Week 29 – All Aboard the Struggle Bus!

Last week was just about too much for me.  Too, too much.  Sometimes I feel like such a wuss for not being able to physically handle so much, maybe I expect too much from myself?  Maybe I have a skewed idea of what normal is?

 

 

I already knew it was going to be tough.  I thought I had prepared my head for it, but still my stress level was through the roof, I was not sleeping well, it was hot, etc.  Boo-frickin-hoo.  I know.

This was the plan:

week 29 
Monday – run with BRENG (done!)
Tuesday – lunch walk (done!), massage clients
Wednesday – lunch walk, massage clients
Thursday – lunch walk, massage clients
Friday – intervals after work
Saturday – not sure, may go to RPM, may skip to save the legs
Sunday – long run, may try the 25KM again, may follow trainer’s schedule

Monday was actually really fun, though the run itself was hard.  Vincent basically chose the hilliest route he could find in town (and, again, please do not for one second think that this is a fully flat country – it’s NOT). It wasn’t even 5KM but I was dying!  Warm, sweaty an lots of up-up-up!   Afterwards we had a bite and a drink before we said “goodbye”  for the summer.  Hopefully I can join the guys again in the fall.

at Hoogte 80

 

pretty much showing exactly how I’m feeling after climbing up a hill and then stairs!

 

cheers to our trainer!

Tuesday -lunch walk + massage

Wednesday – did not manage my walk + massage

Thursday – walked at lunch + massage

I had 3 clients on Tuesday and Wednesday and 1 client on Thursday.  Maybe it would make sense on just how exhausted I was if you put into perspective that I get up at 6am just to get ready for work, then I work for 8 hours, then home, change, quickly eat and then further 3 – 4 hours physical work with clients + biking back and forth.  It was very hard for me to just relax when I got home.  Massage can mess a bit with your energy – not to sound too new agey but working with people means you also work with their energy and generally you are working pretty hard to at least rid what ails them temporarily.   I have no idea how massage therapists work 8 hours a day.  I even had breaks in between clients.  For me is one day a week more than enough.  At least right now while I am struggling with my own body.

On Friday I worked the whole day, so no day off either.  I went home a zombie.  I knew I had training but I hadn’t even checked to see what the training was.  Can you believe I was excited that it was NOT intervals but rather a Fartek run? It was hot out too, like the whole week (the Netherlands is unseasonably warm this year, everyone is complaining).   So after procrastinating for about 2 hours I finally went out and did a 7KM fartlek.  I thought I was going to pass out when I got home.  I even went under a cold shower right away!   So it looks like I had a good run on garmin/ strava but I can tell you I was in the front seat of the struggle bus all the way!

Saturday I skipped all physical activities and pretty much hung out and blitzed through quite a few documentaries on Netflix.   I thought it would help my legs.  I was so wrong.

Sunday, there we were again with a long-run on the plan.

Seems like I wasn’t quite at my destination of Suckville that I was heading towards on Friday.  I did however get out of bed earlier and get started earlier.  But it just wasn’t happening.  My legs were empty after 6KM.  I was really trying so hard.  I decided it was going to be the 1.5 hour run and that would be that.  I finally managed to just barely squeak out 13KM in that time.

I was home before 12 noon though, and promptly planted my butt on the couch where I was in and out of consciousness all afternoon.  Finally when my husband said in a tone “you haven’t showered yet??” I decided to clean up and get ready to go out to eat.

Sundays are our nights, it seems now, to go out for a bite.  The longer the long-runs the less anyone wants to cook.  The Boy has been staying with us but he had his dad’s regular bike to see his grandma so Ron ended up on his fancy road bike and me on my Koga.

It was a great dinner, great to sit outside, there was a nice breeze and I didn’t want the evening to end. Ron promised me ice cream so we headed back to the bikes.   Where we discovered his was STOLEN and mine had the locks broken with some lovely damage to the frame.

WHAT A SHIT END TO THE WEEKEND.  *sigh*   We have insurance but of course it just means quite some hassle before everything is sorted.  Poor Ron.  He loved that bike.  Hopefully he can get the same one once we get the insurance money back.

You know I had a rough week if I hardly have any photos…  Let’s get off this bus now and change our course of direction shall we?

