Like most runners, I usually put cross training on the “nice to have” list, instead of the “must have” list.

After two years of random imbalances and injuries (from IT band strain, ankles, weak hamstrings and weak glutes), I told myself 2015 would be the year of cross training. 

This is where Turnstyle Cycle and Laura Mucci come into play. 

I have been attending Turnstyle Cycle since it opened in the summer and have LOVED taking their Real Ryder spin classes (aka. the bikes move, so you work like a bajillion times harder than in a normal spin class. But it’s cool, they play amazing music, and you get a kick ass workout). I saw that they offered TRX classes, but shied away from them… I was terrified. I knew I wasn’t strong, and I was mortified about making a fool of myself.

I really don’t know what changed, but I signed myself up for my first TRX class with Laura on 1/5. I had taken her spin classes before, and she’s pretty much an amazing human all around, so I knew I was in good hands. 

Let me tell you one thing about TRX… It’s honest.

You get out of it exactly what you put into it.

The first time I came face to face with the straps, I had two choices. I could either judge myself and kinda half ass my way through a workout, or I could focus on whatever I was supposed to be doing, and try my hardest to see if I could do it. To some, this may be a simple conundrum. For me, my competitive spirit sometimes clouds my judgement… 

That first class that I took was hard. I’m pretty sure I started getting sore after the 60 second round. I knew I was going to get my butt handed to me. The first time I came face to face with Laura’s core circuit, I had to come face to face with my fear… I just couldn’t do it. I remember lifting myself into a plank position, with my feet in the TRX straps, and shaking immediately. 

“Listen to your body.” is Laura’s mantra throughout her classes, and for once, I was being “forced” to listen. 

Each burst I tried to just hold myself up. Sometimes it would be for 5 seconds, sometimes it would be for 10. 

I left that first class and immediately signed up for another class the following week. I knew this was going to be my ticket to consistent cross training.

Laura’s mantra never changed… “Listen to your body." 

When you listen to your body, magical things can happen. You give it time to strengthen, and you give it time to heal. Sometimes I think we’re bombarded with "be the best”, “lift the heaviest”, “beast mode is the only mode”, “pain is weakness leaving the body”, that we actually forget to listen to what our body is telling us. 

I know I’m guilty. Let me tell you about how I finished the Spartan Beast with a black and blue swollen ankle, and then a month later KT taped it up and ran a marathon. Probably not my smartest idea.

Four weeks later, I can tell that I’m getting stronger.

How? 

Because I finally was able to complete one of Laura’s core circuits… with TRX crunches and pikes.

Listening to your body is a powerful thing. Ignore the noise that surrounds us, and listen to what truly matters. You.

Thank you Laura for showing me the power of actually listening to that voice inside my body. I don’t have to listen to it all the time (like when it tells me it really would rather sit and watch HGTV instead of going out for my 3 mile run), but I do have to listen to it when I’m working on it. 

Pretty excited to say that I’m hooked on TRX. Haven’t tried it yet? Get your booty to one of Laura’s classes at Turnstyle Cycle – you won’t regret it!

I’m also excited to see the results of cross training at my next half marathon – The NYC Half!