Thank you all for the support. I really appreciate it 
For our practioners of hot yoga, here’s an article that may be of value:
I cannot do the hot/Bikram at all I’m not a “heat” person!
PG, that’s ridiculous. Sounds like someone is a cheapie and didn’t want to fork over $1 for the daily paper!
While I don’t love that some of us have aches and pains, disease to manage, diagnosis that make us change our lifestyle, etc. I DO love that we can all check in, report and SUPPORT here. Whether it’s someone’s 10 miles on the pavement, gym classes galore or the celebration of a day that is more steps than yesterday, it is a testament to the “hardcore” - meaning “dedication” to move ourselves either forward or at least, not taking steps back.
Opened up the gym this morning. It’s ridiculous that our gym does not open until 9am on Saturday!! Anyway between the pup walk pre-gym, a little shoveling of a scant snowfall and the gym time, by 11am my 11,000 steps are on the books. Feels great to have earned a cup of coffee and computer time!
Pizzagirl- that’s incredible. How rude!
6 miles with the group this AM. We ran on a local trail & were told “This is where Meb trains a lot” but alas, no Meb today. Very pretty trail though, with a small waterfall at mile 3. Now to taper in preparation for the half next weekend.
Thanks for the input on the carb/fat/protein ratios. I reset MyFitnessPal for carbs 50 fat 30 and protein 20% & now my standard diet is fitting in pretty well. I have been going a LITTLE bit crazy on the avocados & nuts, so it won’t hurt to cut my portion size of those a little bit.
WW - down 2 lbs (yay!! I’ve been struggling). Weight training 9-10 with my Trump-supporting trainer ( we have interesting political discussions). Then yoga 10:30-11:30 where I rock the savasana! Eating lunch now, then OrangeTheory at 1:15.
M&K: Interesting article. My studio (which isn’t Bikram) has classes that are heated. The warm classes are–80-85 degrees and hot–85-90 degrees. I enjoy the heated classes—I’m more flexible, more agile, and it’s a much better experience overall. I have noticed that the instructors at this studio ease into the more vigorous poses and they encourage people to hydrate and also to modify poses. I also like that when I go to a class with a new instructor, the instructor will come over and ask about any injuries/limitations. I’m not a professional fitness person, but I believe that’s a plus for the studio. I’ve been to studios where this wasn’t the practice.
Went to spinning this morning–took a break from yoga.
romani, it’s only natural that you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of this. You have so much you are processing on an emotional level. As your treatment and management programs fall into place and your symptoms are better controlled, you will feel less like you are on an emotional roller coaster than you probably feel now. >>>>>>
Yeah, I’d be breaking down on a daily basis. I think you are incredibly strong! Total best wishes that the Remicade (?) will give you great relief!
Pizzagirl, I would shake my head in disbelief but what you described is just the tip of the iceberg in entitled inconsiderate behavior by a whole lotta gym goers. I’m surprised she didn’t take the towel too lol! I always love the people who are doing multiple sets on a piece of equipment and get snotty if you ask to work in with them. Or people that leave their 45 lb plates on a bar or Smith Machine for the next user to take off. And then there are those who get belligerent if you politely call them on their behavior and want to fight about it. That’s why I love working out in my studio - my rules and no one to argue about it :).
Thanks, VA.
It’s actually Actemra but very similar. Remicade can cause drug-induced Lupus (as can many other RA drugs) so they aren’t generally given to Lupus patients- especially early on. It makes it hard to monitor the “real” Lupus. (I didn’t know any of this before going down this path but I have to admit I am finding a lot of it fascinating).
The men in my life are absolutely incredible. After my breakdown last night, they woke up early and cleaned the whole house and wore out the dog.
Pain day but more in my back than in my legs. I want to try to get to 2,000 steps today. I’m at about 400 right now. Fingers crossed
sabaray- great run today! You are doing great building up the distance. Pizzagirl- I’m tired just listening to your day!
