Sunday, September 24, 2017

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!

50 comments:

  1. Glad you got to "enjoy" this last blast of summer in your running shoes!

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    1. It totally feels like Fate or Momma N showed a little bit of mercy on me...

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  2. Ouch that bruise looks painful! Im glad you didnt land on your knee. Yay for a week back to running and star climbing!

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    1. The bruise looks even bigger and darker today! Crazy.....I'm very glad the knee was spared on that episode

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  3. Oh those bruises look painful :( I'm glad that your knee was spare din the fall and that the bruises heal up quickly!

    Congrats on your first "official" week back to running and the stairs!!

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  4. woohoo! So excited to see you back out on the roads running. Holy stair routine! I think that you may be the only person that is excited about the heat and humidity this week but I'm glad that you got a taste of summer running! Hopefully the rest of your transition back to running is this smooth.

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    1. Ha! Yes, I am probably the only person happy for the summer temps...but I'm probably the only person who had to "sit it out" over the actual summer ;-)

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  5. Running and STAIRS! you really are back in action! I know it must feel so good!

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  6. I think you are being so smart easing back into things. I know how happy you are running again-enjoy!

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    1. Thanks, Deborah!! I might be doing things overly-cautious for now, but I'm too paranoid about over-doing it...

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  7. Love your fashion Friday! I can't wait until it cools off enough here to throw on a scarf. You're so brave to face all those stairs. I typically hate them! And yes, DOMS has everything to do with that. ;)

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    1. Well, even in the heat of summer (actually during our "real" summer and now), I'm always in scarves at work because the air-conditioning is SO cold. Surprisingly, the DOMS never showed after the stair workout ;-)

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  8. That stair workout sounds like a killer. I have never done one other than the piece of equipment at the gym.

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    1. It had been several months since I've done any stairs...it was a fun return to my "normal" ;-)

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  9. That bruise is impressive. Rocktape has a taping guide for bruises, so you could try that to flush out the bruise. My chiropractor used it when I had a pretty good bruise a few years ago. It seemed to work and got the blood flowing.

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  10. Wow, that's a lot of miles - doesn't matter if it's running or walking -- almost as many miles as I did! Glad to hear everything feels fine. Sorry about the bruise!

    Yes, it's quite hot & humid here. Bandit is going on another hunger strike. It's frustrating. Weird dog.

    It's difficult in Vegas because even though the strip is wide, it's a very crowded race.

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    1. I know Vegas is gonna be crazy crowded, but I"m looking forward to the epic experience ;-)

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  11. Yay!!!! So glad to see you're back to running and had a great week!

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  12. What a great week to start back with running! I'm so jealous of anyone who can get up and out the door early in the morning to run, I really need to work on that for my training... Hope the DOMS aren't too bad!

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  13. Glad you are back to running - and hope that colorful bruise heals up soon. YOWZERS that must have hurt!

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    1. That colorful bruise is turning different colors everyday...

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  14. Isn't it great to be able to shake that injured status? Congrats on the 5 mile distance. You'll do great in Vegas! Thanks for linking!

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  15. I am so happy that you are back at running! You are always so fashionable on your Fridays, well, I'm sure you are fashionable all week long! If ever buy new work clothes, maybe i'll join the #fashionablefridays!

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  16. Oh my gosh that bruise looks painful! Great to see you back to running!

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  17. Girl, that bruise looks INTENSE!!!

    I'm so excited for you to be back to running. It's such a relief getting back to it, isn't it?

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    1. A huge relief, yes. I'm thankful the majority of my recovery is over ;-)

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  18. Oh, that's a nasty bruise! Ouch!

    You have done so well compensating for your injury! I think you're going to be fine for RnR Vegas! And you'll be right back to your normal in no time! Keep it up, but remember to listen to your body!

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  19. Welcome back to running. It must feel sooooo good!

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  20. What an exciting week for you!! Welcome back to running. :)

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  21. That is a crazy bruise!! Glad you're recovering and getting back to running :)

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    1. Yes, this may be the most impressive bruise I've ever had!

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  22. OMG that bruise! WOW, you are one tough cookie :)

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    1. Ha ha ha...the bruise certainly has a personality all its own...

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  23. I am so happy for you! You were so patient all summer long, but wouldn't give up on moving. I am so impressed with the amount of walking that you did. Welcome back to the world of running!!!!!

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  24. That is an impressive bruise! And great mileage for your first week back to running. I will let you keep the summer weather though...

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  25. I know you are so happy to be back running again! Sounds like you are making great strides while not over doing it and you're on track to be ready for Vegas! Everything seems to be falling into place for you! Congratulations!

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  26. Oh my goodness but I hope you are OK after that fall. The bruise looks bad. Glad you are enjoying the last few day so of this HOT summer and almost fall. :-)

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  27. Stairs! Nooooo, lol No I'd do stairs again just not as many as I did with zero training! But I survived! It's wonderful to see you back running! Vegas here we come!

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  28. Your fashion Friday outfit is awesome - love the scarf! I'm so glad that you're back to running again, DOMS and all :) Keep in up Kim!

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