Author: Chocolaterunsjudy

Sourdough Fail: Tea/coffee Date November 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 36 Comments

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me and a bunch of bloggers for the ultimate coffee tea date: How do sourdough pancakes with that coffee/tea sound?

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If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that they had just opened up inside visitation where my mom lives. Then a staff member in the assisted living there (my mom does not live in assisted living) tested positive. So much for that. I had planned to bring her her Echo Show (before Lola got so sick) and set it up for her.

It’s just a matter of plugging it in and putting in her Wifi password so hopefully I can talk her through it (I set up the device already at our house). In fact, I’m off to see her today. She’s going to have questions and I will be already tired from the visit! Lord give me strength.

Well one is ripening

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I have some green tomatoes I picked right before our snowfall. I am not a fan of fried green tomatoes. I’m not sure they’ll actually ripen inside since they were still green? I guess it’s a wait & see. Like if the potatoes & carrots survived the snow (we did cover them). Obviously at least one tomato is ripening.

It’s large enough for a frozen pizza (yes, that’s the first thing we cooked in it)

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you we did buy our toaster oven/air fryer (as I talked about in last month’s Tea/Coffee date, and in last week’s Weekly Run Down here). Mr. Judy had found a great deal on the model I decided on on Prime Day, but I was asleep and by the morning that deal was gone.

I took it as a sign that we were meant to get the other, more expensive model we’d been thinking about. Mr. Judy was not thrilled, but he did buy it and so far we’re really happy with it.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I did a search to link up last week’s post. I searched on “RIP”. It came up with Lola, my Dad (both in 2020), and Chester. I wrote about Gizmo, too, who passed in 2019, but I titled it something different. Cause you know I’m always going to write about the furkids, even if right now it’s only furkid.

Sorry for the graphic photo

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I tried my hand at sourdough starter and was successful. Sort of. Wouldn’t you know I did it the week Lola got sick? So it was bubbly and doubling and I successfully made sourdough pancakes with it.

We did get sourdough pancakes out of it a couple of times before it got moldy. They were definitely sour!

Then I forgot to feed it and it got just a little moldy. My research tells me I probably could have started new starter with just a little bit of it (it was just a little mold) and that that rarely that happens. But it is 2020, #amiright?

What you don’t know is that I used to bake bread from scratch all the time. Back when we were first married and I lived in VT. Kneading is really therapeutic! Then eventually we got a bread machine, and I used it so much it eventually broke.

I will try sourdough again, but right now I’m still recovering from the past month or so.

Where are my sourdough bakers?

Ever tried to save some veggies from a frost? 

Does it bother you when you miss a good deal? 

I am also linking up with:

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

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I Tried It: Making My Own Nut Milk

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 19 Comments

I have known that you could easily make your own nut milk in a Vitamix for a long time. It still just seemed too much effort. I read someone’s recommendation for the Almond Cow and was really intrigued.

As I dug deeper I read the almond milk from a Vitamix was actually creamier than from the Almond Cow. I finally decided to try it.

It’s pretty simple
All you really need is nuts and water. You can add other flavorings, and I often do (pinch of salt, vanilla, cinnamon). The Vitamix is a very high powered blender, so you don’t even have to presoak your nuts and I haven’t.

For most nut milks, you’ll need a nut milk bag (this separates the “milk” from the leftover ground up nuts, although if you don’t mind the taste, you can leave them in there).

I use cheesecloth, for the simple reason that I had some and while you might think buying a nut milk bag would be a simple thing, I couldn’t decide on one. I think I’ll probably try one at some point.

Some nuts, like cashews, you don’t even need the nut milk bag for. It’s a softer nut and you won’t notice the cashew meal in your cashew milk. I happen to really like cashew milk, too.

Always amazed how white those brown nuts

The process
Put all the ingredients into your Vitamix (or other blender). Blend about 90 seconds. Either place your nut milk bag in, or drape your cheesecloth over, a large container. I use a 64 oz glass pyrex measuring cup; I happened to already own it.

Pour through cheesecloth to separate out nut pulp

Pour the contents of the Vitamix into the nutmilk bag or over the cheesecloth (you may have to hold onto it or put a rubber band around it so it doesn’t slip down into the container).

Squeeze out milk

Squeeze the “milk” out of the nut milk bag/ cheesecloth. You can throw out the remaining almond pulp, compost it, or even make things like cookies and crackers out of it (which I haven’t yet tried).

