Reunited & It Feels So Good: October 2019

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

breunited

I got a small break in October (see last month’s “grade” herefor what’s been going on), but it ramped up at the end of the month with my Dad’s discharge from rehab and scrambling to try to find a suitable aide for him. They don’t give you much notice.

Even with a break, there was a lot of time at my mom’s

Running continued pretty strong, and since I was home most weekends, I also got to do some of my favorite Fall races, with varying degrees of success.

There`s one perfect fit
And sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited
Cause we`re reunited

Getting in scheduled runs
Even though I continued to play it by ear, from necessity, I also ramped up my running miles just in case I run a 15k in November. If the weather is good, I’ll do it (despite mostly likely little friend support) — although if a Nor’Easter or Blizzard comes through, no thanks!

Grade Earned:  A

One of my favorite things to do in fall — race!

Recording my runs
The scramble at the end of the month to get my parents settled caused some run recording to be spotty, but for the most part, it’s been better than it has been. Still lots of holes sometimes, though.

Grade Earned: B-

Dynamic Warmup
Still skimping on the warmups, but at least most days I’m going through some high knees, some butt kicks, and some leg swings. It’s something.

Grade Earned: B

Foam Rolling
I’d dearly like to get back to daily rolling, but for now mostly I’m rolling before my runs.

Grade Earned: B

There may have been a few too many treats in October

Nutrition
Nutrition has been okay. Most of the time fairly good, but occasional eating stuff I know is not really helping my body. I’m human, like everyone else — mostly I’ve been able to maintain my weight with the normal fall to winter creep. Time to cook has often been an issue.

Grade Earned: A-

Support

  • Massage? Not this month.
  • Chiropractor Appointment? I need to schedule an appointment soon. Probably after the 15k.
  • Do I need a hair appointment? No! The hair got downright scary, but it’s been trimmed and shaped. Even one of my mom’s friends commented on how nice it looked (of course that was after being washed, but before running).

Grade Earned: A

Cross Training
Yoga continued strong. There’s still some light strength training (some days a bit heavier) or some bodyweight exercising. Not quite as much walking as the days got shorter, colder, and busier, but there’s been more running miles.

Grade Earned: B

October 2019  gets  . . . 
. . . an B+. Still hanging in there at running three times a week, lots of yoga, a little bit of weight training. A few races: a slow trail 5k (read about it here), including a surprising 10k PR (read about it here) and a 5k that still didn’t break me out of my 5k rut (read about it here).

September Goals:

  • Strength train 2 – 3x week. Y. Not as heavy/intense as I usually do, but I did what I could.
  • Do my best to remain in running maintenance goal. Y. Actually, I got up to double digits in prep for the 15k. I’ll drop back down into running maintenance afterwards. Maybe . . . stay tuned.
  • Develop at least one vinyasa class. Y. Actually, developed two (the memorization is a different story). Taught private Yin Yoga classes. Got on the sub list at one local studio.
  • Foam roll when I’m able. Y. I’ve done better with it.
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. Y. Still not tracking, still mostly maintaining (which means I bounce around a few pounds, but it’s not an upward creep). Although I need to keep a close eye on it going into winter — hopefully being home more often will help.
  • Meal plan on the weekends! N. Still struggling with it. After the beginning of the month I was just exhausted from everything going on, at the end of the month there was the mad scramble to get my parents settled. 
  • A race? At some point?. Y. Three of them, in fact.

Which leads me to November Goals:

  • Strength train 2 – 3x week. This will always be a goal. Hopefully November will be an easier month (if my parents stay healthy). I won’t be hosting Thanksgiving because my Dad can’t make the trip. Both relieved and a bit wistful at the same time.
  • See if I can at least sometimes get back to a 4 x week running schedule. I’ve done okay on 3 x week. It’s not the first time I’ve only run 3 x week, either. 4 x per week is my sweet spot, though.
  • Approach another studio about getting on their substitute list. It’s scary, but I know that I still need a lot of experience, and there’s only one way to get it.
  • Foam roll when I’m able. Would love to foam roll at least occasionally on days that I don’t run.
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. It’s been back and forth. Not up enough that I feel the need to track, but I really hope that being home more will mean it settles down some.
  • Meal plan on the weekends! I’ll keep putting this in until I get back to it. Which I haven’t managed yet. But maybe with only the occasional day trip to my parents.
  • A race? At some point? I still want to tackle another 5k if the weather is favorable, and the weather is looking good for the 15k, too.

btuesdaytopics

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

coachescorner

33 thoughts on “Reunited & It Feels So Good: October 2019”

    1. It’s definitely been challenging — and STILL not actually over. Not that it ever really will be until it is, of course. Nope, Dad didn’t come home yesterday, but I am home today because I am teaching 2 yoga classes today. Hopefully my sister can help with bringing him home tomorrow.

