I Can’t Believe I Didn’t… (weekly workout recap)

You won’t even believe this.

I was due for a new pair of running shoes so I decided to go back to the Brooks Ghost 13 after a brief hiatus. When the new pair of Ghosts arrived at my door late in the afternoon Thursday, I put them on quickly to take a walk.

But what I DIDN’T DO was rush to run in my new running shoes. Usually, I’m so excited about a new pair of running shoes that I run as soon as possible after receiving them. This time, I didn’t feel like it and figured I would wait until Saturday, which was when I had planned on running again.

Who doesn’t run as soon as they can with a new pair of running shoes?! I guess the answer is me. I’m now the person who can wait.

Monday – 20 Min Full Body Power Flow/40 Min Walk 

For the most part, the mornings are still chilly so I bundle up with the lululemon scuba hoodie and my favorite sherpa pom beanie for my walks.

Tuesday – 30 Min Run/5 Min Arms

• Mile 1: Warm-Up
• Mile 2: .25 hard/.25 easy/.25 hard/.10 easy/.15 hard
• Mile 3: .25 easy/.75 hard
• cool down to 30 minutes

Wednesday – 27 Min Power Pilates Legs/30 Min Walk

Thursday – 20 Min Power Yoga Flow/30 Min Run

Friday – 25 Min Cardio Warm-Up + Full Body Flow/30 Min Walk

At first, I wasn’t happy about ordering the new Ghosts in this boring shade of gray but then I wore them and realized they are actually nice. Once I looked down during this walk, I realized that boring gray isn’t all that boring. It might even be pretty.

I usually prefer running shoes to be as bright and colorful as possible but maybe I will change my tune on this opinion.

Saturday – 5 Miles/15 Min Ab Focused Flow

I’m proud of myself for remembering this speed workout that I made up as I was running!

• mile 1: warm-up
• mile 2: .25 hard/.10 easy/.25 hard/.10 easy/.30 hard
• mile 3: .20 easy/.50 hard/.10 easy/.20 hard
• mile 4: .25 easy/.75 hard
• mile 5: alternating .10 easy/.10 hard

I walked my cool down and then did the new 15-minute ab-focused flow – I LOVE MELISSA WOOD HEALTH WORKOUTS. I can’t say enough about how much I love the platform and how glad I am that I signed up a couple of months ago.

Sunday – 4o Min Pilates Flow

 

Rain Jackets For Running + Weekly Workout Recap

Before we jump into my workouts from the week, let’s chat really quickly about rain jackets for running.

Recently I decided that I need a new rain jacket for running. I don’t mind running in the rain! Misty rain is actually pleasant for running (in my opinion) although I prefer it starts while I’m already running rather than head outside into it. For some reason, I barely even notice it’s raining if it starts while I’m running. Heavy rain is a NO but light rain is just fine — I even enjoy it. I’ve run some races in the rain actually!

Off the top of my head:

Long Island Half Marathon 2016 (my PR half and the misty rain was better than bright sun)

Aspire 10K 2016 –  (this was more rain than I actually enjoy)

Great South Bay Half Marathon 2015  – (the wind was more of an issue than the misty rain)

So anyway, I want a new rain jacket for running. I have this lululemon rain jacket from six years ago which I’ve worn a bazillion time and although it’s still in good condition, I just feel like I want a new style and color.

I fell in love with the bright pink color of the lululemon Break A Trail Jacket. It’s on sale, but still pricey.

There’s also this Nike Essential Water Repellant Running Jacket although it’s hard to find my size, anywhere. Although, this is likely the best bet right now – the Nike Packable Running Rain Jacket. I can find my size and pick from a few colors. Not a bad price either and I like that it’s a packable style.

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If you have a running rain jacket you love, please let me know!

Monday – 6 Miles

In all honesty, this workout was supposed to be like my typical interval-style runs this summer but I didn’t follow it completely because there’s this girl in my neighborhood who suddenly runs too and I need to pass her when I see her, even if I’m running in an easy part of my workout. I ended up speeding up during easy intervals thereby changing the workout at various times when she would appear. Just speaking the truth here. She can’t think she’s faster than me, okay?

Tuesday – 30 Min Pure Barre/30 Min Walk

Wednesday – 6 Miles

• 1 mile easy
• 2 miles increasing effort
• 1 mile easy
• 2 miles increasing effort

Thursday – 3 Miles Easy/Walk

I thought I would head home after running for 30 minutes to do Pure Barre but ended up staying outside for a walk.

Friday – 3 Mile Walk

I should have done a Pure Barre workout today BUT I didn’t feel like it.

