12 Days of Yeti - Part 2

Well, this second half of the Yeti challenge was a little more loosey-goosey for me. There were a lot of non-running elements and I tend to slack on those. I did all the running/walking parts though!

I also forgot that I went to hot vinyasa at Soul Yoga on Sunday (12/18) but didn't include it in the blog... oopsie. It was great to go back for another week! I'm hoping/planning to make that a regular part of marathon training. 

Monday

Yeti Challenge: Walk 3 miles, each mile getting faster.

Did: 3.0 mi walking (16:19, 15:00, 14:01) + 1 mi run @ 9:30/mi

Did the challenge plus the mile for the streak on the treadmill at work today due to time constraints. 

Tuesday

Yeti Challenge: learn all the words to a Dolly Parton song. I listened to 'Coat of Many Colors' a few times.

Did: 7.77 mi Track Tuesday

Ran at the purple track this morning and got in 6x800m, felt strong! All between 3:22-3:27 except the last one which I pushed a little harder and got in 3:19.

Wednesday

Yeti Challenge: make someone's day. I don't think I did this. 

Did: 3.43 mi run @ 10:13/mi avg

Easy run starting exactly on the Solstice (4:47pm) and ran until sunset. 

Thursday

Yeti Challenge: Break a habit, do something out of the ordinary.

Did: 7.0 mi cold rain run w/ 6x hill repeats

I would say running in a cold rain storm was out of the ordinary, but it really wasn't. 😂 

Friday

Yeti Challenge: Put a smile on your face or someone else's. We went to visit family, so I would say this was accomplished. :)

Did: 3.12 mi @ 9:15/mi avg

Very cold run in the cousins' neighborhood! Waited til late morning and it was verrrrrry windy. 

Saturday

Yeti Challenge: Pick up trash during your run. I.... did not do this. Although yesterday I chased down some garbage cans that had blown over in the wind, so maybe that counts as a good deed.

Did: 1.18 mi @ 9:36/mi

Just one easy mile for the streak.

Sunday

Yeti Challenge: 90-minute out-and-back

Did: 10.08 mi @ 8:32/mi

This was the perfect way to start Christmas morning, and I am pretty sure it was my coldest run ever! It was about 15F the entire run and dark most of the time... last 30 mins or so the sun was rising. I set off from the house right after 6am and ran up the trail to TR. I set my watch to alert me when 45 mins had gone by, and it buzzed right after I passed Sunrift in TR, so I turned back. It was too cold to actually roll back the 3 layers of sleeves I had on, and turned out to be a text message... but I ran some extra loops on the way back to the house to round out just over 10 miles. Beautifully cold and peaceful!

Weekly miles = 33.6! Feeling awesome!

12 Days of Yeti - Part 1

So, this week begins the 12 Days of Yeti challenge. I've done this one for 2 or 3 years (can't recall at this point) and it's always a fun and unique thing to do. For me who loves a routine and dislikes surprises, it's a challenge to throw caution to the wind and follow whatever comes up each day. 

There's no official start/end time, but after reading a few of the challenges, I decided it makes the most sense to start it this Wednesday (to finish on Xmas Day). There are also not really any rules so I can change things up as I go... but let's see where this gets us. 

Two books selected: The Giver by Lois Lowry and Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Other two: in progress

Monday

Did: 3.1 mi run @ 9min pace + 25 mins strength training

Made it to the work gym, started with a 5k on the treadmill, then did some strength training. My triceps are sore from yoga yesterday. 😳

Tuesday

Did: 6.24 mi @ 8:31/mi avg

Well, this run did not go as planned. Met up with the group downtown, ran to the track... then had to poop. 💩 Thankfully there's a construction site next to the high school where the track is located, so I weeble-wobble-ran my way over there to the port-a-potty. I'm also thankful that my days of running races have cured my fear/disgust over port-a-pottys 😂

Anyway, decided not to take chances after that and just ran a steady pace around the track for the rest of the time there, then headed back to the car. 

