Often when something’s on my mind I use my weekly blog post to process my thoughts and come to some resolution. This week there’s a lot weighing on my mind, but as far as resolution goes, I got nothing.
Feeling a bit lost ….
I Can’t Believe …
I can’t believe 9/11 was twenty years ago. I never will forget that shocking morning, that horrifying day, or the uncertainty and sadness of the days that followed. I can still see original news footage in my mind. Somehow it feels too soon to watch a documentary, let alone a dramatization, but I have been reading the stories of family members and survivors. That’s the least I can do.
9/11 memorial in Charlottesville, Va
(a beam from the World Trade Center)
I can’t believe our office is officially reopening this week (ramping up to full-time in-person Nov. 1). I think upper management decided 18 months (exactly, by the way) is enough; it’s time to reopen. Never mind the high positivity rates and breakthrough infections associated with the delta variant.
(source)
Red: > 25 new cases per day per 100,000 people
Orange: 10-24 new cases per day per 100,000 people
Yellow: 1-9 new cases per day per 100,000 people
Green: < 1 new case per day per 100,000 people
I can’t believe Virginia was green and yellow earlier this summer ….
I can’t believe I am going on business trip next weekend, flying to Austin to speak at a conference. I can’t believe I will be spending time in a big hotel conference room with other people. (There is a mask policy.)
I accepted the opportunity back in those hopeful post-vaccine, pre-delta days of early summer. One reason I wanted to go was to see people I haven’t seen in 18 months. I attended a meeting sponsored by the same organization in late February 2020, when covid-19 was a topic of conversation, but not a reality of daily life. I can’t believe we thought we were being “safe” by not shaking hands but still sitting side-by-side, elbow-to-elbow around those round meeting room tables.
Anyway, I can believe many of the people I was hoping to see won’t be there. Some companies aren’t allowing non-essential business travel yet; many people are being cautious due to unvaccinated children at home; others will just make-do with the virtual programming. At least with a smaller crowd, I should be able to network more effectively, right?
The shockwave machine
On a more positive note, I can’t believe how well the shockwave therapy seems to be working on my Achilles. I’m still holding myself back from running on consecutive days, but I’m nudging up my distance. I’m not completely pain-free, but I’m noticing more and more instances of expecting pain or limited mobility and not feeling it. I’ve got my last two treatments this week, and am keeping my fingers crossed.
I can’t believe my “history” of Achilles tendinopathy means I should avoid fluoroquinolone antibiotics (like Cipro and Levaquin and others with “flo” in their non-brand names). They actually have a “black box” warning about the increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture (and other issues). My podiatrist has treated several patients who’ve had their Achilles rupture after taking just a few doses of Cipro and wants me to remember to avoid fluoroquinolones if at all possible. I can’t believe an antibiotic could have that effect, but my podiatrist thinks the drugs disrupt the tendon’s structure, possibly by interfering with collagen production.
Weekly Run Down
The big news on the workout front (other than my improving Achilles) was taking my 900th Peloton strength class—Jess Sims’s Flash 15 class on Friday morning. After hitting 891 strength workouts last weekend, I carefully planned out my workouts for the week so that class would be #900! Kim G was able to take it too, and we both heard my shoutout from Jess! (Instructors try to acknowledge milestones and birthdays, but usually there are too many to get to them all.)
Monday (Labor Day): Core + 30.5 mile bike ride
For our third ride of Labor Day weekend, we played tourist and rode to the Mall, where the De Lorean from Back To The Future was on display. I was more impressed by the sight of people frolicking on the Capitol lawn.
No fencing in sight, but it’s going back up
ahead of a pro-Trump protest next weekend. 🙁
Tuesday: 3.5 Scooby Miles + Core + Lower Body Strength
Wednesday: Core + Bodyweight Strength + 30 min Peloton Ride
This ride was so hard I needed a cool down ride and post-ride stretch to recover!
Thursday: 4.75 Mile Run
I had to go into the office to print out some papers, and dodged raindrops to get in a run first. A forced detour off the bike path took me around the Kennedy Center, where I stopped to appreciate the outdoor art installations.
This is Brushtroke by Roy Lichtenstein
Friday: Core + 45 min Bike Bootcamp + Flash 15
The live class I was taking for my 900th Peloton strength workout wasn’t until 9:30 am, so I opted for a bike bootcamp as my main morning workout. The Flash 15 was a good one> They all have the same format (3 min w/u + 12 min EMOM) with different exercises. This EMOM had three blocks, with block C being devils presses—an evil combination of a burpee and an overhead squat press.
My new Peloton sports bra came just in time!
Saturday (9/11): Conte’s Hill Ride
I wanted to have a low-key day, and thought the camaraderie of the Conte’s Hill Ride would be a good way to start the day.
My Garmin heat map gives you an idea of all the ups and downs!
Sunday: 5.25 Scooby Miles + Peloton Rides
This was my longest run in a while. My Achilles nagged intermittently, but not persistently. We’ll see how it fees tomorrow ….
I had too much on my to-do list for a bike ride, but carved out an hour for some Peloton rides, including Christine’s very moving 9/11 Remembrance Ride.
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link up.
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
That correlation between tendinopathy and antibiotics is so interesting. Knowledge is power I guess. Glad the shock therapy was so effective. All the best as you nudge up your running miles!
Thanks. It’s hard to hold back, but temps in the 90s this week should help slow me down.
Good luck with re-entry
We find out Tuesday what our return plan is and I don’t think I’m ready.
