Author: Chocolaterunsjudy

Look Ma, No Gloves!: 2/17-23 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 14 Comments

No Gaiter, Either!

A date was set for the burial. I can do the April half, if I want. But there’s still some other stuff going on in my life that means it’s still in limbo. You’ll have to stay tuned to see how it all turns out.

bwrd

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner and training for a half I may never run.

briots

And linking up with Jenn @ Runswithpugs, Brandi @ Funnerrunner, Anna Louise @ Graciouswarriorprincess, Briana @ Matsmilesmedals, Meghan @ Meghanonthemove, and Elizabeth @ Trainwithbainfor RIOTS(running is our therapy)

Workouts update

  • Monday:  Rest day!, Dogwalk
  • Tuesday: Taught Yoga (60 min), Shoveled some ice, PB Cardio Toning + Balance (35 min)
  • Wednesday: Yoga (15 min), 4 miles with 6 Hill Repeats, Dogwalk
  • Thursday: Yoga (10 min), PB Toning + Weights (30 min), Dogwalk
  • Friday: Yoga (15 min), 3.5 TM Progressive Miles, Dogwalk
  • Saturday: Yoga (40 min), Dogwalk
  • Sunday: Yoga (30 min), 8 mile LSD, PB Weights of some sort later . . .

Mileage: 15.5 (+1.5)

JY = Jasyoga
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*

*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links

Running Update

My Hill repeats hill — it’s not that bad a hill, but multiple times gets tiring

Wednesday
The sun was partly shining, but man it was windy and cold! Which probably explains why I thought I was slow in the beginning, but actually was running at a good pace for me. Added a mile. Really didn’t want to get out there, and while I can’t say I enjoyed this run, I didn’t regret it either.

Friday
Today was actually beautiful. Sunny, but cold. If I didn’t have to walk the dogs and have a lot to do, I would absolutely have run outside. I knew I’d be getting outside later with the dogs. The treadmill was a time saver in the morning. I had intended to try for 4 miles progressive — and I tried — but I was just not feeling that last mile so I called it good at 3.5 miles.

What a difference a week makes!

Sunday
This run was on the slow side — maybe I do run faster when it’s colder — but my God, that sure felt good. 40s, sunny, no wind. It’s the first run I’ve actually wanted to get outside and do in weeks. About 90% of it was in the snow & ice-free park, too.

I’m just happy I can get them from somewhere, and don’t care about the color — but i do like purple

Favorites of the week
This is the second pair of Newtons Mr. Judy has ordered for me on Ebay. From England! Yes, the second time my running shoes came from England. I’m happy that Ebay makes that possible.

Not a great photo, but really, they are bulbs! Spring is coming!

I just happened to catch the first bulbs trying to shoot up on yesterday’s dogwalk. It feels early — but definitely makes me happy! Yay for an early Spring (even if we’re looking at Wintry mix next week).

Have you seen any bulbs?  Are any bulbs blooming?

Will you be happy for an early Spring?

Do you buy running shoes because of the pattern/color? I have to admit that I just ordered a different brand, for easy days, with a floral bottom. I ordered them because they were on sale — and yes, cute — but I’ve never worn that particular model so we’ll see.

ICYMI: You guys are going to love stretching out your hips in this short (relatively, it’s about 40 minutes — that’s short for Yin!) video here. Be the first to know when I release new videos: sign up for my newsletter here to find out when I add new videos, and you’ll receive a free Self Love Affirmation PDF and a bonus audio-only version of this self love meditation.

Getting Winter Running Dressing Right

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 19 Comments

bwinterdressing

The truth is that how to dress for a run is a highly personal thing. Some runners heat up fast when running, others (myself, for instance) have a higher tolerance for sweat. Not that I enjoy running when it’s hot and humid, mind you.

I swear runners wouldn’t be runners if we weren’t complaining about something!

This post is about how I got it right on a recent run. YMMV (your mileage — or outfit — may (will) vary).

