Sunday, April 2, 2023

The Slippery Slope

I woke up Monday morning feeling tired, achy, and queasy. Was it a bug? Or was it an RA flare? I'm pretty sure that RA was the culprit as Sunday's run felt harder than it should have. I blamed the rain and the cold, but I didn't feel great when I started. That run probably pushed me into the red zone. I probably should have turned around and gone home. But you know me. 

RA is a slippery slope.

I scrapped my plans on Monday to go to CrossFit and did a yoga class that focused on flexibility. While the yoga felt good, I still felt icky and spent the rest of the day taking it easy. Sometimes you have to listen to what your body tells you. Thankfully, this flare was short-lived and did not require steroids to calm it down. I felt gradually better as the week went on. It's been a while since I've felt like that. It was a good reminder to stay on track with my diet and sleep as well as my activities.

Weekly Rundown
Sunday: run 11 miles
Monday: Yoga with Adriene
Tuesday: pool running
Wednesday: trail run 5 miles
Thursday: strength training, lunch with Marcia
Friday: run 6 miles
Saturday: rest day

March miles 106.6!!!

Running

We've had so much rain and the trails are muddy. So once again on Sunday, I had to take my feet to the pavement to get my miles in. Sigh. When I started out on the bike path, my legs felt really stiff--probably from the hill pyramids I did on my TM the day before. I wasn't really feeling it but I got what I needed in mile 2 when I ran into 2 of my neighbors --separately-- and stopped both times to chat for a few minutes. That helped me reset and I felt much better after that. At mile 4, the sky started to spit a mixture of ice pellets, snow, and rain. It all turned to rain and it started to pour. Ugh. At that point, I was almost to the turnaround so I kept going. I was soaked and cold. I think that was what pushed me more than anything. By the time I got home, the rain had stopped. Of course. This was a tough run that made me dig deep. Sometimes we need these runs more than the easy ones, don't you think?


Still feeling off on Wednesday, I was determined to get out on the trails. I headed right for the single track and was rewarded with lots of mud. I was prepared for it, wearing my ankle gaters over my Cascadias. It also started to snow, but thankfully, it did not stick. I can't blame the conditions for my slow pace, although it didn't help! I was just fatigued. I still had fun on this run, jumping over the many fallen trees that were strewn across the trail. What is going on in my woods??


On Friday, I woke up to rain and thunder and was all set to run on my treadmill. But just to be sure, I checked the weather and there was a break in the rain, so I optimistically prepared to run on the bike path. Yes, it was windy, but it sure felt good to be running in the relatively warmer temperatures! I still felt a little bit off--I guess it was residual fatigue from my RA flare. But I had a nice tailwind on my way back home that pushed me to a strong finish!

Strength Training

On Thursday, it was back to work with SJ, and was I happy to see her. I really missed having that focused training. She started me off with Bulgarian split squats holding 20# dumbbells, 8 on each side x 4 sets. I alternated those with banded chest pulls, 4 sets of 20. After that, I did l length of sled pushes, 155# x3, and a final set with 175#. I alternated those with 3 sets of 5 assisted pull-ups--oof! I finished the workout with 4 sets of 10 v-ups. THAT is what I needed.


Off the Road

It's been quite a while--too long, actually, that Marcia and I have gotten together for lunch. I messaged her this week and she had Thursday free--it's my day off too--and we met up at First Watch. We talked each other's ears off and caught up on life. I sure have missed my friend and it was great to see her! Hopefully, we won't have to wait so long to get together again!



On Saturday, we took a ride up to the lake. While the weather wasn't very good, we enjoyed a fun afternoon in Madison, visiting with our Badger! We had some beer at One Barrel, dinner at Alchemy, and then checked out the bar where he's a bartender, Gibs. It was a lot of fun to see him in action and sample some of his concoctions! Since he's a chemistry major, it all kind of makes sense.



How was your week? Are you good at listening to your body and taking it easy when you should? Did you have wild weather this week? Any runner meet-ups? How was your March mileage?

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




35 comments :

  1. I'm waiting for our weather to moderate a bit. It was great seeing you! How fun to see your Badger in action!

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  2. Oh, the US weather. I've seen some horrible news articles from the US this week so I guess a bit of snow is quite mild though. When does the winter usually stop?
    How good for you to get back to training with SJ! You look in really good form with those split squats. I hope you're back to normal after your flare.

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    1. It's been a really unusual early spring--we haven't had any warm days. Usually we go up and down. And to have snow this late in the year is really odd!

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  3. A run in shorts, what a treat! Glad the flare was short-lived and you're feeling better now. Sounds like a really fun weekend in Madison!

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    1. It looks like there will be more miles in shorts this week. Can it be happening?

