Sunday, May 9, 2021

Welcome to my Battlefield


If there was ever a week of battle strife, this would be it.

The warrior: Myself.

The opponents: Wind, Cold, and DOMS (not necessarily in that order).

Seriously. This was a very productive week, but it was hard-fought. It felt like each day brought a different challenge to the fore front. I'm not one to shy away from tough workouts or discomforts, but this week gave me a run for my mental (and physical) mojo.

...and that's not all bad.

Before I give you the down & dirty details, welcome to the Weekly Run Down!

 I love hosting this link-up with Deborah (from Confessions of a Mother Runner)! If you write a fitness-based blog, you're invited to join the party. The link-up opens at 1:00 (EST) on Sundays and remains open through noon on Monday. We love reading about everyone's weekly fitness endeavors, training highlights (or low lights) and race recaps. We ask that you link back to both hosts, and we encourage you to read/comment on the other linked blogs as well...please don't link-drop & dash ;-)



Anyways, here's what went down in my little world of (DOMS-laden) fitness this week:

NMAM (Never Miss a Monday)
I don't get shin splits very often, but I had a good case of them upon wake-up Monday morning. I blame the intense 4-mile power walk with Barb (12 hours prior). None the less, the forecast was showing progressively cold (and damp) weather conditions as the day wore on, so I opted to attempt an easy-paced 2-miler. Only, within the first couple of blocks, my legs came to life. Let's just say this 2-mile recovery run morphed into a 5K tempo(ish) fiesta rather quickly. I like it when that happens!
 

AT&T (Another Typical Tuesday)
I knew my legs needed an easy day, and my Tuesdays usually are all about walking (or other low/non-impact cardio). So, we walked 1-1/2 miles in the frigid morning air. Later, Max took me for a short walk at lunchtime, and we walked another 1/2-mile or so after work. Approximately three total miles for the day...and nothing else. It happens.
 

DDWW (Double Duty Workout Wednesday)
As most know, I'm stepping WAY out of my comfort zone this month, and doing weekly 1-mile time trials. WTT #1 took place on the college track, Wednesday morning. The temps were chilly (mid-40F's) but there wasn't any obvious wind. I did a 1-mile warm-up run (from my house) before making my way onto the track. I have done a few 1-mile street races (Grand Blue Mile, in 2018 and 2019), but this was my first time (since maybe high school phys ed?) doing so on an actual track. With no pacing strategy, I started my watch and just ran "comfortably hard" and stopped after the 1-mile distance beeped on the Garmin. Amazingly, I cleared my previous 1-mile PR (7:23), but just barely with a 7:21 finish time for this first attempt. Kind of a Catch-22 to start these trials with a PR, but we'll see what happens each week. Afterwards, I walked over to the outdoor stairway (which is really close by) and did 20 flights (360 steps) before walking home.


Later, as if the #ish wasn't real enough in the early hours, I had the bright idea to crank-it-up after work. I rode the bike back over to the stairway for a rather intense lower-body strength/stair interval workout. 

Here's what happened:
**10 stair flights (18 steps)
**20 squats (starting with sumo for the first set, then jump/Bulgarian/split/air for the other four sets)
**10 lunges, each leg (started with walking, then forward/reverse/side/curtsy for the other four sets)
** repeat four more times, with a 30-second recovery between circuits

After five total sets:
--> 26 minutes of activity
--> 900 total steps
--> 100 total squats
--> 50 total lunges (each leg)
--> one very sweaty and tired gal 


DTTD (Dang Those Thursday DOMS)
Since it had only been about 12 hours since the stair/lower-body extravaganza, things weren't feeling too DOMS-like at wake-up. I anticipated that would all change, so meeting Barb for our weekly early-morning 5-miler was perfect timing (spoiler: I was right LOL). Can I just say that I am OVER this erratic spring weather? Temps were 48F, which usually would feel comfortable, but when there's a wickedly cold blast of steady wind out of the north, it felt like winter all over again. But, the daylight is coming earlier and earlier, so that's something to smile about. Another successful #5at5 in the books. 


