Another fresh week, another fresh start . . .or so I thought. Apparently God and I weren’t on the same page when it came to my plans for this week.
But first I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and not off to a running start in 2021.
Workouts update
- Monday: Yoga (30 min), 3 TM miles, Dogwalk, a little touchup shoveling
- Tuesday: Yoga (10 min), Sick day (some sort of stomach bug)
- Wednesday: Yoga (30 min), Better, still mostly resting, Noon Yoga (30 min)
- Thursday: Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk (rest day!)
- Friday: Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk (rest day!)
- Saturday: Yoga (30 min), Dogwalk (rest day!)
- Sunday: Some Yoga, some MFR (myofascial release), Dogwalk if it’s not too cold for Bandit
Running Mileage: 3 (-10)
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
Monday intention: easy — but oops! speed work
It’s been a while since I ran two days in a row. If I had waited for the melting in the afternoon, I could’ve run outside, but I wanted to get done in the morning, so treadmill it was. I had planned an easy run, chose a Peloton fun run, and got sucked into speed work (some, anyway, I also just took it easy at times). Achilles felt fine.
Favorites of the week
There was a lot of snuggling this week. although most of the time it feels as though he wants to push me off to get the warm spot. Generally he doesn’t lay with me much, but he seems highly sensitive to when I’m not feeling good.
I had been battling something, I knew, from the beginning of the year. I had a sore throat one day, which quickly went away, and my RHR was higher than normal in general, but I usually felt okay after running (and during). In hindsight I guess I really should have rested more.
Tuesday I woke up dizzy and nauseous. It was so weird — but thankfully passed after a few hours. I wasn’t hungry — always a pretty clear sign I’m sick! As each day has gone by, I definitely feel better and better but am still tired.
It wasn’t the week I planned, but it was the week I needed. I’d been thinking about taking some time off of running — with nothing on the calendar, it seems far easier to do. My body voted yes! So much for my new goal of walking outside everyday (you can read about that here), although I only missed two days of walking this week.
I was confused about my mom & the vaccines last week. They got tested (not vaccinated) last week, due to the small outbreak of cases there, and now they are open again for activities and visitors, although I am not planning to go anytime soon for obvious reasons. Happy for my mom that she can interact with more people again and eat dinner with friends.
We sometimes ate “together” (via the Amazon Echo Show, Amazon Affiliate link here) — one time we chatted for over 40 minutes during our dinner. My mom doesn’t have a smart phone, although we have tried that in the past. She also has a pretty significant palsy in her hands, and the Echo works well for her because for the most part she doesn’t have to type anything; sometimes when I’m there I adjust things.
It’s quirky, though. It comes on when it shouldn’t sometimes, and I had to turn it on and off one day this week because Alexa wasn’t responding. It turned on close captioning in the video chats when I’m pretty sure I didn’t do it, and it took a while to figure out how to turn it back off.
I wish we’d bought one while my Dad was still alive. He was so hard of hearing he could no longer talk on the phone, but with the close captioning it might have helped. Hindsight is so very 2020, right?
How is your 2021 going?
How are any new challenges/goals going?
Have you reflected on 2020 or just moved forward?
ICYMI: I am reposting the meditation/journaling exercise I led on NYE in my private Yoga group (you can request to join here). Everyone needs to reflect back and look forward! You’ll find the video here. Since it was a Facebook Live, the video quality isn’t as good but it should load a lot faster.
Coming up on Tuesday: You’re familiar with SMART goals, but what about outcome vs process goals?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Glad you’re feeling somewhat better and that you’ve found a way to connect with your mom in these weird times.
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Thanks, Cari. She really loves her Echo. 🙂
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What a nice sunset! I hope you are feeling better. And I’m glad your mom can interact with people more now. Hopefully you can see her again soon!
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I could see her now, except I know I need more rest (it’s a really long day) plus I feel that I should wait more after being sick.
The sunset last night was amazing — if brief.
