Mera Re-Emerges from the Sea

[Odango]

Now... How was your day ???

[Mera]

Week 1 Day 3

Run, check! It's getting easier for me, but I really think I need to work on the dog's will to run. Not that he doesn't have the energy, I just think he can't be arsed.  So will look into some training methods so we can work on running without stopping for longer

 

Triangle, check! Cooked myself some potatoes that I had with a sour cream type affair, but so much better, I can't really find the right words to describe it in English. @Nol, Cervelle de Canut!!
 

Meditation: dang it. I forgot to set myself a reminder again, and then forgot at work. *grabs phone*

[Harriet]

Awesome with the running! I tried running a few times, but it's so damned painful. I get ruinously exhausted in about 30 seconds. 

 

 

Anyways, super impressive. The timer for meditation is a good idea, too. 

[Harriet]

I lived in Berlin for about 7 years and I'll be going back when my year here is up. What is tea pigs?

[Mera]

18 hours ago, Harriet said:

Awesome with the running! I tried running a few times, but it's so damned painful. I get ruinously exhausted in about 30 seconds. 

 

 

Anyways, super impressive. The timer for meditation is a good idea, too. 

 

Hahahha, that's a bit what the dog and I look like. I used to hate running (I'd still prefer swimming if I could), but it's just the most convient thing to do. It wasn't until Zombies Run that I really managed to run for longer than 10 minutes without giving up. 

 

 

[Mera]

WEEK 1 DAY 4

 

Run, check. I actually made Mezzo (the dog) carry his treat bag so we could do some heel training on the way. Mean we weren't very fast, but he's definitely more motivated when there's rewards involved.

 

Triangle, sorta check. Had a minor violation by having a coke with lunch. It was hot and I was starving, and the coke was cold and full of sugar and delicious. I guess at least it came in a can (so no plastic) and it animal-friendly?  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Meditation CHECK! I did miss my reminder in the morning, but then managed to squeeze in a 10 minute session on the cushions in the afternoon. 

 

 

[thekatisalie]

My boyfriend and I talked about adopting a puppy in spring and now I'm all excited to have a doggo running buddy.

 

Yay running AND training!

[Odango]

21 hours ago, Mera said:

WEEK 1 DAY 4

 

Run, check. I actually made Mezzo (the dog) carry his treat bag so we could do some heel training on the way. Mean we weren't very fast, but he's definitely more motivated when there's rewards involved.

 

 

That sounds so cute!!

What breed is he by the way? (sorry if you mentioned before, I can't remember :/)

 

Yay for successfully sneaking meditation into your day!

 

How do your legs feel after all this running? Have you done some stretches too?

Can't wait to see how you feel after four weeks!

 

[Mera]

Week 1 Day 6

 

Emergency Update from Abel Township: I think the dog has been bitten by a Zombie on one of our runs. He's showing all signs of fighting off the Zombie virus. I hear he has a chance of making it if he doesn't turn within the next 48H. He's been quarantined and is therefore currently banned from going on missions.

 

So because he's sick I walked the dog yesterday morning instead of running with him, which means I skipped a day of the training. He was even sicker today, but I managed to do a run without him between our 8 (!) dog walks. He's got some sort of (Zombie) stomach bug, but I hope it'll get better over the next few days.

 

Stuck to the triangle yesterday and this morning, but couldn't really tonight. We were out for a friend's birthday at a Chinese restaurant where we all shared all the dishes. My little nod to the triangle was adding a tofu dish though

 

@Nol, I'm definitely sore but I'm trying to take it easy during the runs with walking periods in between. The first thing that normally gives out is my knee, and so far it's holding up. I hope I make it through the 4 weeks in tact this way. Mezzo is half Labrador, half Border Collie so in theory an ideal running partner. Apart from the Zombie bug, I think he's also a bit depressed with my husband gone.

 

@Therealkat Running with a dog is lots of fun, but prepare for quite  a bit of training before he'll run alongside with you (I'm not there yet). Anyway, having a little 4 pawed buddy around is the best!

