Jazz hands and core strength

"You have little ones!?!" the 70-something year old lady in fitness class said to me the other day, as we were getting our equipment ready for class.

"Yeah, two of them" I said back, wondering why she was asking me about my kids again, as we had just discussed the fact that I have two kids in the last class.

Her eyes shot down to my hands, and I realized what she meant...she was referring to the weights in my hands. Three pounders. (yeah so what, I'm sore, we'll get to that). She smiled and giggled a little, then strutted away with her 5 pound dumbbells (or were those 8's?). I looked down at my 3 lb dumbbells and green resistance band (green = easy) and hung my head in shame.

Here I was, thinking because I can run for 2 hours straight without once breaking my stride that I'm in good shape. Reality check: I've been shown up by the senior citizen crowd.

So to back track a little bit...I have a new job, yaaay! Starting Monday, I will be teach two different senior level fitness classes. I'm beyond thrilled. This is a really fun population to work with, and I'll take any excuse to dance around with my jazz hands waving. Four days a week I do basic aerobics, strength and core training, and one day a week it's yoga (a whole different post coming on that one).

But back to the story. I've known all along that I neglect anything that involves resistance/weight training . I have the best of intentions, I swear, but it just seems that it gets pushed to the side after 10 mile runs and hour long trainer rides, you get the idea. Thinking about it now (oh , hindsight!) neglecting strength training is just as bad as neglecting exercise, period. It's important for my training, important for my health, important for my bones. It should NOT be ignored.

And now, I find myself doing anterior deltoid lifts or chest presses with a resistance band (or anything else with my arms, it's sad really) and completely cringing. I'm looking in the mirror at the class, seniors smiling happy as can be, raising their dumbbells effortlessly, while my arms, on average of 40-50, and in one case 60 years younger (yes you read that right) are burning. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

So today, when I count my blessings, I will be adding a few more. I am very, very thankful to have great friends and mentors providing me with opportunities such as this one and guiding me into the career that I have worked so hard for and want so bad.

But what's more...I'm thankful for this class being the huge wake up call that my arms needed. Sometimes all the knowledge in the world of the benefits of strength training can't have nearly the impact of being shown up by a Grandma , haha.

Happy running strength training my friends! Do your muscles, bones, body,and race times a favor, and pick up some weights!

(p.s. tune in tomorrow for a review/giveaway that you will NOT want to miss! Especially all of my fellow race medal junkies out there!)