Pour milk into containers

Pour your fresh almond milk into a container. I use Mason Jars.

Voila! Almond Milk

Making alternative milks on the fly
What if you’ve run out of nut milk and just don’t have time (or the will) to make a fresh batch? Never fear, nut butter will do the trick.

Ingredients for quick nut milk

Use about 1 tbsp nut butter and 1 cup water. I used my smaller, less powerful blender for this. Because the nuts in the nut butter are roasted (although of course you can buy raw nut butter), the taste will be slightly different and the “milk” will be a bit more tan colored.

Finished “instant” almond milk
Almond milk & chocolate cashew milk

Ingredients
I’m not sure I’ve found the perfect ratio of nuts to water yet. The more nuts you add, the creamier it will be, but of course the higher the fat content will be.

Generally you can go anywhere from 1/4 – 1 Cup nuts per 4 cups of water. I do suggest adding in a little vanilla and a pinch of salt for flavor (unless  you’re using your almond milk in a savory dish, then omit the vanilla). You can sweeten it if you’d like, of course, but I usually don’t.

For your “instant” nut milk the ratio is about 1 tbsp to 1 cup water.

I also make chocolate cashew milk. Typically I add about 1-2 Tbsp cacao and 4 – 8 dates to sweeten it. I use that for making hot chocolate, and I often use it as a recovery drink after a run — adding collagen gives it a protein boost to help you on your way to recovery.

Final Thoughts
It isn’t really all that hard to make nut milk, and it is definitely cheaper than buying a good brand. The brand I liked the most was $6.99 for 4 cups! But it was basically nuts and water. I can make about 3 x that much with the same amount of money in nuts.

I also get to control what goes into my nut milk. I can control the amount of sweetener, and there’s no need for emulsifiers, which is a slightly iffy ingredient healthwise.

Yes, without the emulsifiers like soy lecithin or carageenan,  your nut milk with separate in the fridge. All you have to do is give it a shake.

I also get to control the flavorings, the type of sweetener — or no sweetener (most of the time). No containers to recycle or throw out, either.

Yes, it does take some time. Yes, there are days I don’t want to do it. But overall, I’m happy I finally tried it and I don’t see myself going back to buying nut milk at the store.

What do you prefer to make yourself that you can buy?

If you have a blender, what do you use it for? 

Do you like warm recovery beverages when it’s cold out (yes, please) or don’t really care about temperature? 

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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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RIP Lola (2005 – 2020): 10/26 – 11/1 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 45 Comments
Saying goodbye is never easy

It was a long, long week. Physically and emotionally draining. Lola improved, just slightly, then she got worse. The runs were short, although that doesn’t always mean they were easy.

She loved laying by the patio heater this week

Even last night, this wasn’t the post I thought I’d be writing, but Lola went to her final sleep in my arms last night (at the animal ER).

Meanwhile Bandit is enjoying not having doors closed anymore

Sleep was often interrupted, there have been six visits to two different vets in the last week. Even when the runs felt hard, though, in the end I felt better for doing them and am happy I was able to squeeze them in.

bwrd

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and reporting on easing back into running.

Workouts update

  • Monday: Yoga (30 min),  Dogwalk/RGB Walk 2.9, Yoga (20 min)
  • Tuesday: Yoga (30 min), TM Peloton 5k Prep + WU + CD (2.77 miles), Yoga (20 min)
  • Wednesday: Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk., Yoga (20 min)
  • Thursday: Yoga (30 min),Dogwalk, Yoga (20 min)
  • Friday: Yoga (30 min), TM “Fun Run” + WU 3ish miles, Yoga (20 min)
  • Saturday:  Yoga (30 min), 4 miles easy, Yoga (20 min)
  • Sunday: Yoga (30 min), Walking at the park, Yoga (20 min)

Running Mileage: 10ish (+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

Tuesday intention: 5k Prep
This had to be squeezed in before taking Lola to the vet. Not quite sure what to expect, but it was mostly intervals. I debated about waiting until Wednesday, as I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep, but I’m glad I went ahead and did it; it gave me more flexibility with runs the rest of the week, and with cold, rain, snow, and wind in the forecast I needed that!