I got asked about any ligament tendon issues when I was on an antibiotic once, but I think it was before my achilles issues. Will be interesting as I’m allergic to levaquin and th ey never gave us penicillin because mom is.
Hopefull amoxicillin will work for what you need to fight off!
Well… I think you’ll be fine in Austen, if everyone is wearing masks and the venue is- hopefully- well-ventilated. I’m basing this on my husband’s experience- when he got Covid in July, everyone was sitting close together, no masks, and the place was not well-ventilated (I know- what were they thinking?).
I’m glad to hear the shockwave therapy is helping! And yes, I’ve heard that about antibiotics. Kind of scary, right?
Congratulations on your Peloton milestone! 900… that’s a LOT of strength classes!
Well, they were thinking they were safe because they were vaccinated? Or they weren’t thinking because they were in Florida? (Kidding!!!)
The 10 min core classes add up!
That is great news about your Achilles. I hope things continue to improve.
Wow. That is a lot of classes. I still have not taken any. My bad!
U am dreading going back full time but I still have one more week at home.
They are still fudging about what “full time” will look for attorneys. Everyone is interpreting the policy differently!
I think you will be fine traveling just take your usual precautions. My husband’s office is also opening this week. Huge congrats on 900 classes! glad the shockwave is helping that’s encouraging
I’m really hoping for the best all the way around!
That is very strange. I used to have many UTIs (going back about 20 years, knock on wood) and was often on Cipro. I was active then, but not a runner. Never heard about the connection. So strange!
A friend of mine was just at a conference for work, although she didn’t have to fly for it. I am glad I don’t have to do that — but my brother has flown back & forth several times in this period, and his daughter too — they’ve been ok, so hopefully you will be too (and they were cross country). Not to mention the nephew who got married this week flew home from India!
We still really struggle with how long it’s been since Mr. Judy has seen his mom in person. I even toyed with the idea of driving cross country (but then there’s Bandit).
The tendon warning started in 2008. Maybe now that you’ve had an Achilles issue, you should ask if it gets prescribed again.
I”m sure I’ll be fine at my conference once I get there. It just seems unreal from here. 😉
I definitely hope not to need Cipro. 🙂
I know I personally wouldn’t want to be attending a conference. Thinking good thoughts for you, Coco!
I have so many feelings about the return to being in the office. I guess it is what it is. I just dont understand why everyone needs to be back every day, especially those of us who can do our jobs at home. Being around so many people in a closed space makes me nervous with an unvaccinated child at home.
I am still not ready to travel anywhere, but my dad has been traveling every week for work throughout the entire pandemic. I am doing my first in-person training this week at a school. Its pretty small but I will have to present in a mask.
Thats so interesting about the achilles and antibiotics- Ive never heard of that before!
Congrats on your peloton milestone!
I feel about the same way. I know we have to go back eventually but it doesn’t make sense now. I’m sure I’ll be fine with it once I get used to it again.
I would have never guessed that antibiotics could impact tendinopathy – the things you learn! I’m so happy that the shockwave therapy seems to be working for you.
I hope all goes well with your return to the office and your conference. My husband’s company just paused their plans to return to the office, and my org. just announced a fundraiser we’re holding next month will be virtual only. But I know so many who are returning to the office – there just seems to be no consistency.
A huge congrats again on your 900th!
It’s only this class of antibiotics — don’t want everyone staying sick. 😉
It makes no sense to reopen when D.C. still has a mask mandate regardless of vaccination status. I can take off my mask in my office, but our secretaries don’t have that option. :-/
Congrats on the 900th, and getting the shoutout! I’m glad to hear the Achilles is feeling so much better. I hope that continues as you get your mileage back 😉
Thanks, me too!
I felt the same as you when the ginormous medical group I work for decided to open up all the clinics to COVID-symptomatic patients, right when the Delta variant reared its ugly head. Thankful for that 3rd vaccine but also masking all the time helps!
I’m always hesitant to rx Cipro or Levaquin to my teenagers because of the possibility of tendon rupture. To me, those are the ‘sledgehammers’ of antibiotics and really should be reserved for severe or resistant infections. But like everything else, they have been overprescribed and now we have resistance to them. Along with tendon ruptures!
There’s also some interesting warnings related to mental state — like anxiety and paranoia.
I’m so happy to hear the shockwave therapy is working! The machine your doctor uses is bigger than the one I experienced- I’m sure there’s all different models!
Our return to office was supposed to be this past week after Labor Day, but it’s postponed until mid-October to see how Delta goes…I’m dreading it. I love love love working from home!
I don’t understand why we are forging ahead — the parking garage is even under repair right now!
I’m so happy your Achilles is responding to the shock wave therapy!
I know what you mean about the “expected” pain vs feeling it. It’s a great feeling when there’s NOTHING. I hope the niggles that you felt today will disappear by tomorrow.
Also, I had no idea about the connection between antibiotics and tendonitis. I have to read up on that – I’m sure your podiatrist is right.
Thanks. So far, so good! It’s only this certain class of antibiotics, but the risk is real!
I was thrilled to hear your shoutout before class and during class – congrats again on that huge milestone!!
My company originally wanted to do hybrid return to office in October but they sent out communication today that it has been pushed back to January 2022. It makes me wonder if employees that have an office will actually ever go back – it’s crazy.
I am VERY happy to hear that the shcokwave therapy seems to be going well – that’s awesome news!
That’s great that the shock therapy is proving effective so far. Here’s hoping that you’ll be back to 100% in no time at all!