Sunday, April 17, 2022

Another Week of Effing Crazy Weather

Excuse me if I've offended anyone with the title of this post. But the weather this spring has been ridiculous. It's been colder than average and we've had a lot of rain and snow. I've already whined about the mud. This week, I ran in fairly normal conditions on Sunday, warm and rainy on Wednesday, and really cold and sunny for my race on Saturday. Fortunately, I dodged the 60 mph wind gusts we had on Thursday. Although that could have been darned good resistance training, am I right?

I guess the silver lining of this weather whiplash is that it does keep me ready for anything that Mother Nature throws our way! I wouldn't mind some normal weather but does anyone even know what that is anymore?

I wore shorts and a tank on Wednesday!
Weekly Rundown
Sunday: run 10 miles
Monday: pool running
Tuesday: CrossFit
Wednesday: trail run 5.25 miles
Thursday: Strength training
Friday: rest
Saturday: Earth Day 15 mile trail race

Running

Tired legs and tired of mud, I decided to take my long run back to the dry pavement of the bike path. For once the sun was shining and it was a beautiful morning! I was fighting a cold and felt a little fatigue in my legs. With my race coming up at the end of the week, I wanted to finish this run--I needed that mental push. I used run/walk intervals to keep my pace steady--it was a good strategy. 


The sky was angry as I drove towards the preserve on Wednesday. I looked at the radar and optimistically hoped I could get started before the skies opened up. Instead, I sat in my car for about 20 minutes and waited for the storm to pass. It was still raining as I headed out. In preparation for Saturday's trail race, I needed some muddy miles, one last time. I found plenty of mud, but also some deer, a muskrat in the creek, a hawk, lots of little critters and birds, and a flamingo. Yep, he's back! I attempted to loop around the lake, which would take me back to my car, but the final section of the trail was impassible. I finished up on the preserve road, forcing myself to run up a very long hill. See, I do hill training too! 

He's back!

I ran the Earth Day 15 mile trail race on Saturday morning. While I'll post a full recap once the photos are available, I wanted to share a brief recap here. This was probably one of the hardest races I've ever run. I've run those trails before, so I knew it would be hilly. We ran 3 loops of the 5-ish mile course. By the third loop, my hamstrings were really unhappy. But I met my 'B 'goal with a finish time of 3:17, placing smack dab in the middle, 61 out of 116 finishers. I can't complain about that, right? 8 women from my trail running group were there, running either the 15 or the 5 miler. One of the women who I run with at our group runs and I ran together almost the entire race. I was grateful for her pacing!

CrossFit/Strength Training

Tuesday's WOD was running focused! Every spring, the coaches shift the focus to running. There are a lot of moans and groans from the participants, but I love it. We started with some skill work: 4 sets each of 8 per side dumbbell windmills (10#),  20 tibialis raises, and 1 lap broad jumps (I subbed lunges). The MetCon was 4 rounds for time: 250m run, 12 chest-to-bar pull-ups ( I did mine banded), and 20 wall balls (10#). I finished first, thanks to the running! I'll just ride the wave until we start the next strength cycle, lol.


Sammy Jo and I got back to work on Thursday. But first, we talked about my upcoming race on Saturday. She gave me the option of switching workouts from the one she had planned--there were back squats. I was concerned about overtaxing my legs, so we did an alternative workout with 3 sets of 12 glute bridges (85#) alternating with push presses (45#), 3 sets of 8. Next up: 3 sets of 12 bench hops alternating with 3 heavy bag (65#) carries, 2 laps. 

Glute bridges

Off the road

As soon as I finished my run on Sunday, it was into the shower and then a trip downtown to meet up with my youngest sister and niece, who were here to visit De Paul University. My parents met me at my house and we drove down together. We were also joined by my nephews and my nephew's fiancee. It was nice to see everyone!


I'm happy to be back for my third year as an ambassador for ROAD iD! I've written several posts on running safety and my ROAD iD is an important tool in my safety toolbox. ROAD iDs come in so many fun colors and designs that you can coordinate them with your gear, if you want! Cocoa has a few dog iDs too. You can check out all the options here! Clicking this link will automatically give you 25% off everything on the site. I'll be sharing special items all year long as well. 

Looks like I need a new Garmin! lol


How was your week? Did you have lots of weather last week? Any races coming up? If you celebrate Easter or Passover, are you getting together with your family? Do you have a road iD? 

Good luck to everyone running Boston on Monday!

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


42 comments :

  1. Congrats on your race! All of those hills do make it difficult but challenging. I am with you on the weather. I am tired of it. The wind on Thursday was horrible.

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  2. That is a fun looking family reunion! We have had a ton of rain and lots of wind which is kind of the norm around here for spring. This week we also had 2 days in the 80's-no thanks in April. Congrats on your race can't wait to read more!!

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  3. Congrats on your race! Even though it was your B goal, it sounds like a very strong performance. Looking forward to the recap. Do you ever move the flamingo, or is that someone else's job?

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    1. It's someone else's game--the flamingo disappeared for the winter. I was happy and surprised to see him bback!

