My Good Samaritan Moment: 2/3-9 WRD

February 9, 2020February 9, 2020 ~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 43 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.

Baby it’s cold out there: 11/11-17 WRD

November 17, 2019November 17, 2019 ~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 25 Comments

A week at home (although I’m probably at my parents or on my way home as you read this — just a visit) felt glorious. In fact, by Tuesday I felt extremely run down so I took a real rest day — stayed in my pjs all day. Binged watched a few shows (mostly because Lola had settled in on top of me), in between doing a lot of cooking/baking because I’ve had so little time to cook lately. I felt a lot better after that!

bwrd

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner and sharing how I am still listening to my body and recovering.

briots

Workouts update

Monday: Practiced Yoga with a Friend (60 min), Dogwalk
Tuesday: Busy rest day — very few steps (I needed that!), Yin Yoga (30 min)
Wednesday: Yoga (Kudalini + Yin, 40 min), 3 progressive TM miles
Thursday: Yoga (Kudalini, 30 min), Hips (20 min), Dogwalk
Friday: Yoga (40 min), 7 mile LSD, Dogwalk
Saturday: Yoga (40 min), 3 miles easy, Dogwalk
Sunday: Yoga (40 min), ST (15 min), Dogwalks

Mileage: 13 (+.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

Wednesday
I definitely wanted to take a few days off running after my painful 15k (read about it here). I chose the mill due to potential for black ice after our snow/sleet storm the previous day (not much snow, quite a bit of sleet), and I won’t lie — the cold. Kept the paces relatively conservative, picking it up just a little each mile, and everything felt fine.

Friday
Running group getting together to run long tomorrow, but it would be much colder. So I decided to run long today, and see how my foot felt. Wore the same model shoes as I wore in the 15k (but not the same pair), set out thinking 6-7 and ended with a nice strong 7 and no pain at all. Of course it was slower and mostly flat.

Saturday
I’m not usually a fan of the recovery run, but I wanted to actually get 3 runs in this week so just did 3 easy miles today (after my long run yesterday). Recovery runs still don’t move me, but other than the cold, it was fine.

**High Rise Leggings will be great for yoga, too**

Favorites of the week
Just being home. I’m not sure how long that will last; my Dad still isn’t doing great. If we end up having to put him in a nursing home, I’ll be starting the whole back & forth driving my mom around thing again. Not sure that will happen; only time will tell.

Three pain free runs (as opposed to only two last week, with the race of course being super painful the last third).

Sunshine. It may be unseasonably cold, but we’ve at least had some sunny days.

The Skirt Sports High Rise 7/8 tights (which on me is just leggings, LOL! — see the photo above). Tried those puppies out on my long run and really liked them. You can buy them here and they’re a still at $49.99 right now. They are snug around the hips, so I sized up. You might be find if you’re not a hippy chick, and some have said once they wriggled into their normal size it was fine, too.

What do you do when there’s potential for black ice? Assuming you live in an area that gets a real Winter.

Do you care where on your stomach your leggings hit: above, below, or right at the navel?

How often do you take a real rest day?

4 Favorite Summer Skirts

July 16, 2019July 15, 2019 ~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 29 Comments

I have to admit, I have many favorite skirts. There’s a reason I’m a Skirt Sport Ambassador! There are so many different styles of skirts, it can be overwhelming for someone to choose when they look at the Website.

The End of Season sale may have just ended, but many of my favorite summer skirts can still be found as great deals in the Outlet Sale here. Sizing can be a little tricky, though, so be aware that all sales are final; there are no returns.

Cool It
I have run a lot of hot halfs. Ever since Skirt Sports introduced the Cool It Skirt, it’s been my uniform for all those halfs. There’s a pocket on each thigh of the shorties, and there are also two front pockets on the outside of the skirt. While I love my pockets, sometimes having to reach underneath the skirt can get old. It’s nice to have small pockets on the outside for smaller items that are reached for a lot.

