I am not a sell-out.

I haven't run in over a month because:

• My plan of taking a bus to a flatter area and running there really sucked. I tried it three times and hit a bunch of road blocks that included: literal road blocks as the path is still under construction, the bus only coming 2-3 times per hour so I spent more time at the bus stop than actually running, and heavy traffic really didn't make things better. A 30 minute run turned into a 1.5 hour ordeal that included breathing noxious car fumes the whole time. Awesome right?
• It's summer! Even running in the early morning left me with a splitting headache from exposure to the sun and heat.
• I got lazy and then sick and then a little depressed.

I have been eyeing a very chic looking gym that is literally across the street from where I live. I'm attracted to its architecture, its proximity to my house (because I don't have a car and live in a hilly area, this is key), its air conditioning, and its hours. A lot of gyms around here have surprisingly inconvenient hours, and some don't even open on Sundays at all. So yesterday I saw that this chic gym was extending a Black Friday sale, and with the sale, its prices became about the same as all the other gyms, and you know, it's just so close.... I took the plunge and bought a six-month gym membership. First time ever!

I know that buying a gym membership goes against my minimalist exercise mindset ("You can do bodyweight stuff! At home! For free!"). But honestly, I did try to find something that worked for me and I wasn't able to. My physical health, and more noticeably, my mental health suffered. I'm not being a sell-out. It's just that good health is higher on the list of importance than minimalism principles.

I'm giddy about it. My membership includes all the classes that I want, and they have classes throughout the whole day (exciting because I usually teach classes when gyms are giving classes). Today I was just happy to run on a treadmill.

Okay. I know so many "real runners" hate treadmills. And yeah, the scenery is kind of dull on a treadmill... but I'm going to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and nab a machine that faces the aerobics room instead of the spinning room (n00b mistake that I made today). The endorphin high is worth it.

When I lived in Dubai I ran on a treadmill. It had a good oceanfront view. Running on a treadmill for a year gave me the self-confidence that I needed to run outside. It also was there for me when I felt like doing 10 minutes of sprints and calling it a day. It's great when you have a BM 25 minutes into your run (don't tell me that doesn't happen to you). It's good for trying elaborate running sets that you see online but in no way are going to remember without a detailed post-it note.

So, I'm pro-treadmill. What are your favorite treadmill workouts, blogs, or other resources to keep things interesting?

Workout Report

This week in running brought...

1. I tried out running in the business district after morning classes. It started pouring down rain just as I started running, but I didn't mind that. I did mind jammed sidewalks full of pokey umbrellas. I felt awkward going in and out of the building in my running clothes all dripping wet. But it's better than not running at all, right? Also, I ran my planned circuit in a clockwise direction, whereas the flow of foot traffic is in a counterclockwise direction. I'm going to try it again on Friday, but smarter this time.

Kind of where I run... except the river path is inaccessible from anywhere close by. 

I ran about 3km, which was a little disappointing. My legs felt strong but my cardio sucks. I decided to stick with skipping rope on days I don't run.

2. I did another jump rope circuit, but this time I counted my jumps instead of my time. I like counting things, because it helps me not get bored, it keeps me motivated, and it puts me in a zen-like attitude. When I am in a lot of pain (period cramps, or vaccinations, for example), I count to keep my mind off of the pain. There's probably something in psychology textbooks about this.

Life Update! Or, how hills are ruining my life

I moved from Dubai to São Paulo in January 2015. Four months later and I'm feeling more settled in, getting a hang of the language, and am comfortable with my job. Unfortunately though, I haven't exercised with much consistency.

I've run a handful of times, and each time I felt blaaahhh afterwards. Remembering that feeling doesn't help when I'm deciding to stay inside and read or go out and run.

Also, my neighborhood is known as being hip and cool, and pretty crime-free compared to most of São Paulo. Why is that? because IT'S FREAKIN HARD TO RUN HERE! So hard that most robbers are all, 'Damn, I don't wanna run up that hill!' I can't blame them, cuz I don't either. I'm either running knee-pounding downhills with crooked sidewalks that hurt my ankles (and even my knees when I walk a lot), or lung-busting uphills that can compete with the best San Francisco has to offer.

Aw, a beautiful rainbow that, oddly enough, mimics the topography of the neighborhood it is shining on.

I've considered a few options to avoid the hills and find somewhere more 'Alisa Approved.'

