Let the base-building begin

October 17, 2021 by 28 Comments

So Summer-like weather made a return appearance this week with its sidekick Humidity in tow. As planned, the miles were low as and walking made a return to the schedule. Here’s a quick peek at my workouts this week.

Weekly Run Down – Week 41

Monday — 2.6-mile run & PT exercises. A return to the roads! How could I not run on Marathon Monday?! Oh so humid – what happened to fall?! But best of all my legs felt fresh after the week’s rest and no pain!

Tuesday — 2.5-mile walk, Core & Stretch.
Wednesday —1-mile walk, Strength for Runners, Core & Stretch. I paired a couple of the Peloton Strength for Runners classes which gave me a lot of single leg work, and left my legs feeling like jelly…but in a good way.
Thursday — 2.7-mile run & Core. I also added a foam rolling class for glutes and calves on the Peloton app – perhaps using the app will get me to break out the foam roller more often.

Friday — 3.25-mile walk & PT exercises.
Saturday — 3.1 mile-run, Core & Stretch.
Sunday — After a very fun Sat. night out with friends – great food and some adult beverages – I’m still lingering over my coffee. Fall weather seems to have finally made an appearance this morning so I plan to grab a walk and hit my yoga mat.

So nothing wildly exciting, but there was also no squawking from my hip – I call a pain-free week a win! In the forecast for the week ahead looks like fall weather will be making a welcome return so I’m looking forward to #optoutside with a slight bump up in my run miles and more walking.

How was your week? Does it feel like fall where you are?

In case you missed it:

Reasons to Try a Sugar Detox

As always, I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down link-up. Join us!

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Week 40: Recovery Mode & Some Mini Goals

October 10, 2021 by 32 Comments

With last Sunday’s 10K done and my November half marathon canceled, this week was all about recovery with no running. Here’s how the week went:

Weekly Run Down – Week 40

Monday — Yoga
Tuesday — Upper Body Strength, Core & Stretch
Wednesday –– 2.5-mile walk, Core & Hip mobility work
Thursday — Low-impact Ride, Core & Stretch
Friday — 3-mile walk & Hip mobility work
Saturday — Full Body Strength, Core & Stretch
Sunday — Low-impact Ride & Core (planned)

A highlight of the week was volunteering at bib distribution for the Boston Marathon on Friday. I always love the energy of the city on Marathon Weekend! It was great to meet and talk with runners from all over – you could really feel and see how grateful people were to have made it to this point. I even had one runner ask me to join her in a photo of getting her bib! So fun!

The Weeks Ahead – Some Mini Goals

Running — I plan to get back out on the road tomorrow. With the Run to Remember Half now pushed off until May, there’s nothing to train for, which is really the best thing for my healing hip. The week off has done me a world of good and the plan for the rest of the fall is to enjoy the weather and just run to run.

Walking — I make no secret that the fall is my favorite season, so why not maximize my time outdoors before winter creeps in? On the days I’m not running, I plan to get out for 2-3 miles of walking.

Lower Body Strength & Core — The orthopedic doc wants to see me put a focus on strengthening the muscles around my hips, so I’ve pulled out my PT notes and will be re-taking some of my favorite Strength for Runners classes on the Peloton app.

Sugar Detox — A friend invited me to join her for the 14-day Sugar Vaca hosted by Rhianne at Believe in Your Health. I’m looking forward to using the last 2 weeks of October to give my body a re-set I think it needs.

So those are basically some mini-goals to carry me through the rest of this month.

Best of luck to everyone racing this weekend!

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down link-up. Join us!

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Filed Under: goals, Weekly Run Down

Weekly Run Down – Hello October!

October 3, 2021 by 25 Comments

Hello October! Isn’t it crazy to think that we have just 89 days left in the year!

With a 10K race today (and the orthopedic doc preferring I not race at all), this was a super low-keyed “race week”. Here’s a quick rundown on how things played out…

Weekly Run Down — Week 39

Monday — 2-mile walk and Yoga
Tuesday — 3-mile walk, Upper Body Strength, Core, &  Stretch. Got up and out extra early to beat the storms headed our way. I had planned a short run but decided to listen to my body and opted for another walk. I broke out my Noxgear for the first time this season, but I have a feeling this vest will get a lot of use.

Wednesday — Peloton Ride, Core & Stretch
Thursday — Peloton Ride & Stretch
Friday — 3-mile run, Core & Stretch. October kicked off with a picture-perfect fall day! My temperamental hip continues to let me know that it is not a fan of inclines, but otherwise, the run felt pretty good. Lots of stretching and foam-rolling followed.


