Who did NOT die! Founding member of Team Not-So-Fast and costume addict (Comments welcome)

[The Expert]

Dopey Training Week 3 Recap

Monday: rest
I flew home from D23 on a redeye out of LAX. I normally avoid LAX, but had found a flight from there to JFK with a lie-flat Delta One cabin that I could use miles to upgrade into -- well worth it! I actually got about 4.5 hours of sleep. After a short layover, I got home about 12:30pm. I actually had a bit of jetlag that afternoon, but spent the day catching up on work email, unpacking and doing allll the laundry.

Tuesday: 2 miles LR
I jumped on the treadmill and did an iFit workout, controlling the belt myself to do 60/30 intervals.

Wednesday: 1 mile warm-up, 5x 100m at R pace (9mm), 1 mile cool-down
This was my first speed workout, which I documented upthread in this post.

Thursday: Strength
I did one of my workouts from my previous trainer in my home gym. Things felt a bit heavy for some reason, and my muscles were a bit sore that night.

Friday: 2 miles LR
Another iFit treadmill run with manual 60/30 intervals. Legs still felt a little sore but nothing impactful.

Saturday: 4 miles LR
DH has been looking at EVs for his commute, so we left at 9:30am to revisit and drive a few. Ended up leasing the first one, but it still took most of the day to get everything done. I left for home to feed the cats while he took delivery, and I still had time to knock out this hour-long run on the treadmill. For some reason, the soreness was back but with a vengeance. My hips ached and my legs just felt heavy. It kind of spread and got worse through the night, so I suspect this is some kind of hormonal/menopause annoyance -- yay. I took some Tylenol and got in the hot tub for 20 minutes before bed.

Sunday: 8 miles LR 6 miles LR
This feels a bit early for this long of a run in the plan, but I went in with full intention of doing it. Treadmill again, 60/30 intervals. While my legs didn't feel heavy, I was still having some hip soreness and just general fatigue. I wasn't feeling it, and some of it was mental knowing I still had to do some laundry, make a pretty involved dish for dinner, and pack for a work trip that starts tomorrow.

I tried doing some intervals as power walks rather than runs, but it was flaring my neuroma, so I added some incline. I did that for 15 minutes, then went back to run/walk for 15. I got 6 miles -- about 90 minutes -- in and was just done, so I stopped.

Thoughts...
I think the fatigue just caught up to me this week after all the travel. I hit the road again -- back to LA, ugh -- early tomorrow, which is a scheduled rest day. I come back on a redeye late Wednesday night, so I've adjusted my plan a bit. I may also just need to kill the speed work from my plan. My goal is not necessarily to get faster, but to finish Dopey upright and strong. The changes to my hormone levels and body since I last used this plan may require more recovery time.
OPEN TO CRITIQUE OR ADVICE!

Monday: rest
Travel out to LA.

Tuesday: 2 miles easy
Our group is planning a hike roughly this length in the morning before meetings, which I'm going to count.

Wednesday: 1 mi warm-up, 7x 100m R (9mm), 1 mi cool-down Strength
I am moving my strength workout from Thursday to Wednesday, and I'm hoping the hotel gym is equipped for it.

Thursday: Strength Speed work from Wed or 2 to 3 miles easy
I get home about 10:30am and will see how I feel.

Friday: 2 miles easy

Saturday: 3 miles easy

Sunday: 4 miles M pace

 

[DopeyBadger]

I think the fatigue just caught up to me this week after all the travel. I hit the road again -- back to LA, ugh -- early tomorrow, which is a scheduled rest day. I come back on a redeye late Wednesday night, so I've adjusted my plan a bit. I may also just need to kill the speed work from my plan. My goal is not necessarily to get faster, but to finish Dopey upright and strong. The changes to my hormone levels and body since I last used this plan may require more recovery time.
OPEN TO CRITIQUE OR ADVICE!

