katetravels319

[katetravels319]

It’s such a beautiful day! It feels like summer is back. And isn’t this tree magnificent?

I ran 6km with a friend today and 6km of hills on Monday, so that’s another 12km towards my 416 challenge. If I average around 28km a week I should be done by the end of 2020!

Challenge total: 21.19/416 km

[katetravels319]

Hello! I’m still alive. And still running. It’s been a heck of a summer. The whole quarantine situation has really got me down these days and with autumn arriving and winter just around the corner, I’m starting to feel very blah.

In a despeate attempt to try and motivate myself to run a bit more (because I always feel better when I do!) I signed up for a challenge where you have to run 416 km by next July. But I’m going to shorten the challenge for myself a little bit and try to get it done by the end of 2020. Fingers crossed I don’t get injured again! 🤷‍♀️

I did my first 5k of the challenge on Friday and then ran around 4k today. So only 407km to go!

Challenge total: 9.36km/416km

[katetravels319]

This is actually the longest run I’ve done in ages. Toronto has been brutally hot this summer and since I have nothing to train for this year (sob) I’ve been sticking to lots of 4 and 5k runs. I’ve been trying to incorporate a bit more strength training into my routine because I’m tired of getting injured. I’m actually enjoying it! No one is more shocked than I am lol

[katetravels319]

wish women’s fitness was more about boosting our energy and getting our bones and joints ready for our old age and getting strong enough to punch men and less about losing weight while getting a bigger ass

[katetravels319]

Guess who’s getting married?

[katetravels319]

I woke up early to do a track workout this morning. It was my first time on the track in months! The 2.56k is the track and the 1.5k is my cool down. On the track I did 4x200m sprints and 2x400m at tempo pace. I’m not as fast as I used to be and my stamina is much lower, but it’s a step in the right direction.

I have today off work so I’m planning on doing a little yoga workout, some cleaning and reading. Happy Friday!

[katetravels319]

You GUYS.

I totally BAILED on my morning run today. Which has never happened before. Even when I broke my leg a few years ago I didn’t fall over.

Luckily, I managed to aim my fall into some bushes and avoided the pavement. I’ve got some scratches but am otherwise fine. I’ll probably have some nasty bruises tomorrow but nothing is broken or bleeding excessively.

Needless to say, I stopped my run early 😂

[katetravels319]

A few weeks ago, I decided to sign up for a virtual half marathon! With races being cancelled all over the place, I figured it was probably best to make a virtual one my goal. If any fall races stay on, I’ll sign up much closer to the race date. I’ll try to run the virtual one in a local park so that I can avoid traffic/unnecessary stops and try to make it as “race-like” as possible.

I haven’t raced since my marathon last October. I now find myself slower, less fit and a little bit bigger (which is totally fine! But none of my running clothes fit. I had to buy new ones 😂). I don’t have any ambitious goals for this virtual race, but I’m hoping that training for it will get me feeling a bit healthy and motivated again.

Here’s what I did this week:

Monday: nothing! I literally didn’t sleep at all on Sunday night so I didn’t do anything all day on Monday except for feel sorry for myself. This quarantine has given me some very frustrating insomnia

Tuesday: Ran 4k @ tempo pace (5:55km), did a HITT workout and a little bit of yoga

Wednesday: Ran 4k @ steady pace (6:35), did 30 min of very easy stretching/yoga

Thursday: Ran 3k @ tempo pace, did 30 min HITT workout and some stretching

Friday: Planned to run a steady 3k but went on a big walk instead.

Saturday: Ran 9k with 9/1 running/walking intervals. I’ve never done walking breaks while training before, but the plan I’m following does it and I thought I’d give it a try. I like it! I definitely felt less dead at the end of my run than usual. After my run I did some physio and then about 30 mins of stretching/foam rolling. I’m trying really hard to not get injured again.

