Sunday, November 18, 2018

Running in a Winter Wonderland

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Garmins beep
Are you listening?
On the trail
Snow is glistening
A beautiful day
We're happy to say
We're running in a winter wonderland
-Apologies to Richard B. Smith, lyricist



What was the weather like where you ran this week? Here in Chicago, we were hit with some early season snow! In fact, we have had the 2d snowiest November on record. Sure, it's pretty. But it's only November and we've got a lot more winter ahead of us. Fortunately, the forecast is for back to normal conditions next week. I've got a half marathon on Saturday and it looks like we're going to have close to 50 degrees. Now if the wind could stay away...

Running
In spite of the snow and cold, I actually enjoyed some really nice running conditions this week. On Wednesday, it was sunny and the wind was calm. I took my 7 mile run to the retention pond where I enjoyed solitude. I love running there this time of year because all the fair weather peeps stay away. While there were a few walkers, mostly it was just me and the geese. If you look closely at the path in my photo, you'll see what I mean.


On Saturday, I joined the running club for another group run, this time to the Des Plaines River Trail. It's hard to believe I've never run there, but after this run, I will be back. This run was especially pretty because it snowed the whole time with big, fluffy flakes. There was no wind and it just felt so peaceful. I started with a group who ran at a 10 m/m pace and I was thinking I'd stay with them the entire 8 miles. But once we hit 2 miles, they sped up to about 9:15. I hoped that I could maintain that pace but I could not. Reality bites, but what are you going to do? Run/walk intervals to the rescue. I enjoyed solitude for much of my run. On the way back, at mile 6, one of the men caught up with me and said he'd do the run/walk intervals for the last 2 miles. He was really pleasant and I enjoyed his company. After the run, we went to Starbucks for coffee and talked all things running.

Busse Woods Running Club
Field Trip to Des Plaines River Trail
I'm 4th from left in the front row
CrossFit
I woke up on Thursday with a post-Humira headache--it happens sometimes--and I considered skipping my strength session with Sammy Jo. Instead, I popped a few ibuprofen and worked my buns off. First, she had me do front squats 90# 4 sets of 6 reps. Those alternated with barbell rows and ab leg extensions with the resistance band. After that, we worked on rope climbs. I don't know if it was because I wasn't feeling well or that the strength work was so hard, but climbing wasn't happening.

Bootcamp was killer. First was a 12 minute AMRAP of pike pushups, DB push presses, Kip swings, and ABmat situps. I got in 4 rounds. After that, we did 5 rounds of 45 seconds jump roping (I have not mastered the double under), 15 burpee boxovers, and 10 ball slams. I finished before the 18 minute mark. That's 60 burpees, y'all! Boom.


Yoga
There was no yoga this week. Oh, did I feel it. I remedied that on Sunday, doing Five Parks Yoga's Yin Fusion Yoga Class. I felt much better when I was done and I vowed not to skip yoga again.

This is a great hip opener. Does anyone know what it's called?
Off the road
And here's why there was no yoga until Sunday. My dad had major back surgery on Monday. I hit the road at 5am to meet my parents in the city before they took my dad to the OR. After 4 hours, we were able to see him in his room. He did really well and is home now, recuperating. We brought dinner on Saturday and spent some time with him and my mom. Getting old is no joke. I'm grateful we have access to such excellent healthcare where we live.

My dad had a room with a view!
Sunset (looking east)
On Friday, I was out of the office to attend a workshop called Crucial Conversations. Have any of you attended one of these? The training is to help improve communication, especially in sensitive situations. The workshop I attended was for physicians and nurse practitioners. It was actually really helpful and I'm looking forward to putting some of the things I learned into action.

