Sunday, September 2, 2018

Running is My Therapy

I am sure that somewhere in the archives here there is another post titled: Running is My Therapy. Maybe more than one. I run for many reasons but top on my list of reasons is stress relief. While not all stress is bad, and certainly this week's stressor of dropping my baby off at college was a positive stressor, stress is stress and this mama needed to run! Fortunately, my body cooperated with some really nice runs and helped me to stay cool and calm throughout my week.


Running
To respect my knees, this month I cut back to running 3 days per week. It was no surprise at all to see that my monthly mileage was only 65.3 miles. To paraphrase Michael Stipe: 🎶 It's not the end of the world as I know it, and I feel fine 🎶. And now that song is going through everyone's heads!

In spite of the pathetic mileage, running is still my therapy. If you read my Runfessions post from Friday (and I hope you did!), you know that on Wednesday, I took my youngest son to college. I didn't cry but I will admit to tearing up when we pulled up to the dorm. Fortunately, I had time before we left home that morning to squeeze in a run. It was super humid and I sweated more than I thought humanly possible. I like to think that the sweat was my body crying. I miss my boy a ton, but I will be seeing him this weekend. 

6 very therapeutic miles

Saturday's run was in the rain. I didn't want to run in the rain, but it just wouldn't stop. I planned to do 8 miles and the thought of doing 8 miles on the treadmill was not at all desirable. So I ran outside in the rain. The rain was very light when I first started. I ran to the retention pond and once I was there, it started to rain more heavily. I didn't mind getting wet, and in fact, I picked up the pace as I moved along. I even started singing along to my playlist. This run felt good. I had a lot on my mind and was able to process much of it. The result of that is a narrative that I'll post on Tuesday.

So therapeutic.

CrossFit
Well, hell. When Coach Sammy Jo posted the bootcamp workout, I looked at it and thought, oh, this doesn't seem so bad. As I found out, looks can be deceiving. Lunges and supermans followed by a killer partner workout of 2000m rowing alternating with medball overhead holds. Then we did a 10 minute AMRAP of which the easiest part was the 400m row. I am not joking when I tell you that this bootcamp stuff is HARD! The sick thing is that I look forward to it--I love the variety and I especially love the results I'm seeing on the road. Sure beats speedwork! Am I right?

Prior to all that, for my strength session, Sammy Jo had me do high volume back squats, 3 sets of 10 reps, followed by alternating front and lateral dumbbell lifts, a core exercise on the fitness ball, and jumping lunges. We ended with a "fun" workout of some me trying to alternate toe touches on the bench. I couldn't do it properly and ended up having fun with it, dancing to the rap music they were playing at the box... 

🎶 "Word to the motherfu**er, Straight Outta Compton..." 🎶 N.W.A.


Yoga
I promised myself that I would do a nice long yoga session on Monday and Five Parks Yoga didn't disappoint. I wasn't sure what I was in the mood for, but I found a new-to-me class: Slow Flow Deep Stretch. Don't let the name of the class fool you--this was intense. I particularly enjoyed this class because the progression of poses allowed me to get pretty deep into most of them. My reward was being able to fully enjoy Reclined Hero Pose--a pose that opens the hips, quads, and ankles but is also a backbend. Sometimes I can't even sit in upright Hero pose so you can imagine how excited I was. 

it's as relaxing as it looks.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
Congrats to our Weekly Wrap 3rd anniversary giveaway winner selected via random number generator: Lisa at Mile by Mile Blog! Lisa's been a long time linker with us and I'm excited for her to win! Do you read her blog? We've got so many great linkers. Thanks to everyone who participates!


How was your week? What are you doing for this last hurrah of summer? I'll be out of town with the family, hoping to get in one last weekend on the water. I'm also hoping that the rain goes away. Have a great weekend!

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap! If this is your first time linking with us, welcome! If not, welcome back! You'll find this is a really supportive community of like-minded fitness bloggers. We're easy but there are a couple of rules. This linkup is for fitness bloggers only. If you do link with us, make sure you link back to Holly and me. It's common courtesy to comment on the hosts' posts too. Even better, comment on at least 3 of your fellow linkers posts. Thanks again for supporting the Weekly Wrap!






67 comments :

  1. I'm so glad you had some good runs this week! It can make all the difference in your outlook and your stress levels. I know sending your son off is a good thing, but it's still hard. Even though I don't run as much, it still is my go-to de-stressor and my go-to when I travel. Nothing else is quite the same.

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    1. I just with my runs felt a little easier. I fight for every interval and I look forward to walking. Fingers crossed that cooler fall temps will help.

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  2. Wow, I am super impressed with that reclined hero pose! The PT has me doing it just on one leg to stretch out, and I can get back to my elbows on one side, not quite as far as the other (and don't do it as often as I should, of course!).

    Running is definitely one of the great stress busters I know. It's funny, I don't mind so much running in the rain in the summer -- but it's still hard to motivate when it's already raining before you start. Good job!

    Enjoy your holiday weekend. Definitely nothing exciting going on here.

