Hello! Welcome to the Weekly Rundown, where I’m linking up as always with Kim and Deborah. This was a busy week with a lot of activities and concerts for my daughter. It was all about setting (and re-setting) priorities. I got in some good miles in my Altra Timps, which I’m trying to get used to, and cautiously planning to wear for my race at the end of the month. Let’s just see how the week went…
Sunday
13 mile trail run! For this run, I ran a few miles in my regular shoes (the Altra FWDs) then switched to the Timps (zero drop) for a few miles, then switched back to the FWDs. The Timps felt great! I didn’t want to stop and change shoes when I was feeling so good, but I didn’t want to overdo it with the zero drops.
Monday
Remember how my back was hurting last week? I suspect it was from one of the Sally McRae workouts I was doing, that had a lot of single leg RDLs. It’s possible I was so focused on keeping my balance, that I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the position of my back.
At this point, I have to focus on getting two more long runs done before my race on the 26th, and I’m not doing anything to jeopardize that. I picked a Sally McRae workout that I knew wouldn’t strain my back- Mobility and Strength for Calves, Ankles and Feet- and paired it with my favorite core workout, the Caroline Girvan Deadbugs..
Tuesday
Early morning 4 mile run! I wore the Timps for the whole run, and it felt good. Followed this run with deadbugs once again.
Wednesday
Gym day! I did 20 minutes on the Stairmaster (sigh) and then squats, bench press, reverse fly, and abs. Good workout! The squats hurt my back a tiny bit, but it was manageable.
Thursday
Another 4 mile run in the Timps, and this run felt harder than normal. Hmm. I followed it with the deadbug workout again.
Friday
I did a Sally McRae- Total Body Workout with Dumbbells. Good workout- lots of balance work but no one leg RDLs. My back is feeling pretty good!
The rest of me was feeling a little “meh” though. I felt like I was fighting off a cold, and I think that’s why the Thursday run was harder than usual.
Saturday
Off! We got home late on Friday night from a band concert, so I was very grateful to be able to sleep till 7:00 before going to work. Still feeling a little off, but it’s time to gear up for…
Sunday
On tap for today- 17 mile long run! This feels like a huge jump to me- 13 miles is kind of long, and 17 miles gets into the “truly long” category. I’m planning to run about half of it in the Timps. This run is important, because after this I’ll only have time for one more long run before my race. This is one of those runs where I just have to show up, hope for the best, and see how it all shakes out (why do I have the feeling I’ll be saying the same thing about my race in three weeks???)
How was your week? Are you swamped with extra events right now?
Is it finally spring where you live? – It’s hot and humid here, summer has started.
34 Responses
So glad to hear your zero drop shoes are working for you! I hope you’ll feel good doing your half long run in them too. Sounds like a good week for you, except maybe the stairmaster! All that work on calves, ankles and feet is going to pay off! I believe my own huge progress in the gym lately, particularly with squats and deadlifts, has to do with all the lower leg strength work I did during my foot rehab.
I’m not joining the rundown link-up this week (I’ve been struggling with writing recently and we’re having a bluegrass jam in our kitchen with another couple this afternoon, so too busy!) but had a great week in the gym. Spring is finally here, the temperatures haven’t been up to my liking recently but the garden doesn’t seem to care, and during the coming week it’s getting warmer.
Hmm, that’s interesting- so all the lower leg strength really helped you. I believe it. I still feel a difference between my right and left foot (and ankles) but I’ll continue to work on it.
Glad spring has come in Ireland!
With both the boys grown and flown, it’s not as busy as in previous years. I’m not minding it! It sounds like you are ready for your race–glad to hear that the zero drop shoes are working for you. I tried a pair a few years ago and my calves and shins did not like them at all!
I’m surprised that my calves and shins are liking them so far- just goes to show you, it’s worth a try.
It sounds like you are being really smart and disciplined with your new shoes — I am impressed!
I hope your back is better now — my crazy core DOMS took about a week to go away.
We had summer this week but now it’s back to early spring — cold and rainy!
Don’t be too impressed- I ended up running 13 miles of my run in the new shoes today, oops. I just didn’t want to stop and change again. Everything feels okay though.
Ugh, cold and rainy-not a good combination! It should be hot there soon enough.
I hope your long run goes/went well today! And I am glad you figured out what was possibly causing the back pain. I tweaked something this last week I think because I ran too fast. We had a rough morning getting the boys out of the house so I had less time to run before jumping on my first call of the day yet I still wanted to run so I ran a 9:40 pace instead of the 10ish mile pace I have been running lately. I didn’t feel like I was running THAT fast but I paid for it with some pain kind of in deep inside my hip/by my upper hamstring (you’d prob know exactly what muscle it was with your massage knowledge). Luckily it felt better in a couple of days. But note to self, slow down.
This week isn’t too busy although Paul’s activities are heating up. He has golf on Sat (only 2 more weeks), swimming on Sundays and next week he has t ball twice/week. But swimming will be done in early June. So overall it’s not too much!
Spring is finally arriving here! It should be in the 60-70s this week! Hooray!
Lisa, I did that exact thing when my kids were little- I had so little time, I would bolt out the door and run too fast. For me, I ended up with shin splints. Well- live and learn!
Glad you’re getting some nice weather this week.
