Fits Do Fitness Class Reviews: [solidcore] MSP

I was recently contacted by the owner and "Chief Inspirational Officer" (love it!) of [solidcore] MSP to come try out a class at their new studio in the West End in St. Louis Park.* I tried it out tonight and am excited to share my experience with you!

To be honest, I hadn't heard of this new studio yet...probably because they just opened on Saturday!

Though I'm always excited to try a new workout, I did spend some time beforehand checking out their website to see what I was in for. Here's what I learned beforehand:

What is [solidcore]?
[solidcore] is a fitness studio offering classes that follow the "Lagree Fitness Method." This method uses slow and controlled full-body movements with constant tension to work your muscle fibers to failure. The idea is that if you're working your muscles to failure, you will force them to rebuild a more sculpted and stronger you. The solidcore classes are small, with only about 12 students in each, as each student is on a  "Megaformer."  A Megaformer is a cross between a Pilates reformer and a Total Body Gym.

It looked a lot like a Pilates reformer machine to me, but the workout was very different- more intense.

What sets [solidcore] apart from other reformer classes (such as Pilates ProWorks?)
I asked this question of Alyssa, the owner, ahead of time. She said that their machine is similar to the Fitformer at places like Pilates ProWorks but the workout is very different. At [solidcore],  they exhaust and break down one muscle group then move on to the next one, never going back to the same muscle group. The intensity is much higher as well compared to a normal Pilates reformer type class.

WHERE is [solidcore]?
Twin Cities fitness fanatics, we should consider ourselves lucky! There are three [solidcore] studios in Washington D.C, but we get the first one in the Midwest. The studio is located at the Shops at the West End at 1653 Park Place Blvd, St. Louis Park (plenty of free parking!)

It seems that most of the time when a new type of fitness enters the market (barre, surfset yoga, etc) it happens first on either the West coast or the East coast and then it eventually makes its way to the Midwest. So it's really cool that this studio came straight from the east coast (D.C.) to Minneapolis! The owner, Alyssa, said that the fitness market in D.C. is actually very similar to that in the Twin Cities so she was excited to open a studio here.

How is the workout supposed to work?
The theory behind [solidcore]'s workout is that you perform the movements slowly and with control, forcing the muscles to stay contracted throughout the entire range of motion. Every class is designed to work the muscles to failure. According to the theory, when "failure" happens your body starts recruiting your slow twitch fibers, then the intermediate muscle fibers, and then your fast twitch fibers. [solidcore] also works through the use of compound movements where you work multiple muscle groups at the same time, which of course is extremely time efficient (and let's be honest, we are all crunched for time, right?) Each class is only 50 minutes long, but you are working hard the entire time.

I need proof...does it really work?
Have you seen the First Lady's arms?

 FLOTUS is kind of well known for how fit she is, and as THIS ARTICLE tells you, she is huge fan of [solidcore] in D.C. That's incentive enough for me!

So..what did I think of the class?
Holy moly. It was intense! I actually went into it thinking it would be kinda easy, or at least on the same level as barre or Pilates (and I love both of those but they are a good workout in a different way). However, from the first core series, I knew this was going to be hard. I was sweating like crazy and had to take a lot of breaks. WOW!

I don't know if every class follows the same structure, but at tonight's class, we started out with a ton of core on the machine. Then we went into quads/butt (OMG- so much legs!) and we ended with upper body. No particular move was so different than other moves I have done in other classes, but for whatever reason, it was hard. I think you just have to try it out to see what I mean. I'm pretty sure you'll agree.

Everyone at the studio was super nice, from the instructor, to the owner Alyssa, to the other two other coaches who were taking the class. The primary instructor was really helpful with assistance on form. In the beginning of class he took five minutes to breakdown some of the more complicated moves we would be doing. Yes, the instructor was a guy. In fact, there were two other men in the class and I heard them talking after class that they thought it was awesome! [solidcore]  is not just for the ladies.

I know that it wasn't the smartest thing for me to take this class during my marathon taper but I still have three weeks to recover from one class. I think I'll be alright. Taper starts now. But...I will definitely be back to  [solidcore] after the marathon!

