Fierce Workout: Choose the Right Clothes

New Marika outfit

In an old Saturday Night Live skit, a character played by Billy Crystal says "it's better to look good than to feel good."

I say, why choose?

In training for my first marathon, I have definitely increased muscle tone, though weight loss ha so far eluded me. But I also pay close attention to what I am wearing. If I don't feel comfortable, I don't have a good run.

I had the opportunity to try some new pieces from Marika, including a cool top with huge air holes to make hot summer us bearable. And capris, which I like for biking since they offer a little more coverage than shorts, but don't make me hot.

The wicking fabric helps get rid of sweat and keeps me from smelling like a sewage plant.

Note: Marika provided me with these pieces but I was not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are my own.

Do You Need Gorgeous Exercise Clothes?

Marika exercise outfit

Staying fit not only makes you healthy, it makes you look better. So beautiful exercise clothes can be just gilding the lily; if you already look good, ratty old clothes should be fine.

Except...

There is something empowering about pulling on a well designed workout ensemble, one that has been engineered specifically for exercise. And while I do feel those endorphin highs after a run, if I start out tugging on my shirt, or feel my running tights bagging at the knees, I get annoyed and then I have a terrible work out.

So I was pretty psyched to try out Marika's Jordan leggings. These black and gray leggings had mesh panels so my knees stayed cool. There is a little hidden pocket and the wicking material kept me dry.

I also got a wicking hoodie that coordinated nicely with the leggings and had those sleeves you could pull down over your hands. What was interesting about these was that when you pushed them up after your hands inevitably got hot, the sleeves didn't look weird. I have other running tops that pool around my wrists when I don't have them pulled over my hands.

Since I am training for my first marathon, these workout clothes were a great incentive to keep me on my work out program

Running a Half Marathon - and Celebrating at the Spa

What a greeting: champagne & dark chocolate

When I first started training for a marathon, even a half marathon seemed a huge challenge. But now with 5 halts (halves?) under my belt, I think I'm ready.

My bathroom, for an hour

Unfortunately, I once again didn't get into the NYC Marathon. But I will persevere, doing my 9 New York Road Runners races, plus one volunteer spot, to guarantee entry in 2016. As long as no bike accident derails me again.

This year, my friend and I decided to celebrate the day after with massages at Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf Astoria.

The lobby of the Waldorf is a hive of activity, but once you reach the 19th floor, where the spa and fitness center are located, serenity sets in.

State of the art fitness equipment

When you check in, you are escorted to the locker room, with a robe and slippers, and you can use the fitness center before your appointment. I got stuck on the subway so I had no time to exercise - but then, I had just run a half marathon. I'd love to work out there some time - everything was brad new and pristine, and there wee cold towels and chilled water bottles available.

Room to stretch, or use the stability ball or Bosu ball

My friend and I had our rooms for the massage, each with a fully equipped shower - great products from--, razor, shaving cream and plenty of soft fluffy towels. We used the too cool steam room after our massages, so we showered in the fitness center showers, which also had rain shower heads and the same products.

The massage was fabulous - an hour of bliss, with a heated bed and a masseuse who worked out all the kinks of my 13.1 mile run. Having my feet and legs rubbed was amazing, and the head rub, back massage and full body relaxation was wonderful.

Romantic setting - though just for me & my friend

When I got to the room, a bottle of water and a piece of dark chocolate was waiting. My masseuse also brought in a glass of champagne; and at the end, she sets up a couple of glasses in the relaxation lounge for my friend and me.

It looked so romantic, I think my husband and I have to celebrate our anniversary this way!

Dirt Happens: Exercise, Smells and Laundry

Smiling, but sweaty, the Ultimate champions

I love to run and bike outside, but the smell of sweat - not so much. And a team of teenage girls, playing 6 games of Ultimate Frisbee in 2 days - the smell of their feet could kill you.

We chaperoned a trip to Schenectady for the state championship (which we won, thank you very much) and had 3 girls in the back sea on the way home. They played 4 game son the final day, with no chance to shower and feet that had been confined to cleats all day.  The huge sunroof on the Lexus RX450 did not sufficiently air out the car.

Then I realized we should have used Bounce Bursts. The scent boosters bring in the fresh scent of the outdoors, rather than the rank odors of sweat, mud and a soupçon of animal excrement.

Actually, it could have been human waste- we had to use Porta potties for 2 days.

I tried the Bounce Bursts in the laundry; we had plenty. The outdoor scent comes in time released capsules, so the clothing smells fresh, even after all day play.

No Excuses: Keeping Fit

Discreet packaging for JustGo Pads

I am the queen of exercise excuses - it’s too hot, too cold, too sunny, too rainy.  My ankle hurts, my knee hurts, I didn’t get enough sleep, I have the sniffles -  you get the idea.

Luckily, I don’t have a problem that plagues untold numbers of women, particularly those who have had kids - Athletic Leaks™. This is urinary incontinence during high impact activity - jumping, cross fit, running long distances. And it doesn’t just bedevil moms.  Teens have it, or grown women without kids.