Saturday — 2-mile walk and Yoga.
Sunday — Ocean Road 10K! It felt great to be at a live race this morning! And so happy that my brother was out there with me. While I definitely didn’t set any land speed records, it was a fun morning. Full recap to come.

Ready to run!

As I sit here on the couch resting my sore hip, I think the week ahead will probably be fairly low-keyed as well. I’m still debating my goals for this month…more on that later.

In case you missed it:

Catching Up Over October Coffee

Did you race this weekend? Any big plans for October?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down link-up. Join us!

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A Shot of Hope

September 26, 2021 by 26 Comments

This week went by in a blur! The highlight of the week was getting a cortisone shot and feeling hopeful after some pain-free running. Here’s how the week went down.

Last glimpse of the Harvest Moon on the first day of Fall.

Weekly Run Down — Week 38

Monday — Cortisone shot! I had a crazy early conference call so that combined with another poor night of sleeping, and back-to-back meetings had me missing my first #nevermissamonday in a long time.

Tuesday — Upper Body Strength, Core, 1-mile walk & Stretch. I was advised by the doc who administered my shot to not run until Wednesday. The hip area was still feeling pretty aggravated, so an upper body workout seemed to be the right call.

Wednesday — 3.1-mile run, Core & Stretch. The first day of Fall, though Mother Nature seems to have not gotten the memo as the temps were up and the humidity was off the charts. Despite the weather, the run felt light and easy – something I’ve not been able to say for a while.

Thursday — 1-mile walk & Yoga for Hips.

Friday — Peloton ride, Upper Body Strength, Core & Stretch. I took my first ride with Leanne and loved her energy and the Ed Sheeran playlist. I usually don’t repeat rides, but I could really see doing this one again.

Saturday — 3.5-mile run, Core & Stretch. I so wanted to run further, but my ortho wants me to keep the runs short and sweet for now. It was another pain-free run, though I could definitely feel that I should keep hills to a minimum. I also got a chance to try out the new gear I’d won in Erica’s giveaway from Arcteryx – love both the tank and shorts!

Sunday — Peloton ride, Hip mobility work & Stretch.

The cortisone shot has definitely given me hope for more pain-free days ahead. Consistency with my hip mobility work, strength training, and stretching will be the key. I have the Ocean Road 10K next Sunday so this upcoming week will be about striking a balance to not over-tax my hip.

In case you missed it:

Back on My Feet Running Festival Recap

Some September Runfessions

How was your week? Does it feel like fall where you are?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down link-up. Join us!

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Week 37 – Chasing Sleep

September 19, 2021 by 29 Comments

This was one of those weeks where my sleep cycle was way off – like wide awake at 2 or 3 am and dead tired by late afternoon. I had no trouble falling asleep, but staying asleep was a whole different story. Needless to say, there were very few early morning workouts, which also left me feeling a little off-kilter. But, I did my best to adjust – here’s a look at how the week went down.

Weekly Run Down – Week 37

Monday — Lower body strength, Core, 20 min Ride & Stretch. I didn’t really have a plan for this workout, but this combination of shorter classes worked really well, and I enjoyed the change of pace of the guided scenic ride.

Tuesday — 1-mile walk, Core & Stretch. I did not sleep well at all Monday night so I kept things short and sweet.

Wednesday — 3-mile run & Hip mobility work. There was just nothing good about this run – the humidity had come roaring back and another poor night of sleep had my legs feeling heavy and slow.

Trying to manage a smile

Thursday — Full body strength, Core, 25 min Ride (including 5 min warm-up) & Stretch. This all Robin stack was fun!

Friday — Yoga

Saturday — Back on My Feet Virtual 10K. Full recap coming later, but let me just say that Ma Nature did not play nice. While I didn’t really mind the light rain for the first couple of miles, but the humidity was just miserable.

Sunday — Walk, Core & Stretch

I’m finally getting the cortisone shot tomorrow – who knew I could be this excited for a shot in the hip LOL. So I’m expecting a fairly quiet week ahead…and I’ll be prioritizing getting some much-needed sleep!

In case you missed it:

From Motivation to Habit

Thanks to Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down link-up!

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Weekly Run Down – A Long Short Week

September 12, 2021 by 23 Comments

I have often said that the short work-weeks following a long weekend always feel anything but short! Throw in that my high schooler also returned to school this week so there was adjusting to a new routine. Yep, it was a l-o-n-g short week for sure! Here’s a peek at my workouts this week.

