I'm currently (or will soon be) on a flight to DC with my 8th graders. We have a 45 minute layover during which we are not allowed to get off the plane. We board at 7am and arrive after 1pm. Pray for me.
Here are three songs I will probably be listening to on the plane to drown out the 90 students on this trip. This week's theme is loud, energized, and good-mood-inducing music!
Bleachers - Don't Take the Money. Just good ol' fun, upbeat music. There's a little bit of an '80s vibe that I dig, too.
Capital Cities - Vowels. ASL, impressive dancing, awesome beat...I love this song and video! After looking up the video to link here, I watched it three times.
What music do you like to listen to when you travel or need a pick-me-up? ABK
Monday 5/1: Rest. I did a few squats and stretches, but no real workout.
Tuesday 5/2: A little run using 4/:45 intervals. My legs felt pretty "clompy" and uncoordinated the entire time; it was really hot and humid out, so it could have been that. Or it could've been something else. Who knows at this point?!
2 miles, 4/:45 run/walk, 10:23 pace.
Wednesday 5/3: Two Blogilates videos with Stacey. Elizabeth was out but we used her classroom because it's the only one with enough space to work out in!
During these videos, especially the arms, we always talk to Cassey like we know her. "Okay Cassey, c'mon, start counting down...you're killing me Cassey!"
Thursday 5/4: Full-body mini-circuit followed by two miles. This was the first run that was virtually pain-free. I took a slightly different route, too.
I've been sticking to the golf course because it's easy to just hop out there when the mood strikes, and I'm nervous to actually drive to one of my usual running routes these days, so taking a new route on the course was a nice change.
Friday 5/5: I made a stretch-and-recovery circuit because I was really feeling Wednesday's workout! While I did that, Elizabeth did some various Blogilates videos. I like that sometimes we work out together but focus on what we each need individually.
That evening, Elizabeth ran the two miles to my house (with her husband and daughter, who scooted the entire way), stopped to have some water and chat, and then ran home. I jokingly told her, "I love that you ran over here because it proves you like running!" and she denied denied denied...but I think she missed it more than she's saying! Saturday 5/6: 2.3 miles...and the pain was definitely back this time. I felt it about a mile in, and around mile 1.5 I had to stop my run interval to stretch it out. I'd put the pain at a 7/10. I'll keep attempting to run this week to make sure this wasn't a fluke.
I got the bill for that first set of tests and I am feeling pretty dejected at the moment. I get to pay an arm and a leg to have learned nothing, and I still will need to get more definitive tests before I can have surgery. So...yeah. Injuries suck. Sunday 5/7: Rest.
Can I make this a thing? I'm making it a thing. Not every Wednesday, but every once in awhile I just feel the need to compile my latest music obsessions. It also makes it easy for me when I'm looking to update my playlist on my phone, which I rarely do. I use Google Play most of the time.
Ta-da! Now it's a thing!
Anyway, here's what's stuck in my head lately.
888 - Seattle Rain. Something about this song reminds me of music I loved during my freshman and sophomore year of college, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's maybe a little reminiscent of Yellowcard but with a lighter feel. This song is catchy, fun, and toes the line between upbeat and mellow.
Marian Hill - Down. This is totally not my usual kind of music, but this song has such a unique sound that I just can't stop listening to it.
Welshly Arms - Legendary. I am a sucker for songs that would make good background music for some strutting into a bar or a fight or a bar-fight. This one is no exception.
Arkells - Knocking at the Door. Yeah, that description above? Ditto for this song. I feel invincible when I listen to this.
Revivalists - Wish I Knew You. I'll finish this list on my favorite of the bunch. There are elements that hearken back to funk and "jam band" but it's very fresh and current, too. (There's a quality to the vocalist's delivery of "Oh I hope you don't mind/We can share my mood" that is so familiar but I can't put my finger on why!) I really love how alternative bands are reinventing classic sounds these days.
Do you and I have the same taste in music? Are you a sucker for epic "walk up" songs? Can you tell me why the last song sounds so familiar at that one part?! ABK
First of all, thank you all so much for your helpful comments (and emails) about my last post. I have an appointment with a sports medicine doctor set for April 10 and hopefully something good comes of it; in the meantime, I'll be doing some yoga (thanks, Kristina) and trying intervals and maybe some shoe testing (thanks, Karen). I'll also be relying pretty heavily on classroom workouts for a little while.
Speaking of, this week, Elizabeth's and my third musketeer is joining us for workouts! She has been wanting to join but had some scheduling things to figure out. Now, though, she'll start joining us for classroom workouts after school. I hope she doesn't mind sweaty selfies!
We have been looking forward to her joining us for MONTHS.
I've been pretty exhausted and bummed because of my leg drama, but a few videos I watched this week made me laugh/lifted my spirits, so I'm sharing them for you guys!
Guys, runners take things really seriously and are super intense about stuff. Why don't we treat everything we do with the same gusto?!
Also, who's to say just because I'm taking pictures in my active wear that I've been active that day? There's a whole new genre of clothing completely designed around looking athletic but lounging hardcore.
This isn't running related, but with the new Beauty & the Beast coming out (starring my woman-crush Emma Watson), I had to share this. B&tB is my favorite fairytale ever - Disney or otherwise - because I love a bookish brunette heroine. Cinderella may be played here by one of my all-time favorite actresses, but Belle wins hands down.
