Running Friends

Boost Your Running with . . .

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 25 Comments

. . . These 5 Essential Oils

bessentialoilsrunners

Have you seen all the hype about Essential Oils (EOs) and wondered if it could boost your running? Maybe. There are many Essential Oils that can soothe sore muscles, reduce anxiety, and help you get a better night’s sleep.

Buy your oils from a reputable source. Sadly there really is no regulation of EOs. As you can see, so far I’ve been buying mine from DoTerra. I signed up for a Wholesale Account, and that gives me a discounts on the oils I buy. The good news is that small bottle goes a long way!

Disclaimer: I am not an aromatherapist or medical professional. Some EOs are not appropriate for everyone (or animals!). Please do your due diligence before using Essential Oils.

Do not put EOs “neat”, or undiluted, on your skin. You need to mix them with a carrier oil because they can irritate your skin if they are not diluted, or sometimes cause sun sensitivty. 

The two easiest ways to use EOs is to diffuse them in your home (add them to water and then the diffuser diffuses the EOs mixed with water into your living space) and as an inhaler. 

You can buy inhalers for EOs on Amazon. They’re inexpensive and small enough to fit in a pocket on the run. It’s a small metal capsule with a thick cotton wick inside, and holes so that you can open it up and take a sniff. Just soak the cotton wick, put it back inside, and inhale as needed.

You don’t have to invest in a lot of EOs to begin with, and they last a long time. My personal suggestion if you want to give EOs a whirl is to start with these four:

  1. Peppermint
  2. Lavender
  3. Lemon (lemon didn’t make this post, but I use it all the time!)
  4. Tea tree (also didn’t make this post, but has so many uses)
bfitfivefriday

I’m linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Runs with Pugs, Zenaida and Run Laugh Eat Pie for Fit Five Friday.

close up freshness green growth
Peppermint for Pep | Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Peppermint
Want some pep in your step? Then peppermint is your friend! Also helps with:

  • Muscle soreness
  • Digestion
  • Tricks the brain into thinking you’re not working so hard
  • Roll some peppermint on your feet to put some pep in your step
  • Nausea relief
  • Bug Repellent
shallow focus photography of lavenders
Lavender to relax & recover | Photo by Palo Cech on Pexels.com

Lavender
I think most of use have heard of using lavender for sleep. Having something in your tool kit before a big race to help you relax is important. I actually use lavender oil before I go to bed every night. I use a roller ball, and I roll it on my temples (if they’re feeling tight), the back of my neck, and the soles of my feet.

Lavender is great for many other things that plague runners:

  • Muscle soreness
  • Reduce Allergies
  • Helps relieve anxiety
  • Helps relieve headaches

I mix lavender and peppermint together with a carrier oil, then apply to my feet in the mornings. Remember, peppermint peps you up, while lavender relaxes you — put together they can help soothe and pep up tired feet (or any other muscle soreness you may be experiencing).

Diffuse equal parts peppermint, lavender, and lemon to help with seasonal allergies.

Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is well known for its ability to help you breathe easier (Vick’s Vapo rub, anyone?). It’s great pre-race, and in the days leading up to a race because:

  • It’s anti-inflammatory
  • Helps support respiratory health

Unfortunately, Eucalyptus is highly toxic to dogs.

potted lush rosemary plant placed on market stall
Reduce Stress & Mental Fatigue | Photo by Uriel Mont on Pexels.com

Rosemary
Although I have Rosemary EO, it’s not one I reach for often. Researching its many benefits, though, maybe I should! I do use it in an inhaler along with peppermint and lemon — when I start feeling tired on the run I will inhale this during a walk break.

  • Reduces stress levels
  • Reduces mental fatigue
  • Reduces muscle soreness
  • Reduces tissue inflammation
  • Bug Repellent
  • Benefits memory
  • May stimulate hair growth

Vetiver
I once made the mistake of diffusing vetiver (and another EO) on a long drive. Somehow it got stuck in my mind that Vetiver is good for focus. Oops! It’s actually yet another EO that is good for sleep. Yes, I actually did feel sleepier than normal on my drive back!