Fairytales and Fitness

Let’s set the stage, shall we?
The temperature is 34F. There is a cold, light, but steady drizzle falling. The sky is gray, but there’s no wind. The kind of day I’d usually opt for the treadmill, but I already knew I’d be on the treadmill later in the week, and I really do try to make an effort to #optoutside as much as I can stand in Winter!

What do I need?
It’s not inviting weather, but knowing what you need to tackle it is half the battle:

  • I need a way to keep the cold, steady drizzle out of my face
  • I need clothes that will at least partially repel said drizzle so I stay at least somewhat dry
  • I need a way to make sure I don’t slip on the road
  • I need a way to keep my hands and my feet dry
Wonder Wool kept me dry, trail shoes helped me stay upright, and the gloves are very warm and actually work on my phone

So what did I choose to meet all those needs?

  • I need a way to keep the cold, steady drizzle out of my face
    I have a hat with an attached gaiter and a brim like a baseball cap, only it’s a Winter hat. I don’t wear it often, but man it made all the difference on that run.
  • I need clothes that will at least partially repel said drizzle so I stay at least somewhat dry
    Skirt Sports Wonder Wool to the rescue! Get my long sleeve top here (I’m a Skirt Sports Ambassador) — it’s not at all itchy, since it’s not 100% wool, but it does help repel water). With my newer coat from the North Face (found at Marshalls) with Thermoball material in a vest like position on your body, but fleece on the sides and arms. The coat did a good job of keeping me warm and almost dry — the Wonder Wool top underneath kept what moisture that got through off of my body.
  • I need a way to make sure I don’t slip on the road
    I chose to wear trail shoes. I think with regular road shoes I might have struggled more with footing, but maybe not.
  • I need a way to keep my hands and my feet dry
    The trail shoes also have the added benefit of keeping your feet pretty dry. I chose my 180s gloves — a bit warm for the temps, but they have wind hoodies that go over the fingers, which helped keep my hands dry, and they’re one of the few tech gloves I have that actually work — even the hoodies seemed to work for swiping through different data screens on the run. Winning!
img_7849
I don’t wear this hat often, but it works so well to keep my neck warm (attached gaiter) and the snow out of my eyes due to the brim!

Somehow I nailed this outfit
It was pretty perfect. This run could have been totally soul sucking, but instead, it was the strongest I’ve felt on the run in a couple of weeks. I can’t lay that completely on my outfit, but I know if I’d been cold and wet on the run it would definitely have made this run far less enjoyable. Not that I would have minded sunshine and no drizzle!

Final Thoughts

The right clothes can make or break a bad weather run. Know what’s right for your body — and don’t let anyone dissuade you. What to wear is a very personal decision that varies greatly from one person to another. — Chocolaterunsjudy

Does how you dress make a difference on how your run goes?

Have you ever tried wool running clothes?

Recommendation for winter running gloves?

3 Steps to Figure Out if You Should Run

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 30 Comments

bniggle

Niggle: a trifling complaint, dispute, or criticism

If you run, you’re going to get niggles. They’re those little aches and pains. They’re what crop up during the taper, making us doubt ourselves and wonder if we’ve injured ourselves. They’re those little pains you just can’t seem to shake — or the pain that starts out of nowhere.

Last week, the day before my long run, I suddenly felt some pain in my calf. Like the residual pain from a Charley Horse, which thankfully I’ve only experienced a time or two. Only I hadn’t had one. Oddly my hamstring had cramped up out of the blue that week, but my calf was fine.

So what’s a runner with a niggle to do?

Don’t pop that analgesic!
I almost never take anything for niggles. Analgesic mask the pain, which could mean you’ll run harder than you sure and deepen the problem.

What I do instead: I use Doterra Deep Blue Rub. Yes, it’s expensive, but it lasts me for years; you can get it from Amazon here (Amazon Affiliate link). You can also get it in single use packs, which I use for travel — order that from Amazon here.

I’ve tried a few other topicals, but frankly this is what works for me. Often I will also tape the offending body part, but since my compression socks covered my calfs (and that’s the second thing to do — compress!), I didn’t feel the need to tape.

