Hello 2019 | Weekly Wrap

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!  Hello 2019, you are off, full-steam ahead!  I am in the middle of marathon training while still trying to hit a speedy 5k time.  This first week of 2019, I ran 42 miles and a 5k race!  After outlining training for the week, I talk about my 2019 intentions.  Linking up with Holly and Wendy.

 

 

Monday 12/31

Run: 5k Race.  I closed out the year with a 5k race.  Initially, I was going to try for a PR, but the weather had other plans.  It was cold, rainy and windy – not ideal 5k conditions.  Evelyn and her husband joined me – I conveniently had written the race into Evelyn’s plans, aren’t I a nice coach? – so it was nice to have company.  I ended up with 21:05, disappointing to me, but enough for 3rd place!

 

NYE 5k Chicago

 



Tuesday 1/1

Run: Hello 2019!  Sprint Tuesday workout.  Since I raced the day prior, I had an easy 9 miles today.  But, it being Tuesday, I went to coach the Sprint Tuesday group.  Luckily, we met at 10 am so I could sleep in after celebrating NYE!  A big group showed up and we all went out to breakfast after.  Such a fun way to start 2019!

 

Hello 2019 Sprint Tuesday run

 

 

Wednesday 1/2

Run: Easy 4mi run + strength.  Went to November Project in my effort to focus on community this year.  It was also at a neighborhood park, and due to neighborhood noise regulations, it was a silent workout.  Normally we play music, cheer each other on, and are generally pretty loud.  Working out in silence added an extra element of fun.  In order to still cheer on our partners, we all came up with different hand motions to give kudos instead.  It was a lot of fun.

 

Hello 2019 NP ninja workout




Thursday 1/3

Run: Tempo + strength. Just an easy progression run.  3x 1 miles starting at marathon plus 30 seconds and descending to half marathon pace over the course of a mile before resetting.  Nothing too crazy.  Later, I went to On Your Mark after for an athletic performance class with Tori.  We ran through a bunch of agility ladder drills and lateral movement.  My glutes were so sore by the end of the day!

 

 

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A post shared by Becca Menke: MEd|Blogger|Coach (@rabbitfoodruns) on

Friday 1/4

Other:  No Run Day.  Took full advantage of my last work remote day and slept through November Project, opting for an 8am strength class at On Your Mark instead.  I also published a NEW RECIPE! 5-ingredient seed butter.  It’s delicious and dangerous for me to have in the house haha.  Get the recipe here.

 

homemade seed butter nut-free vegan paleo


 

Saturday 1/5

Run: Long run.  Had a nice 12.5 mile run…IN SHORTS!  Hello 2019, please let winter be this mild.  Thank you kindly.  This was my last 12 miler for a while as my miles start to ramp up.  I can’t wait for the long distances again!

 

 

Sunday 1/6

Run: Easy + Strength + JOGA.  I kinda went overboard today, oops.  I ran an easy 4.5 miles before a strength class and a Joga class.  Normally, my Sunday would not be this loaded, but I had forgotten to cancel the strength class on time and didn’t want to be charged.  I’ve heard Joga described as “yoga for jocks.”  We focused a lot on breath work and dynamic movements to make traditional yoga postures easier to attain.  I really enjoyed it!

 

 

2019 Intentions

This year I want to focus more on themes or ideas instead of hard and fast goals.  As I shared in my 2018 Year Recap, my community was extremely important to me last year.  I want this to be a year where I invest as much in my community as they invested in me last year.  I’ll continue to coach athletes, but I want to volunteer more.  After a year of trying to start my own food business, I intend to invest more in local small businesses because it is hard work! Like 2018, I want to say “yes” more when it comes to events, being mindful to balance my much needed introvert time too.

As far as running goes, I wish I could have it all.  Both road speed and trail speed/distance.  My plan is to focus on fast road speed for the spring (5k and marathon training), and transition to fast trail speed in the fall.  At the moment, I am only planned out for races as far as April with the rest of the year wide open.  Normally, this would make me really nervous, but I am kind of enjoying the ability to choose a race instead of being locked into a plan.  Sticking with my theme of community, I intend to spend more time with my Nike teammates, EDGE athletes and November Project friends.

 

How was your week?  How did you kick off 2019?  Let’s stay in touch!  Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more food/fitness related posts.  

 

Happy running,

Becca

 

 

 

 

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HoHo Runs
5 years ago

Congrats on your third place 5k finish. I can’t believe you were both bundled up and in shorts during the same week. The silent workout sounds fun! Like you, I don’t have my year locked into place. I prefer the freedom to change my mind without losing money. LOL. Thanks for linking.

Renée
5 years ago

Sounds like a great end and start of the year! Congrats on your 3rd place. I’ll never come even close that time but I’m hoping for AG awards when I’m 80  Also your NY day run + breakfast sounds amazing. I wish we did stuff like that. It’s just not really in the culture here. A physio friend of mine teaches a class called BROGA  Yoga for Bros. It’s a fabulous concept because I think there are still so many men out that who think that yoga is only for women or hippy-dippy types. What I’ve learned over… Read more »

Cari
5 years ago

Isn’t that Gaiman quote the best?
Great to see such a good turnout for a January 1 workout and the silent workout sounds like it would be a fun challenge.
Reinvesting in community is such a great goal, Good luck with it!

Kimberly Hatting
5 years ago

I think your theme of community is wonderful! As runners, we all know how valuable volunteers are; it’s great to see fellow runners giving back 😉

Coco
5 years ago

I love those photos of the lakefront! I think it’s funny that having to be silent made the November Project workout fun, when I’m sure the music and cheering is supposed to make it fun — but I know what you mean. You have some great intentions for the new year. My biggest outlet for helping in my community and volunteering is through church (and the things we do), but I do support some of our races too.

therightfits
5 years ago

Congratulations on the 3rd place win! Sounds like tough conditions, but it has been a nice treat that overall this winter has been so mild. I still ended up on the treadmill this week due to a lot of melt/refreeze, but over the weekend it was sunny and in the 40’s. Not a normal January in Minnesota!

Great goals for this year! I love the idea of volunteering more in 2019 🙂 Great ideas!

Wendy
5 years ago

Congrats on 3rd place in your 5k. Those are pretty sweet medals for a 5k!

I love all the options you have for training in the city. We’ve got running clubs out here, but no November Project as far as I know. And Joga? I’d be all over that!

Deborah Brooks
5 years ago

So do you do your strength training barefoot usually? Looks like your 2019 is off to a great running start!

kookyrunner
5 years ago

You had a super busy first week of 2019! I love that you closed out the year with a 5K race and started the year with an amazing group run and breakfast.

Can’t wait to check out that Seed Butter recipe – it looks so good!