Sunday, May 30, 2021

A Lot to Unpack!

Life got busy and I missed last week's rundown. Again. But it was worth it. For the first time in almost 2 years, I took a trip to the south to visit my friend and former Weekly Wrap cohost, Holly. In spite of a few glitches in my travels (I'll share that on Friday's Coffee Talk), once I got there, we picked up right where we left off. It was a fun trip and as always, too short! I'm still riding high and grateful to Holly and her husband for their hospitality. 

Meanwhile, life goes on as usual. There was running and strength training; this week, after several years  of working towards it, I finally attained my goal of a strict pull-up! Weather-wise, we went from summer to winter and back to summer again. 

I have a lot to unpack here; I'm going to try to hit the highlights of my past 2 weeks and keep you from glazing over. If you want to see more details, check out my Instagram!

Giant pinecones in Alabama!

Weekly Rundown x2:
Monday: Crossfit
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: trail run 6 miles
Thursday: travel to Alabama
Friday: hike 3 miles, waterski
Saturday: Swayback trail run 5 miles, waterski
Sunday: walk 3 miles, waterski
Monday: waterski
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: trail run 7.5 miles
Thursday: strength train
Friday: run 6 miles
Saturday: rest
Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 4 miles

Running

Most of my miles the past two weeks were on the trails! The highlight of my runs was the return to the Swayback Trails in Alabama. I hiked there with Holly 2 years ago. This week, she wanted to do hill repeats, so I ducked into the woods and enjoyed the beautiful trails. The paths were covered with pine needles, making for a very soft ride. It's fairly hilly and in particular, I enjoyed one trail called 'Tola Coaster', which was a 2 mile round and round, up and down path, similar to a roller coaster ride. Another trail took me to the lake and back. It was a warm day, but the shade kept me comfortable. 

CrossFit/Strength training

Another highlight this week was finally doing my first ever strict pull-up! A few years ago, I set 3 non-running goals: to do a rope climb, a handstand, and a strict pull-up. While I've achieved the first 2 goals, the strict pull-up has been elusive. This week when I met with Sammy Jo, we worked on clean and split jerk technique. She wanted to alternate those with assisted pull-ups. I put my hands on the bar and before she could lift me up, I was up over the bar!!!!! I did 2 more and then she had to help me with #4. When I dropped down, she looked at me, stunned. I told her I was going to cry and then she started to cry, and yeah. It happened. I tried again after that and nope, no more pull-ups, but now I know it is in me and I am SO EXCITED! 

Waterskiing

In this couple of weeks full of highlights, this was THE highlight of the past 2 weeks, hands down. When I visited Holly last, in September of 2019, she had me try her Radar ski, the one she didn't like much. As it turns out, I liked it a lot. Since then, we've talked about me buying it, but couldn't work out the logistics, much less pay the shipping cost. On my recent trip, I skied all weekend on this beauty and fell in love. When we realized I could check it as oversized baggage on my flight home, we packed it up and now it is mine. 


I swear, this ski has magical powers. I glided across the water, I carved, I sprayed, I cut, I didn’t want to stop. Truly, it is a joy to ski on. The only glitch was the very tight boot, which was a challenge to get over my foot. Once I was in, I was golden. Until the last run, that is, when I fell and my foot did not release from the boot. I twisted my ankle when I hit the water. Yikes. When I got the ski home, my hubs and I adjusted the boot to loosen it up a bit. It was too cold to ski in Wisconsin this weekend--the water was 60 degrees--so I haven't tried it out, but trust me, I am ready. 

And yes, we tandem skied too!

What was the highlight of your week? Are you working on any big goals? Ever done a strict pull-up?

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







50 comments :

  1. I’m so glad you finally got to see Holly. The waterskiing looks like a blast, and I’m sure a lot more fun was had.

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  2. I was so happy that you were able to visit Holly and spend the weekend there - it looks like you had so much fun too! Also I've never seen pinecones that big before - wow!

    That's awesome that you were able to being the skis back and you only had to check it as oversized luggage - way better, and cheaper, the having it shipped!

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  3. Sounds like you had a great trip! I have sort of done a pull-up, but barely lol. Thats so awesome that you finally achieved your goal!

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  4. sounds like a wonderful re-connection with an old friend. I forgot you two used to do the link-up together! You are a talented water skier.

    OMG- a real pullup! I'm so jealous. That is so impressive Wendy!

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    1. Holly is a great coach and gave me a lot of helpful tips! Of course, the right equipment helps... :P

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  5. Highlight Hmmmm. The woodpecker? Getting 4 runs? Obviously it was a quiet week here, LOL!

    I always have goals. :)

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  6. Was so glad to see the water ski pics as I know you missed that and Holly.
    How awesome on the pull up!

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  7. Wow!!!!! As someone who has struggled with pull-ups over the years (never been able to do one) I know what a huge accomplishment that is! I wish I could have been there to see you and your coach crying- I probably would have joined in.
    Very cool about your new waterskis! I would imagine it takes a long time for the water in Wisconsin to warm up enough- hope you get to use them soon.

