The Countdown is On!

55 bottles of beer on the wall, 55 bottles of beer. Take one down, pass it around, then you get drunk and you fall on the ground... Who remembers singing this song on school field trips?  Was it just my school? Ahh, the carefree 1970s...

When 2020 began, none of us had any clue as to what the year held for us. Like most of you, I had some races on the calendar and was going to plan my runs, training for my events as they rolled out. There were whispers of a pandemic brewing, but none of us could fathom what was to come. Looking back on the year, from a running perspective, for me, there weren't many races, but it was a good year for me with a lot of miles run. In fact, I am closing in on 1200 miles for the year. I didn't set a mileage goal this year, but as the end of the year approached and the miles piles up, I figured it was worth chasing. After all, it has been a long time since these legs have run this many miles.

Since my diagnosis with RA 4 years ago, I stopped setting mileage goals. But when I hit 100 miles for the month as part of a virtual challenge back in April, I decided to make it a goal to run 100 miles each month this year. Then I entered the Ice Age Trail race and accumulated some decent mileage training for that. The race may have been postponed until 2021, but I kept on running. 

At this writing, I am at 1145 miles for the year. There are no awards, no medals, just my pride, and that feeling of accomplishment on the line. All things considered, RA and an aging body, I'm really happy that I can do this. Oh and yeah, running was not canceled this year! I may have mentioned that before, lol. 1200 miles? I'm coming for you.

Weekly Rundown

Monday: run 8 miles

Tuesday: home WOD

Wednesday: trail run 6 miles

Thursday: strength training

Friday: run 6 miles

Saturday: Yoga with Adriene, treadmill run 6.2 miles

Sunday: rest

Running:

Tired of running in the cold and dark and needing a mood booster, I switched my planned WOD for a run. I took my shoes to the retention pond. I intended to run 6 but felt so good that I pushed it to 8. Mentally, I felt like a new person. I'm going to continue running on Mondays, weather permitting, until spring. I really was starting to dread that 4:30 am alarm. Why is it so much easier to wake up early in the summer than in the winter?

Wednesday was absolutely gorgeous and perfect for a run on the trails. It warmed up quickly--it's so funny how 50 degrees feels warm now--and the ground thawed, turning muddy and soft. This was trail running at its finest and I joked that I got lost in the woods, simply because I didn't want the run to end.

With rain moving in, Friday's run was gray and raw. My legs felt light and as my Friday runs have been, this was a zippy run on the bike path. When I got home and stopped running, there was a sudden, sharp pain in my hip and low back, so much so that I had to limp to my front door. Huh. The run itself wasn't an issue. It didn't feel like ITBS. I thought that maybe it was something I did the day before while working with SJ. Later in the day, the pain moved to my lower back, and yep, it was my old nemesis, my SI joint. Been there, done that! At least it wasn't as bad as the last episode. I spoke with my PT friend, who concurred and I set up a time to work with her on Sunday. In the meantime, she said I could continue to run. 

Still sore but feeling much less pain, I ran on the treadmill Saturday. Yes, I loathe the TM, but it was rainy, windy, and cold, and really who wants to run in that? Plus, I figured running slow and steady on a soft, smooth surface while recovering from a back tweak was the best way to go. Even better, I did a Yoga with Adriene class for low back pain prior to my run, which really helped a lot. To pass the time on the mill, I watched a video of the Ice Age Trail race from 2019. Near the end when the slower 50k and 50 milers finished, tears were flowing and not just from the runners! So much inspiration and FOMO. While I'm signed up for the half marathon for 2021 (deferred from this year), I may just go for the 50k in 2022 if I stay healthy and strong!

CrossFit/Strength

Tuesday's WOD couldn't be modified to a home workout, so I did the WOD from the previous Friday. The strength portion had 5 sets of 5 deadlifts at 60-70%. My barbell set only goes up to 95#, so that's what I did. Close enough. Those alternated with 8 perfect push-ups. The MetCon was a 5 x 3 minutes on 1 minute off of 12 thrusters (35#), 12 bar hop burpees, 12 sumo deadlift high pulls (35#), and 12 v-ups. I didn't have enough time to do 5 rounds, but I was able to complete 4. It was good enough. 

Thank you Secret Santa for the fun shirt!

So let's talk about what I did with Sammy Jo on Thursday, which she designated a 'deload day'. She started me out with side steps with the resistance band while holding a 30# KB. Those alternated with windmills holding a dumbbell overhead. These are supposed to work my core, but I felt awkward during the windmills. I am convinced this is what threw my pelvis out of alignment. Dammit. I also did lateral lifts using dumbbells. I ended with my favorite thing, rope climbs. SJ had me work on technique--yep, there's more to climbing than scaling the rope, apparently! She wanted me to do handstands after that, but I begged off. 

But Wait...There's a GIVEAWAY! 'Tis the season to be SAFE!

How's everyone doing with their holiday shopping? I'm actually done. My family is not getting together this year, so we're having a Zoom Christmas, yay. This means I have to get all my gifts wrapped and delivered to all my recipients before the big day. I may have done a little shopping for myself, too, lol. It's not too late to take advantage of good deals and RoadID, has a few things coming up: 

12 Days of Deals: RoadID is launching a new deal every day between now and December 18. Everything from Sidekick IDs to apparel will get its day in the discounted spotlight. 

The Rock Solid Collar ID Launch:  RoadID is super excited to introduce this new collar to our lineup of pet products. Check it out at this link! I may have to get one for Cocoa.

The Procrastinator’s Sale, December 13-15: Just in time for shipping cutoffs, the Procrastinator’s sale is for… erm, well… all you Procrastinators out there! It’s the perfect time to get a new ID or a gift card for the folks you love.

E-Card Sale Tuesday, December 22: When you don’t know someone’s preferred emergency contacts, hook them up with an E-card to customize their own ID. They'll be discounted on December 22.

I'm also hosting a giveaway on my Instagram --a lucky winner will receive a $35 gift card to select the product of their choice! The giveaway is live now and ends at 6 am on Wednesday, December 16. You can't win it if you aren't in it!

'Tis the season to be safe! I'm hosting a @roadID giveaway. You can't win it if you aren't in it!  @oldrunningmom #running #runchat #runsafe #giveaway

How was your week? Are you closing in on any goals you set for yourself? Did your goal change as the year went on? Are you entering my giveaway?

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