Another Week...

Another week back, another week of transition. Only, this week also had some dark moments.

The Las Vegas tragedy was horrific. Plain and simple, horrific. I am not going to let it hold me back from doing my races (after all, these incidents can happen anywhere and at anytime). I am going to remember to be in a constant state of gratitude, though....we all have things that could be gone in a moments notice (like our family, friends, our health, or our ability to run). If we live in a state of constant fear and dread, we miss out on so much beauty and livelihood. I also think instead of focusing so much coverage on the animal that committed these acts, we need to be mourning those we lost, praying for the survivors, and praising all the helpers who stepped in and provided immediate assistance.

And that's all I have to say about that.


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

Monday
Early morning walk with the hubby and dog. My body still felt a bit fatigued from the 5K on Saturday and Sunday's shakeout run. I did head out for a slow 1-mile #nevermissaMonday run in the early afternoon, and found myself deep in thought and prayer over the Las Vegas tragedy. Later, I walked a crazy, intense 4-miler with my friend, Barb, after work.

No, I don't understand all the stuff happening in our world...but I can run, and I can pray about it.

Tuesday
With plans of an afternoon run, I did a short 1.5 mile walk in the morning. Later, I was able to run two continuous miles run after work. The temps were hot & humid, but I was able to keep a steady pace and didn't need any walking breaks. I also did a major upper body (arm) workout in the evening.

Wednesday
I typically do not run every day (never have, probably never will), so when the alarm went off at 5:15, I rolled back over. Instantly, the hubby asked if I was headed out for a walk...and (before I could answer) proceeded to ask Max if he wanted to join "us." Well, alrighty then. Apparently my early morning walking has made an impression on both of my roommates. Alas, I threw back the covers, got dressed, and laced up. The three of us headed out into the cold & damp & windy early morning hours and conquered a 1.5-mile walk.

just get up, lace up, and head out...

Thursday
I was on my own for Thursday, my plan was for a #5Kat5 but it ended up being closer to 5:10 before I left my front porch. I did stop, drop, and plank when I was finished, though...right there on the street curb. And, yes, that is a fleece headband (don't be jealous).

Doesn't everybody plank on the curb?

Friday

Nothing on my plan (running -wise) for Friday, but I decided to do some stair work upon waking up. I may have had my (furry) coach looking over my shoulder the entire time. I also worked on some breathing exercises (stay tuned...more on this to come!). 

We did 60 total flights of singles, doubles, and side-step cross-overs

Saturday

Have you ever gotten back into bed after turning off your alarm...you know, for just a little while longer? You think, maybe an extra 30-minutes of relaxation will do you good...only you actually wake up almost four hours later? YIKES! I didn't realize my body was that tired, but I did feel pretty refreshed when I finally got up and officially started my day.

I knew I was going to do a somewhat long run on Sunday, so all I really "needed" to do was an easy walk and some stretching and foam rolling. It had been raining, but had stopped just before I headed out. The air was damp and windy, and I didn't know if I'd be able to make it back home before the next downpour happened. I did a quick 2-mile walk, and the sun poked through the clouds just before I made it back home. How's that for a nice little surprise from Momma N?

Then, there was a lot of football on the roster. Our University of Iowa Hawks hosted the University of Illinois Illini. I wish I could brag about the healthy food I consumed...well, I'm sure all of that salsa was full of Vitamin C and antioxidants, but the chips? Not so much. The Hawks pulled off a victory, so that was great. Then, in the evening, we watched the Michigan/MSU game. We lived in the East Lansing area for seven years, so we had a bit of a green and white blood transfusion, and ever since have been loyal Spartans by default. The Spartans managed to pull off a victory as well (in torrential rain, none the less), so it was a grand day.

Victory for MSU

Sunday

Oh my. I woke up feeling like a train wreck, and could barely crawl out of bed. My hamstrings were on fire and my back was super cranky. What the WHAT??? I  had only walked a couple miles on Saturday (and spent lots of time watching football), how could I be so sore and achy?   It wasn't until I'd been walking for a few minutes with Max that I remembered what I'd been doing Friday morning....the stair workout! And, apparently, it was time for the DOMS to pay me a visit.

Early Sunday evening, I met up with my friend, Barb, and we knocked out five miles. The air still felt a bit like summer, but it was odd to start with daylight and end in the dark (it's usually the opposite for most of our runs). None the less, this was the longest non-stop run I have done since my recovery. The fact that it was in the company of DOMS made it that much more sweet.

5 miles with Voldemort

Over all, I feel like my transition back to a running schedule has gone well. I'm running four days/week (if you count that #nevermissaMonday 1-miler). My Tuesday and Thursday runs are short (2-4 miles), and my "long" runs on the weekends are not too long yet (5-7 miles). My mileage for this past week is at 11...nothing grandiose, but that does includes a couple of lengthy walks, that stair workout, and a few strength-training sessions. I'm good with that.

In case you missed them, here's my posts from last week:
Can You Say EPIC?
Kickoff to Kinnick 5K Recap
Over Scheduled?

In other news:
My salsa garden overfloweth. I was a couple weeks late getting the plants in the ground (thankfully, I did have everything planted BEFORE the surgery #plottwist to my summer), so most of my tomatoes and peppers were late. Let's just say they are more than making up for lost time now. I have been making salsa, LOTS of salsa. And I will probably be making more salsa for the next couple weeks.

Salsa everywhere!

Did you catch my Instagram #FridayFashionFlair post? It was a cold and icky and damp day in Iowa...so I went casual. I needed that sweater coat to keep the chills away, but the plaid shirt gave me some brightness. Throwing on a pair of booties (with the cuffed skinny jeans) gave my outfit a little touch of "modern," at least. Also, didn't forget the jewelry or lipstick (I didn't wish to be mistaken for a limber jack). Play along! It's fun to see all my fitness-minded friends in non-fitness clothing...post a pic on Friday, use the hashtag #FridayFashionFlair, and tag me (@runningonthefly). Simple, right?

For October, I'm trying to focus on some basic daily maintenance.....mainly legs and core. What do you think? care to join me?

How was your week? Any goals for October? Any big races coming up? 

 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!