Oh hi! Thanks for stopping by for the Weekly Rundown. This week had some ups and downs- but I’m grateful for all the ups! I’m linking up as always with Kim and Deborah- thanks for hosting, ladies! Here’s how the week played out.
Sunday
10 mile long run on the trail! This run actually went really, really well. My foot ached a little; I ignored it. I never got too tired or overheated, and I used my new hydration vest. This was the vest I was questioning, but Catrina has the same one and she said she loves it. It did not make me too hot (as I had feared.) I finished this run feeling super encouraged.
Monday
I woke up feeling good, other than a little soreness in my quads. I fired up the Glutes and Core Power Workout from Sally McRae’s app, and then did Caroline Givan’s deadbug workout..
Tuesday
In the morning I did The Ankle Mobility and Foot Strength workout from Sally’s app, followed by the Girvan deadbugs again. Later in the day, after work, I ran 4 miles. I’m trying to build up my heat tolerance before my race by running in the afternoon at least once a week.
Wednesday
Gym day. 20 minutes on the stairmaster, then squats. I was pleased to find that I can squat the same weight as before my ankle injury, AND I’m getting down lower! After the squats I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, 13% incline, 3 mph. I wore my new trail shoes just to get a feel for them.
Thursday
An upper body day was in order. First I did the CG deadbug workout at home, then got myself to the gym for bench press, reverse fly, overhead press, and lat pulldowns.
So far, this week is going GREAT! No issues, a nice mix of strength, running, and cross training. I’m in the zone! (Cue the ominous music…)
Friday
Early morning 4 mile run! My foot felt good, but about a mile into it, my low back started to ache. SIGH.
This low back issue is something that comes and goes, usually flaring up if I’m not super careful about my body mechanics at work. Sometimes I’ll feel it during a long run, but today it was suddenly very prominent.
I ran 3 miles, then changed shoes and wore the Altra Timps for the last mile. The zero drop definitely felt different- but I mostly just noticed the back pain (which had nothing to do with the shoes, as it started earlier in the run.)
Is there a rule that something always has to hurt??? It’s like one thing feels better and then something else falls apart. SHEESH.
I had planed a Sally McRae lower body workout for after work, but the back was really achy and I didn’t want to do anything to aggravate it. Instead I did the Ankle Mobility and Foot Strength workout, and when that went well I added a couple sets of walking lunges with overhead dumbbells- I’m still marveling at how hard that is.
Saturday
Off! I had one of the best sleep-ins in recent memory- woke up just before 5:30, mentally groaned about having to get up, and then remembered- NO, I CAN SLEEP TILL SEVEN. and promptly fell back asleep. And, my husband got up to feed the cats! Woohoo.
Then I went to work, where I was very, very careful of my low back, which still aches. I used my Bob and Brad massage gun on it, which feels AMAZING while I’m doing it. As soon as I stop it aches again.
Sunday
On tap- 13 mile run! And yes, I will be completing this run regardless of how my back feels. The concern is not that I’ll injure myself or not be able to finish the run- it’s just that I might not enjoy it as much as I would otherwise. Well, tough luck. This run is happening! I have a good podcast lined up to keep me on track:
How was your week?
Do you have a favorite podcast to listen to while running or working out?
38 Responses
That’s a fitting podcast for running 13 miles with a sore back!
Argh, there’s always something! I hope the back pain will disappear very quickly again.
I hope you will get to love the Salomon hydrovest! Their products are so well researched and tested. Most runners at the UTMB series wear them – I guess they know why!
Yes, I’m starting to really like the vest! And I owe it all to you- I was ready to return it. It’s weird because when I first start running with it I’ll think it’s too hot on my back- and then I stop noticing it and never think about it again during the run.
My lower back sometimes aches after longer runs or for no reason at all! Usually stretching and walking helps it loosen up. Feeling in the zone is the best feeling isn’t it!? Sounds like you are back on track and hope it continues for you leading up to your race
Thank you Deborah! It’s nice to be back on track again.
