Well, this week started awfully slowly, but picked up steam towards the end! As always I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for this Weekly Rundown (thank, ladies!) Let’s just see how this slightly unusual week played out…
Sunday
This was my colonoscopy prep day, so I would be fasting. A run wasn’t really ideal, but I knew I would be doing nothing the next day, so I got out for a quick and easy 3 miles.
Monday
Colonoscopy! It’s funny because after the un-fun prep, the procedure isn’t unpleasant at all. I woke up from my lovely, anesthesia-induced nap to good news- everything was completely clear. This was my second clear colonoscopy, and the doctor told me to come back in TEN YEARS. At first I was thrilled, then I started thinking… ten years is an awfully long time. I do have a family history- is my doctor just getting lazy? I have to look into this!
I spent the rest of the day relaxing and recovering.
Tuesday
My stomach wasn’t quite back to normal, but it was time to run! I ran 4 miles and it felt good.
Wednesday
10 mile trail run! After a rainy week (which brought the temperatures down a bit) we were back to intense sun, and it got up to 90 again. I opted to stay close to home (so that I could start earlier) and run in a park with a super-boring cross country trail:
And then I noticed a trail I had never seen before! It was much more interesting (especially since I didn’t know where it went) but I ended up getting bitten by some really nasty flying insects. Ugh. The trail also dead-ended at nowhere, so I just turned around and ran back. That was an “adventure.” The good news is, the run felt pretty good in spite of the heat and vicious insects.
At night I did an upper body strength workout.
Thursday
In the morning, Caroline Girvan’s deadbug workout. I also did some bodyweight strength exercises like runner’s touch and one leg sit-to-stand.
After work, a 45 minute walk.
Friday
It’s been a while since I had a treadmill run, but today was the day! I opted to have a leisurely morning, which meant I hit the treadmill after work for 5 miles. As always on the treadmill, I threw in some speed work.
At night I did a short upper body strength workout.
Saturday
Lower body strength, including squats. After work- Adriene’s yoga for lower back pain. The squats tweaked my low back a bit, but it wasn’t terrible.
Sunday
On tap- 5 mile run! It feels good to be back to normal.
Moving forward- it’s come to my attention that I have to figure out what the hell I’m doing. Ever since my race was canceled (sigh) I’ve just been spinning my wheels. I have to get a grip, pick a race, and start training for real! Sheesh. It’ll be easier when the weather cools down- but that’s coming… soon.
How was your week? Are you having fall weather? Please say yes! We won’t get cool weather until it gets cold up north.
What do you think the odds are that I’ll voluntarily get another colonoscopy in five years?
33 Responses
Yes we finally have fall weather, it’s amazing, and I have been enjoying it on your behalf. I upped the ante with a New England road trip. I don’t think it’s peak leaf yet, but it’s pretty gorgeous all the same.
I’m with you on the ‘scope. No one wants to get a colonoscopy, but no one wants the alternative either. It can’t hurt to do more research, because that will either make you comfortable with the 10 year recommendation or make you want the 5 year check in.
I’m sending good race vibes for the perfect ultra to turn up. In the meantime, enjoy the run!
Okay, just put plenty of photos on your blog and I’ll enjoy the fall vicariously. A New England road trip? Did you run into Stephany, lol?
Congrats on another clear colonoscopy! I also had one of those, and I was relieved that I don’t have to go back for 10 years. I chalk it up to my no red meat diet that I adhered to for 25 years. I bet it’s your vegan diet that’s keeping you healthy!
Come north! We have plenty of ultras up here and no nasty insects or heat this time of year!
I’ve thought about that- going up north for a race. Hmm! Maybe I need to expand my horizons.
Did you send you hot weather to Illinois? We’ve had highs in the eighties- i want my sixties back! It’s probably from the hurricane rolling through, but i miss fall weather. I would have hated hitting the biting insects on a trail- they all seem to find me.
