Unfortunately, those miles were spent in the car driving. I had to drive back and forth to Tallahassee TWICE this week, to bring my daughter to camp and then pick her up. It’s about seven hours each way, so…. yeah. it was a lot of driving. But there were still runs and gym workouts, of course! Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting. Let’s get started!
Monday
I dropped my daughter off at camp on Sunday, and then drove partway back home… I spent the night in Ocala. I had a little mini-break which I wrote about here. Before I explored the town, I found a beautiful trail to run on!
7 miles on this SHADED trail. Yep- we don’t have shade like this in South Florida.
Tuesday
Back to reality, and back to the gym for leg day. Squats, deadlifts, Runner’s Touch exercise. (I’m trying to incorporate more single leg balance work), calf raises, and since I knew I wouldn’t get in a dedicated upper body day this week, lat pulldowns.
Funny thing about this gym day- the AC wasn’t working. Actually that’s not funny at all. It was terrible! I was literally dripping with sweat. Then, as I was finishing my very last set of calf raises, the electricity went out completely and they started herding everyone to the exit. I was incredibly lucky to get my full workout in! There were a lot of disgruntled people that day.
Wednesday
Speed work day on the treadmill! I approached the gym cautiously- would it be open? Would there be AC? Yes, and yes! Phew.
Last week I did 12 x 400, and this time- after a 2 mile warmup- I did 8 x 400 but at a faster pace. It felt good. No photo though- there were people on the treadmills on either side of me, and I didn’t feel like calling that much attention to myself. Besides, all treadmill running pictures look alike.
At night I did the now-famous Caroline Girvan Deadbug Workout. After Jessie said how much it helped her, I realized I haven’t been doing it, and my low back has been very achy lately. Maybe deadbugs will help?
Thursday
4 mile run. On this run, I felt my shin. It’s really annoying, but whenever I do speed work, my shins start to hurt. It was at this exact same time last year- right after my July 4th 5K- that I had to take some time off because of shin splints. It’s like the universe is trying to keep me slow!
It wasn’t that bad and I finished the run just fine- but I’ll be keeping an eye on it now. Sigh.
At night I did the deadbug workout once again.
Friday
Back to the gym for leg day #2. It looked a lot like leg day #1, but I skipped deadlifts to give my low back a rest, and added Bulgarian split squats. To round out my upper body work, I did benchpress.
I also did the hack squat machine again. My son showed me a video where a guy went all the way down, so that his calves were touching his hamstrings, and that’s what my son does too. This is me going all the way down though:
I was going as far down as the machine would go- why aren’t my calves and hamstrings touching? My son said “Oh… you’re too short for this machine! Unfortunately a lot of these machines are built for men.” Hrumph.
After work we drove up to Tallahassee. At least this time my husband came along (last week he had to work) so the drive was easier, BUT, we couldn’t leave until I was done with work and we didn’t get there till midnight. Ouch.
Saturday
I had resigned myself to running around the hotel parking lot, but my husband found a park nearby that had a trail!
I loved this run so, so much. Parts of it were shaded, and then at times we were running through open fields. I think I liked it even better than my trail run in Ocala, because this trail seemed much less-traveled. It was very hilly! That was hard for us flatlanders, and after 4 miles my legs were trashed.
We went to my daughter’s final concert, and then drove home. It was a long, long day.
Sunday
Oof. Since I didn’t work yesterday, I’m working today! Just a half day, after which I will come home and collapse in a heap. Possibly a deadbug workout later in the day.
Do you like car trips? – This was a little too much driving for me, but it was still fun.
How’s your weather? – It was 98 degrees in Tallahassee- even hotter than South Florida!
44 Responses
Yikes on that much driving! No, neither my husband nor I like to drive, so that’s always fun. I am so sick of driving back & forth to my mom, I won’t lie — thankfully it’s a shorter ride but a visit still eats up the entire day.
And yikes on no AC at the gym! Great job getting it done anyway.
So happy you found 2 great trails to run on! That helped, right? And a big thumbs down on the no shade.
