Wednesday, December 3rd, 2003

 

Wahoo!!!  Madison Hosting the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoor Games!

 

I'm so excited!  I'll be the only "hometown" athlete!  Unfortunately I only qualified for the boom run, and because of how poorly I did last summer, I am ranked at the bottom.  That mean I will have to run against Mandy Erdman right away!  If I lose my initial race, I'm out of the whole thing....I hate how that is done, but it looks good for TV.  Anyway, to make a long story short, I probably won't be competing long, but hey, it's going to be in Madison!  Lumberjack party at my place!!!

For more info on the announcement, please visit: http://espn.go.com/gog03/gen/s/04_fea_gen_madison_announcement.html

Now I just have to find a log out here in LA........

 

Sunday, November 30th, 2003

 

This photo was taken by John Stutz 11/16/2003.
My most recent photo shoot.

 

DONE with Fitness for a bit...

 

My last contest for awhile was last weekend in Vegas.  I got friggin 3rd place!  I wasn't even in my best shape!  That came as a very pleasant surprise.  Not only that, but we had a great vacation!  I did manage to lose a bit of money, but Miles lost a heck of a lot more!  We also went to the top of the Stratosphere and rode all three freaky rides.  One of them hangs you right over the top of the tower!  After that we went to this Oxygen Bar in the Stratosphere Mall.  What a neat place!  they hooked us up to oxygen tubes in our noses, and gave us a back massage.  The O2 had different "flavors" and the massages felt DARN good!  Although physiologically it makes no sense that extra oxygen will boost your energy and make you feel better, it was so neat!  Miles took a pic of me with the tubes in my nose, so once those are developed, I may just have to post it.  :)  The rest of the time in Vegas was spent eating at all-you-can-eat buffets.  :) 

This past week was fairly laid back.  I didn't have many clients because of travels, etc.  Thanksgiving was GREAT!  We ate at Miles' friend Ace's Grandparents' house.  (Did that make sense?)  It was a large group and we all had so much fun!  I haven't laughed that hard in ages!  All of the laughing didn't go so well with all of the food, but that's okay, it was way fun.  :)  Oh and I'm sure everybody knows about my Nick Carter obsession by now.  Well get this...I think I have found somebody that sings better than Nick(feel free to insert sarcastic comments here)!  Ace is probably the most incredible singer I have ever heard.  He already has several albums finished, and all I can say is Justin...look out.  Not only that, he's super good looking and an incredible dancer. 

Today we saw the movie "Brother Bear".  If you haven't seen it, get your butt to the theatres!  It's honestly one of the best I have seen.  The Moose are great!  Brings me back to my northern roots! 

This week is going to be crazy busy with work, so I'd better get to bed and get my rest!  Thanks for checking the site!

 

Wednesday, November 19th, 2003

 

Fitness America Nationals 2003 are OVER!!!

 

...but I still can't eat!  I have one last fitness contest for the year this weekend in Las Vegas.  It's the NPC Vegas Fitness and Bodybuilding Classic at the Riviera if anybody is interested in going!  We are totally making a mini-vacation out of it.  Miles seems to think he's going to win thousands in the Casino...but I'll be too busy at the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet to notice him loosing all of his money.  :)

So...last weekend.  How did it go?  FANTASTIC!  Did I make it to finals?  No.  Did I place very high at all?  Nope.  But I went there to have a blast and learn from the pros...which I accomplished!  I have NEVER seen so many incredibly talented, fit women in one place my entire life!  But not only were these girls in amazing shape and beautiful...they were SO NICE!  I feel like I have 68 super awesome new friends! 

Thursday was registration, media day, and opening number rehearsal.  Also, Ted and crew who filmed me in Chicago came out just for that day to do a continuation on their HD documentary!  It was a BUSY day.  For the opening number I was a tumbler...so I did WAY too much tumbling on hard floors. 

4:30 the next morning I was up and ready to have my make-up done by Helen.  She is this INCREDIBLE lady from Ireland who is now one of the most sought after make-up artists in LA.  She works and travels with Arnold (yes, the new governator Arnold).  She works out at the club I am a trainer at and was nice enough to do this for me! 

