WRD: Week 15 – Good Intentions Sputter out

RenéeWeekly Run Down26 Comments on WRD: Week 15 – Good Intentions Sputter out

I immediately got this song in my head when I figured out what I wanted to use as the title of this week’s post. Other ideas had something to do with the roads and good intentions but my blog is filled with those types of posts!

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 31

Plan vs. Actual

Monday – 3.25KM walk, GLI gym 1 hr intake – no workout (appt w/different PT), 3.5KM biking
Tuesday – 3KM walk (office day) to and from train station
Wednesday – 3KM walk, W6R1 run, 6KM, GLI 1 hour, gym 55 min
Thursday – 2.22KM walk, gym
Friday – 2.75KM walk, W6R2 run , gym 55 min
Saturday – 2.5KM walk, parkrun in Alkmaar 5KM, 17/17 Dutch parkruns done!
Sunday – 2KM walk, long run W6R3, 1.4KM w/u walk, 10KM run (!!!)

Hello Friends! Another week has gone by, in fact almost exactly 3 weeks now since my surgery. Healing is going well, at least with the wound itself; am trying not to overanalyse anything yet that I “feel” as far as my foot as a whole goes – it’s too early to really know if it’s a success or not (I’m just going to keep assuming it has but sometimes the brain likes to imagine a worst-case scenario).

I have to say, this week was quite the dud as far as exercise and motivation went. I am certain that my low emotional feeling not only related to not being able to exercise (like I am used to) but very likely also to do with menopause, hormones, etc. This entire week I woke up every day except today, Sunday, with a headache. This did not help me start my days in a very positive way , that’s for sure. So, what happened this week?

This Week In Fitness

  • 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 Went to see the Girl and her Guy in den Bosch
  • Sunday – 10KM race for Ron in Enschede (which means I did nothing)

To be honest not a whole lot to report. I did manage Monday – Wednesday workouts, and my bike commute was a bit more than usual. I decided to take the long way to work (hilarious since I don’t live very far away at all) and added exactly 1.1KM extra in total to the daily distance. I also biked to Pilates (instead of driving, because I can’t drive right now) and to the center of town Thursday after work and then home. Friday I cycled to the train station and home, since I was meeting a friend in Utrecht.

On a positive note, at least I had quite the social end of the week/ weekend. On Thursday during my lunch break I popped over across the street to where my friend Linda works and we had coffee and a great chat. I hadn’t seen her since I ran Apeldoorn in February and we’ve only managed to go on one lunch walk. Now that I can’t walk we figured coffee was a good substitute!

Then on Thursday evening I meet up with my friend Marie-José. She’s the one I’ve been going out to the movies with the last several months and occasionally coffee. We had a great dinner and a great catch-up as well. I’ve known M-J for quite a long time (I met her via another American-Expat friend) but as she didn’t live in Arnhem and we were only acquaintances, I only reconnected with her when she actually moved here and looked me up. I’m glad she did!

On Friday I had a lunch date with my friend Joanna in Utrecht, whom I know for ages now; we actually met through my blog and literally ran into each other on a race course when we first met in person. We’ve been doing events together ever since. She’s such a sweet person, with the biggest heart. We spent hours at lunch talking and eating (and eating and eating!!). Hopefully we can see each other more often in the future than we normally do. She does live a bit far away from me, so that does make it a bit of a challenge.

Joanna and I at TGIFridays (or I guess it’s just called Fridays, these days – gotta love an American chain in the Netherlands

On Saturday I didn’t do any work out again (unless you count having to do food shopping and schlepping heavy bags home) and on Saturday early evening we went to see my stepdaughter and her boyfriend in Den Bosch which was lovely.

my stepdaughter works in a specialty tea shop in Den Bosch, so before we had dinner we all had a lovely cup of tea.

And… on Sunday we were off again for another race in Enschede; this was my Half Marathon PR race that I was supposed to run, prior to knowing that I would have surgery, so it was kind of bittersweet being there. Ron ran the 10KM, my trainer Chantor the marathon (in 3:16 which is like at least a 15 min PR), and two others from Runiversity ran the marathon, 1 got a PR and the other had to drop out due to horrible knee pain. I *AM* happy for my running friends, for sure. I’ll have that at some point as well. Probably next year now.

Ron, Kim and I walking around the start and finish area
Ron right before the finish at the 10KM

So, not a lot of workouts, not a whole lot of biking, but definitely I was kind of all over country in just a few days AND a bit too much eating out was happening.