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Glad you are feeling better! Do you think you had COVID? There are just so many different symptom presentations. Take it easy!
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No, I really doubt it was COVID. No loss of smell, no loss of taste, no raspatory symptoms — plus I get this sort of thing when I’m pretty run down. Last couple of months have been stressful.
But that’s also why I’ll delay going to my mom another week. I think I really needed a break anyway, and since she can do her normal things again, it’s not as bad for her.
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I am glad that your mom’s place opened back up a bit.It is always nice to be able to socialize isn’t it? My son also had a weird stomach thing that lasted just 24 hours. Glad you are feeling better! Have a great week ahead
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Yeah, the stomach thing was very odd. Glad your son got better quickly, too1
And yes, my mom is very happy to socialize again. Glad you were able to see your parents, too, Deborah!
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I’m sorry that you weren’t feeling well this week, but glad that you are feeling better as each day passes. Sounds like it had potential to be a bad cold but luckily never got too bad!
That’s great news about your mom. I know she must be so happy to be able to interact with people more.
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Thanks, Kim. Yes, my mom is definitely much happier!
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Glad you’re feeling better. Interesting about the closed caption option on the Echo, I didn’t know that existing. Kinda cool!
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Yup; the echo can also show the lyrics when you play music. The sound is actually much better than the echo dot, too, but I probably wouldn’t have bought it for ourselves. Definitely serves its purpose.
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Glad you’re feeling better! Not any fun being down. I think I mentioned you inspired me to be outside for at least 21 minutes on a daily basis. So far, so good LOL We’ll see how that goes when the next storm hits.
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Yeah, that was an untimely challenge for me but it was always contingent on health & safety. It’s been cold but we’re still walking.
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I suspect every illness of being covid, but I know there are regular viruses around too. Glad you are feeling better. I hope your Mom does get the vaccine soon.
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Vaccinations seem to be totally screwed up so no idea when it might be her turn. Grateful she’s healthy. Of course COVID crosses your mind, but I haven’t gotten tested since the symptoms don’t seem in line (or been anywhere) plus Mr. Judy seems fine.
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Glad you’re feeling better! We got Matthew’s dad an Echo and he loves having his music on it – they do Skype calls so are OK on that one but he’s still happy to have the Echo and it feels like we’re future proofing things a bit.
I seem to have front-loaded my month as didn’t do millions of miles this week but am still ahead of my 100-miles-a-month target for the date so that’s all good. Had a super run today where we just diverted onto the canal and kept on going, feeling comfortable. Need to bank that in the memory for when it’s less easy!
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Luckily I have no mileage goals. 😊
My mom does like to play music on her echo too. She has a dot as well we gave her a couple of years ago, but the sound is much better on the show.
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Glad you are feeling better. That would have worried me since you had many COVID symptoms. Though everything now is a symptom. My relatives that had COVID had no loss of smell or taste just dizziness and fatigue, And it didn’t last long.
Hope your Mom gets the vaccine soon. Sign up was this weekend for over 75 and teachers. But there are so many in this group that it may take through April. sigh.
My running is the same as last year. Not much has changed. Just happy to feel good enough to run outside most days.
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I wasn’t very worried, although of course it enters your mind. The dizziness didn’t last long at all — thank goodness! Remember that’s how I ended up in the hospital a year & a half ago, well pre-COVID.
Still that’s part of why I won’t be visiting my mom next week out of an abundance of caution. It’s not just her, so many vulnerable people there. Hopefully the following week.
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Sorry you were feeling run down and under the weather. Hope it was nothing serious. That’s so challenging to work something out so you can communicate with your mom. I’m sure she appreciates it.
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Thanks, Marcia. Yes, my mom is very appreciative. My husband is going to get one for his mom. But his sister gets to set it up since she loves there (west coast).
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I’m sorry I didn’t have the link up up. I didn’t know if anyone would link up after the new year.
