Oh, hi! Thanks for stopping by for the Weekly Rundown, hosted as always by our friends Kim and Deborah. I was feeling a little burned out last week, so after my Sunday long run, this week I took it a little easier. But there were still plenty of runs and workouts, so let’s get right into it.
Sunday
12 mile long run! I got out early and completed 7 miles before the sun was up; then I just had an easy 5 mile loop left. Great run.
In other news, this was a very exciting day, because we adopted some new family members- two affectionate little rats named Kris and Lucy. I know some people don’t like rats, and I get it. If you told me about your pet snake (shudder) or tarantula (GAAAAAH!) I wouldn’t want to see a photo- so, to each his own. If you do want to see photos of the girls, check out this post.
However, some people asked how the cats and rats are getting along. Charlotte is a huge scaredy-cat so she doesn’t go near them, but Muffin likes them…
To be on the safe side, she’s only allowed in the room under close supervision.
Monday
No school today, so I was able to sleep a little later and do an upper-body workout at home. I got out this thing…
and did several sets of negatives (ouch) and also did some extra hanging from the bar, which Wendy recommended to help increase my grip strength. I also did overhead press with dumbbells, abs, and called it a day. It was a nice way to start the week..
Tuesday
I went to the gym for my “sled-tread” workout- pushed and pulled the sled for ten minutes, then ran 3 miles on the treadmill with hill repeats.
Wednesday
Back to the gym for leg day! I started with the sled, then did squats, deadlifts, tibialis raises and calf raises. Since it was my day off I had extra time so I did benchpress as well. It was nice to be at the gym and not have any time constraints.
Thursday
Wait- how many more weeks till we turn the clocks back? This time it was dark for my entire 4 mile run.
Friday
My legs were still sore from Wednesday’s workout, so I did a scaled-back leg day this time. First, sled pushes and pulls for 20 minutes…
then all body weight exercises- Runner’s Touch, tibialis and calf raises, plank, and side plank with leg lifts (this one is still SO HARD on my left side!)
Saturday
5 mile run before work! This run started in the dark but after a couple miles the sun was up.
Later in the day I watched the Baylor game, or should we call it THE BEST GAME EVER. Baylor was losing 35-7 at the half and came back to win 36-35. I almost had a heart attack as UCF tried for- and missed- a field goal in the last three seconds. Never, ever give up! Go Bears!
Sunday
On tap for today- OFF! Sleeping in! Waffles! Dolphins Game! And… getting out my Halloween decs- it’s time!
I enjoyed a cutback week, but I miss doing a long run- which means I’ll be ready to hit the ground running (literally) tomorrow morning.
How was your week? Do you ever take cutback weeks?
Who else is getting out Halloween decorations??? It’s officially Spooky Season!
30 Responses
What a fun week! That Baylor game? I have zero skin in the game and I felt stressed just reading about it. But what an exciting finish. Go Bears indeed!
And welcome again to your new family members Kris and Lucy <3
Halloween is not my thing, but I really should dig out the few decorations I have; my favourite is a stuffed pumpkin I got at a thrift store last year! I might *gasp* not even buy a real pumpkin this year and *double gasp* we're definitely going to skip Halloween in our neighbourhood after all the drama – we might join friends elsewhere to trick or treat…or just skip it entirely. My daughter gets braces on a week before, so candy is not exactly going to be our friend. If we opt for the second option, we might go to a hotel overnight? I wasn't expecting to not do Halloween because we ALWAYS do Halloween (though it's not my thing), but I don't feel settled to participate in our actual neighbourhood but then I also feel slightly wary of being away from our house on Halloween night. Gah. Decisions, decisions.
Ugh- it does sound difficult. Could you do something festive earlier in the day and then be home at night (to make sure everything’s okay?)
Good luck with the braces. I have to say I’m SO happy to be done with braces. Make sure you have lots of soft food in the beginning, and then again every time she gets them tightened. The good news is Abby will have beautiful teeth!
I hate seeing dark in the morning. I don’t run. But then again I hate no daylight left when I finish work. A runner’s problem.
Hope you enjoy your new pets. Just two cats keep me busy.
Decorated for fall. No Halloween items yet. But I bought the candy.
Oh, I should buy our candy. I’ve learned the hard way that if you wait too long, all that’s left is really weird stuff nobody wants.
I was never very good at taking cutback weeks when I was running, but from what I remember they always paid off.
We’re having a streak of warmer weather, and at least it’s still light at night when we take the dog out, so I’m doing my best to ignore the shorter days. It’s working for now but man once that time change hits it’s going to be hard.
I like the time change! I don’t mind it being dark earlier, I would rather have more light in the mornings.