I got to the venue by around 8am, and did my routine at like 10ish.  By now I am getting WAY sick of hearing Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez (my routine music).  After the bikini round I went to the host hotel and crashed by the pool...only to wake up in the middle of a photo shoot!  They were nice enough to work around me because I looked so exhausted.  Yeah, that was a little awkward. 

That evening we practiced the opening number a gazillion more times until my lower back was in the shape of a Z....then we finally preformed it.  Because I did not make it to finals, that will be my only appearance on ESPN, BUT I got to do a lot in front of the group, so I will be seen!  The rest of the night was spent sitting with Miles in the audience watching the most amazing routines I have ever seen!  Already ideas for next year's routine are running through my head.  I have so much to work on!  After observing finals in the bikini round, I realized I also need to work on my walking in high heels....hardcore!  Lots to do, but I have several months to work on it.  When I know TV times I will post them.

I woke up Saturday morning unable to move at all.  In all of my years as an athlete, I have honestly never been in so much pain.  After loading myself with pain killers, Miles and I went for breakfast at Jerry's.  Overpriced, but yummy as usual. 

Sunday I had a photo shoot with, in my opinion, one of the greatest photographers in the area.  His name is John Stutz (http://www.johnstutz.com).  I felt so bad...I was still in a lot of pain and totally exhausted from the contest, that I don't think I gave him what he needed in terms of energy and leanness.  Despite that we still ended up with some fabulous photos...they can be seen if you go to his site and click on "Shana".

Now it's back to work for the week, until I leave for Vegas on Friday!  I think my motivation for competing has gone downhill a bit, but it will still be a blast. 

 

Friday, November 7th, 2003

 

Miles...you have been PUNKED!!!

 

Last night Miles got PUNKED!  Okay, not really punked, but he was the butt of a prank for Oxygen's Girls Behaving Badly show.  We went to this Greek place for dinner, but what he didn't know was that everybody there was an actor or an extra.  We sat down and I had to "use the bathroom" and went into the screening room set up out back.  A girl from next season's show sat down with him and basically told him she had been following him the past few weeks.  She used info I provided...and freaked the crap out of Miles!  He actually did very well, and was very polite with her.  But you could tell he was also a bit freaked and confused.  Finally I came out with the crew and the entire place clapped for him.  We got out of there fairly quick because Miles really did want some dinner. :)  When I find out the air dates, I will let you all know.

     So I did the COOLEST thing this week.  See, being a personal trainer, I usually have clients before they go to work, or right when they are done with work.  That leaves me with a big gap in my day between around 10am-4pm.  Rather that drive back into the valley where I live and be unproductive, I signed up for a temp service.  Basically, if a show needs more members in their studio audience, we get called.  It's only like 6 bucks an hour...but it's SO much fun!  I saw the Wayne Brady Show twice last week, and got paid!  I'm so mad though...yesterday, all of the members of the studio audience (that's me) were supposed to get a signed cookbook (from that super sexy guy with his own reality show) and the Matrix for X-Box.  I ended up talking to some people in the studio, and they ran out!  Oh well, I'll survive.  :)  So be sure to watch for me in random studio audiences!
     A quick Happy Birthday shout out to my bestest (and single...) friend Erin on the 5th, and to Mike Betz (www.mikebetz.com) on the 13th!

 

Friday, October 31st, 2003

 

Happy Halloween!

 

Happy Halloween everybody!  I decided to wear the SEXIEST costume I own...I'm a cow!  I already got a ton of goofy looks at work today, but it is SUCH a perfect costume.  I think so many girls use today as an excuse to dress provocatively...which is fine, but who needs that when you can be a HEIFER?  This evening Miles and I are going to a party at USC, and tomorrow night my friend (and AWESOME photographer) John is getting us into the Spooky House for free!  I'm so scared!  I usually go through these things with my eyes closed the entire time anyway, so it's probably for the best that I'm not paying.  :)

 

Work is going great, but as I try to dig myself out of my hardcore financial hardship, I could always use some more clients!  If you know of anybody in the LA area that needs a personal trainer, let me know! 

 

Speaking of John the photographer, I have a photo shoot next weekend.  Thus, I need to get rid of my old 8 x 10's...so they are on sale!  Only $7 (which includes S&H), for a signed photo. Click on "STORE" above to place an order.

 

I hope everybody has a happy and safe Halloween!

