Sunday, May 22, 2016

Running Down the Week

After a tumultuous couple of weeks where we dealt with injury and other assorted drama, this week things seemed to get back on track. I went back to work and Matthew made it back to school. His pain is improving dramatically even though the follow-up x-ray still doesn't show much healing. The orthopedic surgeon said the fact that he's clinically improving is a good sign and he's optimistic that we are heading in the right direction.

The pup? Well, it's a good thing she's so cute...

Here's my wrap up of my week.


I don't know about you, but after I meet a big goal, I feel really motivated to get some projects done that I've put on the back burner. For some reason, last year my husband and I kind of lost our mojo to do anything around the house. I didn't even buy flowers for my planters. This spring, we have been working to take back our yard from the weeds. We have a really nice deck where we've spent many a summer evening relaxing and we've been sprucing it up for spring. Saturday, after I ran my 5-er, I went to Home Depot and bought a ton of annuals. Apparently everyone else in the NW suburbs had the same idea because it was so crowded. I spent the morning planting flowers and pulling weeds. I'm not so sure about people who say they "love gardening" because let me just say that gardening is hard work! I was sweating more than I did on my run. But I'm really pleased with how everything turned out, and as I write this, I'm sitting on my deck enjoying the birds singing and the warm breeze.

Flowers!

Weeds! This was one of 3 piles I made while pulling weeds.
The only mishap that occurred was when Cocoa, who is always under my feet, found herself under a large planter that I was setting on the deck. There was lots of howling and crying as I wrestled her out. She's fine. After that, she spent the rest of the morning inside with Matthew while I finished pulling weeds. Seriously, this is an exercise in futility. I mostly pulled sticker plants, because they are threatening to take over our backyard. We seem to be much better at cultivating weeds than anything worthwhile.

It's safe under the bench.
I managed to get 4 quality runs in again this week and my legs continue to enjoy some speed. Saturday's run was fun because so many of my neighbors were out. The weather has been gorgeous, and I actually walked for about a half mile with my next door neighbor, just catching up on things. Sometimes you just have to!

Since Big Sur, I've noticed that I need to do a better job of stretching and foam rolling, as I'm starting to feel some niggles in other areas besides my plantar fascia. I didn't make it to the yoga studio this week, but I'm hoping to get there next week. I did do yoga at home, and the plank challenge continues. I've run out of plank variations but I'm still getting them done.

Does doing yoga in the sun count as hot yoga? My mat got so hot I had to move to the shade.
Dolphin plank walks
Side plank
I posted my video from CrossFit on Friday. Becky says she's really enjoying programming my sessions with her now that we are working on new strength goals. It's fun for me too. Besides the swinging on the rings, she had me alternate those with a variation of v-ups that I struggled with. It's funny how you can find activity so easy and another so difficult! She said it has something to do with my pelvis--weakness? I did a circuit of slam balls alternating with kettle bell swings. And then I hung from the high bar, doing scapular pull ups. It was all hard and I loved it. I love the feeling of being strong. When I was at Home Depot, I kept getting asked if I needed help lifting my cart over the hoses and carrying my bag of potting soil. You know I said no...

Swinging like a monkey
How was your week? Is the weather improving by you? Training for any upcoming races?

I'm linking up with Tricia and Holly for their Weekly Wrap! It feels weird to be wrapping up with them when I'm not training for anything. Unless you count life!





90 comments :

  1. Lol, I'm surprised I didn't run into you at Home Depot much like our chance meeting at Whole Foods in the winter. :) It was absolutely insane in HD!

    Are you running the Frontier Days Stampede this year?

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    1. That's funny--you were there?

      Yes, I'm planning on Stampede. Maybe RnR Chicago too. What about you?

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    2. Yes to the Stampede--I need to try to defend my age group win from last year. :) I have a bad relationship with RnR Chicago. In my experience it is not very well supported/organized.

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    3. Good to know about RnR. I haven't committed yet. It's a tough time of year to do a half.

