Wow, so I’m sure you’ve noticed dear reader, we’ve been MIA, hibernating for the winter, or on a covert mission abroad (choose your own conspiracy theory). Nah, life just caught up to us. Monica is in grad school and Kate’s … Continue reading
In addition to our spectacular The North Face Giveaway, we’ve partnered with Lauren Fairbanks, Chicago Mountain Athletics trainer, to guide us (and you!) on our trail running journey up to the Wisconsin Endurance Challenge in September. This week, Lauren is sharing how to start a training program. If you have been glued to your sofa, watching Netflix with a slice of pizza lying on your chest, this is a great place to begin. If you have the idea that “I’m a NOT a runner”, this is for you too. Welcome to Chi Organic Girls, Lauren!
Lauren Fairbanks is a Certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Health Coach with a passion for helping people reach their goals. As a lifelong athlete with an expansive knowledge of nutrition she strives to share her expertise with everyone she meets. She loves working with people and helping open their eyes and minds to the positive effects of proper nutrition, physical activity and living a balanced life. Lauren was a Division I Track & Field Athlete at Central Michigan University where she graduated with a B.S. in Dietetics. Along with her Dietetics degree and personal training certification she also holds specialty certifications in Kettlebells, TRX, and Pre/Post Natal Training. When she’s not busy working with clients you can catch her running or riding her bike around the city, cooking, checking out Chicago’s newest restaurant, or planning her next travel adventure.
GUEST POST
Sometimes the hardest part of beginning any exercise routine is simply just figuring out where to start. With all the new fitness trends and loads of confusing health advice out there, it can quickly become overwhelming to any newcomer to running. Running can be one of the most painful, but rewarding athletic endeavors to take on. I hear a lot of people make the excuse “I’m not a runner,” or “I’m not fast enough to race.” Pending you have no injuries and your body and mind is up for the challenge, anyone can be a runner. Look around next time you’re walking past a race on a Sunday morning, runner’s come in all shapes, sizes and athletic abilities.
The awesome thing about running is that you can really do it anywhere, and you don’t need a fancy gym membership or a ton of expensive gear to be good at it. It’s a great way to get fit, build up your confidence and enjoy the outdoors. If you are brand new to running, I recommend joining a running group in your community to help get you started.
The most important part of beginning any training program is making a goal. Goals not only give you a purpose in your training but they also give you something to focus on. Deciding whether you want to run your first 5k or your first marathon will help you be able to lay the foundation for your training plan. A beginner can run any race, its just about allowing enough time to train for it. Next up: sign up for that race and share your goal with someone else. This person will become your accountability buddy. Your accountability buddy can be a person in your life that is supportive and encouraging and who is invested in helping you reach your training goals.
The one important piece of equipment that you will need to start running is a good pair of shoes. You can visit your local running shoe store and they will help get you fitted for a pair that works for your feet. If you have never run before, a great way to start your training is with a run/walk method. This can be as simple as 1 minute running followed by 1 minute walking for your desired distance. As you feel more comfortable you can increase this to 2-3-4-5 minutes of running at a time. There are tons of extensive running programs online, but sometimes its best to keep it simple and easy to follow when you are just starting out. I would recommend getting in 3 runs/week, with one of those being your “long run”. Your long run will vary depending on what distance you’re training for and how far along your are in your program.
It is so important to start any training plan at your own pace. Starting a program that is way to aggressive for you can set you up for failure, disappointment and possibly even injury. Making sure you start slow, and gradually build your speed and mileage will reduce your risk of injury and keep you feeling strong. It’s so important to listen to your body and be patient with your progress. You don’t go from couch potato to running 50 miles a week overnight. Time, commitment and a good attitude will go a long way in running training. If you stick with it long enough you might just experience that “Runners High” that you’ve heard all runners talk about, and that definitely makes all the hard work worth it.
Look for more tips from Lauren in upcoming posts. There’s still time to get outfitted in free The North Face Gear and join us at the Wisconsin Endurance Challenge. Check out our The North Face Giveaway today!
Admit it. Sometimes, during tough workout videos, you lie there huffing and puffing hoping your virtual teacher won’t catch you slacking. That feeling is slightly guilty/awesome because you know this workout is challenging you.
It may seem that 20 minutes of fitness won’t do squat (HA!) but high intensity workouts can pack a punch for more energy and toning. We received a complementary Blu-Ray copy of the Women’s Health Ignite workout starring Next Fitness Star winner Nikki Metzger to test its fit factor. Nikki Metzger isn’t just some gym rat of the street. She’s a Master Trainer and owner of BODI gym in Scottsdale, Arizona. She’s not afraid to slap you with a bad @#s fitness routine.
Ignite fires you up with 3 x20 minute stand alone (or get crazy and plow through all 3) workouts. Bonus: An 8 minute bananas ab sequence in case you didn’t feel sore enough.
More of a traditional weights workout, but still maintains an interval format. Nikki demos the moves and sets before each change. Free weight usage is optional, removing intimidation for the recently sedentary.
