The transition back to reality and a daily routine is always a bit rough after vacation. However, adjusting my training after a week in Hawaii turned out to bed significantly easier than I had expected.

After a successful 10 mile run before the week began, I was feeling more adjusted and motivated than usual after a vacation. This week was especially exciting because I was able to run a race!

Incorporating races during training always helps me stay motivated and forces me to take a few extra taper and recovery breaks. I love mixing things up with some races, and it always makes me even more excited for my goal race!

>>Download the 25k Training Plan here!<<

I was a little nervous to come back from vacation and jump back in with a half marathon, but this race ended up coming at the perfect time.

Check out my Martian Half Marathon Recap and 25k training recap for week 12!

25k Training Recap: Week 12

Monday, 4/8 – Yoga

This yoga sequence has been a staple in my training plan for any marathon or long distance race. Regardless of the training plan, I will always incorporate this yoga routine on a weekly basis. Since I began including it regularly into my training, I have yet to become injured (knock on wood). It targets all of the most needed areas for runners and really helps me mentally prepare for the week ahead!

After 12 hours on a plane followed by a 10 mile run, this yoga day was much needed! My body felt looser than expected but was still definitely in need of some stretching. I always feel like a new person after just half an hour of yoga.

Check out the yoga poses here!

Tuesday, 4/9 – 4 miles

The weather was beautiful and the sun was out, so it was easy to get motivated to run! My body was still feeling really tired after vacation and I could definitely feel it on this run. I broke my watch in Hawaii, so I ran these miles without any time or distance and just turned around after two miles.

It’s a weird feeling running without technology! After I got past the initial weirdness, it felt great to run free without worry about pace or anything else.

This week of 25k training brought a race for my long run! Check out this Martian Half Marathon Recap and the rest of week 12 after vacation.

Wednesday, 4/10 – Strength Workout

This strength workout is another one of my favorites. I love how these exercises target the most neglected and injury prone areas of the body, and have found a great deal of injury free success since I began completing this workout on a regular basis.

I was excited to get back to regular strength training this week! Most of the exercises felt pretty easy, but I could definitely tell that I’d lost strength in my hips and core. It’s amazing how quickly strength can fade without regular maintenance.

Check out the strength workout here!?

Thursday, 4/11 – 2.64 miles

I planned to run an easy 3 miles as a shakeout run before the race, but once I got going I decided to turn around early. My body felt like it was starting to come down with a cold, and although I still felt fine, I could definitely tell that my chest was a bit congested once I started running.

My legs still felt fine, but I decided not to push anything in hopes that I’d feel better for the half marathon this weekend.

On a different note – I GOT A NEW WATCH!! My husband and parents decided to buy me a new watch as an early birthday present (my birthday is in May) and I couldn’t have been more excited to get this watch in time for the race!

They upgraded to the Garmin Forerunner 735XT, which is slightly more advanced than my old Forerunner 235. The watches are really similar so the set up was pretty quick, but I am already discovering a few extra features! I am in love with this watch.

Friday, 4/12 – Rest

I took a rest day on Friday this week to give my legs a break before the race and hopefully recover from whatever congestion I experienced on Thursday!

Saturday, 4/13 – 13.1 miles!

My long run this week was a race! I love incorporating races into training. This race was local to metro Detroit and one that I’d had my eye on for a few years since I last lived here. I ran with my sister in law and we had much better weather than the last time we ran together (a downpour during the Rock n Roll Half in Chicago)!

Martian Half Marathon Recap

This race took place nearby and had such a beautiful course! There was also a full marathon, 10k and 5k as well as the half. We lucked out because the half didn’t start until 8:45 am, so we got to sleep in a bit more than usual on race mornings!

Although we left the house super early, we struggled finding parking for the race since all of the other races started before we arrived. We finally found a parking spot pretty far away and booked it to the start area to pick up our bibs!

We made it to pick up our bibs with about 15 minutes to spare. After getting situated, we jumped in the corrals and got ready to start. This race wasn’t too big, so getting through the corrals was pretty easy.

This race was martian themed and it was fun to see some of the creative costumes other runners were wearing. We passed quite a few inflatable martians along the way as well!

We started in a park and headed out through the neighborhoods to begin. These neighborhoods were beautiful and I loved seeing all the different houses!

It was a perfectly clear day but was pretty windy the entire morning. It took my body and hands a few miles to warm up so the beginning was pretty miserable. However, once we got going the temperature was perfect – right around 50 degrees and sunny!

After running through the neighborhoods, we spent a few miles out on some main roads and then headed back in the neighborhoods for some out and backs. There were just enough people in this race so we were always near someone, but not too many that we felt crowded. It was fun seeing all the other runners on the out and backs!

We completed about three out and backs before heading back towards the start on a trail. The trail took us through a park with some beautiful flowers! I felt pretty good this entire race and really surprised myself. I didn’t notice any specific aches and pains, and only felt slight pain in my hips near the end. We took it pretty slow and my body responded really well to our easy pace.

Overall, this race went by really quickly and easily. Although it was pretty chilly in the beginning, we lucked out with perfect weather for race day.

Afterwards we walked just around the block to a burger place for lunch and I treated myself to this delicious milk shake! It sure hit the spot.

Sunday, 4/14 – Rest

I was definitely looking forward to a second rest day this week! It feels like spring has finally arrived, and I am loving the extra motivation each day. Sunday was a dreary, rainy day, so it was perfect for relaxing and recovering.

Here’s to a new spring season of running and plenty of sun!