      I think the Stampede is going back to the pint glasses for the AG awards-- I saw one at Runners High last week. I'd like to add to my collection as well! :)

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  2. It's so awesome that you do so many challenging and interesting exercises with Becky! Glad things settled down a bit for you this week. By the way, thanks so much for the Tailwind giveaway! It came yesterday and I'm excited to try it out!

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  3. I wasn't very good about my stretching and foam rolling either since my marathon and I have those post race niggles too. I exercised 7 days this week and aggravated things....
    Your puppy is too cute.
    Glad your week was better !

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  4. Seeing your pretty plants made me smile.

    It is nice when we have down time from hard training that we get to focus on other important areas of our lives. It's good you have that balance!

    I want to eat Cocoa, she is so cute!

    My mom came over today and we bought vegetable plants for my garden and she showed me how to plant everything. I am very excited to see it grow!

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    1. I'm excited to hear how your veggies do! I did put in some tomatoes--I hope they do well this year. It all depends on the weather.

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  5. Such good news about you son! May his recovery continue apace.
    Your flowers are lovely. We don't have a deck, but my perennials are bountiful this year, so much color. I love it.

    I'm actually giving up my back perennial garden, which is large. The weeding is overwhelming. I don't mind it in most areas, but the breadth and depth of this particular garden is doing me in. My better half suggested a rock garden in its place. Let the research begin. I plan to transplant of of the nicer varieties into other areas, but as my husband's old Italian aunt used to say, "If it grows, it grows, if it don't out it goes!"

    You are most probably the strongest woman I know. Keep up the great work.

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    1. My perennial garden is a disaster. We probably should pull everything out and start from scratch. I haven't done a great job of maintaining it over the years and the weeding is overwhelming. At least I got the thistles out!

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  6. Aww poor puppy. Your planters look lovely. I can't wait to start gardening, it's sort of an unwritten rule up here we don't start planting until after Memorial day. You never know when Mother nature will dump a freak frost on us, and with the weather being so weird this year I'm being cautious.

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    1. Usually we are safe after May 15. This year was kind of unusual, even for us.

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  7. Aww, poor sweet Cocoa! Your plants came out nice and I love how you've got everything on a plant stand - great impact!

    That is the coolest picture of you swinging on the rings. :)

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    1. That ring swinging surprised even me! I didn't know I had it in me.

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  8. Cocoa is just too darn cute. I love your planters! They look great! No races for me, and today was supposed to be my 4th full marathon so there's that little sting. Great week lady!

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    1. That's right--I forgot that you signed up for Rockford! That had to be tough.

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  9. Oh my gosh that face is so dang sweet! How are you ever going to be able to discipline her with that face?
    I so loved the video, you look amazingly strong in it too! My week was so messed up with being out the first part of the week vs the last. I'm ready for this week and back to a routing oh wait then the next week is Memorial Day so missing Monday. Oh well, here's to variety right?

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    1. Oh ho ho...she's getting pretty feisty and those little teeth hurt! So mama's having to get a little firm...

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  10. Great job on your workouts.I recently started doing hot yoga and I love it.So yeah I'd call doing yoga in the sun hot, why not. Your flowers look good. And your pup is adorable!

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    1. I knew someone would agree. But with my yoga mat being so hot, it was like hot coals yoga! LOL!

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  11. I am the exact same way about getting projects done! I ignored so much during marathon training, and have used the last couple of weeks to catch up. Your flowers look great and your puppy is super cute! Swinging on those rings looks like fun! Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you! It feels good to get some things off the back burner, doesn't it?

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  12. Wow, you are getting so strong with CrossFit! I did my one hour of gardening last weekend to plant some herbs and do the flower pots around our patio. I appreciate a pretty garden but the process does not bring me joy!

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    1. I knew someone would get it--gardening is really a labor of love, isn't it?

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  13. It has literally been raining for over 3 weeks and cold. I am longing to hang out on my deck too and plant some flowers. Maybe this weekend. Have a great week

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    1. I feel your pain. We were in that cold rainy cycle until mid-week. Hopefully things will change for you too.

