Ain't nothing gonna break my stride...
This week may have given me a couple challenges in keeping that stride going, though. That's all well and good, and everything played out with a happy ending. Besides, a few obstacles just make the journey more interesting and the finish more satisfying.
At least that's the story I'm going with.
Before I share the 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 8:00AM (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 this week in my little world of Florida fitness:
Sunday - New week, new route!
What a beautiful SUNday morning! This morning's wake-up and walk routine had me all smiles. Why? Well, the sunrise was nothing short of fabulous, but I discovered a new 4-mile route. This route encompassed a few familiar streets that I realized were all connected...in other words, now that I know the distance, I can leave the Garmin at home.
Another Never Miss a Monday.
It had been a few weeks since I'd done my Monday run in the early morning hours, so it was time to rectify that (I also may have faked a stretch to avoid an awkward selfie bust, LOL). Over lunch, on a whim, I got the crazy idea to walk Sunday's 4-mile route, but in reverse (title pic, above). Yowza, it got #HotHotHot, and my legs were totally tired by the time I returned back home. There also were a couple of 1-milers with Max, so I finished the day with nine total miles underfoot.
Another Typical Tuesday (Florida style)
We awoke to "winter" temps (sub-50F, LOL). I did a couple of Peloton strength workouts (with my new 15-pound dumbbells (YIKES! What a difference!) and then got in a quick 2-mile walk before logging-on for work. Later, there was another 2-mile walk over lunch, and a couple of 1-milers with Max.
Wednesday: The Art of Re-Grouping:101
As mentioned recently, my right hip flexor has been acting a bit cranky. Well, that was feeling fine and dandy Wednesday morning, but my back was giving me attitude instead. I postponed my usual 5-mile run for lunchtime, and did a 3-mile walk to keep things "low-impact." As the morning wore on, my lower back was feeling worse. Thinking the noontime sunshine would fix my issue (wishful thinking, LOL), I laced up the shoes...and didn't even make it 1/4-mile when I knew the run wasn't happening. I got back to our villa, popped a couple Aleves and started looking for a nearby chiropractor. Honestly, I couldn't even sit, stand, or reach for my pen without wincing in pain. A few hours later, though, I realized the pain had dramatically subsided, so I attempted the (still) postponed run. Although things felt MUCH better (probably due to the drugs), I kept the miles short, and ran three instead of five, and still enjoyed the sunshine. Sometimes you got to know when to call it, right? I did a little more walking, and found a yoga class (Peloton) to give my back a little extra TLC. Moving on!
Thursday: I burned my breakfast
Similar to Tuesday, I had some strength work on deck for the early hours. Holy! My muscles were on fire! I'm just amazed (and a bit humbled) how much heavier 15-pound dumbbells feel compared to the 12-pounders I'd been using. When I say "I burned my breakfast," I'm referencing the muscle burn following a hearty "breakfast" of strength-training. I also added a core workout and 2-mile walk before my workday commenced. As for lunch...how does a 15-mile bike ride sound (see below)?
Friday: Biking for Breakfast...
With the winter-like morning temps (46F), I grabbed my tried and true puffer vest (and layered up underneath). While 46F feels fine for running (and even walking), it's pretty chilly on a bike. I found a couple of bike-friendly golf cart paths to give me 10 miles of pedal power to start my day. Max and I did a 2-mile walk over lunch, and there also was more core work and glute/hip conditioning later in the afternoon.
Saturday: How about a (virtual) half marathon!
I'd been registered for the Key West Half Marathon for several months, scheduled for Sunday (January 16th). Long story short, the logistics didn't pan out, so I elected to run it virtual. Since my back was all better and the hip flexor was feeling pretty neutral, I decided to just bite the bullet and go for it (and I didn't want to feel like a schmuck when the event shirt and medal arrived, LOL). I hit the streets just after 5:30, and the temps were perfect and the wind non-existent. While my hip wasn't in pain, it still was a bit stiff. I kept my pace easy (kind of by default), and took several walk breaks, but never once felt like quitting. It wasn't an easy endeavor, but a good physical test of my endurance as well as a mental test of my perseverance and grit, and left me feeling quite empowered upon finishing. After all, I'd never done a half marathon in the month of January, so this was a significant conquest. And, get this...I received an email Saturday evening from the Key West people, with a weather update (a windy start and a rainy end were in the forecast). Looks like my virtual option was a smart choice!
What's on tap for Sunday?
Well, there's rain in our forecast as well, so any walking, recovery running (still on the fence with that) or biking will probably have to wait until after lunch. I do have a lot of stretching on tap, though.
