It was a great week! That is, if you like heat, humidity, and hurricanes. (If you don’t like those things, don’t come to Florida in September!) Here in South Florida we’re sending love to those in the panhandle who got pummeled- while being grateful that we were spared this time. As always, I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah (thanks, ladies!) for this Weekly Rundown. Let’s just see how it all went down…
Sunday
6 miles on the trail! The first mile was walking, then 5 miles running. It was hot, sticky, parts of the trail were overgrown and there were biting flies. But I loved it.
Monday
Leg day at the gym! Here’s how I found the squat racks:
BOTH racks had heavy weights left on the bars. Why do people do this??? I didn’t feel like dealing with it, so I went over to use an older squat rack in the corner. Once again I avoided deadlifts because of my cranky low back, but did squats, some single leg balance exercises, and abs.
Tuesday
I continued my cautious every-other-day running schedule. Today I walked half a mile and ran 2.5.
I followed this with a MadFit standing core workout.
Wednesday
It was a strength day at home- upper body, Caroline Girvan deadbugs, and hip stability exercises.
At 5 pm we got a call that school was canceled the next day because of the hurricane. Wait, what? This was the first I heard of Hurricane Helene (I really should start watching the news more.) In my defense, it wasn’t on track to hit us, but we still had a tropical storm warning.
Thursday
The good news was, since there was no school, I was able to sleep in a little and run in the daylight. The bad news was, we had pockets of horrendous weather, and one of them happened during my run. Wind, driving rain, and thunder and lightning in the distance. I did 3 miles and then hightailed it back home- and as soon as I got there it started to clear up.
I followed this with the MadFit standing core workout- except I didn’t realize it was a different one. Apparently MadFit has at least two standing core workouts. I like them both!
Friday
I was very proud of myself for getting to the gym twice this week for leg day. This time I did squats and deadlifts. My low back is still achy, but I just decided to carry on.
Saturday
5 miles! Well, the first half mile was walking, and then I ran 4.5. I’m getting there… slowly but surely.
Sunday
On tap for the day- sleeping in and waffles! I’ve decided to shift my “long” runs to Wednesdays (a day off from work.) Obviously there will be football as well, although the Dolphins play Monday night. I’ll find a game or two to watch.
How was your week? Any “interesting” weather?
34 Responses
Well done, you are getting there! We had a big thunderstorm in the week, with very heavy rain – there have been floods locally but we escaped as we’re a little bit higher than the surroundings. Someone had to be rescued from the ford yet again though!
Thank you Liz! And, you did have some “interesting” weather this week. Glad you’re okay.
Yay for a great week of running! And lots of time at the gym!!!
Leaving the weights on the bar is high on the list of obnoxious gym behavior. I’m betting that person’s workout was mostly putting the weights on the bar and not much lifting after that.
How is the posture harness working out?
Great question- I’ve been waiting to talk about it until I use it more and can really give it a review. It’s definitely making me more aware. Not sure if it’s going to do everything they promised (completely fix all my form issues.) I’m going to keep using it, and I’ll give a full report soon.
Not as interesting as yours. Two rainy days and the rest was great.
I’m limiting my weekday runs and focusing on the weekend.
I may go to gym today for the first time in almost a month.
You must be feeling much better if you’re contemplating the gym for today. And, focusing on your long runs (while getting 2-3 short runs in during the week) will get you to the marathon. Sounds like you’re right on track.
I am glad that your running remains on track! And I am glad you were not in the path of this hurricane. I feel bad for those who were impacted! We did not have any crazy weather this week, at least nothing like FL experienced but it was HOT at the end of the week. Yesterday it was around 85 which is just too hot for September in Minnesota IMO. It cools off this week which I am here for!!
I was in Chicago for work for part of the week which has its ups and downs. I am glad I get a break from travel now as I am so worn out. I ran 5.75 miles yesterday, ran about 3 miles on Monday and did a strength training workout one morning in my hotel room.
Yes, 85 in MN is way too hot, especially since it’s almost October. Glad you’re getting a cool down. And I’m glad you’re getting a break from travel for a while!
Nice to see you are getting your mileage back up! Slow and steady is the way to go. Glad you were spared the brunt of the storm where you are. It looks pretty devastating for norther Fl. Have a great week ahead!
Thank Deborah! I know, those poor people in northern Florida (and Georgia.) It does look terrible. This was a big storm and it’s going to take them a while to rebuild (or, even just get their power back.). We’re lucky down here.
That’s great news about the running! I hope things continue in that same direction 😉 As we were driving on I-80 yesterday, we passed several “caravans” of service trucks (from our region’s electric service provider), no doubt headed to Florida to assist with the clean-up and repair/rebuilding efforts. I’m glad you were in a pretty safe area.
Oh good- they need all the assistance they can get in northern Florida right now! Hearing all these stories makes me extra grateful that everything is normal here. We were lucky this time!
Glad you’re safe from the hurricane!
Thank you Nicole!
