Trail Runs and Fun
This week my son and I drove his car to Waco, Texas, and I helped him move into his apartment (he’s now a sophomore at Baylor.) I’ve been to Waco two times before, and both times only saw the Baylor campus. This time I was determined to see the town of Waco! We arrived on Monday night, and my son spent the day on Tuesday preparing for an audition. So I had the day to myself, and I knew EXACTLY how I wanted to spend it. I love my Florida trail running, but the thing I wanted to do most was explore some different trails. I wanted woods and hills, something more challenging, Waco has an incredible trail system in Cameron Park. I got the All Trails app and found a “moderate” 5.9 mile trail. The app connected to Apple Maps, so I had directions from where I was staying directly to the trail head. It wasn’t part of the hike, but Jacob’s Ladder was right near the start, so I immediately took a detour to climb those steps. In this post I talked about my conflicting desires to seek out adventure while not doing anything to hurt myself, and there was a little debate about running or walking up Jacob’s Ladder. Well, even if I was in the greatest shape of my life, it really wasn’t a runnable situation. The steps were uneven heights- some were very high and others were shorter. If I tried to run up them I would either have re-strained my hamstring and/or tripped and fallen flat on my face. I was more than happy to walk up, and actually considered it a good warmup for my run. Oh, and the funny thing was, there weren’t any spectacular views from the top. It was just a staircase to go up and down. On to the trail! Since I had been run/walking after hurting my hamstring, I knew I wasn’t going to run the entire 5.9 mile trail. I figured I would run the easier parts and walk up any hills. Let’s just see how that worked out! The beginning was a lovely, mostly flat trail along the river. I ran and walked- there were a few areas that were hard to navigate because of rocks or roots, but generally it was easy running. And THEN… The trail branched off into the woods, and became very, very difficult. I don’t think most of it was runnable for even experienced trail runners- it definitely wasn’t for me. I quickly learned to run any parts that were possible, even if it was just for a minute, or ten steps. Then I would be climbing, descending, navigating very, very difficult footing… then back to another short burst of running. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about the All Trails app- I mean, I don’t want to be staring down at my phone while I’m out on a trail. But I also got into a rhythm with that. I realized I could put my phone in my belt, and the app would notify me anytime I went off course- which was about, oh, a hundred times. This was a HARD trail to navigate, and I was really glad I had the app to help me. A word about the weather- it was HOT. Hotter than Florida. Because the two days prior we had driven 20 hours, I didn’t get up super early, so I knew I would be out there in the heat. But I also knew that the trail was shaded (based on the reviews) and I had my hydration vest with water, so I figured I’d be fine. I was fine, but towards the end when I was back on the runnable section near the river I noticed that every time I ran, my heart rate spiked way up. I wasn’t actually checking my heart rate, I could just feel my heart hammering away. I was so fatigued at that point, I started to wonder if Waco was at a high altitude (no, that can’t be right!) and then I looked at the weather: Oh, that’s why. I’m used to the Florida heat, but my runs usually take place earlier in the morning when it’s in the low 80s. I finished hot, but happy! And I had “trail feet.” The next day, Wednesday, I headed out for Trail Adventure Part 2. This time I went to a smaller park closer to where I was staying. It wasn’t as spectacular as Cameron Park, but it was still really nice, and had several hiking options on All Trails. This time I picked a shorter one that was marked “easy” because I was hoping to do a little more running. Who rates these things, anyway? If anything, this trail was even more difficult than the one yesterday. In all fairness, it seemed like most of the reviewers were using it to mountain bike- but I still don’t see how it would be considered an “easy” trail. I did the same method as the day before, a run-walk. But after a while I was longing for just a nice, flat, place to RUN. I found a couple places to leave the trail and do just that. The app was very alarmed by this, and let me know repeatedly that I had gone off-route. But I had some pretty views. In the end I had mixed feelings about the All Trails app. For the second hike, I felt like I wouldn’t have been able to navigate without it. But that meant I was hiking with a phone in my hand. Then at one point I saw this: Oh! These trails are MARKED, which I hadn’t noticed because I was relying so heavily on the app. I wonder what the experience would have been like without All Trails. I would have had to research these trails the old fashioned way, study a map and then locate the markers. I think on
Weekly Rundown- A Work in Progress
Well, it has been QUITE A WEEK. My daughter started school and it was my son’s last week at home. And of course there were workouts! Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting this weekly rundown. Let’s get right into it! Sunday Wow. Last Sunday feels like a million years ago. I set off hopefully for a run, and found that I could walk briskly, run in place, do butt-kick drills, but when I actually moved forward at any normal pace, it hurt. (Hamstring injuries are so weird.) So, that’s what I did- I alternated between fast walking, running in place, and running very slowly while kicking my heels up to my butt. I covered 3.5 miles like this and felt oddly optimistic at the end. Monday Week #2 of “Fix This Hamstring Now” had a slight variation and was called “Fix This MotherF*ing Hamstring Now OR ELSE.” I started with a 10 minute core and 10 minute barre class (both on Peloton.) Then I did the “runner’s touch” exercise which is very, very hamstring-focused- and it’s hard! I followed that with weighted squats and deadlifts. I also took advantage of this all week at work: Tuesday Another 3 mile walk/run, similar to Sunday, preceded by a 10 minute Peloton barre class- I like to use those barre classes as a warmup. Wednesday I did Marcia’s Cardio Barre Workout. You guys, this is a great workout and a nice alternative to Peloton. The moves are bigger and really do get your heart