  • Bug Repellant — especially ticks that carry Lyme Disease (I use this often on hikes)
  • Reduces Anxiety
  • Helps promote restful sleep

Final Thoughts
This is not an in depth study of EOs, obviously. You may find other EOs more helpful to your running (or life). It’s just a quick introduction to how EOs can support your running.

Do you already use Essential Oils?

Which EOs are your favorites (doesn’t have to be running-related)? 

What do you use for muscle soreness? DoTerra’s Deep Blue Rub is another favorite of mine. I use it when I get shots I know will leave my arm sore — it helps a lot!

5 Ways to Turn Your Thoughts Around

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 26 Comments

5 Ways to Reframe Your Thoughts

Is it just me, or do you also have “Turning the Beat Around” stuck in your head now?  #sorrynotsorry

We all have runs that are harder than they should be — simply because we allow all those negative voices in our head free reign. What if you could turn that voice around?

bfitfivefriday

I’m linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Runs with Pugs, Zenaida and Run Laugh Eat Pie for Fit Five Friday. Today I am sharing a simple technique: reframing. Reframing is simply taking a negative thought and turning it into a positive thought.

Of course, it doesn’t always feel so simple!

Thought #1: Why does this feel so hard?
Reframe it:

  • This run is making me stronger
  • I can do hard things
  • I choose this run to help me grow stronger
  • Running is a privelege
aerial view of road between green grass field
 Hills make me stronger | Photo by TruShotz on Pexels.com

Thought #2: I hate hills!
Reframe it:

  • I conquer this hill
  • I move closer to the top with every step
  • I fly down this hill
  • Hills make me stronger

Thought #3: I’m walking already?
Reframe it:

  • Walking helps me stay strong
  • I respect my body
  • I listen to my body
  • Walking keeps fatigue away

Thought #4: Why am I so slow?
Reframe it:

  • I run to my full potential
  • Forward is a pace
  • I run the perfect pace for me
  • I run to feel at peace with the world
road between pine trees
Choose to embrace the weather or not — it’s all in your mind! | Photo by veeterzy on Pexels.com

Thought #5: I hate the heat/cold/wind/rain
Reframe it:

  • I choose to run in any type of weather
  • Running in all sorts of weather makes me a stronger runner
  • I grow stronger with every run
  • Rain brings rainbows

Final Thoughts
Thoughts. That’s the key word! A thought can always be changed. When we think the same thought over and over again, we actually create grooves in our brain. The good news is that we can use a new thought to overwrite those grooves!

What thoughts do you need to reframe?

Do you have a different way to reframe one of these thoughts? 

Are you positive or negative on the run, or does it vary run to run — even start to finish?

Taking a Bite Out of The Big Apple: 9/17-23 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 48 Comments

It was a good training week, but man, was it busy and wacky and really not the best way to train! Fasting, travel, and some rough food choices, oh my!

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to share balancing training for Ocean City Half — which is in one week! — and traveling (for fun).

WWSki-Orange

Workouts update

  • Monday: 4 easy miles, PB Strength Training (30 minutes)
  • Tuesday: 6 miles cruise intervals (3 x 1 mile repeats with 2 min walk recovery), Dogwalk, PB Abs HIIT (12 minutes)
  • Wednesday: Dogwalk
  • Thursday:  4 miles with hilly 6 x 400s, travel to NYC
  • Friday:  Walking around NYC
  • Saturday: Walking around NYC, travel home
  • Sunday: 9 miles LSD, PB Abs HIIT (15 minutes)

Mileage: 23 (-4)

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 Updates

 

We always thought this dog was a puppy. But he’s got a white muzzle, turns out!

