Routines, a runner’s best friend?

[CBDB]

Ok. Confession. This last week was the first week of no running… nor working out since starting all that in April 2020! 😱😱😱

I know, I’m shocked! But I had known this week would be tough at work, hosting international guests, both physical and virtual, running the tech whilst chairing sessions, planning and engaging in evening activities whilst trying to keep for me the remnants of a gluten-free and dairy free diet that no sandwich bar, restaurant or catering service in our region really caters for.

So I ended up falling off so many wagons that I stopped counting. There were late nights, no Yoga, wheat rich croissants which I nibbled not being able to resist, but no morning running, rather Finnish chocolates, but no Pilates, for coffee there was soya milk as the only alternative(said to interfere with thyroid),- sigh …a week full of dietary things I should not have had and omission of runs and workouts that I should have had. 😩🥴🤕

But the week was also intense and insightful, connecting and developing new stuff with other likeminded people.

But result was that on the weekend I slept most of Sat and Sunday, nursed my headaches and swollen ankles and just recuperated whilst trying to get back to my routine and dietary discipline, knowing it really helps with my health, well-being and my thyroid condition.

Yup, this week really threw me.

So today I slowly got back on that wagon, and started with my week 3 of my 10k consolidation plan, reconnecting with Laura and Stepping Stones C25k+ podcasts.

It’s an interval session moving up from 150 to 160 BPM, and I hadn’t run it since my 5k consolidation phase.

My post at that time, just about a year ago described how much I struggled : healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Well today, even whilst having to climb back up on my various routine wagons, it felt so much easier hitting the beats from 150 all the way up to 160.

And hey, the music is not that bad! And Laura is her lovely self!

And although 160 is definitely not my relaxed running, I can do it!

And afterwards I felt great as I usually do, bar that knee niggle that I have to monitor. I also had my flu-shot and tomorrow morning it’s back onto my Pilates wagon.

Routines, my dear routines, here I come!

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Oh you have so busy , I don’t know how you manage it. I really understand how you feel about places that have gluten free and dairy free restaurants etc., it is really difficult and I’m the same as you with the egg. I’m not into these vegan quorn or nuts as I have diverticulitis . Ightmare eating out especially lunches. Glad you’re back into a routine running you’ll be more relaxed and eating what you can eat. I think I’m about the same as you 158 spm cadence . Take care happy running 😊

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Doris8]

Yeah, and I think home-working has made it easier on people with special-diets as one can be so much more in control of your food-related routines. And supermarkets seem to cater so much more for specific diets than most restaurants and caterers.

Yes, eating out is not as fun but usually I don’t mind missing out on visits to restaurants as I feel so great on my routines and my specific way of eating. But when hosting guests, it really becomes difficult to navigate without wanting to be seen as difficult.

And various caterers did really try, but also feel helpless when they are not really set up to deal with certain diets.

Thanks, I’m back now again picking up my routines. Just finished a Pilates session and took the morning off work to get back to my workout routines!

☺️😃

[Hidden]

My goodness. I’ve always found your routines impressive CBDB, and now I’m exhausted by reading about your working week! Phew!It is really tricky when life dictates our pace and takes over its direction. Enjoy getting back to your familiar routines this week and well done on your run 😊👍🏼

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! Yes, took half day off work this morning and have already done my squats and Pilates! 😄😃💪

Feels good again! 🙏☺️😃

[Yesletsgo Graduate10]

What a busy week! Sometimes life just intervenes. I'm sure you'll be back to your normal routines very soon 😁

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Getting there really quickly! Thank you! As long as those heavy weeks stay an exception, I’ll be ok. Thank you! 💪🙏☺️😄

[Mormor1 Graduate10]

Crikey, what a schedule, I'm really impressed you were so positive about your week despite the negatives. Yes, routines are so useful.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

Yes, we achieved a lot in this week, and I love working with international teams.

However it takes its toll, but as long as these weeks stay an exception, I’ll be ok.