Thursday intention: take it easy
Because of all the stress lately and sleep deprivation, a Pop Fun Run sounded perfect to me. Fun run my a$$! This was speed work, plain & simple, but it was a short enough run that once I started it, I was sorta committed. Oh well, I survived it. 

Halloween is in the hood
But the snow was gone

Saturday intention: run out the sadness (again)
I dropped Lola back off at the ER right before this run. Or rather, I was foam rolling and getting ready for this run, when she threw up again and it was clear she needed to be seen. Knowing I probably had hours until I heard from the vet — they are so slammed these days — I decided I would attempt to run. Stopping to check my phone every mile.

I wondered what was going to go on in there?

My heart and legs felt heavy, it wasn’t fast, it felt hard. No doubt from lack of sleep and emotions. It was slow, but fairly consistent, so there’s that. It was also a lovely day, and I tried to be present enough to enjoy it — although it wasn’t easy.

Of course not long after this run and a quick hop in the shower to warm up, we got the call from the vet. Lola’s kidney values were very elevated, which wasn’t shocking to me, but for the first time in our 35 years of married life, the vet strongly urged us to put her to sleep. Right away.

She also told me she could make her comfortable for the weekend, and she had an appointment with the holistic vet on Monday. I know the holistic vet could have made her feel better . . . for a while. It’s not curable, though, of course, and it’s much harder on dogs than cats. We made the hard decision to let her go.

Fish “Fry”

Favorites of the week
I never wrote about our new Breville Toaster Oven/Air Fryer we bought for our anniversary. Something I’d been eyeing a long time. Like the Instant Pot, there’s a learning curve, but so far we really like it. The entire meal above was made in its air fryer — Mr. Judy liked it, and he can be a tough customer.

Finding solace in nature

I really haven’t been able to get away much lately. Lola couldn’t be left alone for more than a few minutes at a time. This morning, though, I needed to get away and go for a walk, so I did. It’s not a pretty day, it’s very windy, and we keep losing Internet, but I found some healing in nature. The rest will just take time.

And just like that, the two cats and two dogs we moved here with 11 1/2 years ago are gone.

I’m also going to ask for prayers for a neighbor’s husband. He’s been in the hospital with COVID — he did have underlying conditions — but at the moment it’s not looking great and she’s not even allowed to visit him.

No questions this week. Love on your loved ones.

GWY Gentle Moon Salutations

ICYMI: I actually did manage to get up a video this week — early, even. Because I wanted people to have the opportunity to do it on the Halloween Full Moon — it goes really well with a full or new moon! You can find it here.

Coming up on Tuesday: I have started to make my own nut milk, and I’m going to share how that’s going. Maybe it’s a stretch to share on a running linkup, but hopefully you guys will be ok with it. On Friday I’ll be joining so many friendly bloggers here for tea — or coffee if that’s your thing.

Finding Rainbows in Nature: Runfessions October 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 25 Comments

Between all the colorful leaves, the lakes/ponds, and grasses, it’s been easy to find my rainbows out in nature these days. Hopefully these memories will help sustain me through the long, cold, dark, dreary Winter. Or maybe I’ll find more beauty in nature this Winter; who knows?

I runfess . . .
During our 3 day power outage our generator powers a lot, but not all, of our house. The microwave, refrigerator, and toaster oven (if you move it to another plug) for instance, but not the stove.

We use a portable light for the bathroom. Because we thought those lights weren’t powered (just like the bedroom lights aren’t). We almost died laughing the day I walked into the bathroom and turned on the lights without thinking about it, and sure enough they went on. One switch. There’s another switch that powers a different light as you walk in that isn’t powered by the generator.

I runfess . . .
I actually think a mostly extended break from hard running this year actually has done my body a lot of good. It’s given me time to try to figure out what the right amount of running for me is. Still not sure, but it has helped me mostly move from “I have to run” to “I get to run“. Most days.

Move more, exercise less

I runfess . . .
I think that you’re really not going to lose a lot of fitness in 2 weeks (if you’re not laid up injured or sick). I didn’t have any DOMs when I started to run again — or lift. I’m sure all the walking/hiking I did instead of running helped, too. Don’t be so afraid to stop running every once in a while — just keep moving!

Bandit: hey, what about me?

I dogfess . . .
Last Sunday I had the dogs in the office with me while Mr. Judy made dinner. All by his lonesome. After dinner he fed Lola and Bandit some leftover steak, as he always does, and we were so happy Lola ate some. Then we sat down to watch some TV. After the first show I realized I had never actually fed poor Bandit dinner!