Where can I find out more information, purchase classes, and reserve my spot in a class?
Find out everything you need to know here: http://www.solidcoremsp.co/ 

What's the right fit for a [solidcore] class?
I had thought that Alyssa had told me to wear grippy socks like you wear in barre. But when I arrived no one else in the class was wearing them, so I went barefoot.  For apparel, yoga pants/capris and a tank (you will sweat!) work best. The guys were wearing shorts and t-shirts. Be sure to bring a water bottle. Towels are provided.  Keep the jewelry at home. No cell phones in class. I don't think there were any showers onsite, but there were small lockers at the front of the studio for your personal items.

How much does it cost for me to work out like Michelle Obama?
Well, there are a few Grand Opening Specials going on.

FIRST and most importantly, if you refer 10 friends, you get 10 free classes. So, please go and tell them Jessie at the Right Fits sent you! Thanks :-)

Grand Opening Specials:
First class is only $17
5 class package: $99
1 month unlimited: $199

Seriously guys, my mucles are super shaky right now. I can barely lift up my glass of wine....don't worry though, I'll manage.

(Every blogger needs to post a picture of a glass of red wine while watching Scandal, right? Just doing my job...)

Go check out [solidcore] soon. Your muscles will thank me!

If you have any questions about the class, please feel free to ask.

*I was offered a free class to come try out [solidcore] and share my experience with you. All opinions are my own. I'll always tell you the truth!

Fits Do Race Reviews: The Wedding Day 5k

This past Saturday was the wedding of our former running club coach Paul and another good running club friend Laura (So many love stories begin in the Calhoun Beach Running Club  - join today! hehe)

I plan to share more pictures from this beautiful wedding in a "Fits on the Road: Sioux Falls" post later this week, but first I want to share with you the awesomeness that was the  Wedding Day 5k!

Paul was the mastermind behind the Memorial Day Pub Run 5k, so it was no surprise that his  Wedding Day 5k was also exceptionally well-executed. He does not mess around with race planning.

The bride-to-be wore a veil paired with the Sweaty Band I gave her at her bachelorette party. So cute! 

Back to the race... It started with online registration for the low, low price of $8.23 (i.e. the wedding date 8/23!) The race fee went towards the cost of the shirts I believe, but who can argue with $8.23 for registration?? Definitely a price that fits the bill!

There was an official website HERE (<--of course there was!) with course information and more.

Course Information from the website:

The Wedding Day 5k features a flat, fast course that runs on the banks of the Big Sioux River. Along the way, participants will see the river, be tempted by an Olive Garden, probably see some geese, and enjoy the fine engineering marvels that are the 41st and 49th street bridges.

The Wedding Day 5k race committee reserves the right to change the course on a whim if deemed necessary due to trail or road construction, getting a bad feeling about this, or other reasons that we make up.

Official Course Map:

The race started promptly at 7 am right behind the Sioux Falls Clubhouse Hotel & Suites (where most of the wedding guests were staying for the wedding). It was extremely convenient to just wake up and walk out the back door of the hotel to the start line. The hotel was located right by the Big Sioux River trail.

Packet Pickup:

Packet pickup was held on Friday in the late afternoon and again later that night (after the rehearsal dinner of course). The gear bags included pens, pads of paper, course maps, and our official race t-shirts. Packet up was extremely easy- no line!

Race morning:

We woke up to overcast skies but temperatures in the 80's with high humidity. 

Like I mentioned in my weekly recap earlier this week, we were up kind of late on Friday and had a lot of pizza and beer at "A Taste of the Big Apple." It was hard to get up and get moving for the race, but I did get in a very short warmup.

At Taste of the Big Apple on Friday night before the 5k

Then, promptly at 7 am, we were off! 

The miles were clearly and accurately marked (picture below courtesy of Meggan at The Yoga Garage)

There was someone calling out mile splits at mile 1 (i.e. the groom's mom!) and then there was someone calling out your time at the finish line.

Even better, we received "official" results emails within an hour of finishing. And we could tweet or post our results to Facebook with a quick click of a button!

As you can see, I didn't run a PR at the Wedding Day 5k (my PR is 22:46). I wouldn't recommend lots of pizza and beer the night before a 5k. But let's be honest, the Wedding Day 5k wasn't about racing- it was about starting off this special day with running. Running was what brought Laura and Paul together, so it was only appropriate that all of their running friends celebrated by running on their wedding day. Nearly 50 people finished the 5k that morning, with more than that doing a shorter walking option. So fun!

