Sunday, June 4, 2017

Stronger Every Day!

While nothing exciting or earth-shattering happened this week, what stood out to me the most is how much I am feeling like myself again. Even the heat can't stop me!

I am beyond thrilled with how my fitness is returning. I'm continuing to feel good again. I had several days this week where I remarked to my husband that if I didn't know I had RA, I wouldn't know I had it. Modern medicine and good nutrition are the best combination.



This morning, I woke up late. I laid in bed and negotiated with myself. A hot day was predicted and I should already have been on the road. Should I bike instead? But I have the Rock N Roll Chicago Half Marathon in 5 weeks. I need to train in the heat. I had 8 miles to do and I considered my options. I convinced myself to go, drank a glass of Tailwind, and by 8 am was out the door. It was already 73 degrees and humid.

I drove to one of the forest preserves where there is an 8 mile loop, parked the car, and started to run. I wanted to test my run/walk intervals in the heat. I sipped my Tailwind on every walk interval and I do believe that was the key. Unfortunately, I miscalculated the distance of my planned route and when I hit 8 miles, my brain was done but I had 2 more miles to run to get back to the car. Don't you hate when that happens? Those last 2 miles were in the sun. I pushed it to 9 miles, but that was it. It's like my brain told the body that it was quitting time. I walked the last mile to my car. I was fine with that. But next time I run there, I'll plan for 10. Overall, though, this was a very successful run, with very consistent splits throughout the entire run.


It was a good week of running. I ran 3 other days this week. I did a fast 5k on Memorial Day. The other 2 runs required some walk intervals. With the shorter distances of those runs, I only walked for a minute after each mile I ran. I'm still not back to where I was before my diagnosis--maybe I won't ever get back there. But I'm still moving forward and I'm grateful for that.

Off the road there were 2 sessions with Becky this week. On Tuesday, I did CrossFit intervals, doing KB swings and atomic situps in between going balls out on the wind bike and doing power pulls on the rower. Becky was extremely pleased with me that day. She commented that I seemed to be doing better because I didn't stop to catch my breath at all as I moved from one activity to the other. On Thursday, it was all about firing the glutes. I pulled the sled, did Romanian deadlifts, flipped the tractor tire, and sidestepped with a very small, tight resistance band. I absolutely believe this is where I am going see the most benefits.


I also went to one class in the yoga studio. I set up my mat next to one of the instructors who teaches there, and at the end of the class she told me that I have "a beautiful practice". Me? What a wonderful compliment! I do love my yoga.


Off the road, there were good things as well. Last night, we took my mom and dad to see Hair--they saw the original version back in 1974! There's a little local theater in town here, and they put on some great shows. This one did not disappoint. We went to the matinee aka the senior citizen show and out to dinner after. The musical was fantastic--I knew a lot of the songs because back in the day, my mom had the album and she used to listen to it while she cleaned house! Actually, you would know a lot of the songs too: Good Morning Starshine, Let the Sun Shine In, and Aquarius. 




On Friday, my youngest son attended his junior prom with his beautiful girlfriend. Actually, they went to her prom. She goes to a different high school and he forgot to get tickets to his. Don't they look great? After an hour of taking pictures, I excused myself and left. I don't know about you all, but some moms are over the top. One of the moms was herding the kids around like cattle for photos and I couldn't take it anymore. When she asked the girls to pose taking selfies of themselves, I had had enough. Maybe it's a girl mom thing? Anyways, it was my issue. Matthew and Diana had a good time.

Wow. Just wow.

Matthew and mom
My dress is from my Stitch Fix! (affiliate link)
Life is good!

How was your week? What's the weather like by you? Have you ever heard of Hair? 

I'm linking up with Holly, Tricia, and their guest host, Mary Beth, for the Weekly Wrap!





82 comments :

  1. So glad you had a good week and are feeling better! I hope your son had a good time at the prom- you all look great!

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    1. I think they had fun! I almost think the fun part is getting dressed up, more than anything else.

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  2. So happy that your fitness is returning - I know you have to be over the moon! I have definitely under/over estimated a run before and it's so annoying when you have to do extra miles, lol

    Love the photos of your son with his prom date - such an exciting time in their lives!

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    1. You know I was happy after that run! I can't wait to hear how you like the Tailwind!

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  3. I've just loved seeing your photos the last week and seeing how much better you are feeling!!! Your son and his date look very handsome my son won't let me post a pic on the blog but I did sneak one in on FB. Have a great week!

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    1. So funny! My sons don't like being on FB but the blog is fine. LOL!

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  4. I am so happy for you Wendy!!! Yay!!!

