Yup, had this post *almost* ready to go last week, but not quite ready. So I’m wrapping up April today. Technically I only missed running those last couple of days in April.
No real plans for any big goal races any time soon. Heck, at this rate the 5k the beginning of June will be my big goal race! It’s been a tough couple of months. So why do I keep returning to running?
Because most days I still love the way I feel after a run. I’m a much happier person. And yes, I was a huge Captain & Tenille fan back in the day.
Getting in scheduled runs
Still no scheduled runs. Thankfully no longer any snow, unlike March. I am still running without a real goal. I had just pretty much gotten a good base back — until last week. May will be another month of rebuilding that base slowly.
Grade Earned: A
Recording my runs
It must be easier when I’m not actually training for something and the mileage is low, because I’ve been good about recording my runs..
Grade Earned: A
Dynamic Warmup
Still skimping on this one. I can’t blame it too much on cold. Time and/or procrastination . . . that’s a different story.
Grade Earned: B
Foam Rolling
Every once in a while I get too busy to foam roll. My body tells me the next day I’ve been a bad girl.
Grade Earned: B+
Nutrition
Nutrition has definitely been tightened up. Still going through the discovery phase from Eat Live Thrive — read about it here, and at some point you can expect a follow up post. Of course the last week I’ve mostly been eating eggs, white rice, and drinking bone broth (but hey, that’s May, not April, anyway).
Grade Earned: B+
Support
- Massage? A short massage after the Delmar Dash.
- Chiropractor Appointment? Still not much going on, but it’s probably time for a maintenance appointment.
- Do I need a hair appointment? I had already made one for tomorrow. Gotta look decent for Mother’s Day.
Grade Earned: B+
Cross Training
There has been a lot of yoga, a lot of Pilates, and strength training is slowly being reintroduced. I get my best results as far as how I look if I’m lifting some — not to mention it’s really important as we age to keep those muscles strong! I get on the stationary bike as a warm up for workouts frequently. Well, that was all before I got sick, of course.
Grade Earned: A+
April 2019 gets . . .
. . . a A-. One race. Recreational running. Yoga, Pilates, and some strength training. Better nutrition, trying to discover the foods that really work for me, a slight weight loss. Some spring like weather — finally! Of course we can’t control the weather, but I can’t tell you how desperately I need some sunshine (too bad it went away again at the end of the month).
April Goals:
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- Continue to Prehab. Y. The foot is feeling better. Coincidence? Nope!
- Continue practicing yoga.Y.
- Restart PITT28 Modified. N. Decided to just stick with Yoga + Pilates for now.
- Plan out meals the day before. Y. Most of the time. It helps.
- Foam roll almost daily.Y. Most of the time — although I will admit I’ve fallen back to foam rolling only when I run, and I do personally see a benefit from it on non-running days too.
- Start an Elimination Diet. Y. To me it’s been fascinating (see my review of Eat Live Thrive Diet for a little more info here).
- Meal plan on the weekends! Y. Most of the time. It’s always a fluid practice, as it should be — but having some kind of plan helps you to stay on track.
- A short race? I went into the Delmar Dash undertrained (read about it here) and unsure of whether or not it was really the best idea. Glad I ultimately decided to do it.
Which leads me to May Goals:
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- Continue to Prehab. As always, something is always better than nothing.
- Strength train 2 – 3x week. I did start a little strength training again in April. I don’t want to go crazy with it — I have a tendency to think I must always squeeze it in and push when I probably shouldn’t — but I would like to push just a little bit more. Stronger person = stronger runner. Except of course I need to ease back into it again.
- Continue practicing Yoga. Yoga just makes me feel good. And there are so many different ways to practice yoga! It actually has helped in my last two illnesses.
- Foam roll almost daily. I’d really like to say daily, but I just know that won’t happen.
- Start the Lifestyle Phase of the ELT Diet. As I write this I am almost done with the Discovery Phase. I only had 2 foods left to test! I should still be able to start Discovery this month. It’s time to move on to figure out just how many carbs my body really needs.
- Meal plan on the weekends! Much easier to shop and eat well when I have a plan.
