Usually there’s a lot about chatter about Blue Monday – traditionally the saddest day of the year, due to a combination of dark, cold days and nights, possibly being broke from the holidays, and – for many people – a time when resolutions made already feel like resolutions failed.
This year I not only completely forgot about it, I also didn’t hear anything about it. Then I realised that’s because I am also working from home, and at home I don’t listen to the radio (where I mostly heard about it). Another positive outcome of corona virus and lockdown, perhaps?
In any case, if one was a teenager/young adult in the 80’s, then one might possibly be triggered immediately to listen to this song when someone mentions “Blue Monday”:
Shall we get on with 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 3 in Review
Another busy week for me work wise. It didn’t start out that way so I thought it would be less stressful. Wrong.
Monday – Walk 9.3KM, 20 min body weight workout at lunch
Gerrit asked if I wanted to walk again after work, so I decided to do Marcia’s Butts and Guts video at lunch:
Definitely recommend checking Marcia’s YouTube channel for exercise videos that anyone can do and easily during a lunch break (or even a start or end of work day). Just 20 min on this video, but I was sweating and felt the effects of the workout for a couple of days afterwards.
Tuesday – Walk 5.78KM
Today at lunch I met up with someone I met via a friend of mine in Rotterdam who happens to live right down the street from me. She’s also American! I don’t meet a lot of Americans here in Arnhem so it was fun to finally meet up. The rain however was crazy and the wind was so bad there was no point in using an umbrella! Nonetheless it was great to meet her and discover how much we have in common.
It’s so tough to make new connections these days; being able to get outside with others is such a saving grace at the moment!
Wednesday – Walk 4KM Outside, 2KM Treadmill to hit step goal
I planned on my bodypump session today, but my lovely friend M-J asked if I had time to walk with her at lunch as she needed a friend to talk to. Of course I said yes; my workout is important but relationships are especially important right now, so I joined her. It was dry at least, no gale force winds and we even stopped for hot chocolate.
2KM on the treadmill to make up my steps for the day.
Thursday – 3.78KM, Treadmill Run (intervals Week 7 Run 2) 6KM
Back in the park again! Last week Chantor (my former running trainer) asked me if I wanted to join him and his toddler for a walk in the park. I couldn’t then so we planned on this week. And Kim (his wife, my hairdresser and friend) was suddenly free so she joined us. It was great to see them (and their toddler son) and Kim and I planned on doing notparkrun together on Saturday!
After a stressful afternoon at work I decided to do my run on the treadmill instead of bodypump. It went well, but I was able to distract from the time ( 15 min x 2 with 1 min rest in between) by watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix (confession: I never watched this show 20 years ago so I’m just seeing it now. I’m not really sure I like it that much – Lorelei is slightly annoying…)
Friday Walk 6.15 KM
My normal day off; did some practical things in the house; mostly figuring out the contents of a few boxes, getting rid of some stuff, hanging up artwork (still not done), laundry, that sort of thing. Did get out just before 2pm for a walk.
I did want to do bodypump, even though it could have an effect on Saturday’s run, but now my toe is really bothering again, I’m certain brought on by the fall. I moved the table and then started getting the materials out of the exercise room, struggled over a bunch of other crap and gave up. Too much pain in my foot and too much hassle.
Saturday –Run 5kM with Kim for notparkrun
Thursday we said we’d meet up “somewhere around 9” to run together in the park; Kim hasn’t run for quite a while and wanted to start up again. A standing appointment with me would give her the sort of motivation she needs to at least go once a week. Of course we didn’t talk about it again and I forgot to ask her if we were still meeting at 9… I did set my alarm to be up on time but just didn’t get out of bed!
At 8:55 I finally got out, looked at my phone and saw I had a message from Kim that she was on the way! i don’t think I’ve ever gotten dressed so fast! A quick ponytail and my teeth brushed, I only made her wait about 5 min. I even had my watch, gloves, sunglasses, everything. Helped that I actually did set my clothes ready the night before.
We had a lovely run and it was quiet and beautiful out. So nice to have someone else to run with (Ron runs with me but not “with” me)!
More house stuff the rest of the day and a homeowner’s meeting/ virtual drink with the other couple in our building. We planned on actually meeting in person but our rules changed again recently and we aren’t allowed more than 1 person from outside our home inside. Also we now have a curfew from 9pm to 4:30am until at least Feb 9th. So, virtual it was.
Sunday – Walk 6.4KM
Today was mostly more practical stuff. We measured the front and back garden areas and made wish lists for what we’d like to see happen in both. We are definitely going to have someone help us design the garden and possibly even set up a project to have it done. Neither one of us know anything about gardening and we want to make the investment not only for the value of the house in general but for ourselves to be able to enjoy our space to the fullest. Stay tuned!
We also worked on the exercise space again – more meaningful medals are up, marathon posters, a few photos; things to help inspire. Still have some organizing to do, but it’s coming together. Too bad it’s much smaller than we thought, but thankfully it fits two major pieces of equipment and Ron’s created tons of storage space for us.
