Fall Decluttering — it’s a thing!: 10/26-11/1 Weekly Wrap

There were some really beautiful fall days this week. Except I didn’t run on them. Well, Friday wasn’t bad (except when it clouded up towards the end and I had more cold drizzle). The weather on Wednesday really sucked, but I still got out there. And I attacked a lot of areas in my kitchen/dining room that have just been crying out for decluttering/reorganizing for years. So not a bad week. overall.

Today I’m linking up with Holly from HohoRuns and Tricia at MissSippiPiddlin and their weekly wrap linkup. You don’t have to be a runner to join in & tell us how your week went! So how was my running last week?

• Monday: 4 1/2 miles (3 x 800/800, rest WU & CD), ST from RFRL, Dog walk
• Tuesday: Dog walk (2); 10 Minute Kickbox Bootcamp (Basic, Fat Burning & Abs)
• Wednesday: Dog walk,  4 mile tempo run
• Thursday: Dog walk (2), Yoga for Runners Foundation & Hamstrings
• Friday: Dogwalk (2), 7 mile LSD, ST from RFRL
• Saturday: Dogwalk (2), Yoga for Runners Hips
• Sunday: Dogwalk (2), Dance it Off (Legs, Arms & Abs)

Mileage: 15.5 (+1)

Still enjoying the squeaky toy

Decluttering: 1, Cleaning: 0
Despite major sleep deprivation (Chester, I’m looking at you! Yes, he’s hanging in there), somehow having my family come up for Thanksgiving (they haven’t been here in years) has triggered some major decluttering/organizing on my part.

Things I’ve been thinking about for a while.Things that required spending money on more organizing stuff (purple mason jars, boxes from Target) because I like things to be functional and pretty. I’ll have to share some photos when I’m done.

Cleaning isn’t actually a zero, but it’s taken a backseat to decluttering at the moment.

Won’t be pretty much longer

Running for Chester
Another good week of running. I was kind of bummed I didn’t hit the paces I wanted for speedwork and that my overall pace for my long run was slower; I won’t lie. However, I was pleased when I looked at my pace for the speedwork — pretty close to the previous week, and it was 800s vs 400s.

Scratching my head a bit on the slight drop in pace on my long run. Oddly enough last week’s long run had that big ole hill in it, and this week’s was mostly flat. All I can come up with is that I made up more time going down that hill than I lost going up that hill last week. Whatever, both were mostly negative splits and that always makes me happy. I spent the last couple of miles repeating to myself: this is for Chester.

I have until Wednesday to sign up for the 15k race this weekend. No, I haven’t signed up yet. But I’m still planning to do it. As long as I stay healthy. Any stay healthy tips for major sleep deprivation?

What I’m not quite sure of is how I plan to run it. I’ll try to start out slower, but just how slow is the right pace for me? And then do I just run by feel or do I have a plan?

I do sometimes race just by feel, but not all that often — because my body seriously feels comfortable at about a 14 or 15mm. The paces for my long runs? For the vast majority of runners that wouldn’t even be considered running, but I’m really pushing myself to get those 12-12:30mm paces (and sometimes people turn around and look at me because I think they’re afraid I’m going to keel over because of all the huffing & puffing).

So sometimes racing by feel goes really well, and other times it just ends in frustration when I think I’m running fast only to find out I’m running reeeeeally slow.

Clearly my body is out of touch with its feelings.

I managed a couple of strength training workouts this wee — actually after my runs! A little more cross training. Which resulted in sore inner thighs. Not as much yoga as I’d like, but there was some. One day I promised myself I could get into my pajama bottoms early if I did yoga in them. Yes, I like to bribe myself.

I’ve just got to get that yoga in earlier in the day. I was often doing a bit of yoga before bed, but right now I’m just too tired by that point in the day.

For the first time in a long time my body feels pretty good. Except one shoulder has been mildly bothering me, but that happens from time to time. Not much to do there but wait it out. My IT has quieted, for the moment, at least. I even forgot to tape for my long run and everything was fine. It was only 7 miles, but it’s been a long time since I ran 7 miles naked, so to speak.

Bronze combat-ish boots

Weekend Favorite
I haven’t been shopping, other than food, in quite some time. Until this week. I did kind of make up for it this week. But these were really cute (and comfy) for $20 from Marshalls. And yes, they just might be the highlight of my weekend. That and binge watching last season’s Scandal.

Do you race by feel or have a plan?