Guacs, this is a doozy. Plyometrics take center stage for this cardio heavy chapter with crazy hard moves like the evil planky bear or real move name: Lateral Bear Crawl.
Your muscles will get HIIT from the front and the back with this 360 high speed interval routine. Expect 45 second sets with 3 sets in each rotation. Moves include modified burpees with a row added, plank walk outs and our Snapchat favsie: The Starfish Crunch.
Extra Extra! Get your 20 minute toning with Ignite here. Not ready to commit? Check out a preview of Nikki’s training here.
Looking for other workouts? Check out some suggestions from previous posts here.
What is it about Midwestern winter (and sadly sometimes spring) that can totally diminish your run game? The chill in the air, the icy scaled sidewalks, that daunting first inch of snow…man we wanna grab our snuggie and hot chocolate just writing this! We kept trying to figure out how we could keep running safely when the weather outside became frightful Snow solution? A fluffy white magical Yak picks you up and you sashay through the shivery slush…or you could try YakTrax for a more realistic tool for winter running woes.
What’s a YakTrax you ask? The name sounds like a new Dr. Seuss character and just in time for his birthday! But we digress. We read a couple of “Best of Winter Running Gear” articles and YakTrax brand traction devices dominated many a list so we ski jumped for joy when we were given a pair from Implus, fitness accessory brand leader, to trek across the blustery terrain.
Inspired by a Himalayan Sherpa, the original Yaktrax model features a spikeless coil design that grips the ice and snow with each step. Yaktrax Run’s combination of removable spikes and steel coils, providing 360° of unbeatable traction. Continue your training during the winter with the same stability you are accustomed to on dry surfaces. The Yaktrax Run can be worn in temperatures as low as ‑41° Fahrenheit.
Mittens Up (Yup, Thumbs Up)
Throw your mittens in the air if you just don’t care…about running in the cold. Here’s the positives about YakTrax Run and winter running.
Mittens Down (Thoughts for improvements and tips)
For you non-runners, YakTrax carries 6 other types of traction variations for any purpose from your ma’s walks in the afternoon, to your bestie who hits the ski slope every weekend.
Strap up your run shoes in some YakTrax Run coils for only $40 here, less than that Yak (about $2000) and besides Yaks weigh 700 pounds so where would you house them?
For now, the weather has us chanting the mantra of the post office: Neither rain, nor moderate ice nor snow can stop us from running–now that we have YakTrax Run coils. Maybe a tornado would stop us though…just sayin’. What do you think about YakTrax or other run traction devices? We would love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and until next time, happy trails!
We are 3 weeks in to the #MeInspiresWeChallenge at Bar Method and wanted to give our readers a quick and sweaty pulse point as to how we are holding up with our shakey legs!
Kate’s thoughts: Ok so self love is one thing we got going. I’ve been flexing around the house and eyeing the small formation of an actual tricep hiding underneath the granny arms. I noticed suddenly how Monica was looking svelte and toned, like who is this strong chick!?
And the adoration of others….I also received a few “Did you lose weight?” comments although, no no, I have not. Muscle, my friends, all muscle. The number on the scale doesn’t always demonstrate the health or strength of your body.
Have we inspired you yet? There’s still time to join us for the #MeInspiresWe campaign and get 5 weeks of the Bar Method for the price of 4. Come get sculpted and shakey with us!
If you are living on a tight budget OR aren’t quite clear even where to start with jumping in the fitness “pool”, these fitness activities are free, fun and can guide you in the right direction to feel more calm, strong and the bomb in 2016!
If your goals include muscling it up or toning it down, these indoor, outdoor and online options can fuel your fitness fire.
Train with top Chicago fitness professionals in classes ranging from barre to HIT in addition to speed, endurance and long distance run training. Nike Training Club Chicago supported super fabulous events last year like Train with Hart, a 5K run with Kevin Hart, and #getouthere, a temporary Chicago river front workout facility to withstand the Chicago chill. Need a little help sorting through your fitness goals? Sign up for an exclusive Resolutions Consultation with a Nike fitness pro and get athletic coaching advice for nada dollars. Join and sign up for workouts here.
Cold air, they don’t care. North Face continues their free Mountain Athletics outdoor workouts Tuesday at Lincoln Park and Thursday at Millennium Park even in the winter. If you are looking for a challenge, this is for you!
Each session, led by two The North Face trainers, prep you for outdoor goals. Sign up here.
Looking for something local? Check out your nearby Chicago Park district building this week, January 2nd-10th, for free boxing, swimming, aerobic exercise and more.
It takes at least 21 days to start a habit so Target wants to bolster your fit meter with a free 21 day Commit to Fit workout program. Adam Rosante, certified athletic trainer, and author of “The 30 Second Body: Eat Clean, Train Dirty & Live Hard” and Idalis Velazquez, founder of IV Fitness LLC and the creator of the PowerUP60 training method, power through with you by leading a series of Target Youtube videos for abs, cardio and strength.
Join in a Dance Free for All January 5th-10th with the American Rhythm Center Chicago. Classes ranging from Tap, Break dancing, African Dance, Bollywood, Afro-Haitian and much more are all free!
