Getting things done

 

I did something crazy today. Several weeks ago, I planned a day at home so I could study for a certification test for work. I needed to read a book and some scintillating government documents, and take a practice test.

Fascinating day, I know.

We started the day with blueberry overnight oats. It was not a hit with the 5 year old, but I thought it was a good change to the breakfast menu. I want to try the peanut butter banana version next. And I liked the chia seeds, my first experience with them. I guess back to regular oatmeal or yogurt for the little dude.

Then, this was my seat for most of the day. Not a bad spot to spend a rainy day, just wish it was a book of my choice. Maybe next time.

I did plan a mid-day break if I had a productive morning. I am the worst procrastinator, so I looked up fitness classes last night. I found a noon yoga class, and set that as my reward.

I headed out in the rain and got there early enough to walk half of a mile at 4%. And I spotted Neon Blonde Runner at the gym, so bonus celebrity sighting. :) This was first yoga class with this instructor, and it was a great gentle class with lots of good cues. I need to find a way to make it back to another noon class on a Monday or Wednesday. She did give one cue that Beth at Shut Up and Run loved.

I finished up with another half a mile to make a mile towards #TeamGiraffe in the #ChillyChallenge.

I did manage to have a good rest of the afternoon. Reading done and practice test completed. Now to sign-up and get this monkey off my back.

How was your rainy Monday?

Oh, and I did finally sign up for the local Frostbite 15k for this Sunday. I'm missing the 10 mile group run on Saturday for a surprise I will share later, so this is the next best thing. I will sneak in another 0.7 before so I can tackle my first 10 miler. Hope the shirt is frosty cool.

 

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How did your week go? Foggy with a chance of ...

I definitely need to figure out a way to take more pictures. My blog posts are way too boring. Sorry, I will hopefully figure out something to break up the monotony.

After last week's 9 miler, I was worried about the knee. So when I'm worried, I don't post because I don't want to admit anything can be wrong.

Rather than run my scheduled 3 miler on Sunday, I took a pseudo rest day. I did end up walk/jogging a mile while chasing Little Dude around the block on his bike. The knee felt okay, but I kept up with foam rolling and icing. I spent almost the entire evening on my feet cooking 3 different meals: chili, lasagna, and taco meat. A few meals for the week and some for the freezer while the hubby was at the Redskins playoff game.

Since Sunday was a rest day, I could run on Monday and try to make it to yoga on Tuesday. Instead of 7, I backed off and did a conservative 6 miles. Knee felt okay, bonus.

Crazy,stressful day at work, check. Gentle yoga on Tuesday, check. Preschooler gets sent to the principal's office for saying threatening words to another student, check. Mommy needs a drink, check.

The rest of the week went as planned, 5 miles on Thursday. Rest days on Wednesday and Friday.

I'm trying to remember to do my plank a day with about a 50% success rate. I really need to set an alarm of something so I can remember to do this.

So, on to Saturday's long run. I was not feeling this run at all. My dear hubby (insert sarcasm) stayed up until 1:45, which means I slept fitfully because of the TV on downstairs, then woke up when he came to bed. Then he had the nerve to snore. Not a good's night sleep, and woke up before the alarm at 6:30. I really thought about bagging it but I had the route sheets for 3 other people. And it was foggy, and I couldn't decide what to wear because it was 50 degrees.

Thanks Run Pretty Far for summing it up for me.

So, with an extra shirt option in my bag, off I went. We rolled back this week to 7 miles. Now only if we hadn't gotten lost, and made it closer to 8 miles. I ended up with 7.63 miles in 1:16. Not bad, and there were Oreos at the SAG. Glad I went, and the knee felt fine.

Fingers crossed that I am back on track. I really need to not race during a training cycle to make sure I stay healthy.

And one more thing that made me laugh out loud.

And what tricks do you use to remember to plank? I need help.

 

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I'm a Runner

I was looking at my schedule for this weekend. I wanted to try a community yoga class offered by Lululemon, and it was close to my house. So a crazy thought crossed my mind, maybe I could run to yoga. When I mapped it, it came out to 2.8 miles. I thought, I could do that. Except for a very large hill. And how would I get my yoga mat there because I'm too weirded out to borrow a mat. And how would I get back home because running there is one type of crazy but running back would be insane.

So what does a crazy person do next, casually bring up this idea. To which, my husband threw out every excuse blocking my way. Except the hill because even he can't move mountains (not really a mountain, but you know what I mean). He said, "I'll bring your mat. And I'll pick you up after the class." Well, maybe my idea is not as crazy as I thought.

Then I mentioned it to a couple of other people who were nothing but encouraging. Dang it, now I should probably just do it. I tried to talk myself out of it, but guilt got the best of me. So, I'm glad people knew of my pseudo plan, because that's what actually made me do it.

Yoga class starts at 10:45, but because the class and instructor is popular, I knew I should be there a little early. I left the house at 9:52, and hubby would meet me at 10:30.

First mile 9:37, what the heck? Too fast even for a short run, slow down because there is really big hill coming up.

Second mile 10:15, still fast for me and I did walk a few seconds up the hill when my cadence dropped. But I made it to the top. I stopped to catch my breath and get some water because I haven't mastered running, breathing and drinking all at the same time.

0.53 mile 5:09, little shorter than I thought. And I made it there with time to spare.

Total time 25:02, 2.53 miles, avg SPM 170

Then I had a great yoga class. It was almost New York style (two fingers between mats) because it was so crowded. The instructor had us laughing at the end.

I'm so glad I did this. It's great to break out of your comfort zone. Even if it's so you can say, "Yeah, I did that." The old me wouldn't have had a ITB healthy enough to try crazy things like this. Glad everything is working as it should.

So, what's next? And I know many of you do much crazier things than this, so I don't think I'm tough. I'm just inspired by those I read.

T-Rex arms take on a new meaning

I can't believe a friend posted this on facebook tonight.  My tweet from earlier today.

@runjillybean Lesson learned from taking 2 months off from yoga. Can't raise arms above my head (t-rex arms) for two days after chaturangas.