Weekly Run Down: Planned vs. Reality Recovery
What up my friends?
Deborah and Kim are the amazing hosts for the Weekly Run Down! Feel free to join in as well to wrap up your week in fitness!
Week 14 of 2019 is basically history and we are on to the next. It’s curious how so many of us can’t believe the speed at which our lives pass through each week and month and year, no? It seems to me that this speed means we are making the most of the time we have.
When you are not ABLE to make the most of your time, by doing the things you love (even the things we don’t love, because, let’s face it, the laundry doesn’t fold itself as we established here and the cats refuse to do dishes or take out the trash) and when you are a bit like ME… having the time pass more slowly leads me down a path I don’t like to be on.
I’m just going to be honest and say, yes, I do have issues with depression. When I discovered that running gave me a real sense of accomplishment and was a great way to clear my head, or help me reframe things that were going on in my life that I was perhaps looking at in a negative light, it was such a relief. I could feel GOOD. I could feel HAPPY. All that without self-medicating or even prescription drugs. Score!
I went into the surgery with a focus and plan of being positive about recovery, doing all I could to recover well, doing *anything* I could to recover well and moreover not feeling bad about not being able to run. I mean, come on, it’s been a hot minute since I ran. What’s the problem right? Well if you’ve ever been injured, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
This week was, however, not the week I thought I was going to have, the week I imagined it to be, before I actually had the surgery. But it turned out ok. Remember, folks, I’m a realist. That means my glass is neither half empty or half full. But don’t worry, I’m grateful I have a glass.
This Week In Fitness
There was no plan, since I didn’t even get my bandage removed until Tuesday. I was also feeling slightly sorry for myself. I think my menopause hormones also did not help.
- Monday – Grace & Frankie Marathon, approx 0 calories burned (still on the couch)
- Tuesday – Bandage removed, little hobble outside, feeling hopeful
- Wednesday – Back to work. Physio in the afternoon. Exercise homework assigned
- Thursday – Bit more hobbling today than yesterday. Went into town to have drinks and a chat with Gerrit.
- Friday – woke up with a headache (no I didn’t drink too much), felt crap all day and then decided to try to ride the bike. Then I did a couple of workouts from Fitness Blender and Josie’s Arm & Back workout.
- Saturday – Bike Support for Ron
- Sunday – Drutenloop for Ron (fast 5KM race), club BBQ
Monday – still nothing, but I actually even got sick of watching G&F – I was actually loving it the first couple of days. In a very cranky mood. The bandage was driving me nutso.
Tuesday – Back to the clinic for bandage removal. Confirmed NO RUNNING UNTIL date is my final check-up: May 20th. That seems so far away. After the appointment we drove to an area close to where I used to live to have Dutch pancakes (pannenkoeken). This was also the place that I had my very first Dutch pancake 24 years ago. Slight hobbling, total steps – 1,531.
Wednesday – first day back at work. Ron dropped me off and picked me up. Basically just moving slowly throughout the office as needed. Went to the physio and he found that my wound had opened up just a tiny bit so he suggested that I get some stitch bandages to cover that area. Total steps – 4,176
Thursday was the first day that I hobbled a bit more than the days before. I am genuinely trying to take it easy. I’m walking slow and, while I wore “normal shoes” (well, Merrell’s which have a wide toe box and are a half size too big) at work, I put on my fashionable surgery shoe to go into town. I also took the bus, so the most walking I did was to the bus stop, cafe, bus stop and home. I ended up with 9,320 steps.
Friday – FINALLY I decided enough was enough and I very carefully got on the bike to go to the bank – walking there would have been too much and getting a bus (like I did Thursday evening) was not direct so I’d still be walking. It was FINE! In fact no impact at all, just being mindful of pedalling and stepping on and off the bike. It was a lovely day for it as well. So then I biked into town, stopped for a coffee (and carrot cake) , then biked along the Rhein and home. 14KM Biking, steps: 5,264
Ron had training in the evening so I did three workout videos at home, total time 55min. No foot impact – mostly mat and pilates ball with some weights in the end for arms and back.
I didn’t really sweat but I felt like I did something so really happy about that!
