Sunday, May 10, 2020

All You Need is ___________

Disclaimer: As an ambassador for All Community Events, I received a free entry to the Great Run Across Illinois Virtual Challenge. This post contains affiliate links.

Fill in the blank.

It's been a really challenging year so far for many of us. This is a running blog and while I like to keep the focus on running, today I have to comment on some of the issues facing us off the road. As if climate change and corornavirus weren't bad enough, another story hit the news this week that affected many of us--both as runners and as decent people. You'd have to be living under a rock to not have heard about Ahmaud Arbery, the 25 year old black man who was shot in February while running. The killers were a white father and former police officer, and his son. The story remained under the radar until this week, when a video of the event was released.

Guys, this isn't a political blog and there's so much I want to say about this incident. I can't sit back and not acknowledge the pervasive undercurrent of racism in America. As a white woman, I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to live with that kind of fear. As a caring human being, this story hurt my heart so much. Lacing up my shoes and heading out for a run is a freedom I take for granted.

So on Friday morning, after a sleepless night, I got up early and headed out with the sunrise to run 2.23 miles for Maud, on his birthday. Throughout the day, millions of runners and walkers did the same thing. My heart was full as I saw my social media feed filled with #irunwithmaud posts. While this horrific incident raised our awareness, it's important not to forget Ahmaud, how he died, and the poor manner in which this case was handled. Everyone matters.

#irunwithmaud


Weekly Rundown
Monday: CrossFit and Strength Training
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: Trail run 6.29 for the Uncanceled Project
Thursday: CrossFit and Strength Training
Friday: run 2.23 miles for Ahmaud Arbery
Saturday: run 10 miles
Sunday: Yoga with Adriene


Running
Early on Wednesday, a pretty spring morning, I took to the trails for my Uncanceled Project 10k. Every time I run there it feels like a different place.  The paths were almost completely dry and I enjoyed a very pleasant run.  And I had some virtual running buddies with me that morning!

Holly and Teresa, my southern soul sisters
It was really cold when I woke up on Saturday, so I took my time getting myself out the door. I planned 8-10 miles and prior to my run, I fueled with a mango lassi smoothie. I don't know if it was the smoothie or the ribose powder I added, but this run felt good. Up until mile 8, I ran without walking! I took 2 walk breaks during mile 9, but didn't need any walk breaks for the final mile. I was pleased and surprised. I haven't had a long run like that for a while! For this run, I switched up my route and ran the streets in my town, meandering through the neighborhoods and downtown. Sometimes a change of scenery is does a runner good.

Contemplating the quiet streets in my town
Because I ran on Friday, I skipped Sunday's planned run. I was unusually sore after Saturday's long run so taking the day to recover seemed like a good idea.

CrossFit
Monday's WOD was a very creative StarWars-themed 3 episode MetCon. Yoda Carries was 8x100 Back Loaded Weighted Carry. HAN was an 8 minute AMRAP of 11s; thrusters, strict high pulls, and situps. "Premier" was another 8 minute AMRAP of 19 double unders and 7 DB power snatches on each arm. Coach Web had a method to his madness that only a StarWars fanatic could understand, lol!

Thursday's WOD was much more straightforward. We started with a full Tabata each of Skull Crushers, Planks, and Lunges. The 15 minute AMRAP that followed was 10 OH squats, 10 situps of your choice, 10 DB snatches alternating arms, and a 200m run. I did this in the backyard and did shuttle runs instead of the run. Cocoa kept me company on those!

Strength
Sammy Jo sent me some new workouts. Monday's strength included deadlifts! There was also a circuit of bicep curls, skull crushers, and banded face pulls. Thursday's workout had front squats, followed by a circuit of body rows (TRX), pistol squats, and V-ups. I ended that one with an EMOM of 40 secs of handstand hold alternating with skater jumps.

Deadlifts 95# with 3 second descent
Front squats 65# with Coach Cocoa reminding me to get my elbows up!
Sammy Jo also challenged me to this yoga complex of crow, tripod, headstand, tripod, crow, to jump back. Ha!

Yoga is hard!
Virtual Challenges
My final live race, which was postponed from April to July, has now been changed to a virtual event. The CARA Lakefront 10 miler will take place in June. There will be a daily raffle and chances to win prizes, including NormaTec recovery boots! I'm pretty sad about this, but I am considering taking my run to the city to make it feel more real. Stay tuned...


I know I said I was done with virtual challenges, but...The Uncanceled Project extended the challenge for another 6 weeks. I can't quit now, right? I'll continue to do my Wednesday trail runs for this challenge, registering for the 10k distance, knowing that I can go farther if my body is up for it. There have been mornings when I wanted to run less, but knowing that I was committed to 10k has helped keep me accountable.


