Now who doesn’t love this Whitney Houston song? Such a wonderful voice, such a sad ending to her life. My June was not sad, though; in fact, there were lots of fun times! June was about coming back to running — on my terms. Running how and when I want, something we all need to do sometimes to remind ourselves about why we fell in love with running in the first place.


Getting in scheduled runs
Still no big goals in sight, still listening to my body and running when, how, and for how long I want to.
Grade Earned: A
Recording my runs
I haven’t gotten back to writing down pre and post run stuff, which is helpful, but I’m still recording my runs. I think that it helps that my planner, journal, and running journal are all one and the same.
Grade Earned: A-
Dynamic Warmup
Running almost completely outside, so in general I’ve gotten back to doing dynamic warmups. Things do get a little tricky as it warms up — you don’t want to warm up in the Winter because it’s too cold (and you need it the most!), and then in the Summer you procrastinate too long, it’s too hot, and you just want to get out there (yup, that happened just yesterday and there was zero warmup).
Grade Earned: B
Foam Rolling
Still rolling, rolling, rolling. Sliding just a tiny bit on PT exercises for my foot (it’s been almost a year!), but it let’s me know when I’ve ignored it for too long.
Grade Earned: A-

Nutrition
I started out the month really strong, seeing a number on the scale I haven’t seen in a few years — and then I got just a little bit off course towards the middle of the month. Next month I plan to give my body a break and just maintain my weight, but I’d like to be maintaining a little lower than where I am right now.
It’s really easy to get loosey goosey with eating when the scale is giving you good reports — I’m still motivated, though, so I’ll tighten things up just a bit. Well, maybe!
Grade Earned: B+
Support
- Massage? I actually had a really good (free!) massage after Freihofers.
- Chiropractor Appointment? Why yes I did.
- Do I need a hair appointment? We are definitely approaching the tipping point there.
Grade Earned: B+

Cross Training
Pilates, Yoga, and strength training, oh my — once I was feeling better! More time on the stationary bike. Unfortunately my shoulder started to complain towards the end of the month, so I wasn’t able to progress my strength training as much as I wanted to. Shoulder is fine now, but ST is still a bit lacking. We even got in one short hike in between all the rain!

