Well hello May! I’m so glad to see you. April was a short, but tough month, no thanks to our stay at home order. But now the birds are singing, the frogs are croaking, turtles are sunning and even the sun is shining…for now anyway.
On the running front, April was a good month for me. Here’s how the week in workouts went:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Run 5 miles +trauma yoga via Zoom
Wednesday: Strength + Iron Core Tabata
Thursday: Run 3 miles + trauma yoga via Zoom
Friday: Run 5 miles
Saturday: Strength + Iron Core Tabata
Sunday: Run 6 miles
Some of you have asked if I’m running more and the answer is yes. I’ve been averaging 20ish miles a week, which is really the most I want to run right now. I’m doing it because I want to contribute to my Balega Ambassador team’s Virtual Run to South Africa and because running feels good and serves as a great destressor. My strength workouts aren’t as heavy as they were back at the gym and that’s intentional too. I like to periodize my workouts to keep the old bod guessing. My Garmin seems to approve. Just today it raised my VO2MAX into the SUPERIOR zone. Haven’t been there since I finished London a year ago.
While I miss my stepmill workouts at the gym, I’ve been subbing in a 5-minute jump rope warmup before my strength workouts using my Crossrope weighted jump rope. The set comes with 1/4 lb. and 1/2 lb. ropes that interchange on the handles. You know I prefer the heavier rope, right? Check out my full review on Crossrope here and get yours here (affiliate link).
Our weather this week was all over the place as per usual: Cold, hot, 3+” of rain, wind, fog, Mom Nature delivered all of it. Most importantly she blessed us with a glorious weekend. For that I am grateful.
On the home front things were uneventful, which is a good thing. I made it out for two garden weeding forays, brought out the wind chimes and I’m fighting the urge to drag out the bird baths and other summertime outdoor stuff as the week ahead looks unseasonably cool. No surprise there. Thing 2’s 8th grade graduation yard sign arrived and school announced there’ll be a “virtual graduation ceremony” later this month. I’m not yet sure how iPad return and locker cleanout will happen.
Shopping this week was a little different. Costco eased its entry restrictions so we didn’t have to wait in line to enter. I hit up Target for the first time since February and was shocked how poorly stocked it was. They did however have small bottles of sanitizer (limit 1) and plenty of toilet paper. Knock wood, I think we’re over the hump on the TP shortage issue. At least I hope so.
Over on YouTube this week I’ve got a new Tabata workout for the core. My youngest daughter is obsessed with 6-pack abs right now and does a daily ab workout. I tried it and almost couldn’t get through it. I guess I’m not 20 anymore. Or 30 or 40 or even 50. I designed this workout Tabata style so there’s a tiny bit of rest between exercises. Just enough to catch your breath, haha! Like with speed work, the body does not “register” the short rest intervals so it’s all good. I can feel a difference already. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
How was your week? Any goals for May?
I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!
I used my jump rope for a few workouts last month and really enjoyed it. I want to incorporate it into more workouts this month.
One of my best friends lives in Cleveland and she has also told me the same thing about Target. Hopefully they will get better at restocking items soon! I haven’t been to the Target here since before everything started, but for now I’ll probably just stick to the supermarkets (but I have ordered some pantry items from Target.com)
I love changing things up to keep my body guessing. OK, fine all I want to do is run but I do change my mileage and try different workouts periodically and I change my strength workouts about every 6 weeks. I’ve had good luck with Costco by going late in the day. The one time I went to Target it was very crowded and it just didn’t feel like a good idea to be there.
Can’t complain about this weekend. It’ll be cool after tomorrow, so mornings in the 30s, but doesn’t look like there’s a hard freeze (but things change).
All the pomp & circumstance that isn’t. Poor kids, they’re getting a really raw deal.
Here’s hoping spring comes for us both soon!
Our toilet paper issue seems to have resolved, although we never ran out personally as I happened to have bought a big pack just before everyone did! We have no easing of restrictions yet, but I’m glad of that, personally.
I did a 10-minute ab workout this week and like you, I almost couldn’t get through it . I felt it for like 3 days. I think I’ll have a look at your Tabata-style workout now!