Monday
I wish I could get by without using the H word. I guess it was an okay run, but I felt a bit tired after Sunday’s long run sweatfest.

No, it’s not dirt. I was plastered with gnats. Disgusting!

Tuesday
I stupidly waited for Florence’s remnants to pass on by, but the humidity left behind was through the roof. Seriously, it may have only been 6 miles, but it may also have been the toughest 6 miles of the summer — which is saying quite a bit.

Didn’t meet the paces, but I tried hard and wasn’t too far off.

Thursday
It was finally a nice, cool day. I was definitely tired after staying up far later than normal, plus fasting the previous day for Yom Kippur. But I ate a entire bagel (and another half!) to break the fast, and more.

We were at my sisters, and there’s a nice path by the golf course, except it’s super hilly. To say it made the 400s challenging would be an understatement. All things considered, it was a pretty good run, even getting below a 9mm for two of the 400 meters — two of the downhill ones, of course.

Sunday
Another beautiful fall day. Absolutely perfect running weather. Would love this for my race next weekend, but alas, even the low isn’t going to be anywhere near today’s high.

Another progressive long run on tap — 9 miles, with each 3 miles at a 20 second faster pace than the previous 3 miles. The same workout I crashed and burned on last week when it was so hot (and also an 11 mile long run). I pretty much nailed it except for one rogue mile this time but man it was hard and I wanted to give up but I pushed through!

bnyc918a
My (almost) Marilyn Monroe moment at the Statue of Liberty

Favorites of the week
So if you follow me on Instagram here, you already know that we spent a couple of days in NYC to celebrate Mr. Judy’s birthday. We also stopped by at my sister’s (picking up my parents on our way down) to break the fast for Yom Kippur. There were a couple of late nights for me, very little exercise aside from walking around NYC, but we ticked off all the things on Mr. Judy’s list:

Eating at a Deli (Kosher, no less)

Paul Simon’s Fairwell Tour

A visit to Ellis Island

We met up with his cousins at Cafe Grumpy (and I couldn’t resist that photo op)

Brief meetup with Cari @ Travelingwithcari

And I got to meet Cari @ Travelingwithcari very briefly. She was having a crazy busy work week and very sweetly swung by so we could chat just a little — with the inevitable blogger photo courtesy of Mr. Judy. She will be in my area for Thanksgiving, but alas, I do a different Turkey Trot and of course host Thanksgiving for my family so I’m not sure we’ll be able to get together then.

Let’s get the conversation started:

What would you do with a couple of days in the Big Apple?

Would you travel the week before a half marathon?

Have you been to the Statue of Liberty (it was my third time, but the first time since I was a kid)?

Happy New Year!: 9/10-16 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 46 Comments

It was a much quieter week — figuratively (as in more sleep, less drama) and literally (as in Lola stopped honking, although she’s not completely back to normal). Maybe I should have called this “here we go again”, because the heat, humidity, and rain came back — then again, we are not battling a hurricane so I can’t complain. Too much.

Oh, and Happy New Year refers to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which was this week — gotta love that I get two New Years in one calendar year.

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to share my peak week before the Ocean City Half.

WWSki-Orange

Workouts update

  • Monday: 6 miles with 3 @ tempo, PB Express Core for Runners (10 minutes)
  • Tuesday: 5 miles easy, PB Lower Body Resistance Band (17 minutes)
  • Wednesday: Dogwalk, JY Twist Your Core & Stand & Balance (25 minutes)
  • Thursday:  Dogwalk, SB WU (15 minutes), PB KB Cardio (20 minutes)
  • Friday:  5 miles with 6 x 400 intervals, PB Stability Ball Abs (15 minutes)
  • Saturday: Dogwalk, JY Running Efficiency Boost + Plank (45 minutes)
  • Sunday: 11 mile LSD, hopefully some yoga before bed

Mileage: 27 (+2)

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 Updates

 

This raincoat stayed wrapped around my waist for most of the run

Monday
With a few days of almost normal sleep and cooler temps, I nailed this tempo run. And the forecast rain even mostly held off. I don’t really want to see summer go, but I’m digging a few days of fall-like temps.

