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Despite the festive season, the hits just kept on hitting this week. After a visit last week to my PCP, I received my blood test results and found out that I am prediabetic. Not only that, but I carry a gene that makes me at high risk for heart disease. As you can imagine, I was very upset by this news. I hope that eating well and exercising are enough to overcome my genetics. I have scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist in February to discuss my risks and my options.
I also had a couple of really challenging incidents at work this week. While I won't go into details, the antivaccine and antiscience sentiment is increasingly impacting our practice. Vaccines are a hill I will die on, and if this week was a sample of what's to come, then retirement will happen much sooner than I wanted.
And after Christmas, I fell sick again, with fever, body aches, and congestion. I spent Friday and Saturday on the couch. I thought it was influenza, because one of my partners has influenza B. The hubs went to the pharmacy to pick up a test, but there were none left! I had some old Covid tests, and I tested positive. When I messaged my partners, another one messaged that she has influenza A! We are the trifecta, lol.
What a way to wind up 2025.
Weekly Rundown
Sunday: Trail Sisters run 6.2 miles
Monday: auxiliary strength
Tuesday: Fluid running
Wednesday: run 6.5 miles
Thursday: Trail Sisters run 3.5 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: rest
When I woke up on Sunday, I wasn't feeling up to a group run. But I knew I'd feel better-I always do- and so I drove to the trailhead where my Trail Sisters were meeting for a run. I shared the news of my bloodwork with the group, and wouldn't you know it--one of the other women, who is my age but is still a competitive triathlete, has been prediabetic for the past couple of years. We ended up running together and talked a lot about this.
The run itself was meh--the trail was covered with ice in most spots, so we ended up doing a lot of walking. But none of us minded--the sun was shining bright, and there was no wind. Plus, we had the warmth of the company of friends! Plus, there were deer! We welcomed a new runner to the group-I hope she continues to join us!
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| photo courtesy of Ilisa |
Monday's aux strength workout was a 'preview' of our upcoming return to auxiliary strength:
Done as an E3MOM:
-weighted GHDs (15#) 4 x8
-Bulgarian split squats (20#) 4 x6
-bent over barbell rows (55#) 4 x6
These felt pretty easy, but then we had a spicy kettlebell (25#) complex EMOM 8 minutes:
-3 KB squat cleans
-3 KB front squats
-3 KB swings
-3 KB shoulder to overhead left arm
-3 KB shoulder to overhead right arm
It took me about 40 seconds to complete each round, which only left me 20 seconds of recovery. This was TOUGH. It's been a long time since we've done anything like this!
On Tuesday, I went to the pool for a Fluid Running session, and on Wednesday, after picking up my roast from Whole Foods, I laced up, turned my Shokz up to 11, fired up my new Garmin, and headed out to the bike path for a run. It was close to 40F, which felt like a heat wave. The sun was even trying to peek out from behind the clouds! I was still a little sore from Monday's strength workout, and it took me a mile or so to find my groove. But once I did, everything fell into place. I came home and continued my Christmas preparations.
The Trail Sisters planned an early Christmas morning run, and 5 of us braved the blustery conditions. It was the perfect way to alleviate some of the pre-holiday stress. I know I felt much better getting some miles outside before diving into my chores for the day!
Off the Road...
Christmas was nice! My family, including my boys, daughter-in-law, and my youngest son's girlfriend, came early. We were joined by my sister and her hubs, my parents, and my father-in-law and his lady friend. My hubs did most of the cooking, as always, but I made dessert, a
Whiskey-soaked Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake (NYT gift link). IT WAS SO GOOD. Gifts were fun, and then everyone just hung out. My DIL and I did the dishes, and I passed out afterwards. I couldn't believe how tired I was. No photos because we were all having too much fun to think about it!
I did well in the gift department. We do a gift exchange, and my brother-in-law bought me
Katoola Micro Spikes. I've been wanting them for a long time, and of course, right now, we have no snow or ice! That will most likely change. My hubs bought me all kinds of locally roasted coffee, which should get me through the winter.
How was your week? Anyone else battling viral illnesses? Did you celebrate Christmas? Did you get any fun running-related gifts? I was able to try out my new Garmin Forerunner 165 this week. So far, so good, and I sure love that bright screen!
Come back on Tuesday for my December book reviews as well as the yearly recap!
I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown.
Ugh the vaccine situation is so awful. I had to hide in another room when my mom started to talk about vaccines causing autism. My sisters (one is a special ed teacher who specializes in autism and the other is a nurse) argued against her but it made no difference. And my mom was a nurse! It is so frustrating. I did not participate in the conversation because I just can’t handle intense conversations right now. But I am glad someone pushed back. But as long as RFK is in his position, this won’t get better and he’s done irreparable damage.