Even though I ran slow (for me), Dustin and I still won a trophy for fastest combined time for a married couple. #proud

Great job to the race directors and planning committee. By far, the best Wedding Day 5k that I have ever done!

Fits Do Race Reviews: The Urban Wildland Half Marathon

Two Saturdays ago (August 2nd), I ran the Urban Wildland Half Marathon.

I “previewed” this race in THIS POST, and in THIS POST I talked about what I did to pump Erin up for the race.

Spoiler alert...Unfortunately, my sister didn’t reach her goal of running under two hours this time around, but I have all the confidence that she can do it next time! But it was just too hot and humid on race day. 

In fact, we were right on pace for the first 8 miles (9:10, 9:05, 9:14, 9:12, 9:18, 9:00, 9:06, 9:18…) but then she needed to walk a bit (and then I think she might have given up a little mentally. She agrees!)  I tried my hardest to keep her positive and be a good pacer, but it wasn't the day for a PR for her. The last five miles were significantly slower: 10:28, 10:22, 10:26, 10:33, 10:05.

We came across the finish line around 2:06, which wasn't what we'd hoped for, but I'm okay with it. I enjoyed running with her. We don’t get to see each other that often (she lives outside of Chicago). Running 13.1 miles together was a great opportunity for us to catch up, though  I did most of the talking, especially in those last 5 miles!

Anyways, the race itself is really a great half marathon. It starts at 7 am sharp at the Richfield Ice Arena. There were plenty of porta-potties there and water available as well at the start.

The Course:

The course is partially trail/dirt and partially pavement/residential. The parts through the nature preserves are nice and shaded. The course has a lot of twists and turns, which keeps it interesting. There are plenty of half marathons that are just an out-and-back (particularly along Shephard Road in St. Paul <-- here's looking at you, Team Ortho) and those courses can be a little tough mentally. But this course was much, much better. Highly recommend it.

Support:

I was actually surprised by the number of people cheering along the course. People came out with sprinklers (so refreshing) and signs, which is impressive for a half marathon in the ‘burbs. There were also plenty of support stops with both water and Gatorade.

Finish Line:

The fresh oranges at the finish line are the things dreams are made of! Or at least, the dreams of runners during a hot race. They were so good.  

There was also water, Gatorade, and cookies. The finisher's shirts were handed out at the finish and you could quickly look up your official results too.

Even though the weather isn't generally on my side, I still recommend this half marathon. It's a good one!  I will be back next year. See you there??

Tilda Tuesdays: Training Your Vizsla

Welcome back to Tilda Tuesdays!

After last week’s puppy pics, this week I thought I'd share a little bit about the training we have done with Matilda over the years.

As soon as we could, we signed her up for “Puppy Training”  through The Canine Coach. We selected the Canine Coach because of all the awesome reviews on Angie’s List. They also have multiple locations (Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and St. Paul) with a lot of options for class times, which made finding a class that worked for our schedules a lot easier. 

The initial puppy class was 4 weeks long (1 hour per week) and cost $80.

What to expect at puppy class:

• puppy obedience
• self control
• building parent play relationship
• leadership
• chewing
• biting
• jumping
• socialization

This puppy class was SO much fun. Of course, we learned some important skills. But to be completely honest, a lot of what we learned was stuff that I had already read about in a few puppy training books. The true value of the puppy class was in the socialization that Matilda experienced with the other puppies. 

Is anything more fun than an hour of hanging out with a bunch of adorable puppies? 

Next Matilda took Obedience Level 1, which covered the following topics:

• Getting a more reliable Sit and Down (or teaching it for the first time if required)
• Stand
• Developing hand signals
• Stay for 1 minute under distractions of class room
• Getting and keeping attention on you, despite distractions
• Come from distractions (temptation of food and play with human)
• Boundary training (stay out of dining room while eating or front entry while answering door)
• Leave It (do not eat/pick up item dog is showing interest in)
• Drop It (let go of object already in dog's mouth)
• Preventing jumping and sitting politely for a greeting
• Learning how to fade food for all your obedience

After level 1, why not just keep going onto Level 2? 