The real draw of the Skirt is that it’s made of cooling material. Do I feel like it makes me feel cooler? All I can tell you is that I’ve run a lot of strong races wearing Cool It in very challenging conditions. There are also side vents for ease of movement. And no chafing for the win!

blonghaul — **Long Haul might not give me the best silhouette, but it keeps me hydrated**

Long Haul
Speaking of pockets . . . the Long Haul has 7. Yes, you read that right, seven! The normal two pockets on the thighs. Then there are 2 pockets on the back each large enough for a 10 ounce water bottle, with a drawcord to keep the bottles in the pockets. And then there are three smaller pockets on the back for things like keys, gels, chews, etc.

**Bottles in the back pockets; phone in the pocket on the shortie — so much storage space!**

It’s like wearing a fuel belt that’s already built into your skirt. Yes, the weight on the items in the pockets can pull the skirt down at first. There are two solutions for that:

There’s already a belt on front of the skirt that allows you to tighten it up so that it minimizes the bounce (until you’ve drained some of that water, then it naturally stays put).
Many ambassadors suggest buying a size smaller than you normally would.
Close up of 3 of the back pockets

I love wearing Long Haul for runs that are long enough to require more than one water bottle, but aren’t so long that I want to break out the hydration vest yet. I know runners who have worn Long Haul in marathons and loved all the extra storage.

Hover
When Hover first came out a few years back, I wanted to love it like everyone else, but I just didn’t. It just didn’t seem to fit my body right. The shorties rode up. I got a wedgie.

Then they came out with the more comfortable grippers on the legs, and the shorties stayed put. Somehow it seems they also adjusted the fit so it was comfortable on my body. I love Hover because it’s extremely lightweight and great for hot runs.

**Touring in Mod Quad (with poop bags in those front pockets)**

Mod Quad
Sniff, sniff, Skirt Sports did not bring back the Mod Quad skirt this year. It’s still available in the Outlet Sale. I will admit: I’ve never actually run in Mod Quad. I love to hike in it, or just wear it around the house on hot days in the summer. Because as the name Mod Quad indicates, it has four pockets (somewhat similar to the Cool It skirt).

You could almost say that it has 6 pockets: there are the normal two pockets on the shorties. Like Cool It there are also two outside pockets on the front. Those pockets are actually divided into two pockets — they’re perfect for unused poop bags when we hike with the dogs, as well as a small tin for dog treats. Also good for keys, snacks, water bottles. I love being hands free when I run or hike!

btuesdaytopics

Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner

This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup

coachescorner

Great minds think alike: 4/22-28 WRD

April 28, 2019 ~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 36 Comments

The beginning of the week was so beautiful, and the end was so harsh. Some hills, some trails, some mentoring and easy runs. Not as much strength training as I should do but at least I did something. And matching Skirt Sports patterns at a couple of different runs!

bwrd

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner and sharing my week of maintaining my base.

briots

Workouts update

Monday: Dogwalk, FOGA Arms & Core (20 min), 1 mile + 2 miles easy while FTC Mentoring
Tuesday: 3 miles with 7 x 30 sec-ish hill repeats, Dogwalk
Wednesday: Yoga/Pilates (20 minutes), Dogwalk, Yoga Feet & Ankles (15 min)
Thursday: Yoga for Hips, Hamstrings & Back (45 min), 2 miles trails + 4 more miles
Friday: Pilates (10 min), Dogwalk
Saturday: Yoga Hips & Hamstrings (7 min), FTC Mentoring 2.75 miles, Dogwalk, Kettlebells (15 min)
Sunday: Dogwalk, Rest Day

Mileage: 14.75 (+.25)

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 had every intention of just doing the workout with the mentees, even knowing it would be quite slow. I hung out with the real BOTPers, so it definitely was slow. I got to the park early, with just enough time to squeeze in one mile on a most beautiful day to run — happy I did.

Tuesday
Such a beautiful day. Should have worn a skirt not capris but I’m getting closer to guessing right, anyway. Added one more repeat this week. Then kicked myself for not thinking about exploring some trails at the park I keep thinking about — it was the perfect day to see how long/short they actually are.

