Life Happens

This week, I finally felt like myself again. Not just physically, but also mentally. I have had a huge to-do list looming over me, and as much as I wanted to avoid it, instead I started to tackle things one item at a time. I took care of some medical issues, both my own and my mom's. My dad is also on that list, but his issues are a lower priority right now. In addition, I need to renew my PALS/CPR before the end of the month, and I started working on that on Saturday. I'm training a nurse practitioner student in clinic. I am doing a presentation at Grand Rounds in March--eeek!-- and started working on that as well. 

Selfishly, I have a lot of pre-releases to read this month and in March, and I will read them, but maybe not before the publication date. Life happens, right? 

No matter what is on my to-do list, I always put my runs and my workouts first. Because if I can push through a hard run or a workout, I can do anything! You feel me on this?

Mini Book Reviews: January 2026

Disclaimer: I received ARCs of Strangers, Scavengers, Women of a Promiscuous Nature, and How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest reviews. This post contains affiliate links.

I sure didn't expect another 10 book month, but when you're stuck inside due to bad weather, Covid, oral surgery...you get me? While it wasn't the best of circumstances, I'm not complaining about all the time I had to knock off some good books on my TBR! 

I also read some backlist books as well as a few spontaneous selections I'd been eyeing. My favorite book of the month? Raising Hare. I never thought a book about a hare--it's not the same as a rabbit--would be so engrossing and endearing. Another favorite of mine was Women of a Promiscuous Nature--an interesting historical fiction novel that is a reminder of how far we have come and a good reminder of that in light of current events.

As always, I read a variety of books and there should be something here for every reader!

Quality over Quantity

My running goal over the past couple of years was to hit at least 20 miles per week, running three days per week, usually 2 on trails and one on pavement. That pavement run was my all-out, push-the-pace run. I put on my headphones and let my legs fly. Although I have really shifted focus to the trails, I can't let go of my need for speed. While my "speed" has sadly changed over the years, I still love that feeling of pushing myself to the red zone. 

But this winter, I've had to change my running goals. After being sick with back-to-back illnesses in December, I had to dial back both my pace and my distance. The bitterly cold, windy weather forced me to make peace with my treadmill. But something interesting has happened. 

I don't hate it. In fact, by doing interval training on the treadmill, I bounced back much quicker than I expected. I am not accumulating the mileage that I am used to--I haven't had a 20 mile week for a couple of months, but I'm running better than I have for a while. Maybe less is more? 

With this in mind, I've decided that I want to work on my endurance, and a research study cited in a newsletter I subscribe to caught my eye. This study found that while moderate intensity exercise, like long runs, is great for increasing mitochondrial quantity, sprinting is great for increasing the quality of the mitochondria you already have, leading to more power, strength, and endurance. Of course, the research subjects were healthy young men, not old ladies, but I have no doubt that I can benefit from sprinting. Plus, it makes the time on the treadmill pass quickly.

Stay tuned!