Pay attention to your gait
Is the pain altering how you run? Are you limping? Are you shortening or elongating your stride? Are you changing how your foot strikes the ground? Any change in your gait is a signal to not run, and give it a couple of days of rest. At least one day of rest!

Pay attention to how you feel the day after you run
You might feel completely fine when you run. Endorphins are a wonderful thing — except when they’re masking the pain. If you’re limping the next day, or the pain worsens, you need to take a couple of days off of running.

Taking time off of running while you’re training for something is a pain. But sometimes it’s a bigger pain if you try to tough it out. Even taking time off of running when you’re not training for something can be difficult, because so many of us use running as our “therapy”. — Chocolaterunsjudy

Look closely. The knees are always taped for long races — it gives me peace of mind

Final thoughts
It’s never quite this easy, of course, to know when a niggle really requires rest and when it doesn’t. We runners are a stubborn bunch. If the pain continues and you’re altering your gait, with lingering pain the next day, it’s time to either give running a rest and/or seek some medical help (preferably someone who is well schooled in running, and won’t just tell you to stop running without getting to the bottom of the cause of your pain.

My personal motto is live to run another day. Unless I ignore all of the above, in which case it’s do as I say, not as I do. As for me, the calf pain disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared — and thank goodness for that!

When do you know that it’s time to take some time off of running?

Is it easy or hard for you to take time off of running?

What do you do when you’re sidelined from running? 

btuesdaytopics

Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner

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

Runners_Roundup_Logo-640x640

Add another state?: 2/10-16 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 47 Comments

The date for my Dad’s burial has been set, and it was arranged so I could run the April half if I want to — or so I thought. I can still run the April half, but the new potential date means two trips at the end of April. So it’s gone from a nice long weekend away to add another state, to potentially all sorts of driving and my Dad’s burial — not so much relaxing. What to do?

We most likely won’t make our decision until the end of the month, since the price goes up in March (and it’s already not cheap) — in the meantime I’m still in limbo, trying to begin to up my training just in case.

If I do run the April half, most likely I will target it mostly for fun and training for my June half (although the April half is flat & fast, and the June half is downhill, and therefore has the potential to be fast). I’d probably continue to run just three times a week — unless that early spring arrives — maybe even if it does — and simply begin to increase those long runs.

bwrd

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner and trying to motivate myself through the gray days of Winter.

briots

And linking up with Jenn @ Runswithpugs, Brandi @ Funnerrunner, Anna Louise @ Graciouswarriorprincess, Briana @ Matsmilesmedals, Meghan @ Meghanonthemove, and Elizabeth @ Trainwithbainfor RIOTS(running is our therapy)

Workouts update

  • Monday:  Yoga (60 min), Shoveling ice, Dogwalk
  • Tuesday: 3 miles with 5 hill repeats
  • Wednesday: Yoga (15 min), Dogwalk, Taught Yoga (60 min)
  • Thursday: Cardio (10 min), Yoga (30 min), Shoveling Ice, PB Walk with Weights (25 min)
  • Friday: Yoga (15 min), 3 TM Progressive Miles
  • Saturday: Yoga (40 min), Soul Stroll
  • Sunday: Yoga (30 min), 8 mile LSD, PB ST (10 min)

Mileage: 14 (NC)

JY = Jasyoga
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*

*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links

Running Update

Finally got the driveway clear of ice (before the next ice storm hit)

Tuesday
It was an ugly day: cold drizzle and gray, but the temps hovered just above freezing allowing me to get out there without having to worry about black ice. I took it nice & easy, even backing off on the number of hill repeats I did. Oddly enough, this turned out to be a strong run for me — the first that felt that way in quite some time. I guess my Garmin agreed, because I gained back the point on my VO2 Max that I’d lost.

Friday
Going to my mom’s for her first Valentine’s Day alone, so 3 progressive mill miles it was (due to the cold, the wind, and time crunch).

I was able to gingerly walk over this bridge

Sunday
I was hoping the bike path was clear; I made a quick trip there, and our overnight dusting of snow was still there. Who know what was underneath that snow? I didn’t want to find out.