Ha! We used the same title for our posts today! Hopefully, your ups outweighed the downs. I’m so sorry to hear about your low back pain. It really is always something, isn’t it? Hopefully it will resolve quickly.
I have the Ultimate Direction Ultra Vesta which I love! It’s very light and I don’t feel warmer in it. The sloshing bothers me, but it is nice to have access to water at all times!
I know Wendy- that’s funny. Great minds obviously think alike.
My vest (it’s Salomon) sloshes a little, but it’s much better than the other hydration vest I was using with hard bottles. You would have really hated that one!
I hope your lower back feels better and doesn’t bug you on today’s run! My week of workouts was ok considering I was traveling again. I ran on Wednesday, strength trained on Friday and ran again yesterday. It will probably be rainy by the time I start my workout today so I will probably do a CG strength training workout. I was pleased that my pace was just over a 10 min mile on my 4 mile run yesterday as it had creeped up over the winter. Not sure why it’s lower as I don’t exactly feel more fit but I will take it!!
I will listen to anything when running. Yesterday I listened to Happier and then an older episode from the Ezra Klein show about how the birth rate is changing (declining) which was fascinating.
Hmm, someone else referenced that Ezra Klein episode- can’t remember who- and it sounds interesting. I’ll listen to it this week.
Sounds like you had a good week! Travel is hard but you got the workouts in. Hope you’re surviving the rainy weekend. : )
Ugh! It does seem like it’s always something, but at least this isn’t a running injury?
I hope your run today isn’t miserable — maybe your back will loosen up and you can even enjoy it!
Yes, luckily this isn’t caused by running (at least I’m pretty sure it isn’t) so I’m not worried about running with it. It actually felt better today, phew!
Oh no! Why is it always something?! I hope the long run goes better than expected today and that your back feels back to normal soon!
Thanks Suzanne! The long run did go better as expected, and I wore the Altra Timps (zero drop) for a few miles of it- they felt good!
Ugh, I think you just might be right, it seems like it’s always something! Here’s hoping your back starts feeling back to normal again soon. Great news on the trail 10-miler feeling so good last weekend, though!
My back felt better today but I can feel it waiting to flare up again. Oh well- I got my run in!
Ugh so sorry – what a pain! Literally. Good luck with rhe 13 miles today- what a perfect podcast! I switch off between audiobooks and music if I listen to anything on my long runs.
I never do audiobooks, and I should. Think of how much more reading I could do if I listened to audiobooks instead of podcasts all the time!
Yes, by law something always has to hurt. The only “good” thing about lower back pain is that at least it is obvious that movement is key to make it feel better.
I cranked up the ‘mill to 14% for the Cool Blogger’s workout, which was more of an adjustment than going to 13%. I’m going to stay at 14% next week and then decide if it’s time to go to 15%.
oh really? Challenge accepted! Ha ha… when will this end. I wonder what the upper limit is of incline where we’ll be forced to give up. And yes… movement always helps back pain!
I hope your low back feels better on your long run today! I often get some shoulder soreness on long runs, probably from a combo of a loaded down hydration vest and not having great posture while I’m running (ugh) but it usually goes away once I’m done. At least your ankle is doing well!
This was my first week of taper so it was kinda nice not to have to run as many miles as I have for most of training, but I’m also just so ready to do my race — but at the same time nervous about it! Taper is so confusing!
Oh yes I remember that feeling! The last three weeks before my race, I was so impatient- I just wanted to run it!!! Yes, taper is confusing . What is the actual date of your race?
The race is May 10, a Friday which is weird since I’m used to Saturday races, but it’s part of the Cocodona 250 which starts on that Monday and goes through Saturday. And that means one less day that I have to be antsy about the race haha!
