Getting Strong Now: May 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

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Mother Nature sure seemed confused in May

May blew in with very unwanted snow, but it went out with some lovely Summer weather.

Practicing Yoga on the Yoga platform in a skirt & with dogs

From strong to stronger and the iconic Rocky song “Gonna Fly Now”:

Getting strong now
Won’t be long now
Getting strong now

Gonna fly now
Flying high now
Gonna fly, fly, fly

Running takes a back burner for now, and hopefully I can focus on getting stronger. Now is the time to do those things you always say you’d do if only you had more time.

Getting in scheduled runs
I’m settling into 3 x week for the forseeable future. Unless maybe I decide to try a Peloton Bootcmp. 3 x week gives me lots of flexibility to move runs around!

Grade Earned:  A

Recording my runs
Still not journaling. Maybe I don’t want to remember this year next year! Seriously, though, the tough times are what help us to grow.

Grade Earned: F

Dynamic Warmup
I signed up for the Peloton App back when it was free for 90 days. I’ve been checking out their dynamic warmups. At some point I’ll write a review of the app, although seriously, I feel like I’m the last person to try it. 🙂

Grade Earned: A+

Foam Rolling
I slacked off a bit in the foam rolling department. I’m still rolling, but not quite as often. Probably because I’ve had to start filming stuff for my YouTube channel again!

Grade Earned: A-

Nutrition
Nutrition has been ok. I’m maintaining; no really, I’m plateauing, bouncing back and forth between small gains and losses. Which is fine. Except I would like to lose just a few pounds. I guess I don’t want to badly enough yet.

Grade Earned: B

Support

  • Massage? Nope. We all know why.
  • Chiropractor Appointment? See massage.
  • Do I need a hair appointment? Again, see above. I suppose I should take this section out, it ain’t happening in the near future (although the chiropractor is open). And the salon should open soon. I don’t think I can go a whole year without a haircut!

Grade Earned: F

Yoga everywhere

Cross Training
I’ve continued to mix things up with plenty of Yoga, short Peloton rides (except not on a Peloton bike of course — I wish!!!), and strength training.

Grade Earned: A

I was able to cherry pick a day with great weather for my virtual race

May 2020  gets  . . . 
. . . an A. Despite 2 Fs, and not meeting a couple of goals, all in all May was a pretty good month, including one virtual race (my first).

May Goals:

  • Add in Lean & Lovely once a week. Y. It’s a Kettlebell program I’ve used before with good results.
  • Continue running 3 x week, adding in more mileage. Y/N. I ran 3 x week (except one week when I didn’t feel good), but haven’t really upped the mileage. By the time I wanted to, Summer had arrived!
  • Strength train 2-3 x week. Y. A no brainer since I started a Kettlebell program.
  • Continue almost daily foam rolling. Y/N. Not as much as in April, although more than just running days.
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. Y. Weight is basically in maintenance mode, and that’s okay.
  • Explore a Backbend Course N. Backbends are actually really good for my Dosha (Kapha), but I didn’t get around to it in May. I worked on some other courses, one of which actually had to do with less intense backbends. So kind of a Y, except I didn’t do that with this goal in mind. Glad I made the goal. I’ll get to it!
  • Take the tests for the online Reiki course I’m taking. N. I began to study more, but never quite got around to the tests. Yet.

Which leads me to June Goals:

  • Continue exploring Peloton App. I have a feeling I’ll keep the Peloton App. There’s a lot I like about it (but some things not so much). While it’s free, though, I’m definitely going to take advantage of it.
  • Continue running 3 x week. Still just maintaining a running base.
  • Set an intention for each run. Everything in life should be done with intention (it’s called mindfulness!).
  • Explore a backbend course in one of the Yoga memberships I have. I looked last weekend and couldn’t find a specific course, but I did download a lot of classes on backbends from a couple of Yoga apps I use. Backbends are definitely good for me, so I’m going to work a bit more on them! I also need to focus on arms and core, because one of my goals is to do Wheel — I think it’s a combination of not enough strength (there’s that strong thing again) and fear — of failure? Of hitting my head? — that has been holding me back from doing wheel.
  • Continue almost daily foam rolling. It’s amazing how much of a difference this makes for me.
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. It’s hard to believe, but it’s actually been a year since I stopped tracking what I eat. I never thought I’d get to that point in my life!
  • Take the tests for the online Reiki course I’m doing. Okay, I admit Reiki is a bit woo-woo even for me. I do believe that there’s a lot more to life than just our physical bodies, though, and I have actually found the course really fascinating. I’m not so sure I’ll get to it in June, either, but it’s a good goal and we’ll see.

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Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner

This week I am also joining up with the new Runners’ Roundup linkup.

