This week's workouts start on Wednesday. That's just how things go after races and time off! I've been resting my calves obsessively, so no running this week. Not running means we're going back to some of our old videos and workouts, which has been nice.
Wednesday: T25 with Elizabeth and Stacey! We haven't done T25 in a hot minute and it definitely humbled me. What a tough workout!
It's so awesome to have Stacey joining us!
Thursday: Some Blogilates. I've been neglecting my core for awhile and I could tell.
Friday: We put together a circuit that focused on core and upper-body, but was really kind of "whole body". It felt really good.
Complete each move for 30 seconds, repeat 3-5 times.
I rested/stretched through the weekend. I'm hoping to get at least one short run in this coming week. We'll see how the calves take it!
I'm excited to start Monday this week and truly get back into a routine!
Monday: My last day of recovery from my cold. I felt pretty good but opted to take just one more day off.
Tuesday: Elizabeth and I celebrated my return to health with a 3-mile run. I pushed the comfort zone a little bit and my legs felt great. Afterward, I did some planks.
Funny story: we turned around at the end of our road, which has a stoplight. The guy waiting to turn there called out, "Looking good, keep it up!" or something to that effect...and it was actually genuine sounding. Elizabeth and I were both like, OMG I think he meant that. It wasn't sleazy or weird at all. So I guess there is a way to shout at runners without being a jerk! Color me shocked.
Wednesday: I was really in the mood to work on my core because my planks were so pathetic after Tuesday's run. We did T25 Ab Intervals.
Thursday: Unintentional rest day. I meant to run in the morning but overslept. I had a training from 5-8pm at the district and wasn't home until after 8:30, so running at night was out.
Friday: We ran the bridge and added a little loop through a neighborhood that's being built at one end. I felt really good for the most part. I think maybe the weather was a little nicer - 83 degrees instead of being in the 90s - and it may have even been a teeny bit less humid than usual!
Still, that run had me thinking about my goals for October's 10k. More on that later.
Saturday: Rest Sunday: 9 miles in 93% humidity. I honestly think I felt pretty good for this run, but toward the end my lungs and heart rate were just a mess. My legs did feel tired toward the end, but despite the fact that it's been a hot minute since we've run long, they didn't feel as tired as I expected them to. Our overall pace was 11:05, which disappointed me a little.
We were absolutely drenched by the end and just happy to be done.
This wasn't a stellar week, but it was a good one back considering I was sick last week and took seven full days off.
Monday: Elizabeth and I had did final classroom workout. It was tight - the furniture all gets pushed into the middle of the room for summertime so it's easier to wax the floors - but we got it done. One round of T25 Core Cardio and one round of a BBG arms workout.
Excuse me...I look a mess.
BBG seems to be all the rage lately. I do like how hard it is, and I'm sure the results I see on Instagram are real, but I just don't think I could give up running for something like this. I guess for me, finding joy in the workout is more important than getting a "fit body".
Tuesday: Ah, our first day of summer break! Elizabeth and I took advantage of not having school this week to run later in the evening. It was hot and still, but at least the sun was mostly down for the latter half of our workout. We did 6x.6 repeats. My left calf and shin were super tight from all the jumping around on Monday (and also from my freaking shoes!), and my left groin felt weak, so I wasn't expecting a great workout.
We saw some adorable ducklings during the run that made each repeat a little cuter and more bearable!
Mostly we kept the repeats in the 8:30s but a couple times we crept into the low 9s. Between repeats we did bicep curls and overhead presses. I took a couple salt tabs at the halfway point and my calf/shin seemed to respond well to that, but it may have just been that I was finally warmed up. Either way, this was a hard effort workout even if the paces don't show it, and I'm glad we got it all done and didn't quit early!
Wednesday: We used that free samples of BBG again and did the ab workout. It definitely hurt! We were laughing halfway through because we felt so pathetic. That said, I wasn't sore at all the next day and I wonder if the workouts are really as effective as people claim!
Thursday: Rest.