Not as busy as when the kids were here but I do have a couple of events this week that will keep me busy. Hope your long run goes well today! Sounds like you are in the groove again 🙂
Yes, I’m sure people who don’t have kids, or whose kids are grown and flown are chuckling at all us of complaining about “mayhem.” It’s a good reminder that it won’t be forever!
I predict that good things will shake out!
Single leg RDLs are one of those exercises that just never worked for me. In theory I like the idea of single leg exercises, but in practice I just don’t do them well.
I think I was trying to start with too heavy of a weight. I still want to do them- perhaps AFTER my race though, and I’ll start lighter.
Good luck with the 17 miles today — hope your back feels alright! It was humid on my run today but only bc I’m not used to it.
Thank you Melissa! It was hot AND humid here, but luckily I’m pretty used to it. I didn’t have enough water though- will I ever learn?
I hope your 17-mile trail run is going well this morning! You’re smart to be moving back and forth between the shoes. Until I read your post, I thought all Altras had zero drop (because my Altras have zero drop). I thought that was their thing. You learn something new every day!
Happy to hear that you figured out what was bothering your back and have eliminated that exercise. Hope it continues to feel better.
I think the 4 mm drop Altras are a very new thing. If they made them in a trail shoe I would have gotten those because I love them in my road shoe. But they don’t- although I wouldn’t be surprised if they made one soon.
I’m glad your new shoes are working for you and it’s smart that you’re slowly rotating them in to get used to the zero drop! And I hope your 17 miler goes well today — I agree, I feel like 13 miles is where it starts to feel long and then anything above 15 feels really long. I had an 8 miler as my last “long run” yesterday and it didn’t really feel long at all after mostly doing 14-16 mile long runs this training cycle!
It’s been in the low 90s here so starting to feel like summer but we haven’t hit 100 yet so it’s still spring!
Ack, low 90s- but at least it’s not humid, right? Your race is next weekend? I’m excited for you!
I remember thinking the same thing with 16-18 mile runs when I was marathon training. Somehow the 20-miler ALWAYS felt easier than the previous long runs leading up to it. I think so much of it was in my head…knowing I “had” to get through it, etc. with even longer runs in the next few weeks as well. I hope all goes well for those 17 miles!
Thank you Kim! I’m not sure my upcoming 20 miler will feel easier than the 17 miles today, but I’ll try to convince myself of that.
I hope your 17 miler is amazing!!! I am sad summer has arrived although I feel like we had a really nice March/April this year!!!
Agree that 17 is where I consider truly long too!!
I can’t complain- we had a COLD winter (Florida cold, that is) and you’re right- March-April were still nice. It had to get hot eventually.
Good work and best of luck for your 17. After an unexpectedly hot half-marathon today, I am adjusting my priorities to have more sleep and various other bits.
You ran a half today! Congratulations! And yes… i need to adjust my priorities to get more sleep as well.
Oh, your poor back! I hope it clears up quickly!
I felt like I was fighting something a few weeks back.
And we are loaded with extra events. Meetings, concerts, banquets, etc. It’s so much. I love it but it’s a lot.
Your training is going great!
Thank you Jenn! My back is holding up. It’s not perfect, but then I don’t expect things to be perfect anyway!
It is raining here today and I am just SO OVER IT. Where is summer? I’m ready for sunshine and warm temperatures. I’m wearing my winter coat wayyyy too frequently for it being May. Somehow the temperature has not gotten the memo.
That said, despite it feeling chilly, I actually managed to get a weird sports bra suntan on my neck yesterday *facepalm*
Your race is coming! I’m so excited!
Okay, that’s a weird combination- winter coat weather and a sports bra tan. I remember those chilly, gloomy days in May in the midwest and feeling over it too. Winter should not last this long!
Realy great balanced week Jenny! You fit in all the things!
Smart to be careful with those zero drop shoes. They mess with my Achilles. But I didn’t ease into them like you are.
It sounds like you’re going to be well prepared for your race, excited for you!
Thank you Jessie! The zero drops feel good while I’m running, but the PF in my right foot seems to be getting worse… so I may have to move on to plan B (which will be revealed soon!)
I hope your run went great!! Deadlifts in general are an exercise I have to really watch my form on. I like them but especially conventional deadlifts I feel like can have a lot of potential to cause back issues. I do like the single leg varieties. I find that you can still get just as good of a burn by doing them supported (like lightly grabbing onto something- the squat rack, wall, etc.). I actually prefer this since like you said, otherwise I’m too focused on trying to keep my balance instead of focusing on squeezing my glute/hamstring. Maybe try it supported and see what you think! I think it’s still just as effective.
Kae, that’s a GREAT idea. At least for the next three weeks (until my race) I’ll do them supported.
I’m definitely a bit swamped by a lot of kids events and work events/travels until July. I’m enjoying them though, better make the best of it as they don’t come often. I have a busy work week but I love it as I have my favorite working buddies from manila and Jakarta together.
hope the 17 miles run went well, long run is more for building mental confidence than physical ones after certain point.
Spring has officially sprung. The trees are green, the tulips are out, and it rains and rains and rains. But on the bright side, I think I can safely put away my winter coat and boots.
May does have a lot of extracurriculars. There are a lot of birthdays and anniversaries and afterwork social engagements that throw off my schedule. But I sort of like the madness!