Sunday, October 16, 2022

Can I Runfess Something?

Sorry Marcia, but I'm going to need to runfess early.

I runfess... I took a DNS for Saturday's half marathon. This was the race I deferred from last fall after I broke my leg. I haven't done any runs longer than 9 miles...my son had a rugby game in Madison on Saturday...my knee is bothering me...I wasn't feeling it. All excuses and all enough to make me decide mid-week to skip the race. 

It's so not like me to do this. But it sure feels like the right thing to do.

I can't remember the last time I DNS'd a race. I felt a little guilty about it, but mostly I felt relieved. I'm not a quitter, but this race was causing me a lot of mental stress. It's my son's last year playing college rugby and I don't want to miss a game. I want to get more trail miles for the Mammoth challenge. 

What I don't want to do right now is run a half marathon. 

Running is my stress reliever and when running is the cause of my stress...

Weekly Rundown:
Sunday: rest
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: pool running
Wednesday: trail run 4.5 miles
Thursday: strength training
Friday: run 5 miles
Saturday: hike IAT 3 miles

Mammoth Trail Hike miles: 19.5 plus 10 bonus miles

Running

I woke up Wednesday morning to rain, but by the time I was ready to head to the trails, the rain had stopped. It was relatively warm--61F-- but very humid and windy, which made me feel fatigued. I enjoyed the colors popping everywhere and since it was cloudy, the trees definitely brightened up my run. I also spied the young buck sporting antlers and frolicking with a doe in the woods! I had hoped for 5-6 miles but called it quits before that. Meh. This is when I called it quits on the half marathon. 


I should have just stayed in bed on Friday. From the moment I got up to the time I got home from work, it felt like nothing went right. I had to leave early for work and that threw me off. I got out the door for my run in the dark, wearing my Run Visible gear and headlamp. I felt pretty strong, but I was still in a funk and turned around at about 2.5 miles, heading home as the daylight appeared. My day at work followed a similar pattern and I was happy to see that glass of wine waiting for me when I got home. Done. Coming up: vacation.

Runfies in the dark are impossible so I did handstands!

Even though it wasn't a run, my Saturday morning miles on the Fern Glen segment of the IAT are included here. It was a gorgeous but cool morning when we arrived at the lake. Too windy and cool for a boat ride but not for a hike! I laced up my new Brooks Cascadias and hit this little segment. It was hilly and I wanted to run the downhills, but I held myself back, reminding myself that I'd be running on Sunday. Turns out that a hilly hike was just what I needed to erase the stress of my week!

CrossFit/Strength Training

Well, wouldn't you know it--the strength portion of Monday's WOD was setting our 5RM on the back squat. I did this with SJ about a month ago during one of our strength sessions. I was post-Covid then and maybe, just maybe, not at 100%. I asked her if I could challenge that number and I did, hitting 125# for 5 reps. She will be adjusting my training accordingly, going forward. Squats kind of scare me, for a variety of reasons, but I will do my best to meet this challenge!


The MetCon was a 10 minute AMRAP (so short!) of 12 handstand push-ups (I did pike push-ups), 16 single arm dumbbell overhead lunges (I did 15#), and a 200m run. I got through 3 full rounds and most of another round of push-ups. I would have "liked" this to be longer. 

SJ had deadlifts on the plan for Thursday and you know I love that! After Monday's WOD, she adjusted the weights to reflect my previous 1RM of 200# instead of my 5RM from last month. Both of us think I had a little leftover Covid fatigue which affected my strength and conditioning. I'm fine with that! She had me do 4 sets of 10 deadlifts at 125#. Because I told her that I wanted to focus on core strength for the fall, that's what she had me work on between sets. Ouch! I finished up with 3 sets of 8 per leg box step-ups holding a 25# dumbbell.

V-ups! Getting better at them.

About that rugby game

My Badger and his rugby teammates played fellow Big 10 Iowa Hawkeyes at home on Saturday afternoon. It was a tough battle, but the Badgers prevailed, 48-27. What an exciting game! After the game, we took Matthew out to dinner at the Great Dane, a long time favorite of ours, where we drank some craft beer and ate some yummy food, including cheese curds. It's always great to spend time with my boys. And oh so hard to say goodbye! I miss him already.


It was just a rough week for me. How was your week? Have you ever DNS'd a race just because you didn't feel like running it? Has running ever stressed you out? Is fall popping by you?

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


38 comments :

  1. I don't blame you for skipping your race to gain time with your son. the older they get, the less time we have with them. Sounds like it was a great game and I am sure he was happy that you were there. There are always other races to run. Your trails look gorgeous right now-enjoy!