I’m glad the storm mostly missed you—but yikes on that run! My mother-in-law got some damage up in Bradenton. 🙁
Good news that you’re continuing to run and nudge up the mileage!
Yes, Bradenton got more of the storm than we did- it went up the Gulf of Mexico so the west coast saw the effects.
I’m definitely “nudging” up the mileage- that’s a good word for it.
I’m glad your weather wasn’t too crazy with the hurricane and you were able to get some good runs in! Our weather was…not late September like at all. We’ve been under an excessive heat warning and broken several record temps, and it got to 114 degrees yesterday which is just not ok for this late in the year! I’m ready for fall!
UGH, 114 is way too hot for the end of September. We can accept the heat in the summer, but not when it’s officially autumn.
Ugh – heat, humidity, and hurricanes has to be one of the worst weather combos of all time.
Deadlifts sometimes make my lower back ache, too, and I was having this kind of thought provoking conversation with my husband the other day about it. His thought was that the ache in my lower back was just normal muscle soreness from weight lifting. Like, no worse/different from feeling soreness in your chest after doing chest presses. And I completely get what he’s saying, but the lower back soreness feels DIFFERENT somehow. And that got me to thinking, how do you know whether you’re “good/normal/building muscle” sore or “on the edge of injury” sore? Maybe this is a super dumb question but I haven’t been able to come up with an answer for myself!
Yes, I know what your husband is saying, but this low back thing does feel different. For one thing, I only get it on one side. And it’s just very achy/unpleasant while I’m working, which is not good. Oh and it doesn’t go away like normal muscle soreness. I know that doesn’t sound conclusive, but like you said, this achiness just feels different that regular soreness from working out.
The weather in Florida is clearly VERY intense. We had some rain on Friday which was the first rain in weeks. It has been such a dry summer/early fall where we live. But it’s glorious today. 18C and sunny which is basically the best weather ever. I know winter is coming so I’m trying to really appreciate this nice weather while it lasts.
I like that attitude! You’re having the most beautiful weather ever (I’m very envious down here) so why ruin it with thoughts of what’s coming next.
I’m so glad you were spared the wrath of Helene! We actually got some of her wind and gloom, but nothing like what the SE saw. The ferocity of these storms is truly scary!
I bet it felt good to get back on the trails. You know how much I love them!
If you got some of the wind up there, imagine how it felt in Florida! I thought about that too- we had some wind, but were very far away from the storm. It gives you and idea of how intense it must have been for the areas that were hit directly.
so glad to hear you continue to run, painfree! yay!!! after not being able to run, who cares about the heat and humidity, right? heheh…
Ha, that’s the way I feel most of the time- the important thing is, I can run- who cares about the heat? Then a little voice says “yes, but think how much easier this will be when it finally cools down…” Yes, cooler would be better!
You had a good week, Jenny. I am sorry you got soaked on your run but I am sure you take that over heavier impacts of hurricane Helene. Oh my, I realized how many people I know in the area that was affected and I was happy every time someone said that they were ok and not too heavily impacted at all.
Yes, so many people were affected. Not just in Florida- I just heard Asheville NC is having a lot of issues from the storm as well. Yes, I’ll take a little rain, happily!
Florida is really going through it. Not as badly as other regions, but still. I’m kind of tired of it. Of course, we were looking at the Appalachian area as a potential place to move, and now… even that doesn’t seem like a valid plan.
I hear you on rotating out exercises that don’t quite sit well. I have been avoiding squats for months now- I feel like my back issues, while definitely still there, are overall less severe than they have been at other times. Thinking back to when I was going to the chiropractor last summer and having really bad issues, I’m in an overall okay-ish spot. I actually don’t go real heavy on deadlifts either. I was told that with my spine curvature, exercises like squats and deadlifts can put uneven stress on my spine, due to the curve. There’s no real way around it. But the program I follow always has 3-4 “sub” exercises for each one that I can select instead, and there are so many other lower body exercises that don’t involve traditional squats OR deadlifts! Have you considered just dropping those altogether? For example instead of deadlifts, you could do back extensions, or laying hamstring curls, or straight leg deadlifts, or just do like DB or barbell curtsy lunges or single leg reverse lunges, or kettlebell swings, or dumbell sumo deadlifts, etc.
Have been thinking about you and your guest Helene! Glad you got off lightly…
Love how the numbers on those miles are climbing <3
Ugh. Helene did crazy damage, so I’m glad to hear you avoided the worst of it. Although running in the rain is definitely one of my least favorite things…good on you for persevering through it!
We decorated our house for Halloween this weekend – I knew you’d be happy to hear that.
Sounds like your running is going well as you make your comeback. And in regards to all those weights left on the squat rack, it’s because people are lazy and inconsiderate. Back when I worked in public gyms it seemed like I spent half my time reminding people to put their plates away after they’d lifted, or if I missed it, putting the weights away myself.
Not only are you leaning back in that last picture, but so are the poles in the background – it’s not you, it’s that the picture isn’t level. 😀
Well done Jenny! Looks like a really strong week. And your weight lifting…so impressive! I would be so sore after the squat rack…