Workout Motivation

Every time I read a magazine it seems there is someone recommending working out with friends. I have had some great work out buddies over the years including Tiff, Timna and basically all of my college roommates. However, to consistently end up at the gym I have had to be a lot more independent about my work out schedule. Don't get me wrong, I love working out with my friends but we are busy people and if we went by both of our schedules- we'd never work out again!

However, this year I have gotten a lot more into the work out buddy system. It began this summer when me and a friend from work started attending Spinning class on Monday night. Another friend from work joined us and now three of us go every Monday night at 6:20. With the way my Monday's go, I usually don't have time to go home before that class and I have been gone from the house for at least 12 hours by that point. I can safely say since the school year began I NEVER would've attended that class without these girls. I am pretty sure that none of us are really DYING to go to that class on Monday nights but we all go because no one wants to be the "one" who didn't go. It's perfect. Monday always used to be my rest day because I could never get myself up early to work out, or motivate myself to do it in the afternoon. Rest day no more. One of those spinning buds and I also signed up for the kettlebell class on Wednesdays. I never would've thought of taking that without a little pushing either. Since I had to pay for that class it motivates me to go a little more, but it certainly wouldn't be as fun without a Workout Buddy!
Do you guys have workout buddies? Do you prefer working out alone or with friends?

Another big workout motivator for me is the workout playlist. Knowing I have great music to listen to can motivate me to do basically anything. During the triathlon we were not allowed to have ipods and I was REALLY missing it during the running portion. There was a girl who happened to be running in the middle of the tri, but wasn't in it. She had an ipod and I seriously considered stealing it. If I thought I woudn't get disqualified I definitely would've done it. My awesome sister helped me create an awesome playlist this afternoon that I am looking forward to using during my next work out. Here is my newest playlist:


There are a few songs I don't know, but I think that's even more fun because it will take longer for me to get sick of them! I have kettlebell tomorrow, but I am hoping this will be my motivator on Thursday! It's showing up small on my computer but if you can't see the song names, click on it and it will open bigger. Sorry about that technical glitch.

Okay, I must be going- I have a meeting with my running coach tonight! Does that make me sound like a serious athlete? Anyway, really its just a free consultation with a running coach to see if they can fix my knee. Can you tell I am one of those people who does not give up until I find a solution?

Oh and finally- thanks for the positive comments yesterday! I have not been officially diagnosed with Celiac, I just *may* have it, and hopefully don't. I think it's going to be a little bit until I know anything so I will keep you updated, but in the meantime we are going to talk about more fun stuff :)

I Don't Get It...

So I have a physical therapy appointment for next Monday. Until then though, my knee continues to hurt and I'm not sure what to do.
According to my doctor's 3 minute assessment, I have Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Of course I have been googling away. I love that all this information is available to me, especially since my doctor didn't really say what exercising I should or shouldn't be doing. However, the internet is a confusing place! Some sites say that biking is good, some say people with patellofemoral pain should be taking time off biking. Many sites say that people who have been running should switch to swimming. Two other sites say that swimming, biking and running (GO FIGURE) are the causes of patellofemoral pain syndrome!

What can I do? What should I do?

I realize I have to take a break from the triathlon training right now and that's fine, but I'd like to do something with myself! Gotta burn off all that ice cream somehow :)

On a total different note, Eric is trying to make a mix cd to play with his middle schoolers so we are sitting here listening to songs to see if they are appropriate. As a result we are taking a massive trip down memory lane with lots of really hilarious/awesome songs. Just in case you'd like to come on our memory lane trip, remember these songs?

Black Eyed Peas- My Humps
Kelis- My Milkshake
LL Cool J- Lougin (you may remember this as the song that goes, "Who do you love? Are you sure?)
Next- Too Close
Cam'ron- Hey Ma

Seriously, just download all of these songs and listen to them right in a row and you will automatically be a good mood. Haha, or it could just be me. Unfortunately, most of these songs were banned from Eric's mix cd for obvious reasons, but I had a fun dance party with myself in the process!

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Baby We Were Born to Run...

It was back to running this morning for me. It was a little rough but I think it was a combination of the absolute BOREDOM of the treadmill and the fact that it was really hot in my house. I felt a little sick by the end of what should've been a really simple 2 mile run...but that's okay, sometimes runs just don't quite work out the way you want them to.
On Wednesday nights I usually go to my parents house for dinner so this week I decided that since it's less than 4 miles away, I would rollerblade there. It was a great idea and a lot of fun. I talked to Katie on the phone the whole way there and listened to my ipod the whole way home. The only problem was my ever dreaded hill I live on. I was going to just hope my brake would work well and rollerblade straight down it but in the process I decide going barrelling into the busiest street in my town probably wasn't the best idea. The problem with rollerblading is, you can't just stop and walk. So I had to take off my rollerblades and walk down the hill in my socks- RIDICULOUS! When we bought our house I was concerned about living up in the hills because of the winter roads...turns out my car can handle it fine, it's me who cannot! However, I did discover that although I cannot run or bike up the hill- I CAN rollerblade up it, yay! (thank goodness because if I had to walk in my socks again I would've really not been happy).
My first official 5K race is in two days! I'm so excited. Even though I have gotten a bit distracted by my triathlon training, this 5k training has been something I've been working on since February and I'm 100 percent confident in my ability to do it. However, I would like some new good running music on my IPOD and I need your help! What is your all time BEST song to run/workout to?