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    1. I was shocked that I was able to get into the reclined hero pose--I've struggled with seated hero pose all summer, even needing to put a block under my bottom at times. Being able to do the full expression of the pose felt great!

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  3. Wow - I'm hugely impressed by your reclined hero (and very embarrassed by my totally lame yoga and circuits photos - think I might go and edit them out. I've already edited out a chunk about a run I was going to do and then decided not to so no big deal. What a great week, running in the rain and all. I'm just going to be continuing my 20 miles a week of running, my yoga and my circuits from Coach Paul. Happy almost-autumn!

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    1. Now just stop that! We're all on our own journey and we shouldn't be comparing ourselves. Plus I'm pretty sure that the next time I try that pose, I won't even be able to sit in it!

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    2. It's just such a good picture with, y'know, all your hands and feet in it and everything!! I can't sit in it for sure. I love when she says "move your calves out of the way" and I'm like, "My calves are solid, they don't move out of the way!".

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    3. I always try to move my calves out of the way--sometimes I can't even....

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  4. Running is such a great stress reliever...when I had my broken leg, I didn't know what to do to manage my stress!

    Glad you had some solid runs this week and WOW you are very flexible...impressive!

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    1. I'm really not that flexible--I really think it was this particular class that allowed me to ease into this pose. It was a good day!

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  5. So excited about the giveaway! I totally agree that running can be so therapeutic. I always have such a hard time dealing with stress when I'm injured and not running. I tend to avoid running in the rain but in the summer it's not so bad. Hope you had a good weekend visiting your son!

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    1. I didn't want to run in the rain but it wasn't bad at all. I kept thinking about RNR Chicago and how we ran the whole race in the pouring rain!

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  6. 2000m rowing?! It takes me so long to do just 200, I would spend all 10 minutes of the round on the machine! Nice workouts. Running is definitely a therapeutic stress release!

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    1. We divided up the rowing between 2 people, alternating with holding a med ball overhead. It was hard!

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  7. I am finding out now that I can't run how much stress running burns off. I cried most of the way home each time we dropped a kid off at college. And, we usually dropped the kids off at college, then went out for our anniversary dinner. How romantic, right?
    I usually don't mind running in the rain, but we got 7 inches here on Saturday in 90 minutes! I would not have wanted to run in that!!! :)

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    1. We've had a ton of rain lately, so my choices were between running in the rain or running on the treadmill.

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  8. Running is indeed the best therapy. Glad you are enjoying time with the family before school starts for Matt. I'm really over this rain and humidity. Over it.

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    1. I swear, we've spent more time together than we have in years. No complaints from this mama!

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  9. We have had almost 10 inches of rain since Thursday...and most of it has come during the overnight hours on Friday and Saturday. Max has NOT enjoyed it, and none of us have slept much as a result LOL Although I cried something terrible when we dropped off the oldest at college, it got easier with each kid. For me, I was able to embrace the "big world experience" that they were embarking on. Although I was a bit apprehensive, I also was very excited for them.

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    1. I'm really excited for Matthew--he couldn't be at a better school. But I do miss him. Glad I have Tom at home still.

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  10. I don't even try Hero Pose. It never feels good on my knees. Glad to hear your week was good, even in rain. I was so tired Thursday and yet so stressed, running my 3 miles felt so good.

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    1. As much as Hero pose pulls on my knees, I find that as I ease into it, the better it feels.

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  11. 65.3 mile for the month is not pathetic at all - I think you are too hard on yourself!

    Although I have a love/hate relationship from running, it really is a great stress reliever for me. Don't get me wrong, I love spinning and lifting weights, but something about running is very special.

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    1. Isn't that the truth? There's nothing like a great run to burn off some stress. And fuel some creativity.

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  12. I’m so not flexible enough for the reclined hero pose #Goals. I hear ya on the drop off it’s stressful and weird. I will be rejoining you all when I get back from my trip. As we don’t have great WiFi. Have a great week!

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    1. I'm so surprised that you're online at all! Enjoy your trip. We'll still be here...

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  13. 65 miles isn't pathetic - you did what your body allowed you to comfortably. Celebrate that. Also holy shit, gumby knees in that pose

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    1. It felt so good to be able to do that! Who knows when that will happen again?

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  14. Running really is such a special thing, I'm so glad it brought you comfort this month - and I don't think 65 miles is anything to scoff at! Nor is your flexibility - wow!

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    1. This pose is so good for my knees. Maybe with the decrease in mileage, my joints don't get so tight?

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  15. When we dropped my oldest off at college I was able to hold it together because I still had my younger son at home for two more years. When we dropped our youngest off, I sobbed like a baby and he tried to sooth me saying, "It's going to be okay, Mom." Talk about roll reversal. LOL You'll find that you adjust quickly and those visits home become incredibly special!

    Thanks for the linkup!

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    1. I don't want to cry in front of him because my mom did that to me and it made me feel so sad! But I hug him and he doesn't let go. Here's to hoping that both of us adjust to our new normal!

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  16. I can't imagine how hard it will be when my kiddos go to college. Sounds like a great week of workouts, especially your crossfit boot camp one! Sounds tough!

