Sunday, March 28, 2021

Twisted Logic

 "Sunlight, opened up my eyes, to see for the first time, it opened them up.... 
...Don't fight for the wrong side, say what you feel like, say how you feel...
You'll go backwards, but then
You'll go forwards again,
You'll go backwards, but then
You'll go.." ~from Twisted Logic, Coldplay

Listening to music while running Friday morning, this song came on and it's stuck in my head. Good thing I like Coldplay! It pretty much summed up how it's been going lately. One step forward, two steps backward. 

RA continues to flare and after last Sunday, when I developed so much pain, I started a course of steroids. Thankfully, the low dose I'm taking dialed down the pain to a dull roar, but hasn't shut it down completely. Unhappy about the flare but grateful I can run without fatigue, I was also fortunate to have planned a few days off work for some continuing education. It was all virtual and a great way to learn, and the time away from the office did me some good.

Speaking of going backward, we found out this week that my sister has COVID. Yep. After a year of social distancing and masking, after completing chemo and surgery, she was carelessly exposed and now she's sick. It just makes me so mad! Soapbox alert: Your actions have consequences for others. We're getting so close to the finish line. We can't let down our guard now. Wear your mask! 

Moving forward, we went up to the lake this weekend to spring clean and put things back in place now that most of the repair work is done. The new carpet and bathroom flooring are in! It looks so fresh and I am even more excited for summer to come. We're doing a few other little things to spruce up the place. We're not doing a lot of redecorating since the eventual plan is to tear it down and build a house for retirement. For now, it's great to have our little getaway!

Flying on Friday

Weekly Rundown:
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: rest day
Wednesday: trail run 7 miles
Thursday: strength train
Friday: run 6.2 miles
Saturday: move furniture
Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 8.5 miles

Running

I drove to the trails on Wednesday, thinking it would be a muddy mess after all the rain we've been having. I wasn't wrong but I sure didn't mind! I started out on the main trail, which wasn't too bad. When I ducked into the woods, I did the usual leaping over fallen trees--there sure are a lot of them--and creek crossings. The mud was thick but it didn't slow me down too much. No wild animal sightings on this run; in fact, I really didn't see much of anyone at all. I took a little detour to make it 7 miles. I was so happy with this run!


I slept until 7 on Friday, which is late for me! I guess I needed it. It was really gloomy, so I didn't mind missing the sunrise. In spite of my achy joints, I was able to run a speedy 6.2, finishing in 56 minutes. Take that RA!

The weather this weekend was perfect...for staying inside. It rained all day Saturday, but by Sunday it had stopped. I had planned on running the Lodi Marsh segment of the IAT and the howling wind convinced me that running in the woods was the best plan. It was cold and yeah, the wind was a jerk, but this run was fun! There was a lot of mud and the marsh lived up to its name--soggy and wet. The climbs had my hamstrings crying for mercy but the spectacular views were my reward. It never gets old. 



CrossFit/Strength

Monday's WOD was a MetCon, a 20 minute AMRAP of 18 plate ground to overheads, 14 lateral plank walk overs, 8 calories on the assault bike and every 4 minutes stop and carry a plate for 100 meters. I like these kinds of workouts and I made it through 6+ rounds! We finished with 60 V-ups and 400 single unders. I split these into 4 sets. 

For strength, SJ had me do sets of delt flies (12#) alternating with skull crushers (20#). After that, I did 'sissy squats' aka cyclists squats or 'raised heel squats' (40#). I had never done these before and I really liked them a lot. Especially since thanks to the steroids, my knees didn't hurt! I alternated those with banded lat pulls. We finished up with assisted pull-ups. 

There's nothing sissy about these squats!

One more thing...

Tuesday was National Puppy Day, although every day feels like puppy day at my house. Cocoa kept me company during my continuing education this week. Although as my son noted when I sent him this picture, Cocoa wasn't really invested in what I was studying!


How was your week? Does it feel like one step forward, two steps backward to you these days? I guess forward is a pace...have a great week! PS I'm having issues with ending up in people's spam folders, so if you don't see my comment, know that I comment on everyone's posts.

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown. 













38 comments :

  1. Ugh what a bummer for your sister! I really hope she doesn't have too bad of a case. Hope you are feeling better too this week. enjoy your time at the cabin sounds like a great escape every weekend

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    1. I am just so sad for her. She was just feeling good after the surgery. Fingers crossed she recovers quickly.

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  2. I am so sorry about your sister. That is just wrong. :( I hope she has a mild case!

    Glad you got in some good runs this week! I felt like I was finally stronger right until my vaccine, so definitely a few steps back but glad I could get it.

    Hope that the RA dies back sooner rather than later. You are a warrior like your sister!

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    1. I'm really happy that this flare isn't making me fatigued-that last bad one I had really knocked my socks off! But I do think it's related to the vaccine--fired up the immune system for sure.

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  3. I'm so sorry about your sister! After all she has been through, that's just awful. Our numbers are going up again and its frustrating because I feel like so many people just don't care anymore.
    Great job with your workouts and I hope your RA symptoms improve quickly!