Grade Earned: A+
June 2019 gets . . .
. . . a A-. 2 races. Fun with friends. Short hike. Maintaining my weight. No injuries.
June Goals:
-
- Continue to Prehab. Y. A little side tracked but mostly doing good.
- Strength train 2 – 3x week. Y. Definitely more like twice a week, and usually not too long, but you gotta start somewhere.
- Start extending my weekend runs. Y. Hanging around 5-6 miles. It’s been a little hard balancing life lately!
- Continue practicing Yoga. Y. Still enjoying my studio classes & home practice.
- Foam roll almost daily. I’d really like to say daily, but I just know that won’t happen.
- Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. Y. Weight is maintaining fairly well, but definitely need to tighten up my eating just a smidge.
- Meal plan on the weekends! Y/N. I’ve been busy, and while I haven’t completely let it go, the weeks I wing it more generally don’t turn out as well with healthy eating. On the other hand, I even prepped some Mason Jar salads towards the end of the month & that was a life saver!
- A short race? Y. In addition to Freihofers 5k, which kicked off the month, I also ran a trail 5k.
Which leads me to July Goals:
-
- Continue to Prehab. Whenever I start skipping it, my feet remind me they still need it.
- Strength train 2 – 3x week. Muscles atrophy as we age if we don’t use them, folks.
- Start extending my weekend runs. Maintain about a 6 mile long run once a week. Ok to go a little longer if I’m feeling it — ok not to if I’m not feeling it.
- Continue practicing Yoga. Yoga just makes me feel good.
- Foam roll almost daily. I’d really like to say daily, but I just know that won’t happen.
- Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. So far, for the first time in my life, this is working for me. I spent so many years carefully tracking all my food — I’m okay with doing it again,too, if I get off track — but all those years of tracking have given me a pretty good idea of what healthy eating looks like — that’s really the point of tracking!
- Meal plan on the weekends! Much easier to shop and eat well when I have a plan.
- Annual Fourth of July race. Looks like it will be just me and one friend (actually, 2 other friends are signed up) this year. It also looks to be the hottest day of the year so far, but the tradition will (most likely) go on (and we’ll end on a little Celine Dion).
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
No sickness. That’s a big plus. Two races and a hike. Sounds like one successful month. Hoping July brings even more activity.
Have fun on Thursday. Heat doesn’t bother me. I wish they started earlier so I could run it. I’m running one of my favorite 5ks on July 13.
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I wish it started earlier and heat definitely bothers me. Sigh.
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You’ve had a great start to the year! I didn’t recap my 6 months because it would have been one big whine. It’s been a tough year for me so far. I’m hoping that the 2d half is better!
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LOL, that was the recap for June. I actually had a rough spring. I’ve had a run of tough years, too, unfortunately.
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I love that song too! June was a pretty good month for you. No injuries is always a win!
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June was definitely a good month but man it went by fast!
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Yes it did.
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What a great month you had! One of my goals for July is also to focus on my nutrition a little more.
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Nutrition is always a goal — especially now, since I can’t use running more as a crutch. OTOH, not as much rungries!
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I love how you really set some goals and keep yourself accountable. I have a feeling we may be running the same race on July 4th! I will look for you amongst the crowds.
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My bib will have my blog name on it, actually. Another race I love to hate (because of the always too hot weather).
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You did great on your June goals! I find it hard to meal plan. I go to the grocery store and buy things all willy nilly…drives my husband crazy.
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I definitely haven’t been as good at meal planning lately, but I always go with a list. Always! I may buy other stuff too — although sometimes I forget to put something on the list & it doesn’t get bought!
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A very good month, for the races and because you came back to running.
And now have a great running July!!!!
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Thank you! Yes, June was finally a good month.
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Sounds like you’re doing great and staying very much on track! Way to go! I’m sure you’re going to have a great time at your 4th of July race! Can’t wait to read about it!
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I probably wouldn’t have done the 4th race if I’d been on my own (even though it’s tradition!). It’s gonna be tough — for us — for you it would probably just be business as usual!
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You had a great month! Foam rolling (almost) daily is definitely something I also need to add to my regime. I only think to do it right before I work out and I know it would help me so much to do it more often!
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I pretty much only do it before my runs, too. I did do it before AND after once this week though! It’s a work in progress.
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Looks like you had a great month!
“Muscles atrophy as we age if we don’t use them, folks” – so true and I try to emphasize that with my older clients. I can certainly see the age related atrophy happening (especially in the last couple of years) even though I lift three times a week.
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I know I don’t do as much ST as I should, but I do at least make an effort. I still am not as strong as I’m sure I could be, and there’s an awful lot of hanging skin & folds going on.
I’m not sure if that’s just an aging thing, or the result of gaining & losing 40 lbs multiple times in my life, or a combination of both, or even just too high body fat. Probably all 3 . . .
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You had a pretty stellar month hitting your goals. I have slacked a bit with my meal planning lately so I need to get back on that too
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Meal planning is still a bit lacking, but at least I’m making meals so I’m giving myself that! A lot of salads this week (too hot to cook!).
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Sounds like you’re doing great!!! I need to sign up for something so I can get more regular with my workouts. I did weights and a plank tonight.
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Weights & a plank is really good!
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Thanks!!!
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Sounds like a solid month! I have a new-to-me 4th of July race, and the weather is looking a little iffy (scattered storms..40% off/on all day), so I’m hoping we’ll get an opportune window of dryness at start time. Good luck with your race!
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I WISH it would rain tomorrow (which tells you how bad it’s gonna be. But no worse than last year. Which reminds me I really have to hydrate well today . . . have a good 4th & good luck with your race!
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That ice cream photo, I love/hate you right now 😀
Had such good ice cream down the shore Monday night
I need to be better with the dynamic warmups. we do them with the run group but I”m bad on my own
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I’m good about dynamic warmups when I have the time, but so often I seem to be time crunched (I know, I don’t even work!). Definitely been known to skip it.
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It sounds like you had a really successful month! I need to be better at the dynamic warmups and rolling (especially after what I’ve been talking about after my fitness convention!).
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Cobbler’s children & all that. I’m pretty good about rolling, pretty good about my dynamic warmups but they’re usually the first thing to go when I’m rushed.
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