Sunday, December 8, 2019

A Serving of Humble Pie

After last week's half marathon, I was feeling so good about running again. But the funny thing about running is that it keeps you humble. Don't ever get too confident--because the proverbial rug will get pulled out from under you. It's happened to me so many times.

This week, it happened again. While I would have loved to bask in the glory of my accomplishment, my body served me with a big old piece of humble pie. A half marathon isn't half of anything. Respect the distance, my friends!



Weekly in review:
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: rest day
Wednesday: Run 3.2 miles, Yoga with Adriene
Thursday: Strength train, boot camp
Friday: rest day
Saturday: run 4 miles
Sunday: run 6 miles

Running
I didn't run until Wednesday. I planned for low mileage this week and set out to do any easy 3-4 to test out the legs. The legs didn't like it. During the race, I had some pain under my right knee cap as well as an achy left achilles. Within the first 5 minutes of my run, those issues returned. Ok fine. I switched to run/walk intervals, but by mile 3, I was done. Fatigued and in pain, I walked the last mile home and did some yoga, hoping to work out the kinks.


By Saturday, the legs were feeling much better. I had to work, so I was up and out the door early. I literally flew to the park so I could catch the sunrise. I'm glad I did because it didn't last long. The clouds rolled in and I finished an uneventful 4 miles. On Sunday, I woke up tired after a fun night out but eventually laced up and ran 6 on a local preserve trail. The preserve is under restoration and it was nice to see the progress they are making there. It's so peaceful and lovely!


CrossFit
Monday's WOD started out well. The strength portion of the workout was an EMOM with renegade rows alternating with strict presses. The MetCon was a 4*3*2*1 workout of rope climbs, squat cleans, and double under practice. We were split into groups and I was assigned to the white rope aka the slippery rope. This was an exercise in frustration and humility for me as I struggled with my rope climbs. After the first 2/4 climbs, I could not get a good grip on the rope. My feeling is that since that particular rope is so slippery, I'm going to have to use more upper body strength to pull myself up than I do on the other rope. I had no issues with the squat cleans, in fact, Sammy Jo kept adding weight to my bar. She talked with me about my frustration with the rope climbs, reminding me that I can't let it get to me.

Clockwise from top left: squat cleans (55#), banded ring dips, prowler push, battle ropes
Thursday's strength workout had me doing my favorite, the deadlifts. Sammy Jo had me do sets of 8 x 4 and I maxed at 135#! I alternated those with banded ring dips. I opted out of handstand holds to save something for bootcamp. Bootcamp was a really fun class with an EMOM of battle ropes, weighted wall sits, and prowler pushes, followed by a 3min on/1 min rest AMRAP of GHD sit-ups, thrusters, pullups, and burpees. I just love how it's different every week.

I Tried it! 
Did you get to read Friday's post on laundry?
I realize that laundry is the not most exciting blog topic, but for the fashion-conscious runner, it's really important to take good care of our running gear! I was thrilled to try SportSuds and loved the results. After I posted my review of SportSuds, the company reached out and asked if I wanted to host a giveaway. Since so many readers were interested in trying SportSuds, I thought it would be a great idea.  The winner will receive a large tub of SportSuds detergent, one small bag of detergent, and a bag of washing machine powder. The giveaway is for US residents only and will stay open through Saturday, December 14. Let me know if you have any questions!

How was your week? How has running humbled you? Have you been humbled by any other activities? Do you let your failures and/or frustrations get in the way of a workout? Don't forget that if you want to order SportSuds, you can use my special link and the code WENDY to save 25%. 


I might be sweaty but I won't be stinky after I win some @SportSuds detergent! /via @oldrunningmom #giveaway #running #runchat #sweatynotstinky

I'm linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Rundown.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


55 comments :

  1. Good that you listened to your body! Sometimes we just have to give in. Running has made me eat humble pie so many times, especially this year with the Achilles stuff.
    Your crossfit is impressive!
    Can you do double-unders? I can't! And for the weighted wall sits - how much weight do you carry? That sounds like a great strength exercise!

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    1. I can't do double unders. So I substitute singles. For the wall sits, we sat for 40 seconds with the weighted tool of our choice. I used a 30# med ball. It was good and I was sore the next day!

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  2. Bummer about your knee and achilles but you know your body well and stopped when you had to. No sense in pushing it, especially with the winter months coming. Your CrossFit workouts are some impressive. I don't think I could do half of what you do!

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    1. Sometimes I'm surprised--actually most of the time--at what we do at CrossFit! It's been a great way to cross train, to get stronger, and build some confidence!

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  3. Super smart to listen to your body. You are so right about "respect the distance". It annoys me when someone says "just a half marathon" - it's still 13.1 miles!

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  4. Ha ha my first run after a half is always humbling. I'm impressed that you were able to get right back to strength.

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  5. I never have mastered the rope climb or the double unders! I need to get back to practicing though!

    I would love to try the sports suds for my running clothes. I have a few pairs of shorts that I have had pretty much since I started and they are permanently funky!

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    1. I haven't mastered the double unders either. I probably never will. They require a level of coordination that I just don't possess!

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  6. Yep, running will keep us humble. That's a good thing (in my opinion). I've learned to appreciate every triumph and take nothing for granted and learn as much as I can when the struggles come into play.

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  7. You ran a great half! It is natural and expected that your body is going to be tired and sore. Don't feel humbled by that and don't let your body's response shake your confidence. Great week of workouts for you. You're doing so many great things! Keep listening to your body.

