When I woke up this morning, we finally had a non-rainy day in Amsterdam! I laced up my sneaks and headed out. The park was bustling with other people running, walking and tons on bikes. Amsterdam is a very bike friendly city and most people use them to get around. Every road has a bike lane next to it which you really have to watch out. We found out the word for bikes (fiets, pronounced like feets) and kept using it throughout the week to remind each other not to get run over. Because of a nice path alongside the main road in the park I was able to stay safe and get a great run in. Running is one of my favorite ways to discover a city and though I stayed within the confines of the park, it felt good to move around like the locals. 

I was in Amsterdam for work for a few days and made sure to pack my sneakers. With the early morning call times, long work days and late nights out with the clients, it was hard to fit in a lot of workouts but I was able to get down to the gym one rainy morning. I was confused initially to see the Dutch words on the elliptical and bike but it was pretty easy to guess what they meant. The only real issue was translating KM to miles which I promptly gave up and just focused on time. 20 minutes on the elliptical, 20 on the bike and I was ready for a long day at the studio. So glad I got in the workout because sitting around most of the day tends to make you feel pretty lethargic. 

I was that girl today. 

While running out of my apt this morning, I decided to grab a work outfit so I could shower at the gym and not get in the way of my roommate who is taking the NY bar today (good luck D!). After a nice sweaty sess on the bike and some strength training, I showered and was ready to go. Only then did I realize I hadn’t tossed sandals in my bag. Oops. Also, I wasn’t just wearing a regular outfit, I was wearing a coral, frilly, girly dress. Let me tell you, when I laced on my sneakers, I looked awesome. It was pretty comical actually and it reminded me of my mother in the 80s (sorry Mum!) Now, I don’t care what other people wear to work, and I am certainly not on the cool-shoe train, usually reaching for sandals, boat shoes, slip on converse or flat boots, but I try to keep my running shoes with my running outfits. It’s NYC and there are ladies out there in sky high heels, I just don’t want to stand out too much.

So anyway, I scooted home, hoping I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew while I set my awesome fashion statement. Luck was on my side and I didn’t! Note to self - next time make sure you have other shoes. ;-)

I tried the above mood this weekend and today because let’s be honest, nobody is a fan of the bra bulge. I’m not a curvy girl but am still self conscious in some tops because of the way they cut in. This bizarre stretch was Shape Magazine and though it’s pretty awkward to do, I’m hoping it will work with my strength training to make me feel more comfortable! Definitely starting at home though while I perfect the move.

Because of no work yesterday and a lovely morning lounging in bed I was unable to get a bike for spinning this morning. I grabbed my book club book, One Day, and biked on my own for 50 minutes. It felt like a nice relaxing way to start the day while still getting in some cardio. 

Saturday’s foggy weather was very appropriate considering my foggy head. I had a fantastic Friday night, which lead to a not so fantastic Saturday. By 7 I was feeling better and really wanted to get a run in. I ran to the gym to find out it would be closing at 8. I got in a slightly longer run but then had to hop off the treadmill thanks to some nausea. I plopped down on the bike and got a good sweat in. I ran home and felt infinitely better having worked out. This great little workout got me ready to go out and have another great night on Saturday. That’s what I call balance. 

Staying up way too late Monday night doing some freelance work and not being able to preregister for a spinning bike online made me decide to hold my workout til after work. Fortunately I got out at a decent time and knew I could also get in grocery shopping that I had skipped this weekend. I decided to check out the Equinox on 19th and Broadway because it was the closest to the Chelsea Trader Joe’s. It’s built into a beautiful old building, which looks really cool on the outside (above photo from their website, it was way too rainy for me to catch one) but makes the inside very odd. There’s an almost spiral staircase in the middle that breaks off on several different floors. I think there are four floors, though I only went on three.

The gym was jammed when I got in but I lucked out and a treadmill opened up. I’ll definitely be doing a spring half marathon to get back into running and it may be as soon as April 3! Short timing means I have to immediately bring more running back into my workouts and keep mixing that up with other things. I ran for 35 minutes, slow to start then 30 minutes of intervals for a total of 3.5 miles. Despite the hot gym, it felt fantastic. I then grabbed my book and did another 25 minutes on the bike. I was tempted to keep going (I was LOVING the book) but I still needed to grocery shop and get a good night’s sleep. All in all, good workout, cool to check out a new Equinox. 

To mix things up a bit the day after Thanksgiving I decided to go for a bike ride and then meet my father to walk the dog. I took out my old mountain bike and road two miles to the Cracker Barrel. Unlike the grimy chain with artery clogging food, the Cracker Barrel is a Hingham institution. This small general store has always been the spot to which my friends and I would ride bikes when we were little. Then we’d hang out on the bench or on the tables out back and enjoy a Gatorade or Stewarts soda. This trip was solo, and since I haven’t ridden a bike in a bit, my butt and legs were killing. Fortunately my dad met me at the Cracker Barrel and then we took the dog for a walk around Bare Cove park. I really enjoyed spending some solo time with my dad and getting in some outdoors cross training.