1. Get Outside for a Playdate – Together!

September 11th, 2010, 3:30am: Conversing with friends at a hotel bar downtown. The question is posed. Friend: “Hey Sarah – you are coming on this bike ride tomorrow afternoon aren’t you? Me:  “Yes of course, you know I love bike rides!” What I didn’t know then is that we were going to be riding 100 miles of NYC.

This may sound like a daunting task at first (and it did to me too) but once you just accept the fact that you will have a numb crotch for the duration of the ride – its fine. Its great actually.

Do you remember being a little kid and riding your bike in circles around the neighborhood? Goofing off with your friends with no sense of time until your Mom yelled for you to come inside? This is kind of like that but more awesome because there is no curfew and more stops for food and beer ( I mean carbs).

A group called the NYC Bridgerollers / Bridgerunners has organized this ride as a tribute to NYC on September 11 for the past 2 years. This was a special tribute ride but they organize rides / runs all throughout the year and this crew has a way of making their meet-ups feel more like a party in motion rather some triumph/obstacle to overcome.

I brought my friend Greg along this year and regarding the journey he said, “I will never forget it. Amazing feeling. That is what fitness is about for me; the camaraderie and group dynamic. I would have never finished if that was a race”.

(all photos courtesy of Craig Wetherby @ www.wearethegoodlife.com)

2. Take a Fitness Adventure – Together

Sometimes the best way get rid of bad habits and integrate new ones is to “pull a geographic” and get out of town!

Install healthy new practices and enjoy the relaxing benefits of nature. There are tons of yoga retreats out there to choose from.  But for November I cant recommend more to join Jules Febre and Julie Kirpatrick for the CELEBRATE LIVING RETREAT – Jivamukti Yoga’s 20th Annual Thanksgiving Retreat located at Ananda Ashram in the Catskills.

What a better way to enjoy the beauty of the changing of the season, give thanks for your blessings, be led through twice daily asana practice, and have someone else plan, prepare, and cleanup a healthy veggie Thanksgiving feast.

If yoga isn’t your thing (I DONT understand why not – but whatever) you can still reap the benefits of a fall fitness getaway. Book a weekend at Mohonk Mountain House in the Catskills and get in some fall foliage trail running, river kayaking, or rock climbing.

3. Go to Sporting Events – Together

Any sports fan knows that just WATCHING their favorite team compete elevates testosterone, blood pressure and heart rate. (At times uncomfortably so!) Add a few leaps off the couch and fist pumps and it can be quite a workout!

But watching human athleticism at its finest is also a great motivator to do something more yourself. Get to the game a little earlier and pass the ball around for a bit.

Wake up and watch the marathon runners. If you blink you will miss the Kenyans sprinting at the front of the pack. Show support for the rest of the pack by handing out water, tissues, bananas, high-fives, energy gels, and lip balm.

Then use that enthusiasm to go for pre-dinner run together and sign up for a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot!

4. Take a Group Fitness Class – Together
Group fitness classes and tandem training sessions offer a fun and economical way to workout together without requiring you and your friends to have matching gym memberships.

Relax by taking a yoga class at your local yoga studio. Get your heart rate up by taking a spin class at studios like Flywheel (with Holly R!) and Soulcyle.  If you dont live in an urban area with all these offerings - My relatives across the country from the Carolinas to Alaska are very into Zumba!, which is also offered in community centers and churches.

Or hire a trainer to take you and your buddy through a semi-private training session together. Its fun to play off one another’s energy and as a bonus most trainers will provide a bit of a price break for duet sessions.

Shameless plug time!!!!!!!
If you are badass Brooklyn bitch ( or Manhattanite willing to cross the bridge) please come join our Fall Fitness Camp on Monday nights at 8 Berry Street in Williamsburg.  One part sweaty warrior princess strength training.  One part gooey yoga cool- down.

Message me for details at hello@sarahpetroski.com.