How was your week? Did you get snow? Do you like to run in new places? Do the geese poop all over your trails? 

~~~~~~~~Weekly Wrap~~~~~~~~
Welcome to the Weekly Wrap, the place to be for all the running and fitness bloggers! If you're new to the wrap, be sure to check out the rules above. If you are not a fitness blogger, please don't link here. Thanks to all for supporting each other and for supporting Holly and me by sharing the linkup and commenting on our posts! We sure are grateful. 



65 comments :

  1. Hope your dad is doing ok. That seminar sounds really interesting. I am sure I could use some of the "sensitive" topic pointers. Thanksgiving is going to be stressful this week not really into it and we are hosting! LOL I am looking forward to running in snow we just had a wintery mix so not good for running in. Thanks for the link up and happy Thanksgiving

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    1. We're going to my sister's for Thanksgiving. I hope my dad is feeling well enough to attend!

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  2. I hope your dad is recovering well! My dad had back surgery right around this time last year. I really can't believe all the snow that has hit some places already. It feels like its gonna be a long winter!

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    1. I fear that it will be a long winter! I'm looking forward to the moderation we've been promised for the upcoming week.

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  3. Wow that is quite a beautiful view! I hope your dad continues to recuperate nicely. The snow was a pleasant aberration, now we'll resume our scheduled MILD winter. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

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  4. Your snowy run looks lovely!
    I hope your dad recovers well. That workshop sounds interesting, although I hope you get to practice communicating positive things and not have to give your patients "bad " news.

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    1. The communication techniques are especially helpful when you have to deliver "bad" news or discuss something unpleasant, hence the term "crucial conversations". Let's see how I do...

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  5. Awesome week of workouts my friend! We also had our first snow of the season on Thursday.

    That crucial conversations workshop sounds really good. I would love to go to something like that. I should see if that offer something similar in my area. I'm glad to hear that your dad is doing well. I'm sending him tons of positive vibes for a speedy recovery!

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    1. Oh Kim, he'll take any and all positive vibes! Recovery is never fun.

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  6. Your snowy run looks lovely. I love the view from your dad's room too -- I'm glad he's recovering well. A year ago today is when my mom broke her hip. Since then she's learned she has osteoporosis, so her lifestyle has changed dramatically. That seminar sounds interesting and could be very valuable over the holidays. :-)

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    1. It's funny tho--the people who most need those skills don't seem to realize it...

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  7. Glad your dad is home & recovering and that you're close enough to be there while he's in the OR.
    Congrats on solid strength workout despite not feeling well. Love your poetry!

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  8. Hope your dad recovers quickly and smoothly! Snow here for sure, cold temps but no geese poop :) Have a blessed Thanksgiving! Skipping stretching moves throughout the week has really kicked my tail... and possibly aided my hip flexor strain happening. Whatever stretch that is, it looks like a good one! I'm doing lots of hip strength and stretch moves lately!

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  9. I hope your dad's recovery goes well and glad you could be with him. No snow here but it has been windy, and the temps are dropping this coming week, apparently. I have been doing my stretching like a good girl and feeling happier with two yoga sessions a week than one and circuits (oh dear!).

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    1. I definitely need to up the yoga. Man, did I pay for skipping it!

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  10. Hope your dad's recovery goes well. That is quite a view he had - wow!

    Snow in Minneapolis as well, though not as much as Chicago! I love those peaceful big snowflake runs, but I am a lot more nervous in any conditions than I used to be...I hope I start to get more confident again in the snow, but I guess it hasn't even been a year.

    Anyways, I don't know all that much about Humira, but I'm sorry to hear the side affects are bad headaches. Glad Ibuprofen helps.

    Awesome week, thanks for hosting the link-up!

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    1. Fortunately, in the big snowflake conditions, it's warm enough that it isn't icy. Your temps are something else altogether!

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  11. I join everyone in wishing your Dad well. I hope his recovery is smooth.
    Happy Thanksgiving to all your family.

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    1. I think it's going to be a little bumpy for him--the nerves in his leg are firing up again and that's a little painful. Fingers crossed they calm down.

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  12. I don't know if I told you this, but I started doing 5 Parks at your suggestion. I love it! So many different classes to choose from and they are all free. I have never done the Yin Fusion before. I am going to search for that one for Tuesday. Thank you so much!

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    1. It's my second time doing the Yin Fusion and it's one of my new favorites. I feel so much better after doing it. I love her classes. Now I want to go to one of her Costa Rican yoga retreats!

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  13. I'm so glad your Dad did well with his surgery! What a view from his room! I've never run while it was actually snowing. I bet that was so peaceful. Fingers crossed you have excellent weather for your half!

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    1. If you want to experience a snowy run, I can hook you up! Let me know... :p

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  14. Snowy trails were BEAUTIFUL today! As I was heading out, some runners in the parking lot asked if I knew of any area running groups and I mentioned the Busse Woods group after seeing it on you blog last week. Hopefully there will be a few more runners next week! Happy to hear your dad is recovering well!

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    1. The snowy trails were gorgeous. If winter could be like this, I'd be ok with it. Thanks for sharing our club. It's a good one!

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  15. I wish I had a running group of that size in my area! There's a group in DSM promoting a Dec/Jan series of weekend runs that I may head over to do, just for something different. Hope your father's recovery goes well!

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    1. This is the first time I've participated in a club and while the solo runner in me rebels, it's comforting to know that there are people out there on the trails!