I was walking for CBWC until Wed. Then I finally went to see a Dr for pain i was having, and I sort of fell apart. I meant to walk yesterday, but my husband was out of town with XC boy ( farm field, flat, sunny, and hot! His first request after finishing was shade.) So I didnt want to take my daughter with me, then I started not feeling good again, so I curled up and rested instead. (I did too much friday.) Ill try to get out today. PSA: get your shingles vaccination, people of certain age!
Good luck in finding a fun race!
Wait. Are you saying you have shingles??? If so, that sucks! Yes, “get the shingles vaccine” has been on my to-do list for years. Somehow I keep not doing it, don’t ask me why. If I get shingles I’ll be so mad at myself! I hope you feel better soon.
That’s great news on the colonoscopy! Five years seems like such a long time but it does fly by in terms of colonoscopies LOL. Nice job still getting in some activity. Good luck on figuring out your next plans! At least some perfect running temperatures are coming to you soon
Yes, five years between colonoscopies does not seem to last as long as five years in other circumstances, hmm! And yes- the only reason I’m not screaming angrily about our weather is that I KNOW nice weather is right around the corner.
That’s great news on your clear colonoscopy! With a family history, ten years seems like a long time to go between procedures, but I’m no doctor. 😉
How cool that you found a new trail, but not so good on the biting bugs.
I hope you find an ultra for the spring! Would you consider traveling if necessary?
I would consider traveling…. I have to think about that. It can be tricky because I don’t want a hilly race, since we don’t have those down here (it would be hard to train, although there’s always the treadmill). I’ll look into this!
No wonder it isn’t unpleasant if you get anaesthesia! In Sweden they always do that kind of thing without anything (although you do get some light sedative and painkiller during colonoscopies) as the norm and I think that is so strange. If I ever need to do one again I’ll request full sedation because my colonoscopies are so painful that they always have to stop halfway and then the whole thing seems pointless at least if it’s a screening and you need to investigate. Mine was because of IBD and it was clear above that point, so it was ok, but that doesn’t make it ok to cause so much pain when anaesthesia actually exists.
I’m glad all was clear for you! I understand the worries about having colon cancer in the family and perhaps 5 years would be a good sweet spot.
Good work getting your workouts and runs done during a week like this! I’m glad you can do squats again!
WHAT IS THIS. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a colonoscopy without anesthesia! That sounds horrible!!! Yes it would obviously be painful!!! I’m wondering if people in Sweden are extra tough, or if Americans are wimps. I mean- we definitely don’t like to be uncomfortable in any way. Ha, if you told me my next one would be without anesthesia, I would definitely wait the full ten years.
I had my colonoscopy without anesthesia- it was interesting to watch progress on the monitor! Also saved some money.
I didn’t even realize this was an option. I’m not sure I would want to watch! And what if they find something??? I’m not sure I would want to be awake to hear “uh oh, what is this?”!!!
I’m so glad you had a clear test. Ten years does seem like a long time, especially with a history. Keep us posted, for sure.
You know it’s not fall up here. Just wet and rainy and awful. And hot. And humid. Enough. Mr PugRunner brought home some gorgeous heirloom pumpkins from Costco, and we are scrambling to try to preserve them so they don’t rot.
I hope you find a race you love and are excited to train for.
Yep! Rainy… hot… humid… that’s our October. I think you guys will be getting a cooldown soon. It takes a long time for the cool air to get all the way down here.
Nice to get clean test results! I vote for a fun race somewhere cooler weather and fun scenery
Cooler-nice scenery- that sounds good! I’ll be looking into this.
That is good news about your colonoscopy – but I do see your concern. It’s all about insurance coverage though, right? I wonder if the non-medical screening process is cheaper/covered for a five year check up? (aka poop in a box 😉)
We are definitely getting some colder weather here. It’s capri weather, which only happens a few weeks out of the year for me.
How fun that you found a mystery trail! Boo on the bug bites though.
That’s true- it could be an insurance thing. I did think about cologuard, maybe that would be a good five year option?
I would be scared to venture out a new trail. I’m afraid of insect everywhere, and would be freaking out if something bite me.
