On The Road Again!

On the road again! Yes, I am SO happy to be on the road again!!!

Did you hear? This past week was my first official week back on the road in my running shoes. I didn't run far, I certainly didn't run fast, and I did not run every day. But, officially, I'm no longer claiming "runner sidelined" as my status.

Back on the road...

A  lot of what I did this week was trial and error since  I've never had an injury quite like this before. Essentially, it wasn't a "running" injury, but a healing suture seam from an unfortunate emergency ordeal that shouldn't have happened in the first place. But I have ranted enough about that, so I'm stepping down from that illustrious soap box (for now).

Anyways, here's what went down this past week...

I woke up on Monday with my first case of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) in quite awhile. I was quickly reminded what they feel like, and realized (again) how different walking is from running. Let's suffice it to say there were a few aching muscles that had not been used since before my surgery. Fortunately, all I really wanted was a #nevermissaMonday outing, and Max was only too eager to to go along with me...we did a mere 1.5-mile early morning walk, and I was good with that.

Mommy and Max time

By Tuesday, the DOMS had pretty much packed up and left, so I headed out in the foggy pre-dawn hours and did two miles of running/walking around the college campus. This was my second official run (also with walk intervals), and everything felt great.

 A big highlight from Wednesday was my return to the outdoor stairway! I had not been on this stairway (near my house, also on the college campus) since sometime last spring (side note---I don't think I've ever given this stairway a name...how about Mavis?). Anyways, it was a hot afternoon, and I have not done any stair-training since the surgery, so I knew to take things slow and easy.

Back on the stairs! Voldemort (the scar) and Mavis got acquainted...

How does this sound?
*10 flights of single-steps
**5 flights of doubles
*10 more flights of singles
**5 more flights of doubles
*20 flights of singles (descending on the grassy hill instead of the steps)

These steps are more "elongated" than a typical indoor stairwell...they are longer and wider but have a pretty forgiving incline (in other words, they're not as steep). That said, they are a challenge to climb because each step requires a longer stride...a single step is equivalent to a "double step" on a regular stairway, and a double step feels like a "triple step." I could really feel my calves getting stretched and worked on the descents, so for the final 20 flights, I "ran" down the grassy hill...and that really worked my quads! All in all, those 50 flights (up & down) took  me about 25 minutes.

After Wednesday's stair workout, I was anxious to get a run done early Thursday morning before the DOMS showed up (because, after a 5-month sabbatical from stair climbing, it would be a major surprise to the universe if there were no lingering effects). My friend, Barb, and I were hoping to get in about 3 miles. There was ample lightning across the sky (but no blatant bolts), so we decided to stay close to home and ran/walked the 2-mile Quick & Easy Hilly Route (details HERE) in my neighborhood. AND, since we both were feeling so good, we did a bonus 1-mile run at the end AND an extra 1/2 mile walk. Not any rain showed up, we were a very sweaty mess (from the heavy humidity), and both of us were ecstatic to have "weathered" the route. It's been a long time since we've had a major sweat session in the early hours, so this was a monumental adventure.

It felt like a return to summer with the upper 60-degree temps and humidity!

With all the activity of the week, I decided Friday should be a rest day. The hubby and I took Max out for an early-morning 2-miler, and that's all she wrote.

It was with excited anticipation I awoke on Saturday morning. Barb and I were going to reignite our #5at5 route (but we were modifying it slightly with a few walk intervals, and not leaving until 6:00). As crazy as it sounds, the temps were what I'd deem #perfect. I say that because it was 69-degrees and very humid...it felt like a hot & steamy July morning, and I was in a complete state of bliss. Why? Because it felt like a taste of summer running...the kind of running I didn't get to experience this summer.

There comes the sunrise....

We met up at our usual spot (about 3/4 of a mile from each of our houses) and headed out on our very familiar route. It was dark when we started, but we soon had some semblance of daylight emerging. We took brief walk breaks at the 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 mile marks. All said and done, I was back to my house before 7:00, so those five miles took me just under 57 minutes! I did feel a little tired in the final mile, but given the temps, I'm quite happy with how this 5-miler went. Five miles, after all, is my longest "running/walking" distance thus far!

Yes! A small taste of the "summer" that I missed this year

Although I felt fine Sunday morning, I decided to just do a short "wake-up-and-start-the-day" walk. The weather was warm (high 60's and humid), and the odds were good I'd either go for a bike ride or a longer walk (or, most likely, BOTH) later in the day.

Aren't filters fun?

So, that's my first week back in the running shoes. My mileage (Monday-Sunday) is currently around 20 (8 of which are from running/walking!). Something I need to be careful of is my upcoming half marathon on November 12th (R'n'R Las Vegas). So far, my endurance seems to be great...the slight increase in activity (running/walking) this week has not impacted anything. Even though I'm being very cautious about warming up and foam rolling (before and after), a half marathon is a major distance (especially for a runner just coming back from a 3-month sabbatical). My plan is to start adding an extra mile (or possible 1-1/2 mile) each week to my "long" run, which will get me to an adequate distance before the race.  None the less, I have no interest in running Vegas fast, or even running the entire route (I'm fine with run/walking) because I'll be in the company of friends...and why would you want to "race" through  the Vegas strip anyways?

In case you missed them, here's my  other posts from this past week:
Emotions Were RUNNING High!
What's on Tap:Fall 2017
Gettin' My Giddy On...

In other news:
***Remember me talking about a dreadful fall I took last weekend? It happened Saturday evening as I was getting out of the car and lost my footing. Well, I not only went down, I went down HARD. Fortunately, the recovering knee was spared...but my outer/upper thigh? Not so much. The beautiful bruise coloring started filling in on Tuesday night, and it continued to get more colorful as the week wore on...

Isn't this just lovely? (L-R): Tuesday's, Thursday's, and Saturday's progression of color

***Did you catch my #FridayFashionFlair post on my Instagram page? As you know, I'm all about color and I'm all about cheetah print. The royal blue color really pops out with the added funk of the cheetah print scarf. What to you think? Cheetah -- yay or no way? Play along... post your Friday outfit (or a favorite outfit from the week), use the hashtag #FridayFashionFlair, and tag me (@Runningonthefly)...it's fun to see all of my fitness-minded friends in non-fitness clothes!

and don't forget the lipstick!

***Have you seen my Facebook page (Running on the Fly) lately? After 3-1/2 years, I thought it was time for an updated cover photo. What do you think? I probably should think about updating the profile pic, too....

Do you follow my Facebook page?

***On Saturday, I didn't just get my sweat on with that 5-miler. I also spent almost two hours doing numerous "garden squats" in the hot sun. Ugh. Gardening is fitness-related, right?

Look at all that discarded "vegetation"

 ***And, last of all, it's officially fall. Fortunately (for me, at least), even though it says "fall" on the calendar, it has felt like summer recently. No complaints. My summer was kind of a bust...and I am in no hurry for what happens following the fall season...

So, that's a wrap! How was your week? Did summer return with a vengeance? Any remarkable training runs this week? 

I'm linking up with  Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap. This weekly check-in is such a great place to connect with fellow fitness-minded peeps. Please join us!