After Matilda passed Level 2 Obedience, we also took the Canine Coach’s leash training, door greeting/no jumping, and the agility for fun class.

The obedience classes were probably the most practical. The leash training class really focused on good walking behavior. It taught us some useful skills, and though she's not perfect on the leash, I would say that Matilda has decent leash behavior. She doesn’t pull too much and she generally walks pretty well, but she is by no means perfect.

The door greeting/no jumping was all about keeping your dog calm when someone rings the doorbell and enters your house. The primary thing that we took from this class was teaching Matilda to “go to her bed” (one of her dog beds is in the living room) when the doorbell rings. She will zip to her bed quickly with the hope that she might get a treat afterwards. 

She "goes to the bed" pretty well, but staying in the bed after someone comes in? Not so much…Again, it was nothing against the instructors or the class, but all about the fact that we did not practice this enough.  She loves to bark at strangers and will only stay in her bed for a treat if she sees that it is Dustin or me entering the house. Anyone else who comes to the door is way more exciting that a potential treat.

The agility for fun class was a BLAST.  There were tunnels, see-saws, planks, hoops, and more.  

The best part of the class was the variety of dogs that participated. There were some tiny Pomeranians and other small breeds running the agility course, which was so adorable. Vizslas are naturally pretty agile, so Matilda never really had any trouble with the course, but it was entertaining to watch the smaller dogs try out the obstacles.

We took a lot of classes, yet some people might think that Matilda still has some naughty habits. So does that mean that the classes didn't work? Not at all. Yes, she still has some bad behaviors, like licking people's faces or sneaking food off the table when no one is watching. Yet the Canine Coach gave us the tools we needed to train an obedient dog. Any shortfalls are only because we weren’t the best at enforcing these rules consistently.  

Had we been more diligent after the classes, I am sure that Matilda would be perfect…Well, she’s still perfect in our eyes.

One other option that we occasionally tried for a new puppy is puppy play time. We attended a few of these at the Bone Adventure store in Wayzata, and they were great.  More information HERE.

What kind of training did you do with your dog?  Did it work? Did you do all your training on your own? From a book? Please share!

Tilda Tuesday: 8/5 HERE

Fit Tip Friday: How to Successfully Maneuver a Support Stop During a Race.

If you're a new distance runner, or even an experienced one, you may find support stops to be a bit of a frustrating experience. But they shouldn't be! I mean, the support stops are located on a race course to help you, not to hinder your performance. With a few simple tips, you should be able to eliminate any struggles you encounter at support stops.

How to Successfully Maneuver a Support Stop During a Race:

1. Review the course guide ahead of time so you know where the support stops will be.

2. Plan out when you will take your energy gels based on the course guide. This is so that you can take your gels close to a support stop. There is nothing worse than trying to take down a GU without fluids!

3. Pay attention to your mileage so you know when to get your energy gel ready (based on the support stops you selected in step 2!)

4. Start watching for signs that your selected support stop coming up

5. Rip the gel open with your mouth! (or hand...)

6. Approach water stop.

7. Don’t stop at the first table. It’s usually the most congested, so you’re better off heading to a table/person further down the way.

8. The support station will usually be staggered with drink options. Now, if the tables/support is on both sides of the route, I would actually suggest that you head to the tables on the left side. Most people are right-handed so the tables on the left always seem less congested (and I’m left handed!)

9. Make eye contact with the volunteer who is handing you a cup, and clearly say what you’re looking for “WATER” or “POWERADE”

10. Reach out and grab your cup!

11. Say Thanks. Very important. These are volunteers!

12. Squeeze the cup into a "V" so it’s more like a funnel.

13. Drink it up!


14. If you typically walk through water stops, need a little extra time to choke down the GU, or are just having a bad day, try to keep moving past the last volunteer and move out of the way as to not get in the way of other runners. 

15. Try to toss your cup into the garbage cans though it’s okay if you throw it on the ground. Just don’t throw it at a volunteer or another runner!

That's it! 

I hope these tips help you at your next race. Stay hydrated, runners! 

Tilda Tuesdays: Flashback to the Early Days

Hi! Welcome to the first installment of Tilda Tuesdays, where you can stop by for plenty of vizsla pictures. I thought I'd start at the beginning, with a few puppy pictures from the really early days.

