What a week! It started off well, with my successful completion of the 20 mile Mammoth March in Wisconsin on Sunday. But when I returned home, I discovered a very large blister on the back of my heel. My tendinitis in my right knee also flared up. I took a rest day on Monday and went to the pool on Tuesday, which helped me feel better. There was no running this week, while I allowed myself to recover. A brutal heat wave arrived on Monday, with 'feels like' temperatures into the 100s, making it a lot easier to lie low!
Weekly Rundown:
Sunday: Mammoth March 20.4 miles/1600 ft/6.5 hours
Monday: rest
Tuesday: Fluid Running
Wednesday: Trail walk 4 miles
Thursday: Yoga with Adriene, Strength Training
Friday: waterskiing
Saturday: waterskiing
On Sunday, I was out the door by 4:30 am to make the 2 hour drive to Long Lake Recreation Area in the Northern Kettle Moraine Forest in Wisconsin, meeting up with my trail sister Alison for the 20 mile Mammoth March. On the way there, a bird flew into my front grill. I heard the thud and felt bad, and thought that the bird had hit the ground. When I parked my car, I saw the dead bird stuck in the grill.
Alison arrived shortly after, and after dousing ourselves in bug spray, we made our way to the check-in and then to the start line. With no fanfare, we made our way along the trail. The first part of the event took place on two segments of the IAT, Butler Lake and Parnell. I had never been on any of these segments, so I was excited to hike there. They were as beautiful as expected.
About halfway through the hike, the course shifted to limestone and grassy paths that ran along local roads. I wasn't expecting that, and I was disappointed. Without much shade or scenery, those last 10 miles were, as I put it: 'soul sucking' and Alison said 'sole sucking' and we both started laughing. We got a little slaphappy at the end, lol. I have no photos of that part of the trail, because there was nothing to see.
What I liked:
-putting my feet on new to me IAT segments, making me want to go back for more.
-very well organized with quick check-in and start
-lots of rest stops with ample water and tons of snacks. It was warm and humid, and I went through 3 liters of water!
-ample, clean portapotties at the rest stops
-finisher medal
-The event wasn't timed, so I only recorded our moving time, stopping my watch at the rest stops
What I didn't like:
-that back half of the course on the limestone paths and not much shade, forcing us to dig deep to finish
-hiking with lots of other people. I enjoy solitude, although I enjoyed having a partner on this adventure
-photographers everywhere, yet NO photos of us on the course
-I ended up with a very large blister on my foot. No photos because ewww. It was the first time that had ever happened. I have no idea why.
-No after party!
The Mammoth March was a very different experience from a road race--from the start, to the participants, and to the finish. Would I do it again? Probably not. But it was a great reminder that I can still go the distance and that I can do hard things. I also reminded myself that if I had been running, I would have been done much sooner. But I'm glad I did it, and no worries, there will be more long hikes in the future--in the woods!
With the blast furnace turned up to 11 on Monday, I took my Fluid Running workout to the outdoor pool. What a treat to be in the water under a beautiful blue sky! The water felt so good, I didn't want to get out.
It was 80F and 90% humidity when I woke up early Wednesday morning. Between that and the large blister on the back of my foot, I considered going back to the pool. Instead, I decided to walk at the east preserve, where I could loop around for 4 miles. The thought of putting my trail shoes on did not appeal to me, so I chose some Brooks Glycerines that I normally use for treadmill running--hoping for some extra cushion. It took about a half mile, but my blister finally settled into the shoe and stopped hurting. Since I was moving slowly, the heat didn't bother me too much.
I enjoyed seeing a doe and her 2 fawns on the trail. They moved quickly into the foliage when they spotted me. Lots of wildflowers helped color the landscape.
At the gym, we are returning to auxiliary strength. After the Olympic lifting cycle, this feels like a breath of fresh air. I was so ready for a change. We're doing more with dumbbells and training the smaller muscles. On Thursday, our workout was all upper body. We followed the usual format of 4 rounds, 4 sets of exercises, alternating between 2 different movements:
Set 1: :40 one arm seated overhead press (15#)/:10 transition/:40 banded pull aparts/ :30 rest x4
Set 2: :40 alt. dumbbell (20#) bench press/:10 transition/:40 empty barbell upright rows/:30 rest x4
Set 3: :40 alt bicep curls (15#)/:10 transition/:40 dumbbell (20#) overhead triceps extension/ :30 rest x4
Set 4: :40 marching front plank/:10 transition/:40 supermans/:30 resst x4
With my knee and foot issues, the summer challenge this week was a no-go; looks like I'm a summer challenge dropout, and it's only week 2.
