Welcome to the Weekly Wrap. This was my last recovery week before a final build for marathon training.  Yes, even though I have been focusing on my 5k speed, my long-game is the Milwaukee Marathon on April 6th.  Even though it was a recovery week it sure didn’t feel like one! Linking up with Holly and Wendy for this Weekly Wrap.

Monday 2/18

Run: Team workout.  Luckily, we are now going to use an indoor track for our workouts. It was SO much better than running outside, especially because Monday was another snowy day.  Is it just me, or have all the Mondays lately been terrible weather days? Anyways, the track workout was great and I felt like it was the first time I could execute a team workout well.

Tuesday 

Run: Rest Day.  Since it was a recovery week, I had two rest days scheduled for the week instead of just one.  Tuesdays are the days when I coach the Sprint Tuesday group in the morning.  Initially, I was planning to drive over and lead the warmups and take pictures, but when my alarm went off… I just wasn’t feeling it.  I felt drained and unmotivated, so I snoozed instead.

Other:  Strength class at EDGE.  It had been a while since I did an EDGE class and decided to pop in to shadow another coach.

Wednesday 2/19

Run: Tempo.  I’ve been dealing with some anxiety or at least mental blocks with my tempo runs.  I still don’t view myself as in shape enough to complete them, and they haven’t been going well.  Usually when I am on the treadmill, I write my workout out on scrap paper and tape it in front so I can remember when to change paces.  This time, I knew the workout already – it was a redo of the one I bailed on the week prior – so instead I wrote out mental cues and positive thoughts.  It worked a LOT better and I was able to get through the workout (3 miles at tempo with pickups to 10k, 2 miles same format).

 

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MENTAL WIN Normally, I write my workouts out and tape them in front of me when I’m on the treadmill. But lately, I haven’t been able to fully complete my tempo workouts. When I saw the paces and distances written out, I was intimidated and didn’t believe I could actually complete the workouts. That became a self-fulfilling doubt and I’d bail on them because I’d get so worked up 😔 I’m a visual person and a word nerd. So today instead of writing out my workout, I wrote out the mantras I normally repeat in my mind, and the coaching tips I give athletes. I played to my strengths – and it worked 😃 Seeing is believing, I felt relaxed, calm and when it started to get hard I just read my little note over and over until I finished 💪 Has anyone else tried this technique? What do you say to yourself to stay on the razor edge in workouts (or races)? . . . . #mentalskills #mentalstrength #mantras #wednesdaywisdom #runningcoach #marathontraining #5ktraining #temporun #speedwork #runhappy #irunthisbody #runitfast #werunsocial #edgefam #teamnuun #nike #justdoit #windrunners #thisgirlcan #rungrateful #runtoinspire #poweredbyplants #veganrunner #womenwhorun #runchi #progressisprogress

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Thursday 2/21

Run: Running tour guide.  About a month ago, a friend put me in touch with the organizer of a large industry convention. She was looking for someone to lead a group run for the conference attendees. It sounded so fun to me and definitely something I was willing to do!  I met a group of 12 runners in the morning in downtown Chicago and took them on a 4 ish mile running route.  We ran around the Museum Campus, to Soldier Field and back, stopping to take a picture at my favorite skyline spot by the Adler Planetarium.  I had a lot of fun chatting with everyone and showing them around.

Other: Second run + strength at OYM.  I added on about 5 miles in the afternoon to get more mileage for the week.  In the evening, our team practice was cancelled so I popped into a different strength class instead.  We had a burnout of cardio sprints at the end and I chose the rower.  It is one of my goals to use the rower with good form so I take every chance I can.  The verdict? I still need practice haha.

Friday 2/22

Run: Running tour guide part 2.  I returned to the conference in the morning for another group run.  This time, I took runners to Buckingham Fountain, through Maggie Daley Park, with a photo stop at the Bean.  It was another gorgeous sunny morning, that made it easy to show off how stunning Chicago is.  I was supposed to add another 4 miles to the run, but I was feeling drained and just wanted to be done for the day.

Other: Recipe Testing. I received Banza’s new product, chickpea rice, to test out.  Similar to their chickpea pasta, rice made from chickpeas is a high-protein and quick-cooking alternative to regular rice.  Lately, I’ve been craving Asian flavors.  I drew inspiration from my orange-glazed tempeh and broccoli recipe to make a glazed tofu, broccoli and chickpea rice dinner.  SO GOOD.

Saturday 2/23

Run: Long run.  My friend Katie was in town.  We hadn’t seen each other since her wedding in December, and met up for a long run and brunch.  My run was supposed to add marathon paced miles at the end, but I was still feeling tired and blah and junky.  Just easy miles instead.

Other: Float Sixty.  Myself and two other teammates met up to try out Float Sixty, a wellness facility.  It uses float therapy to help with muscle recovery, deeper sleep and mental relaxation.  I floated for 60 minutes in one of their pods (which to me looked like a whale).  It’s completely dark and silent – a total sensory deprivation.  The first few minutes are definitely an adjustment, but I think my daily meditation practice helped me ease right into it.  I found it peaceful and extremely relaxing.  When the music started to play signaling time was up I couldn’t believe it had been an hour already and I didn’t want to get out.  It’s definitely something worth trying!

Sunday 2/24

Run: Rest Day.  A recovery week meant two rest days instead of my usual one.  Man did I need it.  Slept in again, went for a walk and did a quick core workout.  I’m not sure if it’s from detox during yesterday’s float experience or a cold coming on, but I feel junky.  I was hoping to kick out of this recovery week rested and ready to build again, but it hasn’t happened.

Other:  Brunch Date.  I headed out to Oak Park to have a catch up brunch date with my friend Angela.  It had been too long since we saw each other.  Not only does Oak Park have plenty of brunch options, they have plenty of vegan brunch options!  We ate at Munch and caught up on the last few months of life.

And that’s a wrap!  I totaled 39 miles for the week, which was about a 30% reduction in training volume from the previous two weeks.  But this recovery week sure didn’t feel like it, With two rest days and a lighter training load, I was hoping to feel relaxed and ready to go.  However, I’m leaving still tired and sore.  I’m crossing my fingers that it’s not a cold coming on.  I only get sick once, maybe twice a year, but it usually lays me out for a few days.  I blame the crazy weather swings.

In case you missed my February Runfessions, read the post here.

How was your week?  How often do you like to race?  Let’s stay in touch!  Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more food/fitness related posts.  

Happy running,

Becca