Summer Racing, Social Pace, and U Studios Yoga

Hi everyone! It's FRIDAY!

Wednesday's JPMorgan Corporate Challenge race has me excited for races this summer. So far, I don't have much on my calendar, and I intend to keep it that way since I'll be concentrating on marathon training. But I do want to add a few, both to integrate into long runs and to use as speed work, which Jess has given the OK to. She'll be sending me the plan for my first week of training on Sunday!!

Mason's got his Oiselle rundies and is also very ready to race.
Yes, I will pay for his dog therapy bills, I promise.

Right now, I'm planning on doing a 10K over July 4 weekend, a few of the Al Goldstein Summer Speed Series 5Ks, and the ZOOMA Chicago Half Marathon in August (my sub-2:00 attempt continues!).

I'm using a new site, Social Pace, as I fill out my race calendar. One of the founders, Brett, reached out to me to let me know about the new runners' and triathletes' social network. It allows people to learn about events, share the races they're going to attend, and find run clubs and training teams to join. I thought it was a pretty cool idea and wanted to let you all know about it! (And nope, I wasn't compensated, just thought it was a cool start-up that I wanted to share!)

Here is Brett's description of the site:

SocialPace is the premier online platform making it easier than ever to live an active lifestyle. The SocialPace platform provides its members with the largest database of events, teams, facilities and more, all in the members' local city. SocialPace also enables members of its community to engage with other like-minded, passionate individuals to discuss races, training, reviews, and more. 

If you want to join and "draft" me to your "roster" so we can see each other's events, you can find me here! 

U Studios Yoga
One other thing I wanted to share before the weekend: a new yoga studio I checked out last week! U Studios is located in SoHo, on Canal Street. It's not the nicest location, but the studio itself is a nice quiet, sun-filled room.

I took a very gentle restorative class and really enjoyed it. There were just two of us, so we both got a lot of individualized attention. Several of the restorative poses at the end we held for quite a while and I could feel how much more relaxed and loosened my body was when I went home to continue studying. Well & Good recently attended one of U's more vinyasa-style classes, and it sounds like the more intense classes are great as well.

The instructor, Henry, had a great vibe -- very relaxed and laid-back, leading us through the flow and moving between demonstrating and walking between us to check on form. Sometimes I feel intimidated in small classes, but the vibe was so chill that it was impossible to feel nervous in any way. I just enjoyed the relaxing class and practically melted into a terrific shavasana at the end.

By the way, if you're in the city tonight, U Studios is co-sponsoring a fundraiser for the victims of the horrific storms that tore through Oklahoma in May. The event looks like a lot of fun and is for a great cause.

Psst ... they also have a Groupon going on right now!


The Facts
Length - 60 minutes
Cost - $10 
Location - SoHo (264 Canal Street, off Lafayette, on the 5th floor)
Skill Level - Anyone!