I runfess . . .
Apparently our hot, humid Summer was good for one thing: colorful Fall leaves. At least that’s what someone commented on a post on FB. Or maybe it was the great Fall weather we enjoyed (until now) — according to this PDF here:

The best weather for brilliant fall foliage is a growing season with ample
moisture followed by a dry, cool and sunny autumn with warm days and cool but frostless nights.

I know we’re still actually in a drought, but we haven’t had a frost — yet — and it’s been relatively sunny and dry this Fall. No matter what, all the colorful leaves makes for some happy walking, hiking, and running.

Do you think Fall has been particularly colorful this year? 

Ever felt a little running break actually helped?

Have you been finding new trails/paths to enjoy?

What do you have to runfess from October? Come join us

Runfessions

I am also linking up with:

Hold On: October 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 20 Comments

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October had no races, virtual or otherwise. In fact, it was probably the least amount of running I did in 2020 with a 2 week running break, and now trying to squeeze in running around hopefully coaxing Lola back to health.

October also saw tempers fraying, the election getting on everyone’s nerves, and COVID once again surging in many places. Sean Mendes’ song “Hold On” may not be about being strong (although if you look up the speculation about its meaning, it definitely is), but it seems to fit the times.

So you just gotta hold on
All we can do is hold on, yeah
Yeah, you just gotta hold on
Just hold on for me

On the personal front, we had some very lovely Fall weather in October (no snow! yay!) and I made a real effort to get out there and soak up as much of it as I could. We also celebrated our 35th anniversary.

Getting in scheduled runs
There were no virtual races on the calendar for me in October. That’s part of why I decided to take a running break; you can see another reason I did in this post here. There was the Run for Ruth, and I did about 60% of that just with walking. Then I began to ease back into running and prepping for a virtual 5k in November — not a turkey trot, by the way! Although maybe I’ll add in a virtual Turkey Trot, who knows.

Grade Earned:  A

Recording my runs
I record them here. Someday I’ll get back to journaling!

Grade Earned: Incomplete (due to pandemic)

Dynamic Warmup
Since I did some of the Peloton Road to 5k course, I did some of my “training” for the upcoming 5k on the treadmill. Somehow in my mind, since I don’t have to get out the door for those runs, it seems easier to warm up. I don’t warm up for my walks though. I probably should!

Grade Earned: A+

Foam Rolling
There was far less foam rolling in October. Just because I’m not running doesn’t mean my legs wouldn’t appreciate some extra loving!

Grade Earned: A-

There were definitely indulgences in October but maybe the fact there was no birthday cake to finish off helped

Nutrition
September was a little hard with Mr. Judy’s birthday month of fun. It was a bit too much fun when it came to food. I got back on track in October, though, and things (such as clothes) are beginning to slowly feel a bit more normal for me.

Grade Earned: A-

Support

  • Massage? Nope. We all know why.
  • Chiropractor Appointment? See massage.
  • Do I need a hair appointment? I need to schedule that appointment. We are in a very good situation with COVID right now, but I could see that changing with more time spent indoors and school restarting.

Grade Earned: I

So much Fall beauty

Cross Training
Plenty of Yoga, plenty of walking, some easy hikes. A little bit of strength training. Not enough ST but the month has been a real roller coaster.

Grade Earned: A-

October 2020  gets  . . . 
. . . an A. Normally I might have given myself an A-, but I’m giving myself an A because I recognized I needed that running break and took it.

October Goals:

  • A short running break. Y. Glad I did it. I wasn’t a slug, I just didn’t run!
  • Ease back in with easy runs. Y.  Sort of, Some of the first Peloton runs weren’t exactly easy, but I also didn’t pick up right where I left off.
  • Find a flatter course for virtual races. Y. Maybe? 
  • Explore new places when I visit my mom. Y. It’s always a long day, but spending some time out in nature makes it feel a little easier.
  • Decide on my next virtual race. Y. It’s the “Champion for the Chesapeake”. The purpose is to get the Chesapeake Bay named as the next new national park. I love national parks — wish we had one here in NY! You can still sign up here if you’re interested. The shirts are nice (I already have mine).
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. Y.  Like most people this year, weight has been a bit of a battle. It’s staying fairly even, although lately my clothes have been feeling more comfy. NSV (non scale victory).

