Week 19 – The Week On Two Wheels
This past week we had another holiday (Ascension Day) and I had massage clients this week so again I wanted to plan things out to keep a stress-free but tight schedule:
The Plan
Monday – AM workout, appointment at the neurologist in the afternoon, possibly running
Tuesday – AM workout, massage clients in the evening
Wednesday – AM workout, PM spinning
Thursday – Ascension Day, no work – biking?
Friday – AM workout, working (normal day off)
Saturday- bootcamp or if that isn’t happening, spinning
Sunday – 10K run
The Actual
Fitness through the work week
quite some movement!!
Pretty proud of myself for the AM workouts – especially Friday. On Thursday night I went to the movies with M-J and only got home and in bed around midnight!! I missed two days doing the stairs at work though. Will keep trying to make this a habit because I do think it’s a good one to have!
Food & Weight
Food Prep
I have to say that things went pretty well with food prepping this week. I’m trying to make the effort again in thinking ahead what I may need and what will help me stay on track. So, for example, on Thursday when we were out a few hours with the bike I had grapes and cherry tomatoes with me, instead of a ton of bread or Clif bars. Nothing wrong with those things, but I’d like to get my energy for shorter periods (2 hours or less) from other sources than bread carbs.
At work I also had all the food and snacks needed and I managed to avoid the mini snickers and mars that somehow showed up again in our department. Only on Friday when I went to the opticien, I snagged two “kletskoeken” (very thin tasty wafer cookies; according to WW 1 point per cookie) because I wanted them (I was going to say because I was weak or human or whatever but let’s face it, I WANTED THEM hahaha!)
Weigh-in
As I mentioned I’m going to weigh-in on Wednesdays; I feel like I have a decent handle on things and my brain likes seeing the points accumulate for all the activity so only positive news there. Watch this space for Week 2 Weigh-in.
Getting old?
I have the feeling I’m always at some kind of specialist for something. Is this just aging or is it me?
Monday I went to the neurologist. She doesn’t know what is wrong with my foot / toe either so on May 25th I get an EMG. If nothing can be determined with that, we’ll do other tests and I may eventually have to go on meds (UGH) or go to a pain clinic.
On Friday I went to pick up my ears at the audiologist. At the moment I don’t have the hearing aids on hearing, I have them on a tinnitus mask. Or so he said. Everything sounds quite loud at the moment. He said it would sound different and I would have to get used to it. So, I will wear them and try to get used to it. But man, now I understand why my dad doesn’t always wear his! #allofthesounds #overwhelming
I also went on Friday to check my contact lenses. I am switching from Specsavers to a local glasses and lens shop. I bought my sunglasses there and I think they are super nice and customer focused. Lately at specsavers I feel a bit like a number to them. So I decided to switch. They ordered new lenses for me and explained that I definitely *do* need reading glasses and that is something that comes with age and wearing lenses for a long time.
Highlights
Definitely the highlights of this week was Thursday’s ride to Renkum and back and Saturday’s ride from Leeuwarden in the province of Friesland. The weather wasn’t exactly as we had hoped, which is why we did the “shorter” ride on Thursday to Ron’s hometown and the longer ride on Saturday (boot camp was cancelled and I skipped spinning since we were starting fairly early). I don’t think I’ve ever ridden this much in one week! I’m so glad I invested in decent bike shorts!!
Renkum via Heteren and back to Arnhem
Even though we’ve gone this way before (either with the bike or as a run) it was still a really nice ride. Also there was one part that I haven’t done before, right after Heteren and up a bunch of stairs and then along the highway (on the separate bike path). Once we hit Renkum we actually stopped off to get flowers as Ron’s mom and dad’s gravestone had been updated and back at the gravesite. We haven’t been back since the funeral so I was very nice but also sad to be there again. I think she would have loved the flowers we picked out for her. It’s a hard week this week with Mother’s Day on the horizon; obviously there have been a lot of thoughts and feelings again about Ron’s mom passing away this past February.
We then stopped off at my brother- and sister-in-law’s place for a coffee, then back home (with a pitstop for food).
On Saturday we jumped on a train (3 actually) with the bikes – we picked up cheap train tickets so we figured we’d use them to go as far away as possible – and headed to Leeuwarden. Leeuwarden is up north and is the capital city of the province Friesland. We’ve been up there a couple of times but never on the bike. It’s so funny that this country is so small but yet the difference between Friesland and Gelderland (and other provinces!) is totally different. On tap was a 70KM round headed out of Leeuwarden to the sea and around through some of the villages of the famous “Elfstedentocht” (Ice skating competition through 11 villages on frozen canals). My butt is way sore but I LOVED our day out. When we finally got back to Leeuwarden (5 hours of cycling) we found basically the best burger place in town, chowed down, had a beer and got back on the 2 hour train ride home.