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  14. Very pretty flowers! Wasn't it so damn satisfying to pull those weeds though? I've been enjoying all your different planks. I have a dog who is cute -- it's a good thing too. Cute has saved his spot in this family many a time. I'm glad to hear Mathew is improving. School will be out soon, right? I'm not training for anything until July. Thanks for linking with us Wendy.

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    1. What kind of cute dog? Cuteness goes a long way, doesn't it?

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  15. Ahhh, the weather. We had a decent week of weather LAST week, but rain is in the forecast for almost everyday for the next week or so. YUCK. ANd, I think it was last week's recap where I said that "gardening an't for sissies." I spent several afternoon hours in the sun, pulling weeds today.....

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    1. You did say that, didn't you? And just think, all the rain will make the weeds grow...

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  16. I got lectured when I got a massage after one of the races about needing to stretch and foam roll more. I'm awful about doing it, even though I know it's good for me. I need it to stop raining here though - it's nearly the end of May and I've done nothing at all on our yard. Pretty soon it will be too late because it will be too hot...

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    1. Yep. It warmed right on up this week. I'm not complaining tho.

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  17. That is a great shot of you on the rings and you must be pretty strong to be able to do that and know that you won't fall off.

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    1. Falling off wasn't my worry, it was getting those legs up to the rings! My coach is tough and she pushes me hard.

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  18. Oh. Poor. Cocoa. That exact same thing would happen here with the goldendoodle. He thinks he's helping :-) until either he gets hurt or trapped under something I'm working with.
    We love our canines though.

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    1. They are part of the family, aren't they? I felt bad when she was crying. Then she started biting me again and that feeling went away....

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  19. Your flowers look pretty! Cocoa is as cute as ever and getting bigger! Hallelujah for some decent weather finally. Speedy healing to Matthew.

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    1. It was gorgeous this weekend. I'm sad that I have to go back to work.

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  20. I just found your blog from Zenaida's and I'm excited to start reading it. Your photos are incredible!

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  21. Yoga in the sun if the temps are warm enough totally counts as hot yoga! :-) That puppy is so cute, too!

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  22. Even though I have a 5k in a couple of weeks, which I STILL haven't actually signed up for, not much training going on right now.

    Poor Cocoa. I know that dog under foot feeling all too well. They don't say dogging your steps for no reason!

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  23. I now have a Tom Petty song stuck in my head, thanks to your title ;-) I'm so glad your son is feeling better and that everyone is feeling less stressed! I think there's a very good reason puppies are so cute.... because they can be such terrors when they're little!

    I always decline help when carrying heavy things at the store, too. I like the challenge. Every other month or so I pick up a 50 lb. bag of chicken feed from the store. The guys always offer to carry it for me, but I tell them no thank you. Then on the walk across the parking lot to the truck I'm thinking "don't drop it, they're watching, don't drop it." :)

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  24. Your flower display is so pretty. My husband does most of the planting here and I was surprised to return from a visit with my Mom to find the vegetable garden looking quite lovely and some new planters in our porch with herbs. Glad your running is going well. You look so ridiculously fit in all your photos. I bet you never cheat with food!

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    1. I eat whatever I want! So there's never cheating--everything in moderation. I have a weakness for Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra..

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  25. This weather was everything. I'm glad that your body is cooperating and let you enjoy it!. ANd I sit around like a lump after a big goal. And then want to do all the things. But mostly eat and run.

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    1. I've got to do a better job of stretching, tho. Or I will pay for it...

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  26. Ever since Tink, I've been lacking in anything beyond strength training. I'm slowly getting back to stretching my calves and feet every day, and boy did my calves need it this weekend. I haven't done any running, but they were tight on Saturday.

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    1. My "hot" yoga after yesterday's run helped a ton. I need to stretch better.

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  27. I too always find extra motivation to work on projects around the house after meeting a big goal. Now that the school year is starting to wind down, I'm finding extra motivation to work on projects that have been put on the back burner.

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    1. I've got to tackle my kitchen counter and my closet. That's next on the list.

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  28. Your flowers look beautiful! And you look so strong on those rings. That pup, too... I'm in love! She's adorable! I've been lacking major mojo since January. I can't seem to figure out how to get myself back in the game. Any tips?