Which leads me to November Goals:

  • Continue working through the Peloton 5k Course. I’m back to only running 3 x week right now, so that makes it a little bit of a challenge because I don’t want to spend all my time on the treadmill. Plus it’s a 4 x week program. But I’ll adapt it to my needs.
  • Choose a course for my virtual 5k. I have been visiting a different bike path to run at, and trying to get to know it to figure out what might be the best course for a “race”.
  • More strength training! My AM Yoga is great bodyweight training. I feel strongly about lifting weights as we age. The trouble is how to get that on the schedule.
  • Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. I’ve been bouncing back and forth for months. Just hanging in there.
  • Continue to explore Kundalini Kriyas. I started a new Kriya (class) after my 40 day effort (read about that here and here). I really like this one: with the warmup and some meditation it took me about 30 minutes and it worked muscles runners need to work! I don’t plan to do another 40 Day Kriya soon, but I’m still shooting to try to keep an AM Yoga streak and explore different Kriyas. I’m actually already onto the second Kriya, and I like this one too. 

btuesdaytopics

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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Best & Worst of Times: 10/19 – 25 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 26 Comments

This week didn’t start off as I planned, but it was pretty good — until the weekend. Then things went rapidly downhill.

I had targeted a park that was a little further away than we usually go for our anniversary roadtrip. I’d been there, once, and I thought Mr. Judy might enjoy it, too. We didn’t go on our actual anniversary, as the weather wasn’t great, although it wasn’t a lot better on the day we did go.

The weather wasn’t pretty but we still enjoyed our day

Unfortunately that night Lola fell ill. She could barely walk and sometimes couldn’t even stand. She stopped eating and drinking — and she’s always been a really big drinker. We’re still not 100% sure what is causing it (still); any and all good vibes and prayers are much appreciated.

Right before she started acting strange

bwrd

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and reporting on easing back into running.

Workouts update

  • Monday: Yoga (30 min),  Dogwalk/RGB Walk 2.9, Yoga (20 min)
  • Tuesday: Yoga (50 min), TM Intervals 2.53, Dogwalk/RGB Walk .92, Yoga (20 min)
  • Wednesday: Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk./RBG Walk 5 (and just like that, RBG is a wrap)
  • Thursday: Yoga (30 min),RBG Walk/Dogwalk/Hike 2.50, Yoga (20 min)
  • Friday: Yoga (30 min), Much pacing at Animal ER, TM Run 2 + Core
  • Saturday:  Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk, Yoga (20 min)
  • Sunday: Yoga (30 min), Easy 4 miles, Yoga (20 min)

Running Mileage: 8.43 (-.49)
Walking: Finished RBG; don’t think I’ll be tracking walking on the regular now but still trying to add in some extra miles

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

Monday intention: oops, I didn’t really think about one
Probably because I am using the Peloton Road to 5k (partially) for my virtual 5k in about a month. It was speedwork today. May have actually run it a bit slowly, but always better to save it for the “race”/

Friday intention: destress
If you follow me on FB here, you know that we had a belated road trip for our anniversary on Thursday (our actual anniversary was Monday). Everything seemed fine, until that night, when Lola started to act odd. There was sleep deprivation. The next morning she was even worse, and we ended up at the animal ER. 

After pacing around waiting for many hours while they tried to diagnose and treat her (no real diagnosis, possible UTI and other things that could be much worse but we elected not to spend $$$ on testing for things that probably aren’t really treatable at her age), I finally brought her home and for the first time in a really long time I felt the need to pound out some stress. Of course there’s been lots of stress all year long, but most of the time, I haven’t felt the need to run hard. Today I did.

This particular Peloton workout as part of the Road to 5k obliged with some speed work.

Sunday intention: run out the sadness
Lola is hanging in there after a second trip to the ER (ka-ching, ka-ching) and still no definitive diagnosis. Mr. Judy was very pleased that she ate & drank a bit on her own after he picked her up while I was running. As I’m typing this, she doesn’t seem too interested in treats again, but we’re grilling a steak so fingers crossed. She’s sighing a lot. I’m not terribly surprised, I warned Mr. Judy not to get too excited. She did enjoy some steak.

