Huh. This was a weird week. It was an adjustment, getting used to the new summer routine. Running was… interesting, as we shall soon see. But there are always workouts! I’m linking up as usual with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Rundown. Here we go…
Sunday
I’ve decided that my daughter is not a good gym buddy! She changes her mind, wants to go later, then not at all… it’s easier just to do my own workout at home. I did upper body, focused on overhead press and lateral raise, and then took out the pull-up bar, which always gives me a hard workout.
Monday
All my runs this week were characterized by a lack of energy. My breathing was fine, but my legs felt heavy and tired. I’m pretty sure it’s this diet I’ve been on (once again- not for weight loss, but to fix some digestive issues). It’s not intentionally a low-carb diet, but it just works out that way because I’m not eating any sugar and very few grains. I felt like my legs were crying out for fuel! Well, it’s temporary, and I’m not training for anything right now.
Every run this week was followed by Runner’s Touch and side planks with leg lifts. That hamstring is much better, but still a little stiff and achy.
Tuesday
Time for some maintenance! I did a Caroline Girvan abs workout, and then hip stability exercises that I haven’t done in a week. I figure the Runner’s Touch and side planks are also hip stability, but I needed to get back to my usual ones, including the one leg sit-to-stand. Use it or lose it! Some of these exercises are really hard if I slack off- but if I do them regularly I can do them well.
Wednesday
Another sluggish 3 mile run. At least I’ve eliminated most of the walking breaks. It’s not like my legs can’t run- they just don’t want to. Again, followed by Runner’s Touch and side planks with leg lifts.
Thursday
This was my one strength day in the gym, and it was a leg day. Squats, Bulgarian split squats, glute press machine, and core. This felt good!
Friday
Another plodding run, but I added a little distance on to make it 3.5 miles. The heat and humidity are not helping! This photo looks a little hazy because my camera lens was fogged up.
Runner’s Touch. Side planks, etc!
Saturday
I had plans to go to the gym after work, but I just didn’t have the energy to work out AND deal with the crowded, noisy gym. I did another upper body strength day at home, again featuring the pull-up bar. Good, peaceful, workout.
So… I felt like the whole week was a means to an end. A temporary diet (which is already helping- my digestion is much better, so it’s worth it!) and lots of hip exercises to get that hamstring 100%. My husband asked me when my next ultra is, and I was like “Huh? I run ultras?” Hard to imagine right now while I’m trudging through such short runs. But it will all come together… eventually.
How was your week? Were you adjusting to a new routine at all?
Yop photo by Scarbor Siu on Unsplash
37 Responses
Glad the digestion is improving so you can see the diet is working.
I have a new routine myself: adding RUNNING into my week, finally. I hadn’t run since 11 Feb! I have to do 30 mins of 4 mins walking / 1 min running for a week then she wants me to go to 3 walk / 2 run but I think I’m going to do 3 / 1. I did the first one split around visiting my friend to help with some stuff (though I ended up doing squats to move her big heavy recliner chair while I was there!) and the second one today after my gym session (I left off the last cardio section and shortened my bike bit at the start). It feels OK but I can’t quite believe it yet.
Yay running! Those running/walking intervals are a great way to get back into it. It feels like a really slow way to start, but before you know it you’re running for 30 minutes straight. I’m very glad you’re getting back to it!
I’m glad to hear your new diet is paying off already. How long do you think you’ll follow it? It makes sense that your body is missing the fuel from carbs.
LOL on your daughter not being a reliable gym partner. My son would go for a run right before dinner — definitely not my time of day!
Yes, you ARE an ultrarunner!
Yes, that’s the other thing- my daughter will go to the gym at really inconvenient times. Or sometimes she’ll go (getting a ride with a friend) while I’m still at work, sheesh.
I’ll follow the diet really strictly for five more weeks, then I’m going on a trip- I’ll reassess the situation at that point.
