So you might have heard a rumor that the northeast got some snow this weekend. Fortunately, where I live in PA, we didn’t get hit that bad. I hope those of you in areas that were hit harder are doing okay. Such a crazy storm.

This was Saturday afternoon. So pretty.

I had four miles on my training plan as my “long run” for this week. I ended up doing this run on the treadmill because it was still very icy in my area yesterday morning. I could have waited until later in the day when the roads were better, it was almost entirely clear by lunch time, but I knew if I waited I would find some excuse to not do my run. So off to the gym I went. I was a little surprised to find the gym mostly empty at 9:00 AM, I guess everyone decided to take the day off because of the storm?

Wahoo, 4.12 miles in 40 minutes. I did the “Pike’s Peak” workout, so it was increasing and decreasing incline intervals at 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, and 7%. The 5 and 7% intervals were killer. I usually had to slow the speed down a little bit to get through the interval without hanging on to the treadmill. I took two short walk breaks to catch my breath and work out a stitch, but overall I was very happy with this run.

Look who’s excited to get 4 pain-free runs this week!

After last week’s setback, I am thrilled to be fully back on the running train. I’m a little nervous about next weekend’s 8 mile long run, but I’m hoping another solid week of training will give me the confidence I need.

After my run, I knocked out 100 burpees to finish off my Healthy Self challenges for the week. This was the first week of the challenge, which is organized by the ladies at Nutrionella and The Lean Green Bean. Each week there are three challenges. The challenges for this week were:

• Monday: Meatless Monday (which I didn’t get to until Thursday)
• Thursday: 100 Burpees throughout the day (did 5 sets of 20 burpees after my run yesterday. BTW, burpees are tough. No wonder I never do them.)
• Saturday: Start reading a new book. (Started and finished I Want to Be Her! after getting out of work early Friday night because of the storm. The book was okay, not great. Don’t know that I’d recommend it.)

I like the idea of having three new challenges each week, even if I don’t get to them on the right day, that will keep me motivated throughout the year. 

Post run and post burpees, I went to yoga. I’ve been taking more mixed level classes and I’m really enjoying the challenge. Since I was going to the same beginner class week after week, I was starting to get bored with my practice. Some weeks I could predict the next pose or next sequence of poses. Of course, there are times when I try a new pose, usually some kind of balance, and I fall on my face, but hey, it’s all part of the experience.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Now it’s your turn!

Did you run long yesterday, or did you reschedule because of Nemo? Who had fun playing in the snow (or not in the snow if there’s no snow where you are)? Tell me about it!

Tagged: Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, HealthysELF, Hills, Long Runs, running, Treadmill, Yoga