Sunday, April 8, 2018

All Aboard the Hot Mess Express

Hey there!

If you read my Coffee Talk post, you know that my week was pretty much a hot mess. When things first started to unravel, it was distressing, but after a while, it was almost comical! I kept thinking, what next? I was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with me, like early-onset dementia. What made me realize I was ok was my running. Life is all about balance, right? So even though everything was seemingly falling apart around me, I had my good runs and that made all the bad stuff a little less painful.


Title photo


Running
The good running continues. With my improving endurance, I'm dropping those walk intervals like they're hot and so far, so good. This just amazes me, as I figured between RA and menopause, my speedy running days were behind me. While I'm proceeding with caution--I don't want to risk injury--I'm going to ride this wave as long as I can. I know that with my disease the rug can be pulled out from under me at any time. At least now I've got the run/walk intervals to fall back on if I need them. I've learned so much this year!

In old news, the weather all week continued to be cold and windy. Wednesday's and Saturday's runs were done without walking at all. My effort felt moderate and my pacing was good. On Thursday, I did speedwork at the pond. As I reviewed my Garmin stats for those intervals, I realized that only did 7 instead of 8! Of course. Anyhoo, my average speed for the 4 minute intervals was between 8:10-8:17m/m. I haven't run like that since I was training for the Chicago Marathon. It was hard but it was fun. I was so excited when I finished!

Jumping for Joy over those speedy intervals!
Jumping for joy over those speedy intervals!

CrossFit
Sammy Jo had me do some back squats, just to fire up the glutes and then the rest of the workout was all about upper body. Instead of static presses, I did push presses this time, maxing at 60# x 5 reps. I always feel so strong lifting the bar above my head! Not so much with the ring pushups. Those are so humbling. I know I need to work on that. There were some KB lunges too, which is something I haven't done for a while.

Got it!
Got it!
Yoga
On Monday, I did the Five Parks Yoga Hip Opening Class with Acoustic Guitar. Silly me, I thought that the use of the acoustic guitar meant a gentle class. Oh no. Quite the opposite! This was a vinyasa class with plenty of chaturangas. While it was a great hip opening class, I was sweating. I didn't quit on it, though and I felt really good when I was done. I didn't take a picture, though but trust me, it really happened.

Randoms



After my eventful week, I wanted to follow up on a couple of the things I shared on my Coffee Talk post. Thanks to everyone for your well wishes regarding my son. He's doing much better and actually, as you read this, we are spending Sunday visiting Marquette University for a last look before he makes his decision between MU and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, he's hoping he will be back to gymnastics sometime next week. Me, not so much.

The other good news is that I found my wedding ring!! I knew that it could only be in one of 2 places--the CrossFit box or my car. Coach Sammy Jo was on cleaning duty Friday and she didn't find it anywhere. One of the women at work convinced me to go through my car one more time. I moved both the passenger seat and the driver's seat all the way forward and all the way back. Well, lo and behold, there was my ring, tucked under the side of the driver's seat. I was ecstatic and I ran back into the office to hug the woman who told me to look again. I've had this ring for almost 30 years--I couldn't consider replacing it. What a relief!

I'm heading into a new week with the resolve to work on mindfulness again. Life's been pretty full and somewhat overwhelming, and it's easy to see how things spun out of control for me. While I've been doing a great job pacing my runs lately, I haven't been practicing that kind of control off the road. Running teaches us so much if we pay attention, doesn't it?

sunrise run

Have a great week!

How was your week? I won't even ask about the weather because it's just getting old. Altho the forecast is looking good for later this week! What lessons have you learned from running?

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap! Holly and I co-host this linkup to give fitness bloggers a chance to share their race and/or training recaps! The rules are above. Let us know if you have any questions and thanks for supporting us and your fellow bloggers!



97 comments :

  1. Glad to hear your son is doing alright! We're supposed to have a significant upswing in the weather on Wednesday! And, I cannot wait ;-)

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  2. So glad you found your ring! I haven't been doing very well with the mindfulness stuff either. Its challenging, but to be honest I haven't really even tried lately. It's so great that your running is going so well! Hope it continues.