**Glad I got out there today, it was our last nice day for quite some time.**

Thursday
I did go explore the trails at the park this time. I thought they’d go for maybe half a mile and peter out, but there are a lot of trails back there. A lot of very technical trails — all sorts of roots, rocks, and some mud. Why did I never think to train here when I was training for my trail half a couple of years ago?

Actually, probably a good thing. As I said, these trails were even more technical and even steeper. I only ran on them for 2 miles, but my shoulders were so tight the next day — I swear, did I climb them instead of run on them?

**Actually one of the more un-technical parts!**

I actually took it incredibly slow. I was very mindful that there were only a few people in that section of the park (which is still actually closed), and I didn’t want to fall several miles from my car and have to hobble back. I managed to stay upright, although I did catch my toe a couple of times on roots.

I finished up the rest of the run on the paved path, but man, this run really kicked my booty. I suspect that by summer it will be way too buggy to be enjoyable in there, but it was a truly lovely day today. It’s so close to my house, I’m sure I will run trails there again some day.

**Mentor Skirt Sports Pattern Twinning.**

Saturday
At least it didn’t snow, and it didn’t rain on us either. But the wind and the feels like 30s temps! Ugh! Ran back & forth between lots of women. One of the women I ran with for a time thanked me afterwards, telling me she wanted to walk but I kept her going (it was supposed to be a 2.25 mile run with no walk breaks).

**Different skirts, but more pattern twinning.**

Favorites of the week
It was a pleasure to be in skirts this week . . . until of course the weather whiplash roared back in on Thursday. And so it goes. Happy that I have the running gear to tackle almost any weather — the will is a different story!

A big shout out to Marchia @ Marciashealthyslice for rocking the London Marathon and wrapping up her World Major Marathons quest.

The dogs are slowly getting the hang of the pet door. Sometimes I have to pop a corner but they’re pushing through (mostly) on their own and the flap is now down (good thing, too, considering how chilly it is!).

Talk to me:

Enjoy any racing this week?

Roads, trails, or both?

Group runner or solo — or both?

Oh, the Places Skirt will Take You!

September 18, 2018September 17, 2018 ~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 24 Comments

When did I first start running in a skirt? I have to be honest, I’m not 100% sure. I know I didn’t run my first two 5ks in a skirt. Or my first two halfs, for that matter. I believe the first half I ran in a skirt was the Runner’s World Half in 2014. After that there was no turning back; I was sold on the comfort of my skirts and the pockets.

Skirts have taken me many places since that half marathon 4 years ago, and not just running, oh no.

C’mon get happy!
When I first started to run in skirts, they were strictly for running, and they were not short skirts. It wasn’t really that I was ashamed of my body, it was simply I didn’t really think I’d be comfortable in a shorter skirt and maybe felt a bit too self conscious to show off my legs — not my favorite body part from an aesthetic point of view.

Wearing a skirt to run in made me happy (and coincidentally the Skirt Sports skirt I was running in was called Happy Girl), made me feel like a runner — even though there weren’t a whole lot of women running in skirts at the time — and the pockets. I needed those pockets! Still do.

These days I no longer run in the Happy Girl skirt, but I do love living in them during the summer. They take me easily through my day from walking the dogs, to doing some yoga or some strength training.

Gaining confidence
As I gained confidence as a runner, I began to be much more motivated by clothing that was functional — and cute, of course, always cute — than by the length. Hot day? I needed a shorter skirt. Run in a tank rather than a tee? Why yes, please.

**Matchy matchy with the head coach while volunteering**

I dabbled in the shorter skirts — no one ever keeled over laughing at me. Capris, leggings, long skirts, short skirts . . . it really just depended on what I was doing and what the weather was doing.

It motivates me to look cute, but I will always choose function over cuteness. If I’m comfortable, I run better; it’s really pretty simple when you boil it down.

bshp18 — **Posing with Bandit in a Tough Chick Top (why yes, I’m a touch chick!)**

Skirts aren’t just for running
I walk the dogs every day: there are poop bags, there are treats, I need my phone.

**Hiking with Lola & Bandit in Mod Quad (as in four pockets)**

If it’s hot out, I don’t want to wear jeans, but shorts never have enough pockets to safely store everything I need to carry with me.

