This week the Team Wilpers Challenge hit the pause button on speedwork so it felt like a cut-back week of sorts. The work week was hectic – (I’m starting to feel like a broken record) and sleep has been evasive, so I was happy to scale back a bit and just run without a lot of pacing math. Here’s how the week in workouts played out.

Kind of a Cut-back Week

Monday – Lower body strength, Core, and 1.25-mile walk. Since I had the day off for the holiday (Patriot’s Day in MA), I had originally planned to drive out to spectate the Marathon. But, after 4 straight days of driving back and forth into the city (first for work then for Marathon-related fun), and knowing I had multiple days of commuting on deck, my body was begging for a rest. The less-than-ideal weather sealed it for me and I happily watched from the comfort of my couch 🙂
Tuesday – 1.5-mile walk & Yoga. An in-office day, but I did take a lunchtime walk and then hit my yoga mat after I got home.
Wednesday – 3.25-mile run. Another in-office day, but thankfully I was able to leave early enough in the afternoon to log some post-work miles.
Thursday – Peloton bike, 1-mile walk & Core
Friday – 2.8-mile run
Saturday – Peloton bike, Core, & 1.5-mile walk
Sunday – 5.6-mile run

This morning’s run was definitely the highlight of the week. Despite a poor night of sleep and the weather alternating between a light mist to heavy downpours, this was one of my better runs in the past couple of weeks – funny how that works sometimes. Hip mobility work and stretching continue on the daily, keeping my hip region happy and quiet. I’m looking forward to being in my car less this upcoming week – I definitely feel it if I spend too much time in the car.

How was your week?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

As I find myself so often saying lately, the days are flying by…and here we are already halfway through April. Things continue to be busy in this neck of the woods, though thankfully less manic than in March. Instead of a day-by-day update on the past couple of weeks, I’m checking in to share some quick highlights.

April Mid-month Check-in

Running

I’m very happy to say that my running is feeling good! I’ve just wrapped up Week 3 of the Team Wilpers Spring Run Challenge and am really enjoying getting a taste of speedwork again. My “long” runs are holding steady at 6 miles with yesterday’s run being an especially good one where everything seemed to click – and the beautiful spring weather was just icing on the cake.

I have 5 weeks until the Mystic 10K so I’m feeling good about where I am at this point.

Mobility work and Walking

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve put a lot of extra attention on the pre-hab work including daily stretching and hip-focused mobility and yoga classes on the Peloton app. It’s clearly been helping my running. And, while I’ve sprinkled in some low-impact classes on the bike, my go-to on non-running days has been walking – keeping my #optoutside goal for the month intact. As I’ve been prioritizing focusing on my core and lower body strength, upper body work has taken a backseat – perhaps that will change in the next couple of weeks, but perhaps not. For now, I’m just kinda rolling with what’s working best for me.

New Shoes!

Thanks to being a part of the Brooks Run Happy Team I can say with certainty that I don’t need any more running shoes. But, that didn’t stop me from ordering the new Boston-edition Hyperion Tempos – when it’s a collab between your favorite professional runner and your favorite shoe brand, how can you not 🙂

Can’t wait to try these during my next speed workout!

In case you missed it:

Five More Things About Me

April Coffee Chat

How’s April been treating you so far?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

A mixed bag – that seems to be the best way to sum things up since I last checked in for the Weekly Run Down. There has been some solid running, but a bit of crankiness has returned in my right hip area as my streak of consistent PT/hip mobility work hit some bumps. Overall, my workouts have been on the minimal side…but April is coming and with it, my version of “march madness” will wind down considerably.

Yes – just a few more days…in the meantime, here’s how this week in workouts played out.

A Mixed Bag

Monday — Rest Day. Despite trying to do all the right things following Sunday’s 6+ miles, my right hip was oh so unhappy, so I skipped the recovery run and opted for extra stretching.
Tuesday — 2.25 mile walk, Core, and Hip mobility work. Despite a long day in the office, I did manage a couple of miles at lunch with a colleague and some core and hip work after the late commute home.
Wednesday — 3 miles. The hip area felt less cranky and this run felt pretty good! And the bonus – shorts weather (see the header photo)
Thursday — 1-mile walk, Core & Lower body strength.
Friday — 5.5 miles & Yoga for Runners. I took advantage of having the day off and the weather to get my “long run” done. There was a little squawking from my hip over the last half mile so I followed up with one of the Yoga for Runners classes on the Peloton app.

All smiles and ready for the weekend!

Saturday — Upper Body Strength & Core
Sunday — 3.25 miles. I’ll probably queue up another Yoga for Runners class once I finish my coffee.

Such a beautiful morning!

Looking back over the past few weeks I think jamming workouts in where I could had me short-changing myself on proper recovery and I’ve paid for it a bit. Now with 8 weeks to go until the Mystic 10K, it’s important that I’m consistent in both my workouts and my recovery efforts.

In case you missed it:

5 Sources of Mental Clutter When Training

How’s your March been? Training for any races?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

Things have been off the chain since March came roaring in! Work life has been beyond busy pushing many things, including blogging to the back burner. Thankfully there is light at the end of the tunnel – another week or so to go. In the meantime, I am enjoying having my college boy home for spring break!

And, yes, the workouts are still happening, providing some much-needed sanity. Here’s a quick peek into my week in fitness.

From Sunday’s run

Roaring through March

Monday — 1-mile walk, hip mobility work & PT exercises
Tuesday — 3.5-mile walk, Core, & Upper Body Strength
Wednesday — 3-mile run. In honor of International Women’s Day, I received some great gear from the Brooks Empower Her collection – a collab with Dick’s Sporting Goods. Together they will donate up to $500K in support of girls running programs based on purchases of the new line.

Thursday — Peloton Bike & Core
Friday — 3-mile run & hip mobility work
Saturday — 1-mile walk, Core & Upper Body Strength
Sunday — 5.5-mile run

Based on the forecast for the week ahead it looks like Old Man Winter will once again be crashing the party – I heard the word “Nor’easter”, sigh. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that I can work around both the weather and my very full schedule to stay off the treadmill. Wish me luck!

How was your week? Are you seeing signs of Spring?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!