I was tired of running in the same neighborhood, but there wasn’t much choice. The path to the bridge was clear, though, so I slowly and carefully walked over into the park. Most of today’s run was in the park, but there were still spots were the path was completely covered in ice. Wearing my trail shoes today helped a lot.

I also spent quite a bit of time running around parking lots — a runner’s gotta do what a runner’s gotta do — and discovered some new sidewalks to extend my run into 8 miles without looping.

A far warmer, and less windy, day than yesterday, but it still wasn’t an easy run. I couldn’t convince myself for much of the run that Winter running is, indeed, a good thing (like I wrote about this week here), but I rallied enough to realize that I am lucky I can run, and that I got to do it outside.

I think my Mom deserves the roses on Valentine’s — but I got flowers from Mr. Judy, too (not pictured — the flowers or Mr. Judy). My necklace? That was a gift from my parents on my Bat Mitzvah. It’s almost antique now, LOL!

Favorites of the week
I usually like to get a massage on my birthday, whether or not I’ve run. Since it’s almost a month since my Dad passed, and Valentine’s Day happens to be my birthday, and my brother was coming in for a visit (he had scheduled that a long time ago), I thought it would help my mom if I went down to her instead. No time for a massage.

Instead of pampering myself I spent my birthday running on the treadmill; picking up roses, chocolate covered strawberries, and new towels for my mom; and of course the 90+ minute commute down there. I attended Shabbat Services with her, but she did have a cake for me at dinner, which was just ok, but wait, there’s more . . .

Grandma soaking up the love

My brother came in the next day with his daughter. I’d overheard my mom talking to my sister, and knew she was bringing another cake that day. Along with pizza for lunch for everyone. Oy! The cake was supposed to be a surprise, but I can still hear fairly well.

It tasted as good as it looked! My poor sister brought sparkler candles for the cake. They don’t allow candles at all at my mom’s senior living facility.

As you can see, though, it was a beautiful cake (and much better tasting than the previous night’s cake.

So . . . not the best birthday, although I rarely spend it with family, and while we’ve been brought together a lot this year for sad things, it was nice to spend a happier occasion together. Not my worst birthday, either: that belongs to my fourteenth, when my Uncle died unexpectedly of a heart attack.

Do you have cake on your birthday?  Because it’s just me & Mr. Judy, I haven’t had a cake on my birthday since my nephew’s Bar Mitzvah, 5 years ago (it happened to fall on my birthday). I do always have dessert on my birthday, though. 🙂 Just no need for an entire cake!

If you travel to your halfs, are they just a quickie, or do you take the time to explore? Mine are called racecations for a reason — I like to take my time in the area that I’m visiting!

Do you pamper your mom on Valentine’s Day?  Yourself?

ICYMI: February is about love — self love, that is. Because you can’t love others if you don’t love yourself! Try my short (just 5 minutes!) guided Self Love meditation here. Be the first to know when I release new videos: sign up for my newsletter here to find out when I add new videos, and you’ll receive a free Self Love Affirmation PDF and a bonus audio-only version of this self love meditation.

5 Reasons Winter Running is Good

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 21 Comments

b5reasonstoruninwinter

Some people love running in Winter. I am not one of those people. Which seems odd, because I’d rather tackle a cold run than a hot, humid one any day of the week. I decided to try to convince myself that Winter running is actually a good thing.

Fairytales and Fitness

 

Almost no need for sunscreen
If you live in the Southern states, this isn’t true for you. Up here in the frozen tundra, sunscreen on my face is all I need during Winter — because those rays ain’t penetrating my many layers. No tweaking my back trying to get sunscreen on it.

No chafing (or rarely)
Oh yes, you can chafe. Even when it’s below freezing. Thankfully it’s a relatively rare occurrence. I don’t apply anti chafe gel during Winter and I rarely have to regret that decision.

Beanies keep my hair somewhat presentable

Beanies are kinder to my hair
Seriously, it’s all about the hair. My hair just looks gross in summer when it’s been shoved into a hat or visor. Beanies don’t completely kill my curls. They feel so much more comfortable than a hard brimmed baseball cap, too.