What's the speed work you'd plan on cutting, and what's the reason for cutting it? Too fatigue inducing and lack of necessity Because you could always tone it down if you feel like it's too much. Just do really short faster reps of like 15s to help break up the monotony of always easy days if you cut speed work completely.

 

[The Expert]

Just do really short faster reps of like 15s to help break up the monotony of always easy days if you cut speed work completely.

I like this idea. Thank you! And yes, I'm kind of blaming it for some of the fatigue last week because it's the first time I've had it in my plan, but there were plenty of other factors that could have also contributed.

I'm going to try shortening the reps for now, but also reserve the right to go back and try a full workout later in my training when I'm not jetlagged or sore and just see how it goes.

 

[jmasgat]

On the Le Creuset front.....it's open now! You know, in case you want me to check anything out for you!

 

[The Expert]

Dopey Training Week 4 Recap

Monday: rest
I flew out to the west coast AGAIN -- this time for work. I left on a super early flight and was out there by noon with the time change, though it felt far later to my body. I wandered the neighborhood a bit (Hollywood), grabbed lunch, played at the Funko HQ which had every type of Funko Pop ever made AND Loungefly stuff. Thankfully I don't collect either, as I took a super tiny suitcase, but I did pick up a Mahomes and a Kelce to welcome the start of the Chiefs season. I watched the opening of the Democratic National Convention in my hotel room while finishing a knitting project. Just the self-care time that my brain and body needed.

Tuesday: 2 miles LR 2.5 mile hike with 350+ ft elevation gain
Before our packed two days of work, we started day one with a lovely hike on a loop trail up to an area near the Griffith Observatory. I'll be honest -- it was tougher than I thought! An excellent substitute for the easy 2 miles I had planned that day. And we had a great turnout!



Wednesday: Rest or Strength
Knowing I had to check out of the hotel and fly home on a redeye that night, I had hoped to get up early enough to hit the hotel gym for some strength training before things started. HA! After a packed day Tuesday and a team dinner, I was knackered. I usualllhy do this workout on Thursdays, with speed work on Wednesday, but knowing my schedule I swapped things around. Technically this is an optional strength training day, so I didn't miss a workout, but mentally it felt like a miss.

We had meetings until 5, then hung out with the group for a bit. There were three of us flying out that night, so we all left together for LAX. It was WAY early for me, but with lounge access I didn't mind. It was either hang out in a crowded hotel lobby or in the Delta lounge with free food and drinks. My flight was at 11:30pm via Minneapolis, and though I was up front it was NOT the lie-flat seats like my last trip! And the flight was less than 4 hours. Ugh. I popped on my eye mask and put in my earplugs the moment I could, and my watch still told me it registered zero sleep.

Thursday: 1 mile warm-up, 7x 100m at R pace (9mm), 1 mile cool-down Easy Strength Workout
I got home about 10:30am, and it was nice to have the whole day to recover from the trip. But the lack of sleep and the mental drain from the last few days were hitting hard. There was NO WAY I was doing a run, let alone speed work! After unpacking, eating lunch and a quick nap, I went down to the gym for an easy strength workout with free weights and stretching. At least I did something!

That night, my hips and back were KILLING me. I figured it was from the way I "slept" on the plane, because I definitely didn't work out hard enough to be sore. I popped an Advil and went to bed early.

Friday: 2 miles LR
I jumped on the treadmill for this and it was way harder than it should have been. My hips and lower back were still acting up, and everything felt heavy. I checked the calendar and suspect my period is coming, so this must be how my "cramps" are manifesting this month. Perimenopause is so fun!

Saturday: 3 miles LR
I had a bit more energy than Friday, but still feeling it in my hips.

Sunday: 4 miles M pace
Team struggle bus! To hit M pace, I essentially change my intervals from 60/30 to 70/30. I had no trouble with the interval length, but really struggled to even jog through them. I found myself power walking a good chunk of the intervals. My hips and back are feeling better, but the legs still feel a bit heavy.

