Plank Champion

Krystal: I am overjoyed to announce that 9 Marshall is now the home of a plank-off champion. That’s right folks, I said CHAMPION! For five grueling minutes, one of us planked her way to fame- and a free t-shirt.  Sweat dripping from all pores, muscles fatigued, determination high…

Kate: Wait a minute - Were you even there?

Krystal:...Okay, so I am doing that thing that I do when I tell a story that you told me, and I make it seem like I was there and I know how it went. You know how much you love when I do that!

Anyways, as I was saying: The room was hot and sweaty after nearly an hour of bootcamp feats of strength, and men and women alike were laid out in rows to compete in the most recent plank-off at Jeremy’s Bootcamp. As each competitor slowly dropped to floor in defeat, one woman would remain strong. And that, my friends, was Kate Letendre!

Kate: First of all, this is why Krystal would be a great social media specialist or PR person. Maybe I should hire her to rewrite my Match.com profile.

But really, it was true to say that sweat was dripping, muscles were fatigued, and determination was high. I can be quite competitive at times. I think that comes from my sports days.

Krystal: It doesn’t hurt that the shirt is sick. It’s a V-neck women’s cut!

Kate: The shirt was a nice extra incentive, but I was more focused on being the last one standing. I practice planking a lot, so I knew I would be a contender.

Krystal: I, on the other hand, started crying a little today when Kate made me hold a plank for a minute at the end of my third Body by Kate session.

Kate: Surprisingly, neither of the four men there were in the final three. It was me and two other women, and they were focused.

Krystal: Who runs the world? Girls!

Kate: When the four and a half mark hit, I figured I had another minute before the fatigue would get to me, but fortunately, I didn’t have to wait that long. At the announcement of 5 minutes, the woman next to me (the former plank-off winner) dropped to the ground.

Krystal: You should have seen how amped up she was when she finally arrived at Siam Orchid for dinner.

Kate: Yes, I was pretty pumped about the contest, but I think I was equally as excited at that point to devour some Pad Thai. The only thing better than a good workout is eating good food afterwards.

And I’d like to add that Krystal’s plank is noticeably improving. So though she may have made some crying-like noises today, she did better than the last time. Before you know it, we will be having regular plank-offs at 9 Marshall.

Krystal: And we leave you with that image. Happy Snow Day everyone!

PS. I actually want to leave you with the secret message I found in the wall at Bagel Works today. 

Booty by Krystal- Body by Kate

Krystal: I may have mentioned in a previous post that I am seriously, gravely concerned with the size of my Veg-a$$. Or I guess, to be more accurate, the size of my PRE- Veg-a$$. I have had numerous comments throughout the years about the junk in my trunk (cue “I Got it From My Mama” by Will.I.Am.). A friend’s husband, Cliffy-doodle, calls me his “booty girl”; a fellow Zumba chick once said to me, “For someone with such a small frame, you have a huge ass.” Well, how’s that for honesty?! And at our most recent MVMS holiday party, a co-worker told me black men must love me...so yeah- it’s a thing.

While it’s fun and all- all this attention, I suppose I do want to get into fighting shape. All the Zumba-ing just ain’t toning it; I need a SERIOUS muscle building plan, and THAT is where Kate comes in.  

Kate: Exercise has always been an essential part of my life. Being an athlete growing up, I developed a love for being physically active. Once I was no longer involved in competitive sports, I explored other fitness avenues and came to find out that I really do love anything that involves an increased heart rate and sweat (for those of you who have worked out with me, you know that there is usually A LOT of sweat. I am my father’s daughter). Working out for me is not a chore or an obligation; it is part of my lifestyle. I can honestly say that it is my favorite way to spend my time outside of work. It is often what gets me through difficult days.

Running has taken the forefront of my exercise routine in the past couple of years, but this winter I was feeling I needed something else to break up the monotony, especially considering it is difficult to get outside in the Polar Vortex and all. Plus, I have a thing against running on the treadmill. It just isn’t the same. So I went to a bootcamp class I had been eyeing for some time. I already knew that I loved the bootcamp model since I had had some exposure to several classes previously. After my first day at Jeremy’s Bootcamp, I was hooked.

Krystal: A note on running: those Letendres are relentless. They are serious about their training, dedicated to the sport, and they are persuasive! As anyone who knows me can attest, I think the farthest I had ever run prior to my Letendre years was from my couch to the fridge… no joke. But alas, we are coming up on our 5th BAA 5K race, which gave me yet another reason to try to get into better shape. While I’ve managed to break 30 minutes once before, this year, I want to crush it.

Kate: Her “training” usually involves a one-time 20 minute outdoor session one week before the race in which she claims she will never be able to finish so she should just watch instead. This has happened every year for four years.

Krystal: True story. Just ask Art; he’s a big fan of my training methods.

While we couldn’t be more different in this area, I knew that if I just swallowed my pride and asked Kate for some help, I’d be in great hands. Her bootcamp attendance has seemed to inspire her in new ways, and while I knew sh*t would get real, I was curious to see what she could do with me.

