This past week I switched my strength training regimen from weight machines to the Iron Strength routine from Runner's World. I've done it before, and it's tough! I think it's the only workout I've ever tried that I couldn't complete. It takes about 50 minutes, starts with 90 squat jumps and ends with 50 burpees--and that's just for beginners. I started easy this week and cut down sets, but it's still tough.
Also, I sorta forgot about the 30-day abs challenge I started at the beginning of August. Oops!
A few weeks ago I wrote about how I love early morning workouts and how it was getting darker in the mornings. Now, it's pitch black. The first half mile of the trail I run on is not lit at all, so I am running in total darkness. It's not a good feeling, and I find that I run faster to prevent things jumping out and getting me--and I shouldn't be running faster on the warm-up part of my run. So this past week I started to run on the road parallel to the trail, which has street lights and doesn't get much traffic early in the mornings. I'm wondering if I should invest in a head lamp or knuckle lights.
Total weekly mileage: 23.7
Monday
Morning: 35 minutes Iron Strength workout
Lululemon Bruised Berry Cool Racerback & White Energy Bra Yogasmoga Klarit Red Run Jump 'n Play Crops |
Evening: 50 minutes yin yoga, spine series
Lululemon Medium Grey No Limits Tank Zella Black Crops |
Cat yoga |
Morning: 45:00, 4 miles: 11:14 pace
Medium run day. Nice and cool morning--only 63 degrees.
Lululemon Clear Mint/Grey Energy Bra & Aquamarine Bangbuster Lorna Jane The Force Excel Tank Athleta Midnight Blue Relay Skort |
Lululemon Plum/Inkwell/Spry Blue Cool Racerback & Inkwell In the Flow Crops |
Morning: 55:21, 4.7 miles
This was a tough workout! It was 7 .25-mile intervals at 5K pace, and it was hot and humid. I nailed my pace for the first 4 intervals then felt very depleted and had to recharge with some Lifesavers candy after interval 5. The last 2 were tough but I gave them everything I had. Here are the splits:
1: 9:35 | 2: 9:34 | 3: 9:45 | 4: 9:38 | 5: 10:37 | 6: 10:04 | 7: 10:07
Lululemon Aquarmarine Runner Up Tank, Cadet Static Wave Stripe Bangbuster Black Pace Rival Skirt |
Morning: 37:00, a little over 3 miles (GPS wasn't working)
My body needed this easy run after Wednesday's tough workout! It was cool at 62 degrees.
Lululemon Bruised Berry Cool Racerback & Wee Stripe White/Grey Bangbuster Athleta Raspberry Relay Skort |
35 minutes Iron Strength
Lorna Jane Ocean Comfort Sports Bra Lululemon Bali Breeze Cool Racerback Yogasmoga Spanish Grey Run Jump 'n Play Crops |
Friday
Rest day! Did 30 minutes of yoga in the morning.
Lululemon Winter Orchid Scoopneck Tank & Pretty Purple Bangbuster Athleta Asphalt Grey Crops |
Morning: 43:17, 4 miles, 10:49 pace
After reading Kim's post on motivation, some of which was about running with friends, I realized that I joined Steel City Road Runners Club but only ran with them once. So I planned to run with them Saturday morning. Unfortunately, I was about 15 minutes late from walking the dog to meet them in time, so I ran solo on the trail near me (though did see Kim and Mike!). After I'm back from vacation, I really want to start running with the club. I need running buddies!
This run was my pace run. Though my average pace was exactly where it should have been, I was disappointed that my splits weren't more consistent. I don't want to run faster than 10:50. I'll just keep working at it.
1: 10:59 | 2: 10:42 | 3: 10:50 | 4: 10:46
After the run I did the Recovery Yoga video from Runner's World.
Lululemon Jeweled Magenta Swiftly Tank & Bangbuster Athleta Black Relay Skort |
Morning: 1:36, 8 miles, 12:01 pace
When I woke up and saw the enormous rain cloud over the area, I knew I was in for a wet run. It rained for the entire 8 miles. It really wasn't too bad, though (it's amazing how much a hat helps), and I knew I couldn't complain after reading Carina's post about her 20-mile run on the wettest day in 2.5 years with torrential downpours and thunderstorms.
About to get very wet! Athleta White Pacifica Tee & Fiji Green Fair Isles Skort Lulu Grey/Clear Mint Run Hat |
Happy running and working out this week!