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    1. I wish! It's nice to be working on new goals, tho. But as far as running, I haven't gotten that drive to get excited about anything. I'm sure it will happen.

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  29. Hold up now...I think I remember you saying you needed to work on your upper body strength?! Well you on those rings look amazing! Your workouts always look so fun and challenging at the same time!

    I would love to do some gardening but since we are moving next month I just can't invest in doing anything in our apartment. Your flowers look really pretty!

    My knees have been troubling me a bit on my last couple of runs so I'm thinking I need to take the time for all my proper stretching and foam rolling too. Prevention is key!

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  30. I also love the feeling of being strong. Great that you're loving Crossfit. I also pulled weeds this weekend. Ugh--that's the worst! Because of all the rain we've had, everything was so overgrown. Next up is planting my veggie and herb plants.

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  31. Good to hear your son is back in school and his pain is improving! Love the plants! We are excited to get have our own garden plot in our neighborhood finally. The kids are more excited than I am because I know it will be work. :p Your puppy is so cute!!

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    1. We used to have a neighborhood garden plot--it was great except the weeds were impossible to control! Still, we loved the bounty of tomatoes we got those years!

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  32. Those planers are soo pretty! I want to go home and pain mine!

    OMG ! I just noticed, you are floating in your first picture! that is an amazing shot!

    Great job in your weeding! I don't have a garden, but I'm successfully killing a geranium again... which sucks.

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    1. I try not to kill anything--the annuals are pretty forgiving. It's nice to have flowers. They really brighten everything up!

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  33. Your planters do look beautiful... and Cocao! THAT FACE! :)

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  34. seriously, how cute is your pup?!!! OMG, I wanna come to Chicago and whisk her away :) it must be nice to have a deck to retire to on beautiful summer days!

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    1. I do love my deck! I wish I worked less and had more time to sit out there.

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  35. Don't you just feel better after that yardwork and spring planting? Beautiful! and yes that pup is too cute!

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  36. Love those plants! We are getting our house power washed and repainted, and then my mom promised to come over and help me garden. By which I mean "garden for me." I am useless at gardening and she has mad skills.

    Cocoa is a dollbaby. Puppies can get into so much trouble, can't they?

    Feeling strong is awesome. I love seeing all the cool things Becky has you do.

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    1. Tonight she was acting like a petulant teenager. I kept scolding her and she kept "talking back" to me. It was hilarious!

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  37. Great job with your planters! I hate those sticker plants! Your puppy is too adorable! Sounds like you're getting awesome strength workouts in too!

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  38. Glad your son is doing better. Your planters look beautiful! Pulling up weeds is a major pain, definitely a workout in itself. Poor Cocoa! Glad she is ok! Your CrossFit workouts are incredible. Great pic of you swinging from the rings!

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  39. Your dog is so cute! Great job on the rings...look like you had a great week :)

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    1. I wonder what my coach will have in store for me this week!

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  40. Deck yoga = hot yoga. Whew! Puddles of sweat.

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  41. I love your response to the Home Depot guys. :) You've definitely got this.

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  42. Glad to hear Cocoa was okay! My pet cats always got themselves into the strangest pickles when I was a child. Good thing we were there to help them out!

    Gardening is HARD WORK. I don't know what sticker plants are, but the name doesn't make them sound very appealing.

    Way to rock out your strength at Home Depot!!! =)

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    1. Apparently I was referring to "thistle" plants. I didn't know they had a name but they are pesky and painful!

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  43. Your planters look beautiful! I hear you about pulling weeds - it sure is a workout. I also need to spruce up our yard and plant more vegetables in our raised boxes.
    Those ring V-ups look fun and challenging. You're one strong woman and yes I agree how awesome it feels to be strong!
    Great to hear your son's pain has improved.

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    1. The rings were a blast! I hope she throws that in again. Soon!

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  44. I have so many home projects to do and your puppy is SO CUTE. I want one - NOOOO I can't handle a puppy right now :) Great job on the planting and planking :)

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    1. Can we ever handle a puppy? When she's not biting me, she's laying on my feet. And then my heart melts...

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