Friday, May 24, 2013

Vancouver day 5

Yesterday started off with a visit to crossfit optimum performance. We had initially planned to go do something inside because it seemed like it would rain. But it looked amazing outside so we changed our mind.

After some breakfast and the required shower we set off on an adventure to Lynn Cannon park and suspension bridge. It was actually an adventure to get there because we had to take the train, water ferry and bus. It took about an hr and a half to get up to north Vancouver. 

The park was really pretty.  We initially crossed the suspension bridge right at the beginning. It wasn't actually that long but as someone who is afraid of heights it was still scary. It was good we had to cross it on the way back too... Cause it made it better and made me able to look down on the second run. 

We crossed and made our way to 30 ft pool. It actually looked a lot like my aunts farm in syvde Norway. There was a lot of large rocks and running water.  It was a beautiful place to have lunch and walk around. We made it almost to the water head at one point and then actually I managed to take a nap on a rock.... And s was sweet enough to let me.  It was a great naturie day. 

We did the return trip on the bus, boat train trip and relaxed in the hotel for a bit. It was actually pretty early because we planned to try out the Vancouver night life scene. Which we did. But it was dead... So didn't pan out exactly according to plan. We did have some drinks and some  good sushi ( a rec from someone at crossfit) and then snuggled up at home until I completely passed out from exhaustion. 

Really good day though :) 


Thursday, May 23, 2013

Crossfit Optimum Performance WOD 2

I went back to CFOP this morning.  It was a much larger crowd but still fun.

The workout

Strength
A. Back squats (low bar) 6-6-5-5 @ 30x0 : rest 2 min
+
B. Barbell Hack squats 6-6-6-6 @ 30x0 : rest 2 min
+
C. Front foot elevated d.b split squats 8-8-8/ side @ tempo 3011: rest 60 sec (can also use kettlebells)
+
D.  For time: 75-100 ab mat sit ups


I did pretty low weight on everything because with all the walking we've been doing i did't want to over do anything.  Also one hamstring has been funny for the last day or so, so don't want to mess with that.  

The bar bell hack squat was by far the weirdest thing ever.   Its probably some weird body building move and I didn't like it.  Lets just say I only got up to ~65lbs. Cause my hamstrings and ass kept getting in the way of the move.  Me no likey 


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Vancouver day 4

Today we started the day with a run. Probably close to 2 miles. Not really sure since I didn't bring the GPS. Though it probably wouldn't have worked since my phone is always on roaming. But we ran over some bridge near the hotel. Which was the same bridge we went over on day 1 to get to Chinatown. 

Lets just say my ass is really sore. Between all the walking, running and the dead lifts yesterday, holy gluts man oh man. 

Initially we had decided to go to the science museum because we thought it was going to rain... But it looked good so  we changed plans and went to the botanical gardens. We were our usual bad ass selves and walked the hour there. So it was a good couple of miles. Fortunately the weather held out and it was a great trip around the gardens. We had our lunch on a rock. In the sun. Did another photo shoot... in the flowers. which was super fun, and i practiced my
Still life photography as well.  It was great. And we got some tea and had another sit and read session until it got too cloudy to manage. And it was cold. I had to wear 4 shirts and I was still a little chilly. 

We packed up and made our way back to the hotel for a little rest before dinner.
On the way we made a stop at Safeway. Which I have now been to twice here.   And remember liking it from Arizona.  

We relaxed in the hotel for a little bit. I think the amount of walking is finally catching up with us... Of the working out ever day or just the general amount of physical activity we've been doing. But it's the S and T adventure so it doesn't really matter cause we would be doing it anyways.  Lets be honest. 

For dinner we went to this place called Abigail's party. It was definitely a local joint and out of the way. My legs wanted to die on the way there. But totally worth it food wise. 

Then in what is becoming our usual fashion we came home and snuggled down to bed. 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Vancouver day 3

Today we went to the museum of anthropology.  It was pretty far away from the hotel but as always I enjoyed taking the bus to get there.

Of course I love taking the bus cause you get to see the entire city and its almost like the hop on hop off buses but with real people on it.  It was kind of a long bus ride and of course by the time we got there nature was calling majorly (thanks to crossfit hydration)  But hey thats important.  The museum turned out to be on the University of British Columbia campus or on the edge of it.  So that was pretty cool.  The bus dropped us at the bus depo and we walked through the campus to get there.

The museum was really neat. It had lots of wood carvings and totem poles and house poles.


We got there right in time to go on the tour and found out some really neat stuff. Like where to toast someone came from.  It came from people during the black plague times keeping toast on their drinks to "keep out the bugs" or they thought the plague.  Of course it didn't work.    But S and I had a grand old time exploring the museum and acting a little silly.


After the museum we boarded the bus and headed to what was supposedly the "lesbian " part of town.  We had already explored the gay neighborhood, so we figured why not.  We found a coffee shop and hunkered down for some good books and good tea (or coffee in S's case)


It was a really cute place and gave me the opportunity to be brave and work on our Chit chat challenge..aka making small flirty talk with strangers.   I did good and was able to get a good restaurant recommendation in the area.  Indian food, yum.

