First of all – I really wanted to get to all the blogs and all the comments this week and I failed. I am so, so sorry! I just had way too much going on. I am still going to attempt to do this and maybe even today!!
This week was crazy for both of us. Ron had colleagues here from Prague so he was in the office for intense meetings 3 days this week. On Wednesday I actually joined them all for dinner as many of them I had met in Prague when I traveled with Ron back in March of last year. But that meant also a kind of late evening.
Also, I switched my office day from Tuesday to Friday as one of the women I work with had asked a few of us other women to go for a drink/ dinner after work. It only ended up being 3 of us but it was really nice. Thank dog for at least a few normal, nice colleagues!! I got home quite late though and …
Was up again at 6am on Saturday to drive to Haarlem (about 1.5hr) for parkrun. We’d had this one on the planning for quite a while, and since I am trying to do all the Dutch parkruns AND reach my 50th this year, we bit the bullet and went for it. Afterwards, we still wanted to do coffee with everyone and we finally got on the road around 11:30. Once we were home it was quick shower and change to ride over to a friend’s housewarming BBQ (I went for pre-BBQ activities). But then I had to leave around 5:30 so that I could come home and actually eat with my husband, and once we were done with that we went to say goodbye to some friends we made through parkrun who are moving back to St Paul next Wednesday. Boo.
Anyway. I shall digress no further. Let’s get into how the week went fitness-wise:
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 28
Plan vs. Actual
Monday – 1.2KM walk, W3R1 30 min, gym
Tuesday – 3.2KM walk +W3R1 30 min (4.4KM + c/d walk/run = 5KM), gym 50 min
Wednesday – 2.8KM walk, W3R2, 10min brisk walk/20min running/ 5-10min cool down, gym
Thursday – 3.3KM walk, W3R2 10min brisk walk/20min running/ 5-10min cool down (4KM), gym 50 min
Friday – 2.8KM walk office day Amsterdam
Saturday – 2.8KM walk, parkrun Haarlem (W3R3 will attempt to run the full 5KM) I DID IT!
Sunday – walk, gym still to come, energy is low, this was a really busy and intense week
Running
It was actually a good, strong-feeling running week this week, though Monday and Wednesday were pushed out by a day.
Tuesday – I ran at lunch since I had a short walk in the morning and was able to start at 7:30. My runs are time goals and not pace or distance. I had already done a few 30 min runs so I knew I could do this. Nothing major to report.
Thursday – I really wanted to try to run Wednesday anyway, but it just wasn’t happening. So I got up quite early (for me), walked my 1 km and then started the workout which was intervals. I liked this workout though I didn’t know what pace to shoot for (the workout was for “tempo” pace), and eventually I got down to 6:00mpk pace. Hey, maybe I still have it somewhere deep inside me haha!
Saturday – parkrunday! Really, really wanted to do this in one go. And I did!! Since I’ve been doing time based increments, I actually programmed a workout for 40 mins. I can run 30, 35, why not 40? And if I really couldn’t do 5km in 40 min that’s ok too. I did it in 38 min and some change. Now I can use that as my new baseline.
I also completed my 16th of 17 Dutch parkrun in Haarlem and my 44th parkrun in total. I kind of need to do the 17th before September 9th because there will apparently be another one added on that day…
Haarlem was a lot of fun and I also got to see my parkrun friend Marcia again! We met in Leiden ages ago and have done quite a few other parkruns together where possible.
Total running this week: 14.2KM
Gym
So far I’ve been to the gym twice this week. Nothing massive to report. Except on Thursday one gymbo was doing a whole circuit (at 6pm, when it’s busy) and claimed quite a few machines. I thought he was done with one so I asked if I could use it. Fully expecting a “no”, he nicely replied, “sure no problem!” and even removed all his weights. It *IS* possible, fellas!! (Still why you are doing an entire circuit in the weights area when it’s busy is beyond me. just use one machine at a time, do your sets and rests, and move along).
I may still go to the gym before 5pm today (Sunday), but I’m just not sure yet.
