Keep 'Er Movin

I had no plans for the week's workouts except to stick to my routine and keep 'er movin. I have a 20 mile hike planned for June in Wisconsin--the Mammoth March-- and I need to be ready for it.  

Guys, the stress of the situation with my parents is taking a toll on my health. My Oura ring continues to flag me for elevated resting heart rate and keeps telling me to take a rest day. I struggled with my runs and have just been feeling off. I had blood work done this week in preparation for my upcoming rheumatology appointment. For the first time ever, there were some abnormalities. Yikes. I'll ask her to recheck my labs next week before I start worrying. 

On Thursday, I drove out to my parents' house to take my mom for her ortho follow-up. She was still feeling pain, so I suspected that the fracture wasn't completely healed. The xray showed that I was right. When I shared the information with my dad, he didn't take it well. As if there was anything I could do to make it heal faster. I guess I need to find a magic wand.

Nature Therapy

Nature continues to provide me with plenty of stress relief. But the stress of the past couple of months is taking a toll on my physical health. I've been sick more than usual, picking up the random viruses that I'm seeing in my clinic, even with the usual precautions. I've been losing a lot of hair. I've been feeling really fatigued the past couple of weeks, struggling both with motivation and movement. I'm finding that I have to push myself to get out the door for my runs and workouts. And instead of feeling energized when I'm done, I feel tired. My Oura ring keeps sending me alerts. I've been dialing things back a bit to give my body some grace. 

To try to keep my peace, I've taken a break from talking with my father, instead, leaning more on the care manager to check in with him and make sure things are going well. The caregivers are doing their best to keep her safe. I did speak with him this week, and it went ok. He won't be happy until he gets what he wants, which is a return to life before my mom's fall. That's not going to happen. 

I never thought that my life would be like this; that my parents would act like children, that I would be in charge of keeping them safe, and that they would push back like teenagers. I thought I had gone through all that when my oldest son rebelled in high school. Who knew?

Trail Time!

Greetings from the northwoods of Wisconsin! My youngest son and I are on another hiking adventure on some new-to-us segments on the Ice Age Trail. We're taking advantage of a trail chapter shuttle on 2 of their segments. This enables us to complete the full segment point-to-point instead of doing an out-and-back. I'm sharing all the details below.

Earlier in the week, I started to feel under the weather. On Wednesday, I struggled with my run and called it quits earlier than planned. I felt achy, and by the end of the day, I knew I was coming down with something. Pretty sure I know which little cutie in my clinic gave it to me, lol. No shade at him--I should have worn a mask when I was in the room. I'm glad I was off work on Thursday and Friday to give me time to ride this thing out before the weekend!

On the parents' front, I had some good news this week! I took my mom to see her neurology NP for her semi-annual checkup. Although we had scheduled this appointment 6 months ago, the timing was perfect as it was 6 weeks after her fall. We did see a dip in cognition after the fall, but after her cognitive testing at the appointment, we learned that she had returned to her baseline. We were both so happy!

Mini Book Reviews: April 2026

 Disclaimer: I received ARCs of Mothers and Other Strangers, Yesteryear, For the Love of the Grind, Love By The Book, This Is Not About Running, and Ghost Town from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest reviews. This post contains affiliate links.

To be honest, I'm surprised that I read as many books as I did this month, as I was bogged down by family drama. But there's nothing better than a good book to take the mind off life! Plus, I had one DNF--a rarity for me. American Fantasy was another cruise ship boy band nostalgia story--similar to the one I read last month. I expected fireworks, but apparently they were all wet. Pun intended.

Yesteryear, IMHO, has been polarizing in the book world. Some love it (I did), and others hate it. Don't want to read it? The movie, starring Anne Hathaway, is currently in production. Did Love By the Book, a second novel from the author of Maame, live up to expectations? Maybe not, but it was still a darn good read. 

I also read 2! running memoirs this month. They could not have been more different. Remember having to compare and contrast novels in high school lit? Think aging runner hitting her prime vs young phenom getting beaten down by big running. They were both compelling reads, and I couldn't have been happier to have prereleases of them in the same month. 

As always, I hope you'll find something you like here. And let me know your thoughts!

Getting My Groove Back

After the turmoil of the past 5 weeks surrounding my mom's fall and my dad's subsequent fall apart, I stepped back to focus on my mental health. With my mom at home and all her care in place, my dad continued to badger me about removing the caregivers from the home. The conversations were a never-ending loop. I continue to provide supervision of my mom's needs, but will now utilize our geriatric care manager to share information with my father. I also reminded myself that the agency will contact me if anything concerning is happening.

I won't lie, stepping back has been difficult, but mentally, I realized how much of a toll this has taken on me. As the week went on, I started to feel more like myself. I reminded myself that I can't be good to anyone if I don't take care of my needs. 