This coming week is the last before we are gone for 2 weeks across Europe and Scotland. I have no specific training runs on my plan for while I'm gone, knowing myself and the likelihood I will (not) stick to any plan. But I'm going to take gear and try to do a few runs when I feel like it, hoping the lack of pressure of a plan will make them more likely to happen.

We leave super early next Saturday but I will check in here before I go!

 

[col1]

Dopey Training Week 4 Recap

Monday: rest
I flew out to the west coast AGAIN -- this time for work. I left on a super early flight and was out there by noon with the time change, though it felt far later to my body. I wandered the neighborhood a bit (Hollywood), grabbed lunch, played at the Funko HQ which had every type of Funko Pop ever made AND Loungefly stuff. Thankfully I don't collect either, as I took a super tiny suitcase, but I did pick up a Mahomes and a Kelce to welcome the start of the Chiefs season. I watched the opening of the Democratic National Convention in my hotel room while finishing a knitting project. Just the self-care time that my brain and body needed.

Tuesday: 2 miles LR 2.5 mile hike with 350+ ft elevation gain
Before our packed two days of work, we started day one with a lovely hike on a loop trail up to an area near the Griffith Observatory. I'll be honest -- it was tougher than I thought! An excellent substitute for the easy 2 miles I had planned that day. And we had a great turnout!

View attachment 889215View attachment 889216

Wednesday: Rest or Strength
Knowing I had to check out of the hotel and fly home on a redeye that night, I had hoped to get up early enough to hit the hotel gym for some strength training before things started. HA! After a packed day Tuesday and a team dinner, I was knackered. I usualllhy do this workout on Thursdays, with speed work on Wednesday, but knowing my schedule I swapped things around. Technically this is an optional strength training day, so I didn't miss a workout, but mentally it felt like a miss.

We had meetings until 5, then hung out with the group for a bit. There were three of us flying out that night, so we all left together for LAX. It was WAY early for me, but with lounge access I didn't mind. It was either hang out in a crowded hotel lobby or in the Delta lounge with free food and drinks. My flight was at 11:30pm via Minneapolis, and though I was up front it was NOT the lie-flat seats like my last trip! And the flight was less than 4 hours. Ugh. I popped on my eye mask and put in my earplugs the moment I could, and my watch still told me it registered zero sleep.

Thursday: 1 mile warm-up, 7x 100m at R pace (9mm), 1 mile cool-down Easy Strength Workout
I got home about 10:30am, and it was nice to have the whole day to recover from the trip. But the lack of sleep and the mental drain from the last few days were hitting hard. There was NO WAY I was doing a run, let alone speed work! After unpacking, eating lunch and a quick nap, I went down to the gym for an easy strength workout with free weights and stretching. At least I did something!

That night, my hips and back were KILLING me. I figured it was from the way I "slept" on the plane, because I definitely didn't work out hard enough to be sore. I popped an Advil and went to bed early.

Friday: 2 miles LR
I jumped on the treadmill for this and it was way harder than it should have been. My hips and lower back were still acting up, and everything felt heavy. I checked the calendar and suspect my period is coming, so this must be how my "cramps" are manifesting this month. Perimenopause is so fun!

Saturday: 3 miles LR
I had a bit more energy than Friday, but still feeling it in my hips.

Sunday: 4 miles M pace
Team struggle bus! To hit M pace, I essentially change my intervals from 60/30 to 70/30. I had no trouble with the interval length, but really struggled to even jog through them. I found myself power walking a good chunk of the intervals. My hips and back are feeling better, but the legs still feel a bit heavy.

This coming week is the last before we are gone for 2 weeks across Europe and Scotland. I have no specific training runs on my plan for while I'm gone, knowing myself and the likelihood I will (not) stick to any plan. But I'm going to take gear and try to do a few runs when I feel like it, hoping the lack of pressure of a plan will make them more likely to happen.

