October is my favorite month of the year! My birthday and our wedding anniversary are both in October. Usually there are all kinds of fall races happening, especially my favorite marathon, the Twin Cities Marathon.
So many great memories from TCM…This picture is from 2016, when I paced my sister Erin.
Of course this year is slightly different; TCM went virtual, of course. But I can still most definitely say that October is my favorite month, especially for running. The weather this week was so perfect; cool, crisp, a faint smell of bonfire in the air, combined with all the colorful fall foliage; it doesn’t get any better than October in Minnesota.
I’m feeling more positive about running too, as my Achilles tendinitis seems to be healing up well, fingers crossed.
Here’s how this week worked out!
Monday: 4 mile run with Ruth the vizsla pup, 8:45 min/mile, Virtual 1:1 strength session with Discover Strength after work.
Tuesday: 8 miles before work with my two running friends, 9:30 min/mile
Wednesday: 7 mile run before work, 9:30 min/mile. A virtual 1:1 strength training session over lunch.
I’m not in shape to be doing double runs, but two of my coworkers were meeting up on Bde Mka Ska for a run after work. I hadn’t seen them in person since February, so even though I had already run, I decided to jog over to join them. The two of them have been just as conservative as me with regards to Covid, so I felt comfortable running near them. 4 more miles, 8:40 min/mile. 11 miles on the day. Achilles felt okay!
Thursday: 4 mile lunch run with Ruth the vizsla, 8:40 min/mile. A beautiful sunny fall day for a lunch run. I’ll definitely remember the pandemic as the time when Ruth became a runner. She seems to love it and has all the energy in the world!
Friday: Final EWST (electoshock therapy) session for my Achilles tendinitis.
I strongly believe this treatment has helped me a ton. I’m so glad I decided to give it a try. It hurts SO bad when its happening, but I feel immediate relief and the healing is supposed to continue for the next 90 days or so.
I didn’t run after the treatment, but just did a virtual 1:1 strength training with Discover Strength after work.
Saturday: My Achilles was feeling great post-EWST and it was a gorgeous October Saturday. This would have been the Twin Cities Marathon weekend on a normal year, and the weather would have been perfect.
Christie, Julie, and I ran to the bunny and back for 11.3 miles, 9:10 min/mile average. Best long run for me in awhile. Just a fun, fun morning.
If you remember from this spring, the bunny had a traditional mask on:
He’s switched it up now for a new mask with a great message:
This perfect fall day was filled with several dog walks, a stop at Pyres Brewery to check out an outdoor market they held there and then takeout from a new pizza place in our neighborhood, Rosalia. Yum.
Sunday: Dustin, Ruth, and I ran 4 miles together on another picture perfect fall day. 8:35 min/mile. Achilles felt pretty good.
Summary: 42 miles, 3 strength training sessions. I really hope this Achilles thing is behind me now, but my coach is reminding me to be careful/conservative, of course, as I build back up.
I’m continuing with physical therapy for a bit longer to ensure its really gone-gone. But I am feeling optimistic that I can get back to full strength soon!
I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner Check it out!
So many fun things happening for you this month!
Awesome job on workouts this week and I”m glad that your achilles is feeling better. I love that special message on the bunny!
October is the best month 🙂 The bunny is the best!
Happy birthday and happy anniversary! I totally agree with you on October running and I’m so glad you’re on the mend to enjoy it. KNow that feeling on “how close” safety/comfort level. Luckily my friends have been similar to me in habits, so we also feel comfortable having a mask free outside dinner.
Exactly- I’ve never been so “judgmental” about other people’s behavior, but you kinda have to be these days..
It’s the only way to stay safe, I think. And I wouldn’t have anty issue with someone telling me “You’re going to museums, that’s beyond my comfort zone” as the only “right” is what’s OK for each person/family.
Exactly! I work to not take it personally if someone doesn’t feel comfortable with me, as each of us has our own unique covid experience and personal calculated risks that we’re comfortable with.
Such a fun week!
I am really loving this October. I’m feeling… hopeful, maybe?
So glad your treatments have been a success! I’m sure it’s a huge relief!
Yes..hopeful is right!
I also like this month too! Perfect for running. Glad to hear your achilles is behaving.
That bunny is so cute!
Thanks Zenaida!
So glad your achilles is getting better! We just celebrated our anniversary October 1st!
October weddings are the best 🙂
For sure October is the best running month! It’s really exciting to hear how much better your achilles is getting.
I’m optimistic!
So great to hear that your achilles is feeling so much better. October is the best month for running around here too, Feel good!
Thanks Deborah!
All the memories are popping up from back in 2015 when Twin Cities was our girls’ destination race-cation. We have so much fun and the weather was perfect! SO glad to hear the therapy is working wonders on your achilles!
I’m so happy every time you mention how much you loved Twin Cities…it really is such a wonderful marathon!
So glad your achilles is behaving itself! Fall is the best time to be a runner and being injured would not be good!
I have to ask–is that the river that is in all your pictures? Or is it a lake? I’ve never been to the Twin Cities, so i don’t know much about it. Just curious!
Great question! We live really close to the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes- Bde Mka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun), Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles, and Cedar Lake. Most of my pictures are from those lakes, but I sometimes venture to the river road trail, which goes along the Mississippi River!
Great news on the achilles!! We don’t have much for color change on the leaves yet, but I know it won’t be long before we do. I was looking through my week-by-week planner, and had noticed I’d penciled in the Twin Cities Marathon…can’t remember if I’d considered registering or not (?), but it’s definitely a race I’d like to do some day.
That’s awesome, I love that you had it pencilled in Kim! Maybe in the next year or two you’ll come this way. It’s such a great marathon!
Wow! Double run Wednesday! Awesome. Loved seeing your photo from Twin Cities with your sister. That’s one race I often looked at, but never did. I hope by next yeaar, more races will be happening in person. Glad your injury is getting better.
You would love Twin Cities, it’s such a fun beautiful course! Out of my 34, it’s one of my favorites, even though yes, I am a little biased 🙂
Great news on the Achilles and well done for being so careful and patient during your recovery. I love the bunny – coincidentally, I’m running to a Lego giraffe and back on Thursday. No idea if she’s wearing a mask at present …
Haha, nice, a giraffe! Have fun!
Happy birthday and happy anniversary!
I feel your pain and wanting to err on the cautious side. I took like a month off from running because of plantar fasciitis. I’m sloooooowly getting back into running again.
Oh how I miss the fall season!!!
Wow, good for you! I hope you’re feeling a lot better. Achilles and plantar are apparently related sometimes…
That’s such great news about your achilles. And you’re still getting a lot of miles in! October is pretty great around here too, but September is a close runner up!
I hope it stays under control and never comes back 🙂