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    1. It had been so long since I'd run anything distance--I had forgotten how much 13.1 takes out of you! It's not that I'm old or anything... :p

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  8. Respect the distance indeed. I was surprised how sore I felt after a sort of Half yesterday run to/from a 15K. Glad your Achilles is on the mend.
    I love Battle ROpes. Your leggings are awesome

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    1. Thank you! Those are Inknburn, but I like to call them my sassy pants. I've never had a bad run or a bad workout in them!

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    2. #TeamSassyPants
      I feel the same about my Frozen Penguin t-shirt. It has magic in it

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  9. You had a strong half- it's okay to be sore and smart of you to listen to your body! You still had an awesome week of strength- impressive stuff!

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    1. Thank you!! I'm definitely feeling better today. It just takes a little longer to recover, I guess!

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  10. I was just talking about feeling so humbled by running today. What feels like a piece of cake one day can be unattainable the next. Glad you are feeling better today!

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  11. I had a big serving of humble pie today when I did my first snowshoe run of the season. You think you are in decent shape and then BAM! Snowshoe running makes you feel like it's the first time you've ever run. HAHAHA!

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    1. Oh, I bet! Are you hoping for more snow so you can get more practice? LOL

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  12. I am typically not a huge fan of winter running, but one good thing is that we can get our runs in EVENTUALLY, like you did on Sunday, not at the crack of dawn like we have to do in the summer. I am eating humble pie tonight. I ran a 5K today, and at mile 2.5 my hamstring started hurting again. Oh no!

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    1. Oh no is right! I hope that your hamstring calms down. Running fast isn't always our friend.

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  13. Failures usually just fuel a desire to try harder (like, with weight loss). Fear can definitely sometimes hold me back, OTOH. Running has helped with that to some degree, although fear still can hold me back sometimes!

    Of course I've never run a marathon, but I really do (mostly) try to respect racing any distance. Racing is not easy! It's not supposed to be! But it can be so rewarding, right?

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    1. I've always wondered why you've never done a full marathon--you ran that 18 miler, which is the longest distance I ran for my last 3 marathons! Is it fear? Or something else?

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  14. You still had a solid week! I have #runrise envy. I've being going out too early or too late.
    Entered for the Sport Suds. Since 80% of my laundry is workout clothes, I was it all together. Is that gross?

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    1. No! I wash all my clothes together and in fact, when I was trailing the SportSuds, I did all my clothes in it. Good stuff!

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  15. Sometimes I get annoyed when runs don't go my way. I'm trying to work more on the mental aspect of running- that is remaining positive in the face of running adversities.

    I've been using Defunkify as a laundry detergent and I really like it. It's similar to Sport Suds, it really gets to the core of the smell and breaks up the leftover sweat left in the clothes. My bras were a particular culprit!

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    1. Ha! I always get annoyed when run doesn't go my way. Or a workout. I guess that's what keeps me coming back for more.

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  16. You're so right about respecting the distance! I always get a little irritated when I hear someone dismiss a half marathon. After running such a great race you were smart to give yourself the rest you needed.

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  17. This week was just blah for me. I didn't do a lot of running but now at least my foot feels better.

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    1. Sorry to hear that Zenaida! I hope this week is better for you.

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  18. It sounds like your runs were better by the weekend so that's good news! I had missed the sports suds review so I'm going to check that out now :)

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  19. Ugh. Just when you think everything is moving beautifully, bam. Not so much. I'm sorry.

    I do find running humbling, as is all fitness. Some days, all the pieces fit together beautifully. Some days, not so much. I see it happen a lot in yoga, where some days, I'm incredibly flexible and fly into positions with ease, and other days, I struggle to touch my toes. It's crazy.

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  20. I'm so sorry Wendy. What a bummer :( and how frustrating at cross-fit. But SammyJo is so right, but I know that's a hard pill to swallow in the moment. I hope this new week is already starting off on the right foot.

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    1. There's always something to keep me humble--this week is was trying to do double unders, lol!

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  21. I try not to get my failures/frustrations get in the way of a workout and am usually successful, but some days I don't quite get past it, so I chalk it up to a bad day and move on. Good on you for giving your body time to rest!

    Thanks for the giveaway! I'd use it on just the workout clothes! :P

    (P.S. The link to get to your fb page in your giveaway is broken! :[ )

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  22. I had a big ol' slice of humble pie myself this past weekend at a race. It's hard! Unrelated: I just got some sports suds myself to try! Can't wait !

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    1. Excited to hear what you think of SportSuds--I would think this stuff would be great for an ultradistance runner! All that dirt...sweat...lack of sleep..lol

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  23. Running humbles me ALL THE TIME. But it's so worth it for those good days. I'm glad you gave yourself a little rest. You earned it!

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    1. Listening to my body is the hardest thing to do! Sometimes it tells me things I don't want to hear.

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  24. I hope this week is off to a better start, Wendy. I have been humbled by many runs and the older I get, the more I am humbled...

    Are SportsSuds okay to use in high efficiency washers (i.e. low sudsing)?

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  25. I haven't climbed a rope in like 100 years, so more power to you for even attempting it!

    I love detergent that I can use for both my activewear and regular clothes, so I'd use it for both!

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    1. I never could do it when I was younger, so it makes me happy to know that I can now!

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  26. Well done for sticking to an active week after a half marathon. I normally give myself a week of relaxing and doing nothing after an event, I then regret it the following week.

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    1. I cut back on running, but stuck to my CF and strength workouts.

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  27. May just use on my running clothes. Although, I wonder if it would work well on my sons hockey clothes.

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