“Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions.”
-Mark Twain
Well, it was a week! There was more shoe and foot drama because… well, I guess because I’m me. Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting the Weekly Rundown. Let’s jump right in!
Sunday
17 mile long run!!! This run was… fine, for the first 15 miles, and then grueling for the last two. I ran the first four miles in my regular Altras, then switched to the Timps (zero drop shoes.) Then I ran a loop I thought was 8-10 miles, but turned out to be longer. Oops. I did get to see my favorite part of the trail:
…but didn’t get back to my car until I had completed 16 miles- I wasn’t going to stop and change shoes at that point, so I just finished the run. I ran out of fuel and water, and ended up running the entire last 14 miles in the Timps. 17 miles the hard way!
Monday
Both feet felt good during the long run, but now plantar fasciitis is flaring up in my right foot (the “good” foot.) ARRRRG! Unfortunately I have to blame the zero drop shoes- or, more accurately, the person who decided to run 14 miles in them the day before.
After I hobbled out of bed (sigh) and loosened up that foot, I went for a 30 minute walk. Then home for the Caroline Girvan Deadbug Workout..
Tuesday
In the morning (again, after hobbling painfully out of bed) I did Sally McRae’s Ankle Mobility and Foot Strength workout, and then again the CG deadbugs.
In the afternoon I ran 4 miles, and this run was HARD- because it was 88 degrees with a feels-like temp of 92. Well- my race will be hot! I should be ready.
Wednesday
Gym day!!! 20 minutes on the Stairmaster, then squats, bench press, reverse fly, abs, and Runners Touch . I’m loving the Sally McRae workouts, but they’ve very focused on balance, mobility, and mostly lower weights. So I want to get into the gym at least once a week to lift, ahem, “heavy.”
Thursday
3 mile run, then I was going to do the deadbug workout, but on a whim picked a Caroline Girvan 15 minutes abs workout instead. I BITTERLY REGRETTED this decision!!! It was a ton of crunches, which strain my neck. I hated it! Never again!
Friday
I did a Sally McRae total body dumbbell workout, and then the Caroline Girvan deadbugs. Phew! I’ll never stray again! I’ve heard that deadbugs are better than crunches for runners anyway- don’t ask me to explain why, but let’s go with that.
Oh, and look what arrived in the mail…
Yes- ANOTHER pair of Altras. They just came out with a brand-new trail shoe with a 4 mm drop- could these be my dream shoes?
Saturday
5 mile run in the new shoes!
Guess what… I don’t love them. The Timps are more comfortable, because they have a wider toe box. I give up! Just give me a pair of clown shoes with some tread and a 4mm drop, and we’ll call it a day.
Seriously, I think I’m going to wear these for my race. I just don’t have time to get used to the Timps properly, and I don’t want to exacerbate the plantar fasciitis flare in my foot. SIGH. I’ve ordered some thinner socks- I’ll make them work!
Sunday
Off!!! I decided the best course of action is to take a little extra time before my last long run, which will be 20 miles. I’ll run that on Wednesday, and then have ten days to taper before my race. For Mother’s Day, I told my husband I just want two things- to sleep late, and for someone else to make dinner. I think this is achievable!
Happy Mother’s Day if you are celebrating! And if you’re not- I hope you have a happy and relaxing Sunday.
36 Responses
Well, boo that the new shoes aren’t a love. Grrr…
You brought back some memories of those CG workouts. Towards the end I found myself skipping all of her ab exercises because the only place that I could feel them was in my neck.
Happy Mother’s Day! Sleeping late and getting someone else to make dinner sound great.
Yes, I am officially over those types of core (neck) workouts. Just give me all the deadbugs.
Ugh I was hoping that shoes were going to work well for you!! Sounds like the 0 drop are not for you, though. Bummer about the plantar fasciitis. Ugh. It’s always something!