Finally, anytime I'm feeling really quite bad, or even just a little blue, this song lifts me out of it...or at least makes me feel a little less alone. It's funny, poignant, and honest. The second stanza is especially apropos these days, and the end always gives me chills. I can't recommend it highly enough.
(Sidenote: If you like genuine musical talent with a splash of irreverent humor, Tim Minchin is for you. I have lost hours down the YouTube rabbit hole listening to his performances. If you think you may like him, definitely watch Storm next.)
These videos got me through Tuesday. I hope they bring a little joy to your mid-week surfing!
What other hobby do you take as "seriously" as running?
Monday: I have a love/hate relationship with PopSugar and the way it talks about fitness. There's a lot of garbage about cleanses and losing weight on their website, but their workouts are really great for small spaces and limited gear. I found this link to 13 5-Minute Workout Videos and they are exactly what I need for Mondays.
I only did the videos pictured above because I wanted to focus on my core and stretching, but the leg workouts look really good, too.
Tuesday: W/U .3 @ 9:40; 1 mile @ 8:10; 4x800 @ 8:19. Elizabeth and I did some speed work at the park. My plan was do mile repeats, but after the first I knew I had to adjust the plan. Whatever horrific cold I had a couple weeks ago has finally caught up with Elizabeth, and she couldn't seem to catch her breath. She didn't ask me to adjust the plan, but I could tell by her wheezing that it was for the best; I really didn't want her to keel over!
The change in color gradation was so cool! I love cloudy sunsets.
We ended up finishing the workout by doing half-mile repeats. We kept a really good pace and I felt pretty strong, but I probably rested more between them than I should have. Technology worked for us today, so that's a bonus.
Wednesday: We played around on the Blogilates website and chose a few videos to target our legs, abs, back, and arms. It's been awhile since we've done Blogilates so it was a nice change to come back to!
Thursday: The day before a race I usually rest, but I just felt like running. Elizabeth and I did a moderate 4 miles. My legs felt great, but the humidity is still really taking a lot of effort out of me. Even with a walk break around 3 miles, we were able to keep our pace sub-10, so I was happy!
It left me feeling both physically ready for Friday's race and nervous about the weather conditions.
Friday: Howl at the Moon 5k! This was a night race and the course was almost completely unlit. I had a great race - more details to come in the recap this week - and had zero calf pain! Downward dog is working!
Saturday: Rest! We slept in, then drove up to see my family for a not-really-but-kind-of Rosh Hashanah dinner.
Sunday: 9 miles with Elizabeth. I was absolutely exhausted. My legs felt okay but my body was just dragging. We kept a very slow pace and took some consistent walk breaks every mile or so.
I'm actually surprised our paces aren't more varied! It felt like we were all over the place.
It felt cool at the start (75 degrees) but the 89% humidity caught up with us, I guess. Can we have fall weather yet?!
This week I got in all my workouts as scheduled and felt really good! This was a solid one!
I traveled a LOT this week, but still managed to be fairly successful with my workouts. I'm feeling good about overcoming circumstances and making fitness a priority on the road! Monday: After traveling up to Clearwater to visit with my Sub30 buddy Melanie, I settled in at my parents' house for training this week and got in a couple quick ab circuits. Please disregard the stupid video titles. I really like Blogilates but I don't like that her older video titles really play on the old "bikini body" tropes.
I did 10 burpees before and 10 after, too.
Tuesday: After training from 9-12, it was looking very stormy at my parents'. They live on a loop that's 2/3 of a mile, so when it was clear that it wasn't going to storm but was going to stay kind of dark and cool, I went out for an earlier run than usual.
True story: 86 and 65% humidity felt downright cool at first. It's crazy how humidity can make such a difference.
As you can see by my splits, toward the end the clouds began to blow over and it started to heat up again and I began to feel queasy. I didn't want to run the last lap but I convinced myself to do it, even if it was slow. I know I also suffered because I've never done these longer repeats so fast; I'm usually in the 8:30s the entire time. The first three splits were closer to how fast I run 1/3 of a mile at the park. Between laps I did bicep curls, presses, and pushups.
Wednesday & Thursday: I rested both days. Wednesday my right hip flexor really hurt so I planned to rest, and Thursday we ended up having a late dinner with friends and driving all over Sarasota to visit Matt's old ceramics teacher and nana. I was okay with taking two rest days in a row because traveling allows leads to special circumstances.
Friday: I got up before work and ran 5 miles because I knew I wouldn't have a chance in the afternoon - more travel! I thought I'd only have time for four miles, but my new shoes and cooler weather (75F with 67% humidity!) meant I ran fast enough to fit in five!
I am super excited for my new Ravennas. I'll post about them after I've tried them out more, but I think I've finally got a good replacement for the Kayanos!
Saturday: We drove up to St. Augustine Friday night to spend the weekend at our friends' beach house. I was so excited to do a quick circuit in the morning on the balcony to our bedroom. It was hot and mildly breezy; I did about 15 minutes of core and upper-body stuff.
Sunday: I haven't really been motivated to run long at all since it's gotten so much hotter in July. Luckily, that's fine because I'm not training for anything long and this is my year for short distance! I got up and ran 4 miles at 9:38 pace (and negative splits the entire time) and felt pretty good about it all, especially because after a day hanging out with friends, it was hard to muster the energy to get out of bed.
But it was worth it, because this greeted me as I stepped outside! I ran on the Coastal Highway rather than on the beach because the tide was too high, but it was still a lovely run and a gorgeous view!
How was your week? Do you like running on the beach? Where do you go for weekend getaways? ABK