LUCKILY, my husband does like to drive! He’s happy to do most of the driving when we drive together. That works for me!
That’s a lot of driving. But at least you stayed in a hotel and were to explore a new running location.
I hate to say that I use the same gym machines and try to get out as quick as possible.
Yes I guess speedwork may be bad for your health. Slow and sure works for me.
You have heat. We have smoke.
I know- I definitely would have way fewer injuries if I didn’t try to do speedwork. But I want to run faster! There has to be a way to do it without hurting myself.
Hearing everyone talk about the smoke has made me grateful that we just have the heat to deal with. At least we’re used to the heat and know what to expect.
Ouch, 4 seven hour car drives in one week is a bit much. But you had a nice variety – outbound with you and the kids, back by yourself, out with the hubs with a bonus couples’ trail run, and then back with everyone.
I’ve had to miss a few gym workouts due to weather and power outages, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a gym close in the middle of a workout. If it had to happen, then at least it happened at the end of your workout.
We had a few days with highs in the 80s and a few smoky days from the wildfires. Nowhere close to the 90s yet up here in the great north.
Yes, you’re right- there was as much variety as possible in those four trips. And now I feel like I know the Florida Turnpike REALLY well!
You are lucky you have not had super hot weather yet! But there is the smoke… everyone has something to contend with.
That’s a lot of driving in one week! I don’t mind driving, but my butt gets sore after too many hours in the car. It’s great you found two good trail runs!
I bet ALL the gym equipment is made for men. Harumph!
Yes, but some of the equipment is adjustable… these particular machines aren’t. HARUMPH!
That is a lot of driving! I am really not a car trip person. 3 hours is about my limit. That’s great that you were able to run on 2 new trails this week. Take care of those shins 🙂 Have a great week ahead
Three hours is a good distance. 14 hours in two days was a little too much!
That is a lot of driving, particularly is you’re not getting to do a lot of exploring or visiting on either end of the driving!
Have you ever used the All Trails app? I love to use it when I’m traveling to find walking/running/hiking trails. I think you’d get a lot of use of of it!
Yes! All Trails is how I found the trail in Ocala. I don’t know why I didn’t use it in Tallahassee- somehow I just thought we didn’t have enough time. Then my husband simply googled it and said “I think there’s a trail around here.” All Trails is great though because it will actually help you navigate the trail so you don’t get lost.
No AC at the gym?!?! Your commitment always impresses me, but wow! I would’ve been so frustrated to be near the end of a set and have the electricity go out (I hate when things aren’t symmetrical or complete)!
Yes, I did have to leave off the last few reps… but at least I got almost the whole workout done! I would have been really frustrated if I had to stop in the middle.
That trailhead at the top of your post is calling my name! Looks like you got some really great trail runs in this week.
When I get back from Colorado, I’m going to start incorporating some of those Caroline Girvan moves into my workouts. Time to get back to basics!
If you try them I’ll be interested to hear what you think! I’m guessing your core is already really strong from the training you already do.
Whew! A lot of driving! But so glad you found those two fun trail runs.
Okay so I am not a runner so keep that in mind – but one of the fitness people whose workouts I do (Tracy Steen) recently recommended this person called Knees Over Toes Guy (https://www.instagram.com/kneesovertoesguy/). Tracy said that this guy is all about improving the strength of the muscles around the knees and shins – muscles we don’t typically train – and that his tips are especially good for runners. That is the end of my information about him 😂 but I wanted to pass it on in case it is helpful.
Thank you! I’ve heard of that guy, but I’ve never looked at his workouts. But you’re the second person recently who’s told me about him, so I think the universe is telling me to check it out. I think I first heard about him on a podcast where people were saying they used his workouts to train for 100 mile races, so… they must be good.
Wow, I just looked up how far you can get driving 7 hours from Birmingham and basically you fall off the edge of the map of the UK unless you go to Glasgow or the very end of Cornwall! Well done for coping with it all and love those shady trails.
Yes, and can you believe I was still in the same state? I drove basically from the southern end of Florida to the northern end, and it’s a LONG state.
