Workouts this week: Sept. 4-10

Here's a recap of my week in fitness:
Did my longest run to date and it was awesome (see Saturday).

Monday: Race
Ran a 5k race. Super happy with my time. Ran a mile cool down. And then had the rest of the day off.

I REALLY wanted a Chick-Fil-A biscuit as my reward for the race. I drove to Chick-Fil-A, but they didn't open until 10:30 a.m. because of the holiday. BOO.

I had a Keba sandwich and fries as my cheat lunch.

Tuesday: Easy miles
I ran five miles before work today. It's later and later until the sun rises, so I have to start later and later. I don't want to sprain my ankle on a dark trail. And there's only so much a head lamp does. For this run, sun rise was at 7:10 a.m. and I probably could have started running at around 6:44 (civil twilight. New term). I went to the IM Fields. And just as I was about to start running, the 30+ runners on the UGA cross country team came speeding my way. I waited until they passed and ran the opposite way. Even at 6:55, the trails seemed awfully dark, so I headed on the road.

I've been seeing the cross country team a lot lately. And I ran into them maybe 3 more times on this run. I think we were doing opposite loops. Though I was doing easy miles and they were really pushing. I ran into them at the bottom of the first hill by the lake, at the top of the big hill, near where I started running, and where the trail flattens out and by the bridges. Usually I just ran to the far side, or stopped completely. There were a lot of them. Hopefully I didn't annoy them too much. They didn't flatten me, which was good. On one of the bridges, another runner's dog, ran through them (while on a narrow bridge), and I was glad none of the tripped. It was scary. And irresponsible of the dog owner.

Wednesday: OFF
I took Wednesday off, since I didn't know when my next off day would be.

Thursday: Speedwork 

I usually do speed work on Tuesday, but the track coach told me not to come the day after a race. (I thought it was pretty funny to be uninvited) So I went to the track after work to do mile repeats. I walked a mile for my warmup. (I always procrastinate doing speed work) Then I ran half a mile and stretched.

3 mile repeats. The goal was 7:20 pace. But I was running by myself, which isn't that fun.
7:21
7:21
And I was trying to run EASY (but within pace), but my legs were a little tired. I was having to work a tiny bit for these paces, (not too much, not like my first workout back after my time off)
7:12 for my last mile. And I worked for it. I was breathing HARD by the end.

I did a half mile cool down and that was that.

(My last mile repeats workout was the beginning of May and my times were: 7:24, 7:26, 7:13)

Friday
My plan was to leave work a few minutes early and go to a rocket yoga class. Work got insanely busy after lunch, so I couldn't leave early. Boo. (Especially since my month to the studio is up so I never got to try the class). I needed yoga after the work day so I went to yoga at Ramsey. At 5:30 the class wasn't that full, but by 5:40 it was packed with people showing up late.

(And no I didn't go to glow yoga. I like it. But maybe just for fun and special occasions. It's later than I like to be out)

Saturday: Long run
The goal was to go out and run 9 miles. And Cook's Trail is my favorite place for long runs (because it's so flat).

The weather was glorious. And this was one of those magical runs. I was on this run—running easy, running my pace. And I just felt strong. I got to the half way point of the run and used the bathroom and got some water, and started running back (not even 2 minutes of break. Completely acceptable. The water really helps.)

On the way back, I was thinking
1) How wonderful it is to be alive. The weather was perfect. The sun was shining through the tree canopy and it was just a gorgeous gorgeous day.
2) How wonderful it is that my body can do this. Run for an hour and a half

I almost said I didn't walk once in the run (but there's a super steep hill I always walk on, so 15 steps, but after that I didn't walk at all).

The last time I ran this trail, I had a small breakdown on mile 6. Not today. I ran my 9 and had a little left in the tank, so I got to 9.3 so I could say I did a 15k, and then I was at 1:29, so I decided to run for another  minute to get to 90 minutes. So I ran 9.4 miles. And I could have kept going. I 100% could have done 10 miles today. But I didn't want to overdo it. (I was worried I'd hurt later). So I stopped and waited for Matt, who did 10.

