes and that little breeze feels like a blow dryer.

Last summer I was training for the Deseret News Marathon, which is held on July 24th in Utah.  I had the horrific privilege to train in Texas summer heat for this race.  Some of my long runs (18-20 miles), I would drip sweat from head to toe.  I would run about 8 miles and come home and change my entire running outfit.  I usually could wring the sweat out of my clothes ( gross).

The past few days here in Texas I have been running in the humid 80s, and it's been getting to me.  I came home after my 9 mile run today and decided to have a thirst quenching treat.  I usually down a glass of Gatorade, but today I experimented.

RECIPE:
1 C water
2 C ice
1 scoop Gatorade powder

Blend in blender on high for 1 minute.  This results in the most delicious post-running slush.  YUM.

I found my blog after what, 4 years??? I think it's time to re-enlist the blog and start updating about life again. I am married now. My husband's name is David and David is in the Air Force. We currently reside in Texas where is a training pilot. One day he will fly jets, but right now he flies around in a T-6. We are both runners. I have ran 22 marathons and David has ran 3. He ran his first marathon in around 3 hours, which is like my ultimate goal to get to one day... I may have to be genetically altered to get to that point. My best time in the marathon is a 3:21, and that was by some chance in heaven.

 It really has been so long since I have last updated this blog, so I am going to start over fresh and re-birth this blog. Guess I can throw out the excuse that I read about everyone on facebook and I update my running blog daily. sondrup.fastrunningblog.com mmmmk. I better post some fun pictures to get the attention of those that have read my blog in the past.

 This is me running. I was running the Endurathon in San Antonio Texas. I took third place (for the women) in what I thought was one of the most challenging half marathons I have ever participated in. David also ran and took fourth overall. Sometimes I like racing in Texas because it is DRASTICALLY different than Utah racing. I mean, I place and often WIN races. Who would have thought? I just keep wondering where all of the fast runners are? I don't think I am all that fast, but I guess I am here. David and I got married September 12, 2011. It was on a Monday in the Salt Lake Temple. We were the only ones to be married that day. :) It was just so perfect.

Fracture in the FEMUR

For the past 4 weeks I have been dealing with a stress fracture! I have had one of these before, in the same place and it is very frustrating as a runner. The sun now shines in the morning and I long to pound the pavement. But oh no, I go to the gym instead and bike while I look at the window. I think that biking is a new passion of mine, so I decided to buy a road bike. I have been thinking about buying one for about a year and a half, so why not?
School is almost out. Two more days!! Another year of teaching has past and I'm still alive. I think that I will be coming back to Vernal to teach in the fall. I don't really LOVE Vernal, but I LIKE my job.

MaRaThOn TiMe

New Personal Record: 3:32:24!!! That sets me up for another qualification for the Boston Marathon.
Let me just tell you that Boston was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. Thousands of spectators line the streets cheering the runners on. There are mounds and mounds of people that run the race. That was probably the most organized race event I have ever been to. The race is 113 years old, I would hope they would have had in under wraps by now.
I will post a little later. Possibly with some photos.

10 Reasons to run, or not run a marathon...

Top 10 reasons to run a marathon:

10. You are free to eat anything you would like after the big race.

9. Runner's high

8. Numerous health benefits.

7. Lasting friendships

6. Sense self accomplishment

5. Alone time

4. Goody bag and tech tee

3. Setting a goal and achieving it.

2. Bragging rights

1. Seeing the finish line.

Top 10 reasons to not run a marathon:

10. 26.2 miles? That's a long, long way.

9. Aches and pains in strange places.

8. Knowing that a Porta Potty can be a life saver.

7. Eating yucky things: GU, diluted Gatorade, bananas, eating so much pasta you hate it.

6. Chafing in places you never knew possible.

5. Mile 13 is really not half way.

4. The WALL. Trust me, you will know when you hit it.

3. Waking up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a bus, followed by standing in the freezing cold for an hour, followed by 4 hours of running.

2. Giving up certain foods.

1. STAIRS. (The day after a race).