Post race slump: 5/16-22 Weekly Wrap

I was totally unmotivated to do any form of exercise in the beginning of the week. Not even my beloved yoga. I also had the slight problem that I wanted to eat everything in sight, preferably sweets, but I could do a good job chowing down on the mixed nuts I’d bought while we were on vacation, too.

Not a good combination!

I’m wrapping up my post race week with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Tricia @ Misssipppiddlin. You don’t have to be a runner to participate in the Weekly Wrap — hey, I wasn’t much a runner this week. Anyone trying to lead a healthy lifestyle is welcome to link up with us.

Workouts update

• Monday: Dogwalks as we traveled home through snowy VT — yes, snow! 2 days after my hot half!
• Tuesday: Dogwalk x 2, YFR Hamstrings & Hips, PT Stretches
• Wednesday: Dogwalk, YFPR Align & Alleviate
• Thursday:  Dogwalks x 2, Flat Belly Yoga, PT Stretches
• Friday: Dogwalk, Mallwalking
• Saturday: YFR Hamstrings, .99 Mile Easy (really!), Dogwalk
• Sunday: YFPR Back, Knees & Hip, Dogwalk, Final Fat Meltdown, PT Stretches

Mileage: 1 (-18.1)

TIU = Tone it Up
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners
WU = warmup
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief

Running update
Maybe it was the race. Maybe it was the travel. Maybe it was the return of crazy cold weather (where were you when I needed you?), but I was really having trouble getting myself to do anything on Tuesday. There was some slight DOMs in my hamstrings (no idea why), but only a very slight twinge.

Same trouble on Wednesday. So I just decided to go with it. Although isn’t it weird how when you workout less you feel more tired?

I was trying to listen to my body. I think it was telling me it needed some more R&R. And remember, 2016’s word is respect, and part of that is respecting my body.

On Thursday at least I finished up my yoga in the afternoon, instead of waiting for right before bed.

Friday I went to the “quick” place to get my new screen for my phone put on. Let’s just say it wasn’t so quick, I left without a new screen, but I got to spend about 3 hours walking around the mall. Actually, I also did some grocery shopping. At two different stores. I was not happy.

But you can sure wrack up some serious steps walking the mall — well over 10k for the day with no run. Oddly enough, my ankle, which has been feeling pretty good with no running, ached a lot after all that walking. My guess is it was the unsupportive loafers. I wasn’t expecting to do that much walking.

After my first run back — a whole whopping mile — it felt fine. Now I have to decide if I want to run really easy for a few weeks, in the hopes of maybe getting rid of the ache once and for all. Decisions, decisions. I know it’s the smart thing to do . . . actually, I took a peek back into last year’s journal. I seriously dropped down my mileage after my halfs in May, and I didn’t have any injuries then.

Decision made. I’m not going to stop running, but I will be running less for a few weeks anyway.

Favorites of the week
I won’t lie — not a lot going on this week, obviously. No more brownie a la mode or mac n cheese. In some ways the week kind of sucked, between being tired, unmotivated to work out, coming home to a power outage, and the continuing drama with my phone.

First world problems, indeed.

Kickoff for USAFit Albany 2016

Saturday kicked off the 2016 season of USAFit (I think there’s still time to join, but registration will close soon), under new coaches. I’m in the brightly flowered capris on the right (Skirtsports, of course; code CRJ20 for 20% off regularly priced items).

Saturday wasn’t exactly the nicest day, although great running weather. Too bad we only ran a mile! Seriously, I still remember that feeling of accomplishment running that first mile, something I never thought I’d do. And now it’s barely a warmup — I didn’t even break a sweat, so believe me if you’re struggling, there’s definitely hope.

The biggest secret I can share? Just keep putting one foot in front of another. Seriously! It’s just that simple.

And we booked a hotel for what will potentially be my fall half, which is always exciting. Mind you, I’m not actually signed up for the race yet . . . in fact, there are a lot of races I’m planning to run in the coming months that I’m not signed up for yet!

Okay, scratch that, I am now signed up for:

Courtesy of Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner (and Road Runner Sports). Thank you Deborah! It’s so rare that I win anything, and I’m not sure I’ve ever won anything this cool!

I won my choice of a race in San Diego, Atlanta, or Phoenix. I ruled out Atlanta immediately — too hot in September, and I’ve well established I don’t do well in the heat. Not that the other races would be cool, but they would be far less humid and probably not as hot.

We went back and forth quite a bit about the other two. Mr. Judy knows a coworker in both cities; I know bloggers in both cities; and I have relatives in San Diego (and more relatives in SoCal). What tipped the scales over to Phoenix was the fact that we wouldn’t be packing up and traveling again so soon, and it fits in very nicely into the USAFit training schedule.

I won’t lie; it was a really tough decision. The lure of the Pacific in San Diego, a city I’ve only been to once, but we had to make the call now, since San Diego was in just 6 weeks and I’d have to keep up my long runs — with Phoenix in Ocotber, I’ll be dropping my mileage down again. Of course there does look like there’s a killer hill right in the middle of the Phoenix course, and I’m not sure how scenic it really is, but my guess is that there isn’t a half PR in my future this year. All my halfs are likely to be too warm for that, but you never know.

The great thing about a free race entry? Until we book flights, it’s no big deal if we end up canceling. We’re out nothing out of pocket.

You may have noticed that I’ve actually done quite a few halfs sponsored by beer companies (Smuttynose, Shipyard, now Craft Classic, hopefully someday Yuengling in VA Beach). I don’t drink, and even when I did, I didn’t drink beer — to me, it’s like coffee — I don’t like the smell or the taste. And even though I could’ve gotten a beer for Mr. Judy, normally he’s really not interested in it that early in the morning.

Why do I always look tired?

A haircut. For a hot minute my hair looks good. The first time I’ve seen my hairdresser in 6 months (she was on maternity leave for a while), and she asked me if I’d gotten grayer. She’s so cute & bubbly, but what woman wants to be asked if they look old? Even if I do?

And that’s a wrap!

What’s the coolest thing you ever won?

Do you find it hard to stop running for a nagging ache?