Matilda was born in Brookings, South Dakota, at a breeder named "HR Vizsla." We went down to the farm once when she was just 4 weeks old to pick her out (out of a litter of about 8 puppies I think). We knew we wanted a female dog, so I think there were four to pick from.

Then we went back to Brookings again when she was 8 weeks old to bring her home for good. She was so tiny then! Vizsla puppies also have light gray/blue eyes, which eventually change to the same red/brown as their coats.

Brookings, South Dakota is over a 4 hour drive from Minneapolis, so it was a long day of driving for us, but such an exciting one!

I remember being worried that she would get nauseated on the drive, but she slept most of the way back to Minneapolis. Of course, we stopped occasionally to let her go to the bathroom.

We were so excited to have a puppy, though a little nervous too. We had never had a dog before! Of course, I read lots of books ahead of time, but it was still crazy to actually bring her home.

From all my reading, I knew that we needed to crate train her, but man, oh man..the first few nights of crate training were tough...Yes, Dustin did sleep on the floor by her, trying to comfort her and keep her from crying. It was so hard not to take her out of the kennel and cuddle her, but we had to stick with it!

After a few nights of crying, she was "sleeping through the night," and she grew to love her kennel and it was her "safe place," or her refuge when she was tired.

Matilda had stolen our hearts and our lives would never be the same!

Fitting Remarks: Matilda the Vizsla's Guide To Minneapolis

I absolutely loved The Daily Tay's Guide to Chicago from the point of view of her vizsla, Harlow.  I shared it with Matilda, and she thought she should share a post to offer her own guide to Minneapolis. 

I mean, I have my Minneapolis Summer Bucket List, which is great and all. But if you're visiting the Twin Cities, you should definitely refer to Matilda's recommendations of the top places to visit and things to see in Minneapolis!

Hi! My name is Matilda Sloan, and I'm 5 years old. I am easily excitable, and I'm excited to share with you my guide to Minneapolis!

Without further adieu, let me count down from 11 the best places to visit in Minneapolis.

#11: Pampered Pooch Playground. 
If you are visiting Minneapolis, I really recommend an overnight stay at the PPP.  Luxurious is the best word to describe this hotel, let me tell you. Some of my bestest friends are here. You can book a private suite or stay in the party room, both are great.

I stay here for slumber parties sometimes or just for kicks for the day when my parents have a lot going on after work.  Let's just say that everybody who is anybody goes to the Pampered Pooch Playground while in Minneapolis.

#10: The Airport Dog Park. 
The airport dog park is one of the best dog parks in the city. It's not fenced in, so don't get too excited chasing a rogue bunny. Bring your own poo bags and be sure to "carry out" afterwards as there are no garbage cans here.

#9: Go for a Run Around the Lakes!
You really can't beat the running trails in Minneapolis. Best way to see the city.

P.S. I'm a good runner. That's me with my dad. He's a good runner too.

If you come visit, we can go for a run around Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun. I'll let you set the pace.

#8: Get On a Paddleboard
I don't like to swim, but I LOVE to be on top of the water. Put me on a boat or a paddleboard, and I'm happy. Fortunately for me, Minneapolis is the city of lakes, so lots of options for being on a boat. You should definitely go paddleboarding during your visit.

I'm on a boat, y'all!

#7: Chuck and Don's
O.M.G. Have you been to Chuck and Don's Pet Store? It. Is. Awesome. It's full of treats and toys and friendly people who like to pet me. I always get a treat here and I almost always walk out with a new toy. You definitely want to put Chuck and Don's on your must-see list for a Minneapolis visit.

#6: "The Illegal."
This is another dog park, but I can't tell you where it is, as it's top secret. It's not an official dog park, but it's close to my house and I have lots of friends here. I recommend you check out this place during your visit, though I can't tell you where it is....

#5: Beer With Your Buddy
I haven't been to a Beer With Your Buddy event in a year or two, but they are really cool. If you visit Minneapolis, you need to put Beer With Your Buddy on your agenda. These events are usually held at the Nomad Pub  and if you're a dog, you get to play off-leash the whole time! Also, the Nomad Pub is across the street from Palmer's Bar, which Esquire rated one of the best bars in America.

