Deanie & Co. Wonderful Wednesday

[marcy]

Hi Gang!

I kind of strayed away from the rotation today and did a David Howard Int/Adv ballet class. I actually studied with David Howard 25 years ago so it was nice to do his class at home. It wasn't a fusion workout but an actual ballet class. It felt really good. It's funny, even though I can do IMAX 3, I still had a little trouble with some of the jumps (entrechechat) since it's been awhile. These are kind of like in IMAX 3 Interval 5 when you do the plie jacks and she does the "active recovery" crossing jumps, well these are done when you cross the feet front and back in the air before coming down.

Deanie - Hope you're having a great time.

Gin - Welcome back. I don't expect a long novel from you like BelovedHeather, but I still want plenty of details of your road trip experience. I'm sure you had a great time on the Road Trip and Hershey. So how much chocolate did you eat? Did you go on the chocolate tour?

Tracee/Cheryl - Hope you had a great workout.

Marcy

 

[TXGin]

Good Morning Ladies!

I am back and I missed talking to you girls!! The Road Trip was fabulous and you should all try to go next year. I am so grateful to have had the experience.

I will try to remember some of the details of the trip.
DH and I left on Thursday morning and I got to meet Jean (dreamyjeanie) and Heather (beloved heather) as they were also on my flight. Then I met Gayle (banslug) as she meet them at the airport in Philly. Several of the girls took Cathe's regular Friday morning step class and I would have gone, but didn't want to leave DH anymore than I was already going to. DH and I walked all around Philly Thurs and Fri.
Friday from 6-10pm the Road Trip began. We met in Cathe's filming studio and met each other and ate (lots of yummy food! ) and then we met the cast and then Cathe. I sat at the same table as Tracey Stahle and she is such a cutie. Very energetic and outgoing and we happen to share the same birthday (Aug. 27). Although she is probably 10 years younger! Cathe and her crew are even more beautiful in person, if possible. Everyone was so kind and gracious. They were all bombarded with pictures and autographs and were very gracious throughout it all! We then went into the workout studio and had a relay race. It was fun, but my team did not win. The winning team received old vhs tapes, I think.

I truly was not able to sleep a wink on Friday night. So was literally running on adrenaline all day on Saturday. The bus met us at 7:15 am to go back to the gym for a full day. We started with a kickbox class and I belive she used some of the moves that will be in the new videos....FUN!! Cathe's cute personality really comes out during a live class! The 2nd class was Sculpt using the stability balls and bands. I guess there were just too many of of to get out all of the weights. Only half of us were in there while the others listened to a speaker (physical therapist discussing exercise related injuries) and then we flip floped. Lunch was served and was yummy..tons of choices. Durng lunch we listened to the physical therapist talk about Fitness for Middle Aged Women. Lorrayne sat with us at lunch and that was fun. Cedie was planning to come to the kickbox class but had the time mixed up, Jai and Brenda also popped in and out on Sat. The third class was held at 4 pm and was a step class. I had the pleasure of stepping right next to Brenda. She was the only one that worked out with us. If you look at any of the pics, I had on the nerdy Texas outfit and was to the left of Brenda. I couldn't see Cathe from where I was so it helped to be able to follow Brenda. She is training for an ironman and had just finished a 20 mile training run that morning!! I have to say that my workout area at home is so small, that I never go around the board, so that was all new to me! Sat. evening was dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Gifts were given to Cathe and her assistant, Nancy and we had a Cathe trivia table contest and prizes and then door prizes were given away. I didn't win.:-(

Sunday we had our last class at 7 am. It was a combo of kickbox and floor aerobics. The last 10-15 min. she had people call out suggestions. I do remember doing airborne jacks. I think someone posted Cathe's routine somewhere on the boards. We ended with a nice relaxing stretch using music from Stretch Max and I started to get teary eyed thinking it was over.:-( We then left for a Jersey Diner and had our final meal together...Brunch. Cathe signed more autographs and everyone took lots of pictures.

The Road Trip coordinators worked so hard to make it all the success that it was. They were the best!

My only regret is that I really didn't take that many pictures, especially of all the fun ladies that I met and that I didn't mingle more. I can be really shy and have to force myself to venture out of my comfort zone. I did make friends with sweet Kara. She doesn't post a lot. I really enjoyed visiting with her and working out next to her.

Now on to the August rotation with the rest of you. I did GS BSB and Core Max 1 last night and GS Legs (standing portion) this morning. I'll try to do IMAX3 today and then be caught up.