This was MY LONGEST RUN EVER. And I am super, super proud of it. Yay for getting fitter.

Our reward was burgers for lunch.

And then Sally texted and asked if I wanted to go to yoga. Yep! So I did an hour of yoga that night (which I needed to stretch after the long run, and definitely had a little less energy than normal in the class.)

Sunday: 3.4 miles plus BodyPump
I did 3 easy miles at the botanical garden. It was windy. I got all sorts of dirt and sand blown into my eyes. It was painful. Definitely not running in tomorrow's tropical storm rain.

I don't really like running at the botanical garden. The trail is narrow, technical and just too hilly. I haven't run here in awhile so I gave it another chance. Nope. Still my least favorite trail.

And I kept straight on the white trail, so I ended up at 2 miles so I had to do another half loop. I always turn wrong on this trail.

I like the flat part and only the flat part.

So I made my miles for the week: 26 miles.

I thought about going swimming or doing another workout today. The gym is closed Monday and Tuesday (because of the hurricane) so I decided to go to a Bodypump class. Since I guess I'm taking Monday off. The class was PACKED. Everyone wanted to get their Monday and Tuesday workouts in.

Weights from Bodypump. 

So I did the class. Died in the lunges. And did too heavy a weight for one section of arms and died. And I figure it's fine if I'm sore since I have the next day off. But it wasn't bad for not having taken the class since end of June (maybe early July but not sure).

Garmin step challenge:
Randomly, my Garmin gives me challenges to compete in. This week's was the 95,000 step challenge. I got to 95,000 last week, barely. I had to pace a ton Sunday night. But this week, I ran more miles and didn't make the 95,000 goal. Not sure what that's about. Seems like if I ran more miles, my step count would be up.

Miles this week: 26 miles run, including a race
Workouts this week: 5 runs (1 race and 1 speed workout), 2 yoga classes and 1 weight session

Churro donut.
Just because. 

Workouts this week: Week of Jan. 8

I'm back to taking classes at the gym again. Hooray! Classes started back Monday and I'm so happy about that.

I LOVE classes. 💗Someone please tell me what to do in fitness classes. Let me turn my brain off and just do. It's what I need. Since I'm always overthinking things and tend to be rather tightly wound. I love an hour where my only worries are—can I actually do three more reps, can I increase my weight or should I take the harder option? I like the class dynamic. It pushes me. Makes me think twice about skipping a rep or putting down my weight (because I don't want to be the only one.)

Also, it was free week at the student gym. So you can take the fitness classes for free. Which means the classes are EXTRA crowded and full of newbies. I already bought a pass, and just took the classes I already took. But free week is just crazy busy and you have to get to the classes extra early (and are filled with people who aren't in shape, don't know what they're doing, which is fine. It's the unmotivated people who don't try that bug me the most.)

Sunday: Indoor run with PRs
Back to the indoor track again. It's super busy with all the New Year's people. But there are also fast people at the track. I got behind a fast guy and let him set the pace.

First mile: 7:15. Which ties my PR for a mile time! I felt strong. I think my previous PR's also come from January or this time of year, since I'm stuck doing speed work at the track. I get faster! :)

Mile 2: 15:03. Which is MY BEST TWO MILE time since I left high school. I REALLY wanted to break 15. I guess I have something to work towards.
(Small water break, catch breath break here. One lap, so 2 minutes)

Mile 3: 23:12 Which is freaking AWESOME. (The fast guy must have been running 6-8 miles because he was still going. He lapped me at some point. But I am so happy with my FAST times!)

Also my Apple Watch is stupid. I had to run 3 extra laps to get it to 3 miles. I should recalibrate it. But I know how much it's off by and it's always off by 1/8th of a mile.