Cycling
No major cycling this week either though I did cycle out to my nail appointment and back and to a friend’s housewarming BBQ. Total biked this week: 23KM
Walking
Still need to walk today, Day 198 of the walk streak. Walking was not super exciting either this week, just getting out and getting it done. Total walking: 16.1KM
Coming up Next Week
Week 30
Still walking …
Monday – walk, W4R1 35 min, gym (appt with PT)
Tuesday – walk
Wednesday – walk, W4R2, 40min steady run, gym
Thursday – walk
Friday – walk, gym
Saturday – walk, volunteering at home parkrun
Sunday – walk, (W4R3 60 min) 10KM Pride Run in Amsterdam
I just looked at my calendar and I have no extra things next week – THANK GOODNESS!! Only on Sunday I am participating in the Pride Run in Amsterdam.
That’s a wrap!
Sounds like quite a busy but fun week!
I think people just don’t think about others when they are using the gym. Not that they mean to be selfish, but they just don’t think. I am glad that the other woman who is at the office gym when I am uses the kettlebells, so I don’t feel bad for needing all the different free weights!
very busy but fun week!
I wish people would think of others. I guess I don’t understand how you could NOT simply because you are actually there with other people. Obviously people who are doing other things that I don’t do in the gym do not bother me. But watching YouTube videos for 5 minutes between sets? come on!
50 Parkruns… that’s impressive!!
And kudos to you on running the whole 5k. I used to be able to but not anymore or at least I don’t care to… My friends all use run walk intervals and boy does it make running more pleasant.
I’m getting in my gym time too… what pisses me off if when someone pauses on a machine to check their phone (and not for just a minute). I am rushed and need to get in and out before work!!
Yes, nearly there, just 6 to go! I really needed the confidence booster of the 5K! I hope this week’s 10K isn’t going to throw me in the wrong direction haha!
this is my point about the gym – I’m there to get my workout done. In and out. People constantly on their phone! I don’t even use mine except to push play on my Spotify play list. that’s it.
Looks like a great week for you with being active. That’s a lot of park runs! congrats
Thank you Deborah!
Sounds like overall it was a good week! Congrats on beating your actual time expectation at the Parkrun — that always feels good.
Definitely just a bit too busy! Thanks a lot, here’s to continuing and getting past the 5KM in one go (may it soon be 7 or even 10 whoo hooo)!
Nice job! You had a lot going on this week and still got your workouts in. For the gym- I know that technically people are supposed to let you alternate sets if you ask (and if they’re hogging the equipment) but then I would have to remove all their heavy, heavy plates and put on my little puny ones… it just doesn’t seem like it would work. If only we could just have the gym to ourselves!
yeah if you have to continually change plates is it really helping? I just think if you work out in a gym you kind of have to consider others and do one thing at a time. Sure if it’s really quiet, then do your thing but at peak hours? Nah.
Wee, you had a busy, but fun week. These park runs sound really awesome. Are they all over The Netherlands?
Definitely! and well not “all over” but in 17 cities currently. With some new ones to be launched still this year!
Nice numbers on all those parkruns! You are so committed to them, and I think that’s awesome!
Thank you Kim!
Wow, what a great and active week! I love all those park runs. I don’t go to the gym often enough, but I should do more than just run!
Thanks Melissa! And you’re doing great – the fact that you get your runs in is awesome! not always easy with kids!
Looks like a good week for you and yes, normal coworkers are nice to have. My favorite one moved to a different office and we try to get together, but schedules make it tough!
I think your friend Marcia follows me on Strava–there’s a Marcia in the Netherlands, it has to be her!
Thanks Wendy! I did get to see my former colleagues over the weekend as well. was really nice. but yes, schedules and such make it harder to connect.
that would be so funny if Marcia followed you!
Great week, you packed a lot in there, friends and fitness! Way to go on the parkrun :)
Thank you Jessie!
Don’t apologize for being busy! It happens to the best of us! <3
You are doing awesome and moving forward, and that's all anyone can ask!
ah thanks for understand Jenn! I really have good intentions!
I do get behind on replying to my comments too! I can read them on my phone, and reply, but it’s easier to work on my computer. I wish I could comment on all of our blogs from my phone, but rarely any of them let me do it. Bummer! So I do read, but don’t always get to comment.
I totally get it! I’m trying to prioritise stuff, blogs included but there is only so much time in the day!
Good week for you! It’s hard to fit it all in, but you got a lot of variety. Congrats on running all those parkruns!
You are not alone in being late in your blog commenting… ahem, here I am commenting on Friday. Our youngest son and d-i-l are in town this week so I’ve been doing lots of family stuff. :-)