I often like my hands free when I’m touring a new city, too, but I still need my phone, some cash, and usually some snacks, too.

Hiking the last couple of years has taken me to some gorgeous places. And I don’t want to be weighed down by jeans in the heat.

**The Anne Frank Memorial in Boise (of all places! who knew?)**

**Shoshone Falls, ID in Lotta Breeze Skirt**

**Just kickin’ around Bryce National Park in Sorceress**

I’ve even SUPPed in my skirts!

What’s the best activewear for you?
It’s just the same as when is the best time to exercise for you — morning or night? The answer is the time you’ll do it. I feel comfortable in my Skirt Sports. I have the pockets to carry what I need on the run or while hiking or touring new places. And when it gets cold, I feel comfortable in leggings and skirted leggings and so on from Skirt Sports, too.

If you’ve never tried a skirt, I hope I’ve convinced you that they are cute, functional, and work for a lot more than just running. But be careful — skirt is a lot like potato chips. You can’t own just one.

And if skirts aren’t your thing, that’s cool. Whatever makes you feel like a tough chick — that’s what you need to wear. If you do want to give Skirt a try, don’t forget to use the $20 off code BDAY14 (code expires 9/23/18, one time only please, and a minimum purchase of $50).

Talk to me:

What do you feel comfortable being active in?

Have you ever tried running in a skirt?

Do your running clothes get used for more than just running?

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

Tor-box

This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup

coachescorner

Dog Days Running: Spilling over tea/coffee August 2018

August 3, 2018August 2, 2018 ~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 34 Comments

July was a busy, busy month, but it culminated in a much needed racecation. I’d tell you I’ve added yet another tea mug to my collection (I try to get a mug from each state I run a half in — read more about that here).

Pull up chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate ~~coffee~~ tea date.

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I would tell you there wasn’t a lot of chafing going on . . . until there was. In all sorts of odd ways. First there was my half — the hydration vest did end up chafing me, but I was completely unaware of it. Some was on my shoulder, some was on my back. And here’s the really weird thing: I never felt it, not even when I showered after the race.

And then there was more on my 15 mile run last week. The problem this wasn’t the hydration vest. First there was chafing in an unmentionable area — that one I could definitely feel developing, although not until the last few miles. It wasn’t too bad.

I also chafed underneath the pocket where I had my phone. I ran a half with my phone in the very same pocket, for cryin’ out loud, and no problems. I have done a lot of shorter races and some long runs in that skirt. No problems.

Again, I didn’t feel this at all. Not until I took my skirt off. In fact, I could swear it wasn’t there when I used the restroom after my run but it suddenly appeared at home.

Actually none of these are Happy Girls, but you get my drift

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you you’d think I have plenty of Skirt Sports skirts. And I do . . .except I don’t. I like to wear Happy Girl Skirts in the summers pretty much every day (use code 522CRJ for 15% off of non sale items). They’re awesome for walking the dogs, for instance — enough pockets to stash my phone, plenty of poop bags, and treats. Or going to the store — again, enough pockets for my phone and a couple of credit cards. Not to mention I can do yoga and strength training easily in them.

The only problem? I have about five of them. I usually run out of them before I do the next batch of laundry. I fill in with Mod Quad on the hotter days. But it still just barely gets me through the week. #firstworldproblems — for sure!

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you that our heatwave before we left for ID made it difficult to eat. Despite the fact that I don’t spend a lot of time out in the heat, that I ran more on the treadmill, I found most days while it was really hot that I actually had trouble eating enough. So not like me.

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you that before my ID half, I felt like I was running so strong. I don’t know if it’s just something to do with the dog days of summer — which seem never ending this summer — and even though I’m not running badly, it seems like it’s more of a struggle.

Quite frankly I’d rather struggle in training and do well in my race, and my only goal for my race is to finish within the time limit — well, actually, I would like to keep all my toenails and not get injured. So there’s that.

