Breaking Clear Away: August 2021

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.
— John Muir

I know that it’s a privilege to be able to go away on vacation, and I very grateful that it was my privilege to finally break clear away. The previous few weeks had definitely been intense — heck, the previous few months! Also very grateful to our friends for inviting us & driving us all over northern Maine.

Getting in scheduled runs
August was another crazy month. More trips back and forth, my first colonoscopy, bringing my mom back home, a vacation (yay!) — it was another month where I just juggled everything the best I could, which sometimes meant running 4 days in a row and other times not at all, some weeks a long-er run instead of a long-ish run.

Grade Earned:  A for Effort

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! But hey, I did finally got a haircut, LOL!

Grade Earned: C

Dynamic Warmup
I’m still consistently doing my warmup (and morning yoga, and foam rolling before I run). Although morning Yoga took a hit during our vacation — I did give one of our hosts a private lesson one day. Talk about hot Yoga!

Grade Earned: A

Foam Rolling
I haven’t had time to do as full a foam rolling routine as I’d like to a lot of morning, but at the very least I always do my calves and a quick lower leg foam roll before I run. Except on vacation . . .

Grade Earned: A

Just one or two pieces a day . . . I actually did pick these up while out walking on our last morning in ME.

Nutrition
I had a couple of weeks at home when I wasn’t able to visit my mom, so nutrition was slightly better. Not too many sweets on vacation, either, despite the chocolate — but not as much freggies as I’d like, either! Plus meal times were very different from normal. Again I did the best I could.

Grade Earned: B+ (for trying)

Plenty of movement in ME & I gave our host a private yoga class, too

Cross Training
Yoga, some hiking, walking around rehab & hospital, lots of Pahla B (see her YouTube Channel here — my savior!), a bit of swimming when I can.

Grade Earned: A+ again for effort

August 2021  gets  . . . 
. . . an A. It was an intense month, but I did what I could when I could & didn’t beat myself up for not always being able to sneak in a workout. Heck, I may even be at my eye doctor appointment when you read this — still a few more doctor’s appointments to be scheduled. Also some doctor appointments I need to take my mom too.

August Goals:

  • Shorter/Recovery runs after harder runs. Y/N. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It just depends what’s going on with my week. Or sometimes if my treadmill is running . . . 
  • ST 2 x week. Y.  I’ve been trying to make strength a priority — as much as possible. Most weeks it was 3 x week.
  • A project with a friend. N. Totally had to be put on hold.
  • A no guilt getaway. Y. I called my mom every day, except when day when we were out from 9 am (too early for my mom) til about 8:30 pm (too late for my mom). I knew I needed to recharge my batteries, although not completely sure that’s what happened, LOL!
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up.. Y. A Colonoscopy prep to vacation — talk about extremes!

Which leads me to September Goals:

  • Run 3 x week. I am hoping that life can settle down. Just a little bit. Pretty please?
  • ST 3 x week. Running is a little bit on the back burner, which should make time for more strength.
  • A project with a friend. Hopefully we can get back to this in September!
  • At least one hike. Local, day trip . . . I actually hope for more than one but we’ll see if the weather cooperates! Some may enjoy wet hikes, but Mr. Judy & Bandit aren’t fans.
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. It’s always a goal, of course. I’ve just been at a plateau at a higher weight than I’d like. I want to continue to try to limit frozen foods (when possible) and maybe it’s time to downsize some portions, too, while I’m not running as much.

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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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28 thoughts on “Breaking Clear Away: August 2021”

  1. I too am grateful to have been able to ‘break clear away’ this month. 10 days away from work was really nice; my trips to Alabama and to Wisco during that time were just the thing. Glad you were able to get away too.

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  2. Great job, Judy! We all need to give ourselves grace, especially when there are other things that simply need to take priority. We had a mini getaway this weekend, though it wasn’t the least bit relaxing, since it was for a family funeral and (obviously) that’s not something you plan for. This next weekend, we’re returning to the hubby’s hometown (after having just been there LOL) for his class reunion. That’s one we’ve been planning for.

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  3. I’m glad to be able to break away although mine was short.

    Once boating ends, I will be doing more weekend hiking.

    Running was tough in this weather but mentally and physically it was a priority. So I managed to get it done.

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    1. Mine wasn’t too much longer. I think your drive was probably just as long & more stressful though!

      I took running gear so I’d have that option if I wanted to run. Just chose not to. We were busy literally from sunrise to sunset most of the time!

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      1. I took the train both ways. But that’s about 5h30.
        Luckily my host slept in so I could run everyday. I love running in new places. And I have a race coming up.

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      4. We made stops but the total driving time is close to 7 hours. Left around 9 am got there around 6 ish. Stayed over night on the way home to break it up. You could do it a little quicker if you wanted to take the more intense driving through MA which we didn’t.

        Your photos aren’t bad either.

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  4. If I’d go on vacation with you, I hope you will give me a free yoga class, too, Judy! So nice of you to do that.
    You did well in August, despite all the disruption. I’m glad you finally got your guilt-free trip, you really deserved it. And I hope you will have a calm September so you can get back into running and strength training 3x a week!

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    1. I’d be more than happy to give anyone a yoga class. 🙂

      I already know that I have to spend a few days with my mom next week to take care of some things — which means sleeping on her couch. It’s hard to go all the time, and of course when you don’t go you feel guilty. Just gotta try to do my best.

      Signing up for some of the courses I took maybe wasn’t the best idea, but of course all of that was done a long time ago so who knew?

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    1. Thanks, Donna! My friends have an amazing home and we’ve always loved ME — the wife grew up there, so she has a deep knowledge of what to do. We’ve been to ME multiple times, but it sure was nice having chauffeurs. 🙂

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  6. Way to go! Sounds like even with a few blips here and there, you had a good month. It’s a huge feat as it sounds like you were juggling a lot of things at once! Hope next month brings a bit more of routine for you!

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  7. Awesome job Judy! Considering all the stress you’ve endured over the past month or so, you did very well on your goals. I’m so happy that you were able to visit friends and get away for a few days – a much deserved relaxing break!

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  9. You did great this month especially considering everything you had going on! It can be so hard to stick with a routine while traveling. Hopefully things will settle down soon!

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    1. Our friends’ home has no curtains/shades, and I’m a light sleeper. Even though I’m a morning person, I was staying up later (although still not that late) while we were there, but still woken up by the light.

      The sunrises were awesome though!

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