July was actually rather busy. A 30 hour meditation course. 2 trips to mom. A fun daytrip. Family Zoom call. Routine vet visit for Lola (Bandit needs one, too). Filming videos (which lately seems to always be a struggle).
Myself and my loved ones are healthy. My mom tires a lot easier — as does Lola — to be expected at both their ages, but not always easy to witness.
July’s song is Fighter by Christina Aguilera. I don’t really know many Christina Aguilera songs, although I do know she has a powerful voice. Has anyone else noticed how much this lyric resembles Kelly Clarkson’s “What doesn’t kill you”?
Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a Fighter
2020 has not been kind to us, and yet — it’s the hard times we go through that make us grow. As much as we might wish we didn’t have to go through hard, painful, times, they shape the people we become.
Getting in scheduled runs
I’m still happy with 3 x week for the forseeable future. It gives me more time for my stationary bike, strength training, and Yoga. I kept thinking I would go a little longer for my long run, but then someone turned the thermostat to hot and humid.
Except I started to feel run down last week, so this last week of July I’m going to skip a run. Or two. We’ll see. Trying to get ahead of whatever is going on.
Grade Earned: A
Recording my runs
Yeah, still not happening..
Grade Earned: F
Dynamic Warmup
I was doing great with this — I’d even say I was on a streak. Until a couple of very hot and humid days when I totally skipped the warm up. Bugs may have been the reason.
Grade Earned: A-
Foam Rolling
Still only rolling before a run — at least that it something that I have not skipped (so far).
Grade Earned: B
Nutrition
Nutrition has been pretty good, but as always, room for improvement. The older I get the less I can eat. It is what it is.
Grade Earned: B
Support
- Massage? Nope. We all know why.
- Chiropractor Appointment? See massage.
- Do I need a hair appointment? This could end up being the longest I go without a haircut — which is saying something, I’ve actually gone 5 months before.
Grade Earned: F
Cross Training
Cross training is my super power, apparently. Yoga, strength training, Pilates, stationary cycling.
Grade Earned: A+
June 2020 gets . . .
. . . an A. A couple of Fs again, but mostly July was a busy month and I did the best I could with the time I had.
July Goals:
- Continue exploring Peloton App. Y. I’ve tried one class (at least) from a lot of the different categories, although there are probably some categories I won’t try. There’s definitely still more to explore.
- Continue running 3 x week. Y. I have continued my outside running streak. Definitely not always easy with this hot summer! I’m giving myself a pass on skipping a run/s this week. It was needed.
- Set an intention for each run. Y. I won’t lie: sometimes I struggle with coming up with an intention. Sometimes I struggle with remembering what the intention was! (read more about intentions here).
- Continue almost daily foam rolling. N. I foam rolled before my runs. That’s all.
- Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. Y. Weight is basically in maintenance mode, and that’s okay.
- Learn more about meditation.Y. I took a 30 hour Beginning Meditation Coach course, which I really enjoyed.
- Extend either a weekday or long run. Y. I signed up for virtual trail runs this month (with the swag being pottery), and we’re assigned a different distance each week.
- Complete virtual July 4th race.Y. I even managed to do it on the fourth.
Which leads me to August Goals:
- Run 4 x week. I plan to take some of the Peloton bootcamps, and that will involve treadmill running. So it won’t be a lot extra, and it’ll be mill miles, but miles are miles. Doesn’t have to happen every week but that’s what I’ll shoot for. Gonna be flexible with it – depends how I feel.
- Set an intention for each run. I enjoy this goal!
- Finish the irest course I started. I’ve been into something called Yoga Nidra for a while. It’s part relaxation, part meditation. irest is a particular form based on Yoga Nidra — and I signed up for the Great Courses for free so I could take this course. But I only have a month! I’m halfway through so I’m sure I’ll finish it before my free trial is up.
- Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. A permanent goal.
- Add in more Pilates when I can. I really enjoy Pilates. There’s a lot of benefits to runners from practicing it. Even just 10 minutes. It’s just hard to squeeze in. Strength training was a bit lacking at the end of last July, and with less going on in August, I’d definitely like to be more regular about it.
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
This week I am also joining up with the new Runners’ Roundup linkup.
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Well done for your July goals, Judy!
Haha, I noticed you didn’t set “recording my runs” as a goal for August. Good for you.
The irest course sounds really interesting.
As a yoga teacher, I didn’t think you would “need” to do Pilates.
Are you doing it for the focus on core strength? In any case, I like Pilates – I should only do more of it!
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Well, no one needs to do anything, really, right? I don’t think any one type of exercise is the be-all end-all. There’s a lot of Yoga/Pilates fusion, too. I’d love to get certified in Pilates, too, but I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon.
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Good month. Esp. Considering how hot it’s been.
Hope your August is just as successful.
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Hopefully August should be a bit more relaxing. I’m still taking some courses, but they’re not live, so I can pick it up & leave it too.
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My life will not change any time soon. But I plan to take two more Mondays off to do more long hikes.
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Another great month! I think you should remove that F from Support though because your reasons for not doing those things are so valid at this time of our lives! We are really FIGHTING through this year in every sense. But I agree with you – it is these battles that build our character, reveal our strength and where true growth happens.
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Well, some day I will get that haircut. I guess I’ll have to take a selfie — although truly it only looks different for about a day.
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Awesome job on your July goals! It was a busy month and you were able to get a lot of accomplished. So true that 2020 has not been kind to us, but I hope that the second half of the year will be better.
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I can’t say I’m particularly hopeful about the second half of the year. More of the same. Only harder as it gets colder — but I am hoping that the paths are less crowded as it gets colder & maybe I’ll start running them again. But someday, yes, this too shall pass!
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Great job on meeting your goals! It’s good motivation to have goals. I don’t set monthly goals but really should.
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Setting them is one thing. Remembering them is another! Much harder.
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Great job on July! 2020 has gut-punched all of us, some more than others…getting by and staying active is good for all of us. Nothing wrong with taking a pass on running for a few days. As you know, a break usually just enhances our love what we’re “breaking” from.
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Yup, definitely needed a small break up. Feeling a lot better now, although I still decided to just do a long run this week. Thanks, Kim!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who still hasn’t gotten a hair cut! (Although I’m embarrassed to say how long its been for me). I miss being able to go to the chiropractor. I didn’t get regular massages but that sounds good too! Great job working towards your goals. Hope August goes well!
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For me summers are for buns, ponytails, and braids. 🙂
I haven’t had regular massages in a long time, and no massages at all this year. I really miss that!
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No hair cut here, either, as I had a good one but slightly longer at the end of Feb and it’s just grown down and is fine! I know my hairdresser is being really diligent about safety but I’m glad I don’t need to go. Good work on those goals. I need to fight more and not just drift away into inertia and depression. I have a bit more work in which should help distract me!
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I go through cycles of being really productive and then listless. I think that’s natural and exacerbated by what’s going on right now.
I know my hair would look a lot better with a cute. The layers grow out & it just doesn’t have as good a shape. OTOH, it’s easier to braid. 🙂
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Great job on your July goals! Sometimes listening to your body is the best thing to do. Extra rest never hurt anyone 😉
I haven’t had my hair cut in over a year haha! I’m so bad at those maintenance things.
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I’m not great about maintenance either, but I do usually get my hair cut every 2-3 months.
The rest worked wonders. 🙂
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Great month for you! Here’s to August being just as great or better. No Fs are allowed here. Those things you listed are out of your control.
Thank you for linking up with us!
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