If we were enjoying high tea . . .
I’d tell you we did have one disturbing incident with Bandit this week. Gizmo was markedly weaker when we got back from vacation — he was having trouble jumping on things — although he seemed to rally after we were home a few days.

Anyway, one day I was on the couch, watching tv. Bandit was laying in his bed at my feet. Gizmo walked by, Bandit narrowed his eyes, and just jumped off the couch towards Gizmo. I was able to stop him, and I made him do a little training. He really doesn’t respond well to negative reinforcement (aka punishment), so I have to be careful to be firm but not too firm.

It was clear that he knew I wasn’t happy with him, but also clear he had no idea why. I’ve no idea why he did it, either. It was scary because there was no warning growl.

The odd thing is that he seemed to have accepted Gizmo as his alpha. Gizmo lays in Bandit’s crate a lot, and Bandit won’t go in there — even if it’s dinner time — when Gizmo is in there. Did Gizmo smell differently because of his illness? Lola hasn’t seemed to notice anything.

So it was a little nerve wracking to go out to brunch and leave them all together, but everyone was just fine when we got back. Thankfully. And then we went out to the movies, and again, everything was fine.

Then one day we heard a strange noise. I thought maybe Gizmo had got locked in the bathroom and had knocked something over, but when I went to investigate, turned out Bandit had knocked over a small (closed) trash can in the bedroom and was happily coming towards me with a tissue in his mouth (and tissues strewn all over the floor).

I guess he’s feeling pretty darn comfortable here now. He’s never gotten into anything before — other than socks, if they’re available.

Tea? Iced Tea? Coffee? Decaf? Green smoothie?

What running clothes can you never have enough of?

Do the furkids suddenly do something out of character that surprises you?

Are you constantly being surprised by new areas that chafe?

frifive2

Today I am also joining up with the Friday Five 2.0 from Fairytales & Fitness and Rachel @ Running on Happy. I’m pretty sure this won’t be readable in five minutes so I apologize in advance!

Second zero week: 2/12- 18 Weekly Wrap

February 18, 2018February 18, 2018 ~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 37 Comments

It’s been a long time since I’ve been laid up by illness for so long. The really frustrating thing is that outside of a handful of days, I never felt super sick. But just as I was feeling better, suddenly I kept getting random spikes of fever that would come out of nowhere and be over after a short amount of time. I’ve never had anything like that.

I am determined to rest and get better so I can enjoy a run during the warm weather that is supposed to be headed our way mid week!

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to share some of the good things about my week because there wasn’t a lot of activity, although there was a bit more than last week.

WeeklyWrapNew

Workouts update

Monday: Dogwalk
Tuesday: Dogwalk
Wednesday: Morning yoga, Dogwalk
Thursday: Morning yoga, Dogwalk (and a sudden spike in temperature — mine, that is — in the afternoon — boo!)
Friday: Dogwalk
Saturday: Dogwalk
Sunday: Shoveling a path down the driveway so we could Dogwalk

Mileage: 0 (NC)

JY = Jasyoga
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

Favorites of the week
Some stress crept its way into my life towards the end of the week, but I did spend a pretty awesome birthday and got lots of relaxing in. Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes — I still need to get back to y’all, but I appreciated each and every one of them. The Salt Den offers you a free session on your birthday so how could I pass that up?

Who knew there’d be animal print sheets?

Before relaxing in the Salt Den I had an excellent, relaxing massage at Myomassage. Wearing my Skirt Sports Wrapsody tights made it easy to leave the purse at home. You can use code 522CRJ for 15% of non-sale items or check out the sale (ends today, 2/18, at midnight).

And we ended the day with a yummy meal out. It didn’t hurt that this was the nicest weather I’ve seen on my birthday in quite a few years.

Yes, please, some protein in my granola!

This week I also tried out Trader Joes Peanut Butter Protein Granola. Even though I typically make my own granola, I was intrigued. It was good (and not too high in sugar, either, although I did eat only a half a serving — but that was plenty!).

I’m wrapping it up with a few favorite blogs from this week:

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:

Made any great food finds recently?

Are you expecting a heat wave next week?

How do you treat yourself on your birthday (and if you don’t, why not)?