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  4. In spite of the RA flare, it sounds like a pretty great week. You got in some solid runs (although your weather made me shudder a little- rain? snow? mud?) and that strength session sounds killer. And you met up with Marica AND got to see your son! Glad your RA flare calmed down you're feeling better.

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  5. We had rain mid-week but we are now on day 3 of sunshine! Suppose to hit 80 next weekend. I'm looking forward to a little less mud on the trails and spending more time on my bike.

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    1. 80 sounds great! I know you have had way more rain than normal, so it will be nice to return to normal temperatures.

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  6. We also had some crazy wind and weather this week! It's always fun to meet up and catch up with our blogger friends. Hope you are feeling better!

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    1. I definitely am feeling better. Felt the FOMO seeing all of you together over the weekend!

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  7. How fun that you and Marcia got to meet for lunch! And yes, I had a runner meet-up as well!

    It's great that SJ is back at the gym. I know you've missed her. I hope this RA flare is behind you and it's blue skies ahead.

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    1. It was great to finally see Marcia again! Running friends are the best.

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  8. Too bad a bout the RA flare but it seems you had a great week.

    Blogger meet-ups are always fun. I'm sad to have missed Cari in NYC.

    We had such crazy weather - summer yesterday, winter today!!

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  9. Hooray for a meetup! I haven't done one in forever ... it would be fun someday! And no, i'm awful at listening to my body. :( I need to be better, but my body may say "rest!" and my brain says "run!"

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    1. That happens to me too, which got me in so much trouble on Sunday!

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  10. Sorry about the RA flare, but glad that it was short lived!

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  11. I am pretty good at listening to my body, but OTOH, things have to get done, right? It's so hard to balance.

    I'm sorry you had a flare but it sounds like it was short lived so hopefully this week will be a much better week! Definitely fun to meet up with Marcia.

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  12. So sorry about your flare. Glad it was short-lived. How fun to catch up with Marcia! Hope you're feeling better this week.

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    1. Thank you! I hope the weather cooperates. I need a break from all the precip and the wind.

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  13. Well done on dealing with the flare! You are really good at listening to those warning signs.

    SJ is back! YAY! I can well imagine that it makes a difference to have a personal trainer vs. being in a class. We don't have sleds in our box, I would love to try that!
    So nice that you met Marcia! I had to smile that you are wearing gym clothes. So appropriate when fitness bloggers meet, ha!!

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    1. Pre-Covid, Marcia and I used to have a monthly lunch date! We kind of fell out of that pattern as things got back to normal and we both got busy. Hopefully, we can get back to that. We did have to find a new spot to eat tho, as our old place closed.

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  14. Sorry to hear about your flare and glad it was short-lived. My friend here with RA is in a very bad way sadly although she has been transferred to a nearer hospital for her on-going appointments and care at least. I am listening to my physio having listened to my body, and hoping that having strengthening exercises to do now means I'm near to getting back to something.

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    1. I'm so sorry for your friend. I feel very fortunate that my RA is well controlled! Please give her my best and I hope she finds answers.

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    2. Thank you, that's so kind of you. Sadly she has been through a few drugs and they seem to be giving up on her at the hospital so I hope the new department is a bit better. She has to have an operation to relieve the effects on her lungs soon, which is really scary. I'm glad you and my other friend living with RA are less badly affected.

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  15. Aw, I'm sorry you weren't feeling very well but seems like you've got a handle on it now. Glad you were able to see SJ for weights AND Marcia for lunch. That's awesome. Further, I love that you were able to visit your son! We had some nasty wind and rain this week, but nothing like those tornadoes that ripped through Arkansas.

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    1. We also dodged the tornadoes--they went just north and south of us. It was really bad around here! We're getting another round of 'weather' tomorrow.

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  16. It took a few years (understatement, we'll just leave it at that), but when my body speaks, I pay attention these days. Hence, last week was pretty low-key and I had ZERO regrets. After all, I'm not getting paid to push my body or compromise my fitness when things are feeling iffy. Isn't if nice to be back in shorts? I'm hoping to run in shorts from here on out....

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    1. I hope to be in shorts for the time being as well! But I did have to shave my legs today...

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  17. I love following you and your journey. Unfortunately, I've been off screens as much as possible, recently, so just reading your recap. Two weeks ago today I fell while running and hit the sidewalk hard, including my face. I was coming up a curb and my feet just got ahead of me, stumbling and falling. I've fallen running before but never this bad. I had two April races and just starting to ramp up with 21 mile weeks. I did not break any bones, thankfully, but I do have a moderate concussion, so running is out for a good while for me. It is hard to listen to our bodies but so important that we do, especially as we want to continue in this sport that we love so much.

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  18. The weather didn't stop you one bit this week! Go you! Sorry the RA was being ornery. We have been having a few warmer days, so I just bought some self tanner. I'm as pale as a ghost and don't want to scare anyone. haha!

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