 

Monday, October 20th, 2003

 

Fitness America Photos are Up!!!

 

It's about friggin time, eh?  Anyway, to check out these pics, as well as photos taken by Darrick Hartman a few weeks before the show, click on "Fitness" above.  Big thanks to John Lathrop for taking such great pictures!

 

So who caught the Wayne Brady Show this past Friday?  Anybody see lil' ol' me tumbling on his stage?!  It was the coolest thing, I didn't have any appointments until later that day, so I figured I'd go to a filming of his show, just because I think he is one of the funniest people alive!  The producers were outside of the studio talking to people before the show.  I went all by my self, so I was feeling particularly talkative.  They were excited to hear about the Logrolling and the Fitness America stuff, and wanted me on the show!  After our first rehearsal, they realized I knew how to tumble, and wanted me to throw that in there to!  So this led to me doing gymnastics on Wayne's stage...and best of all...GETTING A HUG FROM WAYNE BRADY!  What a blast that was.  If you missed it, I believe Randy uploaded the video to the fan club site:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShanaMartin/  but I think you have to be a member to view it. 

 

Last weekend was not nearly as eventful as the one before, but we got a lot of stuff done.  Yesterday we spent the entire day making our apartment a bit more "homey"...we finally have a dining room table!  I'm sure after we spent the money on it, we will still eat meals in front of the TV though!  Saturday was spent watching the surfers at Malibu.  I cannot WAIT to start surfing.  My drawback right now is funds...I already have a great instructor picked out, but those lessons ain't cheap! 

 

I'm now headed back to work...pray for an end to this LA Metro strike...the traffic is killing me, and my already very sick car!

 

 

Thursday, October 16th, 2003

 

 

Fearless Miles

 

Let us start with this past Sunday.  What a day!  For Miles' birthday, I purchased a couple of bungee jumping packages.  No biggie...I've done it before, I wasn't worried.  We took a beautiful two hour hike through the Angeles National Forest to get to the "Bridge to Nowhere".  The first (and dumbest) thing I did was run to the bridge and look over the edge.  This view was slightly different from the last time I bungee jumped.  My last jumps were at a 75 foot tower over a big inflated cushion in the Wisconsin Dells.  This view was twice the height, into a narrow canyon, with a small, rocky stream waiting for us at the bottom.  At this point I ran behind a cactus to relieve myself, or else I KNEW I would do it in my pants. 

After getting on our harnesses and going through a mini jump school, they needed a volunteer to go first.  Miles "jumped" at the opportunity (okay, so I try to be funny) and went first.  He didn't even flinch!  He stepped over the bridge and dove way out into the canyon...probably the best jump of anybody all day!  After a few others jumped, it was finally my turn.  It's amazing how your mind can take over when you are hundreds of feet off the ground with nothing around you.  I climbed onto my platform, froze, then climbed back onto the bridge.  I finally caught myself turning into a chicken and jumped after gathering myself for a few seconds...but MAN, I had never been so scared in my life!  Now Miles on the other hand, was more scared he would be hungry on the hike than jumping off of the bridge!  My second jump by my ankles went MUCH better.  I didn't hesitate and had a decent leap.  WHAT a RUSH!  We had another beautiful hike out of the canyon (although I am still picking thorns from the Yucca out of my hind end) and ate at a wonderful family restaurant in Azusa. 

 

My life out here in Cali is finally starting to fall into place.  I am working at Meridian Sport Club in downtown LA/ Beverly Hills/Century City whatever you want to call that part of town.  It is the neatest place!  Talk about a beautiful health club.  And they offer everything!  Over 130 group exercise classes a week!  With (this was the kicker for me) a special studio just for kickboxing!  Everybody there is so friendly, I have no doubts I will love it.

 

This week has been a bit lonely because Miles is camping and rock climbing with his school for Wilderness Week.  Poor poor Miles, has to teach at the COOL SCHOOL that gets to go camping for a week!!!  He's getting paid for this!  ME...jealous...never.  ;)

 

Okay, so I know I said I would have the Fitness America pics up last week, but they were sent to my address in Wisconsin...SO...I have to wait for my Dad to send them out here.  Also, if you get a chance, check out this page DiscoverGirls.com made for their site.  They did such a great job!