    Your son is very handsome. Glad they had fun.

    By the way, you mentioned you drank a glass of Tailwind before your run but do you eat anything else before going out?

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    1. I don't eat before I go out. I just drink Tailwind before I go and as I run. It's my recipe for success.

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    2. I am so used to eating something before a run (well, depending on the distance/time) but I'll try your recipe too. Thanks!

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  5. I am so glad you are feeling better! The kids looked great for prom! Oh, I went to a matinee movie today, I guess I'm getting old...haha

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    1. Right? We kind of liked it--especially having dinner after and coming home to relax!

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  6. What a fun week! I'm glad you're feeling good again. :)

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    1. So glad! We'll have to pick a race to meet up at. I'm so sorry that Grandmas wasn't in the cards for me this year.

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  7. Such good news! So thrilled that you had a great week. Your son and his GF look so lovely! If I tried to hover around my daughter she would have given me the stink eye, but I think some moms and daughters have fun like that. I do know Hair. I have vague recollections of seeing it at a community theater with my parents when I was young but I'm sure they had the album too.

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  8. Do not get me started on prom parents - it's so over the top, you'd think they were going! Your son and his girlfriend look cute; what a fun time in their lives. :)

    Glad you are feeling so good! It's nice that things have turned around for you with the RA.

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    1. I'm glad it isn't just me who doesn't get those "prom parents". Funny thing, my son and his girlfriend had fun but I truly think that the dressing up part is the best part of the whole experience!

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  9. Sounds like you had a great run! My parents have a great little theater where they live, and I'm heading up there at the end of the month for a long weekend. We're seeing the troop put on Mamma Mia, and I"m very excited for that. I love the movie, but I've never seen the play.

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    1. Oh how fun! The play Mamma Mia was fantastic. Way better than the movie. I'm looking forward to hearing your review!

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  10. "But I'm still moving forward and I'm grateful for that." I love that line, and I respect you for living it out. You inspire me so much, and I'm going to remember that line this week! And the next 10 weeks...

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    1. It's got to be getting tougher for you to run! Do you think you'll be able to run to the very end?

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  11. Happy to read that you are feeling great! I need to follow your lead and drink more on my runs. Taking sips during walk breaks is a great idea.

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    1. With Tailwind, you're supposed to sip it throughout your run. Some runners (esp ultrarunners) use a backpack and mouthpiece to sip continuously. Using a handheld, you have to remind yourself to drink. Every 4 minutes works pretty well!

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  12. I'm pretty sure there was a movie based on the play, right? Pretty sure I saw that, but a quick IMDB search says that the movie was pretty drastically different from the play.

    So glad to hear that you had such great running this past week!

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    1. I didn't know there was a HAIR movie! I don't think musicals translate very well from the stage to the screen most of the time. I really enjoyed this one.

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  13. So great to hear you're feeling good again! Nice week of workouts too! Must be fun times to see your son and his girlfriend go to prom. I've never heard of Hair.

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    1. You're probably too young to remember HAIR! It's from the 1970s.

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  14. I'm so, so happy for you!!! I absolutely loved seeing the picture of your son and his girlfriend - they look fantastic! Oh to be young and going to prom :-) And that other mom? UGH! There's always one. Good for you for just leaving. And I really love how good you are feeling and how strong you're getting with your Becky workouts!! Great news all around. Thanks for this pick-me-up first thing on a Monday.

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    1. It's harder to write these happy posts--I think I am much more articulate when I'm in angst!

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  15. OMG CLAP IT UP. The best feeling for someone with a chronic illness is to forget that they have a chronic illness :D

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    1. Right? As the humidity rose, a few symptoms reappeared but man, it's pretty sweet to feel this good.

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  16. Hooray for a strong week! Let's just forget about RA, ok? Right. I've heard of Hair but had no idea those songs were from it. Ha! Lovely prom pic and they had a gorgeous evening weather wise. I love that your son took a pic with you.

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    1. I actually did forget about RA quite a bit last week! Some of the symptoms returned over the weekend but nothing that stopped me! Yes!

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  17. Of course I've heard of hair! It's a great movie.

    Great job on your long run! I often miscalculate turn a rounds, but I always just walk the extra. That's wonderful that you're feeling so much better -- May that just continue & even improve! And definitely a nice compliment from your instructor.

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  18. I love the music from Hair! My mom also had the album and I used to listen to it a lot!

    I'm so happy to hear you're feeling close to normal again. Obviously you're doing the right things, so keep it up!

    Your son and his girlfriend look so adorable! And grown up at the same time!