Happy runner post-Friday’s runch

Weekly Run Down — Week 36 

Monday — Lower Body Strength and Core. These two G&L classes were a spicy combination, especially Matty’s AMRAP of suitcase squats and single-leg deadlifts! Hannah’s foam rolling class was so needed.

Tuesday — Unplanned rest day – I was a victim of an out-of-control schedule 🙁

Wednesday — 3 miles, Core, and Stretch.

Thursday — 1-mile walk, Core, Upper Body Strength, and Stretch.

Friday — 2.25 miles and Stretch. After a morning of long Zoom calls, I slipped out for a rare “runch” – sanity restored!

Saturday — 4 miles, Core, and Stretch. This run was hard from almost the first step. My hip was cranky and my heart was heavy reflecting on 9/11. Still hard to believe that it has been 20 years.

Sunday — At the moment coffee. A walk and yoga are planned for later.

Ortho Update

On Thursday I had my long-awaited appointment with the orthopedic doc. The good news is that the mild arthritis detected on last year’s x-rays hasn’t progressed. As we discussed my workouts & runs, he was pleased with my commitment to strength work and cross-training and agreed that I could skip returning to PT and try a cortisone shot. He advised that I stick with running 3 days a week and supplement with time on the Peloton – Not a problem. He did express some hesitation at my mention of the half marathon I want to run in November, but he didn’t say not to run either. We agreed to see how running feels after the shot. Now it’s just a waiting game for that appointment – have I mentioned how frustratingly slow I find the health care system?

Anyone else find this short week l-o-n-g?

In case you missed it:

Five Reasons to Run for a Cause

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!

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Wrapping up August and September Goals

September 5, 2021 by 30 Comments

Is anyone else amazed that we’re already in September? For me, August was a month of “juggling all the balls” and in that respect, I’m happy to put it in the rearview mirror.

Weekly Run Down – Weeks 34 & 35

Over the past couple of weeks, I’m happy to say running is getting better! I have kept most of my runs short and at an oh-so-easy pace, and the reward has been no hip pain. I did increase my distance back up to 5 miles yesterday and all was well.

I have been diligent about strength training and daily stretching – both I’m sure are helping to keep the hip happy. I also completed Matty’s Summer Crunch core challenge on Peloton, though in full disclosure I got a little bored and ended up subbing in some other instructors’ core classes this past week.

I’ve also been sticking to low-impact rides, which offer a great endurance challenge without taxing the joints.

September Goals

Hip treatment — This week’s appointment with the orthopedic doctor got bumped due to changes in his surgical schedule. So I have been re-booked for Thursday. I will continue the daily stretching and mobility work. And, I am fairly certain PT is in my future.

Focus on the 10Ks — I runfessed that I was going to drop down from the 15K to the 10K for the Back on My Feet Virtual Running Festival. I’m also running the Ocean Road 10K the first weekend in October. I think focusing on this distance and stretching my “long runs” to 7 miles is the smart choice for now.

Mindful eating — I didn’t just fall off the wagon with my eating over the past month, I jumped! Time to hit the reset button and be more mindful of how I’m fueling my body.

How was your week? Are you setting any goals for September?

In case you missed it:

Fit Five Friday and Labor Day Coffee

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!

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Easing back into running

August 22, 2021 by 32 Comments

My mini run break is over so this week was about easing back into running.

Weekly Run Down – Week 33

Monday — 3.4-mile run, Lower Body Strength, Core, and Stretch. It was a glorious 62 degrees when I headed out for my morning run! While there were still some niggles, overall the hip area felt pretty good – throw in a great playlist thanks to Matty’s Aretha Franklin run and I was a pretty happy camper! I was pressed for time due to an early work start so I did my strength workout and stretch later in the day. Today’s core kicked off Week 3 of Matty’s Summer Crush core challenge.

Tuesday — Strength for Runners, Core, 30 min. Aretha Franklin ride plus cool down, and Stretch. After Monday’s Aretha run, it was a given that the ride would be next – I mean can you ever really have enough Aretha Franklin music?! And, I earned a new ride PR!

Wednesday — Unplanned rest day. I slept terribly the night before (no real reason), so an early workout was out of the question. I had planned to work out after work, but when the opportunity to catch up with an old friend came up I took a pass on the workout.