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  4. At least it's consistent with the flamingo. Not the weather. It could snow today and yet it was 80 on Thursday.

    So happy to hear your race went well. Can't wait to hear all the details....

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  5. Congrats on the race and all the best with your recovery as you gear up for this weekend. How fun to meetup with family in the city. This cold weather is what makes spring slip away and it feels like we never had one. Ugh.

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  6. Congrats again on the trail race! Yay on meeting up with family. I am appreciating those times now more than ever.

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  7. No, you definitely can't complain about getting the middle 61th place out of all runners, Wendy! Well done!!

    So we both had tough races this weekend. I did my Two Oceans today and it was the toughest race I've ever done. Overall it went well, but my legs are thrashed. Looking forward to your recap!

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    1. I am feeling pretty bad today too! I'm looking forward to your recap as well!

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  8. Great job on your race! Yes, the weather has been anything but fantastic this spring. I just want my summer back...

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  9. Well done on your race and glad you had company, that sounds tough! We had pouring rain on Tuesday, the day I did my strava art run for my wedding anniversary. I thought my clothes would never get dry!

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  10. Congratulations! I'm looking forward to the race recap. I know you guys are getting some crazy weather but you're not letting it slow you down. Your trail run on Wednesday also sounds amazing. You're due for good weather soon (winter has to end sometime, right?) and life will get easier.

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    1. I am looking forward to life getting easier, lol! But I am definitely ready for warmer weather.

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  11. Our weather was better this week. I'd been planning a solo half marathon on my local trail and Friday was the perfect day for it. Over 2,000' of elevation gain and just as much loss. No DOMS here, the soreness hit immediately.
    Easter at church today - I'm singing, Les is the narrator for our passion play.
    I love my Road iD and I really love that Les has one, too!

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    1. No DOMS for me either after my trail race--I had immediate soreness! Still feeling a little yucky today.

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  12. What A Fabulous Post And Loved That Family Group Photo - Way Cool - Congrats On That 61st Position As Its Much Better Than A DNS Next To Your Name - Keep Sprinkling In The Pool Time - Smile When It Rains - Dream When It Snows - Embrace The Summer Time Humidity - Stay Strong My Friend - OxoxoxO

    Cheers
    P.S. Coco Needs An Uncle T Treat

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  13. Congratulations on your race Wendy! Sounds like a challenging one indeed!

    Ah, I hate getting curtailed by storms, glad you had some extra time to wait it out.

    What a great family photo from your sister & niece's visit!

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  14. Congrats on your trail half! Oddly sounds exactly like mine. About the same finish time, the same muddy, hilly loops 3 times. Always an accomplishment. 60 mph wInds most definitely wouldn’t be pleasant; glad you didn’t have to deal with that.

    Nice to have a reason to get together with family.

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  15. Congrats on your race! Definitely sounds challenging. Looking forward to reading your recap!

    Looks a great family get-together. Happy Easter!

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  16. Happy Easter, and congrats on your race Wendy!
    Love the family photo - you all look fantastic :)

    I love that the flamingo is back, lol. You see the coolest things on your runs.

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    1. I was pretty happy to see the flamingo! These little things give me life.

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  17. Whew! Sorry you had to deal with mud yet again. It's cold and ugly and can be slippery. I don't even like it when I'm walking. Sounds like you had a full week, and a productive one as well. I'm back to playing catch up with my exercising. Spent 2 days in the car and did nothing movement wise on Easter (got back home the day before), except my planks. Must do more today, but it's cold, ugly, dark, and very wet out there today. Looks like an all day ugly rain. Keep up the good work. Glad you had some family time.
    Sandy's Space

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    1. We woke up to snow today, so I know what you are talking about, weather-wise! I just finished pool running to work out all the soreness from my race!

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  18. Happy Easter! And Congrats on your trail race! I wear a Road ID (for number of years) due to your recommendation.
    :) Here near Philly we are getting spring with the tulips blooming but still the same crazy weather from 80s last week to frost last night, winter coats this morning. April is always a tough month for me (a transplanted southern) with winter slow to let go.

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    1. Yay for the ROADiD, boo for the winter coats. We have snow on the ground and it is gloomy, so I get it! I'm heading south this weekend. Where are you from?

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    2. I am an army brat with southern parents (Greenville SC and Asheville NC). After my dad had 24 years in the army we moved to Clemson SC, when I was in jr. high school. I went to college in Charleston SC and lived there 8 years before moving up to PA (for a guy). I have always wanted to move back to SC but life has just worked out that way. I go home often, especially because my parents are now 90 and 92. OK simple question with a long answer. lol

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  19. Congrats, Wendy, I can't wait to read your race recap!

    We've been wearing Road ID since ordering them from the back of the Runner's World Magazine, long before online was a thing!

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  20. Yay! I'm back for RoadID for the third year, too! It's the best!

    So our weather is a straight up nightmare. I don't even know what to expect anymore!

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    1. Me either. All I can say it's still cold and everything is still brown.

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