Well I was woken at 5:30 this am by Paul so not really the Mother’s Day start I was hoping for. Plus I was up for over an hour during the night reading because the higher doses of prednisone are messing with my sleep. I had been splitting the dose between morning and night to keep the dose more even during the day but my flare is still terrible and my sleep is suffering so I give up and will just load up on it in the morning and hope for the best. I really don’t know what can be done at this point for this STUPID flare. It’s in my right pointer finger and wow does that digit get used a lot – eating, writing, meal prep, etc. It even hurt to hold hand with taco at the zoo yesterday because if he squeezed too hard it would hurt that stupid knuckle. I see my doctor in 2 weeks and we will see what she says/what she can come up with. At least it’s just one joint. But I wish it was like the pinky or something?
Ok, rant over. I am excited for my new shoes to arrive – Hoka Mach 6s. I was bummed the shoe store was out of them. But they should be here by the time I get back from this trip to Dallas this week! New shoes are exciting! I debated trying something new when they were out of my size but decided to stick to what I love. Although anytime they change the model there is a chance they mess things up!
Nooo! I hope you can get a nap today. That does not sound like a restful Mother’s Day so far. And, so sorry about this ongoing flare. I know the steroids cn mess everything else up (I know people who have panic attacks from it.) Well- hope you can get it straightened out soon. And, I hope you like the shoes. I was disappointed on your behalf that you couldn’t buy them on your shouldless day. Yes, if the shoes are working don’t try to switch! I hate switching around shoes and not being sure what I’m going to wear.
Happy Mothers Day. I hope you get your wish.
I agree about zero drop. I prefer 3-5mm. And a wide toe box.
Good luck.
I could barely make it a mile in that heat. My fault. We stayed up late and I started my run at 8am. Too hot!!!
Yep, 8 am is already hot. 6 am is probably the perfect time to run here- the sun will just be rising but it’s not TOO hot yet. But it will be humid.
So far so good on my Mother’s Day wishes- I stayed in bed till 9 (!!!) and my husband has already shopped for dinner ingredients (he’s making pesto.) I hope you have a nice day!!!
Sorry about the shoe dilemma and foot drama! Finding the right shoe can be so hard!
That trail photo does look inviting!
Enjoy your Mother’s Day!
Thank you Coco! I’ll get this shoe thing figured out… eventually. I hope you have a nice day!
What a shame about the shoes!
Good idea to move the long run to Wednesday. The last think you want know is a major PF flare.
So, what did your husband (or your daughter, or both together) make for dinner?
Ha, dinner hasn’t happened yet but my husband is planning on pesto! He got pasta and bread to make garlic bread- I told him I want a LOT of vegetables on my plate.
Oh no! The shoe drama is real (I’ve been there numerous times, though I think your drama is a bit more serious than mine was). I’ve been doing more deadbugs lately, and they definitely feel more effective. I’ve never been a fan of crunches because they’re pretty easy to “fake,” LOL.
Yes, I’m very tired of the shoe drama! I thought I was over it when I found the Altra road shoes, but I need a trail shoe.
Deadbugs forever!!!
Oh the foot drama! I tried to switch to zero drop shoes a few years back and immediately felt the PF flare up too. Definitely stick with what has been working for you. Hope you enjoy your day off and have that nice dinner too. Happy Mother’s Day
Thank you Deborah! I’ve been having a very nice day. Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
Oh man, sorry about the shoe problems and your plantar fascitis. I have it took and it acts up every so often. Good to know that the zero drop impact your PF – I don’t want mine to flair up anytime soon but am always curious about trying some new shoes. Happy Mother’s Day! Enjoy your time off!
Yes, I would say if you’re prone to PF, stay away from the zero drop- although I have heard people say the zero drop HELPED their PF. So you never know.
That shaded trail looks so lovely! Sorry about the foot pain though 🙁
Agree that deadbugs are better than crunches for runners! I swear by that workout…
Yes, it really is a good one. And you can always make it harder by progressing to heavier dumbbells, which I just recently did (although mine are still pretty light.)