AFFM (Another Frigid Friday Morning)
No surprise, the DOMS hit me hard by mid-morning on Thursday. My hammies and glutes were in a major world of hurt from all that lower-body love on Wednesday evening. Although things were feeling better Friday morning, I thought a 2-mile walk would serve me far better than a run in the 37F feels-like temps.  Thankfully, there was plenty of sunshine and the temps warmed up by lunchtime, so Max and I did a quick 1-mile walk before I headed back to the office. Also, the DOMS were pretty much history by bedtime. All was well!


SMS (Slow Motion Saturday)
Although the DOMS were long gone, I still was feeling pretty run-down Saturday morning. Barb and I met around 7:00, with the intention of running eight miles. Overall, the run went well, but it felt like I was dragging...not sure if that was due to the hilly route (oops) or the 14mph wind. By the 7-mile mark, we both were feeling more energetic, so we decided to tack on a couple bonus miles and ended the day with 10 total miles run. Surprisingly, my Garmin showed a 10:06 (average) pace....totally wasn't expecting that given the state of my fatigue! I did crash for a good hour, on the couch, after I got home (and again, later in the afternoon).
  

GGGS (Girl Got Guns Sunday)
Cold, damp and icky weather kept me indoors, but that's just as well. With a big Mother's Day gathering on deck, I didn't have any extra time for playing outside anyways (that will happen later, after the rain vacates and the temps warm up, late afternoon). Instead, I snuck in a short upper-body strength session in the early-morning hours. 

So, in summary, I was able to get in a lot of fitness despite my (fitness-related) aches and pains. Running saw 20 miles and walking had 14 miles (these numbers include last Sunday, but not this Sunday). For strength-training, there was that tough lower-body session on the stairs (as well as in between flights), and there was one upper-body workout. Speaking of stairs, 110 flights of stairs were climbed this week as well. The Fight for Air Climb is next weekend! 

In case you missed out, here's what else went down on the blog this week:

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair! Although the day started rather chilly, it warmed up nicely by lunchtime. This week's featured outfit was all about green, teal, florals...and windblown hair. Worse things could happen, right? As always, please join the party! Post a pic of your outfit on Instagram, grab the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and be sure to tag me (@runningonthefly).


There's a town, Pella, that's about 40 miles away. Every year, they host Tulip Time, a BIG celebration of all things Dutch. The oldest daughter actually lives near there, so we picked her (and Lola) up and spent a couple hours admiring all the tulips, windmills, and festival attractions in and around the town square on Friday evening. It was fun being (cautiously) out in a crowd again!


Finally, a very blessed an joyous Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

So, tell me....How are things in your (fitness) world? Any exceptionally tough workouts this past week? Any big accomplishments? How's your weather been behaving?


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

36 comments:

  1. Those tulips look so pretty! You did get in a nice week of well rounded fitness. Hope you have a happy mother's day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's always fun seeing all the tulips! They have the majority of their streets lined with flower beds, so it's so colorful ;-)

      Delete
  2. Oddly my workouts were strong this week. I think the extended rest really helped, but getting ready for a trip is always stressful, especially knowing that the drive is most likely going to be stressful, too.

    Great job on your new 1 mile PR! Congrats!

    Happy Mother's Day -- I'm sure you'll have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ugh...I hate long car rides, too! Totally agree on the stress and the discomfort. I hope all goes well <3

      Delete
  3. Happy Mother's Day! It looks like you had ALL the weather this week! We had a variety, but I never needed gloves.

    You always win those workout battles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to bring the gloves with me most days, but I wound up shedding them after the first few miles. We finally got some rain this morning...but it didn't last as long as was forecast LOL I'm not one to wish for rain, but we really need it...

      Delete
  4. Sounds like an intense and productive week for you! Love the tulip fest! Happy Mother's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Marcia! It was an interesting week to battle through...we can do hard things, right?

      Delete
  5. Oh bummer, I almost texted you Friday night when Betsy and I canceled our Saturday morning outdoor ride to see if you wanted to do a FaceTime indoor ride with me. As usual, you got in some great workouts!

    Happy Mother's Day, Kim!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Text me anytime, and I'll gladly work in a FaceTime ride with you!!! Hope your Mom's Day was great ;-)

      Delete
  6. Great mix of workouts! And great job on your first mile time trial! Hope you have a great Mother's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Michelle ;-) It's going to be interesting to see how these time trials play out...probably going to be quite humbling LOL

      Delete
  7. Happy Mother's Day! I love all the tulips. So pretty!

