You know what’s going well? My running.
I’m all:
When I say that.
I said earlier that I was doing the 5K-to-10K program as a kind of lead up to Cherry Blossom training. Since that’s started (I’m doing the mid-distance training with Potomac River Running), I’m now transitioning away from that plan in order to do a mix of PR Running’s beginner and intermediate plan for the race. It includes speed work, which I’ll have to do on my own, but I really should do it: my goal is another PR as I’m hoping to shave off about another minute from my time. Considering I shaved two last year and have shaved a total of 10 minutes from my first Cherry Blossom run, it’s doable. I just have to be committed.
Which I am because: Cherry Blossom!
Walking every day to work has made it easier to run, too. I feel a little more limber with the activity. The only things bugging me are tight hamstring and gluteus muscles on my left side. I’ve been trying to gently stretch and roll those out, and it has gotten better. But there’s no denying that my yoga class (starting in late February) will be a welcome and needed activity.
The first meet with my training group was fun; we did an easy three-mile run where I got to chat with a couple of people about running and living in D.C. I later told my husband that, since he’s flying out that day for a conference, I might have people to have brunch with following the race after all!
But speaking of a wonderful training partner, it’s been so good to hit the gym with the husband as my gym buddy. We’ve both made it a priority and feel loads better for having done so. The key was something MG said in the comment of my And I Ran post: keeping it realistic. Instead of going all out and then spazzing out spectacularly (as I am wont to do), I slowed down with my return. First, two times a week was perfect; three times a week was a plus; initially, I was rowing and using the elliptical. Second, I kept my pace reasonable with the 5K-to-10K program when I began to run; I let myself ease back in instead of saying that I had to run at X:XX pace. My husband has taken the same attitude (with weight lifting) and is enjoying his return (after some training sessions to avoid re-injuring himself, too).
The natural result of the increased movement has also been better-fitting jeans. I’ve lost about three pounds so far, and know more will come off. Stress and inactivity from last year’s mess of a job sent me into a tailspin, but I’m determined to pull up from it. With less stress has come less eating, too, and my job discourages snacking (it’s not far from potential snacks, but meh; there isn’t a vending machine in sight; and I don’t really want to take the occasional goodies left out). I’ve modified my grocery shopping list, too, to take off some treats that weren’t really necessary. Do I miss them? Hell yes. But they need to not be there for a while.
Working out and making healthy choices are giving me the warm fuzzies, y’all.