Weekly Workouts + Updates 7/6-7/13

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I’m checking in with my usual Monday recap of weekly workouts and updates. I’ll be honest, the past week I’ve been feeling pretty drained. Not physically, like I was the prior week, but mentally. Studying for the bar has gotten to the point where my mind is exhausted, and I feel like if I try to put any more information in one ear, something is going to spill out the other. Plus, I think the weird weather in Connecticut the past week got to me (we had bad humidity and rain for most of the week, although the weekend cleared up and as the sun came out so did my happy thoughts!) My attitude until then was similar to Sasha’s when it’s hot. 

 

 

The good news is, in 16 days I will be completely finished and get to enjoy a couple months of much-needed break. In the meantime, it occurred to me that one of the best things about blogging for me thus far has been following along with others’ journeys and enjoying the ride, recognizing that life has its ups and downs for everyone, and really being happy to see them succeed in the end. And more than anything else, my blog is a window into my life and reflects how I’m thinking and feeling. So you’ll see that I was a little out of it this week, but also that I was able to find ways to cheer up and get some perspective. And with that in mind, let’s get to it, starting with my workouts:

 

Monday: Rest day

Tuesday: 6 miles

Wednesday: 5 miles

Thursday: 6 miles

Friday: Rest day

Saturday: 7 miles

Sunday: Rest day

 

On two of my “rest days” I went for a brisk hour-long walk (probably around 4 miles) to wake up and feel refreshed before starting my day. I really did feel like I was back in the running groove this week, even though the total mileage was actually pretty similar to the prior week. Most importantly, I was able to run three days back-to-back, something I’ve been working on to build stamina as I look ahead to the Dumbo Double Dare in early September (one of my post bar exam adventures!)

 

 

 

The weekend had its ups and downs. I was taking care of Sasha for my parents while they were on a race-cation for four days. I am just not a person who enjoys living alone (it took me awhile to recognize this, but like the song says, I am a ‘people who needs people’). I consider myself an outgoing introvert – I need “me time” to rest and recharge, and I dislike crowds, but my happy place is when I have one or two or three close friends or family members around. Being alone in a big house with Sasha is fun for a night. I get to blast Taylor Swift and dance around undisturbed, after all. But more than that and I start to get a little lonely, which is manageable of course, but I think tougher because of the bar exam pressure. I’m actually not that ‘stressed’ in the traditional sense. It’s more feeling mentally tapped out, so that it’s a bit tougher to take a step back and see the forest through the trees and snap out of it as quickly as I’m proud of now being able to. 

 

But happily, I made Saturday a day of taking a step back. I only did about 2 hours of studying (at this point, the prep courses don’t let you take a day off, and in fact many classmates are putting in 8-10 hours daily, but I’ve paced myself knowing that is totally unrealistic for me!) After taking Sasha on her morning walk and going for my run, I sat down with the weekend New York Times and enjoyed a leisurely brunch and the fun sections. Travel, Arts, that kind of thing – no business or politics that day! I made one of my gluten free waffle sandwiches and a yummy bowl of fresh summer watermelon, and drooled over that and all the gorgeous photos of an Italian road trip.

 

 

 

I also mixed up a favorite summer concoction. I take some ice cream and mix it into a Greek yogurt that’s been partly frozen, then add chocolate chips, cereal, or even kettle corn for a sweet crunch.

 

 

 

Which brings me to a different kind of small victory I had. I can sometimes go overboard on ice cream and eat so much before I realize I’m full. It’s something I continue to work on, even after a substantial period of recovery. It can be tricky to know whether my “runger” is still raging or whether my hunger signals are trying to tell me something, but I’m getting there! Between the bar exam, it being summer, and being the only ice cream eater in a house for three nights, this carton didn’t even last five days. But it made me realize I’ve made progress. I used to avoid eating in front of other people when I was at my lowest points. Now, a leisurely solo brunch is great, but come dinnertime I crave connection, and that’s a REALLY good thing. You know what’s another good thing? This new-to-me brand of ice cream in one of my favorite flavors.

 

 

 

That afternoon, Sasha and I went for a walk on Main Street in Ridgefield, where we enjoyed the sunshine, flowers, and scenery. Getting out of the house did me a world of good because it also got my out of my head for a little while. And, I made a little detour at the end of our stroll, ducking into Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe for just a handful of my favorite penny candies – gummi raspberries and strawberry banana gummi bears, belatedly patriotic for the Fourth. This town is always patriotic anyway. It’s great to see so many flags proudly flying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the evening I relaxed with Sasha. We enjoyed ourselves some nostalgia about ballet with the Ballet 422 documentary – it’s about Justin Peck, an awesome young choreographer who has made some awesome new ballets for the New York City Ballet that I’ve been lucky enough to see in person. And then, well, we went for Step Up, because first, vintage Channing Tatum (I love that it’s how he met his wife, and they became one of the best celeb couples). Second, dance. And third, did I mention it’s vintage Channing Tatum? 🙂 On Sunday I woke up refreshed, ready to tackle the next few weeks head on. Onwards and upwards!

 

 

How do you get some perspective when life seems a little tough? What’s your best remedy?

 

 

 

 

 

© 2015 Renaissance Runner Girl. All rights reserved.

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