rate up. It’s a 23 minute workout, which at first made me hesitate because I usually just do a 10 minute barre class. But the last ten minutes is core, so I didn’t have to do a separate core class. Oh, and in the middle of the reverse lunge segment, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t even thought about my hamstring once- a huge improvement from the week before, where I would have been scared to even attempt lunges. That made me feel good! I followed this workout with runner’s touch, and then weighted split squats, and my legs were toast. This was also my daughter’s first day of eighth grade- AND my son and I went to vote. It was his first time voting!!! He missed being able to vote in 2020 by one month (much to his chagrin.) We had to do early voting before he leaves for school, and he’ll vote by absentee ballot while he’s in Texas from now on. Thursday Another 10 minute Peloton barre workout, and 3 mile walk/run. I could tell that I’m able to to lengthen my stride a bit more and run longer before I start to feel that tug on my hamstring. It’s definitely progress, and I’ll take it- I’m outside moving forward and I’m thrilled. Followed this run with a quick core class. Friday I did another Peloton 10 minute barre class, but afterwards wished I had done Marcia’s class again. In the future I’ll do the quick Peloton classes on days that I run, and Marcia’s class on the other days. Followed this with runner’s touch, squats, deadlifts, and a 5 minute core class. Saturday Yet another 3 mile walk/run, with even more running this time. Sunday On tap for today- lots and lots of sitting. My son and I are driving his car to Baylor! We’ll leave at 7 am and drive to Jackson, Mississippi, which is a little over halfway. We’ll drive the rest of the way on Monday, and then I’ll have two days in Waco before flying back home. I’m excited to do some hiking and exploring- and running, of course. I feel pretty confident now that I’ll be able to run while I’m there… phew. Do you like car trips? – I’m looking forward to this one! We have all our food packed for the day and plan to make great time. Do you have a hypervolt/theragun type of device? – Up until now I wasn’t convinced that they did anything- but now I want one.
Limitations From Both Sides Now
A couple days ago, Elisabeth published a post called I Won’t Play On The Men’s Olympic Hockey Team (On Limitations). I loved it so much and started to leave a comment… but then realized I had a LOT to say, so I’ve stolen the topic for my own post. (Thanks, Elisabeth!) I remember years ago, having a very passionate argument with my (now ex) boyfriend on the subject of limitations. He truly believed that you can do anything if you truly want it and work hard enough. I disagreed, citing the example that I couldn’t be an Olympic gymnast or a professional basketball player, no matter how hard I tried. But he refused to back down from his position. I’m surprised we didn’t break up then and there, because that way of thinking drives me nuts. Sure, I agree that most people limit themselves too much, and there’s a lot to be said for pushing yourself beyond perceived barriers. HOWEVER. I still stand by the belief that even if I had decided at the age of three or four, worked harder than anyone else and believed with all my heart, there was still no way I was going to become a professional ballet dancer. There are just some things that require an amount of innate talent to be successful. There’s a saying, “Hard work beats talent that doesn’t work hard.” We’ve always said it to our kids about their musical endeavors. Probably the most common words out of my mouth are “just keep practicing.” But the truth is, both my kids were born with musical talent. Without it, you can only go so far. Likewise, without hard work, you’ll only go so far. It’s the combination of the two things that make a successful musician. Okay, so most of us aren’t trying to be a ballerina, gymnast, or professional musician. Most of the things we want can be obtained with persistence and the belief that we can do it. Getting a degree, running a marathon, having a successful and challenging career, putting our kids through college- these are all areas where we should aim high and not let limiting beliefs stop us. But… What about a different kind of limitation? When I was visiting my sister recently, she warned me that their front porch got very slippery when it rained. I said something like “Oh, I’m always very careful when I see a wet surface like that” and we had a little conversation about how in our youth, we would never think twice about slipping on the porch, but now that we’re older, one of our goals in life is “don’t fall.” A little caution never hurt anyone. On the last day of that visit, I went for a hilly run (very hilly for a this flat Florida runner) and hurt my hamstring. I made some sort of snarky comment to my sister about hurting my leg on “her” hills, and she said “Didn’t we have a conversation about being careful? You didn’t really follow your own advice.” Hrumph. In a week I’ll be in Waco, Texas helping my son move into his apartment. I’m hoping to do some running while I’m there, and have been researching parks with running trails. One recommended hike is “Jacob’s Ladder,” 100 steps built into a hillside, with incredible views at the top. Ooh, I can’t wait! And then I had the unwelcome thought, “I hope it doesn’t hurt my hamstring.” Wait! I don’t want to think like that! I don’t want to be that person, who has to avoid fun adventures for fear of hurting myself. I had an older man come in for a massage the other day- he has back issues, which are exacerbated when he plays golf. He still plays, but explained that he just doesn’t take a full swing anymore. Granted, he’s probably in his 80s, so it’s great that he’s still playing golf at all. But I’m only 56, and I guess what I’m saying is, I still want to take a full swing. I’m trying to figure out how to balance that desire with the desire to avoid injuring myself. I’ll admit it’s a mindset shift that I’m having trouble with. It’s funny that in my youth I argued that limitations exist, and now I’m chafing against them. I’ll probably walk up Jacob’s Ladder in Waco, but there’s a part of me that wants to believe that no, I’m going to run up those 100 steps. I’m not ruling it out. Thanks as always to Kim and Zenaida’s Tuesday Topic linkup! Do you believe that limitations exist, or that we can do literally anything? Do you accept that you’ll have more limitations as you get older? Or are you fighting against that like me?
