Ah Finally. I think we are over the slump.
First of all, we spent quite a lot of time discussing it and weighing the pros and cons, even without having the offer, and we are not going to go for a Chicago move at this time. We started mostly thinking about the kind of life we have here and I think there were quite some concerns about starting over again. Also, we have so much time off here, work/life balance is really good. OK, it’s not my birth country, nor is it the place I lived half my US life, but it’s ok. If we ever decide to do it, we’ll do it on our own terms. I officially declined on Monday, though I was pretty sad after that. I guess it just kind of reinforced that there is a good chance I’ll be here for the rest of my life. It’s a complex thing, being a foreigner in another country, no matter how much you have integrated – you are still not “one of them”. I at least voiced the things that I’m afraid of to my Dutch friends (that I will have no one if something were to happen to Ron) so hopefully by talking about it more and reaching out I can squash my fears.
Week 13 seems to have me back on track:
Monday – After declining the job in the afternoon, I went home from work and had a good cry about it. I spent a good 20 minutes debating whether I would go to training or not and in the end, I went. Because we all know, no one ever regrets going to a training, we only have more a chance to regret NOT going. Super glad I went, it was not only a great session but I just really enjoy the guys a lot. Since it’s lighter for longer we went to Angerenstein Park (which is not far from where I live) to do intervals there. In the end it was a total of 8KM.
Tuesday – a regular working day and then 3 massage clients in the evening. No other activity (though I am telling you, sport massage is a workout!)
Wednesday – Work is so busy and lots happening with the new situation. It’s fine, I’m certainly not bored! In the evening Vincent and I went to RPM to burn off some pre-Easter chocolate eggs…
Thursday – Busy day at work again AND we “moved” from one floor of the building to another so there was some adjusting going on in the morning. Lots of meetings as well and processes not flowing smoothly. I was exhausted after work! Originally I wanted to go to BodyPump but I decided a 5km easy run was just fine. Felt good to get out in the fresh air and it was still light out! Yay for spring!
Friday – I had to head to clients earlier than usual as one of the Physios booked an hour with me before my regular clients. Funnily enough I was nervous about massaging a physiotherapist because of course they know everything there is to know about anatomy and a bit about massage but she assured me that she was a client and nothing else! I did well, I guess, since she booked another hour with me next month! Afterwards I had two more clients and I had every intention of doing my intervals afterwards but… once I got home I parked my backside on the couch and there was no moving me.
Saturday – RPM again! Luckily Vincent was available to go with me this time. Super sweaty session. I am so surprised how much I can sweat from spinning. It’s kind of insane. I still wanted to do my intervals so after spinning I kitted up and gave my gym bag to Ron (who ran to the gym) and I took the plunge. To be honest I had no idea how it was going to go because my quads were already on fire from biking. But yeah, I just had to suck it up, right? The goal was: warm up approx 2km, then 6 x 1000m with 600 rest in between. I was already trying to cheat myself into doing 10 x 600m but I decided NOPE I am going to do the training. And I did. I can honestly say I am very proud of myself! My intervals were around 5:30min per km. Keep in mind that I normally run the long run around 6:40. So that I did 5:30 kms is kind of awesome thankyouverymuch. I was toast afterwards though. Conveniently, to cool down, I ran right to the city center, stopped off at Starbucks, had a coffee, a slice of carrot cake and a yoghurt. Re-fueling, yo.
Sunday – yep it’s Easter but Ron and I don’t do anything at all for Easter (the kids are usually at their mom’s) so it was time for the Sunday Run. Vincent wanted to do 20, I was thinking along the lines of 25 and Ron said he’d ride with us. I personally wanted to run around 6:45 to run all the way through, but we started off around 6:30 and #mytrainervinny pushed me to keep that pace. And I did. For 15KM. Kind of amazing but man MY LEGS WERE KILLING after that. The last 6(.1) were around 6:50. Once we hit the half marathon mark I WAS DONE. I am glad I did it but next time I need to be more around marathon pace.
Total running: 47.1 KM
4 runs
2 x RPM
biking of course to and from both places of work (haven’t really been tracking my biking kms lately)
Weight update
I actually saw my weight get down to 77.5KG this week, only to see it go up again after my intervals Saturday and again the long run Sunday. However, with the Body + Scale you get a bit more information than just your weight. So apparently my muscle percentage went up AND my fat percentage went down. While I can’t tell you how sick I am of seeing the same damn number (79) all the time, at least I know something is happening. I want to see that 77 again and then I want to see 76. And, I think I’m going to pick just one day to weigh in. Maybe Wednesday since I don’t sport the day before (not really anyway).
Goals for April
Stick to training and increase mileage
30KM run on 28 April (Rietveld Natuurmarathon – Duo entry run/bike)
Lose 1 KG
With that I think I’ll wrap this up. Next week back on track again with blog posts! WOOT!
Questions:
Are you training for a spring marathon or half marathon?
Do you weigh yourself? How often?
That’s great that you feel like you are over the slump! :)
I think you made the right decision about the Chicago job – always go with your gut.