But I totally needed it the next day!

Tuesday
I was tired this morning, and the rain meant I didn’t have to rush out. So I took my time, and the radar showed a break in the rain — well, you know how that goes. It was drizzly most of the run, rained pretty good for maybe a mile, but seriously? I’ll take this over the heat & humidity any day. Not only was I tired, apparently my legs were too.

Plus I’d forgotten that it was on lap key, not auto lap, so I didn’t get my pace each mile. And I just decided to let it go.That’s as close to running “naked” this runner’s gonna get. And I may do that again some day for an easy run (if you don’t get what that means I didn’t know what my pace was for any particular mile, only the overall pace for the 5 miles).

And thank God the sun stayed hidden for most of this run

Friday
Needed to push my long run to Sunday, so took an extra mid-week rest day and did my speed work today. Humidity had returned, but I went out around race start time — I could have started earlier for cooler temps, but Ocean City is quite a bit south of us so who knows?

Thankfully I lucked out with lots of cloud cover again. It was hard; speed work is supposed to be hard. I didn’t completely nail it, but I came damn close! A few intervals were just a little off pace.

Once the fog burned off the wheels started coming off faster and faster

Sunday
This was supposed to be a long, progressive run (5 miles at easy pace, pick it up the next 3, pick it up the final 3). It didn’t go quite as planned. I debated on where to run, but I seriously couldn’t face another long run where I’d been doing them, even though I knew it would be nice and shaded. But my half probably won’t have much shade. So I chose the park. And the entrance was blocked off, but luckily I knew how to get to a different parking lot so that wasn’t a really big deal.

Started out a little fast due to stupid dog owners. As a dog owner myself, nothing gets my goat like the ones that give us a bad name. First five miles felt relatively easy. It’s a hot and humid day, but it was foggy for the first half. I was able to pick it up the next 3 miles, despite the sun beginning to burn off the clouds. It was hard, of course, and I still struggled with my pacing, going faster than I’d planned on.

The last 3? No clouds left. Some shade, but not much. I tried really, really hard, but by the last mile I’d just had it. I did finish the run, but I took that last mile easy. When I was done, I also saw it was 77 feels like 87. Well, no wonder I caved!

Joined Sole Sisters for breakfast Saturday

Favorites of the week
The new new AC was installed & it works! Hooray! Cause the humidity came back in and we still need it. A much better week sleeping-wise.

Run all the miles, eat all the . . . salad? There was a veggie stromboli, too. And no, I didn’t finish all that salad! I can really do damage to salads but that was a bit much even for me.

Cleaning up my eating (without depriving myself, either) was finally rewarded at the scale. Weight loss is not always linear, and you have to be patient. It’s definitely not just about the number for me, it’s about how I feel in my clothes and in my body. Not quite back where I want to be, and I know that usually after I have a big loss it takes a while before more comes off but I needed that victory at the scale.

Let’s get the conversation started:

Can you sleep without AC when it’s hot out (like if your bedroom is 80F)?

Ever messed up the date for a major holiday or birthday?

Is there a weight you feel most comfortable at or are you blissfully unaware?

Let’s hear it for some coolness: 9/3-9 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 32 Comments

Doesn’t look sick, does she? And yet she is 😦

I touched on Lola briefly in my Friday Five post (read about it here), but here’s the long lowdown (if you’re not interested in the furkids, feel free to skip on down): last Sunday, out of the blue, she started coughing. We were supposed to go to my parents for Labor Day, but it had become really bad and we were afraid it was kennel cough, since we’d boarded her when I did my 1812 race (and no, Bandit wasn’t coughing, nor were any of the other dogs there at the time, apparently).

