I knew going into this week that schedule wise it was the toughest week of the month.   My boss left for vacation so starting Friday I was flying solo and the weekend was the Avocado Margarita Festival and I was conscripted volunteering all weekend.   With that in mind, I was hoping to front load my miles.  Monday was Labor Day and I had Tuesday off so I was optimistic that I could pull it off.

 Monday-  4 mile recovery run

I usually take the day off after any race but I was hoping to get in my easy run of the week.    This was probably a bad decision.   I’d waited until 6 but it was still around 90 outside.   My mother was having an evening tennis practice so the plan was to run to the school, maybe do a few laps on the track and then go to dinner.    It was utter crap.   My legs didn’t want to work and my lower back was super sore and achy.  2 miles in and I was done.  However I was 2 miles from home and 2 miles from the high school so I just headed to the school anyways.   Somehow I managed to negative split the run but I have no idea how.  It never felt any better.    13:11, 11:12, 10:23, 10:10.

 Tuesday-  Plan– Long run 10-12 miles-      Real life- 3 miles

Maybe Monday was a sign or maybe I should have rested- who knows.  We had a heat wave last week and Tuesday was a comfortable 103*.    I just headed straight for the gym.  I was hoping to get in 6-8 miles on the treadmill and then do a temp check.  If it had dropped below 90 I was going to finish the run outside.   Otherwise I was just going to stay on the treadmill.   My back was still achy but I was hopeful it wouldn’t bother me.  However, the ankle pain was unexpected.    My left shin and ankle straight up hurt.  Not ache but actual pain.   I called it at mile 3.   I’m too close to race day to chance an injury.  Plus, it was only Tuesday.

Wednesday -Rest

The Wednesday black hole is back- I can’t remember what I did!

Thursday- 8 miles Stationary bike

Apparently I can’t tell time.  Or subtract.   I had a doctor’s appointment so I left work early.  I had somewhere to be at 5:20 but hoped to fit in my long run or some speed work in between.   I didn’t even get out of the doctor until after 3.   By the time I got home, changed and was ready to head to the gym (another 103* day) it was almost 4:30.   Color me confused, how did I mess up that badly?   So I hopped on the bike for some intervals.   😃

Friday- rest

This day kicked my ass.   It was straight chaos at work.  At one point I straight sat down in the middle of floor behind my desk because I was just done.   I ate cookies again to deal with the stress, oops.

 Saturday- rest?

Avocado Margarita Festival day one. I slept in a bit before heading back to work town.  It’s a good thing I left early because I got super lost picking up a coworker to work the first shift with me.   All my fault- I assumed I knew better than Siri.     I think he got his revenge though- the route to get back to where I needed to be damn near made me car sick while driving.

A little over 7 hours later and I was free!  Haha.  Being locked in a tiny room all day is draining.   The constant hum of the generator wasn’t helpful either.   I felt fried.   The only exercise accomplished was walking to and from the event- about half a mile each way.   My Fitbit tells me I moved way more than I thought though so who knows.

 Sunday-  3.25 miles AM, 3.5 miles PM

I had a later shift at the festival so I squeezed in some errands in the morning.   My alarm had gone off for a morning run but my stomach was expressing its displeasure with the previous day’s meals.   I had a tiny window before I had to leave so I fit in some miles.   It was warm but overall the run felt good.  I wished I could have kept running but I had to make sure I could clean up in time.  I mentioned the tiny room right?  Had to make I didn’t stink it up smelling like I had just run. 😀.   I discovered a new level of contortionist though- ever take off a sweaty sports bra just to put on another one?  Crap, that was hard.

After another numbing 4 hour shift I was finally heading back to my car.   Didn’t think about the fact that now I was lugging all the supplies we used back up the hill.  Half a mile uphill with 40+ lbs? Sure no problem.  Ha!

  
I headed to the lake path to get in a few more miles.   I really wanted 5 or more but this run was the complete opposite of the morning run.  Struggle from the get go.   I was achy and stopped to stretch a few times.  I also visited with lake cat quite a bit.  😃.  I called it after 3 laps.

So while I didn’t pull off a long run this week like I wanted to, I still got in some time on my feet and the bike.   More than I thought was going to happen by week’s end.    It’s a hell of a lot more than I accomplished this week last year.  😛

Paleo- C

Honestly the week started out well.   I derailed on Friday -cookies!  Plus my boss put together a little care package for me while she is gone.  2 full size bags of the sweet potato chips, a big bag of pretzels and 2 bags of cinnamon bears.  Covering all the cravings since I can’t leave the building.  😀.    Saturday’s lunch was provided for the volunteers and I don’t complain about free food.  Even if it was wheat bread.   I met my parents at Olive Garden that night and had a few bread sticks.   Oops.   At least my chicken breast and broccoli was on point.   😋.

My goal is to not stress eat over the next two weeks.    Good thing the snack bags will eventually be empty and I can’t run to the gas station to buy more.  I just need to make sure I don’t have crazy dinners as a way to decompress.  Why is food so comforting?!

How was your weekend?

Ever volunteer for local events?

Would you eat an Avocado Popsicle? I saw those this weekend.