There's another challenge that I'm signed up for and you may want to consider it as well. The Great Run Across Illinois is a challenge that can be run solo or as a relay. Participants can run either the east to west distance of 210 miles or the north to south distance of 390 miles. Solo runners have 70 days to complete the challenge. Teams have 30 days. You start on the day of your choice. The challenge benefits the Illinois Nurses Foundation, an organization that provides scholarships and is dedicated to developing the profession of nursing. This challenge will help push me to keep my mileage up!
Off the Road
It was back to the office for me this week and I started my day on Tuesday with one of my babies. I almost cried! Since we are really limiting what we are scheduling in the office, we aren't very busy and I've been able to spend extra time with the patients I'm seeing. I'm still doing video visits as well. It was so nice to be back with my co-workers. On Wednesday, I joined them for lunch to celebrate Nurses' Day. I don't think I've ever been more proud to be a nurse. My frontline colleagues are my heroes.

And finally, on Friday's run for Maud, I found another painted rock under a tree. I can't think of a better word to end this post. It was perfect.


How was your week? Did you run for Maud? Are you signing up for any new virtual races?What word would you choose to fill in the blank? Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

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


47 comments :

  1. I'm glad you mentioned the incredibly sad case of Ahmaud Arbery. This story hasn't made it to the European news - I only learned about this from reading US running blogs like yours.
    What a nice gesture with millions dedicating a run for him!
    Ha, great that you committed to run another 6 weeks for the Un-Cancelled Project!

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  2. Happy Mother's Day, Wendy! Hope your boys spoil you today.

    I missed the Ahmaud story before my run on Friday. I've really been limiting how much news I consume lately. This story makes me so sick to my stomach.

    I had a good week running, cycling and yoga. I've managed to do something everyday this month so far... so that's now my May goal. My Suunto app shows a circle for each day, the longer the activity the bigger the circle. It's funny how a little thing like that can really motive me.

    All You Need... reminds me of a 25k race I did in Hawaii a few years ago. The sponsor was Brio Ice Cream and our swag included bags that said, "All you need is love and a little ice cream." We also got free samples after the race. That's my kind of post race treat!

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    1. I like that! My husband bought some coffee ice cream and yep, it was all I needed!

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  3. Glad your first week back went well. I am really angry about how Auhmaud was killed and sick to my stomach over how deep that evil runs. It made me nauseous to hear a Georgia state legislator saying GA doesn’t need a hate crime law b/c every life is valued equally, and yet white men were able to invoke a “stand your ground” defense after chasing down and cornered a black man. Imagine if black men with guns questioned a white man in their neighborhood and shot him after he “refused to obey simple commands.” Sorry to vent all this here!

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    1. No worries--I feel the same. It's a shame that this still goes on.

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  4. I didn't think that I would sign up for any more races, but this week my favorite summer race went virtual and as soon as they sent out the announcement I couldn't get myself registered fast enough. As runners we should know never to say never...

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    1. Right? I had a feeling there would be more challenging virtual races and I like the idea of having to complete a certain distance in a defined period of time.

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  5. It breaks my heart that we are still in this terrible, evil place where innocent people can be murdered for no reason. Not to mention the fact that this was all covered up until a video surfaced.
    Glad your return to the office and your babies went well!
    Happy Mother's Day!

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  6. I would definitely choose love to fill in the blank. And maybe a furkid or two. :)

    Maud was on my mind during today's run. It's so hard to make sense of it.

    Glad your transition back to seeing patients has been so positive!

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    1. It's not very busy, so I'm really enjoying the time I have to spend with them!

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  7. The Ahmaud situation is awful, for all the reasons you indicated. Every time this happens we think it's a one off, but it never is. I hope there's justice in this case, but somehow I doubt it.
    I love the ideas of the run across the states challenges. I did Run the Edge's Amerithon one year and that was fun too, although it took too long and I lost interest personally.
    Well done on the long run and the yoga complex. Yoga is 100% not easy!

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    1. I used to be able to do that yoga complex easily. It's amazing how you can be strong at one thing and not at another!

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  8. Sometimes a change of scenery is just what a runner needs! Did wonders for me today too. A nice week for you looking strong. Maud was on my mind as well. As a jewish woman, these are also things that our culture has had to struggle with forever. So many unnecessary tragedies.

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    1. I don't understand targeting someone because of their race or religion. I just don't get it.

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  9. A mango lassi smoothie...YUM and who knew it was great pre-long run fuel! Glad you had such a strong long run, that's awesome!

    I'm always in awe of your cross fit workouts...so impressive.

    It was really incredible to see the number of people on social media who ran for Maud. Amazing.

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    1. I'm paying for that long run today, lol! It's funny how a run can affect you differently at any given distance!

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  10. That's awesome that the UnCanceled Project extended the challenge for another 6 weeks. I think it's amazing that there are so many virtual challenges to choose from during this time because I think it gives people extra motivation to get out and run.

    I'm not an emotional person at all but I will admit that my heart was filled with so much love to see how many runners participated in dedication runs for Ahmaud Arbery.