Ugh to the recurrence of the PF–or should I say it transferred to the other foot? I may need to check out that Sally McRae foot and ankle workout–I’m having a lot of shin/calf tightness and pain in the back of my ankles lately. I swear it is always something. Idk if my shoes have changed or what. I just want to get through my race next weekend and then sort this all out. I’m sure you feel the same way!
YES, I feel the same way!!! I don’t have time to figure out new shoes and pains- just get through the race and then I’ll deal with it.
Oh, what a bummer about the PF flare! But it seems you’re still able to run, in other shoes, so that’s good.
A double bummer about the new Altras. Could it help to order a half size larger? But I know it doesn’t necessarily help the problem if the toe box is too narrow anyway.
My husband has been messing about for a long time with running shoes. I think he’s been through 4-5 pairs. He’s had a mysterious toe injury, and after coming back to his Escalante racer recently it all got better! So now he’s ordered another pair but a bit larger (they were a bit too small but worked without insole).
Deadbugs are such a good exercise! And so much better than crunches, for anyone. I’m glad you’re taking time for heavier lifting! Could you do the other workouts with heavier weights?
I did think about ordering another pair of the shoes in the next size up. It really doesn’t help that they don’t have them in the sotres yet! Otherwise I would just go try them on. Sigh.
i don’t think I could do the other workouts with heavier weights, at least not now. I lot of them are single leg and I’m just trying hard to keep my balance!
Oh no on the shoe issues! Wouldn’t it be nice if we could custom order our shoes to fit our needs?
We had a very low keyed day, just relaxing from yesterday’s bike race. My local son has been traveling for work so we postponed our MD celebration to next weekend which worked out great for me (I needed a chill day).
Yes, you deserve a chill day after your century ride! And yes- if I could just make a shoe specifically for my foot… maybe that will be the new thing in running shoes (or, we should start it!)
Oh, no! I hate that the new shoes aren’t a win! It’s always so tough when you’re not 100% sure what shoes you want to try. I know you said you will make them work, but I do hope they get more comfortable.
Happy Mother’s Day!
THank you Jenn! I hope you had a great day. And, I’m going to try the shoes with thinner socks- I think it will make a difference.
Ugh. Crunches and abs. I do deadbugs, but if I want to do an ab workout, I have found several good standing core videos that are just as effective and don’t hurt my neck! Find some of those and I think it will be much more useful and productive for you.
Shoes are so hard. Why do they insist on redesigning shoes every year?!
Okay- next time I get tired of deadbugs, I’ll look for a standing abs workout- great suggestion.
Finding the right shoes can be so hard! I hope your new ones work out ok for your race, even if you don’t love them.
Happy Mother’s Day! I got back from my race weekend yesterday evening (will update you soon!) and I’m spending a few days with my parents before going back to “real life”. So I’m spending Mother’s Day with my mom, it’s been a very chill day with a slow walk & yoga this morning to stretch out, and lots of pool time in the afternoon!
That sounds like a perfect post-race day! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Ugh, sorry about your shoes. Why are feet so complicated? Who can say.
I am SO discombobulated after almost three weeks away – I can’t believe your race is coming up so soon!!!
Nicole I can’t quite believe it either! And, we’ve missed you- I’m looking forward to hearing about the trip.
Oh, what a shoe adventure you’ve been on! Sometimes you don’t know until you try (to run with certain shoes haha). I have to be so careful with core work because of the pinched radial nerve thing – I am glad you’re feeling better and that you had the deadbugs to return to! 10 days from Wednesday seems so soon – sending you great last long run and taper thoughts – and, I hope you had the best and relaxing Mother’s Day!
Thank you Lindsay! I hope you had a relaxing Mother’s Day as well- I know you’ve been VERY busy lately.
I want to try new shoes but always end up sticking with that I know. I am sorry the new shoes didn’t work out.
Zero drop did NOT work for me, but I’m sorry they wound up causing you so much pain and difficulty. I need to read ahead now to find out how things went at the race. I hope you were able to start – and finish – and that it was not frigid and raining, or HOT and buggy.