All right. You’re not going to believe this, but, on the other hand, maybe you will …
We not only picked up Mr. Pickles, we also adopted his brother Sebastiaan, as the people who were going to adopt him never showed up and poor Bas would have been left all alone until someone else came along. We couldn’t have that. After discussing with my stepson we decided to take him, then when SS has his own place again and takes Rudyy back (our Ukranian Rescue kitty lodger), he can have Bas as well. It all works out in the end.
These two are really something and we are having so much fun with them. The other cats are slowly coming to terms with them. I think by the end of the week we’ll all be golden.
Time for the Weekly Run Down
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 (!!!)
Week 24
Plan vs. Actual
Monday – 3.5KM AM walk/ gym, maybe lunch run + 2KM lunch walk with Ron
Tuesday – 1KM AM walk, 5KM AM run or walk at lunch, 40 min strength + 2KM walking
Wednesday – DAY OFF – 7KM walk/ gym
Thursday – 1KM AM walk, 5KM AM run after work + 40 min strength + 2KM walking
Friday – 3.5KM AM walk/ 5.5KM lunch run
Saturday – morning walk + afternoon walk (cheese and beer tour) total recorded 5.6KM
Sunday – 2 KM walk/ 40 min gym
Monday – got up early for my morning walk, 6am, 3.5KM – go me! ha! way too hot to run at lunch, walked instead with the hubs during the lunch break. skipped gym, this is why my whole schedule got pushed out
Tuesday – early up; decided to give morning running a go. First walked to the park and into the park a bit to make my 1KM. Then told myself 1KM at a time, with no pressure to do 5KM. Did it! 1KM/250m interval, so in total was 4KM running, 1KM recovery.
Went to the gym in the evening, still trying to find the right time. Also WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? Put the weights back!!!! I had to remove 160KG from the leg press myself. Why??? Why should I have to do this when I am only pressing 30KG right now. The guy put all that weight on, did his thing and then walked away. So annoying.
Wednesday – Day off. Well. Ron put my bike in the shed which is GREAT because it’s now out of the hallway, but… it’s a bit difficult to get out. I had a nail appointment so decided to walk there and back. Nice day for it too. There was ice cream involved.
Thursday – up and at it again! Did the same trick as Tuesday, but was pretty darned sleepy the rest of the day. Could have something to do with being alone working at home and not having a ton of work to do which makes the day really drag.
I cooked dinner from one of our Green Chef meals for the week (a sweet potato gnocchi with burrata) and then afterwards walked to the gym and did my strength training.
Friday – ok so I *am* getting up in the morning and getting it done, but geez am I tired. I didn’t get any energy from this walk. Also am a bit frustrated with progress (I KNOW….it takes time…. nothing happens overnight… etc.) so could also be why I’m still feeling a bit grumpy.
Wasn’t sure I could really hack it, but at lunch Ron and I went ahead and did a run. I thought it might be too hot and, well, yes, it was warm. but I got another local legend segment (taken from one of our regular parkrunners haha! ).
Saturday – What a day!! I went to the English pub quiz again and was.home later than planned. It was warm and a bit humid as well so sleep wasn’t great. But hey, up for parkrun – me volunteering as photographer and Ron running. Coffee with a nice group afterwards, then home, change, and into town for a Cheese Shopping experience at the market and then a tasting with the group leader (an official cheese monger) and 12 other enthusiastic cheese lovers. It was so much fun AND quite a learning experience !
Sunday – walk and gym done, the kids are on their way to see their dad and then who knows what is up for the rest of the day.
Another gym pet peeve though – people just “resting” for 5 or 6 minutes on machines between sets, on their phone. Today I waited 6 minutes for a lady who was actually watching non-related videos in between her leg press sets. There is really no awareness of other people in the world, going on at the gym sometimes.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK
Obviously still walking 1KM per day.
Monday – walk, gym
Tuesday – morning walk or walk at lunch (definitely going to AMS this day)
Wednesday – DAY OFF – walk, run, gym
Thursday – walk
Friday – Leave for Paris, walk min 1KM at some point
Saturday – (not)parkrun in Bois de Boulogne, DM concert
Sunday – Full day in Paris
Monday we drive back and my Half Marathon training program officially starts!
That’s a wrap!
How was your week? Do you ever get frustrated with (lack of) progress even though you KNOW these things take time? What do you think about using machines at the gym – get in and get it done, or take it easy, I pay my membership here too I can take all the time I want?
Looks like this week was pretty good activity wise! Enjoy your new kittens
Thanks Deborah!
Aaaww, kittens!! They’re wonderful!
And aww, all that walking. I miss walking.
You got some good activity done this week. But people take 5-6 mins breaks between sets? That’s ridiculous. I wonder if this is a new thing of the social media age? I take minimal breaks, for sipping water and getting some energy back, obviously because I only have 1 hour with my personal trainer so can’t waste time, but I would do the same in a regular gym especially if there were other people around, it’s a matter of respect.
I was impatient with lack of progress with running. I thought I took it easy but I probably underestimated how long it takes to make true progress, pushed myself too much and that’s probably a reason why I got injured.
yes 5-6 minute breaks. what is the point? I mean I’m waiting for my watch cue of one minute to tell me to do the next set and I’m moving quickly between the machines. I want to work out, not hang out.
I’m so sorry you are still not walking or running. A friend of mine was in the same exact situation. Doing too much, pushing too hard and ended up with a stress fracture. And running was really her mental health outlet. She struggled so much. But in the end, with time and patience, it does get better.
