Happy Monday you guys!

 

In order to help make this Monday a bit better, I’m sharing the winner of the Timex Ironman GPS+ giveaway at the end of this post. That ensures that at least one person ends this day feeling like it’s Christmas in September! Speaking of which, there are 16 Fridays until Christmas but that is a topic for a whole different post. OMG.

Instead of dwelling on that let’s talk the upcoming running fun and last week’s workouts.

I’m so excited that Reach the Beach week has finally arrived! Wednesday evening I’m heading up to Boston with Team New Balance for a tour of the New Balance headquarters followed by the 200 mile relay race through New Hampshire on Friday and Saturday! It’s going to be a great weekend with lots of new friends but man oh man is there a lot of work to do between now and Wednesday at 6pm when my out of office goes up.

Last week’s training wasn’t perfect but I know that with all the running I’ll do this week, it was the perfect week to play it smart. I felt a slight twinge in my left hip Friday afternoon which caused me to skip this week’s tempo run in favor of a yoga class. Luckily foam rolling, ice and a little bit of rest left it feeling better.

Just a reminder, my goal is to do one yoga class and two strength workouts in addition to my weekly runs while also allowing for at least one recovery day.

September 7-13th, 2015 Training Recap

Monday:  I felt every ounce of beer that I drank during the holiday weekend as I completed my “easy” 3 mile run which never felt easy. But, after procrastinating all day, I was proud that I finally went out for a run at 5 pm.

Tuesday: The 60 minute Bar Method class was a killer as it combined pretzel with chair at the barre but after just three classes I can feel myself becoming accustomed to the moves and getting into the poses with more precision. We did three sets of push-ups and I was able to do 42 of the 60 on my hands and feet which definitely gives me something to work towards! If anyone wants to join me for a Bar Method Brooklyn class this month, let me know! I’m loving it so far!

Wednesday:  I’m still trying to figure out the best mid-distance route in our neighborhood but the 5 mile route ended we put together for this easy run was perfect. We ran down towards the waterfront and did three miles down there before running back towards home. I’m definitely making sure that I allow five minutes before and after my run for dynamic stretches and foam rolling.

Thursday: Scheduling workout dates is the best way to ensure that I don’t push snooze on my morning alarm and get my workout done. I had the pleasure of sweating through a 6:30 AM Uplift Sculpt Fusion class with Theodora, Ashley, Evann, and Jess.

Friday: Due to our weekend schedule, Bo and I knew that getting our long run done on Friday was the best option. We woke up at 4:15 AM in order to squeeze in 11 miles before work. The 11 mile run included two bridges and plenty of hills, perfect training for New Hampshire’s many hills during this weekend’s Reach the Beach relay.

Saturday: Before an afternoon of wedding dress shopping with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law, I headed to Bar Method for my first Saturday morning class. I didn’t love how crowded the class was but Katie did a great job still ensuring that she gave everyone personal adjustments. Even in the crowded class she gave me helpful adjustments for my left hip twinge and helped me get deeper into the stretches at the end.

Sunday: I was supposed to do a tempo run Sunday morning but played it smart and went to the complimentary Lululemon yoga instead. I love the weekly yoga offered at Smith Street Lululemon each Sunday at 9 AM and even brought two friends and my sister-in-law and mother-in-law this week!  The 60 minute class included lots of standing poses but it helped provide us with some zen before another day of dress shopping.

Your turn: If you’ve run a relay race, what tips would you give me and my team before we pack for the weekend?

The giveaway winner is Jennifer Apfel! Congratulations! Please email me with your contact information.