Monday: Bodypump
It's been a month since I've done weights. I wasn't expecting it to be pleasant. And it wasn't that bad until one and two days after the class.

First, BodyPump is a really popular class. (Which I don't get. If I'm going to be honest, I don't actually like lifting weights. I do it because I should. I probably should more than one day a week actually, but that's all I have time for. I like the instructors. I like the format—except the lunges, I hate them.) I got there at 20 minutes until the class started. I was Number 24 on the sign in list. So I got in. I was expecting Petey to teach the class, but apparently she's teaching boxing and a blonde named Sarah was teaching the class. She had a South Jersey accent. Apparently she had a baby 7 months ago (and still looked strong, thin and fabulous.) It was a good class. My forearms were sore when I left. But the next two days, my quads were really sore.

Tuesday: Indoor track
More running today. I needed to run. I didn't want to mess with Free Week classes. (I saw about 20 girls get turned away from a very full zumba class). It's madness. There are huge crowds outside all of the rooms.
First mile: 7:29
Second mile: 15:17
Third mile: 23:05, with no breaks. So this was a pretty consistent run for me. (My first mile is always the fastest. So 7:29, 7:48, 7:48) I felt strong. I would LOVE to run a 10k at this pace.

I should note that this was without breaks. I like to take a break after two miles (16 laps) because the running gets so repetitive. I didn't take a break this time.

Wednesday: OFF
I usually go to gymnastics, but was feeling sick so I skipped. I was feeling tired. From weights on Monday and my asthma flared up in the afternoon. I took an hourlong nap at home instead. I think it was the right call.

Thursday Run
The weather was absolutely glorious today. It finally turned warm after two weeks of gross cold weather (that forced me to run inside.) I've had it on my calendar to run outside for a week (since the forecast said it would be warm.) So I may or may not have ducked out early to get 5 miles in before the sunset. I got 5.5 miles in and enjoyed 70 degree weather. The run was slower than I thought—especially with all the speedwork at the track. But I'll take an outside run.

Then I showered really fast and met a friend for dinner. (I got home before 9. Which made for a 13-hour day).

I did my crown braid for dinner. Since that or a hat is the only way to have decent hair after running.

Friday: Yoga
I finally got a yoga class in. My first one in more than a month. And it was free week, so the class was packed. I think there were 52 people in the studio. The instructor plus 51. There were 10 people in the first three rows of the class and 11 people in the back two rows. It was so packed we were doing our sun salutations with arms forward because you couldn't put your arms out to the side.

I thought it was funny that a group of sorority girls sat their stuff down in the very front—where the teacher sits. Wow. Someone told them to move.

Also, at about three minutes after the class started a group of three people opened the door like they were going to come in. They looked around and saw there was no room at all, giggled loudly and left. It's free week. There was no monitor outside the class. You can't show up late to a popular class and expect to sneak in.

Saturday: 4.5 miles at IM Fields

Great first mile and a strong first three.

And then I died. I had to walk some in mile four, but finished 4.5 miles.

I'm cool with walking. I've done 17+ miles this week. My legs were tired. Every run is different.

I actually almost ran a local 5k on Saturday, but it would have been $30, so I decided to save the money and find cheaper races for later this year. (And oddly enough, my body just quit after 3 miles like I had been doing a 5k. Haha.)

Times
Apple Watch, Strava
7:36, 7:32
8:26, 8:14  (which may be my record for this uphill mile. It's a steep hill that always kills me)
8:34, 8:05
9:21, 9:12   (this is the mile I walked some.)
8:27, 8:44
8:28 average pace, 324 active calories, 388 total calories/ 8:22 average pace, 549 calories
The calorie count is the biggest difference. Both apps know my height and weight. And I have a heart rate monitor. I've always thought Apple watch always estimated low (ex: 200 calories for one hour of intense weight lifting).

So that was my week. I'll take spring weather!