Heavy Thoughts, Heavy Lifting

Can we please just stop the madness? This was a week unlike any other so far this year. And I don't mean the weather, although here in Illinois, it was beastly hot and humid. 

Jacob Blake. Hurricane Laura. Kenosha Wisconsin. Kyle Rittenhouse. COVID19. 

Parents of my patients refusing to pull up their masks. Several telling me they've applied for a gun permit as I review safety questions as is standard for well child exams. 

The little things are also big things. They're symptoms of all the unrest and horror unfolding around us. I try so hard not to let any of it affect me. But it does. Sleepless nights. I write about this every week. It just doesn't end.

I just keep on running. And lifting. And praying for peace.

Long Strange Journey Runfessions

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me
Other times, I can barely see
Lately, it occurs to me
What a long, strange trip it's been... from Truckin' by The Grateful Dead

And now that song's running through your head! Month #6 of Pandemic 2020 is complete and all we can do is to keep on truckin', am I right? What a long strange journey it's been this year. As always, I'm grateful for Marcia's Runfessions because you know I always have something to runfess. A sense of humor is a good thing to have!

Seen on the road on the way home from the lake.
As my son said when I sent him the picture: "follow that guy".

Embracing All That is Good

There's not much new to share this week and that's a good thing. I've been just mentally exhausted for the past couple of months. While every day feels a bit like groundhog day, the continual bombardment of news of the pandemic and politics is just wearing on me. Add to that the wildfires in California and the double hurricanes bearing down on the south--all I can say is that it has been one crazy year. 

My way of coping? I've been looking for the good in everything around me. I've been finding things to laugh about. This Jim Gaffigan comedy special on Amazon made my husband and me laugh so hard. The bit he did on marathon running is hilarious! I'm continuing to enjoy my job of caring for children and their families. It's been empowering working on getting stronger. And enjoying the beautiful weather we have been blessed with. Running with the sunrise. Exploring the trails. Connecting with friends. 

Wednesday's trail run

Keeping On...

Disclaimer: I am an ambassador for roadID and receive complimentary products in exchange for sharing my love for them. I am an ambassador for RA Healthline and receive compensation for my participation. This post contains an affiliate link.

Stormy weather, a virus rages on, looting and riots in downtown Chicago, political turmoil...every day it's something new. I've been really busy at work doing school physicals, which this year more than ever have revealed deep emotional issues in so many of the children I care for. Life's really been tough for everyone. I'm grateful for the warm weather and the sunshine; for friendships and love, and these days, I'm especially grateful for running. My escape into the woods in particular gives me peace and clarity. That feeling mostly stays with me upon my 're-entry' into the real world once again. I try to bring my best to each day. 

How are you holding up?

Wednesday's trail run

You Make Me Feel Brand New...

What a fabulous week for running, weather-wise. The heat broke and we were treated to some perfect running conditions. Cool mornings, temperate days... I felt like a whole different runner! While I can't actually say I felt brand new--I'm too old for that--my runs felt easier and I didn't have to take as many walk breaks. 

Fall is my favorite season for running. We're not there yet--in fact, the heat is back on as we speak. But it was sure nice to have a taste of the good life!

Fall Racing Plans!

Disclaimer: As an ambassador for All Community Events, I receive free race entries.

Fall is the best time to run, in my opinion! After slogging through the hot, moist conditions of summer, a runner's reward comes in the form of cooler mornings and easier runs. This year is different, though. Almost every race has been canceled. What's a runner to do? Where do we find our motivation to keep training?

Race directors have been digging deep to find ways to keep their programs going. With so many virtual offerings, runners are feeling burnt out. There have been some unique events that have been really popular, such as the GVRAT 1000 and the Yeti Ultra races. But what about events for those of us who don't want to run quite that far? 

I've got a few virtual races lined up for the fall that I'm pretty excited about! Instead of just paying the fee, running the distance, and getting the swag, these events will take place on the actual race course--this is about as close to the real thing as possible. 

I'm also signed up for a live event! Time will tell if it actually takes place.

A Change of Pace

Following the news of the cancellation of my fall race, I took this week to regroup. I'm having a hard time getting my head around all that is happening in the world and in my own little world. It's been overwhelming, to say the least. I shared a lot of that on Friday's post--since this is my weekly training recap, I won't go into details here.

Always a sure thing, this week even running couldn't help me shake off my funk. I blame a lot of that on the swampy conditions we had here all week. Although I had the beginning of the week off work, we mostly hung out at home. I did get my workouts in and at the end of the week, had run 93.3 miles for the month of July. Darn, so close to 100! Not bad, all things considered--steamy hot weather, my mental funk, and that race cancellation. Not to mention a little bit of RA stiffness and pain. 

I'm looking ahead to the cooler conditions of fall and I've optimistically got a few things on the calendar. I'll share more on Tuesday's post. The running must go on!