Tomorrow I’ll probably go for a big walk and do some low impact yoga 🧘‍♀️

[katetravels319]

I had to stop like 6 times during this run, but I’m ultimately pleased with the pace! My speed has definitely decreased since my big injury last year, but I’m happy that it’s (slowly) coming back. To think, I ran a 52 min 10k this time last year. I couldn’t do that today if my life depended on it 😂

In addition to my run, I did a 25 min HITT workout and a 25 min yoga class. I have never been a regular strength workout kind of gal, but I’m enjoying it and holy shit does it make me sweat!

Also, all of the spring flowers are bringing me SO MUCH JOY on my runs these days!

[katetravels319]

This is 50% rain and 50% sweat 😂

[katetravels319]

Wow guys. Times are intense! I hope everyone is staying safe inside.

I haven’t posted in awhile, as I haven’t been running much. I’ve developed a mysterious condition that has stopped me from doing much activity (I think it’s my gallbladder but all tests are clear) so I’ve been feeling pretty lazy lately.

But now I’m working from home for the foreseeable future, which has left me with lots of free time. And I’ve been feeling relatively okay (no crazy pain episodes) lately so I’ve been taking advantage and running a bit.

I just did 5k today, and it was kind of hard. But it was really nice to get out of the house for 30 minutes and get some fresh air.

I hope everyone is doing okay and staying inside and washing your hands!

[katetravels319]

It was SUCH a nice day today. The sun was shining, it was like 5 degrees, it sort of feels like winter is coming to an end (it’s definitely not, but a girl can dream). I ran a nice 10k around the cemetery since all the trails near my house were covered in packed icy snow. This was my longest run since the marathon in October, and it felt pretty good! My quad pain has been under control and I’ve been doing some speed run on my shorter runs throughout the week, so I was really happy with my results today.

I haven’t actually picked a half marathon this spring to train for (I have some ideas...) but I’m training nonetheless! It feels really good to be back at it again. ☺️

[katetravels319]

This is the face of a woman who woke up to do a run at 5:30am on the Saturday of a long weekend and must go out in -15 degree weather to get to the gym 🥶

I started training for a half marathon last week (probably the Toronto one, but I haven’t signed up yet), and I’m feeling really good about it! I’m excited to get back into the groove.

[katetravels319]

Off to the gym for my first run in two weeks. I felt like garbage during it and only made it 2km 🙈

It’s been a really chaotic last couple of months with multiple trips, too much work and a nasty cold so I feel like I haven’t really been sticking to a routine for awhile, and I’m anxious to get back in the grove. I’m going to start half marathon training this week, and I’m really hoping it will make me feel a bit more like myself again! I get so grumpy and unmotivated when I’m not training for anything.

Bonus pic of me and a puppy (not my puppy, unfortunately 😔)

[katetravels319]

Philadelphia Running Tour

I was in Philadelphia this weekend on business and decided to do a running tour! It’s my favourite way to explore a new city.

I saw the liberty bell! I must admit though, my knowledge of American history is pretty poor, so I didn’t really grasp the significance of certain things I was seeing. But it was a great tour nonetheless and a great excuse to get some exercise. I’ll definitely be doing more running tours on my future travels! I’m always a little apprehensive of running in a new city alone, so doing a tour gives me some piece of mind and also I get to see all the city highlights!

[katetravels319]

I’ve barely left the house this weekend because of a cold, and have definitely not been running. So no fitness updates here! But here’s a pic of the bridesmaids dress I’ll be wearing to a friends wedding in a few weeks! I’m sure it will be a much nicer look when I actually brush my hair lol 😆

[katetravels319]

Trail Run!

Went for my last trail run of Christmas vacation. It was slow, wet and muddy! But much more fun than the treadmill. I’m heading back to Toronto tomorrow, and then it’s back to work on Thursday. I’m sad to be leaving the west coast but excited to get back into a routine and to work on some 2020 goals! 🏃‍♀️