TheraGun Usage
I’ve been on the fence about how to include my new TheraGun usage in my daily workouts. I include stretching and foam rolling, so it seemed to make sense to include percussion massaging in the same way; however, I tend to use it daily as the need arrises and not just for recovery from workouts. As I’ve mentioned, it’s done wonders on my shoulders/scapula area and I’ll have it at the ready for any other knots and places of concern. So rather than mentioning it as part of a workout, it will simply be listed on my Weekly RunDown infographic in the same way as a McKenzie press-ups.
Overview of the Week
Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Cycling: 24 miles
• Average speed: 16.8 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 8:46 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
The wind gusts were obnoxious, the air was cold, and the sun was elusive, but some of my cycling friends met for a 25-mile ride on the gravel roads on the western side of our county. Me? I stayed inside in the comfort of my basement and knocked out a decent ride.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
It was a beautiful day and I would have loved to go out for a walk, but I was slammed with clients from 7-5.
Tuesday
Cycling: 10 miles
• Average speed: 17.0 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:29 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:53 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 88 feet
• Start time: 12:26 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 43° (feels like 39°) and cloudy with rain starting halfway in
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, mittens, ear warmer headband, and visor (took jacket and mittens off halfway through)
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
With a somewhat flexible mid-day schedule, I waited until the rain stopped to head out for my run. I got too hot so I swung by my mailbox to drop off my jacket and mittens; however, it started raining soon after. Luckily, I didn’t get cold or melt. 😉
Wednesday
Drive to the farm
Strength training: 15 minutes of core
After sitting in the car for six hours, I had hoped to get out for a quick walk, but chose instead to undecorate my mom’s house from Christmas which was a workout in itself. Before going to bed, though, I did do some core exercises.
Thursday
Yoga: sun salutations x 3
Full day of errands with my mom
Friday
Drive home from the farm
Strength training: 20 minutes of core
Saturday
Running: 2 miles
• Average pace: 9:47 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 42 feet
• Start time: 10:44 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 43° (feels like 37°) and overcast
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, mittens, ear warmer headband, and visor
Walking: 1 Mile
• Average pace: 14:35 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 23 feet
• Start time: 11:12 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 43° (feels like 37°) and overcast
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, mittens, ear warmer headband, and visor
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
I bumped into my friend Shawn just after starting my run so I turned and ran with her. It was fabulous catching up as I hadn’t seen her since our Cruisers’ Christmas party.
Questions
- • Do you mind running in the rain? ~ I don’t mind unless it’s cold.
- • What was your favorite workout of the week? ~ Bumping into my friend on Saturday’s run was very enjoyable. In fact, just before I saw her running toward me, I wondered why I don’t text her more often to see if she’s available to run.
- • Did you run in race this weekend? ~ No
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
I usually skip a rainy run. Not a race. Of course unless it rains multiple days. I may have to tough it out.
No race. My favorite was running with Cari in NYC.
Least favorite 10 cold cloudy miles. But at least I did it with a friend
Yay for a run with Cari!
“Back in the day” an icy trail was the only thing that would kept me from running outside. These days, though, if I have the option to run later in the day, I’ll give the rain a chance to move out.
Rain in the summer is nice, rain in late fall is definitely not very inviting (here, that is, obviously it’s no longer late fall).
Training 7-5 may have made you miss the sunshine, but wow on the clients! it’s got to be hard fitting it all in, though. Hugs.
I really enjoyed the sunshine on my walk yesterday — it’s been missing lately.
Yes, I’m super busy with clients again post-Covid with Monday’s and Friday’s being crazy busy. The only difference is these days about 25% of my clients are virtual.
Well, if I skipped a run in London every time it was raining, I probably wouldn’t be running very much. At least not in the winter, ha! Ice is a dealbreaker for me of course.
Glad you ran into a friend! Definitely a highlight when that happens.
I can certainly understand why ice would be a dealbreaker for you. I’ve never had a serious fall on ice and it’s still a dealbreaker for me.
I always forget to use my Theragun, but last night I used it on my legs and upper back — ahhh!
I am a fair weather cyclist and don’t run in the rain if I can help it!
I hate getting caught in the rain while on my bike, too, especially on cooler days.
Well, thankfully I don’t mind running in the rain lol bc it seems to rain on every run day lately! It really has not been so cold so I don’t mind that much. I use my theragun pretty much everyday often while watching tv at night.
Yes, we’ve had a bit of rain lately. I’ve been dodging rain on my Tuesday runs, but I’ve been lucky on Saturdays.
I don’t mind warm rain but cold rain is the worst! Years ago, I ran a 10 mile race in a downpour along the Chicago Lakefront and it took me a whole day to warm back up from that. No races this weekend. My favorite workout was probably my trail run today, which will be on next week’s recap!
I have a similar 18-mile run story from several years ago – low 30’s and rainy makes for a miserable run.
You go on the best trail runs!
I can handle rain on a hot summer day. If I am wearing a hat, all the better, LOL. I almost texted you to see if you were up for “biking together” Thursday morning, but it looks like you were busy at your mom’s place anyways. Maybe this next week?
This week should work – I’ll text you.
i don’t mind running in the rain but then it doesn’t get very cold here. I might mind it very much if it were in the 30s or 40s!
A theragun-type massager was originally on my Christmas list but I didn’t end up getting it. I have one I can use at work, but it would be nice to have one at home. Well, my birthday is coming up in March!
My husband and I went on an 18-mile run in the rain when the temps were in the low 30’s. I can confirm that it was miserable!
My husband has a Theragun-type machine and seems to like it a lot.
I’ve only run in rain once so far, and it wasn’t bad. I don’t think I’ll have a problem running in the rain, other than my glasses being covered by raindrops, perhaps a visor could help with that. Since I live in Ireland, rain gear is something I’ve stocked up with.. except a visor.
My strength training sessions in the gym are always good but the training highlight of this week was actually my own at-home bodyweight strength workout because I was so miserable during the week after the foot injury, and Sunday was one of the first days I had some good mood and “oomph” back again.
Yes, wearing a visor works wonders in keeping the rain (and sun) out of my face and off of my glasses. You should definitely look into adding it to your running gear.
I don’t mind a rain run as long as it’s not too cold. All the rainy weather we’ve been having lately has been challenging.
I need to remember to use my massage gun more consistently – thanks for the reminder!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Meeting a friend during a run is the best! Of course, you have to turn around and run with her!
I’m impressed that you managed to keep up with your step goal despite all the driving last week. Well done!
Absolutely, turn and run with a friend! 🙂
I don’t love rainy runs but I’ll do them. Cold rain is a hard no though. I had more than my share of that at the Tokyo Marathon. Ugh! How fun to meet a friend on the run!
Agreed, and the older I get, the harder that no gets on a cold run.
I recently started to use my Theragun on my legs for 1-2 minutes before doing a run. I’m not sure if it’s helping yet, but I will keep doing it for a few weeks. My hope is that it can help loosen up my muscles before a run since I often feel like my legs are tight/heavy.
I hope that works, and I bet your legs would love a before and after massage! Oh to have the time for that, right?
I don’t have that specific brand but very similar. I haven’t been using it as much lately as I should. It does feel wonderful when I use it! I don’t mind running in the rain too much when it is warm outside. It is a NO when it is cold outside. However, it was pouring when I ran the RnR Nashville Half Marathon a few years ago and I was miserable. It was awful.
For me, the key to remembering to use my TheraGun is keeping it where I see it (out of sight, out of mind)…
Running in cold rain is awful.