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    1. I'm happy for these challenges too because they help me stay on track. I'm shying away from other 'challenges' that aren't challenging...lol

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  11. That's great to see you are back to work and it's going well. I'm still not sure when they will incorporate our offsite workers back into our office. By now I am so used to them being gone that it's going to be weird to go back to even half staffed. I am enjoying the quiet time.

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    1. I'm still going to be working at home one day per week. It's very quiet in the office!

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  12. I'm glad the Un-Canceled Project got extended. It's been a great motivator for me to tackle those %$&# 5K's...

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  13. It was so amazing to see social media come together for #irunformaud. Now we need more action on social and racial injustice in our country. Congrats on a week of back to work! I can't wait till I can see more of my regular patients!

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    1. That was exactly my thought! Let's not just walk away from all the injustice.

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  14. I did walk for Maud. Very sad.

    It seems like every races I signed up for has gone virtual. So a virtual half next weekend. I did sign up for the Un-canceled project again.. it's free.

    I need a real race to get my mojo back. My runs are very sluggish...well at least I'm out there.

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    1. I'm sorry that you are struggling so much, Darlene. Just keep moving.

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  15. It was really good to see so many people come together for run for Ahmaud. Its such a tragedy.
    I don't have any virtual races coming up. The half I was supposed to do in May is still trying to reschedule but their target date is the end of July. So I'm not counting on that happening. I'll just need to figure out when I want to run it virtually.

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    1. I figure I'll do mine as it falls into my training schedule....

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  16. I too am saddened and angered by yet another innocent person of color killed by racist white men. The way this was handled was terrible. I'm not sure how that video got released but thank God that it was or those men would never have paid for their crime.

    I'm pretty sure if I ever tried that Crow to Headstand move I'd either break my neck or roll into a somersault! Nice job!

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    1. I did flip over backwards, but I'm just so good at falling! lol

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  17. Sad but unfortunately not shocked at the murder of Ahmaud - along with driving while black, running while black is all too often a "crime" which say a lot about our country. Because I'm not up to running 2 miles, I walked 2.23 for him on Friday.

    Switching gears, I liked that you got to run in your deserted town for a change of pace. While weird to see it so empty, it must have been cool, too.

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    1. It was kind of cool but I'd much rather see it with all the restaurants and bars open!

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  18. I ran for Maud and was glad that pretty much took over my social feeds on Friday. Such a terrible story, and his story — and the fact that the assailants were not charged for more than two months — made me think as a white woman. I don't have to worry about my safety while running in a neighborhood — in fact, I generally would feel safer in a neighborhood rather than on a secluded trail or something like that.

    Also wanted to say the photo of you and your two friends is fun!

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    1. Thank you! I was planning a trip south for this weekend, so I'm really missing them terribly!

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  19. I did run for Maud and so did several of my friends. Just sickening. I'm glad of all the love and anger and hope it will do something.

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  20. I ran for Ahmaud on Friday - I have not been able to shake the images from that video. It did my heart good to see my social media feed fill up with so many running or walking in his memory.

    It's great to have some challenges and virtuals to keep running interesting. I missed the first round of the Un-Canceled project but signed up for the new round.

    Love the virtual run photo of you, Holly & Teresa! :)

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    1. I'm hoping that people don't forget about Maud after this.

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  21. Happy Mother's Day!
    I ran for Maud as part of my Friday run. It upsets me so much that a practical lynching still happens in America and that some attempted to justify murder with the argument of citizen's arrest. Citizens should not even have guns like that. (Sorry for the rant, but racism and any inability to see the innate dignity of every human life really upsets me.)
    The virtual challenge sounds fun! A bunch of my athletes are doing some and I like the idea of trying to run a certain amount of miles in a set time...maybe there's something for Indiana!

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    1. I like the idea of running a goal distance in a set time too. That's my kind of virtual challenge!

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  22. Wonderful week!

    I absolutely put in miles for Ahmaud. The whole thing just makes me so angry. What a senseless act of violence.

    I did sign up for the second phase of the Uncanceled Project. Why not?

    The rock is too perfect! It put a smile on my face just seeing the picture.

    I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. The weekend was good here, but it will be way better next year. It has to be.

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    1. I had an amazing Mother's Day! Having adult children is the best!

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  23. Beautifully stated. I'm glad the running community paid tribute to Ahmaud. Hopefully this case will lead to justice being served...

    I miss being able to do crow! Last time I attempted, my wrists weren't having it, lol! Love seeing all that you can do!

    I miss Holly and Tricia's blogs, I hope they're doing well! Nice to see you all are still tight! :)

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  24. Friday was a rest day for me so I missed his run. I am so proud to be a part of a running community who came together in his honor.

    Nice job with those strength workouts!! I love banded face pulls and skull crushers.

    Hope you had a terrific Mother's Day!

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  25. I saw all of the runs people did in honor of him but it was just so sad. I kept watching the video and wondering how the heck all of that happened. It also made me so angry. I also signed up for the Uncanceled Project 2. The Great Run Across Illinois sounds tempting! It is definitely all for a GREAT cause. :-)

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