My daughter is complaining about how hot and humid it is in Atlanta. apparently there’s a “ring of fire” weather pattern in the South. We’ll be in Tallahassee in a couple of weeks as Thing #2 is seriously considering attending college there. I hope your daughter loved music camp!
How exciting!!!!! FSU is a great school. I don’t think you’ll experience Tallahassee at its best though- it’s going to be really hot when you’re there. BUT, just keep in mind that for most of the school year the weather will be beautiful! I hope your daughter ends up there.
I am not fond of (long) car trips, to be honest. It sounds like you made the best of it and it was worth it, but yeah, long drives are usually stressful.
We’re experiencing a heat wave here in CA and we had temps up to 108F the last couple of days. DO NOT LIKE. Wish I could just got to the gym to work out (but one with a working AC, thankyouverymuch ;)). At least it’s not humid here, but it’s hot AF nonetheless.
Yes, I saw that on your blog- 108 is HOT. Our temps don’t get above 95 or so, but we have the humidity to contend with. Summer is hard!
Ugh on all that time in the car. First off, I hate driving, especially in unfamiliar places. Second, my long legs (I’m 5’9, and most of my height is in my legs, LOL) hate being cramped-up in a car for extended lengths of time. So, I feel your pain, literally! I need to checkout the dead bug workout…I meant to a week ago or so, and forgot. Maybe my healing ribs could tolerate some of those moves (?).
I don’t know if your ribs could tolerate the deadbugs yet- but you could try it and see.
I really don’t like driving in the dark. On this trip I told my husband if he wanted me to drive, it would have to be in daylight hours. So that’s what we did. I don’t mind driving in unfamiliar places anymore, thanks to google maps!
That’s so awesome that you gave your daughter the opportunity to do that camp – and drove all of those miles for her! I know your family members are musically inclined – how about you? Do you play an instrument?
I will be taking my son down to Ohio State for marching band practice in the upcoming week. I’m very excited about going! It’s only a 2 1/2 hour drive each way though. No joke, since I’ve got my EV, I now love road trips! That thing has so much technology packed into it. It makes driving super easy and enjoyable!
Yes, I played the trumpet for many years- high school, college and beyond. I don’t play anymore though.
A 2 1/2 hour drive sounds like the perfect distance- especially since you’ll be doing it frequently! I’m glad you son is continuing on with trumpet in college.
Road trips are hit and miss for me but my husband LOVES long car trips. He wants to drive all across North America with me someday. Maybe after the kids are grown?? But the thought of doing that now sounds nightmarish.
That said we did a 4-hour drive today and the kids were great. They are good at driving long distances without complaining and have bladders of STEEL!!!
Wow, I wish I had a bladder of steel. A road trip across the country WITHOUT KIDS actually does sound really fun to me.
No AC in Florida! Ack!!! That sounds crazy!
It IS crazy! The one thing we have going for us is, every place is air conditioned. Luckily it was only for that day.
I love road trips. I am planning for A to do one of those band camps next year – whether it’s locally at UNF, or farther away at UF or FSU remains to be seen. This year, we just had too much going on to even have it on my radar.
I’m sure Ocala was beautiful. I want to go hiking there, but no one wants to go with me.
My advice is to go to Ocala in the winter. The forest sounds really beautiful (at that time of year.)
That would be SO FUN if our kids both did band camp at FSU next summer!!! I’m not sure yet if my daughter will go back, but it’s possible.
I still need to do the dead bug workout! I am going to make that happen this week!
So about how much I read. Just think how much less I workout than you do, though!! If I could run or workout at 8:30 that would be great but it messes with my sleep and sleep is such a priority for me. Also, the kids are both down by 8ish so that gives me from 8:30-9:30 to read before I go to bed at 9:30. It will be different when my kids stay up later so I am enjoying this stage while I can. I usually try to watch something for 30 min with Phil before going up to bed to read, plus we get time together on our commutes to talk. That is probably when we have our best talks since we aren’t tired and aren’t distracted by kids. Once we pick up the kids no productive conversations can happen. I also think I am a faster reader than average.
