Welcome to the start of another week! What are you looking forward to? I’m gearing up for (hopefully) another solid week of training for the Love Run Half Marathon, which is now less than 2 months away!
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=”Another week closer to the Love Run Half Marathon! How’s your spring race training going? #runchat ” username=”Janelle_RWNR”]
Weekly Wrap: Last Weekend in January
New Trail Shoes
I finally made the plunge and hit RoadRunner Sports to buy some new trail shoes! I had some VIP money left over that I didn’t want to go to waste plus I earned a $50 gift card thanks to my work as an ambassador to the Love Run Half Marathon! PS – my discount code JANELLELOVE is now good for $7 off! Sign up before the next price increase on 2/1!
I have to say that the sales process did NOT go very well. The selection of trail shoes in the store wasn’t great to start with, and the salesperson was clearly clueless so I had to guide him along to help me figure out which shoes would be the best. He literally said there was “no difference” in different trail shoes except the brand. Finally, he went online to see the actual differences between the shoes I tried on. Seriously, I should work there…
At least there’s a 90 day return policy in case the salesperson steered me wrong…Hitting the Thrift Stores
I was invited by my neighbor to join her and a couple of the women on the block for a day of “thrifting” on Saturday afternoon. Since I’m new to the ‘hood, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to know my neighbors and for them to get to know me. We had a really good time. We ended up going to 4 or 5 different places all along the Main Line suburbs. My focus was to find some things for the house. Of course, my first purchase was two Now That’s What I Call Music CD’s (#5 and #6, in case you were curious)! I couldn’t resist! Then, I ended up purchasing two gorgeous lamps that were only $15 a piece! We had lunch in Wayne, PA and had wine and sangrias. I think eventually I came out of my shell. I’m so glad that I was able to go! Next up, I plan to join the book club that the ladies have started up!
My new lamp looks pretty nice on my desk in my office!Workouts for the Week
Monday 1/23: About 40 minutes of yoga at lunch. We just started up classes again. It was great to be back but time went by too quickly! We had the awful Nor’easter all day so there was no running for me!
Tuesday 1/24: Evening yoga with the usual crew. I was a bit more unbalanced than usual so I was a little wobbly. On a good note, I learned how to do a forearm stand and I was able to hold it! Thank goodness the wall was right behind me!
Wednesday 1/25: I went for a 4-mile tempo run where miles 2 and 3 were supposed to be at 10:10-10:15 (goal half marathon) pace. Welp, my splits ended up at 10:00 and 9:44…what the heck! I thought I slowed down on mile 3 but I was really in the zone. It also didn’t help that the weather was mild and I just felt really good! Clearly, I need to get a better handle of my paces!
Thursday 1/26: I was supposed to have spinning class but it was canceled…thus, I had a complete rest day!
Friday 1/27: I had the day off so I went to barre class…it was really tough! I was glad I only used 2-pound weights because she really made us work! And my hamstrings were very angry about the work I put them through!
Saturday 1/28: Long run time! I was scheduled for 9 miles, but I did a few extra tenths of a mile because I had issues with my Nike+ watch. Thankfully, this was a pretty solid run! My pace stayed between 11 and 12-minutes and the weather was great for a run! I ended up running without music because I had no signal on Forbidden Drive – I forgot that I need to download my Spotify playlists to my new phone! The only bad part of the run was around 8 miles in, my ankles were bothering me, which hasn’t ever happened. I do wonder if it was due to the lacing of my Adidas Supernova’s? I’ll have to investigate…
Sunday 1/29: I wanted to do a morning yoga class to help stretch my muscles, but I ended up skipping it. In the afternoon I went for a leisurely 3-mile run. I wore my Mizuno’s instead of the Adidas, but my shins were NOT happy with me on the run and I felt like my feet were slapping the pavement…ouch! I did 2 minutes of planking before bed!
Week 4 Report Card
Despite the bit of a rocky conclusion to the week, I’m very happy with runs! It was exciting to be so speedy on my tempo run and as I mentioned in my runfessions, I live for my Saturday long runs! I’m bummed that spin class was canceled, but since I kept so active last week, it may have worked out for the best. I probably should have skipped the 3-mile run, but I’m going to keep listening to my body and make sure that everything is functioning properly! With all that said, I’m going to give the week a B+!
How was your week of working out? Do you like going shopping in thrift stores?
I’m glad you hear your commentary on Road Runner Sports–altho the one time I bought shoes there (for my son), we had a good experience. But the sales people don’t look like runners and I don’t think most of them have a clue.
Great week of training, except for those shin splits…ugh…
I was hoping I’d get a different salesperson when I went to this store and nope…same clueless guy, haha. At least he looks like a runner?
Thankfully my shins are feeling MUCH better today! I think my body needs to get used to running so frequently and I changed the lacing on my Adidas…hopefully that’ll help!
I love your new trial running shoes. Sorry that the sales experience wasn’t so great 🙁
That’s awesome that you went thrift store shopping. I want to try that one day. I am not surprised that your first purchase was a CD! 🙂
Thanks! I haven’t tested them out yet, hopefully they work well on the trail…
HA! I listened to both CD’s in the car, and they are amaaaazing. The songs just take me back to the good old days!
Your day of thrifting + wine sounds like a fun way to make some new friends. I would love to have some more younger couples in our neighborhood, but sadly the neighbor we’re closest with is literally 90 years old, he’s a hoot & way more social than we are, but still.