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    1. Clearly I haven't been working hard on mindfulness much either. I need to do a better job of it. I just feel spread so thin these days!

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  3. Running has definitely taught me so many things: I can do more than I thought & training doesn't necessarily have immediate rewards, but if you stick with it, the rewards will come.

    I'm glad things are turning around for you & that you found your ring. My mom lost hers visiting us one time (they were staying in a hotel). And then lost the replacement when we moved them. Consider that they've been married 70 years!

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    1. I hope to keep my ring for all my years! Being without it for a few days was tough.

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  4. You can make even a bad week sound fun. Glad your son is OK and that you found your ring - both huge reliefs. I keep expecting to see you in an ad for Humira. ;-)

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    1. In spite of all the bad stuff happening, those good runs really kept me happy. And if Humira wants to hire me for an ad, I'm all in...

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  5. I think I would enjoy that yoga class since I don't like many and it sounds like it was challenging. I am so over this cold and wind. Where is spring?

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    1. I love Five Parks Yoga classes! She's the first online instructor that I've really liked.

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  6. Glad your son is okay and you found your ring! What a relief...Awesome week and thanks for hosting the link-up! It's so fun :)

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    1. I'm glad you're liking the linkup. I think it's a great community we've got here!

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  7. Running is an excellent metaphor for so many areas of life! I'm glad your found your ring and your son is okay. It's always nice to have running to fall back on during those stressful times in life.

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  8. I'll be honest - I went back and read your Coffee Talk post but I didn't watch that video. I knew I would cringe! I'm glad he's doing okay, though! Also super happy you found your ring!! I know that had to stress you out! Ahh, the college decision. My niece just announced she's heading to Texas A&M in the fall. I'm still struggling to think of her as not 5 years old. lol

    This week has definitely been something. So much stuff going on that I just can't even blog about. Yet, anyway. Maybe never. I don't know. Thank God for running and CrossFit and running friends and Instagram/blog friends.

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    1. I feel ya on the "stuff". That's too sensitive to share on the blog. All I can do is allude to it.

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  9. I haven't come across that yoga video yet, but I've been doing a number of Five Parks Yoga videos. I like her style and there are enough videos to help whatever I'm working on.

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  10. I'm SO glad you found your ring!! And happy to hear about your son. I find that - just like running - life ebbs and flows with hard weeks and "recovery" weeks. Thanks for hosting the link up!

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  11. I’m glad things have been getting better for you - and a good run does make it easier to see life in perspective, doesn’t it?! It’s been a sick week in our house but being able to sneak out for a long run totally refreshed my mind. And exhausted my body. Haha

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  12. I checked out one of those Five Parks yoga videos and they are no joke! Thanks for turning me onto those for when I cannot get to class. Yay for feeling so great on your runs lately :)

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  13. I'm glad your son is doing okay and that you found your ring! Your running sounds like it's going great, and that's so good to hear.

    Thanks for the linkup!

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  14. You are killing it right now with your running! Aren't you glad the rest of that week is behind you though? I lost an anniversary ring (which I wear with my wedding rings) years ago. I took it off to peel potatoes and it wasn't in the disposal nor garbage can. PoPo eventually gave me another. Fingers crossed for springlike weather for you!

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    1. You know I'm glad this week is over. OMG. Onward and upward, my friend!

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  15. Oh I’m so glad you found your wedding ring! What a relief that was I’m sure! That’s great that you are dropping your walk intervals and running faster. I feel a lot better since my big surgery in August, but I have a long way to go if I want to get faster. No more headaches and I feel better after distance races when I used to have to go straight home and rest. I hope this week is better for you Wendy!

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    1. After I had the surgery you did, I was like a different runner! I found my speed and then some... and look at you running not one, but 2 half marathons after a full!

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  16. Definitely some good stuff in this post! Woohoo that you are having some strong runs. Fingers crossed that it stays that way for a long time.

