WRD: Week 29 And I’m spent

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 (!!!)

This past week was exhausting and everything kind of got adjusted along the way. I’m having a lot of trouble with sleeping (what’s new) and Sunday night was horrendous. I had to go back to work on Monday with about 4 hours of sleep and let me tell you it was FULL ON. No casually spending the day catching up and taking it easy, clearing out emails, etc., NOPE, FULL ON my work and another colleague’s work because we had 2 people (from our team of 4) on vacation last week. Next week will hopefully be better, but not with the weather, because we’ll be getting the heat wave that my North American friends have been experiencing – so looking forward to that…

I worked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday additionally doing sports massage for the 4 Day March walkers in Nijmegen. So stress at job number 1 and then physical hard work on job 2 and I was absolutely spent!

This Week In Fitness

Plan vs Actual – quite a few changes:

  • Monday – was a rest day, but I’ll be switching out with Tuesday’s intervals (3 x 1200 / 200 rest) REST
  • Tuesday – walk at lunch Forgot I had an appt w/ the podiatrist, 5.7KM biking, Intervals on the treadmill after massage clients 6.5KM
  • Wednesday – 5KM run (AM) HA! Hilarious! not a chance!! Lunch Walk 2.5KM
  • Thursday – switch out with Friday (REST) 6KM Recovery Run
  • Friday – 8KM Fartlek run REST
  • Saturday – Intervals (3 x 1600 / 200), gym? 3KM run, sprints & strength drills 5.5KM in total
  • Sunday – 16KM long run 15KM

Hard to really elaborate further on this week, it really was mostly work, attempting to get my runs in and trying to get some sleep. By Friday I was a wreck; I literally did NOTHING on my day off.

On Tuesday I finally saw my podiatrist; my physio mentioned that I may want to get my insoles checked because I seem to be severely overpronating (would explain the pain in my ankle, but odd because I never was “severe” with overpronation) – she had me run a bit for her so she could check and she agreed with the physio. She found the Altra Torins that i’ve been wearing to be way too flexible and not offer any support in the ankle and heel and suggested I find something else with a minimal drop and a bit of support and mentioned maybe Hoka’s would be good for me. UGH. More new shoes! This hobby was not supposed to cost so much! I just bought the new Torin’s and really didn’t want to shell out another EUR 150 for shoes! But in the end, I did get a pair of Hoka Clifton 6. I read that these were wider and with a 5mm drop not a huge difference with the Altra zero drop. I’ll be honest, I’m really nervous and fed up at the same time with getting new shoes – I can’t just wear anything and Altra and Hoka (to a less extent) are not super easy to buy here in the Netherlands.

I bought the Hoka’s but of course my insoles don’t fit properly anymore… I put the old ones in for now (I ran Saturday and Sunday in them) but I have to drop by the podiatrist again on Monday during my lunch to have her adjust them

bye bye Altras
Yeah, I shocked myself as well. Tuesday Intervals.
Recovery Run over the Mandela Bridge on Thursday
Alpaca Smiles on Sunday
Sunday Long Run done – we are both toast, but we are together!

This Week In Numbers

Not very exciting at all:

Biking 18.9 KM (all commuting)
Running 4 x total 33 KMS
Gym nope, but sure had a workout massaging clients this week
AM Workout laughable
Steps *83,589 or around 11.9K steps average per day

Coming up Next Week

  • Monday – REST
  • Tuesday – Intervals; 5 x 1000m / 200m rest
  • Wednesday – 5KM run (AM)
  • Thursday – Bodypump, Sprint
  • Friday – REST
  • Saturday – Intervals 6x 800 / 200 at the track, strength at the gym afterwards
  • Sunday – 14KM long run – also plan to run at least 7KM straight through (still trying to build up endurance)

As I mentioned the weather is going to be hot hot hot so I’ve once again no idea how it’s all going to pan out. Let’s see. I hope to get the intervals done early after work Tuesday so that I’m not tossing and turning all night and can therefore make a serious attempt at an early recovery run Wednesday. Send your sleep and early morning wake up juju please?

One other thing: my hair is already fading. I’m so annoyed. I’m going to have to call the salon this week to find out if this is normal or… ? I have only washed my hair once this week (as per usual), 3 times rinsed in the shower with lukewarm water and three times just sprayed with a water bottle to make sure i didn’t go to work looking like a lion. I don’t think it’s normal! It should at least be a couple of weeks before it really starts to go!

That’s a wrap!

How was your week? Any good trainings? Races? Have you ever had a period where it seemed like you could never find the right running shoe? Have you ever made a selfie with an alpaca? (I thought they were Llamas but Jenn at Runs with Pugs mentioned they were alpacas and sure enough, I checked on the farm’s website, they are alpacas!)

24 thoughts on “WRD: Week 29 And I’m spent

  1. So sorry that you had such a busy first week back at work! Like you mentioned, I hope that this upcoming week will be much better for you!

    I hope that the new Hoka sneakers will end up working out well for you. I know it’s always super stressful to have to switch sneakers, especially going over to a different brand.

    1. Thanks Kim. Fingers crossed for a more relaxed week! Finding the right shoes has been a struggle since even before my operation. I hope the Hoka’s are finally “the one (one)” hahaha see what I did there?