We were up at the lake for the weekend, and in between storms, the hubs took me waterskiing. While it was only the second time I'd been up behind the boat all summer, these were the first substantial skis this year. I went at 6 am on Saturday, just to have calm waters and the lake to myself. It was wonderful and the low hanging fog made it feel almost magical!
Off the road...
The blister on my foot did not want to go away. I popped it soon after I discovered it; by the next day, it had filled up again. Even with Epsom salt foot baths, I had pain and trouble bearing weight on that foot. Shoving my foot into the ski boot on Friday was painful, but it unroofed the blister, and by Saturday, it was starting to resolve.
I also had issues with tendinitis in my right knee that refused to go away, even while using my knee strap. I'm just fatigued overall. I blame the ongoing family drama, which escalated again this week. Will it ever end?
The hubs and I went blueberry picking in Baraboo on Saturday, this year leaving with 9 pounds of fresh blueberries. We followed that with lunch at our favorite brewpub, Tumbled Rock, enjoying a fresh IPA and a salad made with, what else, blueberries!
How was your week? So many of us endured a really strong heat wave--how did you modify your workouts, if at all? Have you ever had a large blister that impacted your mobility? Fresh blueberries, anyone? What is your favorite way to eat them?
Congrats on completing that hike despite the soul-sucking finish — and 10 miles is a long stretch of ugh.
ReplyDeleteGlad your blister finally is getting better.
Water skiing looks fantastic!
It felt great to be behind the boat again!
DeleteWe get a picture of the dead animal, but NOT the blister?? Aw man. LOL I can see how that last part of the hike would very tough. It sounds like a great event, congrats on your finish! Hope you are feeling all recovered soon.
ReplyDeleteYou will see on my blog this week how I used my blueberries (so visually pleasing!). My favorite way to use them is in pancakes.
Haha--I am not one to share dead animals or wounds, but the poor thing was stuck in my grill and how often does that happen?
DeleteCongrats on your hike! 20 miles is a long way especially in summer. The heat was really tough this week. Waterskiing seems like the way to beat it for sure.
ReplyDeleteI am not having my hot girl summer for sure, even though it's hot. I need a do over.
Delete20 miles is a long way! I am glad you had a friend alongside of you to keep your spirits up! The blister sounds so painful, though!!
ReplyDeleteWe also had epic heat and humidity. It got better later in the week. We were up at my parents this weekend and had a great time with extended family. We are heading back now with a long to do list at home!
Things will be a little hectic here too--I have 2 weeks of PTO coming up- YAY! but that means getting a lot done in the time that I'm in town. Not complaining though!
DeleteYes, I can see how it would be hard to hike the second half of a 20 mile hike on a boring, hot route. That's a bummer! Still- it sounds like a fun adventure. I'm glad your blister is healing up (they always do) and I hope your knee feels better soon. Yes, it was a good week to take off of running and get out on the lake!
ReplyDeleteThe last time I went blueberry picking was when I visited my sister several years ago. I think we ended up with 10 pounds of blueberries, and since I couldn't take any home with me, they ended up with a LOT. I know they froze a lot of them. Fun times... and that IPA looks good!!!
That IPA was amazing! This place has the best beer!
DeleteCongrats on completing the Mammoth March! But what a disappointment to have the back half run alongside a road. Your blister sounds very uncomfortable, and to answer your question, I got a huge one when I ran the JFK 50-Miler. It covered the entire ball of my foot from my toes to the arch. I limped around for days.
ReplyDeleteGlad you finally got out on your waterskis! That seems like a great place to hang out in this heat.
Yum on the blueberry haul! I regularly add a few to our salads. :-)
The weather was much better up at the lake than at home, so that was a win as well!
DeleteWell done on the Mammoth March, Wendy! Walking for 20 miles!! That's loooong!
ReplyDeleteI recently got a blister out of nowhere (like you, I NEVER get blisters). I didn't pop it because I thought maybe that would be better, and magically, it disappeared within 48 hours. Who knows?
Such a shame about the bird - of all the people, that had to happen to you, who loves birds!!
Exactly my thought. But I was also glad it wasn't a deer!
DeleteCongrats on the Mammoth March! It sounds like a challenging event. I keep getting a blister on and off on one of my toes in my left foot. I bet it has to do with my shoes. Those blueberries look so yummy- so many of them!
ReplyDeleteThey are just so good! Your kids would probably love blueberry picking!
DeleteSo sorry about the disappointment with the hiking route - that's a bummer that it's not 100% in the woods! That blister sounds so painful, I don't think I've had anything like it. I easily get blisters but very rarely in recent years since I started using Altra or minimalist shoes (not sure how much is only correlation or if zero drop has something to do with it) but somehow they would be resolved again the day after.
ReplyDeleteBlueberries are lovely and so nutritious too! I like just eating them fresh, otherwise in yoghurt with some walnuts.