    The weather here is just effing with me. So over it.

    -MCM Mama

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    1. I keep seeing 70 in the forecast for later this week. Of course, it's because I ordered another InknBurn pullover! LOL! I'll be happy if I can just pack it away for fall...

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  17. Love your mindfulness focus! I need to work on that as well! And absolutely love that you found your wedding ring. I can imagine how anxious that would make you feel!

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    1. I tried to play it cool but man, when I found it, I realized how stressed I was!

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  18. Running has taught me more about the importance of recovery/taking care of my body more than I ever thought it would. Glad you found your ring and are absolutely killing it on your runs!

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  19. Can't wait to hear what the final verdict is on college. Exciting! So glad you found your ring. Running taught me that I often set the bar too low for myself.

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    1. This kid is going to kill me. He mentioned that he got invites to apply to the honors colleges at both MU and UW but didn't realize it was a "big deal".... pass the wine please...

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  20. I'm so glad you had a great week of running despite the other messes. And WAHOOO on finding your ring! I always have a mini panic attack when I forget that I took my ring off and put it in my pocket while I put lotion on. I would freak if I lost it!

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    1. I cannot express the sense of relief I felt when I found it!

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  21. I'm so happy that you found your wedding ring! There are some things that just aren't meant to ever get lost. Here's to an excellent week ahead!

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  22. Wow, so happy you found your ring!!! My husband lost his during a race once - he was high fiving a friend at a turnaround of a 10k and i flew off his hand. He didn't realize it until after it was over - but somehow we were able to find it!!

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    1. I'm glad to hear your hubs found his too! Fortunately, my knuckles are so big that my ring wouldn't just fly off.

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  23. That's awesome your endurance is improving! I'll have to check out that yoga link. Glad you found your ring!

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    1. It's crazy and awesome all at once. I'm completely enjoying running again!

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  24. So glad your week ended on some higher notes! Running (and other fitness activities) just seems to give us the strength to laugh at the train wreck days.

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  25. I'm so happy that your good running streak continues! It's always so nice when everything just clicks.

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  26. My week has been kind of crazy too. I hope for a calmer week for both of us. I’m glad to hear your son is alright and you found your ring! That gets this week off to a great start at least.

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  27. So happy for your good running streak... and that your son is doing well... and that you found your ring!

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  28. Glad you found your wedding ring. I'd probably be so update that I'd lost it! Yeah for the running as well!

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    1. I knew it had to be in my car, but when I finally found it I was so relieved!

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  29. What a relief to find your ring!! And wow, that's really encouraging to be running stronger. Hope this week is much less exciting!

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  30. Running has taught me so much about life and handling stress! It really helps me to take a step back and really focus on the important things. Also, train wrecks will happen but I just do with it now lol. And yay for finding your wedding ring!

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    1. I don't know how I would have survived last week without running!

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  31. Oh I didn't get to read your Coffee Talk post, I hope everything is okay. I'm glad your running is still going well...why can't we have everything well balanced all at the same time?! I'm glad you found your wedding ring, that had to be a huge relief!

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  32. 60 pounds is quite impressive on that overhead press! You look totally badass! Glad you found the ring ...like you, I'd never want to have to replace something so meaningful. So happy that your running has you feeling like your old running self again ...enjoy!! Thanks for hosting Wendy!

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  33. Thank goodness you found your ring! My engagement ring fell off my finger when I was helping my friend into her wedding dress (we knew it needed resizing but hadn't done it yet). I realized after we had left her house and were heading to the venue! Luckily, we weren't far, and someone had found it and put it on a table, but it so panic inducing. Also... why hadn't someone been like, "did someone lose a diamond ring?"
    I got it resized that week.

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    1. Oh, that's so scary! Thankfully (I guess) my knuckles are big and the ring can't easily fall off.

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  34. I'm glad you found your ring! I'm always nervous about losing mine somewhere so I often don't wear it. Honestly, unless Clay and I are on a date or I'm going somewhere that isn't workout related (which isn't often, I do work from home) I don't really wear it.