My heart was just heavy as I ran, but I’m still hopeful. She already has an appointment at the holistic vet, but getting in to any vet, and especially specialists, which was suggested, is super hard right now. It can take months to get an appointment.

I had originally planned a slightly longer run, but by the time I got out the afternoon was almost moving into evening so 4 it was. Probably just as well, there was sleep deprivation again last night.

There’s a deer hiding out on the left

Favorites of the week
On a better note, I met one friend I haven’t seen this year in the flesh for a walk this week.

Back at the pond

Then later in the week I met another friend for a walk near the pond and on the fitness path.

Finding Fall at the ER vet

Are you using running to help you destress lately?

What other things do you do to destress? 

What is one thing you’re proud you did this week? 

Releasing Yin Yoga

ICYMI: This week I have a longer Yin Yoga practice to help you release — whatever you have to release! It will also help you open up your hips, your low back, and your chest. You can find it here.

Coming up on Tuesday: Yup, it’s time to wrap up October! On Friday I’ll be visiting the Runfessional here to cleanse my running soul.

Just Respect & Compassion

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 12 Comments

brespectcompassion

Have you seen the memes? The ones about not living your life in fear because of Coronavirus?

This is a highly personal post, and one I put a great deal of thought into. It would be much easier to not to write this post, but in the end, I felt it was important for me to share my feelings.

Fairytales and Fitness

I am not saying you should live your life in fear; of course you should not.

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.– Marie Curie

How ironic is the above quote from Marie Curie, who died from her work and her quest to understand more. In fact, her body is actually still considered to be radioactive — but I digress.

Being cautious is not the same as being afraid
Some people equate changing your life because of a virus as living in fear. Everyone has different circumstances, and everyone has different comfort levels. Don’t ever assume you know what is going on in someone else’s life unless they tell you or you ask.

Do you have loved ones with high blood pressure? Diabetes? Cancer? Maybe a combination of several of these illnesses? Ones that are also very elderly? I do. Am I afraid of infecting them? Damn right I am. It is my sincere wish that when my mom passes, it’s not after months of being in and out of the hospital/rehab like my dad, or alone because of a virus.

I am not telling you to stop living your life, but please don’t judge me because I changed my life to protect the people I love. It isn’t easy. I’d like life to be normal, too. I’d like to go on vacation, too. I would love to eat inside a restaurant and be served. I’d like to be running with a group. I’d love to go to the movies.

I’ll tell you what else I’d lovee: to see my mom enjoy the years she has left. To see my other loved ones at higher risk be healthy and have many more years ahead of them. We won’t have to live like this forever. We will, as Marie Curie said, learn more. We already have. There are already better treatments.

Like so many diseases before this, such as pneumonia, polio, and AIDs, there will eventually be vaccines or even better treatments that allow us to get back to more normal living. Until that time, though, I remain cautiously optimistic and just plain cautious.

Final Thoughts
I am not telling you how to live your life, and I appreciate you not telling me how to live mine. All I ask is that you respect my feelings, and show me (and those like me) compassion. Reach out to your friends that don’t feel comfortable getting together in groups, whatever their reasons are. It isn’t easy and it can get lonely, too.

Please, please, please show respect and compassion to those have lost loved ones to this virus. Don’t know anyone who has? I do. I know others that do, as well. I am happy that so far, knock on wood, my loved ones are safe, but there are many people who can’t say the same.

No questions today. It’s all food for thought.

I Finished It: 40 Day Kriya

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 23 Comments

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Remember that 40 Day Kriya? You can read about it in this post here if you missed it. I finished it! What did I learn? It was a lot like running! In some ways.

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Get it done first thing
It is suggested that you do it before 6 am; the effects are supposed to be more powerful then. I happen to be an early riser, so most days that happened. There may have been a day or two I didn’t wake up til 6, but I still just got up and got it done.

You can do it at any time of day, but being a morning person already I found doing it first thing n the morning worked well for me. You feel so good when you’ve moved your body first thing in the morning.

Although the truth is I don’t run first thing in the morning. Because I’m doing Yoga. Even when I’m not doing Yoga, as it gets colder my runs get later in the day. I’m lucky that I have that opportunity.

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I didn’t want to do it
Almost every morning I would get up and I really just wanted to sit down with a warm beverage and read. Kundalini isn’t easy. I knew, just as I know with running, that I would feel better after I did my Kriya. I always did. There are times with running that I don’t feel better afterwards.