I am sure your body is missing those extra carbs and calories but sounds like it is helping with your stomach. Kids are definitely not reliable long term with that kind of schedule. Might as well do your thing and she can join you when she can. Yes you are an ultra runner!
Thank you Deborah! I appreciate it. The other thing is, my daughter and I have very different goals. She accuses me of being a “cardio warrior” if I just want to run on the treadmill, sigh!
I’m happy to hear the diet is working. Helps to have a payoff! Sorry about your sluggish runs; but also a little jealous. A sluggish run is better than no run I fell hard on my butt on Feb (backing away from a couple of stray dogs in Mx that didn’t like me running by them). I’ve messed up my sacrum and tailbone and it’s causing lot of pain in my hamstrings. Tried a few short runs but got a lot worse. Ah well patience, walking & stretching. Btw who is your photographer? You seem to run alone most of the time. I’m always curious about these pics!
Ugh, SO sorry to hear that! That area- sacrum, hips, hamstrings, can be really complicated. And this happened in February? that’s a long time. I’m sure it’s very frustrating.
I do run alone- I have different places where I prop my phone (like fire hydrants of mailboxes.)Then I take a video, and then a screen shot from the video.
Yay for results! Boo to flaky gym buddies (also no shade to flaky gym buddies – everyone has their own why and when for getting fitness done. Today I work out nearly every day because it is a habit and I get a benefit from it. When I was your daughter’s age I didn’t have either of those things going for me so my workouts were…sporadic).
Every athlete needs a downtime/maintenance season and this is yours. The priority right now is fixing your gut, and you’re doing it. Think about how much better your fall training and race will be without the digestive issues.
Gotta love it when it’s so humid that your camera lens fogs up.
Thanks Birchie! Yes, I keep telling myself that. I’ll feel SO MUCH BETTER when I get this situation resolved. I specifically chose this time to do it because I’m not training for anything. This is definitely downtime for me!
I bet the lack of carbs is the cause of your sluggish feeling!! It’s tough to feel like your legs are full of cement! It’s good that this diet is temporary. Hopefully when you are back to more normalish eating your energy levels will improve!!
I had a pretty good week of workouts and increased my long run to 5 miles. So I am feeling good about running the 10 mile race in Sept. I just need to sketch out how to increase my long runs.
Your long run is longer than mine! I ran 4 miles today. I agree, you’ll be in great shape for your race. You’ve got several months to get those long runs in.
As others have proclaimed in the comments, yes, you are an ultramarathoner! I’m glad to hear that the change in diet is giving you the results you’re looking for. How long will you need to keep this up?
Liminal space is a new phrase to me and I had to look up its meaning. Thanks for teaching me something new today!
Debbie, my daughter went through a phase where she was very interested in “liminal space.” I had to look it up too when she started talking about it.
Great question about the diet- at least five more weeks of being super strict. Then we’ll see what happens.
Everything is a season, and your new routine is a season. You’ll be in a different season soon, I’m sure. I was wondering how your hamstring was doing! Glad things are improving in that area.
Thanks Nicole! I agree it’s a season. It just feels kind of weird, like I don’t feel like myself. But… there will be a different season soon.
I’m glad you are feeling better. I just had a rough run myself this morning–my knee is acting up, and I felt sluggish too. Summer is not my favorite time to run!
Heat and humidity make it really hard! And a sore knee doesn’t help either. I guess we all have bad runs sometimes- then we appreciate the good ones even more, right?
I’m glad the diet is helping your digestion, but definitely sounds tough for running with fewer carbs! I’m sure you’ll feel more energetic once you reintroduce some foods.
You are an ultrarunner! I felt kinda like that after my last race in January which I DNFd at 52 miles, because I wasn’t really training for anything and my longest run since then has been 15 miles, but most weeks my long run is only 10-13. But now I’m considering myself back in training since my next race is at the end of September, but I’m still not really doing that much more mileage than before hahaha. I know you’ll get back into it once you’re closer to your next race!