  2. I’ve gone round and round with shoes, ans (currently) am very happy with Brooks Adrenalines. I’ve worn (and loved) the Mizuno Wave Inspires, but they kept tweaking each new model (enough that I could really feel a difference). A shoe store owner recommended the Brooks to me, a couple years ago, and they are very similar but don’t seem to get modified as much with each new edition.The Brooks Ravenna’s are also similar but not quite as supportive. I have very high arches, and I over-pronate like a badass, so I really need a supportive shoe.

    1. I wish I had more choice! When I first started running I was in Nike’s, then Brooks for quite a while, then New Balance but I got real back black toenails, then back to Nike’s and then I just had so much pain I had to switch to the Altra’s for the toe room. But apparently now (???) the zero drop is not good after a long period of time… UGH. My kingdom for normal feet!

  3. I feel your pain. I have been having more and more trouble sleeping as I get older. My doctor asked me if I wanted her to prescribe sleeping pills but I don’t want that. I’ll just have to figure it out, I guess. I make changes to my running plan all the time too. We have to do what feels right for us. Good luck with your next week’s schedule!

    1. I am with you, Laurie. I definitely don’t want sleeping pills. Many years ago, during a really bad period in my life, i had anti-depressants and because my insomnia was so bad, I also had sleeping pills. Trust me when I say, they don’t create any happiness, that’s for sure. So, yes, we’ll just have to figure it out. Thanks!

  4. I go through phases on not sleeping well either. This mountain air is doing wonders for me. I also have a hard time getting my ass out of bed early to run

    1. mountain air is amazing, isn’t it!! I haven’t been back in that area for a long time now, I’m thinking of going back to NM next year or max 2021. It’s a hard adjust to the altitude in the beginning but so worth it!

  5. Sorry about the hair, that’s crap. I know when I got mine bleached and then the stripes dyed orange they said it was a semi-permanent and not to wash it between the appt on the Thursday and my race on Sunday (um yuck) and it was already fading and gone within a week. I hope you get some answers as it’s so lovely but must have taken ages!

    And we are getting that heatwave, too, of course, I hope I’ve arranged work so when it’s over 30 tomorrow here I can stay downstairs as much as possible. With you on the sleep, too – wah!

    1. it did take ages!! and I only wash my hair once a week anyway (I rinse with conditioner) but I really didn’t expect it to go this fast. Sigh. The heat is going to be insane – are you also getting around 38 later in the week??? I’ve got some ice packs in the freezer at the ready for when I’m too hot in bed – I tuck those in a tea towel or cotton tee shirt and lay one under me and one on my belly. it does help.

  6. Sounds like you need a vacation from vacation haha. My job number 1 gets like that too and you’re right, it’s hard to find the energy to do anything else. Good luck with the hot hot weather – I lived with a gallon of water beside me each day to keep up with fluid loss. Stay cool!

    1. yes I feel like this exactly! a vacation from my vacation! I’m trying really hard anyway to keep extra hydrated, especially this week! Thanks!

  7. Wow, sounds like a tough week :( Fingers crossed that this week is a little better in spite of the heat. I hope the new shoes are working out well!

    1. Thanks Chaitali – it was a rough week. Stay tuned for the shoe update! *fingers crossed*

  8. Going on 4 hours of sleep (if that) myself today! But it’s my own fault because I went to Country Thunder with my boys. Sometimes it’s worth sacrificing sleep. We had a blast.

    I am so sorry to hear about your shoe and foot debacle. i hope you get it figured out. i was told that I’m starting to pronate because my arches are falling. Such an old lady issue, I swear.

  9. We need a vacation from a vacation. :-) I hope things get better and you aren’t too stressful at work. Ugh, that sucks about the shoes. Hopefully the new ones work out for you.

  10. A few years ago I had so many issues with running shoes. I tried everything and ended up back where I started, in Brooks. I hope you can find something that works for you! Not getting enough sleep is the worst. I have been able to get decent sleep most nights lately but the ones here and there when I dont get to sleep enough are rough.

  11. No, no Alpaca selfies although I have seen Alpacas. They’re so cute.

    And no, running is not a cheap hobby. Every new hobby I start (there are a lot!) my husband thinks well that’s simple & won’t cost much. Bwahaha! Right!

    Sometimes you just have to prioritize the rest, so good job with that. Take it easy in the heat, too. Remember, effort not pace when it’s dangerously hot. I hope you get lots of sleep! Not sleeping is the worst. :(

  12. I love your alpaca selfie! Finding the right running shoes can be so frustrating — and expensive. I hope the Hoka’s work for you. I am debating whether I am due for new shoes yet. I don’t feel like I’ve run that much in the ones I have (I got them in Nov) but maybe all the short runs add up. I hope you get some sleep. I have an uncanny ability to fall dead asleep watching tv and then be WIDE AWAKE when I go up to bed.

  13. Nope, I’ve never taken a selfie with an alpaca, but I have with many cows! :D

    Ugh, I hope you can get some better sleep. It’s tough getting back on track after vacation when our hours are so different from the work week. I’m visiting my mom this week so I’m sleeping in until 7 or 8 every morning. It’s great this week, but next week…

  14. Sorry the return to work slapped you up side the head like that. I hope the Hoka’s do the trick for you. It’s no fun at all searching for a shoe that works for you. Maybe give Glycine a try. It totally helps me sleep.

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