Friday: We woke up early and did a tempo run. Storm clouds were gathering and there was lightning, so we ended up cutting the planned 5 miles a bit short. We haven't done a tempo run in awhile and I was happy with it, but with the brewing storm it was really humid and pretty rough.
One of my favorite post-run stretches. I'm not sure why we look so serious!
Saturday: Rest! I watched Matt's paddle race in Pompano Beach and hung out on the beach all day. It was actually exhausting - you know how it is when you get too much sun! James and his wife Rhonda were there, too; James and Matt both had super races (Matt was on his brand new board and in a new board class, so I'm glad it went so well!) and Rhonda and I enjoyed lounging around and talking about books while the guys dominated the Atlantic.
At the race start...
Matt sprinting to the finish! His race was 6x1-mile laps with a short beach sprint between each one.
Sunday: I was exhausted after sun and travel, so I slept through our long run and relaxed all day. I usually hate evening long runs, but Elizabeth and I went out for 8 miles at 7pm and it felt really good! It was nice to have temperatures drop as we ran instead of the usual buildup of heat throughout. I picked up a baby snapping turtle and saved him from the road during the run, so hopefully I don't get salmonella.
It's honestly amazing how much better my legs and feet feel in the old Kayanos! Sorry, I just can't shut up about my shoe drama.
All in all, a pretty good week! Have you ever tried BBG?
I know I'm late, seeing as April started twelve days ago, but I'm calling this week a fresh start. Things were hard; they're steadily getting better.
My kids are starting their research unit, which is simultaneously my favorite and least favorite time of year. I love watching them delve into a topic of their choice. It's a chance for them to genuinely enjoy exploring their curiosity and learning new things; I hate the micromanaging that has to happen in order to get them all to the finished product without plagiarizing or giving up.
It's a stressful unit for all of us.
My students are so used to being told what to lookup and what to learn that brainstorming and thinking up their own ideas is the hardest part. Once they get started, they actually usually enjoy the research process! It's really gratifying to see.
So far some the topics I've seen are: Olympic figure skaters, serial killers, various genres of music, martial arts, video games, and heart surgery.
Elizabeth and I have been motivating each other into a little overhaul of our habits this week. I don't have a car at the moment (another reason for my stress these past couple weeks), so I'm dependent on her for rides to and from school...which means that if she holds me hostage after work to do a T25 workout, then I'm obliged to stay.
Feeling some good endorphins after T25 in Elizabeth's classroom.
It also means I can't drive to a starting place of my choice to run, but tonight I finally looked that excuse in the eye and went out our back door to the golf course for the first time in months.
Keeping each other accountable.
Also new this week: I finished a really good book (Blood Song by Anthony Ryan. The sequel was okay and I'm not sure I'll read the concluding novel, but the first was seriously amazing) and I've been listening to Halsey's "Gasoline" nonstop.
I also replenished my wardrobe with some new Skirt Sports gear, so I'm excited to have a chance to wear it. Nothing motivates me to workout like new clothes.
I got two Lioness skirts (in Free Love and Safari), a Peek-a-Boo skirt in Safari, a Take Five tank in Gray Stardust and an Eclipse tank (in Free Love - I'm wearing it in Safari in the T25 pic above). I'm totally set for summer running!
Finally, I want to say thanks for your kind words on my last post. The worst has (hopefully) passed regarding the school issues. I'm finally feeling a little more normal; I was feeling pretty hollow and distant there for awhile. Like it was taking all my energy just to exist. I do think I've turned a corner. Now it's just about working to stay on the right path.
What have you been listening to lately? What was/is your favorite project in school? Are you getting any new gear for summer running? ABK
It feels like I've taken ages off from running, but in reality it's really only been a couple weeks. I didn't run at all the week after A1A, and last week I got in one measly run and some stretching. But this week I'm finally feeling ready to push myself and begin "training".
Can I call it training if there's not a goal race in mind?
I actually am running just one more race this month. Kristin has a love affair with hills and signed up for a very hilly half marathon in Marco Island on March 20. I personally kind of hate hills, and this race is literally a constant up-and-down. (They're manmade, I'm pretty sure.) She asked me to run it with her, and I couldn't let her down! It's going to be a new kind of challenge for me. We're planning to just take it slow and enjoy the run together; no PRs or goals of any kind on this one!