Before getting back to running, I was slightly panicking about not feeling like running on the weekend, but a lot of rest and sleep made me want to get back out there Monday morning. And this (Tuesday) morning I took back my daily squats and Pilates!

Thank you! Here’s to having routines! 💪🏃🏼‍♀️☺️💪🧘🏻‍♀️

[Cmoi Graduate10]

That's both impressive and extremely tiring CBDB . Enjoy getting back to your routines, and feel free to have my share too - I really don't respond well to them at all!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

🤣🤣🤣 gladly… I think I’m wedded to them now … come to think of, there are four in my marriage, me and my routines, hubby and his! 🤣🤣🤣

Enjoy being routine free!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That’s what work does sometimes, throws all our routines i. the bin, Christmas does it too, interesting about the soya milk, I didn’t know that, maybe the reason I don’t like it, enjoy the rest of your day, mines a day off and only very loosely followed routines

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yeah, and in a way I knew this week would break my routine, just like every XMas does. So I guess we should still feel safe in the thought that we can manage that!

Soya… yes.. don’t quite remember the connection, but in general Thyroid experts suggest to avoid soya.

[skysue16 Graduate10]

That really was a busy week, I feel tired just reading your post!! 😴😬 Well done for keeping going. At least it was an interesting week - was it a conference? I feel especially lazy reading about your busy week because I am into day 9 of isolation 😟! (lots of resting and reading done but not much else!!). I hope you enjoy getting back into routine this week 👍😊

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

Yup, took half day off this morning and enjoyed a 40 min Pilates session with hubby! It feels good to go back to a routine!

Conference? Rather a Erasmus+ transnational working week, where we are developing digital tools to help creatives narrate their careers. ( blogs.staffs.ac.uk/c3centre... )

So really great and insightful and fun.

But also tumbling all my routines! 🤣

Isolation! Oh no! Hope you are coping and feeling ok! That certainly also throws any routine of outdoor exercise!

Stay well and sane!

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Thank you for the link….sounds very interesting 😊👍

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

That looks like a fabulous project CBDB .

Various roles in my previous working life involved organising, running and participating in visits, exchanges, conferences, seminars and exhibitions etc, which wasn't exactly compatible with a love of routines. Nor, come to that, is juggling assorted teaching and other part-time activities, which I've been doing for the past 15 years.

I couldn't even manage set days for C25K runs! 😜 🤣

[nowster Graduate10]

If I was that organised I'd be dangerous! 😆

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

🤣🤣🤣 well, if you don’t have many routines you are less likely to fall off that wagon! So it might be a good thing to have less routines!

(But less so for me, I do love my planning, my routines, patterns of life … ☺️📝⏱🗂)

[dijep Graduate10]

No wonder you have had to let the Pilates slip! That sounds like an exhausting but also stimulating week.I hope you manage to regain control of your diet as I imagine that will have a big impact on all your fitness routines. Great that you found stepping stones easier that in the C25K days. That's one of the things I want to use in my consolidation , nicked from your plan 😉

But I'm with you I wouldn't be able to resist a croissant 😊

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Yeah, that croissant 🥐 was my biggest downfall and probably solely responsible for my swollen ankles.

And it was really nice to revisit C25k+ . It really demonstrates how far one has come!

Yeah, I wonder now if my access to the Catford Pilates sessions might be cut off before I get to the end to these.

So I might read your reports and just skip and skim to those that you have found good, as I do want to experience the best sessions.

I really enjoyed those Pilates sessions. She has some really good moves in there.

[dijep Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

I look forward to reading what you think of"rolling like a ball" and"climbing a tree "😂

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

You have been super busy and incredibly productive! I’m pooped just reading about it, well done. I bet it’s nice to get back to the right diet and exercise though. It just feels right! 😊

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

Yes, getting there again. Hope by end of week I’m back to normal. Normal for me, that is! 🤣🤣

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Wow! What a week!

They say a change is as good as a rest…but I’m not so sure looking at this!

I bet you feel more “you” now you’re back with your routines 🥰

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

Definitely! ☺️🙏