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  19. What a great week! I've never heard of Hair before - glad you enjoyed it! Oh Prom is in the air! I am YEARS away from that with my girls but yes at times it's like a wedding shoot!

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    1. You aren't kidding! That's exactly what we compared it to.

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  20. Wendy, I've got to tell you that I subscribe (via email) to almost no blogs - I read many but don't like posts clogging up my inbox. However, I've kept you in there because I love reading about what's going on with you and always appreciate your attitude about both running and life. :) Have a great week!

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    1. Well, you just made my day! Thank you so much--what a nice message! <3

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  21. What a great post! It just makes me smile! :-) I hope the good vibe continues my friend! and those prom pictures - sweet! Loving that StitchFix dress too!

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  22. Love the positivity in this post! Lots of good things for you to celebrate!

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  23. yes, I've heard of Hair and I've seen the show Hair too - just a few years ago.

    You son is so handsome and he looks just like you.

    Glad to hear that you are feeling better.

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  24. We do the small steps with the resistance band across the gym floor too. Man can you feel the burn at the end of these too!
    I have come to love having date night with dinner a play at our local theater. So much talent right under our nose!
    I personally think some of these moms your talking about at the prom pictures scene are trying to life their life through their kids! Drives me crazy too! He did look very handsome! Glad they had fun!

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  25. Oh I'm so happy to hear about how well you're feeling! Modern medicine really is amazing, isn't it?

    What great pictures of your son! That one of you with him is definitely one to print and frame.

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  26. Your son and his girlfriend make such a cute couple! I hope they had a great time.

    It's great to hear that your runs are coming along so nicely!

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  27. That is so awesome that you are feeling great again!!
    And resistance band side step is my main glute wakeup exercise too!

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  28. Oh I love Hair! Actually, I love all musicals! That's so funny that your Mom listened to it while cleaning house ...I remember my Mom putting records on while she cleaned house as well. She'd stack them up on the old "console record player" ...remember those? Blast from the past! :)

    Your son is just precious and it looks as if he has your smile. Yes, some Moms are completely over the top! I always show up at those type of events, snap a few pics and leave. I have a life too and I want my kids to enjoy themselves without Mom always being up in the middle of everything. I think those Moms are living vicariously through their kids. But that's just my opinion.

    I'm so glad you are feeling like the old Wendy! Those intervals will definitely be carrying me through the summer months then I'm hoping when winter comes, I'll be super speedy! haha

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  29. Oh Prom season!! I am going to be that mom you were mentioning!! it's just in my future, I know it!!

    that photo of you with the tractor tire!! Total beast!

    I just heard a thing on NPR about Hair, I've never seen it, but it sounds great! My son will grow up with Les Mis as the normal music of his childhood!

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  30. Sounds like a terrific week for you! I do love the music to HAIR! So happy.

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  31. It's great to hear you are successfully rallying back! Awesome runs and workouts, great job!!

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  32. So much goodness in this! The side steps with the resistance band are killer. I love to hate them. My PT made me use the black band last week because I said they were too easy. The black band made them just a tad harder. :)

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  33. Wow you had an awesome week! You go girl! Glad you are feeling stronger, too! Your son looks so handsome in his tux! Love it!

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  34. You are doing so great.

    I'm a pretty big theater junkie, so yes I've heard of Hair, although I haven't had the opportunity to see it on stage yet. One day.

    Your son and Diana make a gorgeous couple! Her dress is everything!

    I love that picture of you flipping the tractor tire! So strong and so very bada$$.

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  35. I am so glad you are feeling so great! Look at you flipping that huge tire! I'm so happy for you! Your son is so handsome and his date was just lovely. I hope they had a great time! Hope you have another great week!

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    1. I think they had fun--but I think it was more fun dressing up!

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  36. So so happy to hear that you're feeling great! That picture of you flipping the tire is the best!
    Hope you have a great week!

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    1. I haven't done that for so long--it was great to know I still had it in me.

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  37. Glad to hear you are doing better! I knew if anyone could fight through RA it was you, you are pretty amazing.

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  38. Good for you for training even though it was tough. What a wonderful photo with you and your son, and you look gorgeous!!!!

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  39. Fantastic progress. And this set of photos is particularly beautiful. That sky is amazing. You'll be in great shape for the Chicago half. Also- what wonderful prom pics!

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  40. lol at your comment about the moms. yes I agree some people are just way too much! I love your son's GF's dress!
    you might have written this prveiously, but what paces are you doing your walk/run intervals? I've been curious about trying this but I think I calculated I'd have to run the run portions at like 9 min pace or something and then walk...I feel like this would be harder for me.

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