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  16. I did crucial conversations back in April. I think it's a good skill to have.
    We got snow yesterday, and something about that storm drove a lot of geese my way. I saw so many flocks when I was doing errands.

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    1. I knew someone had to have done this class. I thought it was worthwhile--hopefully I'll be able to draw on the skills when I need them.

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  17. Yes we got snow and it is cold so it will be sticking around. I love running with a group. It is hard though when they don't run your pace. That's why I've shied away from our local running clubs - the runners are too fast for me.

    I love running in new places!!!!!!!

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    1. Our snow all melted and it's supposed to "warm" up. Warm being all relative.

      My running club is pretty reasonable with paces. But I was shocked how I struggled to maintain that 9:15 pace. Boo.

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  18. Don't even get me started on the goose poop ...

    Yes, we got at least 5", maybe more (there was some sleet packing it down). It was snowing when we finished dinner tonight. Maybe some more on Tuesday and going to be VERY cold on Turkey Day.

    Sending some healing vibes to your Dad! Getting old is definitely no joke. :(

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    1. He's doing better today. Still having lots of nerve pain but other than that, he's getting around. Cracking bad dad jokes. It's a good sign.

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  19. Glad your dad is doing ok post surgery! We got hit with snow Friday morning. While we were running today I kept exclaiming that I couldn't believe it was mid November. It looks like January with no leaves on the trees and snow covered ground.

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  20. Wow - your snowy run does look beautiful, but I'm happy to not have snow yet. I'm not ready! I prefer spring and summer and even fall running - winter is not my favorite season at all . Too cold and slippery! I hope your dad is doing alright - sending some healthy vibes your way!

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  21. It always amazes me to see people running in the snow - don't you worry about slipping? Or is it not icy, then - how does snow stay snow if the temperature isn't freezing? #Californian #southTexan

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    1. The snow isn't slippery, it's the ice. Especially in the warmer temps, the snow just kind of packs down when you run in it. I know, weird.

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  22. I hope your dad is recovering well! We had snow most of last week, but it is pretty well melted by now. For now. I'm convinced this is either going to be a long winter or one that starts strong early and then petters out when we actually want snow. I hope your half marathon goes well and you get some mild weather for it!

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    1. I hope that our winter is one of those that burns out early. I think it's supposed to rain for the half. Personally, if we're going to get precip, I'd rather have snow!

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  23. I’m glad to hear your dad is doing well. It’s always a little scary when a parent must undergo surgery.

    No snow here, obviously, just perfect weather! It’s good to remember why I live here through the summer!

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    1. My dad has had so many surgeries--multiple joint replacements-but you never get used to it.

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  24. Glad to hear your dad is recovering well and you were able to spend time with him after the surgery! Hope the weather goes well for your race :)

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  25. Those snowy runs are beautiful!
    I'm glad your dad's surgery went well. Both of my parent's had health scares this past year and it was no fun.

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  26. I love the pretty snow run pictures. I hope recovery is going well for your dad. Keep up the awesome cross training!

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    1. That is one good thing about the snow, right? Pretty pictures?

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  27. hope your dad is doing all right Wendy!
    no snow here, I hope it will stay away for a while!
    I've not run since the LV Half - not sure yet if I feel bad about that or not (set my stuff out for tomorrow morning already).
    Geese constantly poop all over our sidewalks and bike paths!! I live across the street from a park and they are pretty much the bosses of that area and poop where they like...

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    1. OMG, walking into work today, our whole sidewalk was covered with goose poop. It was disgusting!

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  28. Hope your dad's recovery keeps going well .

    Our geese and ducks tend to stay near the ponds - too people-shy for the paths maybe

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    1. Oh, the geese here are city geese. They have no fear of people and in fact, hiss at me when I pass by. We hate them.

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  29. OMG! I think I finally figured out a way to comment on your blog!! If I use Chrome, it works. Imagine that. YAY!! So happy to hear about your dad's continued recovery and yes we have snow and I LOVE it :-) but you knew that - LOL!

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    1. I have a linker that I can't comment on no matter what browser I use. Glad you found a workaround!

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  30. OMG - yes, i have done Crucial Conversations but had a different impression of it (a negative one). Firstly, the difficult person I had in mind the whole time would not have responded to the techniques employed in the training, I just know it...he would have mocked/belittled, etc. Secondly, the trainer SWORE there would be no role-playing, and then there was, and he made us do it. I refused and said "you said there would be no role-playing!". Am I difficult? LOL.

    Your Dad's view... amazing!!

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    1. Luckily for me, the class I attended had no role playing. I'm so glad. I wonder if it's because I attended a medical provider class? Whew!

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  31. I just ran in snow today. I think it's sticking around. Luckily there's not much on the trails yet.

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  32. Ack, I've been so busy this week that I didn't even realize that I hadn't read your recap until I sat down at my laptop to see what I'd missed over the last few days... We got snow on Thursday a week ago, our first of the season. We have ducks that live in the creek behind our house, and occasionally a couple of geese will move in for the spring to nest. The ducks are so clean, but the geese make such a mess. Luckily they haven't stopped by in a couple of years.

    I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Thanks for the linkup!

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