Wednesday

Did: 3.25 mi @ 9:57/mi avg

Ran in my work pants and an ugly Christmas sweater on an easy out-and-back on the trail this morning! Slight sprinkle of rain added to the "no excuses" theme for this run. :)

Thursday

Did: 5.26 mi @ 8:21/mi avg

I was as spontaneous as I could be with this run... but I did just about everything differently from "normal" so I think that counts! I didn't run in the early morning, and I ran on roads that I haven't run in probably 3 years. Since the pandemic changed my work schedule around, I haven't done lunchtime running at the office since pre-COVID days! It was a nice return to something familiar, and yet felt very new all at the same time. 

Friday

Did: 3.01 mi walk @ 13:47/mi avg + 3.00 mi run @ 8:00/mi avg

This was tough, mostly because I was quite short on time and had to squeeze it in before leaving town for the night. Walking was the hardest part, knowing I needed to be going faster, but at least that helped me keep the pace pretty speedy! 

Saturday

Did: 2.35 mi run with 1 mile at 7:10 + 7.82 mi mountain biking

Intended to go to the hotel treadmill to warm up, run the fast mile, then cool down with a few more miles. 

Nope!

So, outside I went and did the best I could in some unfamiliar neighborhoods around the hotel. Definitely not a PR mile, but certainly a hard effort and felt good to run outside!

On the way back to Greenville, we stopped and did a family mountain bike ride at Lake Welchel trails near Gaffney. We raced the sunset back to the cars, and D did great on his longest non-Jackrabbit mountain bike ride. :)

Sunday

We just got an air fryer... so I intend to learn that.

Did: 6.7 mi @ 8:30/mi avg + 1.9 mi walk

Early run with a loop around Furman and an out-and-back on the trail. A bit of frost on the ground! Later took a walk before church. 

Just shy of 30 miles for the week - feeling great about that!

Show Week

So, this week is dress rehearsal & show week for A Charlie Brown Christmas which D and I are both in (he's in the cast, I'm in the chorus). Small parts, but rehearsals every night starting Sunday night that last until 8:30pm (30 mins past D's bedtime, then it's a 25 min drive home). All that being said, I've decided it's a "be gentle" week as far as workouts. I've not done any early morning runs (😩) and most of the running I have done has been extremely short/easy. It's okay, I know I've got a few months of marathon training in my near future so the easy week is probably for the best.

Monday

Did: 2.22 mi @ 9:41/mi + 15 min weights

Tuesday

Did: 6.5 mi treadmill progression

Wednesday

Did: 1.3 mi @ 8:22/mi run

Thursday

Did: 1.09 mi @ 9:50/mi run

Friday

Did: 1.81 mi @ 8:38/mi run

Saturday

Did: 2 mi run + 3.8 mi walk at Conestee

Sunday

Did: 1.9 mi run + 60 min hot vinyasa at Soul Yoga

Under 20 miles for the week and feeling ready and refreshed to jump back in. Next week begins the 12 Days of Yeti!

Uhhhh, December?

Monday

Did: 2 mi treadmill run + 12 min bodyweight workout

Tuesday

Did: 7.05 mi @ 7:57/mi avg

Track Tuesday at Furman this morning, did 3x1mi repeats (7:04, 7:03, 6:57). 

Wednesday

Did: 4.01 mi @ 9:41/mi

Did a quick midday run on the SRT after running an errand. Easy miles, trying to build more base weekly mileage!

Thursday

Did: 6.72 mi @ 8:36/mi

Early morning run downtown, ran on the new section of the SRT. Nice but chilly morning!

Friday

Did: 2.1 mi @ 8:51/mi + 20 min yoga + 1.9 mi walk

Got in a couple of quick miles around the neighborhood then found a short yoga flow sequence for releasing anger and frustration. Work stuff got me a little irritated, so needed some calming zen. Seemed to work! Took a couple mile walk in the late afternoon once I'd finished up the workday. 

Saturday

Did: 9.55 mi @ 9:15/mi

Took an early climb up Altamont Rd then a loop through TR to get in a nice long hard run. It's been quite a while since I did the Paris Mtn ascent, and boyyyy it shows. Whew. Need to work that back into the regular routine!

Sunday

Did: 1 mi run + 1.8 mi walk + 1 hr ice skating

A busy day but some fun activities involved! Did a mile in the morning for the streak, then walked before church. In the afternoon I took D ice skating for the first time - he enjoyed it and did pretty well!

Weekly miles: 32.43

Not bad! :)