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Memorial Day Weekend
It’s Memorial Day weekend, a time to honor those who fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live freely in this beautiful country. The corona virus has put a damper in the celebration of the lives of men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Parades and fireworks have been canceled due to the need to limit the gatherings of large groups of people, but the virus can’t squash our private salute to those heroes.
It’s easy to think of the Memorial Day weekend as the official kickoff to the summer. In fact, my husband and I normally dress up our deck in red, white, and blue to celebrate with an annual Memorial Day barbecue on Sunday afternoon and evening, but sadly, for obvious reasons that won’t be happening this year.
I’ve been texting with some of my friends this morning during the time that I would normally be rushing around putting the finishing touches on the party. We will still grill out and the kids will join us for a socially distanced get together on the deck. It won’t be the same, but hopefully by this time next year we will have regained some sense of normalcy…
And Now on to a RunDown of this Past Week’s Workouts…
Sunday
My back was quite stiff from our longer walk on Saturday (seriously, who gets a stiff back from walking?) so I took the day off from all workouts except for my McKenzie press-ups. That’s right I did zip, zilch, nada in the exercise department.
Monday
My Monday work schedule was the exact opposite of what I prefer – clients scheduled every other hour so the length of my work day was twice as long as it needed to be. I like cranking out one session after the next so I can move on from working, but hey, at least I’m still able to work; albeit virtually. I got up and knocked out an hour of my own strength training before training my first client and then did my physical therapy homework after wrapping up that session.
Tuesday
It was 66° and delightful, albeit very breezy when I headed out at noon for a 4-mile walk. My back has been tight and stiff for a couple of weeks and my body told me to slow my pace and I listened, keeping it at an average 16:27 pace. I stayed in the shade of the trees in our neighborhood trails to keep out of the sun.
Wednesday
I fit in lifting and my physical therapy homework between clients and then masked up and headed to Costco – they were out of toilet paper. While there I bought a flat of peach New Guinea impatiens which I planted in pots on the deck Wednesday afternoon (gardening is good for my soul). I’ve never planted the exact same plants in all of my pots before, but drastic times call for boring flowers… or something like that.
Thursday
To mix up my cardio from just walking, I hopped on my spin bike (affiliate link) early Thursday morning. I kept it short at 10 miles because I tend to overdo things and since I haven’t been on my spin bike in a month or two so it seemed like a smart idea.
After spinning I even pulled out my foam roller (affiliate link) and spent about 10 minutes rolling out my legs for the first time since my last run in late December.
Friday
I woke up early to a dreary rainy morning, but since it wasn’t a cardio day I didn’t really mind. My back wasn’t at all stiff which makes me think walking really is the culprit. My clients sessions were spread out across the morning, but I easily fit in a strength training session, my PT homework, and about 15 minutes of stretching in my open slots.
Saturday
Yesterday’s walk was an experiment to see if walking is causing my back stiffness. We stopped after 4 miles because, well, you know, I tend to overdo things. I woke up this morning with a slightly stiff back, but it’s not too bad. I’m hoping to get to the bottom of things this week with an MRI and follow-up doctor’s appointment.
Overview of the Week
In addition to the workouts I mentioned above, here’s a complete rundown from this past week (completed either outside or in our home gym)…
It’s on the Blog
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
- Sunday – Weekly RunDown: May 10 Through 16
- Tuesday – Chor’obics: Turning Chores into Aerobic Workouts
Questions:
- • Do you enjoy totally down days where you just chill, read, or watch tv?
- • Do you tend to overdo it and have trouble reining it in when working or working out?
- • Did you run in a virtual race this weekend?
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
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 small 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.
Thanks Deb for the mention about veterans. We can’t thank them enough! Ed
It is my honor to mention the veterans.
Hope you’re doing well and I look forward to seeing you again when the gym opens back up.
I’m really going to miss our parade on Monday but like you say, the private celebrations will be in full force. FIngers crossed that the back stuff clears up, having a sore back really does put a damper on just about everything else.
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie recently posted…Weekly Sweats: If Not Now, When?
Yes, the virus can’t squash our private celebration of America’s heros. And thank you so much for the well wishes!
You had a really great week with a variety of workouts!
Usually I would participate in a group run on Memorial Day morning but I’m not sure what I’ll do this year. I might try to do the Murph workout at home or do a Ruck Run. Whatever I do, I want to do something to honor of the men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country.
Thanks, Kim! Did you do the Murph workout or a Ruck Run?
My back has been super stiff as well for the past week.I cannot figure out why. I don’t think it’s from walking. I have no idea! I sure hope things start to get kind of normal sometime soon
Deborah Brooks recently posted…Weekly Run Down Memorial Day Edition
Ugh, back issues are no fun! Hope yours feel better quickly.