Gin :+

 

[marcy]

Hi Gin,

Thanks for the wonderful report. You're so lucky to have had Tracey at your table. You might want to try some of her workouts. I've pretty much liked all that I tried. It's so great that you got to be next to Brenda. So did you like the choreography from the new workouts? I'll have to go back and look at the pics to find you. I'm glad you had such a great time and I really will try to go next year if I can get in. Sounds like you're going to need another vacation trying to catch up with the rotation.

Did you have a good time at Hershey?

Marcy

 

[marcy]

Gin - So was that you with the white tank top on? It didn't seem like a nerdy outfit to me.

Marcy

 

[TXGin]

Hi Again!

Marcy--Do you have a favorite workout video of Tracey's? Maybe one that is easier to follow?
DH and I stayed at the Hershey Hotel and went to the Hershey Museum, Chocolate World and Hershey Gardens. We had a yummy chocolate pie for dessert after dinner at the hotel. The gardens were beautiful and the museum was interesting. Chocolate World was wild and crowded with tons of kids, as was the hotel. I really was not very impressed with the hotel, considering the price. We stayed away from the park since we don't have children to take. I hope Deanie enjoys it. Can't believe I missed her by a couple of days!x( The last night we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in WestChester...very nice and quiet!

My step class outfit was a Texas flag jog bra, tank, shorts and socks. I have worn this during marathons, so the crowd can yell out, "Go Texas!". If you look at Tess' video, you can probably see me mess up during step. and she has a goofy action shot of me. Copwife also has a video of the last class. I am wearing a BRIGHT yellow tank.

Gin

 

[marcy]

Hi Again!

Gin - I actually just posted in OD all of the Tracey workouts that I've done but I'll give you the short and simple version. Cardio Sweatfest is kickboxing and hi/lo. The kickboxing one got my heartrate up for almost the entire workout and was good and effective but repetitious and boring. There are 7 combos. The 7th one was a little confusing with the arms but other than that, not hard to follow. The hi/lo portion is dancy latin (but I haven't gotten a chance to do this part yet). As far as the step workouts, Step Sweatfest was much easier to follow than HISM and I was able to do almost everything except for a couple of spots. The first section is broken down more than the second. You can do each section separately with the warmup and cooldown. The second section of Step Sweatfest is like HISM with little or no breakdown. I liked HISM but did after a night of very little sleep and no previewing, so I didn't have a very good workout but I did like the choreography and once I do it enough, I'm sure I will love it. Tracey does have video clips on her site and fitbytracey.com so you can get a better idea. Her pricing is pretty reasonable.

I'll have to go back and look at Tess' video.

Sorry you didn't like the Hershey Hotel. I always wondered how good it was. It was too expensive for me to go there at the time. We had stayed at the Fulton Steamboat Inn in Lancaster, I think. We had the kids in tow and they loved the bunk beds.

Marcy

 

[marcy]

Gin - I'm having a tough time finding you but I was looking at Tracey's pics. Did you take a picture with Tracey and all the ladies from Texas? I thought there was someone in the picture that looked like you.

Marcy

 

[volleyball life]

Hi girls!

Gin - Welcome back and thanks for the report of the trip. I think I know which Texas outfit you are referring too. I will have to go look at the video again but I think I know. Is it red white and blue?

Today I did GS Legs - standing work. I didn't mind this one too much and was glad that the leg presses weren't too long.

It's been a busy day so I have to make this short. I'm going to try to look up more of the pictures and look for Gin.

Tracee

 

[volleyball life]

I came back in to say that I saw Gin on the video and in a still photo that Tess had taken. You are too cute although I didn't know that was you before you told me. You look different than in the picture you e-mailed to me. Was it hard doing the step routing without being able to see Cathe?

 

[marcy]

Gin -

Okay, I think I found you if it's the red, white & blue outfit Tracee's referring to. And are you in a picture next to Brenda where you're clapping, I assume after the step class is over?

Marcy

 

[TXGin]

Hi Again!
Hope I didn't miss you guys. I just sent you all an e-mail with a few of my RT pics. I did finish IMAX3 a few minutes ago..WHEW!!

Marcy--Thank you for the info on Tracey's workouts. I may want to try one. Tracey and I did not have our pic taken together. Yes, I am in the TX pic, top in the middle. I think the pic with me and Brenda clapping is before the step class..??

Tracee--I am step-challenged anyway, but it was tough to not see Cathe and at times have trouble understanding her. Still, it was soooo much fun!!

I look like a big goofy goon in most of the pics because I am smiling so big!:+

Gin

 

[marcy]

Hi Gin,

You must be exhausted after all your workouts today. If you're going to try Tracey's step workouts, get Step Sweatfest. I don't know where I'll be for next year's road trip, but I'm signing up no matter what. My dance weekends are pretty much like the road trip was.

Marcy