I used to hate car trips. But now the thought of a car trip isn’t so bad – as long as it’s just me. Ha. Or my 5yo as he’s happy as long as he has his iPad. But with both kids, the trip to my parents is my max and that’s about 3 hours. Our weather has been pretty hot and humid at times. The humidity has been 75-80% the last 2 mornings when I ran but it was 68 one more and 75 the other. So probably far cooler than what you run in!!
Oh, that’s so much cooler! It actually sounds like heaven. Definitely doesn’t sound like summer in South Florida.
Road trips are NOT fun with small kids! Even with older kids it’s not my favorite- my favorite rides were the one I did alone, and the one with just my husband.
I think you probably do read faster than the average person. I think I usually read for at least an hour on most days, and I don’t read as many books as you do!
The now famous dead bug- famous in our little blog world thanks to you, haha 🙂 But I can’t say enough about it, maybe its magic won’t last forever, but I had been dealing with that lower outer knee pain seriously since we moved here and its finally healing after starting regular dead bug! 🙂 I will be forever grateful, ha! So dramatic.
Anyways, I’m not a great road trip companion. It makes me very sleepy. Thank goodness my husband likes driving!
My husband likes driving too which makes him the ideal road trip companion. I also don’t mind driving by myself- I listen to podcasts, and if I start to get tired I put music on. Kind of like a long run!
good grief! 7 hours one way??? Just to put that in perspective,. that’s like me getting in the car here in Arnhem and being on the outskirts of Berlin in 7 hours! WOW! Then again we did just drive 5 hours to Paris. I do like car trips, to a certain extent. Thankfully, for you, there were some nice trails for you to run! What a treat!
Funny story about no A/C in the gym; Ron and I used to go to Greece in the summer but we were always training for a some stupid long distance race. So one summer we joined this hotel gym for I think 10 days, because we had really tried to do our long runs but it was impossible. Like already 85 degrees at 6am and massive hills (this was on Crete). So we checked out this gym and it was great – they had several treadmills, a pool, lots of weight machines, etc. And a/c!! We were sold! So we paid a ridiculous amount of money to run on the treadmill in a/c rather than on the hot, dry rock. Of course, first day we go – 1 treadmill is out of order,. 1 is being used and 1 available. So Ron gets on and starts doing is thing. And about 5 minutes into the workout, it just stopped. OK. wait for the other treadmill, get on that one, it stops after 10 minutes. we give up and go in the pool. Next day, treadmills are working but the a/c is NOT! WHAT??? we joined this stupid gym for the a/c! They never got it fixed. The sweat factor was 100/100. Never will I do that again – we’ll just suck it up and stay outside.
Oh, that sounds terrible!!! Luckily it was only one day that our gym AC wasn’t working. I think there would have been a mutiny otherwise.
That’s a lot of driving, but I bet your daughter thought it was worth it with her cool camp. Glad you found some nice trails for running during your trips. To answer your question, I enjoy road trips once we’re on the road, but I’m nervous leading up to them (I was in a very bad car accident when I was in second grade and ever since I get nervous anytime I/we have to drive anywhere very far (interesting, though, the accident was two miles from our home).
Working with women on machines that are designed for the average sized man is the story of my life… Don’t get me started!
Debbie, ever since my accident (where I hit someone else’s car in September) I’ve been a little scared of driving. Just like you- before we left, I kept imagining all the things that could go wrong. Once you’re in an accident you never really forget the sound and impact of a crash. Once we were driving, I was fine. Oh, and my accident was less than half a mile from our house.
Sooo much time in the car. But you really made the best of it. I imagine you slept most of Sunday – for good reason – and your daughter probably did, too. (I never slept much at nerd camp, where I finally found My People. ;>) I love how you support your kids’ passions and see them as true individuals. And, you seem to truly enjoy spending time with them, too. 🙂
I did have a very nice nap on Sunday! And my daughter got caught up on some sleep as well : )