Saturday, January 1, 2022

Another Idiot Runner

Who's an idiot? Apparently, me...and a few other runners I saw on Wednesday's snowy, muddy, slushy trail run. I was crossing the parking lot, deciding between calling it quits and continuing on for a couple more miles. A group of 4 runners I had seen earlier on the trails was stripping down in the sunshine and preparing to leave, when one of them called out to me. "Another idiot runner!" I stopped and he laughed, gesturing to his running companions. "All of us," he said, laughing. 

I don't know if running the trails in the snow and slop constitutes a diagnosis of idiocy, but I laughed and continued on, telling the group I had been planning to stop but challenge accepted. I mean, how could I stop after that backhanded compliment? I ended up going 2 more miles before returning to my car.

Wednesday's sloppy trail run
Weekly Rundown
Sunday: trail run 6 miles
Monday: pool running
Tuesday: CrossFit
Wednesday: trail run 6 miles
Thursday: strength training
Friday: run 5.3 miles
Saturday: rest
Month total: 89 miles
Year total running miles: 740 miles

Running

Sunday was pretty decent and I wanted to run on the Des Plaines River Trail. I hadn't run there since my injury! I wanted something flat and foresty, and this trail checks all those boxes. The trail was dry but my legs were really tired. This 6 mile run was a slog, but I'm always glad to run in the woods.


We got a couple of inches of snow on Tuesday night and on Wednesday, I was excited to run in it! As soon as I ran from the main trail onto the single track into the woods, I saw 4 bucks! I can't believe they were all together--I thought they usually traveled solo. They didn't run from me, but as I approached they started moving away from me. Later, I saw one of my trail friends across the creek. She was wearing shorts! I told her about the deer and later, she saw them too. The slushy snow and deep water in the creeks made this a very challenging run for me. Normally, I cross the creeks multiple times, walking on logs or tree trunks, but they were slick from the snow and I had several near misses, almost falling into the water. Only once did I fall, but fortunately I landed on the muddy bank instead of the creek. This was the most legit trail running I've done in a long time!

You can't see him, but the little guy was back behind #3
We got more snow Wednesday night and while it warmed up on Thursday, I was worried it would freeze overnight, jeopardizing my Friday morning run on the bike path. Thankfully, it did not and I had a nicely paced 5-ish miler before work. Oh yes, I had to work. I was the only person on the bike path, so clearly, everyone else had the day off!

Pool Running

I thought it would be crowded at the pool on Monday morning, but there were very few people there! I did the Riptide workout, which is a combination of endurance and sprints. I needed those big movements again. I have been so tired and sore the past couple of weeks! The water works magic on those muscles and I felt like a new woman. 

CrossFit and Strength

On Monday, I walked into the 5 am class and saw the WOD was full of rope climb prep and rope climbs. GULP. The coach greeted me with: "It's time to get back on the horse!" Deep breath. The strength portion had rope pull-ups, rope knee-ups, and rope foot wraps with a short climb. The first time I wrapped my feet on the rope, it felt as if I had never done it before. I shook off the nerves, clamped my feet on tight, and found my groove. I did not go to the top, but I scaled the rope halfway for a total of 12 times during class. I could not have been happier!!! 


On Thursday, SJ had me work on the smaller muscle groups, starting me off with a side-lying glute press on the bench. I alternated these with overhead presses using an inverted KB and sissy squats using a KB. After that, I did some core work and a hip flexor movement. I felt all of those on Friday!

My highlight reel...

I finished up the year with 740 running miles. This does not include my hiking and walking miles. Totaled up, I had 915 miles combined running and walking. All things considered, this makes me really happy. I put together a reel for Instagram of some of my highlights of the year. It was hard to decide which 12 photos I wanted to use. My injury was not the major event it could have been and so I didn't include it. I was so lucky that I was able to stay so active while I healed. I'm so happy to be able to run again, but even more grateful to have found that there are so many other activities I could do. Here's to many happy miles in 2022--both on the road and in the woods!




How was your week? Did you keep moving? Did anyone else get snow? How did you finish up the year? Happy New Year!

