tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26471579301164066322024-03-18T15:41:52.801-05:00Taking the Long Way HomeWendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comBlogger1326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-45695986868143447792024-03-16T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-17T06:54:58.877-05:00Back to Work<p>From California to Wisconsin, I did some traveling this week! I won't deny it--between all the activity of last week and the time change, I was exhausted most of the week. I did my best to stick to my schedule and to my surprise, my runs and CrossFit felt good. Work was really busy and I dove right back in as if I had never left. </p><p>It's funny how that happens, isn't it?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MvpA-Aai8dEtMt6ViCriBrmUwZadzA1-wz7MtyjdEiv0mVno6CrQfikVC9exn42PGRA8SbnfKM_dEQiqwReiLRFx7NxwFWJJqHclflyF0artrPnzAOtV9IJebFeHjF0ReIWGncRREablXt2uYeL1jgPoLkjNY2ylgJnupGcHYQnLoBXBaurCRrSpdztr/s1800/Back%20to%20Work.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MvpA-Aai8dEtMt6ViCriBrmUwZadzA1-wz7MtyjdEiv0mVno6CrQfikVC9exn42PGRA8SbnfKM_dEQiqwReiLRFx7NxwFWJJqHclflyF0artrPnzAOtV9IJebFeHjF0ReIWGncRREablXt2uYeL1jgPoLkjNY2ylgJnupGcHYQnLoBXBaurCRrSpdztr/w426-h640/Back%20to%20Work.png" title="Back to Work cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: trail run 8 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit with 1050m running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: rest/work</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run 7 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest/travel to Wisconsin</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With plans to fly home from California in the afternoon, on Sunday, I ran the Hopalong Cassidy trail one more time. I wanted to catch the sunrise--I even set my alarm--but for some odd reason, I didn't wake up in time. I was still on the trail very early and ran the entire segment out and back. It was a very beautiful morning and I felt strong. I will miss these trails! <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2024/03/california-love.html" target="_blank">Did you read my recap from last week</a>?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY_VhUaT-zx-QaHSLTd1x_sBHIhh5dxWgVBBMD-PCEyPxRVomeHvkk_UDUnTofGGXkBKNjnQvlQ5-6UMZahuAlHGM16e84Th91FZ4G64mMCDz-2fFthH0QwRdRRfltYxKBJLnXL_PsVe3lsf1Q8fIRRADOD2m79_PfqBl_bnLcpKeyTy1wdxcpQrQltFu/s2897/IMG_7894.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY_VhUaT-zx-QaHSLTd1x_sBHIhh5dxWgVBBMD-PCEyPxRVomeHvkk_UDUnTofGGXkBKNjnQvlQ5-6UMZahuAlHGM16e84Th91FZ4G64mMCDz-2fFthH0QwRdRRfltYxKBJLnXL_PsVe3lsf1Q8fIRRADOD2m79_PfqBl_bnLcpKeyTy1wdxcpQrQltFu/w640-h640/IMG_7894.heic" title="run on Hopalong Cassidy" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was back to CrossFit on Monday and wouldn't you know it, there was running in the WOD? The strength and skill portion was 12 minutes on the clock of banded side steps x 1 lap, 6 per side single arm DB strict press (15#), and 12 GHD situps. I made it through 3 full rounds plus 1 round of strict presses. The MetCon was 4 rounds for time of 200m run, 10 chest-to-bar pull-ups (I did a modification with a racked barbell, my toes touching the ground and lifting myself up), 15 push-ups, and 20 air squats. I finished in 17:05 and yeah, I was tired.