Total agreement on the “rule’ about things hurting. I consider myself an optimist (99% of the time). But, I’m also a distance runner, LOL. When those rare times happen (you now, when everything feels great), I always have a twinge of anxiety (anticipation?) as to how long it really will last. As much as I try to enjoy the pain-free situations, realistically we all know it’s only a matter of time before something flares up. I hope your back is feeling better soon!
Thank you Kim! It felt much better on today’s run, so we’ll see. Actually I’d rather have my back hurt than my ankle or foot… so maybe I should just embrace it.
I’m glad your back felt better today. It really does feel like there is always “something” right – in our body, in our relationships, in our jobs, in our parenting. Some little “pebble” in the proverbial shoe.
You have so much grit and determination for whatever life throws your way!
And yay that your ankle is really healing up. That’s great news!
Thank you Elisabeth! Yes, I guess it is like life- there’s always something. Life is never going to flow perfectly (at least, not for long.)
I think it sounds like you had more ups than downs this week! Definitely a bummer with your low back pain. I hope your run went well and that the back is behaving. That you can still squat the same weight and get lower is a good sign for your ankle! Squats are really hard if the ankles aren’t in good shape!
But I couldn’t agree more, there always has to be something… 🙁
Okay, that’s good to know. I can tell my mobility is still impaired on the injured side- but I’m working on it. My run was good! My back behaved but is starting to hurt now. That’s okay- I’m glad I had a good run.
Great week of workouts, but yes what an hassle about the back pain. So strange when these things just show up without a clear cause. Fingers crossed it resolves quickly. You are making such great progress- excited to see how things progress in the lead to your next 50 mile race! For a non- runner like me it’s so inspiring (I used to run in my 20s and loved it – perhaps I’ll restart!)
No reason you can’t start running again! Unless, of course, you don’t want to. I do have to remind myself that not everyone WANTS to run!
I know the feeling of getting annoyed by niggles here and there, in the most surprising places. I also learned during the recent episodes, that sometimes I was too afraid before the run, that something might hurt, but once I started and ready to accept the worst, 90% of the time the run goes well and the niggle is gone. But yes… the anxiety around it is super annoying, especially when a race is coming up.
Coco, that’s exactly what happened. I was all set to run with back pain, and then it was almost non-existent. i know it’s not gone forever (it’s something I deal with off and on) but for the run, it was fine.
Lately I’ve been listening to a podcast about using airline rewards points/credit cards points to get great travel deals! I keep hoping something will rub off on me and I’ll get some great deal, but nothing has happened yet. I really like your new trail shoes! What brand are they? I haven’t lifted at the gym in weeks. I’m going to be so sore when I get back at it!!
My lower back aches from time to time. I never know when. I think it has to do with sitting all day.
I hope your pain goes away and that todays long run went well.
Oh no! I’m glad the foot pain is down to a murmur, but the back! I don’t usually get much discomfort in my back, but I can imagine how distracting and awful it can be. I hate that for you.
I am so glad you got to sleep in so “late.” I struggle so hard with that.
Lower back pain is so frustrating! You have such a great handle on it – it’s an ongoing saga for me that I’m working on. I’ve been trying to do more barre classes to see if my core can help it. And, so much YAY for sleeping in. Recovery/down time is part of training and it’s great you got a little break and were able to go back to sleep!
There is indeed always something! Loving all your strong gym work. I tripped and jarred everything in my bad leg 10 days ago – leaving a book talk, not running! – and my knee was sore, however my physio did something vile to my quad and it freed my knee up beautifully. Also hooray for husbands who feed the cats while we lie in – I had that on Sunday!
Back pain is so annoying. It’s actually why I do so much yoga. I know I haven’t been doing twists and the like when my back starts to hurt. *sigh* There’s not enough time in the day to do cardio/strength/stretching! However, how exciting that you had such great runs early in the week!
Sorry about the back pain! I hope it goes away….otherwise seems like a solid week! so much strength, I’m impressed! Glad the new hydration vest worked well.