Pitiful Strength Training, Good Running & Doggie Hospice: 10/19-10/25 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

Another tough week. Probably going to be a lot of them in the next couple of weeks. I swear I’m going to try and remember to be in the moment more, and dwell less on what will happen.
WeeklyWrap

Today I’m linking up with Holly from HohoRuns and Tricia at MissSippiPiddlin and their weekly wrap linkup. So how was my running last week?

  • Monday: Dog walk, 4 mile Speedwork (4 x 400/400), 1 mile WU, 1.25 mile CD
  • Tuesday: Dog walk (2), Ballet Beautiful
  • Wednesday: Dog walk,  Yoga for Pain Relief Align & Alleviate, 4 mile Tempo run with Darlene (My First 5k & More)
  • Thursday: Dog walk (2) and strength training oops, ST never happened!
  • Friday: Dog walk (2), 6 1/2 mile long run
  • Saturday: Yoga for Pain Relief Align & Alleviate & Knees, Dog walk
  • Sunday: Dog walk at park & photo session

Mileage: 14.5 (+8.5)

Another hard week
It was another tough, stressful week. When I texted my dog sitter to remind her we were leaving the dogs with her, when, and that Chester had had some problems the previous week, she texted back to say she no longer felt comfortable taking care of him.

As mad as I was at her canceling on such short notice, I believe that things happen for a reason, and the truth is it’s just as well. Chester did okay right up until Sunday, although I could tell he was declining again; we’re basically in doggie hospice mode. Could be any day or maybe another couple of months, according to his cardiologist.

Walking at the park
Walking at the park

We’ve tweaked his meds again and it’s all about spoiling him and making him comfortable. So that movie never happened. I could have gone Saturday, but we were already going out to eat and I was going to my USAFit Albany end of the year party and really didn’t have the energy to go out three times. Saturday was a bad night, and I was pretty exhausted and emotional Sunday and just not feeling it.

Chilling by the water
Chilling by the water

So Sunday we took them to the park, which we haven’t done in forever, and made frequent stops for photos. We grilled steak again that night so he could have some (his appetite is still great). I wanted to take him to the local ice cream place which was closing for the season, but in the end we didn’t have time.

Doggie Kisses
Doggie Kisses

My fear (and my hope) is that he will be like my cat Puss: we adopted 2 kittens (one of them was Gizmo) when she was 16 and in kidney failure because we figured she didn’t have long. 5 years later  . . . although I’m pretty sure Chester doesn’t have 5 years.

Better fall running
Better fall running

Hot Summer Runs Have a Payoff!
Well, on the brighter side running went particularly well this week. It wasn’t easy, but I pushed my pace. Loosely following Run Faster, Run Less means I only run 3 x week but none of those are easy runs. I had a few little aches and pains off and on that didn’t seem to actually have anything to do with running (except a very, very mild IT ache) and the even better news was that I felt really good after a hard 6 1/2 miles on Friday.

Cross/strength training was nearly non-existent and I need to do better this week. There were a lot of tears and a lot of baking (including dog cookies). I do wish I’d inherited the stress-cleaning gene, but cleaning is the last thing I want to do when I’m stressed (well, any time if I’m honest). Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but sometimes that’s life.

And a huge shout-out to all those MCM finishers! Anyone racing, of course, but that’s the big one I know so many runners were running/spectating.

How do you deal with stress (besides exercise)?

22 thoughts on “Pitiful Strength Training, Good Running & Doggie Hospice: 10/19-10/25 Weekly Wrap”

  1. I’m sorry you have to go through this with you beloved Chester. We all know it’s part of loving our pets, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
    The “Doggie Kisses” photo is beautiful.

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    1. Thanks, Marcia. Unfortunately even if you lived here I wouldn’t burden you with that. He needs to go out every 2-3 hrs & there’s always the possibility that he’ll stop responding to the meds. I had a friend offer. Really the only option was to board at a vet & I wouldn’t do that to him.

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  4. I definitely don’t clean when I am stressed. I just do things to keep busy so I don’t have time to think.

    I’m kinda lucky since my pets were healthy and then NOT so we just put them to sleep – there was no stress involved.

    Nice pics.

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    1. No, mine like to hang around & torture me. It’s never clear cut. The cardiologist actually ended up talking to my husband this weekend & said he understood; it’s very hard to make that decision when most of the time they seem fine. But when they ‘re not, it ‘s bad & it’s sudden.

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  5. My heart goes out to you! As a dog mom, I can certainly relate. They bring such joy. Try to enjoy the time he has left (and I am hoping it’s a long time!) and spoil him rotten. Cleaning the house would probably the last thing I would want to do. I appreciate you linking with us and I hope you have a better week!

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  6. Awww I am so sorry to hear about Chester :(…your pictures are so sweet! love the dog kisses!

    Cleaning is a CHORE!!!! I HATE it. I wish I could afford to pay someone to come and do it along with declutter and get rid of unnecessary -ish in my house!!!

    Way to go on your runs and yoga! ST is always so hard to incorporate for me, I know it is necessary but sometimes it is just too much work….

    In December, i am going to focus primarily on strength training with limited running…we will see how it goes.

    Continued positive thoughts and prayers to you and Chester.

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    1. Thank you so much for the prayers. I’m with you on the cleaning, obviously.

      I always say I’m going to try to lose those last few lbs during my off season, but it’s winter & then all I want to do is bake, eat carbs & sweets!

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  7. Oh, I’m so sorry. When our beagle got sick, she had 6 good months on meds followed by a rapid decline over a week or so. Luckily I was able to work at home a lot towards the end, and she passed away peacefully on a Sunday. It was hard and I mourned her hard, so I understand what you’re going through. Here’s one of my posts from one of the hardest days – thankfully we were spared the decision I was struggling with. http://got2run4me.com/2010/09/17/no-perfect-words/

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    1. That is such a beautiful post; thank you for sharing that & I’m do sorry for your loss.

      It’s actually been a long, long road with Chester – he was dx with a murmur at 6 & while murmurs are common in chihuahuas, that was still very young.

      Even until a few months ago, you would have never known he was sick.

      The cardiologist told me a while back that it’s highly unlikely he would just pass away. My animals never do.

      Since I don’t work, I have a front row seat, which is both a blessing & a curse.

      Oddly enough I stopped working, unexpectedly, shortly after we adopted him. It was as if God knew I needed to be there for him – he has had medical problems almost his entire life, except a few short yrs.

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