Plans for Week 30:

Monday – Rest
Tuesday – Runiversity
Wednesday – BodyPump? RPM? not sure yet
Thursday – possibly BodyPump, depends on Vincent’s schedule
Friday – Massage clients in the afternoon, training at Runiversity
Saturday – maybe RPM but then I’m on my own. Otherwise I might do a bike ride (to work out a bike tour for Arnhem Life)
Sunday – the Long Run. It’s going to be much, much better this week.

How was your week?  Did you go to Chicago or did you stay home with FOMO?  How do you get yourself off the struggle bus?  Do you just say “Enough is Enough” and then pretty much will your body and brain to cooperate? 

Comments

  1. Darlene says:

    Yes. Just get off the bus. Only kidding. I know you will. Everyone has these weeks.

    BTW: I can’t remember the last time I cooked.

    That sucks about the bike.

    1. Renée says:

      ha ha yes ma’am! cooking is overrated by the way… and yes major suckage.

  2. kookyrunner says:

    Sometimes we just have those “off” weeks but that only means that this week will be much better for you!

    I cannot believe what happened to your bikes! It REALLY angers me that people just have no problem taking what doesn’t belong to them. It’s just so damn obnoxious!

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Kim! it is a major suck. we were really so angry about it!!

  3. Jenn says:

    OMG I am so sorry about your bikes!!! I’m so pissed for you! That’s the last thing you needed!

    Massage can be really hard on the therapist’s body. You have really been working your booty off, and deserve a bit of a break. I hope this week goes better for you guys. Sending lots of good thoughts and positive energy.

    1. Renée says:

      Thank you so much Jenn!

  4. We all have weeks like this! Keep running with your group it’s a great motivator

    1. Renée says:

      so true Deborah! and I definitely will keep running with these guys – just a short break for the summer!

  5. chrissytherd says:

    What kind of a-holes out there stole his bike?! That’s so messed up. It also makes me realize I’m way to trusting of people.

    1. Renée says:

      RIGHT??? so messed up!!!

  6. agsignor says:

    Ugh. What a terrible week! I’m so sorry about your bikes. Definitely use it to get a long, frustration-fueled run in. And trust that Karma will do her job. Blah. Hope this week is better for you!

    1. Renée says:

      Thank you Andrea!

  7. awwwww, I wish I could hug you in person (of course, you chose NOT to join us in Chicago, or the hug-in-person would have been easily given) ;-) You do crack me up, though…even you had some tough stuff happening, you are so funny chatting about it. Chin up, Friend….I’ll have to send you a virtual hug (or several) for now.

    1. Renée says:

      ah thank you so much for the virtual hugs! and hey I’d rather laugh about my life than cry!

  8. Wendy says:

    Ugh, what a tough week!!! Your job is so physical–I can only imagine how tough it can be when you’re not feeling well. And boo to the bike being stolen. The struggle bus needs to move on…

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Wendy. It’s getting better – I just did too, too much.

  9. Ugh that stinks about your bikes! What’s wrong with people?! I’m sorry it was such a tough week for you – sending you hugs. Hope this week is better!!

    1. Renée says:

      thank you so much Michelle!

  10. Oh, man, so sorry you had such a rough week, and the stolen bike just sealed it all. UGH. My son had a nice ($4K) Specialized bike stolen from his apartment about 2 years ago and despite my constant nagging never got renter’s insurance since he ASSUMED his roommate’s insurance covered everything in the apartment. WRONG. Hard lesson for him to learn. Sucks for your husband, but at least it’s insured. Still…

    As you know I did the half on Sunday with the gang. It was fun meeting everyone! Hopefully we will meet in person some day.

    Here’s to a much better week for you!

    1. Renée says:

      thanks Linda. it is a major bummer about the bike. fingers crossed he’ll get something for it!!
      You are such a lucky duck to meet all the gang! I really hope to make one of these epic meetups one day!

  11. Some weeks are just like that…I feel ya on the struggle bus! I have been so wiped out I have been in bed at 8:30 or 9 most nights!
    What a bummer about the bike :( I am so sorry. That is really frustrating!!!
    I hope you are off the struggle bus this week and things go better overall!

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Esther. It does seem to ebb and flow a bit with the struggle bus. will be great to just get off it for a while!

  12. […] you remember, last summer someone tried to steal Betty (and managed to steal Ron’s wheels) and scratched up her frame pretty badly in addition to […]

Comments are closed.