 

 

[Harriet]

Oh no, I hope pup gets better soon.

 

 

 

Good on you for doing what was possible even when your plans were sabotaged by zombi pup flu and delicious restaurant!

[Odango]

Oh, poor doggo!

Labrador and Border-Collie, he must be the sweetest and the smartest! 8D I hope he recovers quickly.

 

 

My husband also gets knee pain and the physio gave him a bunch of stretches that really help, i can ask him what they are if you are interested.

You've been doing great this week!

 

[Mera]

Week 1 Day 7

 

No running today because of zombie flu. I think he might make it without turning into a brain eating zombie dog  

I was invited over to a friends' place for brunch, but it involved all homecooked, plastic free and kinda healthy stuff, so triangle sort of intact. 

 

Achievement unlocked: Upper Body kettlebell workout this evening. Man it's been a while. I can feel the knots in my shoulders moving... Definitely a sign that I need to do more here. 

 

First week has been completed, mostly successful despite some obstacles. Rock on week 2!
 

 

 

[Mera]

10 hours ago, Nol said:

My husband also gets knee pain and the physio gave him a bunch of stretches that really help, i can ask him what they are if you are interested.

You've been doing great this week!

 

Thank Nol. Yes, if you could let me know what those stretches are that'd be great!

[Odango]

So, turns out he's only doing two stretches, the rest are exercises to balance his knee and leg muscles.

He does a simple calf stretch either on a step or against a wall, and a quad stretch (the physio advised to put his knee on a soft chair/sofa/bed for more comfort, the stretch is classic, holding his ankle behind him as close to his back as possible and keeping his hips forward and straight).

He has to hold both stretches for 20-30 seconds.

 

The exercises he does are a bit harder to describe, so I found a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oslKHQ07JhA

He does the first 3 exercises she shows.

And he does the 6th exercises (step up) in this: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/injury-knee-pain-16/slideshow-knee-exercises

 

He also got soles specifically made for him and the podiatrist warned him against running shoes and the fact most are now made very thin to be "as close to the ground as possible", which makes running and hiking in them very harsh on the knees.

 

I hope this helps!

If you have a mutuelle, you can get soles 100% reimbursed. I'd happily help you look into it if you're interested.

Take care.

[Mera]

21 hours ago, Nol said:

So, turns out he's only doing two stretches, the rest are exercises to balance his knee and leg muscles.

He does a simple calf stretch either on a step or against a wall, and a quad stretch (the physio advised to put his knee on a soft chair/sofa/bed for more comfort, the stretch is classic, holding his ankle behind him as close to his back as possible and keeping his hips forward and straight).

He has to hold both stretches for 20-30 seconds.

 

The exercises he does are a bit harder to describe, so I found a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oslKHQ07JhA

He does the first 3 exercises she shows.

And he does the 6th exercises (step up) in this: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/injury-knee-pain-16/slideshow-knee-exercises

 

He also got soles specifically made for him and the podiatrist warned him against running shoes and the fact most are now made very thin to be "as close to the ground as possible", which makes running and hiking in them very harsh on the knees.

 

I hope this helps!

If you have a mutuelle, you can get soles 100% reimbursed. I'd happily help you look into it if you're interested.

Take care.

 

Oh man, that's amazing. Thank you! I'll have a look at all those exercises. It might also be the time for a new set of running shoes. Even though they don't have crazy mileage on them, I've had them for over 6 years already. Oops.

 

[Mera]

Week 2 Day 2

 

Monday is my day off running, so my week really started today. Went for a very easy run with the dog, who I'm glad to report, has overcome the Zombie virus. 

Thanks to Nols awesome advice, I'll start taking better care of my knee as well, so that it won't give out on me. I think I'll swap one run for a knee exercise day, so doing 4-5 runs instead of 6 a week, plus kettlebell, plus knee. Yes, I think that's the way to go.

 

A colleague told me today, that she joined the Lyon Urban Trail Run, and I'm super tempted to join. The shortest distance is 8km and it involves two hills. Yikes. I think I can currently do a 5k, in the flat. It's in 6 weeks. Would it be crazy to attempt this? 

