M.F.T. #19: A good workout.

One of the places I am considering moving to for grad school is Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. On my way to Chicago a couple of weeks ago, I stopped in Nashville for ~24 hours to visit a NNP I worked with at CHLA (It's a small world!) and have a sleepover with Jess, Seth & Diesel! It was delightful, both the NICU and the slumber party! =) The Cain Family moved to Nashville over the summer and showed me such a lovely preview of what life would be like if I lived there. We went for flamingly gay burritos and Jess + I drank yummy margaritas at 1:00 in the afternoon. We shopped at all the cute shops, watched The Sing Off and played Scrabble 'til our heads hurt. The next morning we woke up and went to the YMCA... and to say I am out of shape is an understatement... but with the discipline of a gym partner like Jess I had a fabulous workout... and have FINALLY gotten back in to the routine of going to the gym since returning to Knoxville! When Jess + I first moved to college together during the summer of '04, we quickly realized that being a college student meant you had A LOT of extra time on your hands and no other obligations to take up all your free time! We could only sleep til noon and waste away so many days watching "I Love the 90's" marathons before you really begin to feel worthless so we started going to the gym with some friends of ours. It was here that I was introduced to the wonderful world of "group exercise" and the following semester I became a group fitness instructor!! My love for fitness expanded when Jess + I decided to run a marathon our junior year in which I almost died... and will never do that again... but once I regained use of my feet, I continued teaching classes and working out and running in all my spare time. It's the best hobby ever! =) This past year, I was ice cold and frankly, needed the extra layer of fat I acquired in my time in Winnipeg not to freeze to death. Under the many layers I had to wear every day just to not be cold, never did I "keep warm", I had hardly noticed how out of shape I had become. But now that I am back in a climate that only requires I wear one layer of clothing, I've noticed. I had lost the craving of going to the gym and have even been known to be too tired/hungry/freezing/lazy that I leave the gym parking lot and cross the street in to the McDonald's drive thru this past year. Amy Aerobics would have been so ashamed... but that craving... not for the fast food but for a good workout!... is back and I can honestly say I have consistently gone to the gym this past week and I feel awesome!! Thank you, Jess for your fabulous hospitality and resparking the Amy Aerobics inside me! =)

training of a triathlete.

So, I signed myself up for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon that will take place this fall. The proceeds benefit the Childrens' Hospital and past triathletes that have participated in the race include Matthew McConahey, Jennifer Lopez and my preceptor, Dana. Having a terrible history of leaving Jess' bike in the middle of campus after 8 blocks of near-death bicycle accidents on my way to a final AND quitting lifeguard class after one day for being deathly afraid of diving to the bottom of the pool to retrieve a brick (and of my reflection in a unflattering speedo!), I have exactly 6 months from today to learn to ride a bike and swim without half floating on a raft. I feel confident in the running leg of it but will have to adjust to swimming and biking before I jog. I'm super excited for this new challenge and having my past marathon training partner and motivator (Jess) in town for the weekend, I began training today.... We went for a fabulous tandem bike ride along The Strand from Hermosa to Manhattan Beach.

Bubbly Toes

While running the Disney Marathon could possibly be my greatest accomplishment (see medal and sweet t-shirt below), I incurred a sustaining injury from my endeavor. The blisters encumbering my toes (seen left) made it impossible for me to stand on my feet for almost a week. It didn't help jet setting to Vegas the following weekend which entailed a great deal of walking as well. Now that a full month has gone by, I still have no desire to run even though my feet are healing but I have lost three (almost four) toenails in the process. I am confident in the fact that they will grow back and feel as though this entitles me to 30% (almost 40%) off my next pedicure! =) I'm pretty hardcore.

Mind over miles.

In my dreams, I am a Kenyan.

Find your happy pace.

2008 Walt Disney World Marathon

16 hours out...

Carbo Loading

2 days before the big race...

Micanopy Half Marathon

Today Jess and I completed our first half marathon!! We ran today in honor of Catherine Barclift and wore pink ribbons to remember her as she was also training for a marathon when her life was suddenly taken from her while running last Monday! Our goal was to finish the run in 2 hours and we crossed the finish line in 1:59:45... goal accomplished!! It was an awesome achievement! With our full marathon just 8 weeks away, our training is getting more intense but we're really excited!!

Gator Gallop

To kick off UF's 84th Homecoming, we participated in the Gator Gallop- the 2 mile-run that immediately precedes our Homecoming Parade. Tonight is Gator Growl- the nation's largest student run pep rally! The stars of this year's show are Frank Caliendo, Lynyrd Skynyrd and our very own Carly Hallam, who has a cameo in one of the rally's hilarious skits!

Amy Aerobics - My Alter Ego

I adopted an alter ego 2 1/2 years ago when I began teaching fitness classes at the gyms on campus... Amy Aerobics!! My favorite format is kickboxing but I teach various strength and cardio classes. My latest endeavor is instructing indoor cycling which I've totally fallen in love with! This summer Amy, I mean I, have taught 8 classes a week...
www. recsports.ufl.edu

Go Big. Train Hard.

This summer I began an intensive 6-month training program to prepare me for running the Walt Disney World Marathon - the race where dreams come true - on January 13, 2008. It is a run through the most magical setting in the world! While I currently cannot fathom running 26.2 miles without, well, dying..come January, Mickey and I are going to make it happen! =)