    Glad that running and CrossFit are going well for you! Train wrecks in life suck, I feel like running and sports in general help us deal with that, but at the same time our bodies only know stress and sometimes we have to step back the activities to recover both physically and mentally.

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    1. I'm hoping that all the stress of last week doesn't affect all the good that I'm feeling on the road right now.

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  35. You look so strong and badass in your crossfit picture!!

    I'm glad your son is healing well, that fall looked really scary!

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  36. Great job on your speed intervals! I am glad you found your ring! I switched to QALO rings for workouts because I'm afraid of losing or damaging mine. One of the best purchases I've made! Good luck to your son on deciding schools!

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    1. I've heard a lot about those QALO rings--I may have to consider it!

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  37. I’m so happy to hear about your continued progress with your running. In some ways, so you feel a bit like your old self again?

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  38. Missing wedding ring? That right there is a severe stress. I'm so glad you found it. Also really glad you are feeling more stamina, that's fantastic! And may it continue. Your lifting photos always look so badass! One more thing: I too would have assumed that a yoga class with an acoustic guitar would be a mellow class.

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  39. Great to hear that your running is going so well. I hope that streak continues!

    And what a relief that your son is ok - that was a scary looking fall!

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    1. He was back at it yesterday--still sore but much more mobile. Ah...youth...

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  40. I'm glad your son is doing well and yay for finding your ring!! You look really strong lifting, especially with the Run or Die shirt!

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  41. First, amazing on your running! Your hard work is paying off!

    I'm so glad you found your ring! I'm sure you were heartbroken! And I'm excited to see what decision your son makes!

    Love seeing all your cross training and yoga come together. I think we all have those hot mess express weeks - it happens to the best of us.

    Our weather has decided to grace us with thunderstorms. Not interested.

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    1. I'm actually ready for thunderstorms--we got 2 inches of snow yesterday! Waaaaaaa!

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  42. Aw, so glad you found your ring! I can imagine that must have been heart breaking to think it was lost.

    Also, I'm with you on the weather. I ran on Friday and it was snowing here, lol. I'm ready for spring!

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  43. I love that photo of you running with the sun. Whenever I'm in the middle of a crazy week I always find that something great happens shortly after. Hang in there! You're doing awesome.

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  44. Glad your son is ok and you found your ring! Mindfulness...yeah...I probably need some more of that too.

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  45. oh! unfortunately I was behind on blog reading and I missed your coffee talk post! I did not realise you lost your ring! UGH!! so glad you found it!

    speedy intervals are so fun, right??? I've been surprising myself lately too! (I don't know what your tempo means though, my brain is too full to calculate miles to km's! haha). And I'll say it again, I think you are such a bada$$ with crossfit!!!

    I do get what you are saying about being mindful in other areas than just running. I too feel quite overwhelmed with everything that is going on and while I chose most of it, I need to still be mindful and be focused. It's been really hard getting the focus back but it's something I want so I need to work on it. Running has taught me determination and discipline, even if at times I don't feel either! But I do realise, when I look back, that I am still WAY more determined and disciplined than I was before I started running.

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    1. I agree with you 100%--running has given me so much discipline. But I feel like I am spread so thin sometimes that something has to give. I think a lot of what happened last week was because I'm just all over the place right now.

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  46. Your running sounds great! It feel so good to feel like everything is slowing falling into place - and those paces for intervals are great! I have had a similar feeling with intervals - they are magical when I feel fast :) With a busy life, I need to work on being more mindful. Thanks for the reminder!

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    1. This was a fun week and it's always nice to feel my legs move like that!

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  47. We have some visitors in our office this week from our HQ near Boston. They are loving our weather and find it funny when we try to warn them about the wind advisory. LOL Glad that things are looking up for your son and that you found your wedding ring!

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  48. I would go crazy if I lost my wedding ring! I'm so glad that you found yours :) I love reading about your happy running. I've been giving my knee a break, but your post gives me hope that I will run again!

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