We really waffled about spending the $$ for the emergency vet, but in the end, while not fun for anyone — seriously, she sounded like an entire flock of honking geese almost non stop — it wasn’t an emergency. I got an appointment for Tuesday afternoon (and had a regular appointment for Gizmo already scheduled that morning).

Gizmo chills while the needle does its magic

By this point I’d noticed that she could do a regular walk and not cough at all. And that she would mostly stop coughing when we were outside. Unfortunately it was also about 90 and humid for much of the week.

So the vet listens to her heart, her lungs. Everything sounded fine. She wasn’t coughing at the vet’s office, either, although I’d taken some video of her coughing earlier. But she did eventually cough there, too. Because of her age (12, close to 13) he decided to take some xrays. When they were done, the assistant said he wanted to talk to me. I knew instantly it couldn’t be good news.

Long story short, he thinks, but is not sure, that her heart is enlarged, but that the coughing is due to bronchitis. He said we should make an appointment with a cardiologist, so I’m guessing he’s somewhat sure, anyway.

We have an appointment in November, because yes, that’s how long it takes. By that point she will actually be 13. I expect that she will have several more good years, though.

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to share my new, very brief training cycle for the Ocean City Half.

WWSki-Orange

Workouts update

  • Monday: Dogwalk, 5 treadmill miles with 6 x 400 speed repeats, PB Express Core for Runners (10 minutes)
  • Tuesday: 5 miles easy, Dogwalk, PB Bodyweight HIIT (25 minutes)
  • Wednesday: Dogwalk
  • Thursday:  Dogwalk, 5 TM miles 3 @ Tempo, PB Stability + Dumbells (30 minutes)
  • Friday:  Dogwalk, lunch walk with Running Buddy D & J
  • Saturday: 10 mile LSD, YFR Lower Back & Foundation
  • Sunday: PB KB Shred (20 minutes)

Mileage: 25 (+11)

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 Updates

 

Monday
I planned to get out early and do an easy run. Life had other plans. Ended up not running until late afternoon so ran on the mill. Never easy, but it is what it is.

Yup, those leaves are changing & falling

Tuesday
Finally I was able to get out relatively early for a run to beat the heat. Because yes, it sure did heat up later. After a few relatively sleepless nights I was surprised by a nice strong easy run; cut it short a mile, though — double vet appointments!

Thursday
It was a very humid 87 outside by the time I could run, and even though I loathe doing tempos on the treadmill, that’s what I did. Bumped up the pace just a bit and survived, although I did only 1 mile warmup instead of 2, because it had just been a hard week and that’s all I was feeling.

I chose the road not taken and went the opposite way from my running buddies. They were tackling hills, but my upcoming half is flat (the one after that is a different story)

Saturday
Fall like weather — I’d forgotten what you felt like! It made for a glorious long run. Haven’t felt those sorts of temps since before I went to ID in July.

Favorites of the week
Our new AC was installed. Except they didn’t quite finish up Friday. Good thing it was a cool day — our bedroom had still heated up to 80 by bedtime and of course, no AC yet. A window fan brought it down to a sleepable 75.

Unfortunately our string of bad luck continues, because the unit did not work. The new new unit will be installed on Monday, supposedly. Thankfully it’s a cool weekend. But the rain and heat are supposed to move in next week . . .

Ran into some friendly faces I haven’t seen in a while on my long run. And catching up with Running Buddy D, who I don’t get to see too often these days.

I won’t lie, this was a tough week in a long string of tough weeks. But OTOH, we’re blessed in many ways, and I remain grateful for my blessings. And running always helps me to handle the stress in my life.

Sorry for the blurry pics — caught Mr. Judy working with Bandit on fetch

Bandit’s good for a few throws, but then he generally tires of the game and doesn’t bring the ball back

We all enjoyed the cool fall day

Feeling the need to get out of the house on a cooler day, we took the dogs up to the Saratoga National Historical Park (and ran a few errands along the way). Lola panted a lot in the car on the way there — with the moon roof open and obviously quite a cool day — but the moment we got home she had some major zoomies (running around the backyard like a nut). She’s slowly getting better and I apologize for the length of this post! Thank you if you got this far!