Yes, and there’s plenty of time- my next definite race isn’t till March! I want to run something between now and then (of course) but I don’t know what yet.
Oh yes, my dear, you are an ultra-running goddess 😉 You need to wear that ultra crown with pride! That’s good news the tummy is feeling better, so that’s tangible progress! I need to bring back the side planks to my regimen…not sure how/why/when they disappeared (???).
Aw, thanks Kim!!! And… side planks have a way of disappearing, ha! I keep having to “reintroduce them” to my training.
Would you consider taking like a whole week off all exercise? Just to give your body a deep rest? I wonder if that might do wonders?
So glad the diet is already showing signs of helping your digestion. Your hard work and sacrifices are not in vain.
Thank you Elisabeth! Honestly, I’m kind of afraid to take a whole week off- it might be REALLY hard to get back into it. I would probably also sink into a really bad mood.
oh gosh, I hope you can get your carbs soon! But digestive issues are no fun. Glad your getting some results.
I can’t imagine running in Florida in the summer! I would definitely spend more time on the treadmill 🙂
Ha, funny you mentioned it- I just ran on the treadmill this afternoon! Yay for air conditiong.
Many years ago I went on the Atkins diet. It was the worst! I was so tired. It’s not surprising that you feel a bit sluggish. That’s good to hear your diet modification is showing results already.
This past week I added more weights to the Smith Machine and my quads were sore for days!! I’ll have to do that again this week 🙂 Hopefully I can get a couple of gym visits in.
Ha, this is kind of like the vegan version of Atkins (although that sounds absolutely absurd.) It is hard, but will be worth it.
The way to avoid DOMS is to go to the gym more often… but it’s easier said than done.
Oh no, that’s not a good gym buddy!
Thanks for reminding me of the single leg sit-to-stand. As soon as I hear about it I say to myself I need to start doing this but then i always forget about it! I’ll try to remember it while we’re in Sweden!
How long are you staying on that diet? I’m glad you’re starting to see the benefits of it!
Yes, it would be a good thing to do when you can’t get to the gym!
The diet… another five weeks for sure, then we’ll see.
If you’re already feeling better then it’s all worth it!
I like how artsy that foggy lens photo looks, heh :)!
I feel like *you* are your own best gym buddy. You have high standards, and while I love teens, they aren’t known for being reliable (which is the #1 thing you want in a buddy of any kind).
Ha, okay we’ll go with “artsy”, thank you!
Yeah, I can be my own gym buddy. My podcasts keep me company.
Yay to being able to run and feeling alright. Glad the digestion is feeling better. I know you’ve said this is temporary – does that mean you’ll be back on carbs soon? I can’t imagine running without carbs, but people do it! Isn’t it funny how we “forget” how we can run so much? I just did a half marathon and last week one day I felt like I was going to die running 1 mile (granted it was “feels like 100” And I had just had an ice cream cone!) — our bodies are a mystery!
Your hamstring is getting better, if slowly, and your digestion issues are improving — things are headed in the right direction, Jenny!!! The sluggish feeling stinks, and I am super impressed that you powered through anyway. I hope your body continues to adjust to these new rhythms.
We are diving into a summer schedule and I am flailing a bit. My kitten and my daughter are both pretty high needs right now, so I am devoting a lot of attention to both of them. No idea really HOW to maintain productivity, but the only way out is through!
How long do you think you’ll be on this diet? I can imagine it’s hard to run or do anything without enough fuel. Ugh. Our summer hasn’t been crazy hot yet, so I’m still able to do my runs every other day. I feel like I’m getting shin splints and I think it’s time to buy new shoes. I love my current pair and I hope I can find another pair like this. Asics. I didn’t workout on Friday when I took my dad for his colonoscopy, and normally that would drive me nuts – but I let it go.
If I know you, you will run another ultra. You have time to decide.
I’m so glad the new diet is helping, but I’m sure it’s a big shift and changes things in your running. It is a means to an end, and this season shall pass.
Hang in there!