Weekly Rundown- An Aggressive Rehab
SIGH. It was a sad, sad week with no running- but I really focused on getting that hamstring healthy again. I got a little more aggressive with my rehab, and switched from pool running to walking because I realized it was better for my mental health. Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting this weekly rundown. Here’s how it went! Sunday I started the day with a 50 minute pool run. As the day went on, my mood got darker and darker. I really was not in a good place, so before dinner I went out for a two mile walk. AHA! I felt much, much better. Getting outside and moving forward was exactly what I needed. Maybe pool running is better cross training cardio-wise, but I decided walking is the better choice for me, mentally. Monday Operation “Fix That Hamstring Now”, Day 1. I started off with a 10 minute core class and a 10 minute barre class, then did lower body weights. I didn’t do any lower body Peloton classes this week because I felt like I needed to be more specific with the exercises I chose. I did hamstring curls by tying a weight to my lower leg, then lay on my stomach on the bed and lifted my foot towards my butt. I started with five pounds just to make sure I wasn’t hurting anything, then switched to ten pounds. It was kind of a clunky setup, but it worked. And then I did squats with my 35 pound dumbbell. This was a weight increase for me (when I do the Peloton workouts I’ve been using two 15 pound dumbbells) and it felt good. I know, I know… if I were at the gym that’s not even the weight of the bar. I’m getting there! Tuesday Once again I started the day with a 10 minute barre class and 10 minute core class. THEN I walked 3 miles. I have to admit when I started my leg was a little achy, but once I got going everything felt great. After work I did a 15 minute arms and shoulders workout with my favorite Peloton instructor, Matty. Wednesday Started with barre and core again, then did my homemade hamstring curl routine. Followed by sumo squats and split squats- everything felt good. Thursday Once again started with a barre class- I’m on a barre streak!- and then a 3 mile walk. I planned to do another upper body strength class after work but I came home with a headache and took a nap instead. Leaving those workouts till later is always a tricky thing! Friday Do you know Bob and Brad? They’re the most famous physical therapists on the internet (in their opinion, of course.) They have all sorts of great Youtube videos. I first found them when I was looking for help with my plantar fasciitis, and I went back to see if they had any hamstring advice. They do! I watched one of their hamstring videos (they have many) and one of their exercises was very, very similar to the “Runners Touch” exercise which I’ve mentioned before. I started with Bob and Brad’s modified version, but by the third set I moved on to the full Runner’s Touch, which is GREAT for hamstrings, hips, and foot strength (because you’re balancing on one leg.) I always forget about the Runner’s Touch, and every time I come back to it I wonder why I don’t just do it all the time! Anyway, followed this with sumo squats, regular squats and split squats. I’m not really sure if my hamstring is better (I won’t know for sure until I try to run) but I’m definitely getting some good glutes and leg workouts this week. Oh, and I also did core and barre. Saturday Well, I slept in and broke my barre streak. I work on Saturday mornings so if I sleep in till 7:30, that means I’m not working out. But! After work I declared it an Upper Body Emergency- it’s hard for me to really care much about upper body, but I know I need it and I had only done one short workout this week. So I did another one of Matty’s arms and shoulder classes, followed by core. Sunday The big day! I’m going to try running. Everything feels good, but in my experience that can be deceiving. I won’t really know until I start running. Hopefully it will go well, but if you don’t hear anything from me you’ll know I’m spending the day in my room, sobbing quietly. Fingers crossed! If you feel like sharing it, how heavy are your weights for lower body? – Years ago when I worked with a trainer, I was lifting in the gym with plates on the bar. Not anything extremely heavy, but heavier than I’m doing now. I’m thinking I need to get back to that. Do you like walking? – I never used to, but I’ve really been appreciating my walks lately.