Don’t Forget to Play

This is really embarrassing to admit, but as the eldest child in my family, I would play with my younger siblings into my teenage years. Like – games that required an overactive imagination. And I liked it.

I have always loved to play and dreaded the day that I needed to grow up and give it up. Except that still hasn’t happened. I believe the only way to live is to never stop playing and this weekend was a perfect representation of that.  I ran trails. I did a wheel barrow carry with my friends in cross fit class. I tried to catch Mark in the pool when we were doing our swim workout. I ran a beer mile in a cow onesie. Basically, I played. And it was awesome.

How did it shake out?

Crossfit

Whenever I am in Toronto for work on a Friday, I meet my friend Todd for a 6 AM crossfit class and some post workout butter coffee. I love the traditions that surround it to make it an experience, especially because Todd is moving to Ottawa next year. For me, it is seizing my moments with someone who is important to me.

Pilates

Even though I have done Pilates at a few gym classes before, I have never had a personal training session on a proper reformer. I went to Merrithew for a session this weekend and it was so much fun to learn some new skills. I will write more about it later, but between crossfit and pilates, I was sore all over for the weekend.

Sunrise Spin Session

We had a jam packed weekend and in order to fit it all in, we were up before the sun to do a Trainer Road workout at Goodlife Fitness on Saturday morning. Mark and I put on music and would spur each other on through the endurance intervals. I bribed myself with Starbucks afterwards.

Trail Run in A Brand New Place

Mark, Todd and I joined a group of friends who were running at Rouge Park in Toronto that incorporated a fun trail run in with collecting food for the Food Bank! It was such a neat idea and we had a blast checking out the new trail system and catching up with some of our favourite Toronto runners! The run was organised by Heather and Jonathan and I got to see Christina again –  I can’t wait for the next one!

Beer Mile

It was the Raccoon Christmas Party Second Annual Beer Mile this weekend. You can read about my first beer mile experience here. We did it in onesies and it was equal parts painful and hilarious.

Swim workout

This doesn’t QUITE feel like playing yet for me, but I do find it a lot more fun to do it with a friend. Mark and I did it together on Sunday afternoon and it made the time go past much faster to swap out who was leading the sprints and added the extra challenge of not getting dropped by the other person.

Everyone has a different idea of what playing is for them, but my challenge for you this week?