Hello! Welcome to the Weekly Rundown, hosted as always by Kim and .Deborah- thanks, ladies! This was a cutback week for me, so no long run. After our great cool down the previous week, our temperatures were back up- but 80s instead of 90s, and breezy instead of muggy. It felt pretty good! Here’s how it all played out.
Monday
A sled-tread workout at the gym! I started by pushing and pulling the sled, then did a 3 mile treadmill run. I alternated one minute at a 4% incline, one minute easy, one minute at 5k pace, one minute easy… repeated for three miles. When I do the sled first I don’t feel like I need a running warmup- I just dive right into the workout.
So a word about “5k pace.” I think one of the reasons I keep having shin problems when I do speedwork is that I’m being overly optimistic about my paces. I’ve been running at my old 5k pace, which isn’t my current 5k pace. I decided to humbly and realistically pick a pace and stick with it- easy to do on a treadmill. I’m hoping this approach to speedwork will work better for me. I have to do SOMETHING- otherwise I’m afraid I’ll just get slower and slower until I’m moving backwards.
Tuesday
Strength day at home. Runner’s Touch, squats, lunges, overhead dumbbell press and dead bugs. I don’t always mention it, but I do tibialis raises almost every day. So far, so good- my shins are feeling good.
Wednesday
8 mile trail run! This run was so fun. I definitely didn’t need two bottles for an 8 mile run, but I wanted to try my double hydration vest again. In the past I haven’t liked it, but I would like to be able to carry two different beverages. I just ordered some Tailwind to try on my next long run, but that gets kind of gross if it’s all you have to drink (especially if it gets warm.)
It wasn’t so bad! And the weather was warm- 80 degrees by the end- but breezy, so the heat wasn’t oppressive. Much better than 90 and humid.
Thursday
A 4 mile run that felt pretty good.
And then… I got out my pull up bar for several sets of negatives. Yes, I was proud of myself! Upper body- I did it!
At night there was a high school football game. To be honest, I didn’t want to go. I was tired after work and just wanted to stay home and relax. But there aren’t that many games left, and my daughter’s freshman year is speeding by. I don’t want to look back and regret that I missed anything, so I got my lazy ass off the couch and to the school.
I’ve never seen this before, but the visiting team brought their band! They also performed at halftime, and then came over and sat with our band for part of the fourth quarter. They played some songs together and the kids LOVED it! It was so fun, AND our team won, AND that means we’re going to the playoffs! It was an exciting night- we returned home late and very happy. I’m so glad I went!
Friday
Wait a minute. Whose stupid idea was it to have a football game on THURSDAY NIGHT? This is terrible! We woke up at our usual time of 5:30 and I was not happy. I remember at the beginning of one of Matty’s classes on Peloton, he said “If you didn’t sleep well last night, skip this workout and go back to bed.” What a great idea, but I still had a daughter to get to school, and by that time I figured I might as well continue on to the gym. Sigh.
I forged ahead and had a pretty good leg day- pushing and pulling the sled, squats, deadlifts… the usual.
Saturday
A lovely 5 mile run! Starting off in the dark with a full moon (I thought of Kim!)
Ending in the daylight, but there were some nice clouds that kept this run from being too hot.
Sunday
Off! I’m loving my Sundays off. I get to sleep in, and since I work on Saturdays I like to have one morning at home with my family. At some point I’ll probably be switching my long runs back to Sundays, but for now I’m relishing my leisurely Sunday mornings. There will be waffles involved.
So what’s up for next week? A planned 16 mile trail run, AAAAAAND…. Wednesday is November 1st, which means it’s time for NaBloPoMo! Once again I’ll be joining San and crew for 30 posts in 30 days for November. I’m excited about it!
How was your weather this week- unusually warm or cold?
Are you ready for Halloween? – I’m ready for trick-or-treaters!
30 Responses
That’s so cool that the other team’s band came and that the bands played together! How fun!
Our weather cooled off incredibly fast. We were back up in the 50s and low 60s and then now the highs are in the 30s – right in time for Halloween. 🙁 Halloween is such an iffy holiday as you know from your time in IL. The last couple have been so nice. We will be very bundled up this year. 🙁 it’s also less fun handing out candy when you are constantly opening your door to cold air.
Oh yes- I remember the big disappointment on Halloween was having to wear a winter coat over our costumes.
I’ve never seen that before, where there were two bands and they actually played together. The band directors must have planned it, but my daughter said she didn’t know it was going to happen.
It sounds like going to the game was well worth it! How fun!!
I’m not sure when the next new cycle begins, but Matt Wilpers has a free running program where you start by doing a 20 min distance test and then it calculates training paces for you. That was really helpful.
Yes, I should probably actually figure out what my paces are. But on the other hand I don’t want to get too involved in speed work because it’s not my focus right now. I’ll bet there are some online calculators I could use to find my paces.
I love when I can run long on Saturday so I can sleep in on Sunday.
My 5k pace is way slower and on a treadmill it is ridiculous.
Slowing down is better than being injured. So I won’t ever complain (or not too often.)
Hmm, that should be my new mantra- “Slowing down is better than being injured.” Words of wisdom!
Does your school usually have Thursday night football games? We have them on very rare occasions, and usually towards the end of the season (not that I go to them anymore, ha!). The only glimpse I’ve had of the full moon was from my bedroom window, when I woke up yesterday. It was gone by the time I left my house, and hasn’t been seen since…
They’re usually on Fridays, but every once in a while they’ll have one on a Thursday. No idea why, but I assume there’s a good reason!
