Flip i317537

I got a personal trainer, she’s fantastic!! Though I didn’t anticipate I’d ever sink money into something like this, my roommate joined a gym, got me to join the gym, and of course the gym offered 3 free sessions with a trainer. I figured, why not?

She was awesome from the start! As a runner, I’m not the biggest fan of strength training. But when Christal and I have our sessions, we chat so much that I forget how hard I’m working, which makes it SO much easier! I’d love to work out with her more often but having that one-on-one attention doesn’t come cheap so we have 30 minute sessions once a week and I try to make it to her fitness classes on other days to keep up abs, kickboxing, bosu, etc.

I noticed a huge improvement in my running time when I added these workouts, an unexpected bonus! I’ve read so many times in Runner’s World how this is true but I didn’t believe it until I felt it myself. My sprints are so much faster and without losing a pound, I was able to comfortably shave 30 seconds off my mile!!!

Getting a personal trainer is sooo worth the money, not only because it’s motivating but makes those hard workouts much more fun. Now I just have to ace my Navy Physical Fitness Test in 4 weeks…

No one ever believes me that Iowa could be a great place to live. I actually consider myself a native of both Ames and Iowa City, as I moved back and forth a few times during my childhood. However, I did spend 4th-12th grade in Ames and was a Little Cyclone (though I consider myself a die-hard Hawkeyes fan!! First game of the season is this Saturday!!!!)

So reading that Ames has been called one of the top 5 Best Places to Live the Simple Life was cool, I got a kick out of hearing about some of these places mentioned….
———————————————–
Ames, Iowa

Vibe: Wholesome Americana
Population: 55,000
Median housing price: $159,270
Average commute: 17 minutes
Average number of sunny days: 202 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon: Paddling a canoe in Ada Hayden Heritage Park, where you may spot—besides hundreds of common birds—a short-eared owl or a summer tanager
Simple fun for less than $10: Touring Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University, where $7 ($6 for seniors) buys access to award-winning rose gardens and more
Who knew?: It recently ranked as the sixth-smartest city in the United States.
Membership – Join, renew, or learn about exclusive AARP member benefits.

Ames is a gracious town—with broad lawns, leafy neighborhoods, pretty parks and ponds—and its distinctly rural flavor is the key to its urban charm. With its thrice-weekly farmers’ markets, paddling options on the Skunk River, and 55 miles of city-maintained trails for avid bikers, runners, and walkers, Ames is a place for people who like wide-open spaces. “You can drive less than five minutes outside of town and you are really in the country,” says Russ Cross, 53, a bank executive in Des Moines, 30 miles away. The lively downtown area—including a long Main Street, fun restaurants (such as favorite Aunt Maude’s, serving up local meats, cheeses, and produce), and a pub with its own brew—adds to the charm. “I love that when I step outside my office on Main Street, it’s such a clean little town,” says Russ’s wife, Beth, 51, president of a local marketing company. “It’s one of the most welcoming places I’ve ever seen.” The couple, who like to run on Ames’s trails with their golden retriever, say they are a long way from retiring, but when they do, they can’t imagine moving anywhere else. “There’s just so much that I want to do right here,” Beth says.

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/the_simple_life.html