We leave super early next Saturday but I will check in here before I go!

A hike in that area of LA is on my bucket list looks awesome.

Enjoy Scotland My homeland. Where are you visiting there ?

 

[The Expert]

A hike in that area of LA is on my bucket list looks awesome.

Enjoy Scotland My homeland. Where are you visiting there ?

I love love love Scotland and have been several times. My husband's whole family is from there! This trip we're heading up to the Brora area, north of Inverness. We're connecting with friends who live in London, so it'll be a low-key visit with them (and a few distilleries, of course).

 

[jmasgat]

I have no specific training runs on my plan for while I'm gone, knowing myself and the likelihood I will (not) stick to any plan

I am always amazed/annoyed/impressed by everyone on vacation who writes something like "I did all of my workouts and still had time for 3-10 mile hikes".

I just got back from a visit to my daughter (hence the Assembly Row Le Creuset photo) and did exactly one run (having a sick, crying grandson and then picking up his cold may have contributed to that). Of course, I brought a bunch of gear--which took up most of my small suitcase. Oh well, at least I won't have to do laundry.

Have a great trip. The longest security line I have had to go through in the last year was at the Inverness airport. Followed by something I had never seen before: a mobile ramp (vs stairs)to our plane on the tarmac.

 

[The Expert]

I'm usually the one unpacking unused gear back at home, so I'm just trying to be realistic.

Good to know abut Inverness! We've traveled all over Scotland, but usually flights are in/out of Edinburgh. Definitely seen that ramp thing before -- even here in Vermont sometimes!

 

[col1]

I love love love Scotland and have been several times. My husband's whole family is from there! This trip we're heading up to the Brora area, north of Inverness. We're connecting with friends who live in London, so it'll be a low-key visit with them (and a few distilleries, of course).

Awesome….. I used to work in Inverness managing the Main Highland Rail line from Perth to Inverness, there is a location called Dalwhinne where one of my Signal cabins was and the distillery was right across the road. Still one of my favourite malts

Have a great time !!

 

[The Expert]

Awesome….. I used to work in Inverness managing the Main Highland Rail line from Perth to Inverness, there is a location called Dalwhinne where one of my Signal cabins was and the distillery was right across the road. Still one of my favourite malts

Have a great time !!

I love to take the trains in Scotland and really wish we had time to do one this trip. And yes, I am familiar with Dalwhinne. DH is a big whisky guy, so we've done our share of tours (and drams). He's an Islay drinker but I'm partial to Speyside (Balvenie, specifically). We're planning visits to Old Pultney, Clynelish, Brora and Tomatin while in the area.

 

[The Expert]

Dopey Training Week 5 Recap

How has it already been 5 weeks??

Monday: rest
I was grateful for this rest day after Sunday's heavy legs run, and also because this week was about to get crazy prepping everything for the trip. Out of the blue, though, I felt fine! All the pains and soreness and fatigue just went away. Thanks, hormones!

Tuesday: 3 miles LR
On the treadmill at 60/30 and everything felt fine. It's as if last week never happened! Even the random PF flareups were totally gone. I think I may have figured out another contributor to those -- sitting at my bar counter to work. I have an office set up on the lower floor, which is a walk-out basement so it's a bit dark. I tend to work at the bar upstairs and sit on (comfortable) barstools with backs. Well, Monday and Tuesday morning we had some work being done so I stuck to my desk in the office and suddenly ZERO nigglings of PF. I suspect some part of how I sit at the stool is contributing so I'm going to try and be at my desk as much as possible, or stand when I work at the bar.

Wednesday: 1 mile warm-up, 9x 100m at R pace (9mm), 1 mile cool-down
After skipping last week's speed work I really wasn't sure how this would go. I also ended up needing to cram it in between a bunch of things, so did it on the treadmill by time instead of distance. It felt good until about the 5th repeat and then it got hard! I powered through and finished, but did have to cut my cooldown a bit short to get to a meeting. I'm honestly not sure if the real world version I did a few weeks ago was harder or if it was just because of circumstances. I'll play with doing some outside and some on the TM as needed as I'd like to compare.

