May 2017: Did I pass?

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

bmaygrade17

The toll of three halfs in as many months began to make itself known in May. I am in awe of people who run marathons every month or a gazillion halfs a month. That’s not me.

Let’s get into it.

Getting in scheduled runs
Cold, rainy long runs. Sudden 90 degree heat. Windy. May wasn’t a run/walk in the park (see what I did there?). Every once in a while we caught a beautiful day to run, but they were few and far between.

I was able to run recovery runs the week following my half at the end of April (read about it here), but I had to skip one tempo run when my hamstring complained. Which was the right call.

Grade Earned:  A-

Recording my runs
I’m doing pretty good journaling. Which is a good thing, as I needed that journal to see what I ran the last time I was forced to do a tempo run on my treadmill. But there were definitely a few times where it took a few days to get around to recording a run.

Grade Earned: A-

Dynamic Warmup
I won’t lie, some days my dynamic warmup was very abbreviated. And some days I added in a few extra exercises to keep my glutes and hamstrings happy.

Grade Earned: A

Foam Rolling
I was “rolling” right along, until one night after a long run when I just chose rest over getting my foam rolling in. I really need to make more of an effort to do it as soon after a run as possible!

Grade Earned: A-

Respecting my body
I skipped a run when it became clear that my body was rebelling for whatever reason. I was tired much of this month, but I actually felt more recovered than I did after NOLA.

Grade Earned: A

Nutrition
I made a few poor choices food-wise in May, but usually each time I did so, I learned something from it. Buttered popcorn at the movies and an Auntie Anne’s Pretzel for dinner one night in the same week really wasn’t the best idea. I don’t get Auntie Anne’s often at all, though, and I’d been craving one for long time. Sometimes it’s a good idea to get those cravings out of the way.

I was getting into the sweets a bit too much — even healthy sweets aren’t healthy when eaten all the time.

I began to slowly clean up my eating (although you’d never know it from my weekly wrap a little while ago which you can drool over here!), and my pants began to fit a little better.

Grade Earned: B

Support
I made my chiropractor appointment ahead of time. Although my left hip was really bothering after my last appointment — and continued to bother me afterward, too. Sometimes I’ll be a little sore after an adjustment and then it goes away. This was weird.

In fact, I runfess (see more runfessions here, if you missed them) that it was really killing me right before the Mud & Chocolate Half — but I knew I’d be okay to race, and I was.

I should have gotten back in there, but life was busy. Eventually it calmed down.

Grade Earned: A-

Cross Training
I fell off the stationary bike but back into the pool. And the sauna was fixed, which made me so happy. But swimming was only once a week.

Grade Earned: B

May 2017 gets  . . . 
. . . a B. Or maybe a B+. I did meet most of my May goals, except the meeting up with friends to run. My schedule just doesn’t seem to jive with my friends’ lately. I did run with Jan once.

Goals for June:

  • Continue keeping my journal up to date.
  • Swim.
  • Listen carefully to my body again after my next half.
  • Hopefully Rachel @ Runningonhappy will be dialing back my mileage now that my next half isn’t until October. I’m ready for a small break.
  • Get back into the stationary bike habit.
  • Get new trail shoes so I can hopefully run trails again occasionally before it gets too buggy!

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.

Tor-box

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

coachescorner

31 thoughts on “May 2017: Did I pass?”

    1. Sometimes rest is the right call. But not always. It’s so hard to motivate yourself when you’re tired, though!

      A B because as I explained, an A is for perfect. It definitely wasn’t a perfect month. Not a bad one, but not perfect.

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  5. Did you pass? Hell , yes. You are the most disciplined runner I know. You even run in the rain.

    So congrats on another solid month. You should rock that next half.

    Hope you can re-arrange your running schedule at some point and fit me in LOL.

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    1. Heck, I know that’s not true. Look at all the stuff Wendy & Holly do. Kim’s 5@5. This half is about fun & scenery.

      As to meeting up, *I’m* not the one that bailed on Monday. šŸ™‚ Or ran in Lake George. So it might just be more you fitting me into your schedule. Not gonna happen this week, anyway, not with the rain.

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      1. Unfortunately I have to run after work. I would have run yesterday after the rain stopped around 4 pm. I may not get any runs in at all this week. Or I may. I’m flexible about mileage.

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      2. I didn’t know you worked yesterday. But I also knew you were unlikely to run after 2 days of running.

        I doubt you would have wanted to join me for downhill repeats anyway. Which is down & uphill in actuality.

        This week just isn’t going to work between weather and getting everything done. When I get back I will be doing my weekend runs with my group.

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      3. The rain stopped yesterday at 4 pm is what I meant. I’ll be in NYC this week – running may or may not happen. Weekends this summer are for races and/or boating so that leaves weekdays after work. I just do relaxing easy runs. So we may just see each other at Wineglass.

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      4. But when you run with Alyssa you run harder.

        It’s definitely easier for me to run later when it’s light but the last few months my time has been limited. Course Father’s Day is when I get back so I’m still going to be tired for a while.

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    1. That’s what Wendy said. I must have missed it. I returned the shoes for some new Ghosts, but I still need some new trail shoes because I’d like to run trails occasionally before winter sets in! Which today seems as if it could be tomorrow. šŸ™‚

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  8. You did well. Kudos to you Judy.
    I’ve never taken the time to journal my running or to assign grades to myself. Both really good ideas and am inspired, in part by your post, to start both. Thanks.

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    1. Well the grade thing was a blogging prompt — I didn’t come up with that on my own! Didn’t come up with journaling on my own either.

      Give it a try — you may or may not like it, but you never know until you try.

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    1. She doesn’t do ART, although she does all sorts of stuff. It’s not unusual for me to be a little sore; this was different. Way beyond a little sore, although it didn’t interfere with my race.

      I just went today, and we took it a little easier (not that she did anything drastic the last time) just in case.

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  10. This just got me thinking about my 26.2 training log….and how I have not documented much on it, but it’s all on my wall calendar (scribbled in the microscopic date squares) and there are ample details on my blog and Instagram/Facebook posts LOL I think you had a solid, consistent month…deserving of an A šŸ˜‰

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    1. Nah, it wasn’t an A month. I’m not saying it was a bad month, just not A-worthy.

      I find it easier to look back through my written journal than my blog, mostly. It’s different for everybody!

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  12. I suppose I could take a hint that you’d like to drop back your mileage… šŸ˜‰

    You had a great month. But I totally understand feeling the demands of training and needing a break. I’m right there with you! I’m looking forward to a nice break after June racing myself. Great month, Judy!

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