Happy official first day of fall! Of course, the weather is not fall-ish here, but we will not speak of such things. We WILL speak about my calf though- it’s still feeling good, and I went from running every third day to every other day. Progress! I’m linking up as always with Kim and Deborah for this Weekly Rundown. Here’s how it all played out…
Monday
The last time I ran was Saturday, so this was my first every-other-day run since coming back from the calf injury. Everything is feeling good, but I’m still nervous about it, so I was very conservative- I walked one mile and ran two.
I followed the run with a Caroline Girvan standing core workout. I’ve decided that I like standing core workouts, if they use dumbbells. You don’t get the same burn as with deadbugs or crunches, but I like the way I have to stabilize my core against the weighted arm moves.
Tuesday
Strength day at home- hip stability (including Runner’s Touch and the one leg sit-to-stand.) I also got out my pull-up bar and did dead hangs and scapular retractions (you hang from the bar and lift yourself up a few inches without bending your arms, only by retracting your shoulder blades.) Boy, are my lats weak. I rounded it all off with the tried-and-true Caroline Girvan deadbug workout..
Wednesday
This was a big day- I got back to the cross country trail! I haven’t been here since the end of May.
I walked a mile and then ran 4. I loved being back and I LOVED running in the daylight!
Thursday
Upper body strength workout from Sally McRae’s app, and then this MadFit standing abs workout. This is officially my favorite standing core workout (thank you, Engie!) I feel it in my core, there’s some balance involved, and it’s a good upper body workout as well.
Friday
Third run of the week! Once again I was super conservative- walked one mile and then ran one.
Followed this up with hip stability exercises and squats.
At night I went to our high school football game!
Our team is undefeated this year, and we won 48-0. I actually felt a little sorry for the other team. The band had to play their halftime show on the track because the field was so wet, but it was still a fun night!
Saturday
Off! Friday was a late night, so it felt good to sleep in a little before going to work.
Sunday
Ooh, I’m excited. On tap for today- a trail run! I’m going to my second favorite trail- my first favorite has a lot of sand and I don’t think my calf is quite ready for that yet- and I’ll do 6 miles (the first mile will be walking though.)
As you can see, it was a great week! The only thing that marred it a little was my low back, which has been very achy. It doesn’t hurt when I run (so it’s not a “real” problem, ha) but I babied it a little and didn’t go to the gym for any heavy squats or deadlifts. Hopefully I’ll get that back on track this week.
How was your week? Are you celebrating the first day of fall?
41 Responses
You’re running! You’re flying! 4 miles, no problem!
WIshing you all the best on your 6-miler today!
Thank you Maya! It was hot, but amazing to be back out on the trail.
Yay for getting back to the trails! We’re up at the lake, but it’s storming this morning, so no trail running for me. Actually, no running of any kind today. My body has been getting much needed time off whether I want it to or not. Glad your calf is behaving!
It looks like you’ve fixed the blog!
Thanks Wendy, but it’s not really fixed. It looks okay if I have a lot of photos, making the post longer. I still have to fix that sidebar issue.
A stormy morning actually sounds nice. Maybe the universe is telling you to rest!
I’m so glad your calf is feeling good! Oh I miss those high school football games but I have to say I’ve become quite the college football fan now, with two schools to root for (even though they both lost yesterday). Hooray for getting back on the cross country trail!
I know, I LOVE college football! But high school football has been fun this year. And our high school team is doing better than Baylor (sigh) or the Dolphins (SIGH) so I’m leaning into it. It’s fun that you have two college teams to root for now.
Happy first day of fall. It is fall-like here today as the temps are in the 50s this morning which I am happy about! It will warm to around 70 which is just right for me!
I will be heading out for a run this morning too. Just 5 miles now that my race is behind me which I am happy about. I’m so glad your calf is feeling better!!! Phew!
Thank you Lisa! And, I’m so envious. A five mile run in 50 degree weather sounds AMAZING.
It is so great to see your recovery is going well! I think being conservative is smart — no need to take it too fast and reinjure yourself. Good luck today!
Thank you Melissa! I feel like I’ve gone back and forth with this calf thing so many times- I’m not taking any chances this time!
Yay yay yay!!! It looks like Calfgate is finally over!!!!!!!!! Good riddance!
Happy first day of Fall!
Thank you Birchie! I don’t want to anger the running gods be officially declaring that Calfgate is “over.” At least, I won’t say it out loud. Let’s just say things are feeling good.
Yay for how well your calf is doing! It must feel so great to get back to running like you’re used to. I, too, love a standing core class; my lower back and neck can get sore from from “floor core”, so I usually alternate between standing and floor. We are so celebrating the first day of fall here – apple cinnamon scones for tea later and making our fall family fun list are on deck for today!
