Woohoo! We’re FINALLY turning the clocks back! Boy, did I have a lot of darkness this week. I’m ready for some daylight runs. I’m linking up as always with Kim and Deborah for this Weekly Rundown (thanks, ladies!) and of course I’m joining the incredible San and an intrepid group of bloggers for NaBloPoMo- 30 posts for 30 days of November. Let’s get to it…
Monday
4 mile run to start the day. It was dark when I started, dark when I finished, and pitch dark while I drove my daughter to school. Bleh!
Later I did Adriene’s yoga for lower back pain. It really helps!
Tuesday
I started the morning with Caroline Girvan’s deadbug workout.. Then, leg day at the gym! I always focus on squats- no deadlifts for me right now. My hamstring is feeling good, but I’m not taking any chances.
Wednesday
Another 4 mile run.
Later I did Adriene’s yoga for hips and lower back release.
Thursday
I started with Caroline Girvan’s 4×4 abs workout, which I hated. I thought I was doing the “4×4 tucked abs workout” but this one was different, and had a lot of moves where I had to lift my head off the mat, and that always strains my neck. Whatever. Then I moved on to hip stability exercises- I know I always vaguely mention this, but here’s what I do specifically:
Runner’s Touch, two or three sets of ten on each leg. I also do side planks with leg lifts -amazing for abductors- again three sets of ten on each leg, and then one leg sit-to-stand, which Brad Beer, in his book You Can Run Pain Free, recommends doing 36 times on each leg. And a piriformis exercise from Brad’s book, which is really hard to describe. Clam shells would probably do just as well, and I might switch to those because Brad’s version sometimes hurts my SI joint.
Speaking of that SI joint… at night I did Adriene’s low back pain yoga again.
Friday
Happy Halloween! It was a dark and spooky 4 mile run…
But! That is the last one for a while- next week my runs will be in the daylight, hooray! This run was extra special because it was the first time we’ve dipped down to the 50s overnight.
Saturday
Upper body strength at home. Luckily I’m enough of a weakling that the dumbbells I have are sufficient for a hard workout. At night- yoga for low back pain.
Sunday
Oh tap- 15 mile long run! I’m taking advantage of the extra hour to get out to my favorite trail. I can’t wait!
What are you doing with your extra hour today?
Would you rather have the daylight in the morning or evening? – You know my answer!
Top photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
44 Responses
My extra hour will be spent sleeping! Yay for extra sleep!!
I don’t know how you find motivation to run in the dark. I’d just roll over and go to sleep!
The things is… I have to be up early anyway to get my daughter off to school. I might as well just get up a little earlier and also get in a run. But I will be VERY happy to be running in the daylight now! For a while, at least.
I much prefer daylight in the evening because I’m not a morning person. We changed our clocks the first weekend in October, but put them forward since we are the opposite of you. Luckily, because it was getting light before 6 am.
I’m not a morning person naturally- but since I have a daughter in high school I’m foreced to be one right now. i can see how some people would prefer lighter evenings though.
wooo you ran in the dark this week.
I don’t think I’ve ever asked Jenny, I am curious to know who writes your training plan? curious to know how others plan their running schedule.
Ha ha… I “write” my own training plan. I’m sure if I had an actual coach, things would look quite different!
Daylight in the evening is what I prefer. I think. But then I don’t need to leave the house. When I was still employed and had to be places I think I preferred the morning light.
Anyways, I have saved the dead bug workout. Not that I love it but I am willing to give it a try since I really need to push myself.
That workout is really good! You can start it without weights if you want, just to get used to it. It’s a great core workout.
Well I was up at 4:30 so I am not spending the extra hour sleeping. Sigh. I hope the boys sleep later. We’ve been pushing their bedtimes back. The time change is coinciding with a rough patch for sleep so the timing is terrible. :…(
I prefer light in the evening because that’s when we are out and about with the boys. I am not looking forward to how early the sun will set now. But I am glad you will enjoy the morning light!
I know Lisa- it’s tough for you. I’ve definitely been there! And sorry to hear that it’s coinciding with a rough sleep patch as well. I’m going to say this hasn’t been your best season, for a lot of reasons. You know what Nicole would say- “There will be a time after this.”
Like Lisa, I was up at 4:30 — I couldn’t fall back asleep! I am looking forward to daylight on my Friday runs- the bike path is a little creepy in the pitch black night. I don’t mind it being dark earlier in the evening, because I am not a night owl.
Have you tried Adriene’s Yoga for Pelvic Health? That one also helps with the SI joint. I’m so glad you like her classes!
Yes, I have definitely done that one, and I should do it again- thanks for reminding me.
I like it darker in the evenings- it makes things feel cozy.
Happy Extra Hour Day!
Of course I’ll take more light in the mornings, but can I also petition for it to stay light until about 7 at night? It’s really rough having to walk the dog in the dark.
You know, I think this whole thing would be solved if everyone just moved close to the equator. We don’t get the extremely short (or, long) days down here. I mean we still have less daylight now, but it’s not as bad as it is up there.
I can’t remember- when you go to the gym in the morning, like on Tuesdays, is that AFTER you drop your daughter at school and before work? Or do you go to the gym in the pre-dawn hours, too, before school drop off?