I’ve been meaning to take the plunge and buy new trail shoes – but definitely hope when I do I end up with someone who knows what they’re talking about, “only difference is the brand” – guess he could have said the only difference was the color! Haha.
That’s so funny that your neighbor is 90! I am definitely the youngest in the group, but it’s not too bad of an age gap!
Yeah…my BS meter was going off pretty loudly as this guy tried to tell me about trail shoes. Still in disbelief.
Sorry you had such a bad experience at Road Runner. I love our store although I have not looked at trail shoes at all. Hope you have a great rest of your week. See you for coffee this weekend I hope
It was a bummer but at least I saved some money at RR! I may have to go back to Cherry Hill though, that was a much better store!
And yes, I’ll be at the coffee date this weekend! Always one of my favorites!
I totally get proper pacing, but when those fast miles come along like yours did in your tempo run, it’s such a great feeling! I went to a thrift store this weekend too but to donate. I ended up donating 7 bags of clothes!
Oh when I ran that 9:44 mile I felt like SUCH a rockstar! But I know I have to rein it in!
That’s awesome you were able to donate so much clothing!
It’s funny that you mentioned NOW music. My friend said she saw Now 61 or something over the weekend.
LOL is it really up to over 60?? I think I stopped after Now 8!
I hate to say this but I stopped shopping at RRS for that very reason. The salespeople are so clueless. We tried to buy my daughter track spikes there and he knew nada. Then he said he’d get another size from a different store and that never happened. So frustrating. I hope you love the trail shoes you got!
Such a disappointment…boo. I haven’t tried the shoes yet but hopefully they are a winner! They’re a new model so I couldn’t even find reviews on them, go figure!
Congrats on your tempo run! I am not fond of tempo runs and I usually struggle to get to my pace — if I even do — so I’m envious. Guess what’s on my schedule for next week. 🙂
That’s so nice that you got to socialize with some of your neighbors! It’s taken me YEARS, for the most part, to get to know people here.
Thanks, Judy! I hope you enjoy your tempo runs! I suppose they get better over time? I hope so!
I don’t get much time with my neighbors but I’m trying to put myself out there! I think the book club will be fun!
Great job this week! Thats weird about your ankles/shins. I have heard that stretching your calves and rolling with the stick can help. Hope they feel better quickly!
Thanks, Lisa! I’m hoping this is just a temporary problem!
It’s always a welcoming surprise when you run faster than you think you’re running. That was a solid training week. Since, you’ve run this course before, any advice for newbies like me? On elevation and what to expect? As it’s inching closer, my only hope is to finish before the course closes. Haha! 🙂
Thanks a lot, Madhuri! I was happy to feel so strong, though the week ended in a whimper. I actually haven’t run this full course before, but I do know that there are some serious hills in the middle of the race. Definitely try to do some hill repeats if you can! I’m sure you will do great!!
Thrift store shopping is so fun! I can always find great deals when I go. And who can’t beat the price. Love the lamp! And that is a great picture of you two above it!
Thanks, Lacey 🙂 I’m trying to make my home office as “homey” as possible. The lamp seems to fit in great! I’m just not good at finding/making deals…guess it takes practice!
Sometimes I find it easier to order online from RRS rather than going into the store. I go in every so often to make sure I’m being fit into the proper shoes, but I definitely ordered my trail shoes from RRS online because I knew they didn’t have much in the selection process that way. I have a decent enough idea of my fit in various brands that I’m not too far off on my personal selections.
I don’t love most thrift stores as I get overwhelmed in crowded spaces somewhat easily, but I have really been enjoying Poshmark! It’s an app that you can sell your clothes through, and pretty straightforward to use!
I may need to consider checking RRS online now that I have a better idea of what I’m looking for…no wonder the place was empty when I went in, lol!
Thrift stores can definitely be overwhelming. I have to admit the “smell” through me off at first, lol! I never heard of Poshmark, sounds like a great program!
Solid week. Disappointing about the sales associate – that stinks! But you are doing really well in your training!
Thanks a lot, Courtney!
Awesome week of running! That Road Runner Sports experience must have been frustrating…seriously that all trail shoes are the same? What? Those new trail shoes look awesome! My husband wears New Balance trail shoes and loves them, and his last so long.
That thrifting and wine sounds so fun! The early NOW compilations are the best, or maybe that’s because I still have a soft spot for 90s/early 00s music over today’s music.
I’m looking forward to hitting the trails with the New Balances soon! It’s about time I found some new places to explore…
The thrifting and wine was a pleasant surprise! I was so happy to get the invite.
Good to know I’m not the only one who loves those 90’s/00’s…I was so happy as I listened to the CD from beginning to end!
I don’t go to thrift stores often, but in the summer I can’t get enough of shopping at garage sales! Oh the deals to be had!!
It sounds like you had a fun time with the ladies on your block! I like your lamp too. The worst pair of running shoes I ever ran in were the ones I had professionally fit. They completely missed the mark and it took me months to overcome the problem they caused. I think you just have to trust your own instincts and what your body tells you. I hope your ankle problem was just a random thing! Thanks for linking, Janelle!
That’s so annoying that the salesperson wasn’t very helpful. But at least he finally went to the computer to look up the differences. I hope they work out well for you.
How fun to go thrifting with your neighbors! I’m not usually into thrifting, but I went with a girlfriend a couple months ago, and we had a blast!
Great work last week!!
It was a good week! Got all my training mileage in for my upcoming race but didn’t cross train like I should. And totally get it on knowing more than the sales person at the shoe store!! Occupational hazard of being a fitness blogger! LOL!