Awesome job with all that walking! Sebastian is lucky for you to take him in as well ;-)
Thanks Kim! yes we are loving Bas too. he’s such a little sweetheart.
AAHHH! Kittens!!! Is Bas the orange and white one? I love orange tabbies. You definitely made the right decision- you HAD to take him! : )
Don’t even get me started on the gym. The other day someone had left THREE 45 pound plates ON EACH SIDE of the squat bar! Who lifts that much weight??? How could they leave them there? I had to remove SIX 45 pounds plates before I could use it- it was insane. And then my husband was there this morning and he said there was a large family camping out on both squat bars simultaneously- and they used them for the entire time he was there (almost an hour.). WTF???
Anyway… other than the gym aggravations it sounds like you had a good week. I like the sound of that cheese and beer tour!
yes Bas is the Orange and white :) we definitely had to take him!
leaving that much on the squat bar is INSANE. I totally agree. And funny you say that about a family camping out; I also saw a husband and wife just using only the squat bar. like the entire time I was there (40 min). WTF is so right haha!
thanks Jenny!
My husband would LOVE that cheese tour. I do love cheese, but he is crazy for it. And oddly enough, my daughter does not like cheese (which is just unbelievable !!). Those kittens look like quite the pair. How fun! My gym complaint is when people use 2 machines. They hop back and forth. I guess they would let you work in a set, but who wants to change the settings and wipe up their sweat. Ugh. People do have some annoying habits at the gym!
yeah your husband would have loved the cheese monger too – talk about being wild about cheese haha!
omg yes people using two machines as well is annoying! I want to just use the machine also without someone panting and sweating over me waiting to get back on again. ugh!!
Wow, you reminded me of how lucky I am that I don’t have to go to a gym to workout! WTH is wrong with people not putting equipment away? That’s gym 101. Anyways, sounds like a really great week and kittens! I wish I could have a cat but I am deathly allergic. So weird because I always had cats growing up.
I am going to do cross fit in the fall. I have been watching you from afar for so long and there’s a cross fit (in an old church) near me – people 55 and older get a membership reduction so I’m waiting until after my birthday. I guess that is old(er) person behaviour right? wait for the price reduction? haha! I have no idea otherwise why people can’t put away their equipment. it boggles the mind.
shame you are allergic to cats!
Aww, you adopted not one, but two kitties. You’re wonderful (how many kitties do you have total?).
Are you an afternoon/evening runner? It sounds like you’re trying to switch to mornings? Just so you know, it’s possible – I used to run in the evenings and then completely switched to morning workouts. It’s possible :)
yes, we couldn’t leave Bas all alone! he’s such a sweet boy too :) We have 5 at the moment, but two will go to my stepson at some point (one is already his, Bas will be his buddy).
I am trying to be a morning workout person in general. I do have some runs in the morning that feel pretty good so I believe it will happen. But also with the heat, it needs to be done in the morning. Thanks for that vote of confidence !
Ugh on the gym hogs. I had a similar experience at the hotel gym in Boston — a guy kept all the free weights even when he was done with certain sets. OTOH some circuits I do I NEED all the weights — but that’s why I try to hit the gym before anyone else is there.
Yay on the kittens! I love the name pickles and was thinking you’d rename Sebastian as Mustard. :-)
but that’s the thing – you know you need the weights so you try to get your workout done before everyone else. that’s just being a considerate person!
haha on the name Mustard LOL – we didn’t actually rename him since he’ll eventually go to my stepson and he liked the name :). Otherwise, great idea haha!
I’ve been a bit sad at my slow progress, even though I know I’m doing well and my physio is happy with me (saw her Monday). But I can’t really run with friends or get to the canal etc. and it’s a bit annoying (some friends can’t run for other reasons, e.g. health crisis or just had a baby so it’s just a perfect storm and not all about me and my running and I should remember that). You’re doing well, esp if it’s as hot there as it has been here!
ah Liz I’m sorry you are feeling sad about your progress. The worst thing about healing and recovering is how long it can actually take. It is ok to feel sad about it though, as long as you can pull yourself out of it. Thank you so much – and yes it’s been hot (and Paris is actually blazing right now)!!
Awww, Mr. Pickles and Bas are such cuties!
Don’t get me started on the lack of gym etiquette I see (and have seen over the years)!
it’s nuts to me. I can’t imagine leaving my stuff at every station. don’t people realise how annoying it is?
Oooh! Paris! How exciting!
It’s been forever since I’ve been to a gym. I don’t remember it being any better back then (but people generally weren’t on their phones). My pet peeve about walking Bandit with Mr. Judy — he checks his phone literally about 5 times. He can’t just be still while Bandit does his business everywhere. It’s insane!
Great job getting up early!
The phone use at the gym is out of control! no wonder someone is one a machine for 20 minutes. I’m there for one reason and one reason only, to work out. Not to check my TikTok. Geez. It’s really a sort of addiction it seems.
thanks Judy!
First of all. Your kittens. I love them.
Frustration ends me. I know I need to be patient, but I don’t want to be. Like a toddler.
Proud of you for pushing through!
they are so cute, right??
I wish it was actually acceptable to act like a toddler sometimes. you know, get it out of the system!
Thanks Jenn!
You had me at cheese. Ha! I’m originally from Wisconsin, a state in the US known as the Dairy State. Love my cheese! Sounds like a fun event.
Good for you for adopting both kitties! So cute.
haha I know a few people who feel the same! we are really loving the kitty cats!