I can’t believe your back is still so stiff. 🙁 I hope you can get to the bottom of it with the MRI!
Sometimes I overdo it, but probably more on the other side of not doing enough!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…My Week of 5ks: 5/18 – 24 WRD
Thanks, Judy! It’s getting old, but I try to remind myself that it could be something much worse. I just miss running…
Yes, this weekend is all about the heroes who are no longer with us. Usually, I try to organize a group run at our cemetery, but with the COVID times (and iffy weather), I let that go this year. I’m doing a 5K “Wear Blue:Run to Remember” tribute run tomorrow morning. I’m skipping the usual 5K time trial (postponing it for a different day), so these two heroes will be my only focus. Enjoy your weekend!
I hope your virtual Wear Blue: Run to Remember 5K was fun! Can’t wait for our virtual 5K on Saturday!
Man, you have been having so many injury issues lately! I am so sorry to read about your sore back. Good for you for doing your PT exercises. We will be having a socially distanced Memorial Day cookout with my son and grandsons tomorrow. It’s not a big blow-out but at least it feels good to get together with family. Hope you have a wonderful time with yours.
Laurie recently posted…Searching For A Parallel Universe Where Time Runs Backward
Thanks, Laurie! Ours was wonderful – I hope you had a nice time with your family as well.
We often do a Memorial Day 5k that is for a great charity, but no 5k this year. Not a whole lot of anything other than running and dog walking/dog parks…how different this Memorial Day weekend feels! We are planning to put flowers on Dustin’s dad’s grave, he was a veteran.
Glad you are still able to see your kids, albeit socially distanced!
Thanks, Jessie!
Hope you get some answers.
You hit on why I didn’t want 9/11 to become a holiday – then it was going to be about more shopping and BBQ. I especially didn’t want to see it become an (Observed), either. Glad you’re able to see your family for a distant BBQ and a sense of normalcy
Cari recently posted…ode to an IT Band
Thanks, Cari! And I couldn’t agree more about the focus of important events becoming more about shopping and bargains.
I do like those complete rest days. Lately I’ve been doing either yoga or going for a quick walk on my rest days just to get in some movement. Hope you can figure out why your back is still feeling so stiff!
Thanks, Lisa!
I am sorry to hear about your stiff back. That is no bueno. It doesn’t really feel like Memorial Day weekend. It’s been quiet with no celebrations or parades. I do love my days when I don’t have to do anything but just chill out to read a book and watch TV. I’ve always liked doing that but now I am a bit tired of it. 🙂
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…Weekly Run Down: A good week of running and being kind
Thanks, Zenaida!
Even though I really enjoy rest days when I take them, it’s so hard for me to totally shut down because I’m such an active person by nature. I did take a total rest day this past Saturday and it was really nice, though there were extenuating circumstances (wine) that forced it to be a rest day haha.
I do tend to overdo it with workouts. I was aiming for 150 miles running this month but had an injury scare a week ago, so I backed off that ambitious goal.
Montana @ Pretty Lil Mudder recently posted…Social Distancing Week 8: 5/18-5/24
I can go both ways with rest and overdoing it. Of course, on rest days I’m cooking, washing dishes, cleaning up, etc. 😉
Ugh. I hope your back is feeling better soon and that the MRI gives you some answers.
I spent so many months completely resting that I really lost my taste for it entirely. Some days I am absolutely unmotivated to do anything, but I still can’t imagine not folding a load of laundry or tidying or cooking a meal. It’s just not how I roll.
Thanks, Jenn!
And same here, my rest days mean no exercise, but I still have to cook, clean up, do laundry, etc.
I tend to listen to my body and if it says I need a total rest day then I do. Sound like a good week, hope your back feels better.
SJ recently posted…Weekly Wrap Up
Thank you! Listening to your body is very smart and not always easy to do.
Arg, I’m sorry to hear your back is still giving you issues … but hopefully you’ll get some answers from the MRI. Enjoy the BBQ with your family. I don’t think we’ll be doing anything… maybe just a hike, but Memorila is also not a holiday I grew up with so I don’t really traditions associated with it…
Thank you, Laetitia! We had a wonderful time with our kids!
When I go for a long walk I do notice it’s harder for me to bend down and untie my shoes vs when I go for a run! Sorry your back is bothering you. We had to buy toilet paper for the first time since this all started. And only because we were down to our last dozen rolls! I like to have a lot available 🙂
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Weekly workouts – seems like old times
And I will always have lots of toilet paper on hand in the future! Some day my grandkids will say, “Why doesn’t Grandma have so much toilet paper in the storage room?” and my son will reply, “Grandma lived through the corona virus pandemic, but we don’t talk about it.” LOL
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