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    1. Just one waterski--it's a slalom ski :p. I'm hoping that a few warm days will help warm the water up to a temperature that I can at least wear my wetsuit!

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  8. Isn't it great to b e able to travel again!? It seems like someone just flipped the switch and we all got to go back to 2019 again. I was surprised by how lax things were in Chicago but also happy. I am so ready. You look so happy on your waterski glad you had a chance to play with Holly again!

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    1. I cannot express how wonderful it felt to travel. We kept joking that 2020 just didn't even happen. I kept saying 'last year' but really it was almost 2 years ago when i was there.

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  9. Wow the pinecones are huge! "Tola coaster" trail sounds interesting, love the name!

    The highlight of my week has been today's day trip to South Haven, MI. I saw the downtown area and the Lighthouse and beach. It was a short but good getaway.

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  10. THREE PULL-UPs, Wendy!!! Fantastic!! All the persistent training has finally paid off. That's very inspiring, now you make me want to try it too.
    I love those trails in Alabama. Such a beautiful place to train hill repeats.

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  11. I was so happy to see you and Holly back together again when I saw the post on IG! Glad you had fun water skiing and it is always fun to run on different trails ( or ones you've missed running on in a while)!

    Happy Memorial day! -M

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    1. Thank you Meranda! It was such a fun trip and so nice to pick up where we left off!

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  12. I'm a regular reader but don't usually comment (and hope you keep blogging!!) but WOW on the pull-up!! That is huge. It's a goal of mine too, although honestly I don't try hard enough to actually achieve it (I just lift dumbbells - don't do serious strength work like you) and it's totally inspiring to see that it IS possible with hard and diligent work. Way to go!

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    1. Hoping to build on it--I want to do toes to bar as well. Upper body strength is tough for women and I'm happy that even at 58, I can still get stronger!

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  13. Some fun and exciting highlights for sure! How nice to see Holly again. Hope the twisted ankle healed right up. I was up to 3 unassisted pullups back in March 2020 when we quit the gym. Since then, I haven't done much on that front. OF COURSE IT WAS IN YOU!!

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    1. I just love that we can do this stuff! I hope age never becomes an excuse.

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  14. Great that you could see Holly in person again ;-) The pine cones in the south are crazy...the hubs brought home a couple from North Carolina (I think?...in was 20+ years ago), and they're the length of my forearms, but much wider.

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  15. So much goodness in this update! So great that you got to spend some time with Holly...and enjoy some time waterskiing.

    Congrats on the pull-ups! You are so strong - had no doubt you'd get this done!

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    1. I was seriously doubting it! It took so long! Now to see if I can do it again.

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  16. I am so glad you had a great time with Holly. You rock on that pull up!! Umm, no, never done one but if I work for it then I am sure I can do it too. However, it will probably take me years! :-)

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  17. So great that you would take in touch with Holly. I remember her fondly.

    Waterskiing is so much fun. I wish I still could.

    Last week was a blur.... psyching myself up for another race.

    It went well in spite of the awful weather.

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    1. It looks like you really enjoyed your race! Feels good, doesn't it?

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  18. I am so glad you were able to get away. Never have I ever done a strict pullup. I wish it was in my arsenal, but nope. I am so proud of you!

    Love that you were able to take your new ski home with you! Great souvenir!

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  19. A real pullup, so impressed! Hooray! I'd have cried, too! And so lovely that you go to see Holly!

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  20. Wonderful Update And Good On You - Sending All The Best Vibes During This Month Of June - Tell The Hubby That I Said YO

    Cheers

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  21. So so glad you got to go see Holly! I love it when you can just pick up where you left off with someone! friends like that are just amazing <3 I loved seeing all your pics as well.

    I aspire to a pull up one day! Next year I'm going to really ramp up my strength training. I love what I do at home but I want to try something else and really work towards improvements!

    Love that you've got to spend so much time on the trails too!

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    1. I know that I wouldn't hit the goals I did without a coach. Sometimes it's really humbling, but the end results are so rewarding!

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  22. How fun that you got to visit Holly and snag a magical water ski! I always love the tandem pictures of you and Holly skiing - so fun!

    Great job on the pull-up! At the end of the Fitness Machines 101 class I teach, an elderly gentleman pointed to the pull-up bar and asked if I could demo "that." I told him that I doubted it, but stepped up to try anyway. My form wasn't that pretty and I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or him, but I did it.

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  23. I LOVED seeing your IG posts with Holly!! It made me smile. I'm so glad you guys got to catch up and get on the water again. :)

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    1. It was great to be able to just pick up where we left off! Now, how about you and me?

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  24. All that water skiing looks like fun. So glad you had such a great trip. And that pull up....wow!

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  25. Pull-ups are hard. At one point I could do seven. I had to, it was required at work. But I had to do them every day or I would lose them.

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  26. I've had a hard time lately both keeping up with reading blogs and with writing my own. I seem to have settled into a once a week pattern and even that is a challenge sometimes.

    I've loved watching you enjoy your time on the water! It's so great to visit friends again.

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