I really have a mental issue about racing these days. I REALLY dread it. I signed up for this mainly because of my corporate team- and I have no idea how we did, but I suspect not well. My 5K was 3.26 miles. Something about the course certification and needing more distance. Well, we got it. There was an unpleasant surprise of a little detour through a parking lot just before the finish line. My 5K time was within a second of last year’s 5K at this race - 28:49. I had 30:10 for the 3.26. Won my age group. I hate 5Ks. I wanted to quit for most of the race. I was trying to stay with my husband, and wound up beating him by a second. He won his age group, too. There is a full breakfast inside the Nissan Field stadium club after this race, which is nice. Got to see my daughter finish the half marathon with a big PR! She’s been working hard with her coach, and I was glad it worked out for her today. Her course (also with the added parking lot) was about 13.24, so she really PRd even more.
This morning was a 6 mile race which went well, I won my age group by a large margin. Full disclosure: this is a training series for the Mini Marathon in May (a half marathon) and there was a 3 mile race in early Feb, today’s 6 mile race, and then a 10 mile race in early April. Many of the people doing this training series will be doing their first half marathon and use this series to build up the mileage for running the Mini. So not a very competitive field. H did really well, also won his age group and had a really fast pace. But, the training schedule called for a 17 mile run today so when we got home we went out and did another 11 miles. That about killed me! I think doing the initial 6 mile race at a pretty fast pace just made it really hard to do another 11 miles. So now I am just relaxing the rest of the afternoon!
Romani - I’m glad you’re starting the infusion treatments soon. Totally understand about having the breakdown - I’m glad your husband and roommate are so supportive.
MOWC - I think it’s really annoying when race courses aren’t the right distance. Great job on winning your age group and a big congrats to your daughter for the PR on the extra-long course.
C3B- a win is a win! Congratulations. It IS hard to run extra mileage after a race! I had a little more to do today (nothing like yours) and I was not wanting to do it!
Another note on my race- I was passive aggressive with myself and wore my clunkiest Hokas instead of a more nimble shoe for 5K. That didn’t help me a bit! I guess I wanted to make sure I understood that this wasn’t going to be a fast 5K!
I’m surprised at the course length. Usually it’s just a mistake and at a race where the organizers might not know what they are doing. This race is extremely well established and well run. They knew in advance that the course was long, but, as I mentioned, there was some issue with it not being certified if they were to move the turnaround. The problem was because the race got kicked out of the normal finish IN the stadium due to a pro soccer tournament tonight and the course had to be re-done slightly.
Ok - I have just come to the conclusion I am not a runner. I have motivated myself for yoga, Pilates, DaVinci Board / resistance, weight training, burlesque, OrangeTheory and Fluid Running and feel good that I’ve worked out a schedule to rotate through these over the course of a week. However, I just cannot motivate myself to do Couchto5k again. I don’t know why, because I have a 5k in April and I know I’m going to make a fool of myself when I do more walking than running! But I have come SO far from my klutz-with-scars-from-picked-last-in-gym-class that I think I just have to cut myself slack.
Wasted this gorgeous morning test driving the stupid tin can with batwings. The upside is that Mr. is now convinced that he does not like the wings, so yeah, it is a win. Hope to get home reasonably early to be able to run around the neighborhood.
Kudos to all racers! Great job.
Pizzagirl, we do what we do. Not a soul on this planet will be able to force me to play a ball game. 
PG, the only person you need to get “permission” to not seek out running is yourself. Is there a reason(s) why you feel that running should be a part of your routine? Do you like to walk fast and far? I remember that you like biking with your husband - I know that is weather limited, but do you feel that the walking or biking is good cardio exercise?
Just trying to help you see “why” or “why not” for you with running.
Be glad you like lots of things. Rarely will any of us like “everything”.
I know that the running is good for me, and I need to build back endurance. Cardio is where I struggle the most because I don’t like the feeling of a high heart rate/being out of breath. It makes me feel like I’m going to die (even though of course intellectually that’s not true). I like the HIIT of OrangeTheory because I’m doing short bursts and I can do anything for a minute or two or three. But even at OT I’m doing power walking on a high incline vs jogging.
Pizzagirl - I could not begin to do all those classes you do. No way. I am in awe of how many of these you are going to regularly and that you even did several ON THE WEEKEND! I think that if you don’t like running there is no reason for you to run. Really.
Yes really!
Did you ever try the Galloway method? There are a variety of run/walk combos you can do. 90 sec run/30 second walk. 3 minute run/45 second walk, 4 minute run/1 minute walk. It can make a world of difference mentally to know “in 3 minutes I get to have a break”.
Some days this is what gets me out on the pavement.