Stormy Weather

Wow, did we get rain this week! Along with the rain, we had severe storms every night. This week alone, we've received almost 4 inches of rain locally — some areas had much more —and there is flooding everywhere. It's been wild. After a final round of storms on Friday night, the summer-like conditions moved on out, and we're back to cool, calm weather again. 

After being off the past 3 weeks to care for my mom (and dad) and prepare for her return home, I resumed work this week. I thought I'd be starting with a full schedule, but we are in a brief seasonal lull and a break in the high demand for appointments. It was the perfect way to return after the recent period of high stress. Was it nice to be back? Yes and no. I found it difficult to focus completely on the job. Despite some really good runs and workouts this week, I still have a lingering unease that I can't shake. Oddly enough, after seeing 3 patients on Saturday morning, the power went out, and we had to cancel clinic for the rest of the morning. 

Taking Care of Myself

My mom is home from rehab, and with 24 hour care, I was able to step back a bit from my duties and resume some of my normal activities, including returning to the gym. I had a lot of things I wanted to do at home, but instead, I spent most of my time resting and reading on the couch, Cocoa by my side. There were still some challenges, especially with my father, but for the most part, being at home helped lessen the impact.

Let it Be

It was another difficult week. Fortunately, my modified fitness plan, while not optimal, was enough to keep me from losing my mind. That, and the support of my youngest sister, friends, and relatives, helped me get through it. 

Mini Book Reviews: March 2026

Disclaimer: I received copies of 200 Monas, Once and Again, Whidbey, All the World Can Hold, and North of Ordinary from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

I did my best, but was unable to make my way through all 9 NetGalley prereleases this month. Lake Effect and Theo of Golden were library holds, and I didn't want to let them go, only to get back in the queue. I'll continue to work through the remaining 4 NetGalley books as time allows. April looks to be a busy month of reading as well, with 8 NetGalley prereleases. Sigh. An embarrassment of riches.

My favorite book of the month, hands down, was Lake Effect. Perfectly executed, this will be one of my favorite books of the year. My other favorite, a non-fiction banger, was North of Ordinary. I do love a good adventure memoir, and this one checks all the boxes.

The Worst Day So Far....

There were some workouts and runs this week. But most of my workouts were mental, as I navigated post-hospital care and rehab for my mom. The plan to take her home with 24 hour care was postponed, as we realized that it was unrealistic due to my mom's condition, as well as my father's behavior while at the rehab facility. 

It's been...a week.

From the Frying Pan Into the Fire

I couldn't think of a better metaphor to describe the past week. The temperatures in California were HOT. Like 100F+ hot with a blazing sun. As the saying goes, it's 'not the heat, it's the humidity,' and I found that to be true. But no matter how you look at it, 100F+ is hot, and on Wednesday, it hit 107F, a temperature I had never experienced before. The hot temperatures didn't stop us, as you'll read below, and the mornings were pleasant enough that as long as I got out before the sun was overhead, I had some really decent runs.

But...on Tuesday, we learned that my mom fell on the ice and fractured her pelvis. No head injury, thank goodness. She was hospitalized, and her dementia and my dad's anxiety proved to be a huge challenge to my sisters and me. The recommendation for post-hospital care was subacute rehab; my dad was determined to take her home. No one thought this was a good idea; getting him to understand this was a challenge I hadn't even considered, and it was formidable. It took a compromise--home health staff will be in place on Tuesday, and Mom will go to rehab in the interim. 

I took a couple of additional days off work to help my parents with the transition. I can't express how difficult this has been. I am thankful for the support of my sisters, who have agreed with my decisions for my parents. As I always do, I am leaning into fitness as much as I can. It's how I manage my stress.

A Change Did Me Good

What a whirlwind of a week! Dealing with an RA flare, starting steroids, I prepared for my trip to California to spend a week with my sister and her hubs. I was stressed, but not because of that. The day before I left, I had to give a presentation for Grand Rounds, which is a weekly virtual education session for the physicians. I usually attend these sessions--they are always excellent, and I receive continuing education credits, which I need to maintain licensure. The Zero Suicide Team, of which I am a member, was presenting on Talking to Your Patient About Suicide, and I was tasked with the final portion of the presentation. The entire presentation was well received, and I was pleased with how it went. Let me tell you, though, I was glad to be done with that!

I landed in California early Thursday afternoon to 93 degrees and bright sunshine. After a good night's sleep, when I woke up on Friday, I felt like myself again. No anxiety, no pain. This was a much needed getaway!

Springing Forward

For once, the calendar and the weather matched up--it feels like spring! At least what spring feels like in Chicago. Coolish with a tease of a warm day here and there, gusty winds, mud, and rain. But the birds are singing and dive bombing, the squirrels are squirreling, and the deer are out.

The portapotties are not yet out. Sadly.

My favorite part of this time of year is shedding all the layers when I run outside. That also means less laundry! IYKYK. Springtime here can be frustrating--it takes so long to finally come, and then when it does, it's summer... not that I'm complaining...

