It Was A Good Week

I'm happy to report that I'm starting to feel better. Not fast enough for me, of course. Friday's run was especially promising. I think you all know that I'm not a patient person, but as it was my body putting on the brakes, I had to listen. I haven't minded slowing down as much as I thought I would--as you'll see below, I was rewarded on Wednesday's trail run for my meandering pace. 

In retrospect, it was a good week!

Weekly Rundown

Sunday: Trail Sisters run 6.4 miles

Monday: Strength Training

Tuesday: Fluid Running

Wednesday: trail run 6.2 miles

Thursday: Strength Training

Friday: run 6 miles

Saturday: spring cleaning at the lake

I met up with my Trail Sisters early Sunday morning at a preserve we hadn't been to for a while! We've been having summery weather, and it was humid! I wasn't sure how my run would go after my struggles from last week. When we started, my knees were cranky and I stoppped to walk. Our leader caught up with me and asked if I was ok. She told me she'd run with me, slow, because she has been struggling too. And so it went--we kept the pace around 11:30/12 m/m and stopped to walk the hills. My heart rate was high, so we walked for that too. 

I don't know why, but it always amazes me when someone stays with me like this. I've done it plenty of times for other runners. It's what we do. I'm not good at accepting help or support, but I did, and I'm glad! I ran way farther than I would have by myself, and considering how I felt and the conditions we ran in, we had a decently paced run!

After a not-so-great night of sleep, on Monday, I went to the gym for strength training. We did a group warm-up with lots of shoulder openers and snatch prep. Then we did an E2MOM x 8 rounds of Hang Snatch and Snatch. The coaches wanted us to build, but oh, did I struggle with this movement. I went from empty barbell (35#) to 45#. The last 2 reps were not pretty. It just wasn't my day, I guess. Our accessory work was an on-the-clock pyramid workout: 2-4-6-8... of slamball (20#) goblet squat, slamball good mornings, slamball weighted situps. Between each round, we had to do 2 inchworms with a pushup between rounds. I made it through 16 before time was called!

Wednesday's trail run started out as a run, but after the first 2 miles, I ran out of gas. I started run/walking, and then finally walking. I actually didn't mind slowing down. I pretty much had the woods to myself and soaked in the peace and the solitude. I didn't expect to see many deer as it is fawning season. I saw one lone deer foraging for greenery. Later, as I was walking on the old trail road, I saw a doe in the distance, who was walking stealthily through the woods. She kept looking at me, and it was then that I noticed the tiny fawn at their feet. Oh my goodness!!!! Mama kept leaning down to lick the fawn's coat, which is a crucial survival technique used to erase their scent. I speculated that the fawn was very recently born. I have never seen such a young fawn, and I hope that mama keeps her safe!!

I apologize for the fuzzy photos--I was fairly far away

Also, as I was finishing up my time in the woods, I spotted another runner-- I realized it was one of my former BRC members and local ultramarathoner Shawn! We had never met IRL, so it was great to see him in the woods training for the upcoming Kettle Moraine 100. You can follow him on IG. He is a super nice guy, and I hope to see him out there again!

Thursdays are for cleans! As usual, we warmed up thoroughly before starting the workout, which was an E2MOM x 8 rounds of clean and front squat. I built to 85# and was so proud of my lifts. BUT... on my last lift, SJ was observing, and she called me out on not doing the front squat. I realized that I hadn't done any of the front squats--a full clean includes a front squat, and I thought that was what they meant. Nooooo, it was the full clean including front squat AND another front squat. LOL. I should know better. 

The accessory workout was a 4 x 8-12:

-body weight ring rows (8)

-DB (20#) floor press (10)

-DB (20#) reverse lungest (12)

-DB (20#) glute bridges (12)

When I headed out for Friday's run, my knees were so stiff I didn't know how long I was going to be able to go. But by the time I hit one mile, I felt pretty good! I tried to keep my pace just under 10 m/m, because any faster, my HR soared above 160. I won't lie, I had to stop and walk a few times, but when all was said and done, I finished my 6-ish miler at an average pace of 10:02. I also felt pretty good! Am I finally returning to form? At my age, every setback feels like the end. Guys, today was not that day! And oops, no photo.

Off the road...

With my mom continuing to improve, I made the decision this week to reduce the number of caregiver hours to 12 per day. As has been the story this whole damn adventure, my decision made no one happy. On one side...my dad and sister, who wanted the hours reduced to where they were before my mom fell, aka 4 hours, 3 days per week. On the other side...my youngest sister and the home care agency, who felt that anything less than 24 hours per day was unsafe. I gave this decision a lot of thought. My mom needs someone to give her meds every 12 hours, something my dad has proven, even with a pill box that alarms, he cannot be counted on to do. They also need 3 healthy meals per day--something that neither of them is able to do consistently. Also, my mom needs supervision in the kitchen. In addition, the caregivers we have are dementia informed, and they provide activities to stimulate her brain. If it were just my mom and dad, she would be sitting in front of the TV all day. My dad has agreed to alarms installed on the staircase. My mom normally sleeps all night. I had to call my dad to share this with him, and as expected, he pushed back, but when I provided my reasoning, he went along with it. 

For now, a truce. And it's a plan I can live with. 

On Thursday, I saw my rheumatologist for my semiannual appointment. While she was not worried about my bloodwork, she was concerned about my uptick in symptoms, which she is blaming on stress. I agreed with her. It's been a rough couple of months, for sure. We reviewed what I need to do if I continue to have health issues. I'm hoping for a less stressful time ahead.

Finally, on Saturday, we were up at the lake, and we did get out in the boat! With all the rain Wisconsin has had this spring, the river channel changed, and we saw a lot of pelicans. It's not the first time I've seen them here, but I've never seen so many!

What are you doing for this long holiday weekend? Have you ever seen a new fawn? Who's running a race this weekend? 

No waterskiing for me this weekend--I'm not fully recovered yet. But I got my spring cleaning done, we're boating, and enjoying the beautiful weather! I hope you are too!

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