It gets  you outside
If I didn’t have dogs and I didn’t run, I would try to hibernate through Winter. That’s not quite true, I can remember walking a lot in Winter when I lived in VT and we didn’t have dogs then and I certainly didn’t run. I am not a fan of Winter — did you notice? — but I’d rather run outside than on the treadmill, so I get out there on days I definitely wouldn’t if I didn’t need to run.

Tough like strawberries

It toughens you up!
It’s easy to love running when the sun is shining brightly, the temps are just right, and you have the freedom to run in a tank and skirt. Running through Winter takes discipline. It takes grit. It dedication. All those things that you will need to get through your training the rest of the year.

Consistency: the most important bonus!
I have a lot of friends who tend to stop running during Winter. They have their excuses (and it is just that — an excuse!). They also always struggle to get back into running when the weather is nicer, and they tend to struggle with injuries, too, I’ve noticed.

Runners do get injured, whether we take time off or not, but those months off make it difficult to get started again, and often the runners who take the Winter off try to start back at the same level they left off at — a recipe for injury.

I think that consistency is the key to pretty much everything in life. If you want it, show up, do the work, and keep showing up. It isn’t easier, but it’s easier than “I’ll start again on Monday (or when Winter/Summer ends)”.

Do you embrace Winter running?

What do you like about Winter running?

Do you think Winter running toughens you up?

Your First Race Questions Answered

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 25 Comments

bfirstraceqs

Your first race is both exciting and terrifying at the same time:

  • What if I have to walk; am I not a “real” runner?
  • What if I come in last?
  • What do I wear?
  • How early do I have to get there?
  • What if I need a pitstop?
  • What do I eat?
  • Where do I put the bib?
  • What if I fall?
  • What if I get lost?
  • What is a starting mat?
  • What is a corral?

Spoiler alert: there’s a really good chance that none of the above will happen. Even if it does, you might find that the experience was so fulfilling you want to race again — welcome to the club! Let’s take a look at some of your questions & fears:

What if I have to walk; am I not a “real” runner?
I have run a fair amount of races, and I almost always walk at some point. I am definitely a “real” runner. People get really hung up on not walking, but the truth is a short walking break can help you finish stronger.

What if I come in last?
Someone has to. Chances are you won’t, but if you do, you crossed the same finish line as everyone else and you should be very proud of yourself for having the courage to race.

This race outfit is truly tried & tested having worn it for my hot 18 mile race

What do I wear?
The same clothes you trained in. I highly recommend check out Skirt Sports here (yes, I’m an Ambassador). I also highly recommend that you don’t wear anything cotton. And dress for about 10-20 degrees cooler than the actual weather, because you’ll get warm quickly when you race. If it’s cold before the start, consider putting something over your top that you can take off and just leave by the side of the road before the start. Sometimes it will still be there when you finish, but you can’t count on that, which is why it’s referred to as a throwaway. Some races actually collect all the throwaways and donate them.

How early do I have to get there?
I like to get to a race at least an hour before the start. There’s parking to deal with, and you will almost certainly need to visit a bathroom (if you’re lucky, a portapotty if you’re not) — maybe multiple times.

What if I need a pitstop?
Most races have a portapotty at some of the aid stations along the route, but shorter races may not. Make sure to read the instructions closely so you know what will be available.

What do I eat?
Like what to wear, you should eat the same foods you ate before your runs while training. You did train, right?

Notice the variety of ways to wear a bib, including on your leg

Where do I put the bib?
Races provide you with safety pins. You pin the bib to either your top (in the front!), or some people like to pin it to their bottoms. I like to use a race belt so that I don’t have to put pinholes in my clothes.

What if I fall?
It happens, although for most of us it’s relatively rare. If you’re can’t go on, try to find a volunteer — at the very least get out of the way of other runners! Even if you do fall, chances are you can finish, so just pick yourself up and continue. If your gait  (how you run) is altered (you’re limping), or you’re in pain, walk instead of running — you will only injure yourself further if you run with an altered gait.