Running
I only had one run planned this week (well, there was a very slight possibility on Monday), on Sunday, for 10K and that’s exactly what I did. The fun / weird / shocking part is that I ran really, REALLY well. Like 10K in 1:02. I don’t know how or why but I will take it!! I think I’m learning that less is actually more! So less running and more cross training is better for me right now. My foot has been killing me this week, but while running I didn’t feel it at all. Let’s see what happens next week in Liverpool! I’m getting a shot Tuesday, just in case, and I will likely tape my toes and leg on Sunday.
So, a really good week. I’m glad! Here’s to another one!
How was your week?
Do you plan and prep your food for the week or even a few days at a time?
What’s the most you ever cycled (if you cycle) in one day?
Are you a less is more kind of runner or do you feel like you need to run (nearly) every day to keep your running fitness up?
30 Comments
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Wow, what a week of riding! Food planning makes everything so much easier at our house but I don’t always do it! The most I’ve cycled is around 40 km in a day.
I’m hoping to keep focus on this food planning for a while. It definitely helps! 40KM is also a lot – I think that’s pretty much my usual max. We really went out of our cycling comfort zone on Saturday.
It looks like such a lovely pastoral scenic cycling route. Love it! Nothing like that here! Closest thing would be Canada geese getting in my cycling path. :) Good luck with your foot!
Canada Geese would be cute too :) but are they nice or mean? These sheep just went about their business or bleated at us and then jumped away haha!
That scenery! You have some amazing views for your workouts.
thanks! yes it is pretty amazing here sometimes.
That is great that your foot doesn’t hurt when you run. That is a decent 10k time too.
Love your biking pix. I would love to bike but I can barely fit in running.
They say getting old sucks but the alternative is worse.
I wear one contact for near and one for far. it works for me.
Thanks Darlene. You do have a busy schedule! I probably wouldn’t be able to fit biking in either! My husband also does the one near and one far contact lens. I’m not able to do that so I will just have to get a better pair of reading glasses for the future.
It works for now. I don’t know for how long. I can see better close without glasses and better far with glasses.
I’m so sorry that you continue to have issues with your foot :( I know that it’s been nagging you for a while. I hope that you can get a diagnosis and solution soon, but glad that it doesnt hurt when you run.
Thanks Kim. Yes it’s been quite a while. I can get very down about it at times. I just want answers and am hoping I’m finally on a path that will lead to that.
What an awesome 10K time! Hope your foot returns to 100% asap!
thank you !
I am definitely a less-is-more kind of runner. I usually run 3-4 days/week, and if I sneak a 5th day in there, it will be short and sweet (1-3 miles max). I seem to thrive best on moderate mileage (as compared to high mileage). Even when I trained under a coach’s guidance, the high mileage did NOT work for me. I hope your foot starts to feel better!
I honestly think this may be the way to go! my new marathon training plan is 3 x a week plus cross training. I am hoping it will work out better for my body and foot! fingers crossed! I hope my foot gets better too! I would be ok with just the tingling (though still want that fixed if possible), it’s the pain in the foot that is really hard to deal with at times.
That sounds like an epic cycling ride! I love seeing new towns by bike
it is fun to discover a new-to-you place!
What a beautiful ride! I wish things were a little more cycling friendly here.
My longest ride was 20 or 25 miles. I haven’t been in shape for that kind of ride in a while, but I’d like to get back there. I can’t imagine bringing grapes or tomatoes on a ride! When I was doing my longer rides, I used pouches of applesauce and granola bars. Maybe you are on to something.
I feel very lucky that it’s so bike friendly here. I don’t have a race bike, just my hybrid sports/city bike. So I do take breaks and use either my hydration pack or a light backpack to store my food. I really love the grapes because they are “meaty” and sweet. Same if you get some good cherry tomatoes!
I would love to ride where you do. It’s so beautiful!!
it is gorgeous. I still feel so lucky that I chose to stay in this country. even if it’s lonely sometimes!
Getting older sucks! But the alternative is worse. So we deal with it. You’re doing great. That bike ride looks lovely!
thanks Wendy! you are right, we just deal with it. Not always with a smile on my face though.
I love the fitness graphic in your summary – so cute. I am jealous of that bike ride. It sounds like a real adventure that worked out fantastically – including the burger when you were done!
thank you :) I was trying to make my post more friendly and easy to read. I think though that my posts are still too long. and yes very happy about our ride in Friesland and the burger couldn’t have been a better ending!
Great job on your workout consistency! I need to work on that! ._. I hope they figure out what’s going on with your foot soon!
thanks! and as far as my foot goes, I’m not sure they will know something soon but I’ll have to just keep trying all avenues.
What a gorgeous setting for your workouts. I’m sure your mother in law appreciated the flowers you picked. I’m sure Mother’s Day was tough without her, but she will always be a part of you and your husband. Much love.
Planning ahead is most definitely one of the keys to staying on track with health and weight loss goals. Some weeks I’m much better about this than other weeks.
[…] seem be able to do both very well! If you recall I had mentioned Week 19 that I would have a shot in my foot the Tuesday before the race and it was working but I wouldn’t say I was 100% pain free (right afterwards I was, for a […]