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






33 comments :

  1. You really finished the year strong despite so many obstacles thrown at you! I am really impressed with your rally back. Happy new year and wishing you many healthy miles in 2022

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    1. I'm glad that both of us had such strong years in spite of all the turmoil going on around us. Also glad we got to meet up when you were in town. I hope it happens again this year!

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  2. We've only had a little snow so far and it's all melted -- which is just the way I like it!

    You had great mileage considering your injury.

    Glad you didn't fall into the creek! Happy New Year!

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    1. I'm glad I didn't fall into the creek either! One of my trail friends did and he said it's waist deep. Yikes!

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  3. All things considered you had a solid year. Getting back up after being knocked down is a total win in my book. I runfess I wish our most recent snow event would've yielded more snow!

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  4. A very good mileage considering all the problems you had to face! Brava.
    All of us, the runners, are a bit idiot (it is a compliment not an insult) because we run under the rain, with the snow, even if we are tired or if we feel a little pain somewhere, in the dark, with the cold and under the hot sun, alone in places where there is no one, in the middle of the traffic ecc.
    Here we seldom see the snow. Today it's cloudy after some warm and sunny days.

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    1. At first I was like..what? But yeah, a compliment of the highest order!

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  5. I heard all the snow and cold made for a lot of house-bound people (at least in my area of Iowa). I can tolerate the winter weather (I have to, LOL), but getting dumped on is always an annoyance of the season. Congrats on your rally-back, especially getting back on the "horse." That had to be mentally tough, but rewarding.

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    1. I like the snow, especially this time of year. After March, tho, it is just a nuisance!

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  6. You are awesome. That is a lot of miles with an injury. Shows how tough you are.

    Ice makes me cringe... so far we've had a mild winter.

    Be careful...do NOT fall!

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  7. Wow- you really had a great year in spite of everything. That run on Wednesday sounds really fun- if that makes me an idiot, then count me in!
    No snow here- it's supposed to get up to 85 today. A tad on the warm side for December, but I'll take it!

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    1. Whew, that's warm! I'm really ok with the snow in January. Looking forward to a snowy week and a trail 10k on Saturday.

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  8. I was the idiot runner who thought it'd be a good idea to run a half marathon in howling winds yesterday. Totally worth it!

    We have snow in the high mountains, which is where we need it. It rained steadily here for more than a week which made even our sidewalks muddy. Naturally it stopped in time for the Rose Parade!

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    1. It looked like you had great weather for the Rose Bowl yesterday! Congrats on your half!

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  9. You had a great year despite the tough injury! And look at you, back on the rope. Impressive!

    Those deer are so cool to see together. Stay safe out there on the snow/ice!

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    1. I have to pull out the YakTrax! I'll be running on the trails tomorrow.

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  10. I love your highlight reel, and I love that your injury didn't keep you down. And I love that you got back on the horse. Maybe it's time I got back on a horse, too (literally).

    Happy New Year, Wendy! I hope 2022 brings great things!

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    1. Do you ever get to ride Taco?

      Happy New Year, Jenn! All good things this year. ALL.

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  11. So glad the year ended on a high note for you — with promise of more fun on the run in the year ahead.
    Way to go back up that rope! That fear is hard to overcome, but now that you’ve done it, you know you can.

    I wore short sleeves on my run this morning but they are saying we could get snow tonight???

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    1. We're actually going to the deep freeze this week. I don't mind the snow but the cold is a whole other thing.

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  12. It's great to see you back in such great running form! Looks like you really enjoyed the trails this week! So great to see you tackling the rope climb again ;)

    Wishing you a very happy 2022!

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  13. Wow! I've also never seen 4 bucks together. I think the most I have seen are 3.
    Loved your highlight reel for 2021!

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  14. Well done on a great year. And I was worried at the start of the post, glad it wasn't some person shouting at you out of a car! I had a good running week, reaching a total of 20 miles again in the week after ramping it up slowly like the good, safe runner I am! Happy 2022!

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  15. Getting back on the horse is always hard and good for you for climbing the rope again! Your runs on the trails in the preserve sound fabulous!

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  16. Only in running is being called "an idiot" or "crazy" a compliment! Kudos to you for pushing ahead!

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  17. Look at you, back to doing all the things! I hope you are starting out with at great new year and stay strong!

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