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    1. I just couldn't bear to miss it. It's his last year! Glad I made the decision to skip the race!

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  2. I was more tempted than ever to DNS Chicago this year, even on my walk to the start! All I could think of was damn it, I already bought the shirt! It sounds like you made the right decision - your head wasn't in the game - plus, you got to spend some quality time with Matt. That's definitely a win!

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  3. It sounds like you made a solid decision on skipping your half and for all the right reasons. It's always a bonus to spend time with our adult children!

    We DNS'd two races: the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler one year (it had snowed where we live, but we later learned it hadn't in DC) and the Frederick Marathon (we drove about an hour and stopped for gas with another hour ahead of us and realized we'd both forgotten our wallets and had to turn and drive back home).

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    1. It's hard to DNS a race--I'm very good about honoring my commitments. But family always wins out!

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  4. Rough week for me too! Or at least the end :) I have been to the Great Dane, it's wonderful! Sounds like you made the right choice on the half, no shame in that!

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    1. We love The Great Dane--been going there for years, even before we had kids! It's still good.

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  5. That's a coincidence- I had a rough week as well. I would 100% have chosen the rugby game over the race. There will be so many other races but the rugby games are numbered. Plus if you're not feeling it, there's no reason to stress yourself out. Running is supposed to relieve stress, not cause it. I hope the time on the trails helped!

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    1. I swear, it's like as soon as I stepped into the woods, I felt much calmer.

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  6. While I haven't DNS'd a race, I think you made the right decision. Why put your body through that when you're just not feeling it? Maybe it's the right thing when you're younger, but as we get older, far better to listen to your body.

    I also had a sort of tough week, but grateful that running still went well -- if very slow, LOL! I've sort of made my peace with positive splits. It is what it is.

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    1. I think one of the best things about running trails is that they are so forgiving--and walking is totally acceptable!

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  7. Good decision, Wendy! You look so happy in that photo with your son, it is quite clear that you made the right decision. There will be more races!
    Well done on the back squats!
    Enjoy your vacation! You deserve it. Will you be running?

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  8. You summed it up perfectly with your comment about stress relief.

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    1. It's been a rough couple of weeks. I'm so tired and stressed. A race would not have done me good.

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  9. Sorry it was a stressful week, but it sounds like you ended on a high note. I totally get choosing to go to your son's game - family time is special, especially as they get older. And you look so happy in the photo with your son. There will always be another race.

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    1. Exactly. Funny how even making the right choice makes me feel bad, lol

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  10. A wise decision there. I'm sure I've DNSd things but these days I Don't Sign Up, it appears! Ha! Well done to your son and that's a lovely, happy picture!

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  11. You know you made the right decision when you have ZERO misgivings about it, especially regarding a race. My 5K alternative was that way for me, this morning, and I had no regrets in passing on those 10 extra miles.

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    1. I have to admit I don't have zero misgivings, which is why I shared it here. But I know it was the right thing to do. It's never easy to pass up a race!

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  12. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to decide to DNS but it definitely sounds like it was the right decision. It sounds like doing the race would have provided more stress than fun and that's never a good thing.

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  13. I would have done the same thing. An outlet shouldn't be this much of a stressor. Glad you had a great weekend with your son

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  14. My husband and I did end up selling our bibs when our daughter's cross country team went to States and it was on our half marathon race day. So not a DNS really, but a change in plans for family! You made a good choice. Congrats to his team on the win! Sounds like an awesome day.

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  15. Hey if it feels right to DNS, I think you made the right decision. Matt will be out of school soon enough. You're better off soaking up all the moments you can.

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    1. It never feels right to DNS. But I had to make a choice and that was the right thing to do!

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  16. Family time is important. They are only young once.
    There will be other races.

    I agree with your decision.

    Though I imagine it was a hard one to make.

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  17. Sounds like you made the absolutely correct decision, as hard as that may be. I am so glad you had some down town and got some awesome quality time with your rugby star! Well done! I did DNS one (with a deferral), but it was because it was a relay and my team wasn't feeling it. We'll get it next time. And so will you, when your heart is in it.

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    1. I'm really enjoying just exploring on my feet. I think it's time for me to take a step back from the starting line.

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  18. Sounds like you made the right decision to me. Visiting with your son, watching him play, all things you can't do later. Cute picture of the two of you enjoying your beer. Glad you enjoyed your hike, looked like a beautiful day and just what you needed.
    Sandy's Space

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    1. Thank you! As they grow older and apart from us, these moments are fewer!

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  19. I love the trees in the first picture - the rainbow of colors!

    I totally get DNSing to see your son's game and spend time with him. #priorities

    (I swear I got my comment to go through last week)

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