Sunday, September 27, 2020

Life's Short. Run Fast.

Well, well, well. Here we are at the end of September. Time sure flies when you're having fun, right? Are we having fun yet? I celebrated a birthday on Monday and hell no, I'm not telling you how old I am. Because you're only as old as you feel and I'm feeling pretty good right now. Knock wood. What a difference a year makes. 

My husband and I also celebrated an anniversary. 32 years! We don't really celebrate anymore but he bought a nice bottle of wine and cooked a yummy dinner for me. 

We've been fortunate here in the Midwest to be enjoying an amazing stretch of weather. With October knocking on the door, I know that the warm weather is going to end soon. It helps me to be outside.  It's been a really tough week for me--some personal stress along with the ongoing COVID battle and continued unrest in our country. I'm so grateful for running. It truly has been my therapy. 


Weekly Rundown
Monday: CrossFit with a timed 1 mile run
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: Trail run 6 miles
Thursday: Strength training, 800m run
Friday: Run 5.5 miles
Saturday: Run 8 miles and yoga with Adriene
Sunday: rest

Running

On Monday, I not only celebrated a birthday, I got a gift of a very speedy (for me) one mile run at CrossFit. The first part of the WOD was a timed mile. Sammy Jo led us through a warm up and sent us off down the road. I knew after the first 200m that this was going to be a good run. I kept a nice steady pace; turned around at 800m and ran back to the box, Sammy Jo shouting encouragement. My Garmin had me at 7:40 for that run. I was ecstatic! I don't think I've run a sub-8 mile since training for my last Chicago marathon in 2015. A lot has changed for me since then--menopause and RA--but it sure was nice to know that I still have some speed in these old legs! 


Wednesday's run was on the trails. I hadn't done a trail run for a few weeks, focusing on getting ready for my last half marathon. I've got another one coming up in a week, but I'm done training for it. The trails were dry and the roots were very prominent on the single track. Everything is turning golden and brown and I enjoyed a lovely hybrid run/hike of 6 miles. Can this weather stay forever?


On Friday morning, I woke up very early after a sleepless night. I laced up and hit the bike bath for a nicely paced 5.5 miles, catching a gorgeous sunrise! This run set a very nice tone for my day and I carried that with me. 


Saturday's run was an 8 miler using 4 min/30 sec run/walk intervals. The sunshine and warm temperatures, as promised by the weatherman, never materialized. It was damp and chilly, but I felt ok and finished with a decently paced 9:50 m/m run. My SI joint was really hurting, both during the run and after, so I did a Yoga for Back Pain class with Adriene. I felt amazingly better after that. So I tackled my kitchen, cleaning and polishing the cabinets and washing the floors. Old school, on my hands and knees. Hence, the rest day on Sunday. 

CrossFit/Strength

After the excitement of my mile run (see above), it was hard to settle in for the MetCon. We did an EMOM of pistol squats (I squatted to the low box), burpees, and pull ups (I used a band). Sammy Jo switched out my band on the pullups to a more difficult one. I was able to do 5 strict pullups with each EMOM. Getting stronger!

When you share a birthday with this cutie, you hug him!

For Thursday's strength sesh, I wore my deadlift shirt because Sammy Jo told me we'd be deadlifting. She had me do tempo deadlifts, 4 sets of 3 with a 5 second decline. They were heavy-145#! I alternated those with front rack lunges, 3 sets of 12. Prior to that I warmed up with 3 sets banded side steps and box step ups using 25# dumbbells in each hand. I finished with some ab work. 
 


As seen on the run...

Running on the trails this year has given me a whole new appreciation for nature and has been one of the silver linings of 2020. With fall closing in, I wanted to share some of the sights from my runs this week. 

This giant wasp nest was hanging from a thin branch!

The dry fall weather has exposed a lot of roots, making my trails very techinical.

This hawk, looking for dinner on the golf course

How was your week? Any fun running surprise? Any wins? Are you ready for fall? Doing any fall cleaning? Any fun nature sightings for you this week?


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


40 comments :

  1. Happy Birthday again! You sure did clock a speedy mile! And happy anniversary. Ours i coming up this week. OMG, that wasps’ nest — thank goodness it’s still hanging on. Love the pic of the hawk. Hope this week is good to you.

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  2. You've had an eventful week to say the least. I'm glad that speedy mile lifted your spirits. We had a gruesome tragedy on our deck this week. A poor bird got his little leg stuck in a tiny crack and became prey. Horrible.

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    1. That sounds horrible! When I was running on the bike path on Friday, I heard a strange growling sound coming from some bushes. I don't even want to know what that was all about.

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  3. Happy belated birthday! I think you're just a couple years ahead of me - you always inspire!

    For the first time this year Les is out of town and I am at home alone. I've tackled cleaning projects that I knew would have interrupted his work - especially the office closet. The office use to be my music room when I directed our church choir, but I stepped aside from that 6 years ago and it was time to fully say good bye.

    4.5 hours of sleep Friday night brought by a brain that wouldn't stop, I finally got up and was out the door before 5:30. 7 miler wasn't fast but I was able to keep moving.

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    1. Glad to hear that you've been able to run after insomnia! Sleep has sure been a challenge lately. We need a break from all the stress!

