It seems that every month flies by but goodness gracious, this one really flew by. I lost the first 17 days to tax season, so that pretty much explains it. The good news is that it is done now!
Month Recap: April 2018
The Running
As April wraps up, I’ve got some clarity as far as what I want to do, training-wise at least (there are still a lot of other areas that are lacking clarity (ha)). I am going to focus on my speed and shorter distance races throughout the summer. In a perfect world, I’d LOVE to get back into 5K PR shape. I don’t know if that will happen, but it’s worth a shot.
We are going to Colorado for another Ragnar Relay in August (which I am SUPER PUMPED about) and I plan to shift my focus to longer distance training in the fall. I am thinking about the possibility of a late fall marathon, but nothing is set in stone at this point.
Workouts: After running all the races in March, the first three weeks of April were quite lame tame on the workout front. In fact, I only did two workouts in the first three weeks and then I started to redeem myself by doing two workouts in the last week as well.
3 mi. WU, 4 mile progression (7:00, 6:48, 6:40, 6:35), 3 mi. CD
2 mi. WU, 3 mile tempo (6:34, 6:27, 6:18), 2 mi. CD
2 mi. WU, 8 X 400 (1:29 avg.) w/ 200 float (0:55 avg.), 2 mi. CD
2 mi. WU, 6 X 1 mile progression (6:41, 6:31, 6:19, 6:11, 6:08, 6:03), 2 mi. CD
Favorite workout: I enjoyed both of workouts that I did during the last week of April. It’s amazing how much a new outlook on training can have on the quality of your running! While I think that the 6 X 1 mile workout was stronger, I really enjoyed the 8 X 400 w/ 200 float workout that we did on the track. Having company for a workout trumps a solo workout every time.
Races: I ran the 8K by the Bay on April 21st.
Favorite race: Even though it was the only race that I did, the 8K by the Bay is a fabulous event! I loved the shirts, the medals and the awards, the course and pretty much everything about this race. It’s a good one!
Paces: My paces ranged from 6:03 (last mile the 6 X 1 mile workout) to 10:37 (first mile of our beach run).
Miles: 270.6!
Longest run: 14 miles.
Shortest run: 4 miles.
Rest days: Four!
Strength training: I have still been consistently getting in 5 to 10 minutes of strength work each day. I figured that I would add pictures of my “planking routine” below. I alternate the poses every so often (as it really isn’t super beneficial to hold one position for as long as you can). I also add some other variation by lifting one leg at a time, tilting my hips up toward the ceiling and by doing plank push ups where you repeatedly go from a forearm to a regular plank and back. Those push ups get really tough really quickly!
The Other Stuff
Current activity: Spring cleaning! I have been going through the closets, drawers, etc. and getting rid of stuff that I don’t ever use.
Current book: I can’t say that I’ve made a ton of progress in the reading department this month. I’m planning to make up for that at the beach next week!
Current confession: After the above-referenced spring cleaning (and every closet “purge” that has been done in the last ten years), I just can’t bring myself to get rid of my first ever pair of Nike tempo running shorts from college. They aren’t even cute, but I just can’t part with them. I even wore them last week so that they wouldn’t fall into the “if you haven’t worn it in the last year, get rid of it” category.
Current drink: Smoothies! We got a Nutri Ninja Pro Blender and now we can blend up lots of whole fruits and veggies into delicious smoothies. Sweet!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiX5pjwhjUf/?taken-by=mobilebayrunner
I also discovered a new coffee flavor, called toffeenut, that is quite yummy.
Current excitement: Going to the beach for a few days next week and then going to Auburn for a few days the next weekend (Daniel is doing a race :))!
Current fail: I consider myself a fairly organized person, but I can not, for the life of me, keep up with important things like keys, phones, credit cards and rings. I’m pretty sure I “misplace” one of these things every single day. It’s annoying (as in I am annoyed with myself when it happens).
Current game: Daniel has been playing a ton of disc golf. I’ve played with them several times, but all of the guys are getting really good and I’m … well … not.
Current habit: Listening to music as I get ready for work. I feel like this puts me in a better mood than simply getting ready in silence.
Current indulgence: Napping. All the napping.
Current joke: What did the nut say when it was chasing the other nut? I’m a cashew.
Current knowledge: Did you see this article? Basically one sports scientist suggests that holding any specific planking position for any longer than 10 second intervals is pointless. I don’t know if I 100% agree, but I do throw in a lot of variations as I go, so at least all of my work is not for naught.
Current list: My to do list is very, very short, which is a very, very good feeling!
Current mood: Contemplative.
Current need: I need a little bit of yoga in my life! I was telling Jessica the other day that I had heard a lot of really good things about Jasyoga and she ended up signing up for it, so I decided to as well. It’s a series of short yoga videos and it’s a monthly subscription service (only $9.99 per month).
Current obsession: Sage Canaday on YouTube.
Current procrastination: Taking the fruits of my spring cleaning labors to the thrift shop.
Current quote: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
But really, I just wanted to show you one of the cute baby birds that fell out of his nest in our yard. Several of them tried to jump ship, but thankfully we were able to get them back into the nest and the mother has still been feeding them and taking care of them since then. It must also be noted that this little guy (or perhaps one of his siblings) did in fact poop in my hand during one of the rescues. I wonder if at that point, the old adage becomes somewhat untrue?
Current rave: I just signed up for my first Mercury Mile box and I can’t wait to see what is included. It’s like Stitch Fix for runners. Check it out!
Current show: We found a show that we loved … and then it was only one season. Womp, womp. It was good while it lasted at least. It’s called Out of Practice. We have now moved on to a new (to us) show called Accidentally On Purpose. Apparently, it is only one season as well! Why? This means we need recommendations! Help.
Current uncertainty: I basically have no clue what my work life is going to look like going forward. It’s a tad stressful, but I hope to iron out some of the details this week.
Current video: This is just insane, but if a kangaroo had little Brookser in a headlock, I would totally hit him with a right hook. Ha. Also I would just like to point out that no animals or humans were harmed in this video.
Current want: I really want the new Garmin 645. Two of my friends have it and it is just SO pretty! It’s also very expensive though. Does anyone want to purchase a Garmin 235 so that I can trade up?
Current yearning: Authentic connection.
Current zone: Relaxed!
Tell me: What is currently going on in your life?