In the zone.

So, we joined a local gym recently, because we live right across the street.  I love having the ability to walk to the gym.  Extra activity for the kids; no minivan; no excuses.  Well, no excuses, except today - because there is a blizzard outside my door, the city is shut down and the gym announced yesterday that they are closed. 

It has been pretty cool trying out some new activities and machines other than the treadmill.  It really has reinforced just how much I am doing the same movement over-and-over-and-over with all of the running that I do.  Running will always be a constant in my life.  But, I'm also enjoying mixing in other things, too.  I am also looking forward to trying out some classes.  We recently tried Family Boot Camp and the kids - especially Little Dude - loved the interactive family activities that were exercise.  But they thought they were just having fun and playing around with their family.  Little Dude was red-faced and dripping with sweat.  I can't wait to take the kids to Family Zumba after the New Year - what a riot that will be!

The gym has tvs everywhere.  The treadmills are fantastic and have all the bells and whistles.  They have tvs, with cable tv, built right into the machines.  There are additional tvs hanging above the machines, that you can tune into.  I find myself turning the tvs on and plugging in my headphones.  Thinking I will watch the tv and listen to my music.  However, In the ten or so trips I've made to the gym recently, I don't think I've ever actually watched a television program.  I focus on my music, my feet, my breathing and the statistics that the machine is constantly spitting out at me.  I'm in the zone.  I'm staring straight ahead of me, at a spot on the wall, staring down at youngsters in the gym, at the view outside.  I don't need the distraction of a television program.  That is the true realization that I have become a true runner over the past several years.

I've also been playing around with my playlists.  I usually run with upbeat hip-hop tunes over and over.  I try to add 1-2 new songs to my "workout mix" playlist every few weeks.  During our first visit to the gym, I had just cleaned off my ipod and cleaned up my playlists.  However, I forgot to sync my "workout playlist".  I ended up with the "sleepytime" mix instead.  Ooops!

For my next trip to the gym, I updated my "workout mix" and even threw in some less up-beat tunes for my new loved stair climber and rowing machine.  Here are some of my favorite new tunes.

New Running Tunes:

Don't Stop the Party (feat. TJR) 3:26 Pitbull Global Warming (Deluxe Version)
Clique 4:54 Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean Clique
I Cry 3:44 Flo Rida Wild Ones (Deluxe Version)
Diamonds 3:45 Rihanna Diamonds
Locked Out of Heaven 3:53 Bruno Mars Locked Out of Heaven
2 Reasons (feat. T.I.) 3:18 Trey Songz Chapter V (Deluxe Edition)
Feel Again 3:06 OneRepublic Feel Again

New Stair Climber, Rowing Machine, Cool Down Tunes:

Daylight 3:46 Maroon 5 Overexposed (Deluxe Version)
Poppin' Off 3:31 Watch the Duck Poppin' Off
Gold On the Ceiling 3:44 The Black Keys El Camino