I walked today whilst chatting to my Dutch bestie, Yvonne. Wish we could walk together but she lives too far away and we are asked not to travel anywhere right now – even within the country – if it’s really not necessary. Thank goodness for modern technology right?
Stats this week:
Walking 37.4KM
Running 11KM
Bodypump none
Spin bike none
Total steps: 85,753 (avg 12.250 per day)
Coming up Next Week
Sort of plan for next week
Walking +/- 30KM
Running 2x min 5KM, at least 1 x 30 min no walk break
Bodypump
A Marcia Workout on YouTube
A Judy Yoga Video (or two)
And of course the idea is to hit my 10K steps per day with all that walking and running
I definitely have the opposite of a green thumb! I do love our backyard when it’s not winter. It’s nice that you are making new friends it’s so hard right now. Sounds like a pretty good week for you! Thanks for linking up
I didn’t know anything about Blue Monday so thank you for educating me about it. I totally get why the day of the year would be hard for many people. There were some days last year at the height of the pandemic where every day felt like Blue Monday :( Luckily I’m feeling more hopeful these days due to the vaccine and having adults back in the White House.
Love that you’re making new friends right now. It can be so hard since we can’t really interact with people in person. I really hope that this time next year we will be able to go out more often and be more social.
I haven’t heard of blue Monday before but it makes sense! I think this year is tougher in general but I do think its good to not necessarily be around negativity as much due to not going into the office. I don’t have a green thumb at all but I do like hanging out on my deck when the weather is nice!
Wednesday was a busy work day for me as well, so I didn’t get to see the inauguration until that night. My husband and I are total “opposites attract” with gardening – he has the green thumb and I don’t, but unfortunately he’s always really busy in late spring/early summer during planting season so we’re stuck with my efforts. I never saw Gilmore Girls back in the day, and probably won’t but I’ve heard that Lauren Graham’s book is really good so it’s on my list.
I love how you got to walk with so many friends — IRL or virtually! I don’t know that I’ve heard of Blue Monday before. Maybe it always coincides with MLK JR day here, so we’re focused on that instead? Anyway, I’m glad you didn’t feel too blue. ;-)
I remember the song and listened while typing a comment. I love that B/W picture of you. It should be framed and on the wall. I LOVE Gilmore Girls. I was kind of disappointed with the last words said by Rory in Gilmore Girls Revival. I just checked and all 4 episodes are on Netflix so I might watch them again.
I had not heard of Blue Monday, I guess that’s a good thing (?). I’m excited to see what you do with your workout space. I have a lot of ideas on what to do with mine (in the basement, where Ellie and Sebbe reside), but we have a lot of clutter to clear out first. UGH. I agree with Zenaida…that B/W pic of you is amazing <3
It’s funny that you didn’t hear much about Blue Monday and this seemed to be the first year I heard about Quitters Day.
Yay that you had some human contact amid all the virtual
Blue Monday–it all makes sense! I’ve had my share of them this year! Trying really hard to push through winter. Having a routine certainly helps. Glad to see you’re putting the finishing touches on your place!
Marcia’s videos are intense — in a good way!
Yes, it’s hard to make new connections as we get older — even harder these days — happy you were able to make one, and another expat no less! What’s worse? The teenagers/young adults! Imagine trying to find a boyfriend/girlfriend these days. :(
I would LOVE to get someone in to design a garden. We’ve wasted a lot of $$ on the back where it seems nothing will grow — or what does grow the rabbits just mow down. Seriously, the rabbits!
Lots of getting outside which is great, I’m a bit trapped by the ice at the moment. I am a terrible gardener, really bad, and have a terrible garden, which doesn’t help (a dark, north-facing tunnel, basically). So enjoy and ask your designer for easy care plants! You’re doing so well with the house, so many details sorted out!
That’s great that you were able to meet up with another American! Definitely so hard to make new contacts these days.
I chuckled at your confession about Gilmore Girls – I’ve never watched it and people always look at me like I have three heads when I say that LOL
How fun to have someone help you design your garden! We worked with someone right after we bought our house because I was absolutely clueless about gardening. Now I love it and have developed a pretty decent green thumb – it affords me so zen time outdoors.
Oh, lots of questions this week!
First, I’m glad you were able to get out and get so much fresh air and friend time. That has to help improve things, just a bit. I am sorry your toe is bothering you again.
We live on a really nice sized lot with a huge, fenced backyard on a canal. We have gorgeous sunsets, and a patio with a fire pit. It’s one of my favorite things about our house and why I wanted this lot. I do not have a green thumb, sadly, so landscaping is a bit more simple. I started watching Gilmore Girls when it originally came out, but it’s not my jam. We did watch the inauguration and it was wonderful.
Nice job on your workouts last week and I love your workout room wall art. It looks great!
I’ve never watched the Gilmore Girls.
We have a beautiful back yard with a creek flowing past. I love standing at my kitchen window just staring at it. I grew up on a farm and as a result, I love gardening and have a very green thumb.
Sounds like you have a very social week! I do like our yard because it has a pool. I don’t swim laps in it (it’s boring!) but I like to lounge in it. I’ve never watched Gilmore Girls, but I did totally love Gossip Girl. I feel like that might be the same time frame.