Work Out Anywhere With Only a Deck of Cards!

By Andrea Scarberry

Everyone knows that there are lots of exercises that you can do at home or in a hotel room. We also know that these types of workouts can get old... fast. Believe it or not, a deck of cards can deliver a great workout that you can do pretty much anywhere - and the best part is, it will keep you guessing! It's also completely customizable, so you can swap out the five exercises as you like, based on what equipment that you have (or don't have) available to you. The first time I did this workout, it was here at the gym during one of Courtney's Skinny Jeans Challenge boot camps. I really enjoyed it, because it was challenging yet simple. I recently re-used the workout during one of last week's Bikini Bootcamp classes, and got a great response from the ladies participating. Hope you enjoy, and happy sweating!

DECK OF CARDS WORKOUT

Hearts - Push-ups

Diamonds - Sit-ups

Clubs - Overhead press

Spades - Weighted squats

Jokers -15 burpees

Each card's number determines the amount of reps you will do - aces being 1 rep, all the way through 10. Jacks should be counted as 12 reps, queens should be 15, and kings should be 20.

A couple of notes: We used ViPRs for the overhead press and weighted squats, but a barbell, dumbbells, or even kettlebells would work. Also, we had two jokers in our deck, and ended up getting them almost back to back - that's the luck of the draw, I suppose! Don't cheat yourself!

 Again, I hope that you all enjoy this simple yet effective workout. All you really need is a deck of cards and some creativity, and you've got yourself an awesome workout on-the-go. Have a happy and healthy week ahead, and we hope to see you at the JCC!

Triathlon 101: Tips from Tri Competitor and Coach, Erin McDaniel

By Andrea Scarberry

Ever considered a triathlon, but doubted whether it would be the right fit? I most definitely have, but after sitting down and talking with Erin McDaniel, JCC trainer and experienced triathlon competitor/coach, I may have found just the inspiration I need to try my first tri. Read on to find some inspiration of your own!

Erin graduated from University of New Mexico in 2006 with a double-major in biochemistry and statistics. She is also an NASM certified personal trainer, and is currently in the process of completing the USAT (USA Triathlon) Level 1 Coaching Course, which will make her one of only a handful of certified triathlon coaches in the state. She also coaches her daughter's running club at school. Erin regularly competes in sprint-distance triathlons, and plans to continue competing in these shorter-distance races for as long as she possibly can.

"When people hear the word 'triathlon' they immediately think of the ironman distance - a lot of people don't seem to realize that there are much less intimidating distance options out there for triathletes. I have only competed in sprint-distance races, and I don't plan on going for an ironman any time soon. Right now, while I am young and have speed working in my favor, I like sprint-distance because they are competitive and fast-paced, and I can focus my energy on beating my last race time," Erin explained.

Erin first became interested in triathlons while living in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband while he completed grad school. She says it was a very active community, with a huge triathlon culture, and even a weekly exercise series at the beach called Nite Moves, which incorporated lots of swimming and running events. With the inspiration found in this community, Erin hopped on the triathlon bandwagon, and loved it so much that she never looked back.

So, what if you're not "good" at all three of the sports (running, biking and swimming)? Erin says that doesn't matter one bit. When she trained for her first tri, she was a runner. She said she didn't feel very confident with the swim or the bike, but she was willing to put in the training. The training is what it really comes down to - everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and practicing the things you're not confident with is the only way to improve. Erin admits that she is lucky, as a runner, because the format for most triathlons is swim, bike, run - in that order.  She feels that her swimming is weakest, biking is so-so, and running is what she is good at, so she has the most energy in the tank for the two most challenging events and can then switch into autopilot mode for the run, where she feels most comfortable.

In Albuquerque, Erin has competed in multiple triathlons, but says that her favorite by far is the live.love.tri all-women's race. She explains that this particular race just has such a huge sense of community and family support surrounding it, which is something she would like to see across the board within Albuquerque's triathlon community. Another race near and dear to Erin's heart is the San Diego Triathlon, which is a fundraiser for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). Her mother-in-law battled with, and eventually succumbed to ovarian cancer, and Erin ran this race for the first time seven years ago. She has only missed one year of this particular race, and it was because she was too pregnant to compete.

In 2013, Erin had her best season ever. She got 2nd overall at the Cochiti Lake Triathlon, and 1st overall patriot at live.love.tri. This year, Erin is on Team USA 2014 and qualified to represent the United States at the 2014 World Championships in Edmonton, Canada. She qualified for this prestigious spot at the National Championships in Milwaukee in August of last year. She credits all of her improvements to her husband, who surprised her with a new bike, and who is always a little faster on the track. "He keeps me humble and makes me work hard," Erin says. Her goal for the upcoming season is to qualify for the 2015 World Championships in Chicago, which is an Olympic qualifier for the U.S. She also plans to try her hand at a few Olympic-distance races this year, which is the next distance up from sprint-distance.

Erin's advice for beginners: Find a group. Making friends that you can regularly train with will keep you on track and motivate you to push harder than you might on your own. You can also gain a lot from others' strengths - and we all know it's more fun to exercise with buddies!

Any triathlon nay-sayers having second thoughts? Erin will be running a triathlon training program at the JCC starting in June, so stay tuned! Looking to get started now? Erin is available for one-on-one or partner/small-group personal training sessions. See the membership office at the JCC for more details. I hope that you are inspired to "try a tri," and until next time, have a happy and healthy week!