Let’s get the conversation started:

Does training help you destress or is training another stressor in your life?

Would you rather run on a cool, cloudy day or a sunny, warm day?

Ever taken any of your animals for acupuncture?

Can’t stop, won’t stop: 8/27-9/2 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 37 Comments

Rachel @ Runningonhappy had nothing on my schedule this week. Only I’d decided before the 1812 Challenge that if I finished feeling good, I’d be signing up for another half at the end of September. You’ll have to read on to find out which one. 😉

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to show you how I recover — at least, when there’s another race coming up.

WWSki-Orange

Workouts update

  • Monday: JY Lower Back Love, Walking around Sackets Harbor & Cooperstown
  • Tuesday: SB 15 minutes, JY Functional Core
  • Wednesday: Dogwalk, 3 easy treadmill miles, JY Core Twist & Mobility
  • Thursday:  Dogwalk, 3 easy treadmill miles
  • Friday:  Dogwalk
  • Saturday: 8 mile LSD, PB Core (8 minutes)
  • Sunday: Dogwalk, PB Bodyweight Full Body (15 minutes)

Mileage: 14 (-15)

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 Updates

 

Wednesday
It was disgusting outside. So a short treadmill run it was.

Thursday
Cooler today, but the humidity was still rather stifling (and lots of heat headed our way next week — oy!). Since I couldn’t run in the morning, I got it done of the treadmill again. Next week it’ll be back to brutally hot morning runs.

Why yes, we do take up a whole picnic bench

Saturday
Almost all the Wineglass girls were back at it for various paces and lengths, some running, some run/walking, some walking. We ran into a lot of Skirt Sisters on the run, as well.

Lots of Skirt Sports sighted on our long run yesterday

A lot of us are gearing up for upcoming half marathons — some in groups, some solo.

boceancity

Favorites of the week
Oops, I did it again. I sweet talked Mr. Judy into another half at the end of this month: Ocean City NJ. Shout out if you’re going or know someone who is! We’ve been eyeing it a long time, ever since we stopped there on our way down to ZOOMA Annapolis three years ago (read about that here). Please, Weather Gods, send me some decent weather!

Let’s get the conversation started:

Are you gearing up for any exciting races?

Do you see a lot of women running in skirts where you live?

Can’t stop, won’t stop . . . when it comes to signing up for races?

Racecation Week: 8/20-26 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 32 Comments

It’s always a busy week before a race, but driving instead of flying means that I have more wiggle room with when we leave (although the pet sitters really do like a time!).

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to wish the Weekly Wrap Happy Anniversary and count down to my big race day.

WWSki-Orange

Workouts update

  • Monday: Dogwalk, PB KB Total Body (20 minutes)
  • Tuesday: 6 miles easy, JY Train Your Core (15 minutes)
  • Wednesday: SB WU (10 minutes), PB Bodyweight (25 minutes), Dogwalk
  • Thursday:  Dogwalk
  • Friday:  5 miles easy with 6 x 20ish strides
  • Saturday: YFR Hamstrings + Foundation
  • Sunday: 1812 Challenge

Mileage: 29 (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 Updates

Tuesday
It was actually a pleasant day to run! Shocker! It was cloudy, not too humid, and there was a nice breeze. I’d like to dial up this weather for Sunday, please. Had a pretty decent run.

Friday
It was a beautiful morning to run. Almost caught the sunrise. Threw in some strides and had a nice, strong run before we hit the road.

Sunday
I ran the 1812 challenge today but according to my garmin it was more like 18 miles (a new course this year) & I’m perfectly fine with that!

An automatic PR since it’s the furthest I’ve ever run.