      It’s all about letting go of perfectionism, realizing that something is always better than nothing!

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  2. Yay on reaching your running goals in October! Your November goals look impressive – your balance between running, strength training and yoga is perfect. I hope you will get on the substitute list of another studio!

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  4. A great running month in spite of all the parent drama.

    I registered for Stocakade-athon but we’ll see if I do it.

    Good luck today…got home late, train delayed, had to pick hubby up at airport…now at work. Need to unpack and go grocery shopping so i may not make it today. You will be great. Pet the kitties for me.

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    1. Right now the most important thing is to listen to your body. Even if you feel good, your body needs time to recover. Most of the class will be more restorative though. 😊

      How’d your husband do?

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  5. The daily foam rolling is a great goal! Even if you’re not running on those days, the muscles still benefit. The dynamic warm-ups have been a key factor, I believe, in my recent training. This was the first training cycle where there was no residual aches/pains that lingered beyond a day or so after the long runs/speedwork. Crazy how just a few minutes of warm-up can make such a difference. I’m eager to hear more about the 15K…

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    1. Hopefully the 15k will happen. Just signed up, but my parents (and therefor I) am still in limbo. Long story.

      I do think warm ups (and cool downs) are really important! I’m not achy often either. Of course I also credit yoga with that. 🙂 And strength training, although that’s been somewhat sketchy lately.

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  6. That’s great news that your dad is getting released from the rehab facility. I hope you were able to find a caregiver that he and your family like. I hope this frees a little more time up for you as well.

    I’m so not good at daily foam rolling. I do make it a habit to roll for ten minutes after my runs, but then tend to ignore my roller until my next run. I do keep my Stick in my kitchen and do a quick massage of my glutes and lower back every so often…

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    1. Well, the release is still on hold. We think. Very long story.

      I went from rolling post run to pre run, and I find it’s much more likely to happen then. I’m impressed that you use the Stick in your kitchen! That’s a great idea!

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  7. We’re always quite nice to substitute yoga teachers and I wonder if you can say you’re quite new and would appreciate feedback? In our class I can pretty well guarantee we’d like that (what we didn’t like was a woman in massive baggy trousers thrashing about at the front of the class and keeping saying “If you feel you want to push it, ask yourself what this is telling you about your life” and all sorts of stuff while not adjusting anyone or modelling safe positions! Just in case that helps – we have quite a few substitutes we get for the two classes. A good way to get experience.

    I think you did well with all your exercise considering the strains with caring for your parents. I’m being awful at the foam rolling, too. Maybe I can use the time I’m not snacking to foam roll!!

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    1. So far no calls to sub. I did my first big yoga class yesterday. I definitely learned some things I need to do differently . . . the hope is that maybe during the holiday season I’ll get some calls to substitute.

      Now if only I could actually have a few days at home to actually work on flows & practice . . .

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  9. You’ve done amazing with the balancing act you’ve had to do.
    I feel you on scary hair – that was part of Monday’s self care for me.
    I foam rolled the bejeebus out of my calves yesterday. The knots were crazy but to be expected. I’ve had to go to the gym because there’s currently no room in my apartment to roll. I need to rememdy that

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      1. It was compounded by my drying rack – I couldn’t put it away as stuff was drying. Usually I can make space for my yoga mat at least but I also had two bags of laundry. I’m so cleaning this weekend

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      5. I’m in a decent sized apartment. A true one bedroom, but it doesn’t compare to suburban houses. I’m lucky to have a huge closet. It just needs better storage, which I’m working on. I did organize my Skirt. I’ll text you that pic

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      6. Hmm. Wonder what a NYC apartment huge closet translates into suburban home closet. 🙂

        We do not have large closets. It’s something I dearly miss about our TX house (along with the high ceilings) — it wasn’t a bigger house, but it just seemed a lot bigger & it did have much better closets.

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      7. Probably not that big, and wouldn’t work for a couple — as it is I have a second freestanding one – but that’s also because I have way too many clothes and need to purge. In progress. What I love the most is it has a sliding shelf above where I can put suitcases. Weirdest thing about this apartment is no “coat closet”

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    1. I know, right? And now we actually have the aide, & they keep delaying the discharge, & we keep her because it seems silly to send her home to come back the next day (a very long trip for her), then they delay . . . it is such a mess. 😔

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      2. It was health issues (I did bring him home yesterday). Which *maybe* couldn’t have been avoided, but the rehab still could have handled the entire issue much better IMHO (although in their not so humble opinion, they the social worker thinks they did a great job — he should try being on the other side one day).

        Kind of makes you wonder why social workers get into that career, when a lot of them truly just do not seem to be empathetic.

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