Can you believe it’s almost time to wrap up another month? This week’s Tuesdays on the Run Linkup asks you to assign grades to the goals you set for yourself. Let’s get the party started:
Running: A
I made solid running progress this month. My mileage increased and so did the intensity, because I very carefully added in a little speedwork. I still feel the hamstring when I run 400- and 800m intervals so I’m not doing them as quickly as I should, but that’s ok. As I type I’m starting week 3 of training for the Utah Valley Half Marathon in June.
What shocked me most is the way my VO2 Max increased this month. I started March with a 38, which for a woman my age is excellent (what?) and the other day I’m up to 44, which you can see in the graphic, is off the charts (what the what??). For those of you wondering, VO2 Max is an indicator of cardiovascular fitness. It’s the maximum volume of oxygen per kilogram you can consume per kilogram of bodyweight at maximum performance. To put it simply, the more oxygen you’re able to consume, the more energy you can put out. This number is still nowhere near where it was when I was running my best (I was younger then too) but I’m thrilled to see such a rapid increase. I have CrossFit and intense spin classes to thank for the increased fitness.
Swimming B-
While I’ve been getting to the pool once or twice a week, I’m not swimming as long as I should. The enjoyment factor isn’t there and I’m just not getting in a groove.
Crosstrain A
I’ve been consistent with weekly CrossFit and cycling, and have made solid progress with both. Brick workouts have been happening weekly as well. I’ve run off the bike a few times, and I live to tell about it!
Weightloss B
This is a toughie. Since being on the methylation protocol, I’ve seen changes but most of them happened in the first week. Since then things have leveled off. While I’ve dropped a few pounds, I still think my metabolic “burn” is below what it should be given the way I eat and all the exercise I do. Maybe that’s the nature of the over-50 beast and I need to accept it. We’ll see when I retest if my sky-high estrogen levels have dissipated. By the way that I feel, I’m guessing they’re on the way down, which will make my body stop holding onto weight. Maybe I need to give it more time.
Clean Up Diet: A
Believe it or not, I am hanging tough here for almost 3 months. The diet remains clean, whole and mostly unprocessed. I’ve never gone this long being mostly added-sugar free. I can’t tell you the last time I had cookies, cake, chips etc.
Fun: D
I’m afraid I got worse in this category since last month. I’m still ensconced in caretaker mode with my dad. The Caveman and I failed to get out for any date nights and we haven’t seen any movies. No manicures, pedicures, massages, haircuts…embarrassing. Thank heavens I have running as my release valve.
April Plan
I’m going to get some double digit runs on the books finally. I don’t think I’ve run a 10 miler since the Panama City Beach Half Marathon last December. Yikes. It’s time to get more serious about Utah Valley Half Marathon training. I am definitely looking forward to that.
How would you grade your month?
April Tuesdays on the Run topics
4/4: Hydration: What do you drink? When? Favorite bottles, packs, etc.
4/11: Thoughts about the Boston Marathon
4/18: Foolish running/racing mistakes
4/25: Grade your month
Be sure to join us right here this week for the Runfession Friday Linkup! I promise you’ll feel better!
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You are doing great, in my opinion! I need to follow your example and cut the added sugar crap…..
You had a really great month, especially with your running, cross training, and eating! Im impressed that you still keep up with the swimming even though you dont really enjoy it.
I think it sounds like you had a great month!! You do such a great job with running and getting in crosstraining. And healthy eating!! I am not a big fan of swimming, but I know I should do more of it and actually crosstraining.
I am just glad to be doing a little running, even it I immediately had hamstring issues again. But I give myself a D for getting back at any of my strength training like I had planned on!
I hope that your fun quotient rise soon! Happy Spring Break!
Care taking is so tough. And draining. Add in the kids — you gotta take care of you, too; everyone says it, and I get how tough that is — still true though.
I’m not real surprised by your VO2 MAX — you’re a fit chick.
I’ve spent my whole life definitely not being able to eat what I want if I don’t want to weigh 300 lbs. it sucks. And I think I need a detox after this week . . . but I sure enjoyed it.
I think you did great–but that lack of fun? We need to get some of that into your life.
I upped the fun quotient last week but there was plenty of melancholy too. What a roller coaster!
Great job on your running for the mth! Hopefully this coming mth you will be able to add some more fun into your schedule.
I’ve looked at cleaning up my diet a little bit, to cut junk food chips. It’s not easy at all, and when there’s a whole aisle devoted to chips, it really tests me.
Good job!
Sorry the Fun has been a nit non existent. Hopefully that will change this month. I completely understand the caring for a parent mode.
Swimming…all I can say is I hear ya!!
Good luck with April’s goals.
So sorry about your dad!! I get this & been there – so tough!!!!
On the weight, hope you get it all sorted out but for me, just with no issues like you, the whole weight crap & hormones is never ending. I am in menopause for a few years & issues continue – UGH!!!
xoxoxo
I remember you writing about your VO2 max before. How are you tracking it? I did a test years ago but is there a way to track it now?
Congrats on your VO2 max result!! You have been in marathon training mode for months now, I’m almost not surprised..!! You are a force and a great role models for us Runner Women!!
We gotta get your fun grade up! But you are doing great- go Marcia!
I think you are doing great! Since I gave up junk food for Lent I guess I have also been cutting out added sugars
Awesome month!! What is giving you the VO2 max score? That’s so interesting!
In terms of weight loss, I saw interesting research lately that suggests women have an upper limit of calories burned… when we go over that number, our body doesn’t burn those calories- it just sacrifices other essential functions in our body, yet our appetite remains as high as if we burned them all. I thought that was so interesting for women in particular who struggle with weight despite very high activity levels.
it seems to me you had a great month! I think it would be really hard to score all A’s and B’s in every category anyway. You just can’t do and have everything . it takes also a lot of energy and effort to take care of YOU on top of other people that are clearly important to you, but hopefully next month you and the Caveman can have a little bit more fun. I hope I can say much better things about next month and have a scorecard a bit more like yours this month!
Looks like a great month, other than the fun category! But I’ve found that I can’t really enjoy my fun time when other areas are lacking too much so that just means you’re set up to have a great April 🙂