Mini Book Reviews--February 2026

 Disclaimer: I received ARCs of Family Drama, Little One, Kin, Saoirse, and A Good Animal from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest reviews. This post contains affiliate links.

February is a short month; it was also a busy month for me, and finding time to read was a challenge. I like to read before I go to bed, but I often drift off so quickly that I don't always remember what I've read. That meant that I had to re-read those passages the next day. I'm not complaining; it just made it a little tougher to get all my NetGalley books read for February. But I did, and 4 out of the 5 of those were just great. The other one was a rare DNF, a mess of a book.

I also had 2 library holds to read, one which was a disappointment and the other, a fun trip back to the 60s and 70s. 

Coming up for March? I have a boatload of NetGalley reads--it will be tough to get them done, but I also have a trip to California to see my sister, so I will have lots of downtime. Hopefully, they are all engaging, and I can fly through them! I do love to read...

Bye February!!

I am so happy to see February go. It was a busy and overwhelming month for me. Between several projects at work and managing my parents' health, the month flew by. I accomplished a lot this month, but my biggest accomplishment? Completing the 1000 push-up challenge, though! When I first signed up for it, I truly didn't think I'd get it done. Even though I didn't always want to do my 36 daily push-ups, I didn't want to skip a day, because that meant double the push-ups the next day. Interestingly, as the days went by and I did my pushups, I felt myself becoming stronger, and the pushups felt less difficult. I was also able to increase the weight on my bench presses every week, which was really exciting.

Will I continue to do the push-ups? Yes, but not the volume we did this month. I have to admit that the DOMS never went away. My plan is to do 25 pushups 3x/week after I run. Hopefully, that will be enough to maintain the strength I built this month. We'll see!

Better days

After a week of absolutely spectacular weather, Mother Nature pulled the rug out from under us and sent us back to winter. I really can't complain, because after the bitter cold of the past month, this taste of spring helped lift my mood. 

It's false spring and I couldn't be happier!

Finally, this week we warmed up!! Heck, I was happy to be above 20F! We also had abundant sunshine, and it was everything. My favorite workout this week had to be Wednesday's run at the preserve, with warmer temperatures and lots of deer sightings, including a buck. Seeing them is always a treat. Let's hope this false spring sticks around for a while!

Weekly Rundown

Sunday: Trail Sisters run 6.3 miles, 36 pushups

Monday: auxiliary strength/36 pushups

Tuesday: Fluid running/36 pushups

Wednesday: trail run 6.3 miles/36 pushups

Thursday: auxiliary strength/36 pushups

Friday: speedwork/treadmill/4.5 miles/36 pushups

Saturday: 36 pushups

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!

Hello, It's Me

After 6 weeks of illness and recovery from dental surgery, I can finally say that I'm feeling almost like myself again. Almost, because my mouth isn't 100% healed, but I'm done taking pain meds, and I'm eating food that can be chewed. Lol. Between health issues, the weather, busyness at work, and the unrest in the country, I was feeling a little shaky. I don't want to jinx it, but I'm in a much better place.

Thankfully, we had a reprieve, albeit brief, from the bitter cold this week before the deep freeze rolled back in. I was able to get outside for a run on Wednesday. And what a run it was!! It did me a world of good. Here's to hoping for a few more like that. Weather gods, are you listening?

Tiptoeing Back to Where I Want to Be

It's been a bumpy start to 2026, and that includes off the trail. I won't tackle what's happening in the US on this blog. In my little world, there's been illness, and this week, dental surgery. I'm continuing my return to fitness and am hoping to stay healthy from here on out. 

back at it

It was an otherwise uneventful week in my life as I resumed my post-holiday routine. Work continues to be busy as the baby boom continues unabated! I can't complain. I'm grateful that almost all the parents we see are pro-vaccine. Tough times, for sure. And while this is a fitness blog, I also want to comment on how heartbroken I am for Minneapolis and the family of Renee Good. It's hard to process the news cycle these days. 

Chicago had some good news late last night as the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers in a wild playoff game!!

As always, I lean into running and fitness to give me an outlet and relief from the anxiety I am feeling. While I'm feeling better physically after having back to back illnesses, I'm tired.  It's all been a lot lately.

Happy New Year!

I considered not posting this week, as this is a fitness recap and I don't have a lot of fitness to share. But old habits die hard, and I wanted to start the new year off right. Plus, I had deer photos to share! 

I continue to recover from illness #2, aka Covid, and the fatigue is real. After being off work last week for the Christmas holidays, I returned to work on Tuesday, masking while I see my patients. Still not feeling even close to 100%, I limited my fitness activities to mostly easy movement. 

Overall, December was pretty much a bust for me, fitness-wise. Because I was sick most of the month, I only had 53 running miles for the month. Total miles for 2025 were 880.