Last week was rather uneventful, but as crazy as my weeks have been for the past few years, uneventful is good.

For the first time since I started setting the goal of 2 barre/yoga workouts plus 5 runs, I did it! Finally. The stars aligned, my schedule (and toddler) cooperated, and I got all of my workouts in. Next up: getting back on a paddleboard on a regular basis.

Here's what you missed on the blog this week, too:
How I stay healthy with vitamins and supplements

The highlights:

I did a tempo run as my speedwork this week. It's been a awhile since I did a tempo run and this one was a beast. I was supposed to run one easy warm-up mile followed by four at tempo (7:45). I had my doubts about this one, especially with the humidity.

I started really, really slow to let my body warm up appropriately, then launched into my faster pace at mile 2. I was pleasantly surprised to see my paces come in sort of close to the 7:45 target - 7:55, 7:32, 7:55, 7:48. Not exact, but considering this was my first tempo run since...I have no idea...I'm pleased. And I did it in the summer humidity. I am finally, after two long years, seeing progress.

My big workout news for this week is that I discovered the trail system to the large county park adjacent to my neighborhood actually has an entrance inside my neighborhood, about a quarter mile from my house. Previously, when I ran these trails, I'd make a 5-minute drive to the trail head on the other side of the park in the next neighborhood over. And because I had to drive, I didn't run it as often as I wanted to.

People, I've lived here for 4 years. I've looked at that entrance in my neighborhood thinking I should try it and never did. I have no explanation for this other than laziness. But I finally went exploring and it is a great way for me to get on the trails and onto the running paths in the park and adjoining neighborhoods. Plus it's a nice change of scenery from my regular route. It's also a great place to run with Macy since it's shaded and the shade helps keep the temperatures more tolerable.

I did both my weekend runs on the trails. Saturday I stayed on the main trail, which is a little more clear. On Sunday, I did my long run on the side trails and they are pretty rough. I slowed down considerably, but that's a good thing! By Sunday my legs were tired from all of the rest of the week's workouts, so a nice leisurely run on the trails was perfect.

I can feel a huge difference in my muscles since I managed to get myself to barre classes this week. I could feel them starting to tighten up but barre class immediately fixed that. I had no IT band tightness this week like I have for the past several weeks.

My asthma decided to flare up a bit last week during a few workouts and I ended up using my nebulizer once. The allergy index was really high so it triggered some allergies that made a few of my runs a bit wheezy. But it was still nothing like I've dealt with in the past.

Workout recap

Last week's goals

Goal 1	5 runs	Hit
Goal 2	At least 2 barre/yoga classes	Hit

Last week's workouts

Monday: Barre
Tuesday: Easy run - 4.01 miles @ 8:41 pace
Wednesday: Off
Thursday:
- Tempo run - 5.04 miles @ 7:57 pace (1 mile slooooow warmup, 4 @ 7:55, 7:32, 7:55, 7:48)
- Barre class
Friday: Easy run - 3.01 miles @ 9:28 pace
Saturday:
- Easy trail run - 3.01 miles @ 9:02 pace
- Family bike ride - 5 miles
Sunday: Long run on the trails - 6.75 miles @ 9:57 pace

Last week's totals

Total miles: 21.82 miles
Total runs: 5
Total barre/yoga: 2
Total bike: 1
Total workouts: 8

Last week was one of those weeks, that although somewhat uneventful, it was also extremely busy and looking back, it's kind of a blur. Work was busy, freelancing was busy, life was busy. But I did take time to relax on the weekend and we had a fun time at the pool and the aquarium (again - B wanted to go see the sharks).

There are dolphins in there - right in the center

Our aquarium highlights this week included seeing one of the otters sleeping with his little head poking out of a log (cute overload!), Alabaster the alligator at the front of his tank and actually moving(!), the octopus awake and playing with a toy, dolphins swimming in the harbor outside, and checking out the new sea turtle recovery area that just opened. It was a good trip.

After the aquarium, we headed to an impromptu brunch at Tavern & Table at Shem Creek. I love this restaurant. It's hands-down the best restaurant on the creek.

Other than weekend fun, not much else to report from this week and I'm glad for a three-day weekend to get in one more day of fun. We're off to go boating with some friends today!

How was your week?