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Fitness Challenge 2013: Annette's Progress

serious runner! Harmonixers are joining the Dance Central fitness campaign to work alongside you in using Dance Central and Kinect to reach personal goals. In this series of personal blog posts from Harmonix, we’re sharing what our goals are and how we are using Dance Central to accomplish them!


NAME: ANNETTE

PROFILE: RUNNER-IN-TRAINING

For this year’s Dance Central fitness challenge I’m training for a half-marathon at Walt Disney World, which takes place on February 24th. Almost there! Click here for my intro blog!

HOW ARE YOU DOING

After months of training, I comfortably ran 13 miles for the first time! We recently had a weekend of nice weather here in Boston so I made sure to take advantage. I’m still going to CrossFit classes and am using Dance Central 3 to balance out my training.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING

I’ve been feeling pretty good about the pacing of my progress – running and otherwise – but a common running injury unfortunately put half-marathon training on hold for a bit.

SETBACKS & SURPRISES

I developed plantar fasciitis, which is causing some discomfort in my heels. Because of this I’m staying away from high impact activities (running) until my heels have healed. Even though running is temporarily out of the equation, I’m still able to cross train, just with more rest days than usual.

I am determined to get my finishing medal at the end of February and need to take the right precautions/not push past my limits to nurse my heels back to health! I’m making a huge diet adjustment to expedite the healing process by getting in as many nutrients as possible (eating superfoods like sweet potatoes and kale). I’m also drinking tons of water to stay hydrated, plus I’m stretching the affected areas often (and resting, obviously). That finishing medal will be mine!!!!

FRIDAY FITNESS CHALLENGES

SURPRISE! I actually write the fitness challenges and swear by them. The Get Low challenge has been huge for keeping leg strength intact for running. I also used The Unlucky 13 to learn one of our recent downloadable routines “Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)”. Such a great routine!

MY PERSONAL PLAYLIST

This list is in no particular order. These are just my favorite songs at the moment that tend to make their way into my custom Dance Central 3 playlists:

  • “Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)” by Pitbull ft. T-Pain (DLC)

  • “Gangnam Style” by PSY (DLC)

  • “Hello” by Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette (DC3)

  • “Bass Down Low” Dev ft. The Cataracs (DC3)

  • “Take Over Control” by Afrojack (DC3)

  • “Calabria 2008” Enur ft. Natasja (DC3)

  • “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO (DC3)

  • “Get Busy” by Sean Paul (DLC)

  • “Mr. Saxobeat” by Alexandra Stan (DC3)

  • “Scream” by Usher (DC3)

  • MOVING FORWARD

    Once my injury subsides, I’m going to slowly ramp up my training until I return to my regular running schedule. For now, knocking running out of my schedule for a bit means I get a bit more time with Dance Central – I’ll be playing songs that I know will have minimal impact on my feet (no stomping moves for a while)!

    WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

    Experiencing setbacks in a fitness program happens to everyone. This injury has thrown a wrench in my fitness plans, but instead of giving up, I’m restructuring my program to work around my current limitations. This way I’m keeping some level of activity (as cleared by my physician) and am not completely throwing away the progress I’m proud to have made so far. Setbacks no matter what they are can be discouraging, but don’t let it derail your progress. Pinpoint the issue and come up with a new plan of action. If that doesn’t work, try something else! No matter what do the best you can to stick with it!

    Follow us here in the blog through January and February for all things fitness! Share your own fitness goals and tips with us in the official forums, on the Dance Central Facebook Page, or by tweeting @Dance_Central on Twitter using the #DC3Fit hashtag!