Enough Already

For the past 4 1/2 months since my injury, I've been patiently returning to running. There has been a lot of splashing around in the pool. Modified strength training. Walking and hiking. And finally last week, full-on running, using 3:1 run/walk intervals. I've been pretty pleased with what has mostly been uneventful, steady progress. 

Until Thursday. After my pool running session, I decided to set up our outdoor Christmas tree. The whole neighborhood sets up little trees in their front yards. It's pretty awesome and since it wasn't terribly cold, it was a good day to do it. I gathered the ornaments and proceeded to carry them outside when I missed a step in the garage and painfully rolled my ankle. Not my right ankle, thankfully. It was my left and oh did it hurt. I felt sick to my stomach and had to sit down for a few minutes to evaluate the damage. Nothing broken, thank goodness. I stood up and hobbled out to the tree. As I moved around to decorate it, I started to feel better. I finished my job and headed back inside to rub some CBD salve on the ankle and put it up for the day. As I write this, it's still sore and stiff but I'm able to run and walk without a problem.

Grateful nothing bad happened, I couldn't help but think, enough already! It kind of felt like a theme for the week.

Weekly Rundown

Sunday: run 5.25 miles

Monday: pool running 10k

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: strength training, running 5 miles

Thursday: pool running

Friday: run 5.3 miles

Saturday: rest

Running

It was a cold and blustery week. On Sunday, I did my miles around my neighborhood. I haven't run there much since I started trail running. I continued my run/walk intervals at 3:1. This was an uneventful, boring run and it reminded me why I don't run the neighborhood very often anymore.

After strength training with SJ on Wednesday, I decided to do a couple of loops around the local retention pond. I took a little side detour to make each loop 2.5 miles. I didn't fight the wind as much as I anticipated and I was grateful for this opportunity to get out of my head. That is, until the very end of my run. I was looping around to the parking lot when I heard someone call my name. It was a nurse who used to work at my doctor's office. She was walking with her grown son. I stopped to chat for what I hoped was briefly, but the conversation took an unpleasant turn when the subject of vaccination came up. I should have handed them a copy of this article and moved on. When I was finally able to extricate myself, I finished my loop, angry at myself for engaging in the discussion and frustrated by the interruption. After that, it was off to work where I got to have more of these conversations, just like I do every day now. Can I just say: enough already?

I woke up to the coldest morning yet! But it was Friday and it was time for me to fly. I was excited to wear my new Inknburn pullover. I was also excited to see what the sunrise would bring. I was completely alone on the path and it felt like I was the only person awake in the world. This chilly run put me in the right frame of mind for another very busy day in the office. 

No filter needed

Pool Running

I got in 2 pool running sessions this week! On Monday, I did my Fluid Running Turkey Trot 10k! The guided workout certainly helped keep me moving. Within each mile, she read a motivational quote, threw in a hill, and made us sprint. I was pretty tired the rest of the day after this, but I sure felt accomplished!

With nothing on the calendar Thursday (I'm trying not to run 2 days in a row right now), I was pleased to see the pool was open until noon! I did an old favorite, the Riptide workout, which is a mix of endurance and HIIT. I had the pool to myself for most of the workout, and I felt great when I finished. 

Strength Training

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, SJ and I met on Wednesday morning, and yep, she had me do deadlifts. I did 4 sets of 8, building to 140# for the final set. I was pretty happy about that! I alternated my DLs with weighted box side steps. Those challenged my glutes! After that we worked on assisted pull-ups, alternating with some plank work. I was pleasantly sore on Thursday and worked it all out at the pool. 

Thanksgiving

My sister hosted Thanksgiving this year. It was a small gathering with just my parents, my family, and my sister's family, minus one nephew. It felt great to all be together! On Saturday, my youngest and I took an impromptu ride into the city to join my oldest at a Wisconsin Badger bar to watch the Badgers play Minnesota for Paul Bunyan's ax. It was a disappointing game but I'm always happy when I can be with my boys. My youngest returned to Madison last night. I miss both my boys already! Mamas, you feel me on this, right?

How was your week? Did you do any turkey trotting? How was your Thanksgiving? How do you escape unpleasant conversations?

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