But a mother of 5, (!!!) Brooke Solis, wouldn’t take this problem sitting down.  The lawyer and athlete had this vexing problem and hated the choices on the market - bulky incontinence pads or sanitary napkins.

Brooke started a company, JustGoGirl and patented the term Athletic Leaks™ (there’s that legal training) a polite way to describe the seepage that can happen during high impact workouts - or, she pointed out, in a bouncy house at a child’s birthday party.

Brooke developed a tapered JustGo Pad™ that can’t be seen from behind, yet absorbs accidents like a pro. After all, if you are rocking Lululemon pants you don’t want a reverse camel toe revealing your secret.

I put the pad to a comfort fashion test in spin class - my friend claimed she couldn’t see any evidence of the pad through my spandex shorts. The pad didn’t chafe and though I didn’t pee in class, I could see how the pad would be very useful on a long cross country ski outing, or during a marathon, even if you don’t have athletic leak issues.

Although the athletic leak condition is different from the kind of involuntary pee almost every woman has experienced - when she sneezes or laughs - I could also see the pads coming in handy if I were going to a comedy show. The pads hold almost a half a cup of liquid, so technically you could also use them for your period, though they are on the expensive side.

The pads are sold on amazon and through a JustGoGirl subscription service; 10 pads for $8 if you are an occasional exercisers, $20 for 14 pads a month and $18 for 30 a month for the every day exerciser.

Running and Biking: Staying Fit Outside at the Manchester Grand Hyatt

The Manchester Grand Hyatt, in San Diego, takes advantage of the wonderful southern California climate, with a jogging/biking map supplied by the concierge. Steps form the hotel, you can run along the sea wall, and though you can't bike through the adjacent Seaport, Village, you can cycle on traffic-free bicycle paths, or take the ferry over to Coronado for miles of bicycle paths.

The Grand Hyatt offers bicycle rentals for $10 an hour - $30 for a full day. These are bicycles for flat, leisurely biking, which is what you'll find along the water, whether in San Diego or Coronado.

And even riding one of these bikes, you can burn enough calories to make up for the Tower 10 IPA you might have had the night before. San Diego has so many craft brewers that it is hard to imagine staying sober long here.

But you will want to go easy on the beer. You have miles to run, bike, or power walk.

Fitness Challenge: Mud Run and Kale

The night before a big run, I usually make a simple kale salad that was in Runner's World years ago. Essentially, it is a lot of kale, parmesan cheese, pine nuts and currants.

But I was having a dinner party the night before the first Muddarella, so I wanted to make something more elaborate. And we'd just gotten a gift basket with gorgeous pears, so I had to include them.

 Kale and Pear Salad

1 bunch Lacinato kale, cut in very thin slices

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup basil, diced

2 T mint, diced

1 onion, chopped

1 T butter

3 T olive oil

2 T truffle honey

2 pears, diced

cinnamon

juice of 1 lemon

3 T red wine vinegar

salt and pepper

Put kale, garlic, and herbs in a large salad bowl.

Cook onion with butter and 1 tbsp olive oil for 5 minutes or until translucent. Add 1 T honey and continue cooking until caramelized, 10-15 minutes.

Place cooked onion in bowl with kale. In the same pan, saute diced pear until tender but still firm. Add a dash of cinnamon and 1 T honey to the pears. Add to the kale and mix. 

Add remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, to taste.

Let the salad sit for at least 2 hours to tenderize the kale.

The salad may not have given me strength (and the Thai basil cocktails probably sapped it anyway) but it was a delicious and healthy start to the meal.

Emjoi Micro-Pedi Saves Your Feet

If you travel, run, walk the dog or just spend time with your kids, you are on your feet a lot. I am plagued by calluses, rough heels and hard skin on my feet. Pedicures are an occasional indulgence, but they cost time and money. Enter the Emjoi Micro-Pedi tool.

This battery-operated device has a spinning roller that smoothes skin in just a few seconds. You don't have to worry about cutting too deeply and getting an infection, or having such rough skin that you tear your socks.

Then there's those Manolo Blahniks from a sample sale that don't really fit, but they were such a steal that you cram your toes into them anyway.

New mani and pedi attachments can have you cut your ties to the nail salon entirely. The manicure kid as 5 attachments, to puff and polish nails and push cuticles back. the Precision Cone has tiny rollers that fit between your toes to get out those bumps and rough spots.

The Micro-Pedi is $39.95 and the attachment kits are $19.95 each; with the money you save on mani-pedis, you can spring for a pair of Manolo Blahniks.

This time in a size that fits.

Note: I received a sample of a Micro-Pedi in return for writing about it. My opinions and my smooth, happy feet are entirely my own.

Bermuda Rails to Trails

On Earth Day, creative reuse is on my mind. I love the High Line, in New York City which turned an abandoned rail trail into an elevated park.

And last weekend, I ran on the Bermuda Railway Trail, a walking, running and occasional biking path in Bermuda.