Saturday – Ron had a long run on the books (32KM / 20 miles) and while usually he’d go on Sunday, we have something else in store for Sunday. Tough for him, since he just did 15 x 100’s Friday night, but this is how it goes sometimes right? I tried to help him by massaging his hammies and calves Friday night, AND waking up the muscles with a quick stimulating massage before the run, but he just really had dead legs. Poor thing. He did it though, which means I also biked 32 KM. Not a lot of steps though (see? I’m taking it easy); total 2,028
Sunday – My training group had a 5KM race in Druten, which is conveniently where my trainer’s parents live, right on the route, so I went along to cheer (also with Martine, who is slightly injured). The weather was so much better than Saturday, nice and sunny but not too warm. Everyone did really well, though the “other” Renée had a few issues with it being so warm and going out too fast. Super proud of my team! Afterwards we had a BBQ with the group – super nice to just hang out and chat with each other (though still mostly about running, ha!) and have some good food. Total steps as of this moment: 6,006
Coming up Next Week
- Monday – Fitness Blender Abs & Kettlebell Workout
- Tuesday – Fitness blender Abs (a different one) and Arms Workout
- Wednesday – Pilates
- Thursday – Fitness Blender Butt & Thigh + Quick Chest and Back
- Friday – Abs & Kettlebell repeat
- Saturday – Rest? Going to see the Girl and her Guy in den Bosch
- Sunday – 10KM race for Ron in Enschede (most likely)
These Fitness Blender workouts are 30 minutes or less, except on Thursday it’s a total of 45 minutes. I may throw Josie’s workout in with the other workouts, it’s only an extra 10 minutes. All of these workouts have no foot impact at all. Of course I’ll do my physio exercises daily as well.
I’m also going to be testing the waters on walking, but if it doesn’t feel right, then I won’t push it. I’m curious how Pilates will go since we aren’t always on the mat.
That’s a wrap!
So tell me, do you run also to keep the blues away? Do you find it clears your head and makes you feel “normal” (whatever your normal is)? Have you heard of Fitness Blender? Do you know Josie, previously of YumYucky? (we met each other in 2012 at Fitbloggin in Baltimore – I just love her humour and energy!) Did you race this weekend? Are you training for an upcoming race?
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Having an injury and not being able to run is hard. Hang in there! I’m sure you will heal fast and be up and running again in no time.
Thanks, Montana!
Hang in there, Girlfriend! You have a great attitude, and this brief running sabbatical will ensure many more years of full-on running enjoyment later. Thanks much for linking with us!
Thanks Kim. Doing my best!
I am glad that you are easing back into workouts. Although you can’t run right now you are doing great with your cross training and you should be proud of that!
Also that dutch pancake looked so good!
Thanks, Kim. Doing what I can! And yes, omg I do love a dutch pancake!
It’s really hard when your “therapy” is taken away from you. I know the end of May seems like forever, but like all things, just keep telling yourself that this too shall pass.
The girl I walked with yesterday was really trying to push it with running, but I knew it wasn’t in her best interest. That’s why I walked with her (plus I didn’t really need to run the day before an undertrained race).
Listen to your body. The more you baby it now, the sooner you’ll get through all this and things will get back to normal. And that’s great that biking isn’t bothering it!
Trying hard to keep this kind of focus. Thanks, Judy.
I totally feel you on this. Running has been my therapy for the past 25+ years! I agree with you–when I can’t run, it feels good to do SOMETHING. Glad to see that is just what you are doing. Hang in there!
Thank you, Wendy!
I know exactly what you mean – running is my “therapy” too. I can’t even imagine not running. At least you have a date to look forward to resuming it and you are keeping fit in other ways until May. You are building up your steps nicely!
Thank you, Laurie!
Hang in there! I was in your spot in the summer when I couldn’t run due to a hamstring injury. Running was and is my therapy and it was a rough couple of weeks However, measuring progress in other small wells was immensely helpful for me – I remember when I cried from happiness because I could bend over and touch my toes without pain. There are small wins each day :)
Thanks, Becca. I am trying to focus on what I CAN do for now. Good idea to measure progress in other ways! I’ll see just how I can do that!
It is so hard when you cannot do the things you love. I have been there. Each week will get better and you will get stronger each week. Are you allowed to swim during recovering? Thanks for linking up and have a good week ahead
Thanks, Deborah. I can only swim when the wound is fully closed and mostly healed up. Maybe in a couple weeks. It’s definitely something I’m considering.
I have used some of the Fitness Blender videos. The ones I tried were good! Recovery is very hard, I do understand. One summer I had a stress fracture and had to wear the boot all summer… but on the plus side we got very good parking spots. :)
i am definitely liking Fitness Blender! it’s nice to know so many others get how this feels. Ron and I made a joke to actually just keep my loan crutches for when we travel so that I can board planes quicker hahaha!
I can totally relate about not being able to run..if you look back on my blog to last year around this time, I was still recovering from a broken leg and really struggling…But it will get better. Be kind to yourself! And patient.
Thank you so much! I am trying to just focus on each day.
I’m so glad you can ride your bike. I used to *need* to run, but now I’m OK as long as I do *something* otherwise those dark thoughts do creep in rather quickly. You are getting more steps in than I do on non-running days — does your foot hurt at the end of the day, or is it OK? So funny to see Josie’s workout in your post! I still follow her on Facebook. She’s fantastic. I went to Fitbloggin’ the last year it was in Baltimore, but don’t remember if that was 2012 ….
