This week, the weather and my emotions were all over the place. We went from the deep freeze to false spring and back again. The wind was blowing with a vengeance. The conditions made for some interesting runs. I leaned into my runs for emotional support this week as well. I'm always grateful for movement that makes me feel better, physically and emotionally.
Weekly Rundown:
Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 6 miles/900 ft climbing
Monday: CrossFit/Strength Training
Tuesday: Fluid Running
Wednesday: Trail run 7.25 miles
Thursday: CrossFit/Strength Training
Friday: run 6 miles
Saturday: Yoga with Adriene
If a run feels extra hard, shouldn't it count for extra miles? That was the question I had as I reflected on Sunday's run on the Lodi Marsh segment of the Ice Age Trail. I was so excited to run there. I expected the trails to be snow-packed and anticipated a pleasant out and back of about 8-ish miles through both portions. I parked my car at the trailhead and made my way up the first hill before I picked up my shoes and began to run. I should have let that climb be my first clue--while the snow was somewhat packed down, there were a lot of deep footprints, which made for uneven footing. The rest of the trail was no different and it made for a slow, frustrating trek. It reminded me of running on the beach. I wished I had brought my trekking poles to give me a little stability on some of the more treacherous sections. I returned to my car at 6 miles and called it a day. That was one of the hardest runs I've done in a while. My Oura ring gave me credit for 14.7 miles of walking, equivalent to 17,700 steps for the day. I'll take it!
Week 4/4 of the second set of strength workouts was a repeat of the last 2 Mondays. The goal was again to build from last week. We had the same movements to do in 3 sets in 40 seconds or less:
Set 1: pick a weight in which we'd hit failure in 8-12 reps
Set 2: drop the weight and complete 8-12 reps to failure
Set 3: drop the weight and complete 8-12 reps to failure.
This week, I attempted to go heavier on the lunges. I failed on the first set--SJ had to lift the bar off my back because I couldn't stand back up lol. The rest of the sets went well. Amazing what a difference 5# can make! I also increased the weight on the barbell rows--these felt so good, I probably could have gone heavier.
Movement 1: Dumbbell deadlifts 60#, 55#, 50#
Movement 2: Barbell backward lunges 75#, 70#, 65#
Movement 3: Dumbbell strict press: 25#, 20#, 15# (all strict press; I had to give myself a little assist with the 25# on the left last couple of reps)
Movement 4: Bent over barbell rows: 75#, 70#, 65#
We finished with 5 :20 sprints on the assault bike.
What a difference in the weather for Wednesday's trail run as compared to Sunday! It was 38F when I headed to the trail and I was worried about being overdressed, lol! I actually made good wardrobe choices for this run. It had rained overnight and I knew the trails would be sloppy, so I made a plan to do most of my run on the main trail. No sooner did I set foot on the trail did I see deer! And as I ran, I kept seeing them, even catching up to a group of about 8. None of them were thrilled to see me, but I got lots of photos. My first mile was slow due to all the stops I had to make to let the deer pass. Not that I minded!
The rest of my run was mostly uneventful, save for a few more deer sightings. The birds were singing too, which was music to my ears. I took a few detours into the woods on the single tracks, just to get more miles in. It was muddy, as expected, but I didn't mind that at all. Staying upright was a win, though!
This was the last workout of strength session #2! Again, we were expected to push to failure on the first set of each movement and do drop sets for reps with the last 2 sets.
Set 1: Bulgarian Split Squats: 30# each hand-again x 8 reps 25# x 8, 20# x 8
Set 2: dumbbell bench press: 25# x8, 20# x8, 20# x 10
Set 3: Hip thrusts: pushed it to 135# x 8, 125# x10, 95# x12
Set 4: Pull-ups: 5 assisted with SJ, 6 using blue band, last one assisted; 7 using green band
The sprint work was an E2MOM x 12 minutes:
-12 mountain climbers
-8 hang dumbbell snatch (20#)
-6 switch lunges
Next week, we are starting the last 4 week session of the auxiliary strength work. We've been told it's going to be heavier.
I woke up very early on Friday after a restless night. I received some bad news on Thursday--I'll share more below--that made me toss and turn. Thank goodness the sun is coming up earlier. I was out the door by 6 for my Friday bike path run. The wind was whipping, and I ran out into the wind, which did its best to push me back! I had to stop to walk a few times because my heart rate was high. When I turned around to head home, my legs were tired, and that tailwind helped ease my effort.