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    1. Selfishly, I'm glad to still have my oldest at home! Seeing them leave is so hard.

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  17. I agree, running is definitely therapy. It often feels so good to take a mental break from life and get out on the open road for a run. 65 miles is quite an accomplishment, there is no need to be upset by that kind of monthly mileage.

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    1. Low mileage is going to be my new normal. Grateful for every one of those miles!

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  18. Good for you on that reclined hero pose! On my best day I can’t do it upright. I’m glad you had some good runs too. It seems that just when you start feeling you won’t be able to do it much longer RA has a little mercy (or a little ironic fun) and you have a stretch of good runs.

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    1. That's the weird thing about RA--you never know what you're going to get on a given day. I'm just grateful for what I can still do!

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  19. Funny, I always thought that song said " its THE end of the world as we know it"...lol. glad to see it's a more positive song than I thought.

    I had to run in the rain this week too.

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    1. You are right, those are the lyrics. I changed them to fit my post. LOL!

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  20. Well, you spanked my monthly mileage pretty darn good! I know you are super excited for Mathew to be at such a wonderful school, but I'm also glad you were able to him this weekend. I think it helps ease into the transition. Nice therapy...I mean running...this week!

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    1. I'll tell you, this mom stuff is not easy! Glad to have my therapy.

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  21. We get so little rain here so the slightest drizzle keeps us indoors! Lol! As for that yoga pose, WOW! Shathiso @www.thegaboronerunner.com

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    1. We've had nothing but rain this week. It's really ridiculous.

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  22. There's something about rainy runs that can feel extra therapeutic, especially a good Midwest downpour! I remember when my mom dropped me off at college and going for that first run a few days later to cope with the change - running is really therapy at so many stages of life.

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    1. I hope my son starts running. He's got a lovely lakeshore path steps from his dorm.

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  23. Whatever your coach has you doing on that ball... I don't like it. Not one bit.

    I'm glad you had some great workouts. I struggled hard this week and finally just had to kind of let it all go.

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    1. That was some core thing and yep, I wasn't a fan. I felt it the next day.

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  24. I'm glad you had a good week, especially with your running! It's so bittersweet dropping your kids off at college. At least he isn't too far. All of my boys (and all of my money) went to IU--a little less than 4 hours away. That made it much more bearable!

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    1. Today I really missed him! I think it might be because it was so rainy all day...

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  25. I had to laugh at you troubles in getting the footwork down for toe taps. I have the same problem and end up just doing my own thing. Whatever...it works!

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  26. Yay for some good runs! I had a few good ones too, including my fastest stroller run since baby #2 was born. I struggled to fit in workouts in the beginning of the week, so we'll see what happens this week.

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    1. Good for you! It feels so good when it all comes back, doesn't it?

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  27. I hope you enjoyed your last weekend away! We hung around here but caught up with some friends and spent yesterday afternoon at the pool. Hope the knees improve- mine are still acting up a bit too. It's frustrating when you feel good otherwise and just need your body to cooperate!

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    1. The whole knee thing is throwing me off! I've never had knee issues before.

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  28. That's good to hear that the running provided some therapeutic time this week :) And I definitely understand your excitement about that yoga pose! I have a hard time sitting in upright hero pose and can't even imagine being able to get into the reclined version. Very impressive.

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    1. It's been a long time since I've been able to do upright hero, so the reclined hero was a pleasant surprise!

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  29. Running is such good therapy! Right around the time my little girl turned one, my dad passed away and my husband and I hit a big road bump in our marriage. Running was my saving grace during that month. I needed the time to be in my own head. I ended a lot of runs in tears, but feeling better overall.

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    1. Running has served me well over the years--lots of bumps in the road--and I am just not ready to let it go!

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  30. You are smart to give your knees that respect - no shame in lower mileage! Running is the perfect therapy, isn't it?! I have missed the stress relief of it as I'm rehabbing this groin injury. Thankfully cycling serves as some stress relief for me, but it isn't quite the same. I'm missing the early morning runs, some that feel effortless, some that don't. And, yes, sweating out my tears! HA. I love the idea of sweat = your body crying.

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    1. I'm looking forward to some cycling in the next couple of weeks. Just need to get my runs in for ZOOMA.

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  31. Yep, running is my therapy, too (although, I'd argue it's not cheaper than therapy - ha!). Over the past few years with illness and not being able to run as much, or run well, it's definitely affected my mental health in general. Running helps get that stress out. And hey, miles are miles. 65 miles is 65 miles more than someone sitting on the couch.

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    1. ^ Ugh, still having issues with blogger and comments. That's Christine/Into the Glimmer.

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    2. The mileage isn't what I"m used to, but I'm going to have to get used to my new normal!

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  32. Running used to be my therapy, and I do miss it, but I have turned to other forms of fitness while my body heals so I can run again!
    Glad you hear your son got off to college and that you will get to see him this weekend!
    That yoga class sounds like something I could totally use!

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    1. While running is my therapy, like you, I'm finding other forms of fitness too! It's great to have a variety of ways to sweat out the stress.

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