NEED To Run (weekly workout recap)

I didn’t run for almost two weeks.

At first, I didn’t mind but OH BOY was I itching to run by the weekend!

I’m pretty sure that the most time off I’ve had from running in ten years is two weeks total – that was in 2018 after I dropped the shampoo bottle on my foot.

These past ten days are probably the longest I haven’t run since 2018.

Why didn’t I run? Here’s a list of reasons:

• The blizzard
• Ice and snow on the ground
• Frigid mornings
• Rain
• Lack of desire to run on the treadmill while sore in my lower body from other workouts I was doing because I wasn’t running!

I’ve really gotten good at liking other workouts and being okay with not running. That being said, I still need to run!

I know the winter will end soon so I’m okay with this time of year and how it affects my workouts. But really – I was so excited to run over the weekend! More on those runs below.

Last Week’s Workouts 

Monday – Melissa Wood Health Combo

It’s still too cold with too much snow and ice outside for me to run or walk outside this morning. I was actually a bit sore/tired from the weekend’s workouts and from shoveling so a light workout was perfect for today.

• 29 Min Yoga Stretching Flow
• 8 Min Arms (1 lb weights)

I did finally take a walk during the day as the paths were being plowed and the sun was shining. It makes such a difference for me during the workday when I can get outside for a walk! Even if it’s just 20 minutes, I feel so much more refreshed and ready to continue my day.

Tuesday – Peloton Barre Combo

I really liked this combination this morning. It’s definitely going to leave me a little sore.

• 10 Min HIIT Barre
• 30 Min Barre (3 lb weights)

Wednesday – 20 Min Peloton Advanced HIIT Cardio + 40 Min Walk

While I didn’t find this advanced HIIT cardio from Peloton all that advanced, I’m pretty sure I will be sore!

Thursday – 33 Min Full Body Power Flow (bodyweight)

Yup, I am sore. While I may not be running, I am definitely sore from the wider variety of workouts I’m doing instead!

I added this flow from Melissa Wood Health to my favorites list. It was perfect for today as the soreness was setting in from yesterday’s workout.

Friday – Melissa Wood Health Combo

I’ve had enough of this winter’s icky weather! Ugh, I just want to walk outside. I’m too sore to run on the treadmill but hopefully tomorrow I will! I miss running.

• 12 Min Power Arms (1 lb weights)
• 15 Min Abs (bodyweight)

Saturday – 30 Min Treadmill Run + 10 Min Elliptical

I was so excited to run this morning even if it had to be on the treadmill. My plan was five miles but I didn’t get there.

Here’s what happened:

I started with my usual warm-up mile and then slowly (at least I thought slowly) I increased my speed. I was trying to be mindful of the fact that I wanted to go for five miles and that I hadn’t run in at least ten days.

At the 20-minute mark, I started to think that I was feeling out of breath and feeling a bit more winded than I should. I don’t usually get out of breath unless I’m really pushing my pace and even then, I still feel a comfortable sort of out of breath – not a why am I out of breath, this doesn’t feel right.

I eased up and finished three miles at the 26-minute mark and then slowed further to reach 30 minutes. Continuing to five miles was just not in the cards for today — I didn’t feel like myself.

I switched to the elliptical for ten minutes, which I haven’t been on in two years!

Had I run outdoors today, I think I would have felt fine because I would have run at a naturally easy pace. When I run on the treadmill, I tend to go faster and lose the ability to really know where my natural pace for the day might be.

After ten days of not running, clearly, I needed to go slower to give myself a chance to return to my usual running self and capabilities.

Sunday – 3 Mile Run (Outside)

It was oh, around 20 degrees? I wanted to run but didn’t want to run on the treadmill. The sun was bright and the ice patches were minimal so I bundled up and ran outdoors. I felt totally fine and normal today — but I also ran easy and averaged around a 10 min mile.

 

The weather looks much better for this coming week! I see morning temperates around/above freezing which is making me very excited for running outdoors!