Hi Everyone!

A few snowbanks left, but boy does it feel good to be able to run with sure footing. The little things we take for granted. If you were away for March Break, welcome back. If you stayed in the city, hopefully it still feels like you’ve turned a page of sorts and are into the Spring chapter.

I’ve been thinking about routines – shedding old ones and starting new ones. I do love a good routine when I find something that works. There is comfort and stability and consistency in routines. But they’re push and pull. I wrote recently about how we have to know when they aren’t working any more and have to let them go. But letting go of a routine doesn’t mean we have to float aimlessly forever. I think when we shed a routine, we then enter the Explore phase. That’s where I’ve been for the last few months. Trying new things on – taking different classes, running at different times of the day, mixing up my ratios of work to rest, … I do enjoy the Explore phase. It’s novel, unstructured and low pressure. But in the end I usually eventually come back to “finding a routine”.

The past few weeks I’ve reintroduced spinning classes a couple times a week in place of a run. I just have been finding I can get a good effort in while it’s easier on my body. This past Monday I did my morning spin class, followed by 10-15 minutes in the steam room where I attempted to meditate. I’ve been encouraged to start meditation many times over the years by various people, and have kind of tried it, but never with any real commitment. I have read about the benefits and I know many people say it’s great – I’ve just always thought it’s not for me. But it still feels like something I should try to give another shot. Ok, so my ‘meditation’ session in the steam room wasn’t great (all I could think about was what a great new routine this was), BUT it was a start and I think I will make it my new Monday morning routine.

For some reason the idea of a fresh routine makes me feel excited and positive. As much as I enjoy free-wheeling it and being unstructured, it’s also nice to settle on a little system which you can count on. If you’re feeling stuck or not loving your current regime, toss it, explore a bit, and try some new ones. Who knows if this spin-steam room-meditation routine will last. But I’m excited for next Monday so I can try it again – and that’s what matters.

On to tomorrow’s workout: Lakeshore and Leslie. 6:05 drills, 6:15 GO!

Let’s do cut-down sets.

1.       1 mile tempo, 3 min rest, 2 x 800 w 1:45, 2 x 600 w 1:30, 2 x 400 w 1:15, 3 min rest, 1 mile tempo.

2.       If away and doing this by time: 6 min tempo, 3 min rest, 2 x 3 min w 1:45, 2 x 2 min w 1:30, 2 x 90 sec w 1:15, 3 min rest, 6 min tempo.

That is all – see you in the am!

xo

Seanna