This week’s Tuesday Topic is What’s on your Fall bucket list?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

I’m deviating from this week’s topic to write about my goals for Fall.  I’ve been working very hard in my training and also in my job.  However, I don’t make time for me.  I am hoping that with these goals I can find a balance between my personal and work life.  I am writing them in no specific order.

⇒ Continue working with my coach.  I enjoy working with him and my workouts.  I have my good and bad days.  Every runner goes through that and there is nothing to do about it.  Is there?

⇒ Keep on working on endurance and speed.  I truly believe that the training this year is getting me ready for next year.  I say this because I want to be positive that there will be races next year.

⇒ Stop checking and responding to work email after work hours.  I have already removed the app from my phone.  I can only check it from my computer.  Whatever it is sitting in my inbox can wait till the next morning.  

⇒ Log off from my work computer at 3pm or 4pm (the latest).  The work is never ending.  Work will always be there.  It can wait till the next day.  Yesterday I was working on school stuff till 8pm.  

⇒ Buy a house.  I know I keep saying this but I want to move this year.  I like where I live but am ready for a change.

⇒ Get up more often during the day.  I sit pretty much all day and am tense and sore.  My neck hurts every single day.

⇒ Get a massage.  I maybe need 7 in a row!  I know the last one I got was last year.  I used to be really good about it and get a massage twice a month.  

⇒ Read more books.  I love reading Wendy’s posts where she mentions the books she has read.  Right now I am reading “The Happy Ever After Playlist” and have a few more waiting for me at the library.  Thanks Wendy!

⇒ Do more fun things with friends.  This one is “tricky’ but doable.  Last Monday I met a friend for dinner.  I had not seen her since March and it was my first time out in a restaurant in a long time.  It felt weird but also nice to be out.

⇒ Go to sleep earlier.  I have not been sleeping well.  I stay up way too late (work) and then wake up early in the morning.

⇒ Find time for yoga and cycling classes.  Running and strength is what I do now.  I know I should do more.  I miss the bike and I know yoga will help me feel better.  I was motivated with Deborah’s post where she did yoga everyday for 2 weeks.  

⇒ Smile and laugh more!  

Whew, that’s a lot.  What do you think about my goals?  Anything else I should add to the list?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is What speedwork do you incorporate in your running?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

One can either love or hate speedwork. I have mixed feelings about it. It all depends on how I am feeling that morning. I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either. I do it because I know it will help me get faster and because my coach tell me do do it. 🙂

When doing speed workouts, my paces aren’t “fast” but to me they are. They’re faster than what I would normally run. It feels good to hit paces and see numbers I never thought I would see. It is even better when I don’t want to do said workout and it goes better than expected!

✔️ I like to do short speed workouts than longer ones. My favorite ones are the 30 seconds fast with 1 minute recovery and 1 minute fast with 1 minute recovery.

✔️ A longer one that I like to do is 3:15/80 or 3:30/75. It isn’t that bad once I get settled in. Sometimes I do two sets of interval and I have to be careful not to go too fast in the first set.

I do a workout like this about once a week. Again, I don’t love them but don’t hate them either. They’re like spice adding an interesting twist to a run! Doing them does not kill me but will make me stronger. 🙂

 

This week’s Tuesday Topic is What is the best fitness advice you have received?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

As runners there is always something new to learn.  Whether it is a new gear, fuel, or shoes, it never hurts for us to be in the know of these products.  Throughout the years I’ve learned so much from my running friends and my blogger friends. – THANK YOU!  

Here is a list of best advice I’ve received throughout the years:

✅ Get fitted for shoes.  I think I bought my first pair at Kohl’s.  Don’t know why I went there.  Months later I went to Fleet Feet and got fitted for a pair of Asics Cumulus and ran my first marathon in them.  However, I was in so much pain and don’t know if it was the shoes or simply because I was running longer than I’ve ever had in my entire life.  Probably the latter.

✅ Easy runs should be EASY.  Took me a long time to figure that one out.  Better late than never.  Now I believe that that is how I’ve been able to recover much faster and am rarely sore after a hard workout.  

✅ Do strength training and/or speed workouts.  I was simply lazy and would only run.  I had time but didn’t make time for it.  Now I have a Peloton and have been enjoying it.  It’s been also fun seeing the faster paces in some of my workouts too.

✅ Celebrate each race or run.  They’re not all going to be perfect or turn out the way we want them to.  Still be happy that you ran XX number of miles.  Remember, we don’t HAVE to run but instead we GET to run.

✅ Make sure to rest and sleep.  Umm, yes please.  Life is busy as it is and I rest whenever I can.  I used to sleep better before but now am struggling with it.  Too much stress – don’t like being an adult!  🙂

✅ Have fun.  I’ve mention this a few times in my blog.  Running is a hobby and not our job.  So while we can be competitive, we must still be able to enjoy it.

What would you add to this list?