These short, high energy dance routines are lead and follow style but still could be club ready with practice. Jessica Bass starting a small group dance class in Knoxville, TN that expanded to hundreds of free Youtube videos in addition to a purchasable fitness program. Lace up your dancing shoes and prepare to werk.
If you don’t have twinkle toe or muscle head genes, stayed tuned for Part 2 of our Free Workout posts: Yoga and Running!
Now that Race-tober has come to a close, we’ve had a chance to reflect on all the “firsts” we’ve experienced this month: Monica ran her first 10K, Run 10 Feed 10, Kate took her sister to her first 5k, a very rainy yet triumphant Monster Dash and one of our most memorable races, our first trail run with the The North Face Endurance Challenge at Kettle Moraine State Park. The North Face went above and beyond in sponsoring us, not only giving us sweet race gear before the race, but also surprising us with a backpack full of running essentials once we made our way to our hotel.
For anyone who has been running 5Ks for a while or would love to just get out in nature more, we think a trail run could hit both those spots.
Here are some things we learned from our experience:
These shoes were made for trailin’
Invest in a pair of trail shoes. Your feet will thank you for your generosity. When we first received our North Face Ultra MT trail shoes, we noticed how stiff they were as compared to our norm runners. A wise friend explained that trail running shoes and more hearty with more tread so you have better grip and can withstand stepping on wily rocks and sticks that may try to block your path. These shoes are also waterproof to withstand wet and muddy trails.
Climbing every mountain
The environment of trails can vary from run to run. You may find well groomed trails, wild overgrown ones, or paved trails in your travels. You may find you require more stamina and time to trail run than what you’re used to so don’t feel discouraged if you are slower paced than your average pavement jaunt.
Dress to impress–the wilderness
The weather the day of our trail run was not exactly what you would expect for early October but Midwest weather is like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, ya never know what you’re gonna get. Chilly and brisk was the name of the running game for our race day. Keeping in mind that we were going through the woods, we wore layers. For rain, try a light or medium weight rain jacket, like The North Face Women’s Venture Jacket. Trust us, don’t wear your poncho to run unless you want to sweat like a wild hog as you swish through the wilderness.
And some advice from the trail running pros!
Runner’s World: 21 Quick Trail Running Tips
Active.com: 9 Trail Running Tips for Beginners
Trail Runner: The 10 Commandments of Healthy Running
Ready, set, go!
You can still take on the North Face Endurance Challenge in California, Washington D.C. and New York or try an Illinois trail run if you’re our neighbors.
Still trail shy?
The North Face offers their free Mountain Athletics training sessions every Tuesday and Thursday in Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. to help you prep for your next ski jump, rock climb, run or crazy jazz hand competition…whatever your goal may be.
Yoga + Fro Yo Running + Risotto Boxing + Bacon…+ Beer Who says you can’t enjoy fitness AND food. Certainly not us as we are 2015 Fit Foodie 5k Race Ambassadors! Cooking Light & Health Magazine are sponsoring a calve … Continue reading
We love spending time with our ladies but the dinner, drink, repeat thing can be unhealthy! Get that girl bonding time in AND do something that can change your body, mind and heart with the 2nd annual BeHealthful Retreat and Conference series.
What: 2nd Annual BeHealthful Retreat and Conference hosted by Balanced Babe and sponsored by Jewel Osco
When: Sunday September 27th, 11 am-5 pm
Where: Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609—-free parking included
What are we looking forward to?
Shooo. BeHealthful is sporting an all star line up of fitness instructors! Rebecca Niziol, known for leading supremely relaxing yoga classes at Exhale Spa, is leading a meditation to close out. This will be sorely needed whether you sweat it out with a high intensity interval training sesh (HIIT) with Betina Gozo, Crosstown Fitness and Nike hard hitter or several other fitness options.
Opportunities for personal growth abound! Sessions like “Strategies for Leading a Fearless Life” and “The Art of Pitching” will stretch your mind.
Mmm how do you choose from so many spa options? Manicures, eyelash applications, hand massages, art therapy…better get there early!
Ready to buy tickets? Purchase them here and grab your gals for a healthful day of food, fitness and fun!
For those who haven’t been to Equinox, you’ve been missing out on a luxury fitness experience. Think top tier fitness instructors, a wide array of fitness tools at your fingertips and a cool lavender towel resting on your neck after busting your butt. If that weren’t enough, Equinox’s group fitness classes keep you on your toes as they constantly think of new ways to challenge your svelte regime.
Equinox has two new classes in heavy rotation: Best Butt Ever (who can say no to that! Bounce a quarter off this pup) and Ropes and Rowers. We wrangled our schedules to make time for Ropes and Rowers and the calories were roasted! We loved the interval format as we moved through 4 different stations: Rowing, Battle Ropes, Step Work, and Weighted Exercise Balls.
Here’s how to survive this intense class and feel like an Olympic Champion:
Ready to battle? Check out Ropes and Rowers at any Chicagoland Equinox. Has anyone experienced the battle royale of battle ropes? Let us know what you think!!
Chi Organic Girls 