Happy Monday! I’m checking in after a Thanksgiving weekend filled with family, food, and fun. And a Turkey Trot, which included both family and fun, and was bookended by food. Today, in addition to sharing my usual weekly workouts and yoga at House of Jai, which I don’t think I’ve shared here before, I’m also going to recap my November running since it’s the last day of the month. Which I can hardly believe.
Weekly Workouts
Monday: Rest day
Tuesday: 5 easy miles
Wednesday: 4 miles including intervals – 1.5 warmup, 1 intervals, 1.5 cooldown
Thursday: 5K Turkey Trot + running 2 miles there and 1 back (6 miles total)
Friday: Rest day
Saturday: 6.5 miles
Sunday: 6.5 miles + vinyasa yoga class
I was happy with my miles this week after getting above 25 last week and PR’ing at the Race to Deliver 4M in addition to qualifying for next year’s NYC Marathon. The running to, at, and from the Turkey Trot was especially nice, and I enjoyed realizing that even with time off work I’ve settled into my running routine enough to stick to the usual days. Although I enjoyed cooling down with walks in the woods with Sasha even more.
I also enjoyed the chance to take a yoga class on Sunday afternoon. Even though I try to do 15-20 minutes of Youtube yoga, or my own flow sequence, at least twice a week, going to a class is just better for focusing, really working on the poses, and having someone else to correct my alignment. I get to a class about once a month because I can only go on weekends, but the studio I drop in to, House of Jai in Yorkville, started offering a Community Class on Sunday afternoons at 2pm that I love. The Community Classes are taught by recently certified teachers and cost only $10, whereas a regular class runs you $25 (and is even pricier at other studios!)
At the class I attended, the instructor guided us through a warm-up and about an hour of vinyasa flow focusing in particular on Warrior poses and those that target the abdominals. I was happy to stretch my hip and hamstring a bit, and especially thankful for the savasana at the end, which always leaves me feeling nice and rested. And by the end of the class, while I could still feel my hamstring was a little tense, I knew it was much better than earlier in the week.
The only thing that bothers me is when after a yoga class, you walk out the door and suddenly you’re back on a busy, noisy city street. Yorkville (the far Upper East Side) is not exactly a hotbed of raucousness, but it’s still Manhattan. I just wish there was a way to hold onto the tranquility of this studio a little longer!
Getting back to running, I pushed the total mileage this month to around 110. It’s usually about 100, and in October it was 90 because of stomach issues after the Pamby Half Marathon that have been plaguing me since. But this month I started to escalate and did so with no permanent injury, and also started incorporating some interval workouts. I’d like to be a little higher, around 120 miles per month or around 30 each week, by early spring, because I plan to start marathon training sooner rather than later. The typical plan is 4 months but I’m going to stretch it over 5 or even 6 because I know how slow and steady I want to take it. Speaking of marathons, I hadn’t noticed this new restaurant that opened up next to House of Jai until yesterday…
I guess what stands out to me the most about my November running is that on the first day of the month, I cheered on the marathoners, and as the month draws to a close, I know I will be among them next year (fingers and toes crossed that luck is on my side and I remain injury free!) It’s such a good feeling, and something I am grateful for in this season when we are all more focused on giving thanks. In fact, it makes me want to show more gratitude in general, knowing how lucky I am – to stop dwelling on the things I can’t change and start prioritizing what’s already good.
How was your running this November?
Are you a fan of yoga, for its own sake or as a complement to running?
What are you thankful for this season?
© 2015 Renaissance Runner Girl. All rights reserved.
renaissancerunnergirl 
I’m so excited for you running the NYC marathon! Doesn’t it feel great to know you’re in? And you worked hard for it too! I love yoga (like you said- my hips and hamstrings do too) and I say I do it to calm me, but it mainly helps my running because I have the world’s tightest and most jacked up hips. I’m thankful for forgiveness, mercy, and he ability to create!
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Awesome things to be thankful for.
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I understand what you mean about the stark contrast of the tranquility of a yoga studio and then stepping outside into a busy street! I’ve had that experience too.
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I feel the same way about yoga classes! When I used to live in the city I would walk home and it was always so loud and busy on the street! Now I don’t really take classes in a studio, but when I do I drive home- which I guess can be just as stressful if there’s traffic and crazy drivers!
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Definitely! It’s just that immediate snapping out of the peaceful mode you’re in.
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I am a fan of yoga all ways. I need more of it in my life. I haven’t yet totaled my November miles. It was a rest and relaxation kind of month! Thanks for linking up!
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That kind of month is often necessary!
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I need to do a Turkey Trot someday, haha.
Sasha is adorable! + yay for community yoga classes! I recently discovered that that was a thing, and am super looking forward to checking em’ out!
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