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30 thoughts on “Getting Strong Now: May 2020”

  1. Well done with your May goals!
    I’m intrigued about setting an intention about each run. Are you planning a post on that one day? I would like to know more about it.
    You are right with foam rolling – it makes an enormous difference. I have now started to put my computer monitor on the floor when I watch TV. This way, I can foam roll while watching. 😉

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  2. Good job on your goals.

    My intention for each run is enjoy it, take pics and post. Maybe not mindful but that’s me.

    I can’t wait to get a haircut. Hope it’s this week.

    I like the Peleton app but it uses up data and I don’t have unlimited. I used ur for running and unfortunately the gym will not open before my trial ends.

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    1. A haircut would be lovely. Not gonna happen here anytime soon….or at least it doesn’t seem like it. Our health officer says something one day and then changes her mind the next. I would also love to go back into the lab….this year. I have gone to the chiropractor.

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      1. Haircuts could happen for me soon. Although I saw one place you have to wash your hair beforehand yourself (which makes sense, I suppose).

        I know my brother has gone back into his office (socal), but one week on, one week off. He’s very happy.

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  4. I honestly still can’t get over the fact that is snowed in May, but I guess that makes sense for 2020!

    Awesome job on your May goals! Thank you for the reminder about foam rolling. I haven’t been able to see my ART doctor since March and my body currently feels like one big knot, so foam rolling is the least I can do to be kind to my body!

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  5. I look forward to your review of the Pelaton app. You are not the last person. *I* am probably the last person to not yet play around with it.

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  7. Nice! I’ve been thinking I need a haircut. The salons are open here now. I’ve just been lazy in setting up an appointment plus I figured my stylist was probably flooded with clients right now anyway.

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  8. Good luck with your pursuit of wheel pose. I remember how anxious I got the first time I did it–it’s scary but also makes you feel so vulnerable with your heart open like that! I can’t do wheel anymore–it really hurts my wrists–but I’m finding satisfaction in other backbends. i do like them.

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    1. There are plenty of other backbends! I’m not quite sure whether it’s a strength thing or a courage thing, but I have been working on core & arms (and other backbends).

      About all I can do is get up onto my head (haven’t tried recently) & then I’m just stuck!

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  9. Let me raise my hand…I have not even downloaded the Peloton app LOL I meant to, but never got around to it. My bad (but I think I managed alright without it). Great job on your May goals!

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  10. Great job on your goals! Its been a little hard to stay focused with everything going on. I’ve gone a full year without a haircut. Not sure how much longer I’ll have to go!

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    1. Ok, I’ve never gone a full year without a haircut. But then I don’t have a child. 🙂 OTOH, most people I know chop their hair off when they have kids so they’re not always pulling their hair!

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  11. I’m definitely hooked on the Peloton App — it’s a good replacement for my Orangetheory classes. I think my free trial is up next week. Now that I’ve trimmed my bangs, I’m not as anxious to get a haircut as I am anxious about getting one. 😉

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    1. Luckily I don’t have bangs. When I do, they get very awkward very quickly. My hair is layered, though, and it definitely looks a LOT better when they’re kept in shape.

      But it’s braid weather. I can hide a lot in a braid. 🙂

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  12. Congrats on meeting most of those May goals! Looks like you’ve got some good ones for June, too.

    I was apparently eating like a jerk from March until May because I gained several unwanted pounds. Now I’m back to eating mindfully and I’m feeling much better about myself. It was rough for a while, though!

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    1. I’ve been relatively good with eating, but have gone back & forth with some fatigue & not always able to exercise the way I’d like to.

      I’ve maintained, but it’s been work! I do know a LOT of people who’ve gained weight. Most people aren’t used to being home all the time, after all. At least I was mostly used to it.

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  13. Listen. I think everyone deserve an A for the last few months. We are surviving something truly awful and we should be celebrating that.

    There will be time for hair and massages and all the rest. And that time will come.

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    1. It had been a long, long time since I’ve had a massage before all this happened. I could definitely use one. The hair doesn’t bother me as much. I look like a brillo pad most of the summer anyway (it would be even worse where you live!).

      BTW, I can only access your blog on my tablet. My desktop blocks it — it thinks you have a trojan. I don’t know if you do, but I thought you’d want to know. Although if someone tole me that, I’d have no clue what to do!

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    1. Unfortunately since my half was the end of this month, I just knew before it got canceled that it wasn’t going to happen. But I kept sorta training until I heard for sure.

      Marathons take so much training though — I feel for you! Training is never wasted, though, even if you don’t get to race.

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  15. These past few months have been weird. We did what we could so we all deserve an “A”. I am glad Peloton offered the 90 days free membership. So many people tried it and seemed to like it.

    Thank you for linking up with us!

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