Anyway, this week I'm trying to get my butt moving again. I met Elizabeth at her house and we ran to the park while her stepdaughter scooted ahead of us; then we did a few sprint intervals, and ran back.
It felt good to be moving, but wow were my legs reluctant at first!
The first day of speed work in months was humbling, but we finished with a smile!
I also did some upper body T25 this week, and some sporadic squats, planks, and core work. Honestly, it's nothing to write home - or a blog post - about, but at least I'm moving again.
It was pretty pathetic how wobbly 8 pound weights left my arms.
I have no transition for this, but I have something cool to share. Last year, a friend of mine linked me up with the developers of this new gluten-tester called Nima. I just received my Nima to beta test and the first thing I tried it on was a bowl of Lucky Charms! They just recently got the gluten free label (I've been waiting since Cheerios went GF because they get their oats from the same place) so they felt like a great first test.
All good! The Nima shows a frown if there's gluten detected.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting my groove back. It's been nice to take time off, but I miss being in a good workout routine. Once it becomes habit again, I know it will all be easier. Spring is never my strongest season, but I'm determined not to waste any time getting back in the saddle!
Are you a fan of hilly races?
How do you get back into your routine after time off?
So, that whole "moving Monday's run to Tuesday" thing seemed like a good idea at the time, but immediately afterward I remembered why I never skip a Monday.
I wanted to do upper-body T25 with Elizabeth Thursday, so I was faced with the decision to do another three-in-a-row (shakeout Tuesday, speedwork Wednesday, upper-body Thursday) or do a double workout Thursday.
My legs were pretty tired from my recovery run because I can't seem to keep my paces slow enough when I'm only doing a couple miles, so I opted to rest Wednesday and double it up on Thursday.
In short: awesome. choice.
After warming up with T25 and getting my cross-training in that way (the upper-body video includes core and some light cardio, too), I came home and had a snack, then headed to the park.
I forgot to take off my necklace and didn't want to pause...so I had my classiest workout ever.
I'm really lucky that Matt likes to hangout when I run sometimes. He not only makes it to every race to cheer me on, but he even watches me train...how much more supportive can you get?!
And he even took photos and read the Stephen King book I recommended. Love.
I had some Gu because I was starving, then did a mile warmup on the road before heading to the loop. My plan was 6x400 if my legs held out, which they did.
Verdict on this new-to-me flavor: pretty tasty, a slightly thicker texture than the Salted Caramel or Espresso. I'll buy it again.
I slipped an extra 400 into my repeats and was happy to see my paces coming down again. I kept my intervals around 8:20. The highlight of the run was when a high-schooler, who was pacing a friend and going the opposite direction, reached out to high five me.
It was a really pretty night; there were probably at least a dozen other runners out on the loop.
That was a first, and it really pumped me up. I always feel weird encouraging strangers or offering a high five but maybe I should do it more often, because it feels good to be on the receiving end of that kind of good will.
I look so speedy!
After my run, I watched my sister's recent yoga flow and felt a little envious of her flexibility. I guess that's good motivation, right? I have to brag on her a bit because she got certified as an instructor recently and is pretty freaking amazing. You should see her handstands.
I'm still feeling very up this week. I have 15 or 16 on my plan this weekend and feel 100% confident that I'll get it done. I finally feel ready for it!
Do you ever double-up your workouts?
Do you high five strangers, or do you draw the line at a wave/nod?
With only a quarter of 2014 left, I had to take a look at my resolutions from last year. I've had to readjust some due to moving and our finances, but one I let fall by the wayside simply due to laziness is cross-training. So Friday I forwent my usual after school nap and worked out with a couple teachers instead.
Arms and core...my armpits are killing me!
This week, I downloaded Matthew Inman's (better known as The Oatmeal) new book The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances. If you're unfamiliar with The Oatmeal, it's a website of informational/hilarious comics. Inman writes and draws them all; he also runs marathons and ultras. This book is a collection of comics - some already from the website and some new material - about his experiences with running.