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  4. Wonderful photos! And I love your speedy mile. I got a 10:30 min mile in running down to meet my friend Meg, trying to beat her bus (I didn't) which pleased me! It is nice weather here - it was supposed to be cloudy today but was sunny, if cold.

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  5. Well that sure is a fantastic birthday gift to yourself! I be that felt fantastic. Running and exercising is the best therapy in my opinion too. I would have run very quickly away from that wasp nest. Have a good and week ahead!

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    1. I was just amazed by the size of it and that it was hanging from a thin branch!

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  6. Ooh, such a cool photo of the hawk! I'm with Deborah, wasp nest scare the bejeezus out of me, even if they're abandoned.

    Saturday was actually cool in the morning, although warmed up quickly throughout the day. I sort of regretted moving my race to Thursday but oh well, I made Mr. Judy be honest with his 5k. :)

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  7. I'm sorry to hear that you had a rough week :( So glad that you have running as a way to cope with all of the stress. I hope that you had great birthday and anniversary celebrations this week :)

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    1. You know, just when you think things will get better, they get worse. It's been so stressful--this week was definitely the most challenging.

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  8. Happy Birthday and Happy Anni! A 7:40 mile is a very nice present to give yourself;-)

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    1. Thank you! It was the highlight of my week. Maybe even the month or year, lol

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  9. What a great birthday present! That must have felt amazing. What a speedy mile, in the middle of a full week of workouts! You're amazing.

    I know this warmer weather in the Midwest won't last, but it sure has been nice...

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    1. I'm enjoying every last minute of it. You know what's around the corner!

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  10. Yikes, that wasp nest looks like the gargantuan one we had above our driveway a year ago (that had probably been there most of the summer). Congrats on the speedy mile...those sub-8's feel SO good ;-)

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    1. Well, i sure didn't see that wasp nest a few weeks ago when I ran by!

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  11. This has been quite a year, hasn't it? What would we do without running? I need to do some cleaning, but there's never any time...

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    1. I get that! I finally sucked it up and got some more deep cleaning done yesterday. It's amazing that even with a cleaning lady (who isn't coming anymore due to the pandemic), there is so much she didn't do.

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  12. Happy birthday! And happy anniversary, I don't think I caught the latter on social. You are amazing with all you have & continue to do.
    Love the hawk pic!

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    1. I didn't share the anniversary. You know, 32 years... lol. This year has been one of our toughest. I think we'll be ok, tho.

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  13. Wait, fall cleaning? I totally missed out on spring cleaning because I hate deep cleaning! ;) Happy belated birthday. A sub 8 mile is a great present for sure! Happy anniversary too. I'm glad you are able to keep on running to rest your mind. It's a powerful thing.

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    1. I hate cleaning SO MUCH that i wait for it to become critical mass and then I have no choice. I still need to dust. But I am pretty excited about my kitchen cabinets, all shiny and new looking, lol!

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  14. Congrats again on that speedy mile! Awesome when you can surprise yourself like that!

    I'm really sorry this was such a tough week - 2020 really just keeps pouring it on doesn't it :( Sending you lots and lots of hugs my friend.

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    1. Thank you so much, Michelle. Finally got a full night of sleep last night. <3

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  15. Oh My Gosh, Congrats On Another Trip Around The Sun With Your Husband - Also, A Very Happy 39th And Holding Birthday - Beautiful Smokey Fire Ball Photo Of Ya - Stay Strong & Hydrate Often

    Cheers

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    1. Looks like the weather will keep me hydrated...we are heading into a cool rainy phase...ugh

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  16. I wish more people knew what therapy running is! Such a great thing to lean on when there is chaos all round. Well done again on that 1 mile time! And the top you happened to wear on the day was just perfect! Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary - wishing you the best year ahead! It's got to be better than this one, that's for sure!

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  17. Happy birthday and happy anniversary! Such big and fun milestones!
    Way to go on your pullups and deadlifts! Your strength is always so incredible.
    We are seeing a lot of our "friendly" neighborhood alligator. We also had a hawk scope out our yard a few days ago, and we found a tiny baby snake on our pet walk the other day (which freaked me right out).

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  18. Happy Birthday and anniversary...what a special week. Congrats on your speedy mile!!!

    Let's not twin with SI pain!!! Hope yours is better. Mine is getting there.

    Running is the best therapy there is. Not sure what I do this year if I couldn't get out there especially in nature.

    Nothing too exciting here...lots of deer, geese, wild turkeys.

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    1. No worries! I've been doing my stretches and exercises for my SI joint. Hopefully, it will resolve itself. I've probably just been overdoing it. Who, ME?

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  19. Happy belated birthday and anniversary! I'm happy that running is going so well for you right now. Your trail looks beautiful and will be spectacular when the leaves turn.

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  20. Congrats on that speedy mile!!! Also, Happy Anniversary!!

    I don't run on the trail but I love seeing your pictures. Nothing exciting seen on my run.

    I love Fall. This week was just perfect and I wish it would stay that way. Bummer it is supposed to cool down.

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    1. Thank you Zenaida! It's too cold now! A happy medium would have been great!

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