Favorites of the week
There are two chiropractors in the practice I go to — mine was out with, ironically, back problems, so I saw the other chiropractor — I’ve never been to her in her official capacity, although several of my buddies go to her, but know her a little socially.

Turns out she loves Sackets Harbor (where my race was today). So we chatted about it, the race, which restaurants are good, and since she’s doing Wineglass in the fall (which I did last year), I told her that the prerace dinner is really good, and we chatted some about that course.

And then in my Weight Watchers meeting I was chatting with a friend, and she happened to go to NYC and also Harriman  State Park, which the Appalachian Trail runs through. There’s some chance we could be headed that way in September, and she mentioned a hike that sounded doable — I know little about the area and hadn’t yet researched it, so just another little bit of synchronicity.

Let’s get the conversation started:

Do you like a shakeout run before a race (I don’t!)?

Do you really study the race course or just assume it will be well marked (I tend to look at it, but not really study it)?

Any little bits of synchronicity this week (the universe sending you something you need)?

Enjoying single digit runs: 8/13-19 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 38 Comments

Weather stalking. Cross training. Lots of baking — I needed to restock the pantry! Humidity. All easy runs that never feel easy due to the weather.

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home as I’m winding down (or is that up?) for my first race past the half marathon distance. I try not to think about that much!

WeeklyWrapNew

Workouts update

  • Monday: 6 miles easy
  • Tuesday: 6 miles easy, Dogwalk, PB KB + Core (30 minutes)
  • Wednesday: Dogwalk, Swimming (30 minutes)
  • Thursday:  Dogwalk, 5 miles easy
  • Friday:  Dogwalk, Iron Strength Glute Blaster, PB Abs (25 minutes)
  • Saturday: Dogwalk
  • Sunday: 8 mile LSD, PB Standing Abs (10 minutes)

Mileage: 25 (-4)

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 Updates

The ducks are taking over the park

Monday
Cloudy. Humid. Miserable. On speed dial, apparently.

This made me smile on a humid run!

Tuesday
This may actually have been my “best” run since coming home from ID — mainly because I got rained on the first couple of miles (and wished it rained longer). It makes it feel just a little less soupy — which is pretty funny when you think about it. I still can’t say I really enjoyed it; this humidity simply has to go!

Thursday
I finally caved: it was 87 feels like 90 and sunny. So yes, sue me, I ran on the treadmill.

Forget ladies who lunch, how about ladies who skirt?

Sunday
Saturday was horribly humid with threat of rain, so most of us chose to run Sunday instead. I won’t lie: running “just” 8 miles felt like heaven. Probably didn’t hurt that I was running with someone a bit slower than me, too.

We did not plan to match!

And noticed the unplanned matching of Skirt Sports!

We all loved these; can’t wait to see them finished!

Favorites of the week
There were a few bumps in the road this week — dying AC in the midst of an almost heatwave, I’m looking at you! — the continued rain, the ever escalating humidity, the bump at the scale from probably a bit too much indulging my sweet tooth last week + all the baking.

Some weeks are like that. But getting together with friends and finding someone to run with that was almost perfect. We both run/walk, our intervals are pretty close, I’m just a little faster — which of course makes that long run feel a lot easier. Not to mention not a double digit run in sight this week!

And the painted beams above along the rail trail caught everyone’s eyes! They’re not done yet, but they’re pretty cool.

link-up-badge

This week I am also linking up with the Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup brought to you by Ilka @ Ilka’s Blog and Angela @ Marathons & Motivation.

Let’s get the conversation started:

Can’t live without AC or don’t want it?

Would you rather run with someone faster or slower than you?

Tackle the uphills in the beginning or the end of a run/race?

Would you like me if I weren’t a runner?

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 33 Comments

Would you be my friend if we weren't runners-

I’m not sure if it’s because I no longer work, or because it’s just my nature, but I tend to think about odd questions. A lot. In fact, one of the reasons I enjoy running is that it actually helps me turn my brain off, especially if I’m running hard — then I’m usually not thinking about much at all.