Off the road...
So, about that bad news... when I got to the gym on Thursday, I learned that the son of one of my friends died overnight after a short illness. On Monday, she told us he called from college to tell her he had a terrible headache. He went to the hospital and was given a diagnosis of sinusitis and a prescription for antibiotics. She received that call Wednesday evening that he had died. We don't know much more than that, but this news hit all of us hard. I can't imagine the pain she and her family are feeling. He was a great kid and was very well-liked by everyone. Parenting is hard, and there can be nothing worse than the loss of a child.
After hearing the news of my friend's son, I was reminded of how lucky I am to have my boys. I never take them for granted, and they always know how much I love them. On Thursday, I reached out to tell both of them how much I love them and wished I was with them so I could hug them!
On Friday, my youngest son provided me with the news I needed. He received his MCAT scores and scored 521 out of 528 questions. He sent me the results when I was at work, and I started to cry. This is truly amazing, and he should be able to go to any medical school he wants with these results. His response was that he was glad he doesn't have to take the test again. So now we embark on a new, exciting journey! June 1 is application day, and he has to decide where he wants to go. Of course, I want him close to home, lol. Stay tuned...
How was your week? Are you having weather whiplash? Life whiplash? Do you lean into your runs to help you manage your emotions?
Wow, that is really rough news about your friend’s son. I guess you know better than me what it might have been other than just sinusitis. I can’t imagine what the parents are going through. :-(
ReplyDeleteOTOH, that is fantastic news on your son’s MCATs. That’s an amazing score! Where does he want to go?
He's not sure! I think he'd like to stay in Chicago and he has some pretty good options- University of Chicago, Northwestern, Loyola, Rush, and University of Illinois. Pretty amazed!
DeleteCongrats to your son! That is truly awesome! I am sorry to hear the news about your friend's son. I cannot imagine the loss of a child. I was happy with the warmer weather but not so happy with how cold it has been. The wind is brutal!
ReplyDeleteThe wind has certainly been a jerk this winter!
DeleteThe news of your friend’s son dying so suddenly is so terrible. I wonder if they’ll find out he had meningitis? I cannot imagine the pain that family is going through!!
ReplyDeleteOn a positive note, congratulations to your son for his amazing MCAT score! I’m sure he worked incredibly hard to achieve that.
Our week was sort of all over the place between illnesses and the decline to my uncle’s health from lung cancer. He passed away peacefully yesterday on my oldest son’s birthday. He was only 68 :-( But on the positive side, we celebrated my oldest son’s birthday and had the best time! We had a great one on one day together on Friday when he was off school and had fun celebrating him yesterday. I went on lots of walks this week and even went on a short run on Thursday. It was super awkward to run in the splint though so I’m going to wait until I’m out of it in a week and a half to run again but the long walks have felt really good.
Sounds like you had a lot of ups and downs as well! I'm glad that you're cleared to run again.
DeleteThat's awesome... congrats to your son. And a wedding to plan for the other one.
ReplyDeleteI found out this week that a good friend's wife died. So many deaths this past year...
It was nice to have a brief reprieve with the cold weather but unfortunately it's back today!!
Do you think it's because we're getting older?
DeleteFor sure but very tragic when someone young dies.
DeleteLife is just so short and we really never know how much time we have with those we love. I’m so sorry about your friend’s son -I just cannot even imagine.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice that we all got a little taste of spring this week. Huge congrats to your son! That is fabulous news!
We talked about it on our run this morning--my friend's hubs grew up with the mom of the boy who died. Small world, I know. Tough all around.
DeleteGreat job on the strength work, Wendy! I really should get a band to practice assisted pull-ups at home. Right now, I rely on jumpy pull-ups, but that elusive strict pull-up is still on my list. The hardest part is generating enough momentum for those first few inches toward the bar!
ReplyDeleteI’m so sorry to hear about your friend’s son. We had friends who lost their 12-year-old daughter the same way, and even after 20 years, the grief is still a part of their lives. It’s something no parent should ever have to go through. 💙
It's those lats, Catrina!! I have the same issue. I'm doing all the work to strengthen them but sheesh...it's been a while!