I’ve gotten used to running less but still being active. So I really miss my gym classes too. Pilates doesn’t excite me, but at least I can do that, plus other non-impact body work. I’m just not excited about it, you know? I have been just resting my foot (elevating) when I come home from work or wherever i’ve been, so it doesn’t really hurt. I am pretty sure I went to the last Fitbloggin in Baltimore and that was in 2013. Were we at the SAME fitbloggin??? I’m going to look back and see when it was now…
So sorry the depression crept up on you. I can so identify with that – I had surgery in 2017 for an ovarian cyst (and it turned out, sorting out endometriosis and adhesions). I realised after that that my coping mechanisms are running and yoga, and could do neither! What I ended up doing after the first hellish week of having trouble standing up and sitting down and sleeping and reading and staggering up the road was going to running club beginners sessions and walking around in the opposite direction to the runners, and going to yoga but sitting on a chair in the corner and just doing the breathing. Of course having been messed around in the middle made everything impossible to do. But I got there, did my marathon that autumn, trained for a did my DIY marathon and am still going. So it will pass.
Well done for working out you can manage cycling OK, that’s good news. Hope your recovery continues to go well!
thanks Liz. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that but it is comforting in a way to know that you have been there. x
I’m glad sharing my story has helped a bit. It feels like it will never end when you’re in it, but it does!
Oh, Renee. I remember when I had my tonsils out and I couldn’t do anything but lay in bed. Running was off the table, and the pain made it near impossible to do anything, including eat or drink. It was miserable – I couldn’t focus on tv or reading or anything. And my anxiety was out of control.
I hope that May date arrives before you know it!
Oh man I can’t imagine adding anxiety to this mix. I’m sorry you went through that!
And injured runner is a force to be reckoned with!!! You seem to be doing a pretty good job of getting a lot of movement in so I hope you can keep it up. It’s so absolutely normal to have bad days, especially while you’re recovering, so lean on the people who love and support you and you will make it though!!
That delicious pancake is bringing back some amazing memories of when I was in Amsterdam WAY back in 1996? and had one just like it. I have never forgotten it!!
And I am a die hard Grace + Frankie fan who just finished the series. SO sad. I will miss them until next season!!
definitely! my husband is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde if he can’t run. I’m trying to also not take out my blah feeling on him.
oh if anyone ever comes to the Netherlands a pancake is definitely something that is a necessity to eat! they are hard to forget!
I’m going to start up on G+F soon but I needed a break after that binge!
That’s great that you were able to go out on the bike and it felt ok! I’ve struggles with depression at times (worse in the Winter) and I agree it’s so much better when I can run. Hope the healing continues to go well :) I had never heard of fitness blender before, I’m going to check them out.
Thanks Chaitali! Fitness Blender is really good, definitely check it!
It’s so good to see you up and about! I know how hard it is to not be running right now – hang in there! Each week that passes is a victory and gets you one step closer. Wishing you speedy healing!
thanks Michelle!
Hang in there as best as you can (I know, easier said than done!) But so glad you are moving about now and really glad the bike is an option for you. A friend of mine had a 2 month injury period earlier this year, and she focused a lot on other strength exercises as well as cycling. After easing back into running for a few weeks, she is now hitting paces she never did before. So stay focused, do a lot of strength work and 20th May will be here before you know it.
Thanks Shathiso! I am trying to focus on what I can do – so core and upper body strength and cycling. hopefully in a couple weeks I’ll be able to get on the elliptical at the gym!
May will be here before you know it. In the meantime, you are being smart about your recovery and that will pay off immensely. I enjoy my solo runs where I can let my mind wander. Running is not really therapy for me, but more of a time to collect my thoughts and try to plan my upcoming days and make mental notes about things I need to get done.
I do a lot of practical thinking on my runs too. I find when I don’t run I am distracted, not very focused. So i need to keep that in check!
I’m so impressed with the amount of activity you are able to get in despite your recovery! How great riding the bike feels good. That is huge. I can just imagine how tough it must be to not have running as your destressor right now but hopefully soon! I had the best pancake of my life in Amsterdam many years ago. I actually went there twice on two different trips. I wish I remembered what it was called OR if it is even still there.
Thanks Marcia! The bike is a saving grace, for real!
I’ve never heard from anyone who’s visited the Netherlands that DIDN’T love the Dutch pancake! ha!
Great job with taking it easy, as I know it wasn’t easy! That’s great you were able to support your husband for his 20 miler – I’m sure the massage did help! The Dutch pancakes looks amazing!! I am so jealous LOL. Running definitely is a stress reliever for me and I’m grateful to have it as an outlet for me when I get really stressed!