While training clients on Monday morning I watched the cover on our deck table and chairs billow up like a hot air balloon; to the point I was afraid the protective cover would tear. With wind gusts forecast to get up to 80 MPH, I wasn’t at all surprised to see this happen. It wasn’t until later in the day when I went upstairs and looked out my laundry room window that I realized that the incredibly heavy stone-top table had been blown across the deck. Prior to the windstorm, it was aligned parallel with the decking boards.
I mention the high winds because Tuesday was forecasted to be a repeat of Monday so my friends and I all showed up for our run over-dressed and had to shed our jackets as we ran. We did; however, rock our fun and colorful tights without shedding them!
Photo credit: Erin
Thursday’s run back on the W&OD Trail was uneventful without any skunk sightings this week (we meet at a different location for each of our three runs per week and almost always see skunks on this trail). We’re starting to pick up our pace and push each other a little more. Most of our recent runs are at a sub 9:00 pace and our Thursday runs on the straight trail (more accurate GPS readings perhaps?) have been in the 8:20 to 8:45 range, with some splits at 8:00 or slightly faster.
With my slightly faster paces, I’m starting to notice residual back “awareness” after my run. With my back history, I know that I need to listen to my body (stay tuned for this week’s Wednesday Word) and perhaps slow my pace down to a 9:15-9:30. It can be frustrating to have the desire and ability to run at one pace, but know that it would probably be better not to… This instance is one of the few times that my age actually bothers me.
Friday morning’s weight lifting session was temporarily interrupted by this beautiful sunrise when I ran outside to capture it’s beauty.
On Saturday morning I showed up to run with my MRTT friends, but no one at my pace showed up, so I ran alone. I hadn’t brought my earbuds along so I ran with my music blaring out of my iPhone speaker inside my SPIbelt (affiliate link) – yes, I was that person. I either passed the other runners quickly or met them coming toward me so nobody had to run along side of me listening to my racket.
Saturday evening we had dinner with Daniel and Jess at Mussels Bar & Grill in Arlington (celebrating Daniel’s birthday a little early). We walked to and from the restaurant from Daniel’s house while scheming about our fall race schedule. No Ragnars for us this fall, but I hope we’ll be able to run a race together.
Dinner was incredibly delicious (I got scallops), but let’s talk about the appetizers! We ordered calamari (a family favorite) and roasted Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts also had spearmint and cilantro tossed in, making for a delightful surprise. I am now on a mission to try my hand at making them again, something in the past I’ve always struggled with – I either roast them too long or not long enough and they never even remotely taste as good as the ones I order in restaurants.
Back to working out, considering this is supposed to be a recap of my weekly workouts. Here’s how my week went down…
Fitness tools beyond the equipment in my gym that I used during the week included:
- Rodney Yee’s Complete Yoga For Beginners (affiliate link)
- Rodney Yee’s Intermediate Yoga (affiliate link)
- Rodney Yee’s Yoga Conditioning For Athletes (affiliate link)
- Teeter Hang Ups Inversion (affiliate link)
Cameras used for blog photography include:
- GoPro Hero 4 (affiliate link)
- Canon Power Shot Elph (affiliate link)
- iPhone 6S (affiliate link)
- And the occasional picture taken by Bill
- Questions:
- Do you ever have to slow your pace to prevent some sort of pain?
- Have you ever run a race next to someone playing their music without using ear buds? ~ I have a couple of times and it can be quite annoying. During ZOOMA Annapolis I kind of actually enjoyed it, but all other times it’s driven me crazy. I guess it depends on the music being played. 🙂
- What’s your favorite appetizer?
Have a great week!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
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I’m linking up with Holly at HoHo Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin for their Weekly Wrap. Be sure to check out not only the hosts, but the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
Well, I’m naturally slow. 🙂 I have had times with IT flare ups where I’ve had to be careful of pace, and since I sometimes run with faster friends, I have to be careful not to do it too much too. It can definitely be frustrating!