But it didn't stop there.  While we were at dinner I was able to make very good chit chat challenge with the waitress...so much that I left her my email.  Having never ever ever done that I was shocked at myself but S agreed the signals were there and why not. Definitely something to brag about just in the realm of scary things to do on vacation.  Which is the best time to practice that stuff....because absolutely nothing to loose.

And that is a good mantra in general. :)

Crossfit Optimum Performance

Today I did what is becoming a new vacation tradition.  I tried a crossfit in Vancouver.  I went to Crossfit Optimum Performance.  CFOP had a really nice facility.  It was ways smaller then CF Boston.  But the people were really nice.  Helped that I went to the 7 am class.  Which usually makes people nicer, cause honestly if you're bitchy at that hour something is really really wrong.

The workout

A. Deadlift 5-5-5-5-5 @ tempo 20x0 : rest 2 min
+
B. 6 sets for time - AFAP
10 Russian KBS
5 strict HSPU's - from deficit (45#plates) if 5 regular are too easy.
Rest 60 sec
+
C. GHD back extensions 3 x 10 -12 @ tempo 3011 : rest as needed.

The format is a little different then I'm used to but it was fun.  I worked up to about 103lb on the deadlifts.  I had to modify the handstand push ups.  I did three pike push ups.  Think a push up in down dog with your feet raised.  I'm not used to doing the full range of motion so that was a definite challenge.  I also only didn't do 5 reps.  I did 3.  Which was still hard because I had some failed attempts.  A definitely indication of the correct scale..  The GHD extensions always kill, basically the backs of your legs burn like no bodies business.  
The good part of vacation is I took a bit of time to foam roll and stuff after and chatted with the people about stuff to do in Vancouver.  I got some nice ideas.  Especially in the rain.  Which it is today...shocker pacific north west.  I think not.  

Off to the anthropology museum.  

Monday, May 20, 2013

Vancouver day 2

After our morning workout we got our butts ready and headed to Granville island and public market. 

Most people know I'm a bit of a grocery market freak, and S is too, so the idea of a big public market sounds lovely to both of us. First we just roam around and then of course to buy some stuff for lunch.  Granville island was a bit more touristy then expected but it was still cute. And the market wasn't so much outdoor farms market but actually reminded me of this market I had been to the last time I went to Montreal. Needless to say we had a lovely time roaming the stalls and finding yummy meats and veggies to have for lunch. I also bought the biggest apple I had ever seen. It was called an ambrosia apple. It was huge and actually pretty tasty when I ended up having it with lunch. 

After we'd acquired the necessary items we reboarded the bus and made our way to stanley park... Yes the name is the same. So I went to stanley park with stanley. This park is HUGE. I think we probably walked a 10km around it cause it just kept going forever. There were. Three beaches, lots of bike paths, people balancing rocks, tons of trees and totem polls.  It was awesome. We had out lunch there and walked the whole thing..... With many a bench break in between. 

Once we made it all the way around we started walking down Davie st and found a really cute Greek place for dinner. So much delicious food!

And now were back at the hotel with a bottle of wine ready to chill for the night 

Travel Wod 1

Though my hotel is right near crossfit optimum performance today is a holiday in Canada so they were closed. So S and I went to the hotel gym and got into some shinannagans .   I did 5 rounds of 

Run 0.25 miles 
5 push ups (on my knees cause my elbows have been bothering me ) 
20 sit ups. 

It was actually a pretty good burn. And then I did a cash out of burpees to Keisha. I don't remember the song but say I did at least 40 burpees in probably 2-3 min. 

Then we got ready for our day :) 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

I'm back... Getting there and Vancouver day 1

So I'm back. I didn't realize it had been so long since I had updated. I swear I've been doing stuff and that is why I haven't. I also just got lazy.. Ill admit it.  But I'm hopefully going to get back into it. I know I've said this before but maybe this will be different.... Maybe

So right now I'm in Vancouver with S. having a grand old time. I left Boston yesterday and had an uneventful but very long flight across the country to Vancouver.  So far I love the city. It has a really good vibe of a city and I love the laid back feel. 

Last night we roamed around the neighborhood to the hotel. Went to the grocery store ( a must when we get together) got some breakfast and snack items and hit up a liquor store to save money on drinks later. It felt very college y which is awesome. We came back and got ready for our night on the town. We went to dinner at the cactus club cafe near our hotel and then made our way to celebrities night club. It was REALLY crowded but fun to dance. And I didn't even mind the house music. 

The next day we slept in cause we got in at 3 am. Crazy right? Who am I .  When we left we decided to do a walking tour from the book. Which took us through china town and some other area.. Don't remember. But we saw a bunch of cool stuff. The steam clock, which was smaller then I thought and Canada place, where the ships leave from. And we walked though some really cute neighbor hoods. There was also this really cool Asian market called T and T supermarket. They had trype which to me makes it seem like definitely a non North American grocery.. 

We got burgers for dinner and fell our way home. Having managed to avoid the train for the entire day. Totally worth it though. It's fun to experience the city on foot. 

First day was completely awesome.