This is Meet My Workout Routine, where we profile weekly workout routines — unvarnished and imperfect — from women across all walks of life. Check out our past profiles here.
PhD and a professor at Salem State University who researches and writes on the intersectionality of gender, race, and running. She's a traveler with the goal of running a half-marathon in every state (she got to 46 before the pandemic) and is the Boston chapter ambassador for Black Girls Run. She blogs about her running journey on RunISee50.com.
One week of workouts
Boston, MAJune 2020
The Details
Tiffany described herself as an "early morning, cool weather runner." This was the first week of summer (aka not exactly "cool weather"), and she said it was an interesting but challenging week, as she was also dealing with some knee pain. She runs in Boston and the greater Boston area. "Running in different neighborhoods and communities not only motivates and mixes up the runs," she told POPSUGAR, "but it's also a way to understand and see the diversity (or lack [thereof]) in running."
Keep reading for an up-close-and-personal look at a week of Tiffany's workouts.
"This is my first official run of summer 2020. It's 86 degrees and it's hot. My goal was to run one mile, and I ran along the water because I would at least have some pretty views. I needed some running motivation. I passed my one mile marker but I kept going. I kept telling myself, 'just keep going a little bit more.' . . . One mile became 1.5, two miles, 2.5 miles, and when I finished I ran 3.1 miles. More than I planned, but I pushed myself through all that sweat and the beautiful views."
1 / 7
2Monday, June 22
Image Source: Tiffany Chenault
What: 4.04-mile run
Where: Revere Beach, Revere, MA
When: 5:58 a.m.
Tiffany's Notes: "I am an early morning runner, and I try to mix up my views and running routes. This morning I ran on the beach and it was super foggy and cool, just how I like to run in the summer. I felt as if I was alone because I couldn't see anyone because of the fog, but people were walking and running as well. I even saw an exercise class doing squats on the beach. Instead of running on the pavement, I decided to run on the sand along the water. This made the run a bit more challenging, but I was running next to the seagulls who had no interest in running with me. The run forced me to work on high knees and my stamina."
2 / 7
3Tuesday, June 23
Image Source: Tiffany Chenault
What: 3.88-mile run, track workout, and squats
Where: East Boston Stadium
When: 6:01 a.m.
Tiffany's Notes: "Before COVID-19, aka 'the Rona,' Tuesdays were Track Tuesdays. I've tried to keep Tuesdays for track runs and workouts. This morning I started with a one-mile warm-up in Bremen Street Park before I ran into East Boston Stadium. The plan: 10 squats, run a lap, and repeat three times. I did 10 squats before I started the 'run and squat' sets. I didn't care how weird I might look to people because I saw a man on the field flipping a huge tire and making all kinds of sounds. Everyone is doing their own thing, with or without shirts on. When I finished, I made the attempt to do stadium steps. I did manage to run up one set of steps and I was good with that. My knee started to throb a bit. Good thing tomorrow is a rest day."
3 / 7
4Wednesday, June 24
Image Source: Tiffany Chenault
What: Rest day: stretching and acupuncture appointment
Where: Home
When: 6 a.m.
Tiffany's Notes: "Before 'the Rona,' I found out I have Hoffa Fat Pad impingement on my left knee. It's the soft tissue under my kneecap. To help with this, I need to do more squats [and] eat anti-inflammatory foods, and I see an acupuncturist to help with the pain. Normally this would be a 10K a.m. 'hump day' run, but this is the time that I could see the acupuncturist, [so] instead of Thursday being a rest day, today will be.
"I need to stretch more. I am guilty of not fully stretching before or after running the way I should, [so on] Wednesday, my off day, I made sure to stretch. I do the stretching I learned in physical therapy and from running clinics."
Where: Mystic River State Reservation, Medford, MA, and Somerville, MA
When: 6:06 a.m.
Tiffany's Notes: "I'm feeling nature this morning, [so] I ran along the Mystic River Reservation. I reminded myself to stretch for at least 10 minutes before I started running. Today's run was a mixture of run and walk. On my path there was a turtle and I thought, 'Why am I running fast?' I was reminded to slow down a bit. Then I saw all the fowls: geese, ducks, and swans, all together on the river — when does that happen? I wanted to walk a bit and enjoy the beauty. Besides finding love, there are reminders around inequalities and justice."
5 / 7
6Friday, June 26
Image Source: Tiffany Chenault
What: 2.18 miles with hills
Where: Franklin Park, Roxbury, MA
When: 6:52 a.m.
Tiffany's Notes: "The park is in the heart of Roxbury, which is a predominately African-American community. Also, this is a beautiful park . . . there is a golf course and the Franklin Park Zoo. I always see African-American and Latinx folks of all ages and body sizes walking and running, either in pairs, groups, or solo. When I run here I feel comfortable and safe.
"This park is hilly as I don't know what. I work on my pacing up the inclines. The 2.18 miles around is not a cake walk. "
6 / 7
7Saturday, June 27
Image Source: Tiffany Chenault
What: 3.8-mile run and squats
Where: Castle Island, South Boston
When: 7:21 a.m.
Tiffany's Notes: "I have to remind myself to be kind to myself. 'Sleep in on Saturday and rest, it's OK to run later in the morning' — I have to repeat that to myself a couple of times. This Saturday was Castle Island, and of course later means hot. There is a strip on the island that makes you feel like you're running on top of the water in the middle of the ocean. The downside of running late: so many people were out. The good thing is that everyone had on a mask. My goal was to run for two miles straight before I stopped and took a picture. I would repeat this one more time. When I ran to my car I under-calculated the distance and stopped at 3.8 miles. I could have ran an extra .2, but I decided I would do 10 squats instead and call it a day."
