Spring is slowly unfurling, bit by little bit. No we don’t have flowers yet or leaves on the trees, but we can see they’re coming and that’s always such a hopeful sign. What will you plant this Spring? Literally? Spiritually?

I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and easing slowly back into running and strength training.

Workouts update

• Monday: Yoga (20 min), Dogwalk, Yoga (15 min)
• Tuesday: Yoga (20 min), 3 miles easy with 4 20 sec hill repeats, Dogwalk, Yoga (20 min)
• Wednesday: Yoga (30 min), Short hike/Dogwalk
• Thursday: Yoga (20 min), Dogwalk, 2.5ish TM miles, Yoga (20 min)
• Friday: Yoga (40 min), Dogwalk
• Saturday: Yoga (40 min), Led Yoga (30 min), PB Cardio/ST (25 min), Dogwalk
• Sunday: Yoga (20 min), 6 mile LSD, Yoga (20 min)

Running Mileage: 11.5 (+.50)

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: tackle some hills — easy (seems to be my mantra lately)
It was cold. Like December cold. Mid 20s anyone? And gray. But not windy! It actually wasn’t my intention to do hill repeats when I left, but I decided I would give it a try. I was working on a video which took far longer than anticipated, so I got out much later than planned (and still so cold). That first mile was speedier than I’ve been in a while, although the hill repeats naturally slowed me down.

A strong run, though; I’ll take it!

Thursday Intention: get in a short one
Lots of things to work on today. Got out before the cold rain started (for the rest of the day) to walk Bandit. I’ve been waking up later this week due to the time change and getting up in the wee hours, then finally falling back asleep. I knew I wouldn’t be able to have breakfast & get out there before the rain & I was right.

Did a 10 minute warmup run followed by a 20 min Peloton recovery run. Fell a bit short of the usual 3 miles I’d run midweek but that’s all I had time for this day. Something is always better than nothing!

Sunday Intention: go the extra mile
For the first time in forever (do you watch the Holdernesses on YouTube? I don’t, but Mr. Judy does, and therefore I often see their videos; they are cute) I was actually looking forward to a run. It promised to be a lovely morning with little wind, and it was.

Which isn’t to say this was an easy run, oh no! I again chose a route with a lot of hills. I took my time, I walked extra when I felt the need, and I soaked up some Vitamin D. Plus I ran 6 miles, which is the longest I’ve run this year.

Favorites of the week
I can’t say I’ve been a good Ambassador for anything lately, but I was happy to see my new Nuun Immunity samples arrive. Stay tuned!

I also got a surprise from Honeystinger!

We took a short, steep, muddy, even icy in a few spots, hike this week too. Mr. Judy and Bandit were troopers. 

What signs of Spring are you seeing?

Does Spring make you feel hopeful? 

How did you celebrate the Spring Equinox? 

ICYMI: We’re on week 3 of my Better Balance + Strong Core Challenge! You’ll find the video here. This week I also did a bonus Facebook Live mini balance + core workout I could definitely feel the next day; I also led kneeling sun salutes in the group yesterday. You can join here. But wait, there’s more! A meditation to help you spring into balance here (aka think about what you want this Spring). A kind friend informed me that my Happy Feet video had no audio; you can view it with instructions now here.

Coming up on Tuesday: 5 ways to prep for Spring Running. Friday I’m getting a few things off my chest at Marcia’s runfessional here.

Every little bit of sunshine, every Robin sighting, makes Spring feel just that little bit closer. We had very windy — but also warmer — weather this week. We had to try to soak up as much sun as possible this week since it got cold and windy by the weekend — but still sunny! I even got to film a video outside on the deck!

I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and easing slowly back into running and strength training.

Workouts update

• Monday: Yoga (20 min), Dogwalk, Yoga (15 min)
• Tuesday: Yoga (20 min), 3 miles easy, Yoga (35 min)
• Wednesday: Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk
• Thursday: Yoga (40 min), walk/hike at Olana
• Friday: Yoga (40 min), 5 miles “easy”, Yoga (20 min)
• Saturday: Yoga (40 min), Dogwalk
• Sunday: Yoga (20 min), 3 miles easy, Yoga (20 min)

Running Mileage: 11 (+1.50)

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: easy — enjoy the sunshine & warmer temps!
I was actually a little overdressed for this run. It wasn’t that warm, 40 and windy, but compared to last week it felt great even if I was battling wind most of the run. Although the easy miles didn’t feel easy, my V02 Max nudged up again. So the cardio comeback is complete. I saw a cardinal on my cool down walk at the end — I almost thought it was a robin!

Friday Intention: keep it easy
I like to take a rest day after going to visit my mom — and a crazy busy week — but I couldn’t pass up the chance to run on a semi-warm day when the sun was shining (but the wind was blowing). My least three longish runs have been the same distance, completed in the same time, but I swear each one has felt harder. The wind didn’t help, and the path I chose is somewhat hilly. 

We had sighted our first Robins at Olana the day before, which is south of here, but I saw a Robin on this run, too. I also saw 5 deer running across a fairly major road that’s not far from the airport — that was a huge surprise! I’ve never seen deer there at all.

Sunday Intention: focus on feeling powerful
I wasn’t tackling major hills — or major wind (although it was windy) today, but there are plenty of little inclines in my neighborhood (plenty of hills, too, but today was not the day for that). I focused on flowing up those inclines. Now robins are everywhere. The next thing to look out for are Spring bulbs; Mr. Judy planted some in the Fall.

Favorites of the week
We could have gone to visit my mom on her actual birthday, but the weather was warmer the next day so we agreed that was the better day to visit. Bandit is not allowed inside, so we had to meet outside. Feeling blessed that it was a nice enough day that we could do that. Yes, my mom has been vaccinated — but I haven’t been.

We had made our usual stop at Olana for a bathroom break and brunch outside. Usually I go by myself, but since it was my mom’s birthday, I thought it would be nice if Mr. Judy came too. Which meant Bandit had to come. Which meant meeting outside.

Speaking if hanging in, here is my St. Patrick’s Day cactus, as I’m now calling it. I had buds around my birthday, but apparently I didn’t water it enough and they dried up and fell off. I’m guessing these will be my last blooms, but only time will tell.

What are you focusing on these days?

Snow all gone or hanging in there? Ours is gone! Finally! Makes running a lot easier.

Did you race this weekend? 

ICYMI: We’re on week 2 of my Better Balance + Strong Core Challenge! You’ll find the video here. This week I also did one bonus Facebook Live core workout in the Facebook group; you can join here.

Coming up on Tuesday: What if you could download that perfect blog post you wrote in your head on the run? Friday I’m going to help you turn some of those common negative thoughts on the run into positive mantras.