Anyways, it felt like I was in a constant state of flux with oddball aches and twitches. Life happens, so the best I can do is go with what's given to me and make the best of it. How did that work for me? Walking took the lead (with the scaled back running) and saw 30ish miles this week. Running was conservative, and ended with just over 19 miles (most of which came from Saturday's virtual half marathon). And, biking is rallying back with 25 miles. There also were some solid strength workouts and plenty of core work, so everything balanced out in the end.
In case you missed out, here's what went down on the blog this week:
In other news:
Friday Fashion Flair. It was kind of a neutral day, with the pewter and khaki, so a pop of color was most necessary. Most know I love my bright colors, so I can handle an occasional "neutral" palette as long as I can add a punch of pink to it. How about you? Got a favorite color you add to a neutral outfit, or do you just let the neutrals hold their own?
Oh does it feel good to be back on a real set of wheels! We brought our son's mountain bike here, and recently added a second bike to keep here in Florida. The green bike has been christened with the name Flo, and the red bike has been named Rider. Get the significance...Flo and Rider? (huge thanks to my gal at Birchwood Pie Project for the suggestion!)
Lastly, a nice little feel-good moment happened the other day. The people from the Quad Cities Marathon noticed I was wearing my QC biking jersey (from Thursday's ride) and gave me a shout on Instagram. I didn't even tag them or mention their name, so the fact that they spotted it on their own was especially nice. The QC Marathon was my first 26.2, and I was blessed with a great experience...glad the karma has continued!
So, that's the story of my week. A few twists and turns never hurt no one, right? Just keep smiling through the grit and embrace each day.
How were things in your world this week? Any phantom aches or pains to deal with? Any racing, in person or virtual?
Sorry to hear that you had to skip the Key West half! That has always been on my bucket list. It's good they had a virtual option. I hope all your aches and pains subside. There's this thing called 'rest', Kim...just saying!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to keep Key West on my radar for next year. I will have zero guilt wearing the shirt (when it arrives) since I was able to run the distance in Florida and made it into a great challenge by running it on my own (and without music or crowd support).
DeleteSorry to hear about the aches and pains - the long journey down and a new bed / office set-up could be contributing to that maybe. I've had a good running week with some varied routes, etc.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think all the barstool-sitting (in my current "office") is a factor. I'm trying to remember to stand, on occasion, but I do walk around a lot between tasks so I'm not totally sedentary. Glad to hear you had a great week of running!
DeleteHoping your back feels better!! I'm loving all these warm weathe r photos. I'm definitely living vicariously through you right now!
ReplyDeleteI'm taking full advantage of the weather! "Florida cold" is quite manageable for this "Iowa tough" gal ;-)
DeleteI'm bummed for you that Key West did not pan out. It's such a fun place to run! Way to go on upleveling to 15# weights but be super careful and mindful of your for as well. Glad you are listening to your body!
ReplyDeleteI do think the 15# weights were a factor since the back pain happened afterwards. I'm just glad the severe pain subsided and has not returned. Yeah, Key West was a bummer, but I'm thankful I could at least run the virtual while in Florida. The race day weather conditions don't look too pleasant at the moment...
DeleteHope your back continues to behave. Back pain is no fun!! Sorry you had to miss out on Key West though. My 15 lb weights don't get used much. My next weight is only 10 so it's a big jump in my workouts! Florida life sounds pretty fun. So happy it's working out well for you!
ReplyDeleteThings have worked out well, so I'm very grateful the Florida gig has been a success. My lower back is cranky sometimes (usually the morning after an evening nap on the couch), but this was off-the-charts. Thankfully, it dissipated almost as quickly as it appeared.
DeleteThat is too bad that the Key west race did not work out but it happens. Many more races to run. I hope your hip flexor feels better today. When mine are tight it most definitely effects my lower back too. Hopefully with some more rest and stretching you will feel better soon
ReplyDeleteI did some stretching with Matty earlier, and things feel remarkably good post-13,1. I'm headed out for a walk soon since the rain stopped ;-)
DeleteLet's see we're in week two of 2022 and you've run two races in 2022 so far! It doesn't get much better than that. I don't have problems with my back very often, but when I do it really makes itself known. Also idk what it's like in Iowa but we're in arctic freeze mode here so please soak up every ray of sunshine that comes your way for me. Have fun with your "biker gang" Flo and Rider!
ReplyDeleteMy back has been cranky, but this was ridiculous! Thankfully, things are feeling so much better now. Guess what, I have another race next weekend ;-) I'm hoping to go for an easy ride later...not sure who (Flo or Rider) will get the honors...
