Trusting the Process: On and Off the Road

I turned a corner this week. I ran well, I held my balance poses in yoga, and I lifted 89% of my max doing deadlifts with Becky.

I am feeling good. If I didn't know I had rheumatoid arthritis, I wouldn't know I had it. Does that even make sense? As I continue to wean off the steroids, my aches and pains are barely noticeable. I have more energy. My mood is good. Most importantly, my sense of humor is returning!

Becky always says it and my rheumatologist said it too: Trust the Process.

Two months ago, when I was diagnosed with RA, I was feeling pretty bad. I was optimistic that things would turn around quickly for me. Things have gotten better but not fast enough for this impatient runner. Two months later, I can say that my optimism has returned. Yes, I'm still on weekly methotrexate injections. As the dose has increased, my symptoms have decreased. I've also made some changes in my diet, eating more foods that have the ability to decrease inflammation. I'm still having some night sweats and fatigue, along with those mild aches and pains. I can't complain. I've been able to run the whole time. My speed and endurance are returning! I'm hopeful that I will continue in this forward direction.

This week I ran a total of 22 miles. Tuesday it was warm and rainy, but Thursday was sunny and bitterly cold. It's as if Mother Nature cannot make up her mind. Unlike those poor folks in the Northeast, we are still without snow. For those of us in Chicago, it's been an ideal winter for a runner.

A rainy morning run. I had to bring my own sunshine. 

Saturday morning, I got up early to run with Steph. The others didn't want to go so early, so it was just the 2 of us. I'm so fortunate to have a running partner who runs my pace! It was a pleasant 40 degree morning with no wind! We planned to do 8, but I had to cut it short for me to make it on time to work. Why does life have to get in the way of running?

Me and Steph, running up Payton's Hill

I made it to the yoga studio twice this week.

Cocoa and me, in the most badass of poses, Goddess Kali

Besides the deadlifts, Becky had me work on power cleans (I hope I got the terminology correct, Becky). I won't lie, I struggle with the cleans, particularly when she adds more weight. It's the whole package, the hip thrust, the jump, and the shoulder shrug to get the bar up. The clean reminds me of a dance move. It's fair to say that I'm not a very good dancer. If you know me at all, you know that I get really frustrated when I cannot do something.  I can clean the bar and I can do it with lighter weights. But I could not clean the weight she had planned for me this week.

I had much more success with those deadlifts.

You know when the colored plates come on, it's going to be heavy! This was a deadlift. 

I also had lunch with Marcia this week. We talked about a variety of things, including my upcoming marathon. I've been thinking a lot about my training and my goals,  and we talked about what I was going to do. Marcia threw me a couple of bones in the form of training advice. When Marcia talks running, I listen. She's an amazing coach--just ask Mary Beth--and her guidance has always been spot-on in the past. I feel that I've gained so much knowledge from her. I'm looking forward to incorporating her advice into my marathon training plan. It really does take a village to train a runner, doesn't it?

The process? On and off the road, thus far, the process has been a success.

How was your week? What's the weather like where you are? I know a lot of you got snow! What advice do you take to the starting line? Don't have a starting line for this spring? It's not too late to enter my Utah Valley Marathon, Half, or 10k Giveaway!!!

I'm linking up with Holly and Tricia, as well as Angela and Ilka for their weekly linkups!