 

 

 

 

[Harriet]

Wooo, it's great that you went running and that the doggo is better. I've no idea if 8k hilly is insanity, or hyper insanity, as I'm not a runner. Except in cases like these:

 

 

 

[Mera]

Week 2 Day 3

 

Went for another run this morning which went even better than yesterdays. I think doggo is back in top shape. In the end, I decided against the Urban Trail Run. One month is just not enough to get into that shape, unless I want to sacrifice way too much of my time to training. BUT! I have decided to put it in my calendar as a goal for next year. 

 

I also got myself new running shoes. My feet and knee were starting to hurt and I realised that my shoes are already over 6 years old, so time for a new pair. 

 

Check them out. I call them the Pink Dragons! Pink is normally not my colour but these are hot!  

 

[Odango]

So pretty!!!! You deserve them!!!!

 

Great news about Mezzo AND that Kristen Wiig gif is so spot on! It's exactly how I felt after reading your dilemma xD

Glad that you managed to decide, and it sounds like a wise choice, haha!

 

[Harriet]

Awesome idea, making it a goal for next year. It's nice to have a mix of short and long term goals. I'd like to get a 200 pound deadlift. Then a 300 pound deadlift. Yep, not going to happen this challenge. Or next challenge. But still. 

Dragon shoes yay! I got some non-black leggings to wear to the gym. Black may be the best colour for hiding my legs and not being noticed, but I went for something a bit more fun instead - one pair in navy with cobalt & white blocks, one in a dark plum colour.

[Mera]

On 9/27/2018 at 6:45 PM, Harriet said:

Awesome idea, making it a goal for next year. It's nice to have a mix of short and long term goals. I'd like to get a 200 pound deadlift. Then a 300 pound deadlift. Yep, not going to happen this challenge. Or next challenge. But still. 

Dragon shoes yay! I got some non-black leggings to wear to the gym. Black may be the best colour for hiding my legs and not being noticed, but I went for something a bit more fun instead - one pair in navy with cobalt & white blocks, one in a dark plum colour.

 

YESSSS, screw hiding! I got some 80s style pink yellow turquoise all the colours type leggins from my mother in law at Christmas, and I totally rocked those to the gym. 

 

 

[Mera]

Week 2 Days 4 & 5

 

I took the Pink Dragons out for their first run yesterday morning and they. are. awesome. I felt like I was running on clouds  I still took a break today though, because the feet and legs are still a bit in pain. So no run this morning, but kettlebell workout this evening.

 

Tringle is still going well, so far I've made a ratatouille and vegetarian tacos this week, both of which I ate for multiple days. Pumpkin soup is on the menu for tomorrow and I'll be doing another market shop.

 

My shoulders feel great, it's Friday, Supernatural is playing on the TV, and my ass is happy on the sofa... bring on the weekend!

 

 

[Harriet]

3 hours ago, Mera said:

 

YESSSS, screw hiding! I got some 80s style pink yellow turquoise all the colours type leggins from my mother in law at Christmas, and I totally rocked those to the gym. 

 

 

OMG, I love the video! Maybe I can watch it on my phone while I work out. So inspiring. Oh, awesome with the all-colour leggings! It sounds like you have a much greater comfort level with bright colours than I do. Squats in navy was my idea of risky lifting 

 

[Lady Amezan]

On 9/19/2018 at 3:01 PM, Mera said:

 

I used to live in London, so I got my tea habit from them. I buy a big box of PG Tips whenever I'm there. Like Nol mentioned, Teapigs are awesome too, they have a great selection of tisanes if you want to check them out. 

 

 

I have to vote for gumboot tea! I used to be able to buy PG Tips here in Korea, but now I can only get Lipton. The solution? I order all my tea delivered internationally from abroad. (iherb.com is the expat's friend.) I may be American, but I draw the line at drinking Lipton. I want to be able to chew my tea. I blame it on a two year stint living in the UK. 

 

[Odango]

Doing awesome!!!