Clear Your Mind . . . : June 2021

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

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. . . and the rest will follow

When you get a good workout in, you feel good for the rest of the day. It helps clear the mind.
— Reggie Miller

One of the things I do first thing in the morning is practice Yoga. I have only missed one morning in the last eight months: the morning after my second vaccine when I had a fever. Sometimes it’s a short practice, sometimes it’s a longer one. Not only does it clear my mind, it makes my body feel good, too.

Smiling because I’m almost at 10k steps when some haven’t even gotten dressed yet

I’ve also noticed that when I’m forced to get my runs in earlier due to heat, there’s a definite satisfaction to getting in so many steps before breakfast. Let’s be clear, though: I still enjoy a nice, relaxed morning when it hasn’t heated up and I can take my time before my run.

Getting in scheduled runs
I managed to bump up to running 4 x week a for most of June. I did it by embracing the short, very easy recovery run. I’m not really sure that I’ll ever love a recovery run, but knowing I didn’t even have to run my usual 3 miles definitely made it easier.

Grade Earned:  A+

Recording my runs
I have veered off course here again . . . seriously, I need to start using my planner again because it helps me to keep focused. It’s a broken record, folks!

Grade Earned: C

Dynamic Warmup
I always do my warmup, and I even did a short warm up walk . . . once or twice? Hey, baby steps!

Grade Earned: A

Foam Rolling
I pretty much foam roll (or some variation of foam rolling) every morning. I do the very fast foam rolling with small stick like roller before every run. So far this works great for me.

Grade Earned: A++

Nutrition
In May I seemed to be doing well with my weight, feeling less bloated, clothes fitting better . . . until I wasn’t. One of the things I’ve had to rein in (but not give up completely) is my From the Ground Up Chip obsession. It had gotten to the point that I was eating some daily. Chips are chips, whether they’re healthier or not so healthy. They’re not really a power food.

That was one of the changes I made in June — I didn’t stop eating them, I just ate them less often. I made a few other small changes. Things seem to be slowly heading in the right direction again . . . until I didn’t want to cook and made some poor choices.

Somehow the other stuff I want/need to do seems to take precedence over cooking, and that’s not a good precedent. I’m working on that, too.

Grade Earned: B+ (for trying)

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Cross Training
Yoga, running, a little more hiking, walking, not so much indoor cycling. I have been doing a bit more strength training.

Grade Earned: A+

June 2021  gets  . . . 
. . . an A. I got up to an 8 mile run (twice!) — I figured I had to take advantage of good weather running, because I’m pretty sure that won’t happen all Summer. Nutrition and weight have been a struggle the last couple of months, and there are some skirts that I could wear, but not feel comfortable in. I pay attention, though, and I keep trying to get back to a more comfortable place for me (without deprivation).

June Goals:

  • Add in some stationary cycling/hiking. Y/N. No stationary cycling, yes a few short hikes.
  • ST 3 x week. Y.  I built off my success in May and continued to build on ST. Sometimes it’s light weights, sometimes heavier, sometimes just bodyweight. It’s all good.
  • Strength for Wheel Pose. Y/N. I left this in, but it’s a goal I think I’m going to let go — again. I’m just working on strength in general.
  • Flexibility Challenge. Y/N. I taped one video, but there was some frustrating tech and I haven’t figured it out — still!
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up.. Y. The weight did creep up, but I paid that heed and made some changes.

Which leads me to July Goals:

  • Shorter/Recovery runs after harder runs. When they’re after a long run, yes, they’re recovery runs. After a short speedwork or even just a short easy run? Are they junk miles? Personally, I’m saying this works for me right now and they’re not junk miles.
  • ST 3 x week. I began to struggle to squeeze it in 3 x week towards the end of June. I lose an entire day, basically, when I visit family. I actually don’t do it quite as much in Summer — so many things to do & see! If I can do it more weeks than not, I’m happy. 
  • A project with a friend. I have a project to work on with a friend. Should be fun! We’ve done week 1, I have some stuff to do — 3 more weeks to go.
  • A few Yoga teaching opportunities. I donated a class as a prize for our big women’s race. Working to get her information and set up a time. Also an opportunity to teach a class online as part of a project to expose someone’s students to different teaching styles. Another project isn’t teaching, but writing up a piece on being a “Wellness Warrior” to tell my fitness journey.
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. Not really at a happy weight right now. Don’t get me wrong, it’s only a few pounds, but when you’re as short as I am, they can make a really big difference! I know I can get there — but I do have to make time to cook more. And make wise choices when we’re away in July.

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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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22 thoughts on “Clear Your Mind . . . : June 2021”

  1. Well done with running 4 x a week while increasing your strength training, too!
    That’s a great combo.

    It looks like you have an interesting July coming up with some exciting projects! I’m very curious about what your project with your friend is all about.

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  2. It seems like your running is going a lot better. A+ on all that yoga and ST.

    Not gaining weight is tough in the summer. Hello ice cream.

    I don’t have a scale so ignorance is bliss. But I don’t snack at home and in the longer days I am busy every evening so no snacking or sitting on the couch if you’re not home lol

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    1. I’m not an evening snacker. I eat dinner and that’s that. Most of the time. And ice cream is not my nemesis either. I do enjoy it from time to time.

      Not really quite sure why I’ve been up for a while. Probably a combination of a variety of things. I just don’t like knowing there are clothes that were comfortable that right now aren’t.

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  4. Another solid month Judy! What do we always say about goals – they really do help to keep us focused or at least act as a guiding light, which you have been so consistent with this year. 4x a week running is solid plus those 8 mile runs too. That planner will definitely keep you focused in terms of recording!

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  5. You had a great month Judy! i love that you start off each morning with a yoga practice. What a great way to get your mind in the right place before starting the day.

    I runfess that I haven’t jumped on the scale in months because I know I’m not going to like the number. Right now, ignorance is bliss lol.

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    1. I don’t weight myself every day, and it’s not about the number anyway. It’s about how I feel and how my clothes feel.

      I enjoy my morning Yoga so much that I just haven’t been able to skip it the last few days even though I know I should probably get Bandit walked as soon as I get up. I have definitely done very short practices though!

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  6. Looks like you had a great June! I love early morning runs for the same reason, but I don’t do them very often. It’s a must in the summer though, unless I decide sleep is more important and use the treadmill later in the day – which is what I am doing today.

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    1. I ran on the treadmill today too. I really have to get out with Bandit first thing and it’s just been stupid hot & humid the last few days.

      I did see someone running this morning while I was walking Bandit. It was supposed to be cloudy & there wasn’t a cloud in the sky — glad I wasn’t running!

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  7. That’s so great that you have been consistent with daily yoga for 8 months! Looks like you had a strong month and your running has been strong. Hope July goes well for you!

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  8. I Love how you make yoga a priority every morning. I can see how that gives you an awesome start to the morning with some tranquility and feel-good vibes before anything else happens. I log all my fitness activity daily in my planner (or I jot it down on scratch paper while at work) or else I’d forget all the details…I recycle some of the discarded envelopes for my scratch paper, so the paper is sturdy and not easily lost LOL

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