I’m looking forward to the time change too though it means a lot of the kids’ activity driving will be in the dark. My coach doesn’t seem to build in huge cutback weeks but every other week’s long run is less long . . . so I guess that’s something! like 14-16 instead of 18-20!
Yes, that’s what I usually do when my long runs get really long- every other week is a “short” long run.
Well, I was planning a cutback week next week, not this one, LOL! Not that I’m running all that much anyway.
Yes, it’s still a long time til we Fall back!
Looks like your training is going really well.
My cats would have eaten the rats. Quite literally. They were really good hunters — from with a kennel!
Yes, I don’t trust Muffin one bit! I think given the opportunity, she would pounce and it would not end well.
Sometimes cutback weeks just happen! It’s all good.
Sounds like your long runs are going really well! I realized the importance of cut back weeks when I was training for my last half. They really do help. Enjoy. Your rest day. Football over here this afternoon too
I am enjoying my rest day! Although I’m a little restless, which is good because I’m getting the house cleaned up. Yes, i’m all ready to go after that cutback week.
That game sounds so exciting! We were watching Maryland beat Indiana, which was the result we wanted but not too exciting after the first half.
I like your sled-tread workout combo!
It was a great game, but there seems to be some sort of rule that only one of my teams can win per weekend- I’m sitting here watching the Dolphins lose.
I do take cutback weeks when I’ve had several ‘mileage-heavy’ weeks in a row. And sometimes it just happens, like when I go out of town!
Another way to increase your grip strength is to do really heavy farmers’ carries. We do them at CF and I use 35-50# KBs (1 in each hand). We usually walk about 100m. I always joke that my arms are longer when we do it, lol
Okay, I’ll try that tomorrow! Thanks!
Nice victory for Baylor! My Hawks were losing 16-13 against Michigan State, so my sis and I bailed a few minutes into the 4th quarter (we were actually at the game). Then, after we’d gotten to our car and were headed out of town, we heard that they’d rallied in the final minutes and won 26-16! That was a bummer to have missed seeing that, but we did avoid most of the post-game traffic (glass half full).
Oh, I’ve learned my lesson- it’s never over till it’s over!
What a great week in the gym, well done. Once I shift this Covid once and for all, I think I need to ask our running club coaches for a back to basics fitness routine with the equipment I have here (me, a mat, some lightish weights!). Soon I will have room in the downstairs room to exercise as my husband’s office is moving upstairs so fingers crossed I can regain some fitness.
Love the pic of puss having a nice look at the rats! She’s got such pretty markings.
I think you can do a great workout using just light weights and bodyweight (I’m thinking squats, lunges, planks…) You can definitely regain your fitness! I hope you feel better soon.
I meant to get out Halloween decorations yesterday, but I did not, so it’s back on the list for today. It’s officially October, so I can decorate to my heart’s content.
Muffin is so cute! I love how interested she is. Do you think the difference between her and Charlotte is personality or age?
Probably a little of both. Muffin still has a little bit of kitten in her (she’s 3) and Charlotte is 9. But Charlotte has always been cautious and scared- like when we first adopted her she was terrified of all ceiling fans (???) and she gets freaked out by unusual noises.
Yes! Get out all the Halloween decorations!!!
Wow! Great comeback for Baylor. The Dolphins did not manage the same (and Canes were off).
Rats are supposed to be great (and smart) pets. I hope they are great family members!
Doing great, as always! Keep it going!
Yes- WHAT happened to the Dolphins? Well, we should win this coming weekend.
I definitely had cut back weeks when I was training. It was usually a 3 week cadence: build, build, cut. Rinse and repeat. I liked those cut back weeks!
I have basically no Halloween decorations and except some purple spider lights for our fireplace mantle. I intend to buy one thing each year to build out our decorations a bit. I have loved seeing others outdoor decorations!
Yes, a three week cadence is great- I’m going to start doing that, now that I’m ramping up my running mileage.
I’ll bet the boys like your spider lights!
Muffin is a gorgeous cat, I don’t think I’ve seen a picture before. Rats! I love all the animals and am curious about having rats as pets. And funny the other cat is scared of them!
One of the rats is super affectionate, always wants to be held and likes to sit on our shoulders. The other one is a little more shy, but we’re hoping she gets comfortable with us eventually. We can still hold her, she just doesn’t like it as much. They’re really smart!
You had a solid week and these cutback weeks are so important. I used to not do them properly during training cycles but they really pay off. Good for you for sticking with it.
And Sunday sounds lovely with sleeping in and waffles 🙂
That cutback week really worked out well for me! I had a great week right after that.