Thursday: Strength
I crammed in a quick 30 minute home gym workout with weights. Spent extra time on the legs and I upped the weights. Definitely felt it afterward!

Friday: 2.5 miles LR
Today was bonkers without a smidge of space on my calendar free. I had to drive 90 minutes round-trip to pick up our trailer we've been waiting 2 months to get fixed, wrap up a bunch of work stuff before being gone for two weeks, launder the guest room bedding for the house sitter, update all the notes for her on house and pet stuff, and pack my own things. Not only did I get it all done, I ALSO DID MY RUN -- treadmill with 60/30 intervals.

I did not miss a workout all week!! YAY!
Now to finish packing my bathroom stuff, use the rest of our farm share veggies for tonight's dinner and get to bed in preparation for our 5am (ugh) flight tomorrow morning!

As I've mentioned the next few weeks will be freestyle. I built my plan around my travels, so there's nothing I HAVE to do on any given day. But I am packing my running stuff and there are three or four days where there are good opportunities to run, weather cooperating. I'll report back when I return!

 

[NYC_MW]

Have fun!! Scotland (and Ireland) are on my bucket list!

 

[The Expert]

I've been out for two weeks traveling, but I AM BACK! If you've been following along, you know I built in down time during some of my travels. We tend to go pretty hard and do all the things, so realistically I know I'm not getting training in anyway. But I do get in lots of steps!

The trip was incredible. We flew into Paris, took a day trip to Brugge, Belgium the next day -- so cute.



We got lucky and the paralympic triathlon competition was moved to our one down day in Paris -- thank you dirty Sienne! So we trekked over on the metro and got to see the bike and run portion for the visually impaired group. It was so inspiring and I had no idea they did tandem bikes! We were able to walk right up to the course fencing and it was an easy trek between the bike loop and run loop (they do sprint distance). We even met a spectator whose wife was running the race for Italy! He had brought their infant daughter along, so we all learned how to cheer her in Italian as she ran past.



After that, we flew to Budapest for a few days -- new to me and one of DH's favorites. We had two incredible meals there, along with taking the funicular up to castle hill for the awesome view.



From there we flew to London and stayed with friends who live in Kent. Thankfully one is a fellow Chiefs fan, so he didn't mind staying up for our 1:30am season kick-off on arrival night (we were up until 5)! We had some lovely downtime in the English countryside after that, and visited a winery there. With climate change, their weather is much like the French Champagne region was 15-20 years ago, so they are growing some pretty good whites and making sparkling wine.



Finally we flew up to Inverness and rented a car. I'd never been further up north into the Highlands (DH and friends have). We were based in Brora, but drove up and down the east coast, all the way up to John O-Goats (northernmost point in mainland Scotland), visiting some distilleries along the way.



We flew back out of London and got back late Thursday night -- just shy of 2 weeks gone! I'm so grateful for our awesome house/pet sitter.



Dopey Training Week 6 Recap (going by training timeline)

Friday: rest
We returned late Thursday night from London via Detroit, so I gave myself a rest day.

Saturday: 4 miles LR
I had set up Covid and flu vaccinations for DH and I, we made our grocery run, caught a movie (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) and I did a bunch of laundry. Jumped on the treadmill mid-afternoon and just cranked it out with 60/30 intervals. It felt good to be back at it, and helped with the developing arm soreness from my flu shot.

Sunday: 9 miles LR
Jumping right back into this distance was worrisome, but I did okay! Again, treadmill and 60/30 intervals, but I also waited until the early games started, so I had lots of distraction from NFL Sunday Ticket and got it done before my Chiefs started playing.