Thursday — 30 min. Low Impact Ride, Core, and Stretch. This class was a reminder that I really need to check out more of Sam’s classes! He always has such a great playlist – this time it was a mix of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and the like. There were a series of long climbs so it was nice to challenge my legs differently.

Friday — 1-mile walk, Upper Body Strength, Core, and Stretch.

Saturday — 5-mile run and hip mobility work. With 96% humidity, I’m not sure if this should be called a run or a swim!

Sunday — Henri has arrived as a tropical storm so it will a wet and windy ride here today. Right now I’m all about my coffee, but there will be a Ride or Bike Bootcamp later.

I’m happy to say that my hip pain was non-existent during my runs, even on hills! It can still get pretty cranky at times, especially if I sit for too long. I went for an x-ray on Friday, which just re-confirmed that there is some arthritis but no other issues. So, now it’s just the wait to get in to see the sports doc and see what my options are. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping my runs short and easy.

In case you missed it:

Five Reasons to Focus on Strengthening Your Core

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!

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Filed Under: injuries, Weekly Run Down

A mini run break

August 15, 2021 by 14 Comments

So with the return of some hip pain, the plan for this week was to take a break from running and to focus on strength training and time on my Peloton bike. And, thanks to Mother Nature “gifting” us with heat indexes in the upper 90s along with oppressive humidity, I can safely say I really didn’t miss running this week!

Here’s a quick peek at my week in workouts.

Weekly Run Down — Week 32

Monday — 1-mile walk, Lower Body Strength, Core, and Stretch
Tuesday — Low Impact Ride, Full-body Strength, Core, and Stretch
Wednesday —  Ride, Core, and Stretch

Thursday — 1-mile walk and Core. I had an intense session with my massage therapist that resulted in much relief around my hip.
Friday — 7.9 miles walking/jogging plus lifting and moving equipment. I spent most of the day setting up for a multisport fundraiser for work. There was a lot of time on my feet as I got the signage and mile markers all set up on the course.
Saturday — 4.1 miles walking/jogging. Event day kept me on my toes, but thankfully no hip pain!
Sunday — At the moment I’m longing on my deck enjoying the fact that the heat has finally passed. There may be yoga…but then again there may not.

The good news is my hip continues to be quiet, so I will attempt a little running this week and see how things go. Fingers crossed!

How was your week? Was it miserably hot where you are?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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Weekly Run Down – Hip, Hip, Oh No!

August 8, 2021 by 26 Comments

I wish there was a “hooray” at the end of that title, but sadly no. Just when I thought I might have this cranky right hip under control, it let me know that it was in no mood to play nice (especially if there are hills involved). Sigh…

Nonetheless, there was fitness to be had…here’s how my workouts played out.

Weekly Run Down – Week 31

Monday — Lower Body Strength, Core, and Hip Stretch. I kicked off Matty’s Summer Crunch Core Challenge along with Kim, Coco, Cari, and Deborah – always nice to work out with friends!

Tuesday — Low Impact Ride, Full-Body Strength, Core, and Stretch.

Wednesday –– 4-mile birthday run and Core.

Hello 55!

Thursday — Bike Bootcamp (live class), Core, and Stretch. This was only my second bootcamp class and the first time I tried 45 mins. Not gonna lie this class was challenging, but it was fun to get a high five from Kim at the start. I definitely needed some extra recovery time on the mat!

Friday — Yoga and Core.

Saturday — 4 miles, Core, and Stretch. My plan called for 6 miles, but my hip wanted no part of it. Throw in some oh-so steamy weather and I just didn’t see any point in pushing it.

A beautiful view to distract me from my cranky hip

Sunday — 10K Scenic Ride, Core, and Stretch. Initially, I had thought about trying a short run, but given the way my hip was feeling I was pretty sure it would tolerate the pounding. Thankfully, time on the Peloton bike doesn’t seem to bother my hip, so I decided to mix things up a bit and tried one of the scenic rides. I did the 10K Aguirre Spring (New Mexico) ride – the scenery was beautiful and I enjoyed the playlist.

On Monday, I saw my doctor, who happens to be a runner too 🙂 She’s put in a referral with a sports doc, so I’m just waiting to get the appointment set up. In the meantime, for the week ahead, there will be PT exercises and lots of stretching. As for running, I’ll take it a day at a time but may consider sticking to the bike only.

Tell me something about your week.

In case you missed it:

Five things over August Coffee

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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Filed Under: injuries, Weekly Run Down