Ah, that sounds SO FUN! I have to make something special today. Scones are a definite possibility. And I hope we get to hear about your fall family fun list.
Awesome week Jenny! Glad the calf is handling the increase in running. And wow, what a stunning sunset at the footbal game!
Thanks Jessie! Yes, my calf is holding up well. I’m excited to be out there again.
48-0! What a blowout!
I’m so glad you’re feeling so well! Yay!
Thank you Nicole! Things are really looking up. And- they kind of hurried the end of the game along, letting the clock run down in the 4th quarter. No need to drag out a crushing defeat, I guess.
I’m so glad you’re feeling better. It has been a frustrating slog through to the other side, but you made it! Woo-hoo.
Thank you Elisabeth! Yes, this was a frustrating one- just goes to show, everything passes eventually.
Such great news!!!! I’m so glad the calf is feeling (almost) like new and your runs are going great. I need to check out that standing core workout. I’m getting a little burnt-out from all the “horizontal” ones, and need to add some new stuff to the mix.
Yes, try out the MadFit one and let me know what you think! It’s just nice to have something different.
Yay for being back on the trails, and running every other day!
It was very fall-like for my 19 mile long run yesterday — I drove to a park that’s a bit higher elevation so it was in the mid-70s all day which felt amazing after a long, hot summer. We’re going back to more “seasonal” temps in the 90s this week but it was nice while it lasted.
I’m not sure what time you’re running, but I can’t believe how dark it is! Our sunrise is around 6:15 now so when I start my runs around 6:30-6:45 it’s light out but we don’t observe Daylight Savings so our sunrises will only be getting later and later.
Ugh, it doesn’t start to get light until about 6:45 here. And that will get later and later till November, when we turn the clocks back. I’m glad we turn our clocks back- the mornings would just be WAY too dark otherwise.
Ooh, a 19 mile run in the 70s- and I’ll bet it was dry too. Our humidity is what’s really killing us.
So glad to hear that your calf is feeling good! Progress indeed. Have a great week ahead
Thank you Deborah! You too.
Oh wow, Jenny! You are making such great progress with your calf! I hope your trail run today went without a hitch.
Your photos made me nostalgic for high school football. I guess I will have to wait a few years to see if my kid is interested in attending. Glad it was a game in your team’s favor!
Hmm, maybe you’ll have to somehow convince Carla to get interested in going to the high school games. Of course, she might want to go with her friends and not her mom! I’m just lurking in the stands while my daughter plays in the band.
Ohio has been super dry. Yards with dead grass and everything is suffering. But finally we did get some rain today! and a little on Friday. I hope your trail run went OK. Everything sounds very promising! Kudos to you for taking it easy and not running every day… yet. You will get there!
Thank you Lisa! I wish we could send you some of our rain… we have plenty.
Woohoo, so glad you were back on the trail and that you’re feeling good. Your calf had better behave!
I love standing core workouts btw. I feel like they’re “easier” but just as effective! 🙂
Yes, I’m telling that to my calf- “you better behave or else!”
what a great news that you are progressing to run every other day! So happy for you.
Thank you Coco! I appreciate it.
Woot! Yay for the calf to be cooperating!
It felt like the first day of fall yesterday. It rained and rained and was dark and dreary and the temperatures finally dropped. We’d been in the 80s, but I don’t even know if it’s going to get up to 70 today. *sigh* I put new batteries in all my automatic-timer candles and thanked summer for its existence and am now braced for the race to the end of the year madness.
Ooh, that sounds very gloomy and fall-ish! It sounds great from hot, steamy Florida- but if I actually lived up there I would be bracing myself as you are.
Great to see you back on the trails and look at that line of Sousaphones at the game!! This time of year appears to be my Covid season as I have it again, almost exactly the same time I had it last year. This time imported from the US via my husband, however …
Yes, Covid is definitely going around again! I hope you’re not TOO sick with it- feel better soon.
I am so happy to see you running! That is such good news! I love it!
We had an away game last week… We are 3-1 this season – they just bumped us up to a “better” division so I”m not sure how it’s going to go for us. And this week… well. They’ve already moved the JV game to Tuesday night, so who knows. We also have our home show on Saturday, so we have our fingers crossed that the storm fizzles out. I don’t think you will get anything by you, but tis the season.
Yes, no one here is talking about a storm. But as you said- tis the season. I hope it fizzles out completely- the last thing you need is a hurricane messing everything up again.
So happy to read that your recovery finally going well. Is that the trail we ran on together?
Hope the storm doesn’t hit you.