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    1. We are so close now--I wish people would just hang on a little longer and do the right thing.

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  4. I am sorry to hear about your sister. How is she doing? Great job on your runs this week!

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    1. Just really tired and lost her sense of taste and smell, which just sucks. Hopefully she recovers quickly.

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  5. I hope your sister recovers completely and quickly.
    Enjoy the cabin escape. I think we all need a break

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  6. Sorry about your RA flares. and your sister. Hope her case is mild.

    We got a new roof and I trimmed some bushes...made such a difference. Now I am anxious to tackle the inside...new kitchen is planned for late summer , early fall.

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    1. Oh that is exciting news! Yes, we are doing stuff on our house too! But it's mostly on hold because our street is complete torn up for new sewers and water main. It's such a mess.

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  7. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I'm righteously angry on your sister's behalf. And I'm so sorry your RA is being stupid.

    I'm fully vaccinated now and two weeks past the second vaccine AND my husband got his second vaccine Friday. So we are about as protected as it's possible to be right now.

    And even with RA, you are smoking fast on your runs!

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    1. YES!!! My hubs got his first vaccine last week, my youngest got the J&J a couple of weeks ago, and my oldest is waiting for the J&J here. I wish he'd just go and get the Pfizer, but what do I know?

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  8. I'm so sorry about your sister, that's terrible! Ugh! We had our first vaccine yesterday and had a day not feeling great today but that's fine and we're both feeling a lot better now. Feels good to be that bit protected.

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    1. I'm so happy you guys got it! I know the schedule for #2 is different in the UK--12 weeks is it?

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    2. Yes, 12 weeks. But after 2 weeks, we will be 70% protected from catching it and from passing it on if we do catch it, and after the second jab that goes up to 81%. Feels good, I have to say.

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    3. For sure!!! Glad to have some defense against this thing.

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  9. That photo of Cocoa made me laugh - definitely ore interested in relaxing than learning, lol.

    I'm so sorry to hear about your RA flair and that your sister has COVID. I'm glad that the low dose of steroids is helping. Praying for a speedy recovery for your sister as well.

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    1. Cocoa is just the best companion! She cracks me up. Hogs the couch and I couldn't put my laptop on my lap, lol

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  10. Sorry about the RA flare. Hoping it is short lived.

    Ugh, what a bummer that your sister has Covid...I am surprised she wasn't able to get vaccinated with an immuno suppressed situation during treatment! I hope she has a mild case....so sorry. Minnesota just opened up vaccines to everyone over 16, so I have an appointment for my first dose of Pfizer on Wednesday. Can't wait! But the sad reason it was opened up is because we are experiencing a surge again with the new variants. Come on people...

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    1. Nope, she didn't qualify until last week. Illinois has had such a high demand for the vaccine--a good thing--that the roll out has been much slower than in other states--bad. So she got one dose last week, but then she got sick.

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  11. Oh no, I hope your sister is doing well. When I made my trip to the grocery store today I lost count of the number of noses that I saw poking out of masks. Not helpful...

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  12. Sorry to hear aboutyour sis...hoping her recovery goes well. I think our rain is outta here for awhile, but it was a major buzzkill last week. The wind, though, it's refusing to give up...

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  13. Ugh on your sister getting sick. I take she has an idea where she was exposed? I hope her case is mild and that she recovers fully ASAP. I’m glad the steroids are helping YOU feel better. We had a lovely day yesterday, but enough rain today that one of my neighborhood routes will be flooded tomorrow.

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  14. Oh wow I'm bummed to hear about Lisa. As if she hasn't been through enough. I hope she's doing ok with it. Glad the steroids have you feeling better!

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  15. That's TERRIBLE about your sister! As I've mentioned, my sister also just completed chemo (and is cancer-free) but all year long she's been worried about getting Covid. I hope your sister is okay.
    I like the picture of you running in shorts! It's obviously warming up there. Glad the steroids are making things workable for you right now.

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  16. I am so sorry about the RA flare Wendy. it just sucks! And I can't believe your sister was exposed and now has covid! this is what I worry about most with my dad! he's also done for now with treatment but that doesn't mean it's "over"! This is why I absolutely will not go to see him until I also have had the shots. UGH!!

    Feels like the weather has been crazy for most of us!

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    1. I just don't understand why anyone would take a risk of exposing others! But we were just in Wisconsin, where the attitude towards the pandemic is much different than here in Illinois.

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  17. I'm so sorry that your sister is sick and hope she feels better quickly. Also, it's good to hear that your RA flare has calmed a bit, but a bummer that it took steroids again to accomplish it. It's got to be so frustrating.

    We are doing some improvements on the beach house now, too, so it will be exciting to visit this summer!

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    1. I would love a beach house! I can't wait to hear about what you're doing.

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  18. Forward is definitely a pace. We have to keep going.

    Cocoa! Such a cutie!

    I am so sorry to hear about your sister. Sending thoughts of quick healing her way.

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