Kate: One of my many dreams of the future involves being a fitness instructor, so I am always up for a good training session. It’s nice to be able to share what you know, but mostly, it’s awesome to help other people realize that they are capable of more than they know. Fitness is as much, if not more, about mental strength as it is physical.

Krystal: I only realized this after about...5 minutes under Kate’s training. When I whimpered, “I can’t.” I realized that the can’t was way more about my mind and way less about my body’s ability. Kate, encourage me, coached me, and reminded me that I am stronger than I believe I am. It sucked and I was super sweaty and my arms, legs, and other muscles I didn’t know I had were quaking like crazy...but I did it. Only a few mouth pukes and a single tear...

Kate: And some guttural noises once in awhile. But that is a good sign because it means work is being done.

Krystal: I’ve only survived two Body By Kate sessions thus far, but I already feel stronger- mentally as much as physically. I think that is a sign of a great trainer and a great friend. She didn’t let me quit even as I bitched and whined because she knows how important a smaller ass is to me.

Kate: Yes, that’s exactly why I did it. I’m committed to helping my friends make their dreams come true, whatever they may be, big or small.

That and I love exercise and a good playlist that sends subliminal messages (i.e., Power, Burn, Stronger, Take on Me). 

Krystal: Wait a minute…! I was tricked!

Sunday Riffing

Krystal: Today, on this dreary Sunday afternoon, we are running into what some might call, “bloggers’ block”. And by some, I mean me. As a result, we’re just riffing. Hope you all don’t mind terribly.

Kate mentioned to me today that she likes calling my classroom because she doesn't have to worry about accidentally dialing 911. She’s done this twice now this school year while trying to call colleagues with classrooms that start with "11". I would have liked for her to say that she enjoys calling my classroom because she likes to hear my beautiful voice. Not so, my friends. Not so.

Kate: The thought of having an ambulance and fire truck show up at the school simply because I was fumble-fingers who can’t remember to dial 6 and not 9 before a room extension has caused great anxiety in me every time I go to pick up the phone.

Krystal: I, however, would look forward to causing such a scene. I am hopeful that the first responders would be young, strong and handsome. But then, we are in Penacook...

Kate: I’ll be sure to tell our bosses that if it happens for a dreaded third time. They’re all so desperate to get us married off that I’m sure they’d support this type of mistake. I think I’ll just stick to my avoidance of calling any sixth grade rooms like I have been for now. Lucky you, that means you get to be the recipient of most of my out-going calls. (Also, how else would we figure out what we are making, I mean buying, for dinner??)

"Blobs on a Stick"

* * * * * * * * * *

Krystal: On a different note, we’ve both come to the disappointing realization that we are NEVER going to be professional painters. After last night’s dismal creations at my mom's 50th birthday party at Muse Paintbar, it might be time to accept that acrylics will never be our medium.

Kate: I like to think I’m optimistic about most things, but not on this one. I’m so bad, I’m pretty sure a toddler with any type of fine motor skill ability would make a fool of me.

Krystal: To be fair, we both consumed two glasses of wine…TWO! AND I had gotten up at 4:30 AM (as I like to call that, the middle of the night!!) on Friday to go to the gym and work on my Veg-a$$. By 7:00 PM on Saturday, I was absolutely wiped. I’d like to think that if sober and well rested, my painting would have been worth bragging about, but alas...the cards were stacked against me.

"Untitled" by Josh Smith, the MOMA

Kate: First of all, no sympathy on the 4:30 wake up. Welcome to my world 5 days a week. So now you can stop giving me a hard time about going to be at 9.

In regards to the wine, the hope was that it would bring out my creative side, the artist within, be uninhibited and all that. Instead, it just gave me poor judgement that resulted in the most awkward reeds anyone has ever seen. They just look like blobs on top of brown sticks. I don’t even think my students will be complimentary of this one.

Krystal: ...Although maybe there’s a place for our work in the MOMA.

Kate: Seriously. It may be due to my lack of taking an art history course, but since when is painting a canvas one color considered high art? That, I could have done yesterday. Next time, I might.

"Wine-y and Sleep Deprived"

* * * * * * * * * * 

Krystal: And because good things, or even mediocre things, come in threes…

Kate: I’m pretty sure it’s bad things that come in threes.

Krystal: Riiiiiight. So how about those motorpsyches?

Kate: Motorpsyches you ask? They are one of my least favorite things. Let’s explain:

Krystal: So, a motorpsych, for you curious cats, is when you’re cruising for a parking space, slow creeping down the street or around a parking lot and AHOY! Looky there! It's a spot! With joy in your heart you put your blinker on, slow to a turning speed, and…

Kate: Rejected. Not until you start making the turn do you see a motorcycle there, or a tiny vehicle, taking up an entire space. Angrily, you curse the motorcycle for wasting a space that rightly belongs to someone with a real vehicle, and you move on feeling fooled once again by a motorpscyh.

Krystal: RAT BASTARDS! There is nothing worse than a motorpsyche...except for maybe...you know, real problems.

Kate: Touché.


PS. We reached 1000 views this weekend! Thanks so much for keep up with the Kardash...I mean, us!