DeleteUgh, I'm so sorry to hear that you've joined the brigade of runners with back pain. I've learned that it's a must to give it time to recover when it acts up, so please, listen to your body if bothers you again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer that you weren't able to run the Key West Half in person, but it sounds like you made a good decision to run it at home - at least the weather was better.
Have a great week!
I can usually pinpoint the cause of my back issues (the couch, LOL), but this really took me by surprise. I think keeping Thursday and Friday "run-free" helped the recovery process.
DeleteSorry about the aches and pains. I'm glad things settled down enough for you to get your virtual half done. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteHopefully the additional stretching will bring some relief. Take care!
Yes, stretching (with Matty) this morning really felt good! With this half marathon in the rear window, I'm going to just keep the runs moderate (no double digits) for awhile.
DeleteCrazy that your back hurt so much on Wednesday that you could barely run, and then on Saturday you ran a half! The weirdest thing is, with all my aches and pains, I never have back issues-go figure. I hope it was just a one-day thing for you.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about you this week with our cold weather- I know it's even colder for you than it is for us. Still better than Iowa though, right???
Yes, this Florida Winter is easy-peasy, LOL. I have a few of my winter things with me (since we did start our journey in Iowa, and we will be returning there in two weeks), so I am well prepared for the especially "cold" mornings ;-)
DeleteGlad you were able to run the virtual half! I hope your hip and back behave this week! Look at you bundling up for the 40s. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHa ha, yes I had to bundle up a bit, especially for the bike ride. It feels surreal to realize that I DID run those 13.1 miles yesterday...it really felt like a big undertaking leading up to "race day."
DeleteSorry about the aches and pains but ... congrats on the virtual half!
ReplyDeleteI miss my long distance runs! I always hope to increase the single mileage but every time something happens!!!
Just now I feel pain in my big toe after 30/40 minutes running! Yes, I know, I am getting older but I want to run forever!!!!!
Thank you! This virtual was unlike anything I'd ever done before, and it left me with all kinds of euphoria afterwards ;-)
DeleteHope your hip and back feel better,
ReplyDeleteKey West has always been on my bucket list... some day?
Too bad you could not do it this year. Kudos to you for running it virtually - much much harder!!
My friend ran a half today - wind thunderstorms ... not fun!
Yes, running 13.1 virtually is much harder than in-person. I still cannot believe I actually accomplished it, in a non-familiar place, none the less. The wind has been crazy here today...17mph when I went for a walk late morning.
DeleteGood job making it around all the roadblocks life threw at you this week, Kim! I would expect nothing less. :) Hopefully pain free days are ahead!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever run a half in January, either. February a few times, since it's my birthday -- but not up here, always in warmer locales. :)
The earliest I've done a long distance race, of any distance, was a St. Patricks-themed half marathon a few years ago. Getting in the longer runs, in the cold weather (as I had back in Iowa) can be tough!
DeleteUgh, sorry about the back pain! I had some bad lower back pain a month or so ago. A chiro who also did soft tissue work REALLY helped. I'm not big on yoga, but added some short Peloton classes- the cat/cowl and downward/upward dogs really helped it feel better! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about the Key West half! My sister did it for her 40th with friends, but I wasn't able to make it. Great job doing it virtually, glad that was an option for you!
Since we'll be back in Florida again next January, I might have to run the real Key West on the actual course ;-) Yeah, whatever I did to my back was crazy! Thankfully it was "healed" almost as quickly.
DeleteSorry about the aches and pains that pop up but glad to see you are making the best of it. nothing holds you back. Good decision on doing your Key West race virtual! I've been enjoying following along with your Florida running!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! The virtual wasn't ideal, but it was my best option. The race day weather was a bit iffy yesterday in Key West, so I had ZERO regrets running it where we've been staying ;-)
DeleteFlo Rider. Love it.
ReplyDeleteGlad your back subsided and you were able to do DIY the Half. Any other months you haven't done one in? Sounds like a fun challenge. My lower back was so angry last weekend, it subsided too but that was not fun. Grateful to the inventors of icy hot and friends
I don't think I've done any halfs in February or December either. I didn't have any kind of topical treatment on hand, so I'm glad the meds worked their magic pretty quickly.
DeleteHey. We are getting a deep freeze by me tonight! Don't laugh at our cold temps! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your back and your hip flexor. It's so annoying when we are plagued with aches and pains and nonsense. The weather is doing nothing for my ankle, but we power on.
I love the "winter" temps in Florida, lol.
ReplyDeleteAwesome job on the virtual half marathon, and I'm glad that your hip is feeling okay. I also had some hip issues this past week. We ate truly #kimtwins, lol.