Bermuda’s short-lived railway cut through the heart of the island, and from the trail, you can see parts of Bermuda that are off the tourist track. I peeked into gardens and backyards and saw a lot of chickens and crazy wild nasturtiums. The leaves of some of those nasturtiums were bigger than my hand.

The Railway Trail is a work in progress; on parts, you have to watch out for cars, and if you are biking, you might have to carry your bicycle over trestles or up stairs. For a few miles around Hamilton, Bermuda’s main town, the railway abruptly ends.

But I was staying at the Fairmont Southampton, which has a railway entrance on its property.

Be sure to bring water; there are no facilities on the trail. 

On my 50 minute run, I encountered true solitude (except for the chickens). Most the section I ran was inaccessible to cars, and on the section that allowed cars, only one passed me. I saw no people.

Note: I was a guest of the Bermuda Department of Tourism.

Fitness Challenge: Disney

Getting in your exercise is easy at Disney, as long as your exercise is walking. If you use a pedometer, or an app to measure your steps, you may be surprised at how much you walked (over 7 miles, on a recent family trip).

But if you crave more strenuous exercise –and not the Disney Princess Half Marathon, most Disney hotels offer fitness centers and other ways to stay in shape.

At Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, you can swim, play tennis or rent a surrey bike at The Boardwalk (1/2 mile walk each way, too – or take the free boat ride).

I made use of the excellent fitness center, adjacent to the spa. The well-equipped fitness center had a variety of stability balls, a bosu balls, mats for stretching and a barre.

There were also ample free weights, treadmills and ellipticals with individual televisions, and headphones in case, like me, you forgot your own. Or you could listen to good tunes playing throughout at a reasonable level.

For strength training, there were a few new well-maintained weight machines, plus weight benches. And mirrors throughout the fitness room let you watch your form (or your biceps pop).

If you have a late flight, you can swim or work out, and shower. The locker room had nice towels, shower gel, shave cream and razors and self-locks. And everything  at the gym was very clean, without smelling like chemicals.

Note: I was a guest of Disney at the TravelingMom retreat.

Fitness Challenge: Runtastic app

For a long time, I resisted using my iPhone while running. I thought I could preserve it more if I just used my old iPod for music and left the phone at home. Plus even though I feel safe in Prospect Park or around NYC, running with an expensive smartphone does leave you vulnerable.

Then I learned about the app Runtastic. This app (also available for Android phones or a download online) gives you an accurate measure of how far you’ve run, and for how long.

You also get metrics about your pace, calories burned, and progress. Think your speed work is improving your overall pace? The app tells you.

If you sycn with Facebook and Twitter you can broadcast your running prowess. But not just running. 

The app lets you track aerobic activities like cycling, walking, skiing and golfing (?), or strength training.

And live coaches in different languages let you bone up on your German, Spanish, French or Italian. 

Though I imagine the French coach encourages you to stop for a Pastis and a cigarette if your workout is too intense.

Now I just need a good armband to keep my iPhone secure.

Fitness Challenge: Day 82

My fitness plan for Martha’s Vineyard was to run and bike daily, but Mother Nature had other ideas. It poured one day, so we headed over to the Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa in Vineyard Haven.

There were lots of small rooms her, one filled with cardio machines, (with their own televisions) one with free weights and another with weight machines.

A lounge overlooking the indoor tennis courts also had cardio machines so you could watch the action below while you exercised.
I spent most of my time in the personal trainer room, open to anyone, where the bosu balls were. I also took the cardio combo class, a high energy, easy to follow cardio workout.
T
he gym had soft towels, clean locker rooms and a very mellow feel.

Fitness Challenge: Day 73

Seattle is known for its food scene, with the famed fish market, Pike Place, and tons of locavore restaurants. If you are a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish, you can find chefs who rely on the region's produce bounty.

On my recent visit, it was so cold that I had to warm up with a hot chocolate at Chocolate Box. The chocolate bar features a number of add-ons, including peanut butter. So it's almost a health food.

Then I had to run off those calories. Seattle is very hilly, so it was a challenging run to go down to the waterfront, then back to my hotel, Mayflower Park. It was also a very short run, so I continued by work out by following the monorail path, about a mile, to the Space Needle.

Fitness Challenge: Day 70

If you are a runner and traveling to Philadelphia, one of the things you will want to do is run up the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. These steps, made famous by Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky," lead up to one of the great art museums in country, with paintings, sculpture, textiles and costumes.

And a statue of Rocky, where every visitor with a smartphone poses.

I ran here, sans iPhone, from my hotel all the way at the other end of the city. Philadelphia is a rather small city, and residents tout its walkability, but from the Sheraton Society Hill nearly at Penn's Landing to the museum is 2.7 miles each way.

But those grand stairs inspire you. I sang the theme from "Rocky" to myself as I sprinted up and down the steps, then slogged my way back to the hotel.

On the way, I sang "The Streets of Philadelphia" since I had just seen the Bruce Springsteen exhibit at the National Constitution Center.

If you are traveling with teens, plan another trip to the museum for Art After 5, on Friday evenings. The museum is open late, with cocktails and food, plus music and dance performances. There are also free guided tours of the museum, and select galleries are open.