#4: Clancey's Meats
I'm not sure if I'm technically allowed to go to Clancey's Meats  but sometimes I sneak in and they give me small bits of hamburger.  But for the record, let's say that I wait outside and my parents buy the freshest meat in the city! I also like Coffee & Tea Ltd nearby as they always welcome me with open arms (and a treat or two!) Be sure to make a stop at Clancey's when you come to Minneapolis.

#3: A Visit to the Tin Fish lady.
Now, as a human, you might visit Tin Fish during your visit to Minneapolis for their tasty fish tacos or conch fritters, but me? I like Tin Fish for Tin Fish lady.

She is probably one of my favorite people in Minneapolis. Sometimes I go running with my mom and we don't stop to say hi to Tin Fish lady and it makes me really sad..I keep turning back to see if maybe Tin Fish lady is coming for me. She's the best. She gives me treats and she has a special whistle that I like.

#2: The #2 best place  to visit in Minneapolis is...this bench.

A really cool place to visit in Minneapolis is this bench in our backyard.

Our backyard isn't very big (come on, we live in the city!) but you should still stop by to see this bench. I really like this bench, and I bet you would too. You can watch all the squirrels, and monitor any strange coming down the alley.

...and the last but definitely not least, my best/most favorite/must-see place to visit in Minneapolis is:

#1: Under a warm blanket.
If you visit Minneapolis at any other time other than the short three months that we are above freezing temps, you probably will want to be under a blanket during your visit.

Me too. I have a really nice green one that we can share if you'd like.  It's a really popular place to visit in Minneapolis.

So there you have it! Matilda's Top 11 Places to Visit in Minneapolis. She hopes to see you soon!

Weekly Recap: A Killer Kettlebell Workout and Goodbye to July...

Can you believe July is coming to an end? This summer is going too quickly. Don't get me wrong, there's lot of fun stuff to look forward to in August, but I am still sad that this was our last July weekend.

We packed a lot into our Saturday, with a long run in the heat, a work party at a lake in New Prague, and a housewarming party for one of our run club friends.  Today has definitely been a lot more low-key, with lots of errands and work around the house. But enough on that, let me fill you in the past week at the Right Fits!

What's happening in fashion?

JCrew had a "swim & short" sale going on online, so I picked up THESE shorts that I saw on "Classy Girls Wear Pearls" (<-- I love everything she wears!)  

Such a fun pattern, and I think I ended up only paying just $30. I wore them for a work party on Saturday- perfect for an afternoon of sun and social.

What's happening in Fitness Fashion?

BIC bands are what is happening in fitness fashion. An oldie, but a goodie. I basically live in these things most of the time, and always have one on when running. 

What's happening in Fitness this week?
Monday: Crazy HOT day. I ran 5.5 miles easy by myself rather than do the hill workout with the club (Looking to incorporate hills into your workout? Be sure to check out THIS POST!)
Tuesday: Hill workout in the AM with some gals. Managed about 3.5 repeats for about 7.5 miles total.
Wednesday: Torchlight 5k (with about 2.25 mile warmup)
Thursday: 1 hour kettle bell strength class at Balance Fitness *see below for workout details
Friday: Easy 4 mile run with Matilda

Saturday: 16 mile long run with the CBRC Man, oh, man was it humid for this run! I think a lot of us struggled yesterday in the heat and humidity, and unfortunately, not all of the water pumps in the city are working yet. We had one volunteer support stop around mile 7.5, but honestly, it wasn't enough for such a hot day, and I was pretty beat up after this run.

Sunday: 1 hour barre class at The Barre- I met Susie and Penny at The Barre in Wayzata (same owners as The Barre Edina where I usually go). The Wayzata studio is gorgeous, with a view of Lake Minnetonka while you lift, tone, burn! It was a really great class with instructor Jaclyn.

Summary: 5 days of running, 1 barre class, 1 strength day

Since a lot of run club members were at the Torchlight 5k on Wednesday, the instructor for the Calhoun Beach Club strength conditioning class skipped this week's workout. Instead, I got in a strength workout by heading back to Balance Fitness for Sarah's class. It was a solid workout, where we did the following:

That's about it from me from the Right Fits! I hope you all had a wonderful last weekend in July.