I started running again last week and was humbled by my starting speed of 14 minutes/mile after not running for the past 4 months. But I know I can do better so I wanted to start incorporating speed workouts in my runs. This week I did an intervals workout and a tempo run workout and I’m so relieved to say it worked out well because at the time, I felt like dying, pushing myself through the intervals, but it helped in the end. During the tempo run, I was able to get 5 out of my 6 miles back to around 12 minutes/mile. And not only that, but I originally was going to gradually increase my distance from a 5K to 10k over a few weeks, but during this tempo run, I felt really strong to continue going and complete a 10k for it, ending with 8 miles total counting the warmup and cooldown. I started using the Nike Run Club app for the workouts and the voice coaching is a little cheesy but I’ll admit, for me personally it helps. And I wore the Hokas so far with two runs and have felt okay. I’m not used to how they feel enveloping my feet but so far, no blisters or any pain post run.

I’m feeling good about this and more motivated and encouraged by this progress and it makes me want to do more. I just have to force myself to take it slow because I don’t want to start and finish a training schedule too soon. I don’t want to burn myself out. I want to enjoy these runs and have fun with them, even if I’m pushing myself to improve. I really hope with time, I get even better and maybe, just maybe, the Disneyland Halloween runs will be my best runs yet. So far, properly stretching and properly warming up and cooldown recovery runs, while time-consuming, have been helping tremendously. Who knew? 😅

I’m also excited because the weather is finally warming up some and the days are finally feeling longer again. My seasonal depression is finally lifting. I can feel myself come alive again as spring grows near. I’m looking forward to cute fun dates and outfits, as well as more nice runs outside again.

This week, we went on a little picnic at our local park and had a bbq at home. First bbq of the year and I can’t wait for more. We let Banh Mi run around the yard and it was so cute. Hopefully we can maintain our yard this year so he can be out there more without worrying about ticks or pests or other predators. I still have to make time to work on that garden I wanted to put together to grow fresh greens for him. I have a feeling I’m going to be home more or well, more local adventures since the city will be imposing their new congestion pricing soon. I only go to the city once a month but now it deters me to go even less with this b.s. Well, it’ll force me to stay home and spend less money. I’ll have to work on more home shoots with my own camera, I suppose, which isn’t entirely bad. I do need to rely more on myself since friends and photographers aren’t always available. I do love shooting with the hubby, even if he doesn’t, lol. And if all else fails, the baby sis was my OG IG hubby anyway. Half the time, I just want pics of my cute outfit of the day. This week, I’m obsessed with my new Popflex buttercream pieces, as you can see below. This color is just stunning. I love yellow. Their new spring colors and styles are absolutely lovely. The bubblegum pink, the buttercream, the blues, the new ballet style tops and skirts, more twirl skirts and now mesh style tops. I thought I was safe from new activewear for a while a month ago but then Cassey heard me and said hold my beer. On as side note, despite hating that my hair is dark, I LOVEEEEE how long and shiny it looks in these pics. My hair is cut in layers and finally I can see it’s started growing again past the old terminal length and I’m so happy about it. The past few years it was just hitting the middle of my back and now it’s starting to get down to my butt again. I guess they were right about cutting it more often to get it healthier, despite hating having to cut it. I should probably get a fresh cut soon for the summer to clean up the ends again.

I’m going to try and blog weekly or bi-weekly with updates and photo-dumps to update on fun stuff and my run progress since I did say I wanted to start blogging more. I just feel like I don’t have anything interesting to say but before I made this blog, I used to blog all the time on my blogger page even if it was just regular day to day rantings and ravings so let’s get back to basics, shall we?

Here’s to a fun summer 2024!