I don’t have a plan yet for next week – I did not start walking more this week either and I haven’t done stairs yet. So, yeah, it’s going well. /sarcasm

Totals Week 15:

2 Fitness Blender Workouts
1 Pilates Lesson
Total biking: 36KM
Total Steps: 14,265

That’s a wrap!

Tell me something good about your week! Do you have any motivational advise for me? Do you ever have weeks where it’s more social activity than physical fitness?

26 thoughts on “WRD: Week 15 – Good Intentions Sputter out”

  1. It sounds like you had a good week. I think it’s interesting that you can ride your bike to work, but not drive. Seeing friends is important!

    1. we don’t have an automatic transmission and I can’t really use the clutch with my left foot at the moment. biking is easier with my heel on the pedal :)

  3. I seriously think your attitude is good. All I have for advice is to try to think of the big picture (down the road) and not the here & now. I know, easy words, huh! All the non-running fitness right now will reinforce/ensure a successful rally back when the time is right. It’s great that you can support Ron on all of his races, though I can appreciate how bitter-sweet it may be. Hang in there, Friend!!!

    1. Thanks Kim. I feel like I’m doing nothing. I feel like a sloth. I need to move! and sweat! But you are right. I just need to keep my eyes on the prize. x

  4. It is tough to have to sit out of races that you had planned to run due to injury. I have definitely been there a few times. You got in some great cycling KM’s and you will be back before you know it. Thanks for linking up!

    1. Thanks Deborah. It really is. Especially when I see my friends (that I’ve trained with) also out there smashing PR’s. But my time will come. Must. Be. Patient!!!

  5. How fun that you got to socialize with friends so much this week! See, a side effect of not training is having lots of time. Me, since I’m running less, I’m enjoying that I don’t have to stress about fueling and stuff. Hey, silver lining, right?

    1. that is a great silver lining! I’m only afraid in my case that I’m going to gain a bunch of weight! well, trying to 80/20 it at the moment and still enjoying pie and chocolate occasionally :D

  6. I’m sorry that you had a hard week – waking up with a headache daily is definitely not a good way to start your day :( I hope that your upcoming week is much better.

    I love that you were able to socialize a lot at the end of the week. Sometimes spending quality time with friends is the best medicine!

    1. thanks Kim. the headaches are very annoying. I hardly ever have one so when it’s every day it’s just beyond frustrating! Seeing friends definitely helped my mood though.

  7. I’m glad your recovery is going well. Be kind to yourself! You’ll be back at it in no time and this will all be a memory.

  8. Glad you’re able to cycle so you’re not shut in. I feel you on the headaches — my allergies have been nuts.

    1. I hope to cycle a bit more in the new week! Ugh – allergies are awful! Don’t you just feel like your face is going to explode sometimes???

  9. It’s hard doing recovery, I know, but you’ve got this and you will be doing those races when it’s time. Love Ron’s finish pic for the 10k, good work coordinating that. Keep on keeping on!

    1. Thanks Liz. Trying to stay positive. I do really need to think of the end result though, for sure. Eyes on the prize!

  10. Looks to me like you got in more activity than you’re giving yourself credit for. I can totally relate to how the mood goes in the dumps along with the metabolism when running is not happening. You’ll be back though! Until then, try to enjoy the extra social time.

  11. Glad the healing is going well and that you had some fun social times this week! It sounds like you’re doing well with the strength training and the bicycling. I don’t have any motivation tips. I felt the same way last year when I was in an ankle brace. I was allowed to bike but instead of taking advantage of that, I just felt sorry for what I couldn’t do. Not the most productive thing. Thanks for mentioning fitness blender, by the way. I looked into it last week and it’s great!

    1. Thanks Chaitali. It’s hard right? I mean we know that doing something is better than nothing! I get in pity party mode though and I really want to get out of that. You are welcome! I only discovered Fitblender myself and I also really like it!

  13. Your hair DOES look fabulous! I hate it when I have great looking hair, then I have to brush it out to put it up in a ponytail to run. What a waste of a good hair day!

    I wouldn’t worry about the lack of fitness motivation. Listen to your body. You are only 3 weeks post-surgery. You had a great time with your friends and that’s worth a lot. You probably are missing those endorphins that you get used to from running. You will get there! Be patient (said the world’s most impatient woman!) :)

  14. I think all the social stuff was probably just what your body needed. I know it’s tough without the normal exercise, but hang in there — better days are coming.

    And it must have been REALLY tough going to the race. Hugs!

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