Another great week for you! Congrats on realizing you needed to reconfigure your 5k pace. Hope that solves the shin splints!
Lovely photo of the setting moon. It was so beautiful this week. We did have warmer than usual temps, but they’re plummeting now & it’s just plain nasty out.
Yes, your weather looked nice this past week. Well, it can’t last forever! Stay warm.
As Coco mentioned you might want to check out the Wilpers run challenge after you do your race. You are in a good place right now with your training and not sure I would recommend changing that right now. That’s just my 2 cents. Have a great week ahead
You’re right Deborah- no big changes now. It’s always good to get perspective from you guys!
That’s cool that the bands played together! You will see in my post that we had a tiny visiting band this week at the HS. That is odd to be a Thursday football game! My daughter’s university has their games on random days and the next one will be on Halloween. Pass! I’ve had to make those humbling pace changes a lot lately. Hope those shin splits stay away with the latest change for you.
I read your post and I definitely chuckled over that tiny band. They must have sounded… pretty bad. Numbers really do matter for a marching band!
I need to start working on speed again–I’m really slowing down. Or maybe it’s inevitable? My mind wants to do one more marathon, but boy is my body pushing back…
I think we slow down if we don’t fight against it. Just like we’ll get weaker and weaker if we don’t do strength!
Our town has trick or treating today (Sunday) from 1 to 4. It’s 3:34 and we’ve had zero. It’s disappointing. Pre-COVID, we’d get anywhere from 50-70. I’m incredibly disappointed. I also blame trunk or treat and want to shake my fists and be all anti-new innovations. *sigh* Oh, well. At least our house looks fabulous.
Noooo! That’s so weird. And disappointing! So no trick or treating on actual Halloween? I guess it’s a good idea, if people actually show up!
Solid week, friend. I am so impressed with your gym routine.
I had a good week – didn’t run as much as I wanted to, but did some fun Halloween-themed Peloton workouts and some bike boot camps – so fun. It was definitely cooler where we are this week, especially overnight, but it was still the mid-70s during the day. Perfect fall weather 🙂
So, so excited for NaBloPoMo and so happy you’re joining again 🙂 Let the fun begin!
Yes, let the fun begin! And speaking of fun, Peloton definitely has some fun themes. And, you’re having amazing weather. Mid-70s is beautiful!
I’m so glad you got out to the game. I’ve had lots of those experiences – dragging myself somewhere and then being very relieved I went. It’s a very happy outcome (obviously the opposite can happen too! So I’m extra excited it was a great time).
It was very warm most of last week but THERE ARE FLURRIES IN THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY. I am not ready for this. Not ready at all…Thankfully, the following week it’s supposed to be warming up again, but this weekend I got our heavy winter hats and mittens out of the seasonal box and I’m not going to lie – it made me really sad. #NotReady.
I’m all about getting the work done almost no matter what.. at least when it comes to strength training I wouldn’t let poor sleep disturb my routine. Unless it’s REALLY poor sleep. Running would be another story. I love how you went to the gym since you were already out there. Sounds like you had a good sesh too. And a 12 mile trail run! Is your ultra race soon? Or early next year? I don’t remember!
The weather is weird here. Yesterday was our first real morning back home, with 5C. Today it was also sunny and nice and I went out for a walk, with full cold weather gear, just to find it was like 15C! I had to go back inside and take off a layer or two of clothes. Nice surprise though!
My race isn’t till February, but it’s 50 miles so I’ve got some work to do!
Ha, I would love 15C- 5C, not so much.
What a great week!
So this season has felt really short to me, and I finally figured it out. Last year, we played the full show at halftime at every home game (this year, due to weather and wet fields, we did a lot of “standstill” shows). And last year, we were in FMBC and BOA circuits, meaning we performed during prelims AND finals more often than not. This year, we made the move to FFCC, which had fewer shows and is a single competition format, so just one show.
All that to say, when the band had MPA on Saturday at 6:40, I told my husband and friends to get ready for their Halloween party and order dinner, and i would catch up with them because my butt was going to watch. It was their best show yet (all superiors), and I don’t regret a thing!
Why are gyms always so dull inside?
Since our marching band doesn’t do MPA or any competitions, our season feels very different! We have our last regular game this week and then the playoffs! The band is going to at least one playoff game, so that should be fun.
Its hard to adjust paces. I keep thinking my marathon pace is what it used to be, and Dublin was a great race, but it was a good level set about what is feasible…and I’m going to adjust my workouts accordingly for the next one.
Great job on those early runs and keeping up with the strength training Jenny. Commitment- impressive!
Oooh… I haven’t read the Dublin recap yet! I’ll be right over…
I’m so impressed you made it to the gym after the late night! I don’t love when my sleep schedule is disrupted so I probably would have slept in if I could…but if it had been a run day I probably wouldn’t have skipped it lol.
We’ve had some days in the upper 70s which have been glorious but I’m not looking forward to this weekend when we’ll be back up to almost 90 degrees! Not ok for November! I think next week it’ll cool back down but I am ready for consistently nice fall weather.
Nice job on getting in so many workouts, even after a long night at the game. I’m here to say (and as living proof) that you do get slower and slower with age, but so far I’ve avoided moving backwards. LOL
Ha, okay that’s good to know. I’m still not convinced it won’t happen to me though.