I used to be a get up and go runner in the Summers, but over time, I’ve just found that that makes my mornings rushed. It’s easier to get up and do Yoga: no changing clothes, no eating. This Summer I often did get out there early, but I found that over time, that was beginning to wear on me. After 40+ days of AM Yoga, I am always energized afterwards. That’s the purpose of my practice, after all — which leads me to . . .

I had more energy
I decided to tackle the 40 day Kriya specifically to work on energy. While the last few weeks have been challenging, I definitely felt ready to get going most mornings after my practice.

I had to ease into it
Every pose has a suggested time. You are almost always moving or doing specific pranayama (breathing techniques) so it’s not just hanging out in the pose like Yin Yoga.

Sometimes I had to take very short breaks. I had to start out with less time than suggested. In fact, for most of the poses, I still haven’t worked up to the minimum hold times — although I’m getting closer.

Running is the same. When we start, or restart after a rest or an injury, we need to ease into it.

Final Thoughts
I know that moving first thing in the morning is a good thing, but the truth is I have struggled for a long time to find the right movement for me. I have tried early morning cardio, but I always seem to burn out on that at some point — or feel run down eventually.

That wasn’t always the case, though. When I was younger I often did early morning cardio. I worked outside the home, and I knew when I came home I might not do it. It worked for me then, but things change.

I have committed to AM Yoga before, and done pretty well with it, but I always seem to get away with it at some point.

That may still be the case; it’s only been 40 days, after all. Despite the difficulty, though, I plan to keep going. Not with another 40 day Kriya right now; that would mean doing the same poses for another 40 days. I want to explore different Kriyas (classes).

There’s always a sense of accomplishment when you finish something you set out to do — especially if it isn’t easy. Even better when you learn and grow from it. — Chocolaterunsjudy

How do you challenge yourself these days?

What have you learned from your challenges? 

What have you been avoiding because it’s hard? 

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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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Mr. Judy to the Rescue: 10/12 – 18 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 30 Comments

Yes, there is some running to report this week! Nothing wild, just a few short runs. Still lots of Yoga and walking. Less walking, though, because . . . running. My running miles basically replaced my extra walking miles from the previous week.
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Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and reporting on easing back into running.

Workouts update

  • Monday: Yoga (50 min), Dogwalk/RGB Walk 3.00, Yoga (20 min)
  • Tuesday: Yoga (50 min), TM Intervals 2.71, Dogwalk/RGB Walk .38, Yoga (20 min)
  • Wednesday: Yoga (50 min), Dogwalk./RBG Walk 4.59
  • Thursday: Yoga (60 min),RBG Walk/Dogwalk/Hike 2.50, Yoga (20 min)
  • Friday: Yoga (40 min), TM Run 2.21 + Legs, RBG Walk .42
  • Saturday:  Yoga (50 min), RBG Walk/Dogwalk 2.76, Yoga (20 min)
  • Sunday: Yoga (40 min), RBG Walk/Hike 2.22, Easy 4 miles, Yoga (20 min)

Running Mileage: 8.92 (=8.92)
Walking: 15.87 miles (-9.45)

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

Tuesday intention: Restart Running safely
Circumstances had me running on the two rainy days this week, which meant treadmill runs for me. I also started a loose version of the Peloton Road to 5k Program. Today’s run was intervals. I may have run a bit harder than I’d really intended but all was well and there was never any DOMs.

Friday intention: Running but finally some weights!
More rain. More treadmill miles. This time it was a 10 min WU, 20 min run with 10 min of legwork. Somehow following a Peloton class makes it much easier on the treadmill (for me).

I started with a warmup walk through the woods

Sunday intention: Go the distance . . .
. . . but not really. Just a slightly longer run than the first couple of runs — but easy! Although somehow negative splits. The mostly downhill second half might have had something to do with that. I started out with a walk through the woods (pictured above) to warm up.

Then onto my run

It was a bit hillier than I’d intended, but I had all the colored leaves to keep me entertained.

And this is where things went sideways

I chose a different way back because it was supposed to bring me back to where I’d parked. Then I got to the “path end” sign and had no idea how to go. I ended up calling Mr. Judy because I hate the maps app on my iphone 6, and he was able to point me in the right direction. I knew I was so close, but after walking back and forth for about a mile, I was getting darn hungry and anxious, too.