What if I get lost?
It’s very unlikely that you’ll get lost, unless it’s a trail race. Definitely study the course if a map is provided (which also helps you to know where aid stations and portapotties might be located).

If you happen to get lost and you can’t figure out where to go — this is another reason to always run with a phone! I’ve never been lost in a road race so far, although I’ve wondered a time or two if I was. I have taken a wrong turn in trail races, but so far nothing overly dramatic.

What is a starting mat?
Under the start line there is usually (but not always) a rubber mat. That mat reads the chip (most likely on your bib these days) and that is how your start time is captured. Sometimes there are mats at midway points during the race, which would show you your “splits” (a segment of a race, for instance the 5k time, or midway, in a 10k).

There is also usually a mat under the Finish Line. In fact, there are often two. This records your finish time; the reason there are two is just in case one of the mats fails.

This is what happens in a chip timed race (which is most, but not all, races today). So if you start late, it doesn’t really matter, because your chip will be read when you start and finish.

What is a corral?
Some races are so big that they only release a certain amount of runners at a time, which helps to decrease runner congestion on the course.

If your race uses corrals, you will be assigned a corral. You can always move back to a slower corral, but if you want to move forward to a faster one, you usually have to put in a request. Some races really enforce corrals; many do not.

There’s also a possibility of a wave start. It’s basically the same thing as corrals, only there is a wait time between waves before the next wave is released. With corrals you just start moving forward as soon as the race starts, with the first corrals, which should have the faster runners, crossing the start line first

You’re going to do great
No matter how the race goes, as long as you finish, you did great. It’s a PR (which stands for Personal Record). You’ll learn a lot. Hopefully you’ll have some fun, but sometimes those first races are too stressful to really enjoy. It may not change your life — but it probably will, as I wrote about here.

I hope I’ve answered some of your questions and fears about your first race. There is a lot more that goes into racing than meets the eye!

What was your first race?

What do you wish you’d known then?

What other first race questions do you have? 

btuesdaytopics

Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner

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

Runners_Roundup_Logo-640x640

My Good Samaritan Moment: 2/3-9 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 42 Comments

Mr. Judy was slated for a short business trip the latter end of the week. The snow/ice had different plans for him, though, and he ended up having to reschedule. I have to admit I was looking forward to just cooking for myself and getting at some projects I wanted to tackle.

On the other hand, it was nice not having to manage the snow and ice on my own. The snow wasn’t too bad at all, but the ice . . . that’s a different story.

bwrd

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner and trying to motivate myself through the gray days of Winter.

briots

And linking up with Jenn @ Runswithpugs, Brandi @ Funnerrunner, Anna Louise @ Graciouswarriorprincess, Briana @ Matsmilesmedals, Meghan @ Meghanonthemove, and Elizabeth @ Trainwithbainfor RIOTS(running is our therapy)

Workouts update

  • Monday:  3 miles with 9 hill repeats, Yoga (60 min)
  • Tuesday: All the Yoga: Taught Yoga (60 min), Filmed Yoga (20 min), Practiced Upcoming Cat Yoga (40 min), Dogwalk, PB Cardio + Light Weights (20 min)
  • Wednesday: Time Trial 3 Miles, Yoga Vin + Yin (60 min)
  • Thursday: Cardio (10 min), Yoga (60 min), Filmed 2 Yoga Videos (60 min), PB Walk with Weights (25 min)
  • Friday: Cardio (40 min), Yoga (30 min)
  • Saturday: Shoveling snow & ice, Yoga (60 min), Filmed Yoga Video (10 min), PB St + Cardio (15 min)
  • Sunday: Yoga (30 min), 8 mile LSD

Mileage: 14 (+1)

JY = Jasyoga
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*

*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links

Running Update

Partly cloudy was the theme for this week

Monday
The sun eventually peeked out, but most of this day was gloomy. What else is new? The dusting of snow, the cold drizzle in the morning. My body seemed unhappy with back to back running days, my VO2 MAX moved down (just a point) for the first time in ages. 

Not sure why I wasn’t feeling this run. And why didn’t I think to make it my long run instead?