It’s getting hotter here in brasilia, so I need to getting out earlier and earlier, or find a hat to cover my face fully.
I’m not a fan of insects either, but at this point I’m resigned to the situation. It will get better in the winter! So we’re getting cooler (I mean, hopefully soon) and you’re getting warmer. Getting out early is key!
I’ll be due for my colonoscopy next year. I didn’t have much for discomfort the last time, and I’ve heard the day-prior prep is much better now (?). As I was running my 10-miler earlier, I was thinking how nice it will be to have nothing “long” on my calendar after next weekend, LOL. I enjoy the races, I just get burnt out with the training (and I don’t even train very hardcore these days).
Well, there is a pill you can take for the prep now, but for some reason the doctors aren’t prescribing it. I had the very salty drink prep (two doses) and it was pretty gross. You should ask for the pill though and see if you can get it!
You got some great runs in this week! I always find it fun to explore new trails but sometimes they don’t work out as well as I’d hoped.
We’re getting the remnants of Hurricane Rachel here so we’ve gotten some rain which is good, and wind which isn’t so good. Our temperatures have also cooled and the high temp is only gonna be in the 70s on Tuesday, which is quite cool for this time of year! It’ll be a nice change from the heat though and I think we may be done with the 90s for the year.
70s!!!!!! That is “cold” for you! Sometimes a storm blows through and cools things down like that, and ushers in the new season. We’re not quite there yet (it got up to 92 yesterday) but we’re getting close.
I would talk with your doctor about your risk. I think they determine the timeline for your next colonoscopy based upon a variety of factors like family history and whether you have polyps. You haven’t had polyps either time so maybe that is why they are saying 10 years? I bet you could have another one in 5 years if it would make you feel better. I had 2 or 3 polyps and have a mild family history (maternal aunt) and they said I could wait 7 years which I am A ok with because I thought the prep was hellacious. Obv I do not want to get colon cancer but I feel like 7 years is a reasonable time frame.
We were having fall weather and then it turned back to summer this weekend. It was 86 and 89. Bleh. No thank you!! There aren’t many options for activities when it’s hot since our pools all close on Labor Day or earlier. I volunteered at our school’s fall festival and was glad to have a spot in the shade!
Yikes- your weather sounds horrible. Almost as hot as us- we got up to 92 and I was extremely displeased. But- those temps can’t last too much longer for you.
I should talk to my doctor. The thing is, right after the colonoscopy you’re still a little woozy from the anesthesia, so I wan’t really thinking everything through. Now it’s going to be a pain to get back in touch with him. Well- my husband goes back for his next one in five years. Maybe I’ll take that as a cue to touch base with the doctor.
I haven’t had a colonoscopy yet; that fun awaits me in the next decade!
We have had a weird fall; much cooler than normal, windy, and more overcast/rainy than normal. So I feel a tiny bit cheated since we usually get a solid month of gorgeous weather, BUT it is stil fall, there are still beautiful leaves, and I am loving (LOVING!) getting back into routine. Life has been hectic, but even still… it’s so nice to have the kids in school and to feel a bit more settled in our daily rhythms.
Our town marathon/ultra was yesterday morning and I thought of you! The weather was PERFECT. Crisp, sunny, and no wind!
GAH! An ultramarathon in Nova Scotia with perfect weather!!! Why was I not running it? I’m obviously living my life wrong.
There’s a pill now for the colonoscopy prep, but for some reason most doctors don’t prescribe it (I’m wondering if it’s an insurance thing?) I’m thinking- hoping- that by the time you need one, you can just take the pill. That would be WAAAAAY better!
I think the idea that is the lesions are generally slow growing, so if you’re completely clear the likelihood of having anything significant in 5 years is low even with family history. But I am not a gastroenterologist 🙂
You may not be a gastroenterologist, but I like this take! Thanks : )
our weather is up and down… 70, then 30 with rain here and there.
Then it’s winter….
I’ve already planned my Feb 9-11 Fla stay. lol
Glad you are feeling up to running and even on the tm.