I’ve never heard of that Amazon Echo show, I am going to look into that right now. Sounds like a great wat to keep in touch with people. I assume both parties need internet access to use it? I wish there were a way for us to keep in touch with grandparents that did not have smart phones or internet.
M
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Yes, you have to have internet for the echo show. You also have to have a smartphone to set it up, but once it’s set up you don’t need the smartphone — but it makes setup harder; that’s why I had so much trouble setting up my mom’s.
I don’t know anything except a phone (actual land line) which allows you to stay in touch with someone who doesn’t have internet.
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I’m so sorry you weren’t feeling well and I’m glad you’re on the mend. Being sick is so nervewracking, on top of everything else.
My stepdad needs a smartphone, but he is so opposed to all kinds of technology. It would make family so much more accessible to him, but he’s stubborn.
I’m glad your mom had access to a vaccine, and I hope that makes things easier for you with visiting and interacting. ❤
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My mom did at least try a smartphone, but the truth is she wasn’t really interested. Oddly enough she loves the echo show though!
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Sorry, you had an off week but glad you’re feeling better! I hope the vaccine situation gets sorted out and your mom can get hers soon. I’ve been stressing about my parents but I think it will be a while before they can get theirs. It’s been so confusing 😦
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Yeah, we haven’t yet heard anything more about vaccines for my mom.
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I’m so sorry you weren’t well Judy. Glad you took the sign and rested. Did you mom actually get the vaccine as well or is that soon?
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No, still no word on vaccines where my mom lives. At least they won’t have to go somewhere to get it — whenever that may be.
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So sorry to read that you weren’t feeling well this week,. Judy. I’m glad you are on the mend and it didn’t seem to be Covid. It’s good that your mom can interact with others now, especially since you won’t be visiting for a while. I know it can get lonely without visitors. My mom always used to complain if I would go away for a few days. That Echo was an excellent idea!
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The good thing is she is with other people when they aren’t on lockdown. They really fought moving there but unfortunately staying in their home would’ve been a disaster — & really would’ve isolated them.
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I hope you are feeling all better now – or very close to it! The Echo sounds like a really good solution for your family. That must be nice to still be able to see her when you can’t visit. As for my year – I told my Dr this past week that I’m really feeling my age now. Achy and sore often. Oh boy for getting old! (ugh)
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Still tired, still not running. That takes care of some of those aches though (of course there are other ones).
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I hope you’re feeling better by now. I love that you “ate dinner with your mom”. Technology is great… when it works. I’ve tried FaceTiming my mom, but her internet isn’t that great and it’s frustrating with all the freezes.
My goal for this year is to stretch more. I remember when I used to be so good and consistent at doing it, but this past year I’ve been terrible. Thanks for the reminder!
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We “ate” with her for several meals, but now she eats dinner with people in the dining room again. Which she enjoys, of course.
The right kind of stretching can really make a difference! We all get away from the things we know we should do sometimes. Of course even harder considering all the things going on!
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I am glad to hear you are feeling better. Yeah, that nice is not something to run in. I checked out the Echo Dot. My coworker bought one for her dad. Thinking if it is something that my mom will like to use. I have a regular one and we use it more for music. She likes to ask Alexa to play music for her.
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My mom likes to play music too. Both my mom & me & my husband have a dot & a show. I probably wouldn’t have bought the show for ourselves, but I will say the quality of the sound on the show is much better.
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Good to know! I have noticed that sometimes with the dot the music quality is not good.
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A cheaper option probably would be just connecting a bluetooth speaker to the dot.
Since your mom can facetime, I’m not sure she would really get a lot out of it? My mom can’t.
Although one other useful feature is that you can set up an emergency contact. So if she falls, for instance — and if she’s near enough (this works on the dot, too, btw) — she can just say “Alexxa call help” and it’ll call whoever is the emergency contact.
Now my only problem is drilling it into my mom’s head so that if it ever happens, she’ll actually remember it! They also have pullcords where my mom lives, but that you have to be near enough to actually use.
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