How is January treating you? Am I the only one still planning the month despite the fact that it’s almost over?
The year is still relatively fresh (and if I see you for the first time, I will wish you a Happy New Year!), but time is moving quickly! Meanwhile, I’m enjoying this cycle of training for the Love Run Half Marathon and after a rough start, I’m starting to surprise myself by how well things have been going lately! Since it’s Monday, it’s time for my weekly training recap!
I’m joining Courtney of Eat Pray Run DC for her Winter Training Recap linkup and HoHo and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap! These are great ways to keep accountable and share your workouts with fellow fit-minded individuals!
[bctt tweet=”How’s your week of spring race training going? #runchat ” username=”Janelle_RWNR”]
Running the Parkway Classic in April!
From runpacers.comBefore I get into my latest training recap, I wanted to share that I’ve just signed up for the Parkway Classic 10 Miler in Alexandria, Virginia on Sunday, April 23, 2017! This is the first time that I’ll be running this race, and if you know me, I love getting to run in new places, so I’m really excited!
The race course appears to have some rolling hills to make things interesting, going down the George Washington Parkway and through the city of Alexandria. I know that Coco is a big fan of this race so I look forward to experiencing it for myself!
I’m also really excited to be attending as a BibRavePro Ambassador! Since becoming an ambassador in 2016, this will be the first time that I’ll actually get to attend a sponsored race! I’m also signed up for the Buffalo Half Marathon in May, taking place in my hometown on Memorial Day weekend!
If you’re interested in joining me at the Parkway Classic, you can save $5 on registration for the 10 miler or 5K with promo code: 17gwpBibRave.
Workouts for the Week
Monday 1/16: Quick core workout – 2 sets of bridges, pushup side planks, V-ups, bird dogs, 1-minute plank.
Tuesday 1/17: I took it inside with a treadmill run during my lunch break. This 3-mile run felt SO much better than the previous week…my body felt fantastic and the run was effortless!
Wednesday 1/18: Bret and I ran a little over 3 miles in the evening with some 5 x 30-second surges sprinkled in. It was fun to play with speed work, especially at a shorter distance! We ran in Chestnut Hill and the Knuckle Lights guided us along the way. I felt great on this run, and we even spotted some deer on Germantown Ave!
Thursday 1/19: Rest day! I had a crazy day at work and I was exhausted once I made it home.
Friday 1/20: Unintentional rest day. I had another hectic work day and just couldn’t find the energy to do my strength exercises once I got home.
Saturday 1/21: 8-mile run! Bret took us to West Fairmount Park for a change of scenery, starting at the Belmont Plateau trails and winding around all over the place! The air was very damp so breathing was tough the first couple of miles, but once I got my groove, I felt great! We had miles of trails to enjoy and only saw a handful of people the entire morning. It’s always nice when your last mile is your strongest!
Sunday 1/22: You’re probably not surprised by now…Sunday morning barre class! In some ways, the class feels like it’s getting easier, but all of the pushups and plank variations killed me! I know that my shoulders are going to be sore for a couple of days! It’s nice seeing the same group of ladies each week…if only I could start up some conversations with one of two of them! I had the option to do a 30-35 minute run, but I was so busy taking care of things at home that there wasn’t enough time to squeeze it all in.
Week 3 Report Card
This was my second week of training with Coach Laura from This Runner’s Recipes and it went extremely well! While I didn’t get in that fourth run, I’m happy with what I was able to accomplish over the past week. I felt extremely balanced, yet consistently challenged in my workouts. I’ve been foam rolling much more consistently – is it starting to become a habit? And my glutes definitely feel stronger than they did at the beginning of the month! Week 3 of training gets an A, especially since I had a stressful week of work!
Sadly, I’ve only been using a 2-week trial of Laura’s services, so it looks like things are coming to an end! Or are they? I now have to decide how I want to move forward, and right now I’m pretty sure that I want to see how this plan goes! Stay tuned…I can’t wait to see how this spring season shapes up! I’m excited as my race schedule continues to fill up:
- Princess 10K in February
- Rock ‘n Roll DC Half Marathon ($15 off with RUNWITHNOREGRETS)
- Love Run Half Marathon ($5 off with JANELLELOVE)
- Parkway Classic in April
- Buffalo Half Marathon ($5 off with 2017-BibRave-JJ)
- Ragnar Pennsylvania in June
Do you have your spring race schedule all planned out? Which races are you looking forward to the most?
OMG! I am SO EXCITED that you will be doing GWPC! Yes, the first 5 miles have rolling hills. 🙂 Let me know if you need any more info – will you drive down Saturday?
Woohoo! I will probably come down Saturday if not Friday, my nephews may be having their birthday party that weekend! We definitely have to meet up 🙂
So fun that you are coming to DC let me know if you have time to get together that weekend.
I will, definitely!
That park looks gorgeous! Having it nearly all to yourself and also having a great run with your last mile the best is awesome! That’s a lot of races! I look forward to seeing what you choose to do with your training!
You’ll be running Buffalo too?!? I’m doing the full! I hope we can meet!
Yes, we definitely should meet! Buffalo is my hometown so I’m really excited about this race!
I think I *might* have my halfs for the year mostly mapped out, but still waiting to hear something on one of them. Hoping I can say something about that soon!
I didn’t know you were from Buffalo. One of my college friends is also from there, and extremely proud of it (even if she’s been living in Jersey for years). Can’t say I feel the same civic pride about my own hometown (Poughkeepsie).
I know how you feel with Barre. The studio I’m going to know has challenged me beyond what I’m used to, and I’m quite sore today. My forearms are sore, and that’s a first.
I love that you are taking barre classes! How fun! I just took my first barre class over this weekend and I am still sore!
I hate the month JANUARY – hate it!!! So I am glad it’s almost over – ha! Onto FEBRUARY!!
LOL – here’s to a much better February!
Great job this week! Gotta love getting in the foam rolling and feeling those glutes working. If I didnt work out in the morning there would have been no way I could have worked out in the afternoon- work was so exhausting last week!
Great week. That hidden gem is so cute! And I totally think you should just say hi to some of your barre ladies – I’ve ended up being great friends with women I’ve met at the barre 🙂 Have a good one!
Great week, Janelle! How cool you got to see some deer on Wed. 🙂
I only have 1 race on my calendar for this spring. A 55k in April Yikes!! It’s either the craziest or stupidest thing. 😉
Awesome job with training this week! 🙂 I’ve heard good things about Barre, Im pretty sure I don’t have any sort of classes around here but I know of a website online to take classes, so I might have a dabble in that! 🙂
I’m so happy that the plan worked for you – and thanks for the shout out! You have so many exciting races on the calendar – I’ve heard such great things about RNR DC. That trail looks so pretty and it’s always extra fun when it’s all to oneself!
It sounds like you had a very strong week! I live in the south where deer are everywhere — and have never need one on a run! Hard to believe. West Fairmount Park looks like a wonderful place for a run. And Chicken and Waffles after? Yes, please. Thanks for linking, Janelle!
I signed up for not one but two races this week Janelle, I know what was I thinking. But it’s two new states for me.
Did you know we could have selected RnR DC for a free entry from the Mississippi Blues race being canceled? Yup but I just couldn’t make the long distance work.
I do think the foam rolling is starting to be habit forming! You will be very thankful for that especially with the longer races coming up. Glad you had a solid week of training. Hope you have a great upcoming week!!!