My view:


I definitely was ready to be done and my feet were a bit sore by the last mile. I had a bit of plantar fasciitis flare back up, but it was gone by this morning. I'm starting to worry about that during Dopey and thinking about what my next steps should be. I've switched shoes, added stretching + ball massage, and I have a compression sleeve. I thought taking two weeks without running while away might help, but it just won't go away. Open to suggestions but I suspect I need to seek out some medical advice, ugh.

This week is fairly normal until I fly out to Florida on Saturday to help my mom move out of the house she's been in since 1982. THAT should be fun - ugh. She is not an early riser, so hoping I can take advantage and get out early for my runs before the heat builds too much.

 

[Herding_Cats]

When I had problems with PF my pt said that stopping running wouldn’t do a whole lot (and I had already tried that…it did nothing.) I ended up doing a lot of stretching on their fancy incline/decline board (2min+) and a lot of calf strengthening. It’s worth it to get in with a PT if it’ll fit into your schedule.

To be fair though, you did come back from a trip and massively jump back in. So it might not be the big issue you’re worried about.

 

[GollyGadget]

Second strength training your calves! I've only had mild bouts of PF but since I started doing runner focused strength training, it hasn't flared up. It could be coincidence, but I doubt it.

 

[The Expert]

When I had problems with PF my pt said that stopping running wouldn’t do a whole lot (and I had already tried that…it did nothing.) I ended up doing a lot of stretching on their fancy incline/decline board (2min+) and a lot of calf strengthening. It’s worth it to get in with a PT if it’ll fit into your schedule.

To be fair though, you did come back from a trip and massively jump back in. So it might not be the big issue you’re worried about.

OH! I think we have one of those boards from when DH messed up his Achilles! I'm almost sure we moved with it.

I've made sure to do calf exercises in all my strength training, but also took a 2-week break from that. I think you nailed why it "suddenly" seems worse. Whew! Thank you!

 

[The Expert]

Just a quick update -- still in Florida! I was due to fly home today, but....

Thankfully here in Clearwater they don't expect it to get very bad, and so far the sun has been out more than it has rained. It's breezy but not that bad (yet). Just hoping power stays up.

TPA preemptively closed the airport at 2am so even though I'd bumped my flight from 2pm back to 7am (and then 5am), everything got canceled. Rather than risk going through Atlanta anytime soon (which was my only option tomorrow), I'm flying home via LGA on Saturday. Thankfully I anticipated September in Florida and brought extra meds, and I'm at my mom's house so not paying for extra hotel nights or anything.

This trip has definitely put a cramp in my running, though. I did get my long run in on Sunday morning, but haven't run a step since. I woke up with a migraine on Tuesday and we've just been super busy organizing the house for the move. I may be able to get something in between rain bands today, but we'll see.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Thinking about you this morning, as I saw a tiktok poster that shows up in my feed say (and show with security cams) that she got 4ft of water in her house in Clearwater overnight.

 

[The Expert]

Thinking about you this morning, as I saw a tiktok poster that shows up in my feed say (and show with security cams) that she got 4ft of water in her house in Clearwater overnight.

Thanks for reminding me to check in here! Thankfully we are in a high point in the city and didn't get any flooding here. The wind got pretty bad as the eye passed to the west, about 8-10pm, but not a ton of rain and no damage here aside from a tented pergola over the bbq. Lots of tree debris in the neighborhood but no major damage, and thankfully our power never went out.

My aunt lives down near the beach and while her area was okay, they had some serious flooding on the barrier island. A boat was deposited in the drive of my late grandmother's old building and I suspect my mother-in-law's previous house down there probably flooded. Her new place is close to where I am now and aside from a power outage, they are good. I have a nephew a bit north in Port Richey. There is flooding all around him, but he's good and has power. My other nephew in Savannah had a tornado knock out their power overnight, but all good now.

The airport just reopened, though I couldn't get there if I needed to as the causeway is still closed. We should be okay to get there by tomorrow for my 11am flight.