    A post long run nap is my favorite kind of nap, ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That nap (actually BOTH of them) felt awesome! I seldom, ever, take the time for a nap...so these not only felt great, but were much needed.

      Delete
  8. Great job this week! Sounds like really had to fight against the weather and the DOMS. Our weather has been all over the place. Have a nice Mother's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping we can get back on track with seasonal weather this week. I can handle some cold spring days, but these temps felt more like winter. And that wind can just STOP already LOL

      Delete
  9. I had a tough one on Monday, bank holiday, 8 miles to do, freezing, wet as anything and we got lost going down some stupid path we thought we knew, cue hysterical laughter, cue getting the lady from Google Maps to direct us back in a circle, cut going wrong again, cue being a bit blue round the edges when we got home, 10.3 miles later ... Today, lovely warm sun and a different route but with someone who knew the way - a totally different run! Lovely work this week, well done for fighting all the battles!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh gosh, that would be so frustrating getting lost, especially in those cold & wet conditions. At least you could laugh about it ;-)

      Delete
  10. Sounds like you had a great week! Isn't DOMS strange? You were able to get in your five mile run on Thursday before it kicked in... and then you were in pain. Glad it subsided quickly. I had a case of DOMS this week that stuck around for days.
    I can't believe your cold temps!!! What happened to spring? Hope you get some seasonal weather this week.
    Happy Mother's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had to switch out 5-mile run to Thursday, so I seized the opportunity to do the 1-mile trial AND the lower-body a day early. I anticipated the DOMS wouldn't hit until around mid-morning (on Thursday), and I was correct LOL I'm thankful the DOMS didn't show up any earlier ;-)

      Delete
  11. Well done on that mile time trial! I agree, that is a toughie to start out so fast, but wow, well done!! I'm not sure I can get anything sub 8:00 for a mile. Hope you are enjoying your Mother's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honestly, I just go with what my body feels like doing. For me, it's scary to push myself too much because I don't want to crash & burn too soon. I'm trying to figure out how these fast paces "feel," because it's too stressful staring at my watch and adjusting things as I run (if that makes sense?).

      Delete
  12. As always a colorful and active week. No tough workouts except the 5.67 mile race up a mountain. I walked a lot and I think that's why I didn't feel anything DOMS today.

    Congrats on the 1 mile PR. I am struggling to get below 11 these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I definitely didn't get in as much walking as I'd have like last week. I probably should have walked Thursday (at lunch and after work), but my glutes and hammies were SO angry, I chose to do nothing. My bad...

      Delete
  13. Congrats on winning this week's battles! The weather may dish it out, but you can take it. And congrats on your spicy mile!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awhhh, thank you ;-) The cold weather was a bit ridiculous...but at least we had plenty of sunshine. I really want to just fast-forward to summer.

      Delete
  14. Sounds like it was a hard week between dealing with the chilly weather and DOMS but you pushed through!

    OMG I would love tulip time! Tulips are my favorite flowers (well tied with sunflowers). I just love all the different colors and they always look so beautiful.

    Hope you had a great Mother's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The tulips in Pella are absolutely breathtaking. There are so many different colors and varieties, and they are everywhere. They had to cancel the festival last year (due to COVID), but even without all the scheduled events (nightly parades, food vendors, exhibits, street shows, etc.), the tulips were still in bloom.

      Delete
  15. Pella and Tulip Time sounds fabulous!!! Congrats again on that speedy mile!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! The mile took me by surprise because I didn't feel like I was pushing myself as much as I could have. Now, to figure out how much to push without burning through any/all energy before the mile ends...that's going to be challenging!

      Delete
  16. Loved your tulip pics.
    Congrats on pushing through a challenging week. Glad you had lots of good with the crazy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thankfully, there was plenty good to outweigh the crazy LOL

      Delete
  17. definitely a hard fought week for you Kim! but as usual, you pretty much slayed ;-) and so very cool about the Dutch festival you guys went to!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You would love Tulip Time! It's such a beautiful event <3

      Delete