#GoalGetter2013 - November Update

Well folks, here we are, only 31 days left in 2013.   The holiday fun is literally just around the corner and I can't wait.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's take a look at now November went shall we?

Main goal?  Work on my flexibility.  I won't say EPIC fail but I'd say pretty close to it.  I made it to yoga ONCE this month.  ONCE.  G has been 6 times in the last 10 days.  WTH?  Although, I have been making an effort to foam roll and stretch a bit more, even when I haven't done a work out.  I really need to keep on this as my PT seems to think that my knee issues are a result of my insanely tight calves and ankles.  Yes, everything is connected.  So moving forward this will be something that I HAVE to do on a regular basis.

I also said that I was going to get back to heavier lifting and strength training 3x a week.  Check - sort of.  I'm back in the gym and the squat rack and I have become friends again but instead of lifting 3x a week, I'm lifting twice a week and then I've added a TRX class as my third day of strength training.  Good LORD is that ever hard.   It works all the little muscles that the big lifts don't always get to.  I thought I was in pretty good shape until after my first class.  I was sore for 3 days.  3 freaking days.  But I loved every minute of it.  I'm going to make of point of doing it as much as I can in December.  Once training for Boston starts, I'll have to forgo it but for now, it's staying. 

Goal for December?  Maintenance baby.  That's it.  I've got a good thing going right now, my body is in a happy place and I'd like to keep it there for as long as possible. 

How did your November go? 

To Race or not To Race, That is the Question

Those of you that have been reading this blog for the last couple of years, know very well that I have a bit a problem.  I am addicted to racing.  There.  I said it.

The first step to dealing with the problem is to acknowledge it.  Right?

Sometimes I get so focused on the love of competition that I let it cloud my judgement in regards to other things...like the condition of my legs.   Which, in case you were wondering, is probably not really where it should be if I want to race a half well.

I was all excited to run a half 3 weeks after Boston.  That was the plan.  I figured I executed a similar plan perfectly last year, why couldn't I do it again?  I took it much easier this year post race.  I gave myself ample time to recover and I didn't do any hard workouts until this week.  Pace wise things were ok.  But my legs still don't feel 100%.  There is still some residual tightness and nerve issues in my left leg.  I had a good A.R.T session on Wednesday and he said I seemed a whole lot better.  And I am but I still don't feel 100%.   Maybe 95%.  I'm afraid that if I go and race a half, that will just set me back.  I'll need a week to recover and who knows what it will do to the nerve in my leg.  As G said the race this weekend really serves no purpose.  It's not an A race.  It's just a race. 

Of course I struggled with this decision.  I even said I'd leave it to the last minute to register.  But, I need to listen to my body.  I don't want to jeopardize my triathlon season by over doing it too early.  I don't really have anything to gain from doing this race other than a potential age group placing and some points towards my Team Running Free passport.  But I'll be getting lots of those by helping out at the Toronto Marathon Expo. 

So instead of toeing the line on a gorgeous sunny Sunday morning, I will be at the pool sucking in chlorine and then I'll head out for a run and hopefully, if I have the energy, I'll get myself to hot yoga and start working on my flexibility.  Because right now, this is pretty much what things are like for me. 

If I want to continue to run and race at my current level, I really need to take care of myself.    The positive side to this?  The money I saved on a last minute race entry fee will cover at least 8 yoga classes!  Now that's the kind of up side that I like.


Are you racing this weekend? 

Goal Getter 2013 Upate: April

It seems like just yesterday I was writing my March update.  It's kinda scary how the time is flying by.  All in all, I'd have to say that April was a good month.  I nailed 2 more of my 2013 Resolutions / Goals.

I ran a sub 3:20 at Boston and I hit the 250,000m mark for swimming.  So yeah, April has been a pretty amazing month.

I have a few things I want to work on for the month of May. 

1) My flexibility.  It's horrible.  I mean seriously horrible.  Everything is in a constant state of tightness, even after stretching, foam rolling and massage.  I don't think I stretch well enough given the amount of "muscle shortening" that I do (weights & running but especially weights).  I need to balance that out with some yoga or some sort of regular stretching routine that is done every day.  Or at least every other day in conjunction with the stretching I do post exercise.  I think this is the major issue behind all my other little muscle issues I've had over the course of this past year.

2) Cycling.  It needs to become a part of my life once again, especially since I've signed up for 6 sprint triathlons this summer.  Looks like the daily doubles will be back in full swing soon. 

3) Aim for at least 2500m every time I swim.  This would be easily doable if I actually stayed for the entire swim.  Most of the time I leave about 15 minutes early.  I don't really need to.  It's not like I'm rushing off to work.  I don't start work until 9:00 am and the pool is only 15 minutes away from the studio.  Given that swimming ends at 7:30, that gives me plenty of time to get ready and get to work.  So, I'm going to start to make an effort to get at least 2500m in per swim.   Or maybe even stay until the very end.  Wouldn't that be something??

4) Get back on the #PlankADay bandwagon.  I did that last year for the month of July and the difference in my core strength and appearance was amazing.   Right now I'm only doing plank work when I'm at the gym, which is twice a week.  Time to change that.

How was your April?  Did you check off any more goals from your 2013 list?