Wednesday
My first time trial was a long time ago — September, as it turns out. I raced enough that I didn’t really feel the need for another one. I decided to try one yesterday, before the snow/ice moved in. For some reason I was just really lacking in energy. I warmed up half a mile, tried to run hard for a mile and half, and then easy the last mile. 

Looking back on my one & only time trial, I’d stopped my watch & restarted it between the warmup and the actual time trial. I didn’t think to do that this time. I also had to stop because there’s a short tunnel I had to go through, and I know that it ices up — good thing, it was a sheet of ice on one end and I had to walk gingerly over that. Ice would be a theme for this week, too.

I really struggled, and was a bit disappointed, thinking I’d lost fitness. When I compared it, though, the times were actually somewhat close. The first part was slower than that first trial, but the second part was faster. I *think* my HR was a bit lower, but since I forgot about stopping it, it’s my average HR for the entire run.

Anyway, it was a good, hard effort and I remained uninjured. Winning!

The hardest part was walking over the ice in the parking lot, as usual

Sunday
I have been stuck in the 7 mile long run for months. Not training for anything. Today I decided to bust through and add 1 more mile. I had thought about a half the end of April, but it doesn’t look like that will happen. 

Funny thing was once I decided to do 8, it wasn’t that big a deal. It was really cold (teens) but not windy, and the sun continued to play peekaboo. And then I had my good Samaritan moment at the end of this run (more on that in this week’s Favorites.

Me in an older Skirt Sports top with Bandit

Favorites of the week
I totally forgot to mention this last week — I am so proud to be a Skirt Sports Legacy Ambassador! Which pretty much just means I’ve been wearing & repping Skirt Sports for a long time. I love sharing the Skirt Sports love, so you know you’ll keep seeing me in Skirt Sports! Take a browse through their Website here, use Code SS15Jud244 for a discount on many items, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

I thought this post would be pretty short, it was another uneventful week. Aside from the storm and drama of Mr. Judy not being able to get out. And then my week took a turn — in a great way!

I received a card from one of my running buddies, and thought, oh, how nice, another condolence card. Only it turned out to be from my little running group, and had a very generous donation to Hudson Valley Hospice, who had taken care of my Dad in his final weeks. Even better, my birthday is next week.

I was so touched, and completely surprised! I kind of felt badly that I chose to do my long run today, rather than joining the group yesterday. I worried about the still-icy roads, and frankly just wasn’t feeling it yesterday.

And then . . . I was about a quarter mile from being finished when I saw a credit card in the road. I almost ran on by . . .  what to do? It was right in front of one house’s driveway. There was no house across the street.

Yes, I stopped, walked up, and rang the doorbell. And waited, and waited some more, lots of dogs barking . . . footsteps . . . more waiting, rang the doorbell again. Finally a man opened the door. I asked him if he knew the person on the card. When he said it was him, I asked for ID (you never know).

He was so happy I’d found his card! Apparently he’d given it to his mom, and she’d lost it. They looked for it, but it was during the storm, and he figured they’d find it when the snow & ice melted. I’m sure he would have found it without my help, it truly was right at the end of his driveway (just on the other side of the ice), but still, you never know. He was very happy I’d found it. Considering I’ve had people find my wallet and return it — twice — I was more than happy to return the favor.

And I was glad that I’d listened to my intuition after all and run today.

Do you look forward to alone time?  

What body part tends to bother you the most? Lately I’ve been doing fairly well, knock on wood. Until I got this knot in my calf, like yesterday, I have no idea from what.

Have you ever tried to run in a skirt?  Just one skirt and I was hooked!

ICYMI: Runners who battle feet problems, you’re going to love my short Yoga video to help you strengthen those tootsies here. Well, you may not love me during, but your feet will thank you. Do this a few times a week and your feet should feel a whole lot better. In the future I’ll be sharing an even shorter Yoga video to help you side step all those foot problems runners suffer from. Be the first to know when I release new videos: sign up for my newsletter here to find out when I add new videos, and you’ll receive a free Self Love Affirmation PDF and a bonus Abundance meditation.