I had a 3 day work trip during which I didn’t exercise at all and managed to pull a muscle in my back; rendering me unable to exercise for another 4 days. A whole week off exercise made me start to feel pretty shit about myself. Particularly as the trip was boozy, full of late nights and some regrets.
Last week I made a bit of effort to workout, doing a slow 30 minute run on Monday covering 4.44Km before travelling to Paris, and I did 10 minutes of yoga in the evening in my hotel room.
On the Tuesday I woke up and did a horrible 5Km on the treadmill at the hotel before work which took 32:50. I found it really hard, mainly due to it being early, but with an hour time difference it was 6am UK time, and I never normally run at that time of day.
My Wednesday workout plans were sidelined because I had to write my 1st MSc assignment to submit by Thursday lunchtime and I didn’t really have any time to spare. Thankfully I got my assignment completed and by the time I submitted it I was actually quite pleased with how it read.
On Thursday and Friday I did a lot of walking, 60 minutes and 90 minutes respectively. Then over the weekend I got back into the yoga studio doing a 75 minute flow class followed by a 75 minute yin class on Saturday and a 75 minute yin class on Sunday. I was going to run as well but, well…erm…..didn’t.
I’ve been using a foam roller on my back every day this last week or so on the advice of a physio. Despite it being really painful at first I now really like doing it and my back is so much more comfortable because of it. I’m currently away with work and I miss being able to use it so have had to improvise with a rolled up towel.
I managed to get up on Monday and run 5Km before heading to the airport to go to Dublin. I did 15 minutes of yoga in my hotel room when I arrived and another 15 minutes when I woke up yesterday.
After my meeting I flew into Heathrow where I connected to another flight to Milan and I won’t be home until Wednesday evening. Thankfully I will then be in the U.K. for 10 days without any travel. I’m very pleased about that.
It dawned on me that I should use the opportunity to do a 10-day hot yoga challenge. My yoga practice has dwindled over the last few months so it’s a chance to revigorate my practice by having a routine, turning up at my mat everyday and enjoying all the medicine it brings me.
I’ll start on Thursday and I’m actually really excited for it as I miss hot yoga and how good it feels physically and mentally. Also it’ll be great for my back. I have another massage booked in on Friday which I hope with sort out the last few niggles as well!
I woke up this morning, and despite only 5 hours sleep and a few sharpeners last night I went to the gym and ran 5Km in 30:03. I started slow and ramped up the pace every 5 minutes, incorporated some Fartlek and I actually enjoyed it. I ran while listening to some music whereas I very often run in the morning listening to podcasts. I legitimately think it helped!
The rest of this week should be good for some consistent exercise.
On Thursday I’ll do a 60 minute XT session in the morning and 90 minutes of Bikram in the evening.
I’ll do HIIT sprints and 90 mins of Bikram on Friday.
Then ideally on the weekend as well as yoga both days (day 3 and 4 of the challenge) I also need to get a long run done. It needs to be something like 10 to 12Km, as I have a half marathon on 18th November that I need to get some training in for.
The last 3 to 4 Km of the 10 mile race I did a couple of weeks ago was quite tough as I hadn’t trained up above 10Km, and I haven’t done any long runs since then. However if I can do one long run each weekend between now and the half marathon that would be great!
I feel good that I have a bit of a plan and that I’m back exercising regularly. I’ve been tracking my food on Noom again and am making an effort to make good food choices and reduce my alcohol consumption a bit.
It makes me feel like I am in a better place when I exercise. I am more focussed and feel more accomplished. Particularly if my main exercise for the day is done by the start of my working day
The idea of morning exercise has been my nemesis all my life but over the last year I’ve found myself doing so many more morning runs. So, I feel inspired to include some 06:30 yoga classes during my 10-day challenge to see if this can help open up a new time of day for my yoga practice. If I could practice yoga before work some days and run the others I could have the evenings at home, without the guilt of not working out.
Aim: 3 x 06:30 yoga classes during my 10-day challenge.
Reward: A facial. (Much needed)
By the end of October I will have ideally done 10 yoga classes and 10 runs. Setting myself up well for the closing two months of the year. I plan on having some more goals for November and December, I just need to think of them first. I’ll keep you posted.