I was crying/laughing my way through it; there are also some poignant moments that made me pause and go, "Yeah, I get that."
One such page from Inman's book.
I think reading it just before my medium-long run was a good idea; today's run was easy. I mean, 9 miles is never easy, but my head was in the right place for it. And I had great company.
I know some of you up north are starting to see wintery weather; we're due for a cold front Sunday!
It was 79 when we started, and 75 when we finished!
Kristin met me just after mile 1 and stayed with me until mile 8. We chatted the entire time; good companionship can seriously make the run.
It sprinkled on us at mile 4. We paused at the park so I could eat a Gu and get a drink. It's so nice to not have to carry water or wear a belt when I'm running this particular route.
I highly recommend this flavor!
My new strategy is to not carry water if I can help it; instead I've started experimenting with hydrating really well the day before and sucking on hard candy during the run to keep my mouth from feeling dry.
So far, these have been working!
After Kristin left me, I finished my run with a smile on my face. We kept the pace nice and even. I couldn't have asked for a better recovery-miles week.
Mile 9, feeling fine!
Of course, I treated myself to a nice breakfast after the run.
Eggs over-easy and a waffle. Yum!
(Usually I'd be fasting today for Yom Kippur...this is the first year since 1999 that I haven't. Last year I fasted and moved my long run to Sunday...of course I was exhausted and depleted and nothing good came of that. I've missed too much training this year; I decided not to fast, but it wasn't a decision I made lightly.)
On a final note, Kristina's first marathon is TOMORROW! Head over to her blog and leave her a comment...she's worked really hard and is going to kick serious tuchas!
How do you like your eggs?
Do you eat candy on the run? Any recommendations?
Are you experiencing wintery weather yet?
Wishing good luck and speedy legs to everyone running the PDX Marathon tomorrow!
I know, I know...I haven't written since Monday! But things are finally calming down here, and I'll be able to catch up on your blogs (and mine) soon!
I took some much-needed rest Sunday through Tuesday, and have done T25 Wednesday-Friday (double today, actually), but I haven't run. I have a 10k next weekend, but no plans to really push myself. I'm mentally needing a run soon though, so it's not like I'm quitting! ...Just taking a little break this week.
So, briefly, here's some things I've been up to:
I came back to school Monday to find my substitute had managed to crash one of my computers, taking me back to the turn of the century.
Oy. It was Dec. 31, 2000 when I first got to school.
Luckily, our IT department is prompt and knowledgeable, so everything is up and working now.
I've somehow managed to get tired of chocolate peanut butter and pretzels for my mid-morning snack. (I eat breakfast at 6:45am and my lunch is at 12:52pm, so some protein indulgence is necessary.) This sweet treat has been my go-to this week:
I don't know how "natural" it really is, but it sure is delicious!
I've been attempting to find joy in the little things this week. I've been so exhausted and stressed out leading up to my TPE (I'll get to that shortly), that I've just been a wreck. I was at work until 7pm the other night. Wondering where I was, Matt texted:
"Do I have to figure out how to explain to Archie that his mommy doesn't love him anymore?"
The only appropriate reply being: "Tell him his nuttiness drove me away."
And then this happened:
This still cracks me up.
For those of you not familiar with the Dramatic Chipmunk (I forgot his name originally)...
Watch it. You won't be sorry.
One reason this week has been so rough, besides the exhaustion from wedding fun and traveling, was that my final teacher performance evaluation was today. The TPE is a 45 minute observation during which you must exhibit a variety of skills and practices in the classroom. Some of my salary hinges on this. Along with the TPE, my DPP (deliberate practice plan, a year-long self-assessment of areas I want to improve in) is due.
Literally the minute the lesson ended, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I had no clue how stressed I was until it was over. It's not that I don't do these great instructional strategies usually, but it's hard to show them all in one lesson alone. I'm looking forward to my post-TPE meeting to go over my DPP and see how it all turned out.
What a great note to come back to after the eval!
