Boot Camp: Week 2

 With the second week of boot camp under our belts or should I say shaved from our waistlines, I have 3 more heart pumping workouts to share. This past weeks journey included the likes of brutal uphill climbs, a trip down memory lane for boot camp veterans with a grueling day devoted to what we like to call "Old School Boot Camp" and a 6 plus mile run! So here's to week 2! Check it out!

Week 2:
Bixel  Day 4 of 18

Monday morning we set out onto the streets of Downtown LA donning our ankle weights and gripping our dumbbells. I'm not sure about the rest of my fellow boot campers, but the fact that it was about 39 degrees outside didn't make for comfortable workout conditions and made gripping my 8 lb hand weights even tougher. But I sure did warm up quick running up and down Bixel (see the Google Maps screen grab above) weights in hand only stopping at the bottom to drop and pump out 5 burpees. A major challenge of taking your running to streets are hills and as if Bixel wasn't tough enough, try 45 mins straight up and down the hill, 5 burpees at the bottom all with 13 added lbs to lug around. Killer, but in a good way!

Old School Boot Camp Day 5 of 18 

"Run up your step, get in a plank, plank to push up, hands-up knees-up, run run run!" These are just a few of the directives being yelled out during this 60 minuets of non stop pounding movement, welcome to Old School Boot camp. If you can, imagine a turbocharged workout that mixes cardio and strength training, with just an aerobic step, 8 lb dumbbells (wish I had used 5 lbs that day) and a mat for cushioning the sit-ups and plank and the music pulsing we literally don't stop moving for about 45 plus minuets. Oh wait, and let not forget... our ankle weights!The energy in the room is almost euphoric and the music hypnotizing which moves this high intensity right along! 

Echo Park Run Day 6 of 18

2 miles from the gym, 1 mile around the lake, and 2 miles back, our Echo Park run can last anywhere from 4 to 8 miles. This past Friday was our first run run of the New Year and with perfect running conditions in the air, i pods & gps rearing to go we hit pavement at a steady pace and made our way to Echo Park. Running 2 solid times around the "lake" then switching directions and running 1 additional mile the opposite way I met up with some of the group on Glendale blvd before making our way back home. All in all we ran about 7 miles (I stopped a few times to snap some iPhone pics check them out below which paused my Nike App.) I say lake quote in quote because at this moment there isn't much of a lake that exists due to it becoming very polluted ultimately not meeting the states water quality standards and being deemed by the State of California as an impaired body of water  But with its Rehabilitation process pressing forward with the park scheduled to reopen in March of this year the future of Echo Park Lake is hopeful. On a random note regarding the lake, check out this cute love story of an unlikely friendship which unfolded on the very route we ran this past Friday! Its too cute... ps once Maria was relocated, Dominic was informed that Maria wasn't a Maria... she was really a he, but their love and friendship forges on!

{the rehabilitation of Echo Park Lake with the sunrise reflection over DTLA}

{I am really looking forward to the completion of the Rehabilitation of Echo Park Lake!}

{keeping up with this bunch was a challenge, feeling motivated!}

Another successful week of boot camp and 3rd week is already underway... stay tuned, more to come!