Goodbyes are hard: 11/16 – 22 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

I wrapped up my Peloton 5k Training with the virtual Champion for the Chesapeake 5k (folded into my longish run this week). Unfortunately a week of bad news.

bwrd

But first I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and sharing “race” week.

Workouts update

  • Monday: Yoga (30 min),  Dogwalk, Yoga (20 min)
  • Tuesday: Yoga (40 min), Dogwalk, 3ish TM miles, Yoga (20 min)
  • Wednesday: Yoga (40 min), PB Walking + Toning, Dogwalk., Yoga (20 min)
  • Thursday: Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk, Walk with Friend, Yoga (20 min)
  • Friday: Yoga (30 min), 5 mile LSD (including Champions for Chesapeake Virtual 5k), Yoga (20 min)
  • Saturday:  Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk, Yoga (20 min)
  • Sunday: Yoga (30 min), 3 recovery miles, Dogwalk, Yoga (20 min)

Running Mileage: 11 (NC)

JY = Jasyoga
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*

*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links

Running Update

Tuesday intention: easyish run
Will I or won’t I for my next virtual 5k? Haven’t really decided yet, but I think I’m going to try to run it this week. So if it’s “race week”, it’s time to take it a bit easier. Enter a Peloton Disco Fun Run + 10 min warmup & cooldown runs. There were still some intervals in the fun run, but I kept them conservative.

Zensah Mask. Surprisingly breathable. Definitely not cute, although I think I managed to put it on inside out!

Friday intention: how hard can I push for a virtual 5k?
Not too bad. First mile was the fastest, rookie mistake. I was doing pretty good until 2.5 miles into the “race” portion. I just couldn’t push anymore. Pushed pause, walked around a bit, then finished up with a fartlek. Hardly my fastest 5k, but the fastest I’ve run outside in a while, for sure.

Virtual is done, now I can wear the tee.

I also warmed up with a short walk, 1 mile run, cooled down with a 1 mile run. I wore a mask for the WU & CD, and I’ll write more about that on Tuesday. Then I walked some more, and did a short hike — I would have gone longer, but Bandit had been alone for about 3 hours by this point. He can go longer, but we’re rarely gone that long anymore and it makes him anxious so I needed to get home.

I’ll go back and hike that path some more there on a day when I don’t run — assuming it doesn’t really snow soon, which I don’t anticipate in the near future.

Many in the neighborhood seem to want to skip right over Thanksgiving in favor of Christmas. Don’t blame them!

Sunday intention: recovery run
It was cloudy and in the low 30s, but minimal wind. I kept it deliberately slow — I was rewarded with a nudge up on my V02 Max finally. Guess I haven’t been running my easy runs easy enough. Somehow I continue to pick the right running outfit, which isn’t easy in the transitional weather.

It was chilly but always good to catch up

Favorites of the week
My walk & talk with my friend & the scenery.

Off the beaten path

My short hike. It wasn’t super scenic. The beautiful Fall foliage is long gone. For me it’s about time in nature. Of course I love conquering a mountain, or more scenic hikes, but just being out in nature, walking through the woods — even if there’s no major scenery, it’s self care that I need — and there may only be a short time before snow makes it impossible.

Surprised to find this small bench in the woods

Mostly this week was marred by sadness. The past month hasn’t been easy. Of course there was the loss of Lola, and I still find myself blindsided by sadness fairly regularly.

My friend and her husband that I asked you to pray for — well, your prayers worked in that he was finally able to come home and be with his loved ones. On Hospice, though. I prayed for a miracle, but he has passed away.

One of Mr. Judy’s aunts lost her battle with breast cancer this week. Far too young at 77. We didn’t really know her well, as she was a step-aunt, and for much of her marriage to Mr. Judy’s uncle, we lived too far away to see them; there was no Zoom back then.

We attended a Zoom Shiva sitting session? Meeting? I don’t know what to call it really. We will also be attending a Zoom memorial service today.

On top of all that, one of the most recent COVID cases where my mom lives was just diagonally across the hall from my mom. My mom has been tested, which was negative, and they tested her again. They actually tested all the residents, and I’m happy to say that they’ll reopen dining for them again tomorrow.

Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer this week but unfortunately, like so many, that’s just what’s going on. I am one of the lucky ones, so far, knock on wood; those closest to me are okay.

Do you have to do conquer something outside, or just enjoy being out in nature?

If I wasn’t running I would ___________?

What are you grateful for this week? Friends & time in nature for me.

GWY Love Your Lower Legs

ICYMI: I’m still showing my lower legs some love. This will get into your feet, ankles, hamstrings — and especially your calves, too. It’s (mostly) not Yoga; it’s some of the exercises I do in the morning every single day, including foam rolling my calves. You can find it here.

Also, the Cacao Bliss I reviewed on the channel (and in this blog post here) has an offer for 5 travel packets for $9.95 right now here.

Coming up on Tuesday: I’ll share my thoughts about the Zensah gaiter & mask I bought for running way back in March or April — I finally wore both on recent runs. Friday I’m musing about how to celebrate the losses in life.

27 thoughts on “Goodbyes are hard: 11/16 – 22 WRD”

  1. I’m so sorry for all of the losses you’ve experienced lately. Times like that really do weight on the soul. I hope healing will happen soon and joy will come back. That is good news that the dining room will open for your Mom’s housing. My uncle is in an extended care living facility and my mom has only been able to see him once since March. They still won’t allow visitors. I get it, but the need for socialization is real. I love the shirt for your virtual 5k!

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    1. Yes, it’s so difficult to balance socialization and keeping the elderly safe. I’ve only been able to visit outside. They kept trying to open up inside visitation but they haven’t been able to keep it open for very long.

      Thanks, Lisa. So many have lost a lot more than I have, and I know that.

      How are your husband & daughter doing? And of course you & your son!

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  2. I am so sorry to hear of all your recent losses. I think it makes it so much more difficult not to be close those who are grieving for physical comfort. Hope your mom continues to be ok! Trying to focus on all that I am thankful for this week. Have a happy Thanksgiving.

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  3. Oh Judy…so sorry for the continued sadness ❤ With my recent stress fracture (and subsequent rally back), I'm deep in a gratitude phase. It has not been ideal being sidelined from running, but it reaffirmed that running (at least for me) is not everything. It's definitely my sport of choice, but there are so many other ways to get outside and enjoy fitness…and running is always waiting for me when the injury has healed. I hope your mom continues to stay healthy and safe.

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  6. If I couldn’t run, I’d be hiking.

    I prefer to be challenged but now there already ice on the mountain tops so I guess I’ll be doing the trails…which is fine with me.

    Nice that you are feeling speedier. I am not but that doesn’t even enter my mind. I rather go longer at this point in my running.

    I am thankful that both my hubby and I have jobs. I am thankful that my legs can put in 10 miles running and 8 miles hiking in one weekend and my hubby can play tennis tennis two days in a row. That means that we are pretty fit.

    Everything else is pretty much out of our control.

    Due to all the sadness, I think there will be a lot more holiday decorations up this year. We need some festivity in our lives.

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  7. So sorry about your friend, but hopefully being able to be home made it less agonizing for his family. Yikes on the covid at your mom’s place. Glad she’s testing negative and they’re being careful. It’s a good reminder that we all need to stay vigilant.

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    1. From your mouth to God’s ears, Debbie! Thank you. Much tougher on my friend, obviously, I’m sure she wasn’t expecting to lose her husband this year. 😦 He fought really, really hard. So did my husband’s aunt, apparently.

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    1. Thank you, Kim. I know that I’ve been lucky, really. It was definitely just a hard week.

      So far my mom is ok & they are even reopening indoor visitation (for the third time — we’ll see how long it lasts).

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  13. I’m so sorry about your losses – it’s extra hard when everything around anything difficult is also difficult, if you know what i mean. I hope you manage to have a quiet and calming week.

    I like just being in nature but I do prefer going for a run to going for a walk, not really sure why. I like the attention I have to pay to my surroundings that my daily photo practice gives me, and I do stop and look and listen to what is around me.

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    1. I do know what you mean, Liz. I wouldn’t say this week was quiet, but there were no new major life events like that.

      I actually do love to walk. Always have. Never much liked walking so when I was a kid we walked everywhere.

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