Of course, I've been reminiscing about last weekend's wedding. I was talking to some friends at work about going in on throwing a "wedding-like" party. I think if you had enough people pitch in, you could have all the fun of a reception without having to force anyone into marriage against their will, for the sake of a party.
Maybe this summer!
Two of the tamer sets from the photobooth with Jeff and Cayla.
I've been so behind this week; I have something like 40 blog posts to read.
Tuesday's run was the kind that runners love...and spouses of runners dread. Why? Because I came home totally pumped and wanted to tell every single detail as soon as I walked in the door.
Matt was very accommodating, but he had his "I'm kind of judging you/laughing at you" face on.
I had done T25 with Elizabeth, but it was only abs, so I really needed a run, but it looked liked maybe it wouldn't happen due to errands and some weird timing with dinner. I had planned to run a flat route and do a tempo run, but the sun was setting and I knew I'd be finished in the dark, so I needed a better route.
I know it's not recommended, but I decided to do my tempo on the bridge. Double speedwork points!
Temperatures in the 60s, clear skies, and daylight?!
So here's basically what I told Matt, but with less flailing and marginally better use of commas.
Mile 1: Keep it slow, self. A tempo run has to start slow; I might be so excited to be running and my legs feel so fresh but I need to save my energy for the bridge.
Mile 2: OMG OMG OMG I AM FLYING UP THIS BRIDGE I JUST PASSED THOSE COLLEGE GIRLS I'M FLYING!!!
A blurry shot as I began my second ascent on the bridge.
Mile 3: This isn't as easy as it was a minute ago, but I'm nearly done, I can slow down soon, just get through this mile...
Mile 4: This feels too slow. I need to find a balance...there it is. Ah, DONE. I am INVINCIBLE!
Final splits.
You all know the feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing a grueling run worth being proud of. I was seriously elated all night.
Post-run glow. (This is just for you, Kristina - see, I DO sweat!)
Today, we did T25 again, and then I met Kristin at Fit2Run for the Wednesday fun run. I wanted to get in five miles, but after yesterday's T25, last night's hard run, and this afternoon's workout, my knee needed the break. We kept the pace easy and I chose to cut the run a little short.
Our gorgeous path...it was a breezy 68 today. I love springtime!
Kristin and I talked the entire run; I felt light and happy. It was just the run I needed to complete today's workout without pushing too hard.
Tomorrow we leave in the early afternoon for the second March wedding I've been talking about. I am so excited. I have a new dress that really pushes me out of my comfort zone (meaning it's not black), and Matt is going to look so dapper in his tux.
I'm planning to get a run in either Friday morning or Saturday morning before the festivities begin. Fingers crossed that the weather stays gorgeous!
Sorry to gloat about the weather; you all have my permission to tease me right back from May to October when I'm roasting at 5am!
How are your runs going this week? Do you like tempo runs? Bridges: love them or hate them?
I've been really determined to live spring break to its fullest this year...and while that may no longer mean going to the beach everyday and enjoying strawberry daiquiris, it does mean waking up "early" and doing as much as possible. Here's a look at my life today.
My alarm goes off and it's time to make sure my workout plans for the day are still on! "Early" is relative, but if I need an alarm to get out of bed, that counts as early to me.
My morning routine is intense!
The first person awake uncovers Archie's cage so he can wake up, stretch, and eat breakfast.
Speaking of, my pre-T25 breakfast can't be too heavy. Today I had grapefruit and one piece of bread with PB.
I didn't get any T25 pictures today, so here's one of my "lunch"...A regular and chocolate peanut butter and banana sandwich! So healthy.
After lunch, it was run time. My left calf has been really tender so I wore one compression sleeve today. It was HOT. I soaked my legs in the pool after.
Just two miles, but it was brutal today.
After my run, I showered, got my hair cut, and took a nap! Not pictured - I had leftover curry for dinner and Archie threw the rice around.
Then it was time to meet some of the GGM girls for wine and reunion. It was SO nice to see them again!
Tomorrow I'm actually going to work even though it's still break...I'll be helping a couple teachers at a sister school improve their teaching methods. Which means...BEDTIME! What does you typical day look like when you're not at work? ABK
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