DeleteCongrats to your son!
ReplyDeleteWe found out Friday that a good cycling friend in Hawaii was struck and killed by a car. He was on a road that I have run and Les has cycled many times.
I have been in a fitness slump for several weeks. It started with a cold that has left me tired all the time. Our weather is all over the place - light sprinkles this morning and a wind advisory for this afternoon.
Wow, that's so sad about your cycling friend. People are so careless behind the wheel.
DeleteI hope you find your mojo back soon!
As the mother of a college son, my heart is absolutely breaking for this mom and family. I can't even imagine how I would go on with my life if I lost my son. Such sad news.
ReplyDeleteSwitching gears- congrats to your son! That's exciting. So is he going to medical school in the fall? I can't wait to hear where he ends up.
Your runs all look beautiful! And yes, it does seem like you should get credit for a lot more than 6 miles on that first one- I'd go with 14 ; )
So no, he applies to medical school at the end of May and has to wait until fall of 2026 to start. He is so ready to move on with his life!
DeleteThe news of your friend’s son is heartbreaking. I cannot fathom the level of grief. That’s awesome news on your son’s MCAT scores, though! Congrats to him!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim
DeleteWell done on some lovely running and those deer! I am so sorry to hear about your friend's loss, too. Bittersweet I'd imagine with your son's achievement (what an amazing score!). Liz / LyzzyBee (on holiday so it's almost impossible to comment on your posts!)
ReplyDeleteYeah, it felt a little off to celebrate such great news in light of what happened to my friend's son.
DeleteOh my goodness that is so so sad and sudden about the boy's death. So young! I can't imagine how the family must be feeling.
ReplyDeleteYou did some great workouts this week. I always love your trail photos and there were so many deer this week! They've been out a lot near us too it seems.
I always enjoy seeing them--as you well know!
DeleteThat is absolutely terrifying about the death of your friend's son. We certainly can't take anything or anyone for granted.
ReplyDeleteNice work in the gym and on the trail! The photo with the deer on the trail is lovely. What a treat for you to have those around, and so many of them this week! Your weather sounds horrendous though... :( I really hope you get a good spring and that it comes asap. You need that.
Big congrats to your son and his scores!
Our weather has really been all over the place! I can't remember a windier winter than this one. And barely any snow.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your friend's son. How tragic! Congrats to your youngest son on his MCAT scores. It will be exciting to see where he decides to apply and ultimately go.
ReplyDeleteWe were just talking about that! I am so excited for him!
DeleteWow, that is so sad and scary about your friend's son's death. I can't even imagine.
ReplyDeleteSo cool that the deer were so plentiful on your run! That is so exciting news for you son. I hope he does stay close :)
I hope so too!
DeleteOh, I am so sorry for your loss. Life is so fragile and the grief must be consuming. I am thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful news about your son and and the MCAT! You both must be so proud!
Great week of fitness for you too. You always crush it in the gym.
Thank goodness for fitness and running!
DeleteOMG, that news is horrible. I can't imagine the sheer shock and disbelief of it all. A college age kid with a sinus infection. I would imagine that did a post mortem to determine what he actually died of, because you certainly die of a sinus infection. My heart aches for all involved. I can certainly see what you ran with a heavy heart. The weather and the conditions you run in are so varied, I really don't know how you do it without spraining your ankle. So glad you were able to reach out to your boys, and Congrats big time on your son's score. Best of luck to him as he goes about selecting where he'd like to go to medical school. Keep us posted. It's quite a process.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I hear! But the worst is over, now that the MCAT is done. I'm so excited for him!
DeleteYes, the family did have an autopsy done. The results won't be available for a few weeks, but at least that part is done and the family can now have closure. The services will be at the end of the week. I can't imagine going through this.
First, I'm so very sorry to hear of the death of your friend's son. Death of someone young is always extra sad and tragic but the suddenness and lack of a solid answer yet must make things all the harder. I can see why that was a therapeutic run and I really admire your commitment to running overall. And three cheers for such excellent MCAT results. Schools will certainly be clammoring for him!
ReplyDeleteWe do know now that it wasn't meningitis, but I think his parents will be at peace when they have an answer.
Delete