For the past few weeks, I haven’t felt like myself. I’ve struggled finding my will power, and I haven’t felt good on a run in weeks. While my body is still learning to adjust to the Florida summer, I’ve been a fish out of water in my life, transferred to a new ocean that I’m still trying to get used to. Mr. rUnladylike and I have been looking for a house in south Tampa since we arrived from Georgia in early May. We’ve been staying at condos on the beach (yes plural … nothing like moving every month) as we’ve been searching for a permanent home.

While it has been incredibly freeing and inspiring to live on the beach for a while, I’m excited to share that we finally found a house and a sense of permanence that will soon be here. The relief of having light at the end of the house tunnel is nice, but our home won’t be ready until April of 2016 since we’re building it from the ground up. Just like the unexpected (and sometimes unwanted) things that happen during a marathon, we know the finish line will be here sooner than we think.

I’m grateful that running can be something constant. Always there waiting for me.

After a complete week of no exercise the previous week, I was so glad to get moving last week. Here’s what my past week of training looked like.

I often share my weekly training and how I’m taking action against my 2015 goals by revealing one thing I’m most proud of from the week and the one pitfall that has challenged me the most. Then, I invite you to do the same. There is a place at the bottom of this post for you to share a link to your weekly recap for others to come and cheer you on or offer you support. If you don’t have a Web site, simply sh are about your week in the comments section.

Getting Sweaty and Stronger

My fitness goals for 2015 are to stay in half marathon shape year-round (20-30 miles of running per week and long runs of 8-11 miles) and get stronger (2-3 strength training and cross training workouts each week).

• Monday: AM: Ran 4 miles in the rain to start the day. I’d like to say I ran this with Mr. rUnladylike, but I was so tragically slow that he was about a half mile ahead of me. This was my first day back from running after a week off, and I certainly felt rusty. PM: 75 minutes of yin (restorative) yoga at Madeira Beach Yoga
• Tuesday: 1 hour at Orangetheory Fitness with Mr. rUnladylike, including 3.2 miles of running (lots of tempo and speed-paced intervals) and 30 minutes of strength training.

I’ve been wearing my new Brooks Ghost 8s for all my strength training workouts that also require short runs. I love them and can’t say enough about them. They feel equally good in the weight room as they do running bursts of speed on the treadmill. While the PureCadence is my go-to running shoe, I love the Ghost 8s for all my cross training and strength training workouts and shorter runs. Plus, the new colors just make me incredibly happy when I look down at my feet. If you’ve run in the Ghosts before, you’ll love the 8s. If you run in a lighter shoe like me, you should give the Ghost 8s a try to rotate into your days that include strength training or shorter runs.

• Wednesday: Ran 4 hot, solo miles. I pass by this restaurant a lot and it always makes me smile because it has the same name as my initials. I finally stopped on Wednesday to snap a quick photo. I’ve never eaten here, but I like the name.

• Thursday: 1 hour at Orangetheory Fitness, including 3.4 miles of running (lots of tempo and speed-paced intervals) and 30 minutes of strength training
• Friday: REST (I was so sore from my strength training this week!)
• Saturday: 1 hour of strength training intervals at Total Body Results with Mr. rUnladylike. This is a studio I’ve found on ClassPass near where we’re staying at the beach. It’s a bootcamp-style workout outdoors at a local park with men and women of all ages. It’s a great way to change things up and get focused strength training work into my week. Yay for 3 days of strength training this week!

• Sunday: 8 easy miles on the treadmill

Eating Clean

My nutrition goals for 2015 are to cook most days of the week, limit sugar and bread intake, track my food daily and focus on eating clean(er).

I wouldn’t describe my diet as “clean” last week, but we did eat in nearly every night. My favorite meals I made were super simple and require no recipes:

Steak protein bowl: Mix cooked brown rice with your favorite sauteed vegetables (I used zucchini, roasted red bell peppers and roasted corn), favorite protein (I used sliced fillet mignon I cooked in the oven that was seasoned with salt and pepper), sliced avocado and your favorite cheese (I typically use freshly grated white cheddar but last week I used crumbled feta).

Pork Tenderloin with corn-on-the-cob and roasted broccoli + sauteed peaches: Roast a pork tenderloin in the oven for about 25 minutes on 425 degrees F. I often like to season mine with some dijon mustard, thyme and salt and pepper. While the pork is roasting, also roast your broccoli. I like to season mine with extra virgin olive oil and a salt and pepper blend. I chop garlic and add that to the pan about five minutes before pulling it out so it doesn’t burn. Once the broccoli is out, I squeeze the juice of a half of a lemon and drizzle a tad more olive oil before serving. Finally, boil up some corn and season with a little butter, salt and pepper. Super easy and super delicious.

For the roasted peaches, slice a peach and sautee in a little unsalted butter. You can also add a little honey or brown sugar to the pan once the peaches have softened if desired. Drizzle good balsamic vinegar on the plate, place the peaches on the vinegar and then sprinkle with goat cheese. Such a delicious summer treat!

Beach for breakfast: Speaking of peaches, there is seriously nothing better during the summer. They are so ripe and delicious right now. A breakfast I’ve been enjoying lately is like the beach in a bowl. I slice one peach and half of a banana and put it on top of one container of coconut-flavored Greek yogurt (I used Chobani last week). So delicious!

What I’m Most Proud of

Getting back on track after a week off of exercise with 6 days of solid workouts and more than 20 miles of running.

Where I Struggled

Eating. Every week I tell myself that this is going to be the week I stop overeating on sweet treats and carby snacks like crackers. So far, I haven’t been successful.

Thought for the Week Ahead

“Running doesn’t build character, it reveals it.”
― Unknown (As seen at my local running specialty store this month)

Disclaimer: I am a Brooks Run Happy Ambassador and I receive free products to test from Brooks each month. Brooks sent me my Ghost 8s mentioned in this post for free. Everything I write about Brooks is my unbiased opinion and always will be. Nothing I receive for free has or will ever influence what I say about the products. It’s only real, uncensored talk on runladylike.com.

How was your week last week? How did your training go? What are you most proud of? Where were you most challenged? Share your comments and/or link up with your weekly recap.