We’re at peak in the neighborhood

Favorites of the week
Despite a couple of days of rain, we’re really at peak up here in upstate NY and we’ve been blessed with some great Fall weather, too.

Fueled up for our walk

I didn’t need ice cream for most of my short walks/hikes this week, but since we got a warmer day — and I don’t like ice cream when it’s cold — this could be the last of the season.

Loved our walk around this pond so much I returned to this area to run (not the trails we walked on)
Short walk at another nature preserve with the dogs

This particular preserve had warnings about the duck hunting going on. A lot of people were still walking. I decided to chance it. I could hear shots, but never very close.

I needed this hot chocolate today!

You guys, this hot chocolate is da bomb. Seriously. I made it with chocolate cashew milk I made. I add collagen, turmeric paste, and some mini chocolate chips to it so it’s nice and creamy and chocolatey. Today I actually added some whipped cream and cinnamon (unpictured) because I ended up going a lot farther than I’d planned to! Yes, at some point I’ll be posting about my nut milk making adventures.

Oh, and that’s the Echo Show 8 we bought for my mom in the background. I’m working on setting it up for  her. We got a good deal on Prime Day; it’s not as good a deal now, of course, but it is slightly discounted here (Amazon Affiliate link). The sound is great! I’ve been having fun with it, when I’m not tearing my hair out how to get stuff working, of course. It’s been that kind of week. Sorry for the long post!

Do you ease back into running after a break or just pick up where you left off?

Do you embrace walking in addition to running or do you always feel the need for speed? 

What is one thing you’re proud you did this week? 

gwy self healing meditation

ICYMI: Sometimes video and audio fights me, and that was the case this week. I finally did get my Self Healing meditation put together after much hair pulling (ironic, no?) and you can find it here. Or maybe not. The first try at uploading it hung up. I’ve never had that happen before. I’m trying again but it’s unlikely to be live by the time I post.

Coming up on Tuesday: I finished my 40 Day Kriya and I’m sharing my thoughts on that. On Friday it’s a very personal post. Please view it with compassion and know that it’s not aimed at any person/s in particular.

1 Reason I Took a Running Break

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 17 Comments

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When should you take a break from running? I do think it does a body good once in a while. Any repetitive activity leaves you open to injury. Switching it up and giving your body a break is one way to stay injury free.

Fairytales and Fitness

Pay attention to your RHR (resting heart rate)
The line between pushing yourself and injuring yourself or burning out is so thin it’s almost invisible. This decision was easy for me, because I made it a while ago. Better to be proactive than reactive — I always tell Mr. Judy that about walking the dogs!

When it came time to actually take that break, I had already noticed an upward tick in my RHR. As far as I can deduce, Garmin averages your RHR throughout the day. So sometimes it will autocorrect the lower value a day or two later for me, when I’ve synced that day. That just means that much like a false positive test, sometimes a high RHR turns out to be a bit lower.

In my case, even allowing for time, there was a steady uptick. I actually started my running break a few days earlier than I’d planned to. I felt okay, but my body seemed to be indicating that I wasn’t recovering well. I am not a slave to data — but it’s one hint when something is coming off the rails.

In normal times, if I’d been training for a race or racing a lot as I often do in the Fall, I might have just pushed through it. Sometimes not having running goals can actually be a good thing!

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What I gained
I gained time. Running is time consuming. Making sure I fuel right, have my outfit laid out, making sure I have hydration, foam rolling, pre- and post-stretching: it all adds up. I used that time to walk more. Fall is the perfect time in the Northeast to explore and get out in nature.

Walking more allowed me to slow down. Slowing down allowed me to be more observant to everything around me. We see more on the run than we do driving in a car, right? You also see a lot more walking than you do running.

My RHR came back down into its normal range.

Final Thoughts
You may be able to run hard and many miles without taking breaks. As I wrote in You are an experiment of 1 here, every body is different. As I’ve so often mentioned, even elites take breaks from running. Sometimes long breaks. Yes, running is their job — but they are still wise enough to know that recovery is also their job.

Recovery may not be our job, but being kind to our body is.

Still struggling with whether or not it’s time for a break? Check out Embrace the Taper here for a list of my many posts on rest and recovery.

Are you afraid of losing running fitness if you stop running?

When was the last time you voluntarily took a break from running?

When was the last time you were forced to take a break from running due to illness or injury?