Skunks! Eww! We do have them in our neighborhood, but thankfully they are rarely seen (and the dogs have never been skunked, knock on wood). I once had a run where I had to pass a dead one . .. coming & gong. 🙁
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Goodbye is so hard to say: 1/23-29 Weekly Wrap
It sounds awful to have to run past a dead skunk – twice. I imagine it could have double to foul odor. 🙁
I play my music like that on my bike sometimes because it’s not really safe to wear headphones. I don’t think anyone else really hears it though. You know I am all about fun tights!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Runfessions January Edition
I don’t think it would be nearly as bothersome coming from a biker who speeds by. It’s the constant racket of someone right next to you that can get old. I’m not a fan of country music and someone at pretty much my exact pace ran next to me during the Thanksgiving morning 5K with her country music blaring out of her little iPhone speaker as she carried it in her hand. I tried to get ahead of her, but didn’t want to push too much and ruin my race strategy by tiring out too soon. With about a half mile to go, she kicked it up a notch and left me in her dust. That was one of the few times I didn’t mind being out-kicked at the finish! 🙂
Too many favorite appetizers…but probably good old-fashioned tater skins are at the top (with plenty of sour cream on the side). All of those tights! Totally beautiful!!!!
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Perseverance…while inside
Do you like crumbled up bacon and melted cheese on your potato skins, too? 🙂
Don’t even get me started on the whole music without earbuds thing. It’s so rude. I also get annoyed with people who talk on their phones via speaker. As if we want to hear their conversation! It happened to me at Whole Foods this morning. Twice. What the hell?
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Cruise Control
Yes, that would be incredibly annoying.
As fast as you run, I wouldn’t be too worried about having to listen to your music without earbuds. I will say that when I managed a gym, I always got so irritated with those few who would walk around the gym with their music blaring or chatting on their phones while on the elliptical or treadmill. No one wants to hear all of that drama! 🙂
Loving the colorful running tights …it’s like a bag of skittles 🙂
Teresa recently posted…This Weeks Gallivantin’: A Wrap on January
We used to have a member come into our gym in the afternoon and hold a long and loud (sometimes almost shouting) conversation in French while using the elliptical. Not only was it incredibly annoying, but it was impossible to eavesdrop since I don’t speak French. LOL
I’m sorry to hear your back is uncomfortable. I deal with that too on occasion. And yes, I’ve had to slow my pace for certain issues. I guess it’s better than not running at all, right? You captured a gorgeous sunrise on Friday. Funny how we have kids with the same birthday! We ate Hibachi style tonight to celebrate. Thanks for linking, Deb!
Doesn’t it stink to have to slow down for your back when your legs and brain want to go faster?
Our son is coming over tonight to celebrate. It’s Restaurant Week in DC so he and his girlfriend celebrated last night in DC. I’m making him his favorite – salmon for dinner and a funfetti cake for dessert! 😀
Your deck is lovely! Years ago we had a wind storm here and I forgot to take the umbrella out of the table and it blew into the glass an broke it. that was quite a mess to clean up!
The other day when I was running on the trail I forgot my headphones so I listened to my music just from my phone. I passed only a few people on my run and they didn’t seemed to be annoyed by it, thank goodness!
Hope your back is feeling better.
Oh no – what a bummer that your table broke! We used to have a glass-top table and I was always afraid it would blow over and the glass would break. Funny thing is, the fabric seats dry rotted and they started ripping until eventually they were all ruined and had to be thrown away.
I do this stop what I’m doing to take in a great sunrise or sunset, I’m not even partial to either one. Both are great in my opinion!
We have Brussels sprouts often especially when we camp, we eat so much better when camping for some reason.
I don’t run with music anymore, just got out of the habit and haven’t went back. It’s funny sometimes in races I just let my mind wonder to this conversation that type of music. To me so far it’s been just entertaining when I hear someone’s music. Some I want to hurry and get away from but others I try and keep up to finish the song that’s on. lol
Tricia Vaughn recently posted…Weekly Wrap 78 Wrapping Up January
Please tell me your Brussels sprouts secrets!
That’s funny that you want to keep up with someone (or slow down as you’re passing to stay with them) so you can hear the song until the end. I love it!