1. Walk to a park about 25 minutes away
   Pros: Awesome paths, free exercise machinery, no cars inside the park
   Cons: It takes 25 minutes to get there, and then I will run, and then walk UPHILL back. 1:30+ for a workout is not my idea of convenient.
2. Run downhill to a bike path along the Pinheiros River; take a bus back
   Pros: The sidewalks along this route are mostly wide and flat, pretty river scenery
   Cons: The bus costs money, the river stinks, and the bike path is adjacent to a super noisy highway.
3. Run in a flat business district after I finish teaching morning classes
   Pros: It's flat, and easy to access since I'll already be there
   Cons: It's a business district and is congested with people and traffic. There's also construction in the area. I usually feel devoid of energy after morning classes.

Don't be deceived. Were this facing the other way, you would see sheer cliff.

Option #3 is looking the most attractive at this moment, but that means I'll need to get my life a lot more organized. I'll need to go to bed earlier so I have enough energy after class. I'll need to eat food before I leave for work and pack a post-class snack and a post-run snack. I'll need to stay on top of my laundry so I have clean workout clothes for the days that I need it. Aaand uhhh deodorant. I'll need to pack that.

Race Report: We Run DXB 10k

I ran my first ever organized race on Friday, December 19! The Nike We Run DXB 10k!

Minimalism. (not pictured: sunglasses, bra, shorts, phone, earbuds, phone case)

I was feeling a little nervous before the race for a few reasons:

1. Prior to the race, the longest distance I had ever run was 8.4k. 
2. I didn't run very much the two weeks before the race because I felt sick and my back was so out of place that I was in constant pain with numbness/tingling. I went to the chiropractor (several times, eep!), had a brief session with a physical therapist.
3. I don't normally run in the mornings, and in the past I felt very nauseous when I did. 
4. What would it be like to run with so many other people? 8,000 runners were registered!

We so happy!

I only had two goals:

1. Don't walk!
2. Run under 1:05.00

2. Because I am still on 2 legs.

The race route was fun. It snaked around the enormous Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa. It was flat except for one underground part that was about half-way through... running down was fun but I did not anticipate running up again. I was panting, but I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, literally. Since Dubai is sooo flat, I never do hill training.

Strutting with pride

I felt pretty good, but after I passed 7.5 km my body was telling me, 'This is where we usually stop! You are forgetting what you are supposed to do! Stop!' It reminded me that much of running is about HABIT. It was hard to win the brain vs body battle, but I kept reminding myself of my goals.

The battle happened again when my running app told me that I had completed 10 kilometers, but the finish line was still 0.5k away. LONGEST HALF-A-K EVER. There were so many nice people cheering me on that I ended up sprinting the final 100 meters.

It's like Burj Khalifa inception.

So about those goals, I CRUSHED THEM! I never walked, and my time was 1:02.42! All this done before breakfast ;)

The race was super well organized. I heard that last time it... wasn't... so I'm glad that the race organizers really thought things through this time 'round. It set the bar high for my first racing experience. But by far the thing I enjoyed the most was staying positive throughout the entire race and feeling so proud of myself after I crossed the finish line.

Running to the Palm Jumeirah

Last night I decided to run to the Palm Jumeirah. The Palm is one of the famous man-made islands in Dubai.

The Palm Jumeirah when it wasn't fully developed yet. (source)

Originally, I planned to run straight along Al Sufouh Road from Dubai Marina. It's a pretty good road to run along because if you run on the ocean-side, the only cross streets are to private residences or resorts. That means you don't have to stop for ridiculously loooong red lights.

But when I was running, I saw cars turning easily onto one of the bridges to the Palm, and I noticed that there was a pedestrian-friendly sidewalk. There are other ways to get onto the Palm that are NOT pedestrian friendly. I had a bad experience on one of the other routes, and that's why I didn't try to run there before.

Following the road from Dubai Marina

I was overwhelmed when I looked at a map, but when I was on the ground it became pretty clear which road I should take.

Use this road to access the Palm. You'll be able to see a brick sidewalk with an incline to the bridge from Al Sufouh.

After I started seeing the Shoreline Apartments on the "trunk" of the Palm, I turned left at the first crosswalk that I saw. I was able to run down into a nice landscaped park that hugs the monorail track.

The park has a brick walking trail, a rubberized running track with meter markings, small play areas for kids, adult jungle-gym exercise areas, a stream, grass, and trees. It's very quiet and peaceful. You don't hear car noises because it is surrounded by apartment buildings on both sides.

The track is lit, but there are lots of bushes and shadows that someone could hide in. I wasn't worried at all, because Dubai is very safe (for western women, anyways). I ran at about 10pm, but there were a few other runners using the track too. On my way back, I noticed a few prostitutes soliciting johns in front of the Shoreline Apartments... sketchy, but no one bothered me.

I didn't get to spend a lot of time on the track because I planned to run 4k out and then turn around for a total of 8k. Maybe next time I will take the Dubai Tram to the Palm Jumeirah stop on Al Sufouh, then from there it's about a 10 minute jog to the track.