April 2017: Did I pass?

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

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The great thing about running two halfs a month a part is that you really don’t have to work as hard. Especially when you decide that the second half is just a training run (we’ll see how that works).

Let’s dive right into how April went down.

A beauftul day to say goodbye to running around Vassar College
Getting in scheduled runs
I had hoped to run a couple of races this month, but I had to continue working on my parents’ house and it was easiest to go down on the weekends when I didn’t have to pay someone to watch the dogs — because it’s an all day thing. So no races for me until my half.

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Ran a lot of hilly trails

Running trails meant driving to run half the time. Thankfully it’s only about a 15 minute drive.

It took a while for Spring to bust out

Now I did skip a few scheduled recovery runs when I got back from my last half. It seemed to take me a really long time to recover for whatever reason. I knew it was the right decision for me and that I could get back at it in enough time to train for the next half — and I did.

Grade Earned:  A

Recording my runs
My journal is getting filled again. Occasionally I forgot to record a run for a few days, but mostly I get it down the day of or the next day.

Grade Earned: A-

Dynamic Warmup
While there were still a few chilly runs, there was no mind numbingly cold runs. I may have abbreviated my warmup a few times, but I don’t think I ever skipped it. I received the book Hit Reset (Amazon Affiliate link) to review, so I started throwing in little bits of yoga when I ran from home — which wasn’t often!

Grade Earned: A

Foam Rolling
Nailed it. Yeah, no sooner did I write that, before the end of the month, then I had a very busy few nights and totally forgot to foam roll one night.

Grade Earned: A-

Respecting my body
I took the rest I needed at the beginning of the month. It seemed to take me a really long time to bounce back from NOLA, for whatever reason. The payoff was never getting really sick and feeling strong by the end of the month.

Grade Earned: A

Nutrition
It’s been a difficult month of going back and forth to my parents. I relied on frozen foods a little more than I really like to. I didn’t have as much time to make my own food as I’d like to.

I’d like to say that I left all those delicious treats from NOLA behind me in March, only then there was a full weekend working on my parents’ home, and that humongous brownie sundae. After I hadn’t been running too much (because we’d just come back from NOLA that week!). However, I didn’t order it, my niece did, and we shared it between about four people.

And I am now looking forward to eating all the chocolate after my half. Because the spread is supposed to be awesome.

Grade Earned: A- (or is that a B?)

Support
Only one chiropractor appointment, but that’s because that’s all I felt I needed.

I got one massage — and even booked it ahead of time! Usually I’m booking last minute.

And I tried out Halotherapy (more on that at a future date).

Grade Earned: A

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Got back at it!
Cross Training
I got back on my stationary bike on a pretty frequent basis. Pilates and yoga became more frequent.

I still haven’t made time for the pool . . . maybe now that I don’t have to spend every weekend down at my parents’ and the weather is getting nicer I’ll find some time. Except there’s Mother’s Day, there’s a graduation . . . I miss swimming and the peaceful feeling it gives me!

Grade Earned: A

April 2017 gets  . . . 
. . . an A-. I don’t think there’s ever a perfect month, but I rested my body when it needed it, I got back at it as soon as I could, I started to cross train a bit more, and I spent a fair amount of time on prehab.

Goals for May:

  • Continue keeping my journal up to date.
  • Swim.
  • Listen carefully to my body again — if I need some recovery time after my half, take it; even though I have another half in a month, I’ll be okay
  • Hills. Hills. Hills. I spent a lot of time on hills in April — my April half will be hilly — in May it’s time to continue focusing on downhill repeats in prep for UT.
  • Try to meet up with a friend for a run more often — shouldn’t be too difficult since I only did it once in April!
  • I’m in a vegetable rut — asparagus, bell peppers, carrots. I’ve been trying to mix it up a bit more, I’ve done baby bok choy, but it’s time to do make sure I’m getting more variety.

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

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This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup

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24 thoughts on “April 2017: Did I pass?”

  1. Oh Judy you are such an inspiration! I wish I were half as committed. All I do is 2 hours of yours everyday and that’s all! I really need to get my shit together and kick some booty 😉

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  2. Great month! Just having it warm up a bit seems to relax me and improve my mood. When you mention veggie rut I’m reminded that I’m in a dinner rotation rut. Kind of sick of lots of the things I’ve been making lately.

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  3. Congrats on a solid month. Did you join the Monday night trail group? Maybe I’ll get to run with you but I doubt it will be in May.

    Hope you enjoy your trail half and your visit to the inlaws.

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    1. I’ve prewritten all these posts and keep forgetting they’re not live yet.

      Hope, I never made it. Just wasn’t in the cards. I think they end at the end of May but am not sure.

      Good luck on your half & enjoy NYC.

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  5. I’d say you MORE than passed! You are doing so well with your goals. I also love that you are in a vegetable rut – i don’t hear people talk about that quite often and it sounds like you have some good veggies you get! I love bok choy. What are some new veggies you wanna try? I’m all about the cooked spinach these days and also roasted cauliflower!

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  7. That looks like that trail run was a good workout!

    I just read about “reset” in my WR Magazine today and it did interest me.

    OK, I have to ask. I’ve seen that painting that is behind you in your other blog posts as well and I am wondering what it says. Does it say “Nuts”?

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    1. It’s actually a photo my husband took while in HS (I believe). It’s a photo of a bunch of nuts. I don’t remember how he did the title, but I’m sure he’d be happy to talk about it.

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  8. I need to get better at my dynamic warm up, but since I’m not battling anybody in the fitness room anymore for one of the 3 treadmills, I can take my time before running in the neighborhood.

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    1. I’m a semi-vegetarian, so I eat a LOT of veggies. Basically, I eat vegetarian about maybe 75% of the time, and it would probably be more, if I weren’t living with a carnivore. I often make two different meals, too.

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    1. It’s not that I don’t know how to cook em; it’s just those are the ones I find that need the least prep.

      I love cauliflower & broccoli, for instance, but they take more time. I also get into a rut with salads and fall back on the stuff that’s easy — I have broken out of that a little lately, and it should be a *little* easier going forward now that hopefully not all my time will be tied up by my parents.

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