I usually go after I drop my daughter but before work. The other day my daughter woke up, said she was too tired, and wanted to go to school a little late- so I went to the gym in those dark pre-dawn hours. It was surprisingly crowded!
Reading blogs with my extra hours– I need one every day in November.
Ha ha, I know- can every day of November be 25 hours?
Just imagine me over here with my grim face, looking at “sunset at 4:32, sunrise at 6:49.”
Okay Nicole- I’ll admit, that’s grim!
I got up at 5 am and got in a run before church! I have a lot of chores to do today, so that’s where the rest of my extra time will go.
Well… extra chores doesn’t sound too glamorous, but we do what we have to do! Glad you were able to get in an early run though.
I’m going to check out some of those exercises – like single-leg stand ups from a chair. Those unilateral moves can be tough, but are so effective.
I went to bed at my usual time and got up at my usual time so I got a bonus hour of sleep during the time change. I’m the opposite, I love walking or running in the peacefulness of the dark mornings and really don’t like that it starts to get dark just after 5 PM.
Well- the dark can be peaceful. A bonus in Florida is that it’s cooler in the dark! And- yes, that one leg sit to stand is GREAT, and will really show if you have any strength imbalances.
We didn’t get an extra hour here, so the sunrise is now at 6:42 am and sunset at 5:32 pm. So my runs will soon be starting in the dark, but that’s ok because usually that means fewer people are on the trails until the sun comes up! And I won’t have to drive blindly into the sun, which always feels scary.
Hope you’re enjoying/enjoyed your 15 mile trail run! I did 14 yesterday and the weather was basically perfect in the mid-70s with a slight breeze and no clouds.
My run was great! And, you bring up a good point- there’s a chance I’ll now be driving blindly into the sun for school dropoff, and I also hate that.
I generally do NOT like the time change (such a nuisance), but I’ll admit it came in “handy” today since we were up until 1:30 am watching the Blue Jays LOSE THE WORLD SERIES. It was heartbreaking, but the pain was eased a bit by the fact we had an extra hour. Which means a lot since we have church fairly early on Sunday.
It depends on the day which I prefer: light in the evening or in the morning. In general, I think the morning bothers me more when it’s dark because I hate mornings and feel it is an affront to humanity I have to get up when it’s dark 😉
That said, I do find it borderline depressing to take the kids places after dark. Not because of the dark, so much, but because now we end dark + cold season and that can be a tough combo.
Wow. I’m not writing a very uplifting comment, am I. I guess I can turn it around by saying I’m so glad it works well for you!!!!
Ha, I get it- with all my whining and complaining about the dark, I should just appreciate the fact that at least it’s not freezing cold as well.
i was watching the game last night, and then went to bed because it was getting late. I was so sure Toronto was going to win! I wasn’t really rooting for either team. But I know the Blue Jays fans are really disappointed.
Great week!
I would like daylight on both ends, please! I love the longer nights, but it’s also nice to be able to catch the sunrise a little and not have to run in the pitch black in the morning.
I am with clients. The two dogs opened their eyes this morning. looked around and went back to sleep. Obviously, I had to do the same LOL!
Ha! So you spent the extra hour sleeping- good choice.
Being a chronic early bird, I prefer the extra daylight in the early hours…but I’ll take it whenever (I love both sunrises and sunsets). Lots of dark runs for you this week, huh! I’m glad you have the extra morning daylight to look forward to for awhile 😉
Yes, light in the morning would definitely benefit you! And you’re reminding me that I’ll get to see some sunrises on my runs- that will be nice.
So much running in the dark! I really hope that the time change helps you get a bit more sunshine in your daily runs.
It definitely will! My runs will probably start in the dark still, but the sun should rise pretty quickly after that.
I’m happy for you with the morning day light and better weather. Things are really going your way.
I did not plan out my extra hour but did stay up late watching the World Series and didn’t worry about it because of the extra hour. I prefer light in the morning. It’s so hard for me to get going in the morning when it’s dark out. I’m ready to wind down in the evening anyway.
Yes, I agree- dark in the evening helps with getting in bedtime mode.
I’ll bet a lot of people stayed up late for the game, and appreciated the extra hour of sleep!
I was flying home today but did appreciate the extra hour this morning. I have no idea what time zone I am in a the moment. Enjoy your day light runs!
Ha, I guess traveling across time zones will really throw you off when we turn the clocks back! But an extra hour is always a good thing.
I hope you had a great long run today! I tried not to sleep in too long because I need to get back on an earlier morning schedule! Yay for some great running weather in your area. That’s a nice break for you! I am looking forward to some lighter morning runs… for a little while anyways.
Yes- the morning daylight won’t last too long. But- soon it will be December 21 and the days will start getting longer again.
Kids going to school in the dark is just so unsafe!
Yay 50s!
Yes I agree!!! It was SO nice to drive to school in the daylight today.
You’re so good about alternating running and strength days!
I would definitely take the daylight in the morning! I am so impressed you run in the dark. I have to ask – do you have a specific route that you run where you feel safe? I also don’t see you wear a headlight or other reflective gear (or do you take this off for the photos?)
Great week Jenny! Wow, you had some dark runs.
I haven’t seen our friend Caroline in awhile- I need to get back to it! Everyone raves about yoga with Adriene.