The  Tuesdays on the Run linkup subject for today is what I wrote about last week: advice I’d tell my new runner self. Last week’s subject: sum up your running in one word: for me, that word would be consistent.

I wasn’t sick this winter (knocks on wood). We didn’t get much snow — in fact, April has been the snowiest month of 2016! My half is a bit over a month from now, and I’ve run three 9 mile long runs and two 10 mile long runs. That’s a good feeling.

I’ve been able to follow the training plan I made for myself, loosely based on a training plan I did last year training for a spring half at approximately the same time. Sure, I’m once again fighting some nagging little injuries, but that’s all they are — nagging little injures.

So consistent it is. And that’a good thing. Sometimes I think that’s everything when it comes to running!

So let’s get to what I happen to be thinking about lately, even if it’s Tuesday, not Thursday.

Running brings together all kinds of people
I have moved to four different states since I graduated from college (many years ago). Each time was to a city where I knew no one. Each time, eventually, I made friends.

I took up running with this last move. Is it any wonder that all my friends are runners?

I sometimes wonder if I would be friends with some of my runner friends if we didn’t have running in common. Usually I find that we have something other than running in common, too — for instance, have you ever noticed that most runners seem to be animal lovers? Or maybe I just gravitate towards the runners who are animal lovers.

Oftentimes, as we get to know each other, we learn other interests that we have in common. But oftentimes we’re extremely different people, too, and I wonder, if we didn’t have running, the thing that brought us together in the first place, would you have ever looked past my shy exterior and our differences and become my friend? Or is it simply that running attracts a certain type of person?

Do you ever wonder if you’d be friends with the same people if you didn’t run?
How many of your friends run?
Tuesdays on the Run

I’m linking up today with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Be Faithful in Small Things

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 28 Comments
fairthful

Isn’t it hard to be faithful in the small things? Faithful, as you may have guessed, is today’s Wednesday Word.

Is this faithful?
There is being faithful in the small things I need to do to keep me running injury free, and I runfess that I haven’t been as faithful to these small things as I should be lately. That might actually be a runfession this Saturday.

Then there’s being faithful to your running plan. Only I’m making it up as I go. Which I don’t actually think is such a bad thing; see my post on being your own coach for thoughts on that.

I’m doing the same thing I do with my healthy eating: taking a little bit from all the training plans I’ve tried over the past 6 years, and cobbling it all into my own personal training plan. Of course I am not a certified running coach, so we’ll see how that works for me.

The upside to making my plan up on the fly is that I listen to my body that week, that day, and decide what the best plan is according to what my body is telling me it needs. Don’t forget that respect is my word for 2016 and I’m trying hard to respect my body and my running.

Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it.
— Jean-Jacques  Rosseau

A Slow Promise
I really liked the quote above; it spoke to me on several levels.

In fact, Darlene and I were chatting about whether or not we would be better runners if we’d started earlier in life, or whether not having all that pounding for years would make us better runners as we age on our long run this weekend.

We are both adult onset athletes: I didn’t start running until my late 40s, Darlene was in her mid 50s. It took us a long time, but boy, we are definitely faithful to our running: running in the cold, the heat, the wind, the rain, the snow.

We also discussed being faithful to the miles. Whatever is on my plan, once I make it? That’s what I do. Unless I’m in pain, I never cut a run short. I just do it.

And then, of course, there’s my weight maintenance. It took me decades to get where I am right now, maintaining a healthy weight for more than just a hot minute. One thing I learned over those decades: Weight Watchers meetings work for me, and I am faithful to attending those meetings, every single week, unless I am not here.

Just like my long run, I will rearrange my week so I can get to a meeting if I have to. I once refused to pick Mr. Judy up at the airport because it interfered with my meeting. True story.

 

Deb Runs

What small things are you (or do you need to be) faithful to?