- Plan out meals the day before. I have definitely found that doing my planning in an afternoon break works well, but I still do have days where I don’t have that afternoon break. Progress, not perfection, and consistency are the keys.
- A short race? Hmm, do I want to do a 5k that isn’t far from my house this Thursday evening? Maybe. Again, stay tuned! Yeah, well, obviously that didn’t happen. It wasn’t meant to be.
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
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
Chocolaterunsjudy 
A great month (and I LOVE the braid. I kind of miss my braidable long hair even though it was actually pretty annoying to have and I like my sensible bob). I am with you on not telling yourself to do something like rolling EVERY day, as there’s always something. Have a good May now you’re feeling better!
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I have had both short and long hair, although mostly long. Every time I cut it short I miss my long hair. But then I get bored with it because it basically never changes! Even my Dad commented on that!
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I’m glad you’re feeling better and ready to get back to work! Like you, I’m working on my diet. I’d give myself a B on that. Everything else gets an A for effort but that’s about it.
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I’m always working on my diet, LOL. I feel as though this will actually give me what I’ve been looking for — how much carbs are right for ME. I’m never going to go low carb, but it’s become very obviously I have to curb my carbs a little.
I ate a fairly normal dinner yesterday — finally! I love my veggies, but they’re so hard to digest when your stomach is upset. Good thing I do like green smoothies!
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Good for you for practicing yoga and Pilates so much. That has to leave you feeling peaceful and loose. Glad to read that love is keeping you and running together. I’m working on diet too – trying to go low fat and now I’m also trying to cut out added sugar.
Love your braid! And thanks – now I will have that song in my head all day! 🙂
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Pilates is not quite as peaceful for me as Yoga, although Yoga can be un-peaceful too (think power yoga). I enjoy both a lot though, and it’s always easier to squeeze in the things you enjoy.
I don’t love strength training per se, but I love what it does for me.
Yes, I’m sorry about the earworm. 🙂
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Yes, I used to do power yoga with a friend. It was quite a workout! More of a workout than I wanted. I love to do some gentle stretches and strengthening moves.
Gotta love The Captain and Tenille!
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I’m so glad that you are feeling better.
Looks like you had a great April overall. I’m so curious to learn more about your thoughts on the ELT diet.
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I’m going to have to do another short elimination at some point, because I have eaten toast most every day for the last week (wheat is one of the foods that often creates reactions). I just have corn & sugar to test, really, after that, and then it’s all about figuring out how much carbs are right for me.
It is NOT a low carb diet, not at all, but it’s all about finding out what really works for your body.
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A very good plan for May. I think that planning a race is always a good idea: no matter the finishing time but the atmosphere of the event and the special feelings are priceless.
Don’t you have the possibility to include a thermal bath in your list? Here we have ancient roman hot/warm thermal baths and it’s always a wonderful healthy experience.
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No, there are no thermal baths here. There is a place with an infrared sauna near, and that’s supposed to be very healthy too. One of these days I definitely want to try it.
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There are thermal baths in Saratoga.
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I’m trying to get back into a yoga groove. I don’t have time (or, actually, choose to not MAKE time LOL) to do it for hours at a time, but I know even 20-30 minutes is beneficial.
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You’ll notice it’s pretty rare for me to even do an hour of yoga at a time. Like most things, I think consistency is the most important thing and even if you only have 5 minutes after a run, you can benefit!
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You did great in April! Glad to hear you are feeling better.
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Thanks for always reminding me how important it is to keep up w my foam rolling. Pre planning my meals always helps when I can get my hubs to cooperate! Hope you are feeling better today!
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I swear my husband just thinks food appears. He never wants to think about it. Which is why he stares in the fridge wondering what’s for dinner (if I’m not cooking) or lunch on the weekends.
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Great job with those April goals! And I love that braid, it looks like it was complicated to do.
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The braid is super simple. I just gather a ponytail at the top of my head and then do a french braid. Because of the layers in my hair, it just looks better if I put in that ponytail first.
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Glad you are feeling better.
I bet you’re glad that you have no big races on the schedule.
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I’m really glad that Mr. Judy didn’t succumb either. Still tired but finally eating pretty normally again. The tiredness is mostly do to just not eating a whole lot of a long time (just couldn’t).
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