ReplyDeleteThat is scary about being pre-diabetes and a higher potential risk for heart disease. Genetics just sucks. It really isn’t fair and when you have one autoimmune, you tend to have multiple it seems. I’m so sorry, Wendy. It will be good to see a cardiologist and have a full work up done. You are doing all the things that are within your control, though! Sending you hugs.
Sadly, RA seems to be the gift that keeps on giving...
DeleteSorry to read that you were sick again this week. Thankfully you were able to celebrate Christmas before getting knocked down. I will message you about some of the other stuff you posted. Wishing you a happy new year!
ReplyDeleteYes, we need to talk...
DeleteOh, what a bummer on the medical situation. Sorry for such a downer during the holidays. I’m glad you had a great Christmas day with your family:-) I hope 2026 brings much brighter days to you. ((Hugs))
ReplyDeleteSeriously! I don't usually get sick, so this has been a double whammy!
DeleteUgh on being sick — I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dragging but haven’t gone down yet!
ReplyDeleteI’m sure those test results were surprising and upsetting. I bet your good lifestyle choices will make a difference and help you beat those odds — and tilt them back to your favor.
I really do eat very healthy and exercise (as you know), so I don't think there's anything more to do in that regard. That's why I want to see the cardiologist, just to talk risk, etc.
DeleteWow! What a week.
ReplyDeleteThings have to improve, right?
Hope you feel better soon...
You would think?!
DeleteOh no, I'm so sorry that you got sick again! Here's hoping that you're on the mend and feeling better each day.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI'm sorry about all of the medical issues that have come to roost. I swear hitting 60 opens up Pandora's Box and all the good lifestyle choices we've made don't seem to matter. Maybe they do, but still. Glad to hear Christmas was fun with your family!
ReplyDeleteWay to make a person feel old, am I right?
DeleteI'm so sorry you got sick! What an awful way to spend the holidays. And I'm so sorry about your bloodwork. How frustrating and I understand why you're upset.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how we seem to be rolling backwards in medical technology. Of course, the practice of medicine isn't perfect, but jeez. I can't imagine how you are managing.
It really is mind blowing. If we don't have science, we don't have any hope.
DeleteOof, so sorry you're sick! My son and I still talk about the year we both got Covid and were extremely sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So far so good here- no illnesses yet.
ReplyDeleteAbout a year ago my bloodwork showed I was prediabetic, WHAT. When I protested that I eat a low-sugar diet, the doctor said, "well, when you get to a certain age..." I'm getting tired of hearing that phrase! I made some changes to my diet and my next blood test showed I was back down to the normal range. But that was over the summer when I wasn't doing any long runs. My doctor said that every long distance runner she sees of this "certain age" is prediabetic! Now I'm back to doing long runs and fueling with sugary gels and such, and am nervous about my next blood work. I did try Ucan but hated it. So, we'll see. I'm sure you can figure it out and hopefully get your levels back into a normal range. But I know- it's not really something you want to hear.
I'm glad your Christmas was so nice! I hope you feel better soon.
I hadn't heard that about long distance runners and prediabetes, but you know I'm going to take a deep dive into that topic! The funny thing is, I don't really run long distances anymore--nothing more than 10 miles, a least. Glad you were able to get the number back down. We'll see what the next steps are.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about the Covid and your partners with the Flu. So much going round right now, and it seems pretty common to get one thing and just when you think you're well, you get something else because your resistance is down. Sorry to hear about your blood work as well. I'm sure with all your exercising you'll do better than some with the diagnosis. You're a very disciplined person which is in your favor. Glad you had such an enjoyable Christmas. There were 16 of us this year, a few less than previous years.
ReplyDeleteEw, I'm so sorry to hear about all your negatives this week. Particularly the blood test. You're certainly not the person I'd guess would be prediabetic! Interesting though what Jenny said, I've been thinking about what that amount of sugar intake would do to the body. But also, the benefits of running and being active should do something to counteract! definitely worth checking out, there must be some research on it.
ReplyDeleteI feel you on the vaccine topic, and I couldn't agree more. Generally I think today with such an anti-science attitude from so many people it must be so challenging working in healthcare, as if it wasn't hard enough anyway.
My husband has had a sore throat recently and I was afraid I was getting something yesterday but then all of a sudden I felt good again. We've been so lucky to not get any viruses yet this winter! What a bummer for you. I hope you get well soon.