Saturday – 45 Min Warrior Sculpt

I moved my boardwalk run to tomorrow after seeing the forecast of all-day thunderstorms as a possibility. Warrior Sculpt is still a favorite workout of mine — wow, does it make me sweat!

Sunday – 8 Miles

It was sunny and cooler out this morning with some wind but hey, I will take it over heavy humidity at this point. Also, my glutes WERE SORE from yesterday’s Warrior Sculpt but didn’t seem to interfere with my ability to run.

I decided to do the 8-mile workout again this week and it worked like a charm. In fact, I felt better in the last fast mile of this run than I have in comparison to how I have felt in the last part of my runs overall this summer on the boardwalk. While it was still HARD because the bright sun is RELENTLESS on the boardwalk, I definitely noticed myself able to increase effort without fully wanting to die from the weather.

What I love about this 8-mile workout is that you really have to be in control of your effort. Knowing that the next mile should be faster than the last is important because you have to hold back a bit in order to not burn out when it’s time to pick up the pace. I definitely recommend this workout  if you are looking for a new workout to try.

I’m pretty sure I slowed more than usual during the cool down because I paused to get a picture of the Islanders flag I saw waving from a balcony.

Another playoff win last night! I still can’t believe I’ve been watching hockey in the summer.

Have a great week!

Like Clockwork (workout recap)

 

I didn’t post on Friday and actually stayed in bed a little longer than I usually do which put the rest of my morning routine, including my run, slightly behind schedule too.

How ironic then when a guy in my neighborhood on his way to work hollered the following out of his car window when he passed me during my run:

“LIKE CLOCKWORK!”

Clearly this man in my neighborhood, who gets into his car to leave for work around the same time every morning notices me running as he pulls out of his driveway just about every day has decided I am like clockwork with my workouts as if it’s something worth shouting about out of the car window early in the morning.

Running to me is a part of my morning routine. Just like brewing coffee and brushing my teeth, it’s how I start the day.

What he doesn’t realize though is that he sees me each morning at various mile points in my run. Friday, for example, I was behind schedule. He passed me at the one mile mark. Usually I pass his house and see him getting into his car at the end of my run. So there.

Before we get to my week in workouts, can I just say that I didn’t realize my running shoes were gray?

Seriously. I must change running shoes so often that when I looked down at my feet to take a picture in the start of the falling leaves, I wondered for a quick second whose shoes these were/when did I start running in gray Energy Boosts.

Monday – Yoga/7 Miles

Nothing special about this run, just an easy hour outside listening to my music with only one working ear bud. One day I will remember to replace my headphones!

Tuesday – Yoga/8 Miles

It was the coolest morning of the summer so far, high 60’s when I stepped outside! It definitely felt nice, maybe even a touch chilly.

2 mile warm up + a few miles of fartleks + a few miles easy

Nothing too specific about this run at all. I am keeping things fairly easy for now until I start training for the NYCRUNS Falling Leaves half marathon next week.

Wednesday – Elliptical/Gym Workout

I mentioned this workout in Thursday’s post – I needed a break from my usual workout routine and this day in the gym gave me just that.

20 minutes elliptical – > off for free weights – > 20 minutes elliptical -> jumping jacks, squats and lunges

Thursday – 8 Miles

I ran my negative split workout for a change! I used to run this workout all of the time and then fell out of the habit after training for my last half marathon.

Friday – Pure Barre Studio Series DVD & 3 Easy Miles

It was pretty humid out there this morning so I was grateful to only be outside for about 30 minutes.

Saturday – Not even 13 Miles

I stopped my run at 12.78 miles because I didn’t feel like running any further. Funny, right? I just didn’t care. I think I felt grateful for even running that far as most of the run felt boring and just plain stale. That’s the best way to describe this long run.

Stale.

I spoke to Laura after my long run and she told me that based on what I was saying, I may have reached a plateau. While nothing hurt and my legs weren’t heavy, I just felt like I couldn’t move any faster.

I couldn’t find my usual groove, that feeling where you are all warmed up and pick up a good pace and if I want to e honest, I feel like this keeps happening to me lately, more often than not.

Of course I could blame the summer and the heat, which I am sure plays a role in how I feel out there but overall, I think it’s time for a cut back week of some sort.

I need to feel refreshed and ready to jump eagerly into my half marathon training plan because right now, the thought of running at a race pace sounds like insanity.

Sunday – Rest Day

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 🙂

[bctt tweet=”I am like clockwork #running #purebarre #workouts #fitfluential @pure_barre” username=”cookiechrunicle”]

Do you encounter the same people each day on your running route either running or driving by?

Is it still really hot during your runs or did it cool down where you live?

Are you like clockwork in the morning with your routine?