Happy 1600 - it's been a rough week

For my 1600th post, I'll tell you all about the adventure that has been the last few days.

Soundtrack to the last few days: Go To Sleep Little Baby - O Brother Where Art Thou.  (Side note: I hate YouTube's use of HTML5)

 

 Monday I had one last run in Cincinnati and I made sure it had lots of hills.  Oy. 

 

Then I cooked my mom breakfast and headed to the airport.  The flight was fairly awesome becuase I sat next to this guy who was English.   I could listen to the accent all day.

Monday evening I felt like trash so once I landed in Minneapolis, I came home and found my couch.

Tuesday I meant to get up and run but still felt like garbage.  I slept in until... well I got to work around 10am.  Ultimately I left around 3:30pm due to an impending migraine.  Bastard.  I took some drugs which should have worked but didn't.  Boo because they were strong drugs.

Wednesday I woke up with a sinus headache masquerading as a migraine.  Suck it.  I called in sick and took two benadryl.  I knew that would kill all my issues.  Wednesday I looked like this most of the day:

Today I decided not to be sick anymore.  Probably a good thing since it was a full day at work.  I had a surprise care conference.  And by surprise I mean "Surprise, you can't do that becuase there's no freaking way to pay for it.  This is why I called you weeks ago and gave you my number."  Excellent.  Work was really fine and then I had a nice training, also with an English guy.  Still loved the accent.

Just FYI, I hate Hiawatha Avenue.

After work I did make it to the gym.  Where the air conditioning was not in use.  (Ssee how sweaty I am?)  Circuit was rough tonight but the teacher said everyone looked like they were dying, not just me.  I did stay for Zumba which is in a different room with much better climate control.  I know I'm starting to recover because I felt better after the workouts than before.  Nice.

Saturday and Sunday - Time to Party with the Family

Saturday was party day for Grandmother.   I heard she was a little nervous about having her 90th birthday party a month before her actual birthday.  Supposedly it felt a little like counting chickens before the eggs hatch.

Nonetheless, it was a great excuse for the family to get together.  We had a pre-party at Grandma's, the regular party and a post party also at Grandma's.  I don't get to hang out with my aunties and cousins very often so the post party was a blast.  We had a post post party breakfast on Sunday morning before everyone went home.

Aunt Ann at the post party

Family portrait - Grandma and her kids.  This was after the "silly picture" that she didn't like.

Ben had a great time playing with all the other kids at the party.  There was a game about how far cars could be rolled across the room.  It looked like a blast.

When we got back for the post party all anyone said was "where's Ruth?" (that's Grandma) followed by about 10 choruses of "I thought she was with you". Awesome planning. 

In the morning, Luke and I took a tour of the pool and hot tub. We looked at the no diving signs and the elevator for people in wheel chairs to get in the pool. He must've been listening because when his mom came in, he told her everything I'd said pretty much word for word. 

Nice shot of Auntie Barbara.  Last time I saw her, we were both in Florida.  This was just as nice.

Fridays in the Park

Friday after the hill run we headed over to Ault Park.  Mom, Marge and I had a great time.  Tons of photos were taken. 

The most hilarious moment of the day occurred when this little boy ran over and grabbed my hand.  I looked down at him, "did you come to play?"  I kept waiting for him to realize I wasn't his mom but he was completely unconcerned by that fact.  Hilarious.

After park number one, Mom and I headed up to see Jenny and walk through Sharon Woods.  Mom re-lived half of her childhood which is always fun.

Blue heron about to catch dinner.

At the end of the walk.

After the park we headed to Skyline and then to Grater's which has some great decor.  Door handles, light fixtures, it's all ice cream related.

Before we went home, Jenny shared some herbs with mom.  We had a discussion about mint and basil and also about what small poison ivy looks like.  (We don't have much poison ivy in Minnesota so I'm out of practice.)

Weekend Workouts!

Thursday before my flight I had some time to play at the gym.   I spent some time on the elliptical, feeling better and better from the crap in my lungs.  I got on the rowing machine for some quality time too.

Friday I did my "long run" of the week.   Read all about it. 

Saturday I only had a few miles left for the week so I did 3.5 miles with an abbreviated hill run.  I love the last mile is all down hill. 

Sunday I hit the wall metaphorically.  I just had no energy to exercise.  Ultimately I took a walk with Mom. 

After the walk I did a short, but quite challenging workout.  Two minutes of each of the following exercises:

• Hip Bridges alternating between single and double leg.  Single legs always make my ham strings cramp.
• Walk Out Planks. Those I've actually made peace with.
• Squats with arms raised over head (most of the time)
• Lunges - two minutes on each leg. Oy.
• Side Lying Leg Series: all the exercises here plus leg circles forwards and backwards. The leg circles were the hardest. Each exercise is clearly not meant to be done for two minutes at a time.
• One leg dead lift - a great way to wrap up.

Wordless Weekends - Party with Grandma!

Worldess Weekends - Flowers and Parks

Hill Running - the for real version

This morning I went for a long hill run.  And I found some hills that are for real.  I didn't realize just how for reals they were until I was sucking wind to get up them.

This was pretty much how I felt about getting up this morning.  Sadly I'm entering the period where I actually have to start training for the marathon, and that meant doing a seven miler today.   I worked out a route that was actually 7.5 miles and had quite some hills.  One up-down section I'd driven but never really run.  Hills are always smaller in a car.

The profile should be pretty clear.  That up down business before and after mile 3?  Wow.  Hard.  When I was at the bottom of that hill looking up it, I was getting that "I'm afraid of heights feeling".  Oy.

I'm still recovering somewhat from the sinus infection and crap in my lungs so I did take a couple planned walk breaks and one unplanned break when I just couldn't take the hill anymore.  As always, I love that the last mile is all down hill.  That makes everything else easier.  (Oh, just go a bit further, then it's all down hill.)

It was a nice sunny day and very cool.  Perfect for running.

Me: after the run.  Still breathing.

I love Pansies.  Living in a cold climate, I have a whole new respect for them.  Those were the last thing I saw before I headed back inside.

PS - God Bless whomever left coffee in the pot for me!