My abs are crying just thinking about that workout! I haven’t braved our Target yet, but I am getting antsy about hand sanitizer. My one “purse” size is almost gone, but I have another one still. I hit 80 miles for April, so I guess that’s about 20 per week. I’m trying to run 3x/week but sneaking in a few more miles on my “strength” days with short Peloton treadmill workouts.
I’m with you on the mileage. 20 per week is definitely my sweet spot, although I’ve been pushing it a little higher lately. It’s as if I have something big on the calendar…or am I keeping my body guessing? lol
Totally agree we gotta keep the bod guessing or it stagnates/plateaus (at least I know mine does). I’m gonna check out that Tabata core workout! I”m horrible with Utube…I seldom ever think to access it for …well, anything. I need to check out (and probably “checkout”) that jump rope as well. The one I have is older than my marriage.
That foggy photo is great!
That core workout looks tough! Its so hard to work the core hard enough to be sore, but I love it when I can.
I can’t believe the whole month of April was spent on quarantine…this year is one for the record books, that’s for sure. Thank goodness for running!
Glad to hear things are looking up for you! We still have a shortage of TP…I actually had to have my mom bring me some from her hometown an hour south! She bribed me to swap her Panda Express chinese food for toilet paper, which I was only too happy to do. Still can’t find ANY in stores locally.
It does help to keep the body guessing. I saw your core workout and have it on tap to give it a try this week!
We’re finally able to find TP here but now yeast has gone missing…I’m hoping supplies across the board will level out this month.
We had the same glorious weekend. I’ll trade the wet ninja for all the beautiful weekends. Morning walk and a nap today. Appreciating the little things amid all the chaos.
Toilet paper has been relatively findable here, I was pleased to find paper towel yesterday at CVS too.
Poor Thing 2 🙁 We are going to hear something about locker clean out this week, i believe. It will be bittersweet, for sure.
All the animals are out for sure. I had to rescue a few turtles, but that was fun.
I like the sound of the core workout. I’m up for the challenge! I’ve been running more than usual but that was part of my plan anyway before this all began. Four days/week was good to me last year but I wanted to try to get back to 5. So far, so good!
Great week of workouts! I agree there are so many benefits to running right now. We also had a crazy week of weather and I am ready for it to start to feel more like spring for good. I’ll need to check out that core workout!
Don’t you love the Crossrope!? It’s been a fun way to mix things up. What’s trauma yoga? Glad to hear that you are feeling good about your running right now
Congrats on running more. I’m finding that around 15-20 miles per week is good for me given the current state of things. Just enough to keep my energy levels up, but not too much to drag them down.
Ooh, I did my first Tabata style workout this week and really enjoyed that style. Will try and check out your core workout! (though trying to take it easy this week since I have to run a virtual half marathon Saturday …)
I rarely have high mileage and I am training for half marathons all the time. My body is happy with under 20.
This weekend was delightful…sad that it will end.
I will have to give your workout a try. I like to mix things up! Glad you are able to run more. I think 20-25 miles is a good spot to be in. Enough to get the stress out, but not put the stress on the body! I think we may have been the only family among our friends that hasn’t purchased any toilet paper since this started, and still won’t need to for a few more weeks! We do like buying in bulk 🙂
I haven’t been able to find hand sanitizer. My local Target does have TP but I don’t know if there is a limit. Seems like there would be. I need to check out that workout. All that eating hadn’t helped my waist. I need to eat less and work out more to trim it. I am excited for May mainly because I am hopeful that we are another month closer to having things feel normal again. Maybe?
I’m running more too, Marcia, but not extreme. I just want to stay in a flow really but not training for anything and don’t really want to do virtual races – I *am* doing virtual parkrun, I feel like that is virtual enough. I know i’ve missed several weeks of keeping up with blogs – what’s trauma yoga? I just watched your tabata video… I’m going to try it!
Another solid week of training.
The photo with the fog is very beautiful. I like the “gothic” atmospheres.
My goals for may are another couple of virtual Parkruns and to run 100 miles.