Sunday, April 9, 2023

The Need for Speed

Was it spring fever? The bright sunshine? The shoes? Whatever it was, I felt the need for speed this week, running stronger than I have for a while. I'm pretty sure the improving weather was a big factor. This was a great week of fitness for me!


Weekly Rundown
Sunday: Ice Age Trail Run 8.5 miles, 1100 ft
Monday: CrossFit, Yoga with Adriene
Tuesday: Pool Running
Wednesday: trail run 6 miles
Thursday: Strength training
Friday: run 6 miles
Saturday: rest

Running

We were up at the lake last weekend and I was really looking forward to running at the Lodi Marsh segment of the IAT. I hoped it wouldn't be too muddy. What I wasn't counting on was that there was still ice and snow on portions of the trail. WTH? There were a couple treacherous spots but for most of it, I was able to maneuver around it. The rest of the trail was mud, packed dirt, and dried grass. It was pretty windy--is anyone else noticing this trend this year? Spring hasn't really sprung up there, but I think when we return, it's going to be popping. I surprised myself, finishing the segment in about the same amount of time I do when the trail is clear. Feeling pretty good about that!


The Lodi Marsh. The stream is spring-fed. It never freezes, so it stays nice and green in here.

On Wednesday, I woke up to impending strong storms. I thought about where I wanted to run once they passed. I really had my heart set on the trails, so that is where I went. As I expected, it was muddy and very wet. I had fun with it--you can see here on my IG--and soaked up all the signs of spring that were everywhere! The frogs were singing in the marshes. The grass was "greening up", as my father-in-law likes to say. It was warm. The deer were out. I'm so glad I went--it made me so happy, mud and all!



There were a lot of deer on my run, but this one let me get the closest.

I was determined to catch the sunrise on Friday. I can't even remember the last sunrise I caught on my Friday run--except in California. It's been a cold, cloudy winter. I laced up my Brooks Hyperion Max, looking for some speed. On my way to the bike path, I saw the big moon. When I hit the bike path, I was rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise. I continued to blaze down the path, stopping only for photos. I mean, I had to, right? 6 miles at 8:49 m/m pace? I haven't seen those numbers for a very long time. Those shoes are magical! As I write this, I'm definitely feeling my effort--mostly in my calves. I'm looking forward to seeing what these shoes do for me going forward!


CrossFit/Strength

There was running in the WOD today! As much as I love all the heavy lifting we do during the winter at CF, I also love spring. In the spring, we do more conditioning and that includes running. Silly, competitive me also likes that it is the one time that I can hold my own during the WOD instead of finishing DFL. So there's that, too. The 12 minute OTC strength/skill portion mimicked what I did with SJ last week: sets of Bulgarian split squats, 8 per leg, banded chest pulls, and PVC pipe pass-throughs. The coach for this class had me use a lower box for the split squats and a thinner resistance band for the chest pulls, so it did feel a little bit different. The MetCon was a 12 minute AMRAP of 200m runs, 12 handstand pushups (I did perfect pushups), and 8 chest to bar pullups (I used a band on the bottom). I completed 4 full rounds of this and 1 more 200m run. This felt really good--I was able to do all my pushups unbroken (who am I?) and push my pace on the runs. My shoulder didn't seem bothered by any of this either. 


I was late to my Thursday training sesh because...whomp whomp...I got a speeding ticket on my way to the gym. Yes, I was speeding because I was late. Don't be late. Don't speed. Anyways, when I got to the gym, I was a little fired up. Good thing, because SJ had box step-ups for me with a 55# barbell on my back, 4 sets of 5 on each leg. In the past, these have been very difficult for me, but on this day, I crushed them. A little adrenaline goes a long way! I alternated those with Arnold presses (15# dumbbells), 4 sets of 6 reps. After that, I did 3 sets 15 seconds of one-legged balance on the Bosu ball alternating with 20 second hollow holds. SJ was really happy with my work today and that makes me happy!


Off the road

It seems like there's a day for everything, doesn't it? Apparently, Wednesday was National Walking Day and to celebrate, Brooks sent all of us a pair of Addiction Walkers. I already gifted these to my parents and my hubs, so I knew they were going to be comfortable. I wore mine to work and yes, they kept my feet very happy! They're pretty stylish too, don't you think?