Your goals for April are great. I have a similar goal when it comes to weight loss. I’m going to start a food log/journal so I can really take a hard look at what I’m eating during the day. I want to try to drop 5 lbs by the end of the summer.
thanks Kim! I too would like to lose 5 lbs by the end of the summer. I haven’t food logged for a while; I’m trying to be more intuitive. I do think it’s a good tool though, it can really help you figure out where things may be going slightly wrong.
Always go with your gut on big decisions like that and it does seem like on really crappy days when you are feeling down a good workout usually makes one feel better :) I plan on starting running again this month, I have an obstacle race in May. When it comes to weighing myself I only do it about every couple of weeks. The reason for that is I try to maintain and when I am in figure competition mode I do weigh myself more often but I tend to go with how my clothes fit rather than using the scale very much :)
so true – the workout usually makes a bad day good!!! Oh, and obstacle race! have you done one before??
It certainly looks like you got your groove back ;-) Awesome job!!! I did some 400’s on Monday. I “only” did 4 of them, but it was mucho windy and my hammmies STILL are a bit in distress. Having not done speedwork in a long time, I had forgotten how intense a short speed session can be. Holy ouch LOL
thanks! hey 4 400’s is good in my book!!! speed work is so hard, I hate it but I know it’s good for us. holy ouch is right!!
I can sure see staying in Europe right now as opposed to moving to the US, for lots of reasons. The extra vacation time, health care, and social support for family life would be hard to give up. Relocation decisions are hard!
It was very hard to think about actually coming back after being away for 24 years! But Chicago is THE place I’d go as I do feel home there and my best friends are still there. I wish right now that we weren’t as “old” as we are (we aren’t old, but when you think about all you have built up financially, pensions, that sort of thing, it’s scary to have to start over again); I think had we been younger and there were no children, we probably would have just done it, no real second thoughts!
I feel like I missed a post about the Chicago gig… but in any event, I think reaching out to others will help soothe your fears. I have a friend in your neck of the woods. I’m not exactly sure where she is but maybe you guys could hook up. She’s from the states, too. Where exactly are you? Maybe this is convo is better suited for email. ;) Anyways, let me know if I can help connect you!
yeah I only mentioned it in the last couple of posts, it literally just came out of the blue and one week we were thinking yes and the next week it was kind if “meh”. It was a huge stressor though, I can tell you that. And sure! You have my mail :) drop me a line! Curious where she is at!
I stopped weighing myself about 4 years ago and I have never been happier! it’s so liberating and nothing bad happened. I am sure I fluctuate a few pounds here and there but I am ok with not knowing that everyday
I wish I was at that point. well, and actually I AM ok with my weight if I wasn’t running. I have a bit of pudge but I do know that I’m very healthy and fit so it’s ok. but with running, these 15 pounds do make a difference :(
I threw my scale out YEARS ago. I really go by how I feel and how my clothes fit. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.
I just ran my last run before the Publix Savannah Women’s Half this weekend. That will be it for longer runs for the summer. It gets too hot here for anything longer than a 10K, so our season won’t start up again until October.
oh wow so do you do then another half before the end of the year? or just one Half and then smaller distances the rest of the year? I’m not a fan of running in heat but I’m slightly lucky in that respect that it never *really* gets that hot here!
I have been so bad with eating, despite training for a marathon, that i have been purposely ignoring my scale LOL
haha OOPS! well I know that feeling too and I avoided my scale for quite a while but now I kind of (really) want to get back to a better running weight! but I do get it!
I’m looking for advice on finishing a walk/run half in 3.5 max course limit.
I’ve ran 2 full marathons and 8 halfs. i was in great physical shape 6 weeks ago (working out 5 days per week, but then went to pakistan on feb 21. no one runs there and i struggled at a country club, gated and guarded. i managed 3 runs a week at 4-5 miles for 3 weeks and then it became so hard to get there and run in long shirt, scarf and hat in 85 degrees.
so when i returned i had 21 days to prepare…i KNOW…but it is what i was working with. I returned with severe abdominal pain and diarrhea and lost 13 lbs. and all of my fitness, i feel. i cannot defer the race on apr 15th and will not do a DNF or not go. . I am just hoping that this time i can just finish because i paid for it and its my alma mater. this will be my 7th time running this course. I don’t want to kill myself either. My best time is 2:37 on a half. I’m not fast by far but do not even know if a walk/run is possible for the time limit.
please help, ladies
hi Kathy. if you must participate, try to do it in intervals. see if you can find something under the Jeff Galloway run/walk method. you should be able to manage it. Try something like run 3.5km walk 500 meter and repeat. or 4.5. or 2.5. But then be strict with what you choose. 3.5 hours is still quite some time. good luck.
Looks like you’re in a good place right now! Plus that Camelia top would set things right…
Glad to see you are over the slump!
I am also amazed at how much I sweat in my 30 min sprint spin classes!
The new shirt is super pretty!
Sending well wishes for your April goals! :)