On Friday, I came home from work, opened Instagram, and saw I had a bunch of new followers. I was surprised and honored to be listed by Everyday Health as one of 10 Inspiring Rheumatoid Arthritis Social Media Accounts to follow. When I was diagnosed over 6 years ago, I thought my running days were over. Thanks to an amazing rheumatologist and a kick ass strength coach, I regained my footing (pun intended) and continue to push past any limitations. There are a lot of RA warriors out there who inspire me on a daily basis. We're all out there fighting the good fight and are proof that learning to live with RA sure beats letting it run your life.

How was your week? Is spring popping by you? 

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




29 comments :

  1. I'm more than ready to have spring popping finally! Love the new walking shoes. Remember when walking shoes were a new thing and they were so ugly? Happy Easter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brooks does have some offerings with velcro straps, just in case anyone was interested...

      Delete
  2. It's still freezing here i the mornings... but spring or maybe summer is headed this way... It will be a shock.

    Great work shoes.

    My dress work shoes are so uncomfortable that I decided on pretty white sneakers... and I don't care as long as my feet don't hurt!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Obviously Spring isn't popping here yet either, but hey, we didn't get any 4/1 snow either! Just rain this year LOL. Next week is supposed to be beautiful. I think that's the week!

    You captured a glorious sunrise! I was hopeful of catching the sunset on the way home yesterday, but I was too early.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're in the middle of a GREAT weather stretch and I feel mentally much happier!

      Delete
  4. Gotta say, you seem to love the mud much more than I do, LOL. I'm surprised how green it is here since we haven't had much precip in awhile. We have had plenty of wind on the daily. UGH. Congrats on the RA recognition!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, imagine reading this post six years ago when you were diagnosed with RA- you would have thought "I'm going to do all THAT?" You're healthier, stronger and faster than most women (of any age.) I can see why you would be considered "inspiring" by Everyday Health.
    I love the description of your Wednesday run. I'm now going to be envious of everyone's weather for a while- spring is the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I was a pretty decent runner before RA pulled the rug out from under me. I've rebounded, but I've also pivoted in a new direction. Trails are so much kinder to my joints!

      Delete
  6. Spring is definitely popping here! Funny siting on the trail yesterday - I thought I saw some pink flowers in the distance, turns out it was a woman in a pink top practicing her tree pose. She seemed a bit embarrassed, but I was impressed, I only do a tree pose at home so when I fall over no one else sees me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! I love that. I do tree pose on occasion--especially in some dramatic location.

      Delete
  7. Congrats on your Everyday Health mention! That's such an honor, but not a surprise.

    Spring flowers seemed to pop early here and lasted for weeks, maybe because it stayed somewhat cool helping the blooms last longer.

    I used to love a good muddy trail run, now my legs get filthy from layers of dust sticking to my sun-screen-slathered legs when I'm out riding gravel.

    ReplyDelete
  8. So many great things in your post this week! Congrats on all of it. Well, other than that speeding ticket. That sucks. My daughter got a speeding ticket last fall and we are just feeling the financial sting of it now on our insurance renewal. Not fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have the option to go to online traffic school and the ticket won't show up on my record. Yay me.

      Delete
  9. I saw your muddy legs on Strava. I knew that Wendy enjoyed herself on the trails, ha! Great job on getting even speedier!

    I feel the same when I see running for the WOD. Last week, we had to do a 1 mile run with 100 toes to bar (I did knee lifts). We could split it any way we wanted. I did it in 4 parts and for once I was among the first to finish, ha!

    ReplyDelete
  10. A wonderful strong week and the coverage of your blog is wonderful - a just reward. I got an uptick in stats after the writers of a book on architecture in Birmingham retweeted my link with a nice comment, it's so rewarding to be noticed, isn't it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sure is! This blog is a labor of love, but it's nice to know that it is reaching the right readers!

      Delete
  11. Awesome week Wendy! A mix of everything- gorgeous sunrise, muddy trails, some speed. You are such an inspiration as always with your strength training.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are too kind. That strength training is what keeps me running!

      Delete
  12. So You Ran And Didn't Fall Down , Outstanding - Fabulous Photos - Bummer On The Speeding Infraction - Stoked On The Followers Front - Stay Strong My Dear

    Big Hugs ,
    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Travis! I did slip a lot in the mud but managed to stay upright. It was a win!

      Delete
  13. You are amazing and inspiring and I am so proud of you! Sorry about that ticket. That stinks, but it's not going to keep you down. Spring is definitely here and it's going to mean the best of all the things for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm just trying to pay the damn ticket but it's still not in the system. Gotta love Cook County, lol

      Delete
  14. Boo to the parking ticket :( but glad that you were still able to get in your gym sesh.
    Those Brooks Addiction Walkers look super comfy!

    ReplyDelete