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Tuesday, I didn't get up at 4:30am to go to the pool. It was hard enough to get up at 5:30 for work! On Wednesday, I had some new Brooks Glycerins to test, so I took my feet to one of the local preserves for 7 miles of pavement running. It was a gorgeous morning--about 55F and bright blue skies--but I felt a little sluggish at the start of my run. I had to stop a few times for some photos for Brooks, which helped me catch my breath. The elk were in their pen--one of the males had shed his antlers, but the other male was still holding on to his. The elk pen is about the halfway point and after that, I started feeling much better. I had finished all my photos so I ran the remaining miles with only one stop. Oh, and those Glycerins? Light, responsive, and lots of cushion made for a sweet ride. The elk was not impressed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU3HLKnTIk04VrwxdSR0F-u9kWAxrp8IHb0gUYh6xUAzRTOsKuQvA4DQg1fZksNzBEKpxwaKLaz5Wa5IZyr96vp8cbvo7gcQo5C-wuG5i4jcG8Yc9PULSusbj2t7cUm3qAF9GLnmQNFNq4MlxCWQm5DhssxNIpJOvHccr01ydrVXFqoeyHq2m6sFyFWbe/s2576/IMG_7940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="2576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU3HLKnTIk04VrwxdSR0F-u9kWAxrp8IHb0gUYh6xUAzRTOsKuQvA4DQg1fZksNzBEKpxwaKLaz5Wa5IZyr96vp8cbvo7gcQo5C-wuG5i4jcG8Yc9PULSusbj2t7cUm3qAF9GLnmQNFNq4MlxCWQm5DhssxNIpJOvHccr01ydrVXFqoeyHq2m6sFyFWbe/w640-h640/IMG_7940.jpg" title="new Glycerins at Busse Woods" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eo25Az3KmVUrzSYVF2Pu160TQmJMiQt_v8AbYStP1VcNPBp6UcoRAAuGwNoFLOloipXG4AQUmrAnGnFlH4JwDTugzbgVk3IzRRBF512ZEi8ZeScwTNW4DVcG1L5sKJYh5zOPoe4Ix8uGmuxKP6_hLF8_J31APNrXFLIeHL819AoB3aEFxrrLC_7h8BBt/s2168/IMG_7997.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="2166" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eo25Az3KmVUrzSYVF2Pu160TQmJMiQt_v8AbYStP1VcNPBp6UcoRAAuGwNoFLOloipXG4AQUmrAnGnFlH4JwDTugzbgVk3IzRRBF512ZEi8ZeScwTNW4DVcG1L5sKJYh5zOPoe4Ix8uGmuxKP6_hLF8_J31APNrXFLIeHL819AoB3aEFxrrLC_7h8BBt/w640-h640/IMG_7997.heic" title="Elk at Busse Woods" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Thursday, I woke up to thunder and pouring rain. It felt like such a good morning to stay in bed. After a cup of coffee, I found some motivation and went to the gym for CrossFit. The WOD was more like a bootcamp type of workout: an E3MOM 30 minutes on the clock of 250m row and 10 rower hop burpees on the even and 10 cal on the bike, 10 ball over shoulder (30#), and 10 ball squats (30#) on the odd. The goal was to be done after 2 minutes of work so that you would have 1 minute recovery before starting the next 3 minute segment. It was tough! I do love a WOD in which I can wear my running shoes!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xxx8kcqd9YA5EvdKb0_nMvxPHivVgYJEPut7XnmqWhgWniHGh7IONSrrGGIdhKdj4K3yBmO30RfcCFhkwj5PR6ERtXlwtSutFkhBFmSf_n3jCppy1OsRMA4FWiZ3zmn4ogtVjedeCWnfkK0VxNfaoZf7aHAIYQQCY0e9PGnPq_6P6-iJnECOxjzg1aeT/s1332/IMG_8036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="999" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xxx8kcqd9YA5EvdKb0_nMvxPHivVgYJEPut7XnmqWhgWniHGh7IONSrrGGIdhKdj4K3yBmO30RfcCFhkwj5PR6ERtXlwtSutFkhBFmSf_n3jCppy1OsRMA4FWiZ3zmn4ogtVjedeCWnfkK0VxNfaoZf7aHAIYQQCY0e9PGnPq_6P6-iJnECOxjzg1aeT/w480-h640/IMG_8036.jpg" title="CrossFIt" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday's run was back in the dark--thanks DST!--and the overcast morning didn't bring a sunrise. After the warm weather of California, this blustery run felt cold. Six miles, out and back, with my last mile being my fastest. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5-t6VHXaJAVUruiidXlXA0lASLpahQ0aQQS9uCd7Zv244I8WQ1o7eYeOcwdn8KlHDZicfNz4sZdGpjVTZlY1iPgMHs1p668-_Qlq-UZZQhR7Jqqs84hN8sbiQ-QY24NBX80mpTVvc0p3Q_DyS1O5n74BEsNJKH2t6oACdxP2Es62I8ZYGUkf6U2EWoQJ/s1744/IMG_8039.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="1744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5-t6VHXaJAVUruiidXlXA0lASLpahQ0aQQS9uCd7Zv244I8WQ1o7eYeOcwdn8KlHDZicfNz4sZdGpjVTZlY1iPgMHs1p668-_Qlq-UZZQhR7Jqqs84hN8sbiQ-QY24NBX80mpTVvc0p3Q_DyS1O5n74BEsNJKH2t6oACdxP2Es62I8ZYGUkf6U2EWoQJ/w640-h640/IMG_8039.heic" title="Friday's run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Saturday, the hubs and I drove up to the lake. We 'celebrated' St Pat's Day by going out for lunch at Full Mile Brewery in Sun Prairie. We enjoyed it so much that we went to another one in Madison called Working Draft. It was a fun afternoon. I sure do love our Wisconsin weekends!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA5FvHWmQE1ykzI3-9MlmnKE_NhB5NCiIEVBhh1lWNGQmHBsJq61kaNMQj0g6An9UdNVVM1U-dCIj2AdWOzhJPAjWrTA9FoAOeCieCYGwwkGziiph61f5hM6lifGBeZQgf11KjyXXOz0IsKREvrqF-Mxyl4GYSe5sH6Nr7M7tVMolstPnTqrhkitZV5M3/s3179/IMG_8043.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3179" data-original-width="2384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA5FvHWmQE1ykzI3-9MlmnKE_NhB5NCiIEVBhh1lWNGQmHBsJq61kaNMQj0g6An9UdNVVM1U-dCIj2AdWOzhJPAjWrTA9FoAOeCieCYGwwkGziiph61f5hM6lifGBeZQgf11KjyXXOz0IsKREvrqF-Mxyl4GYSe5sH6Nr7M7tVMolstPnTqrhkitZV5M3/w480-h640/IMG_8043.heic" title="IPAs at Full Mile" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As you read this, I'm logging some miles on my beloved trails. Next weekend is the Shamrock Shuffle 8k in Chicago--I'm running it with <a href="http://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" target="_blank">Deborah!</a> Several of my Brooks teammates and friends will be there as well. This race is the unofficial start to the race season in Chicago. I hope we are blessed with some good weather.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? How are you adjusting to DST? Are you experiencing an early spring? Did you run any St Patrick's Day themed races? </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-5646606801338839142024-03-09T15:50:00.001-06:002024-03-10T08:54:06.202-05:00California Love<p>Long post alert!! I've been out of town all week, visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Palm Desert, California. You know how it is when you visit a beautiful place--you want to do <i style="font-weight: bold;">all the things</i> and that is what we did! By the end of the week, my feet were sore and I was tired. I'm heading home today, with one day to recover before I return to work and life on Tuesday. It should be interesting, considering the 2 hour time difference between California and Chicago plus the 1 hour time change this weekend. </p><p>In the meantime, I've recapped this very full week here on the blog. Thanks in advance for reading!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHuSNwQu8mRfBj0-Ij-ouc_Rx89petADm1uMi6FHX2Kdzv_vt_yy40dN-G2VCa-i-JufaP7ntyAhGNrc4XJc1m88oAq3nSjlycPpI-tjHXD3j8C3pknctsXP_pUdnEh8zTgA6A3cUDSjMNuuVsE4MsP3ePmfuicrwotB88QYQvCkXlaItwjTfiLpCcgRj/s1800/California%20Love.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHuSNwQu8mRfBj0-Ij-ouc_Rx89petADm1uMi6FHX2Kdzv_vt_yy40dN-G2VCa-i-JufaP7ntyAhGNrc4XJc1m88oAq3nSjlycPpI-tjHXD3j8C3pknctsXP_pUdnEh8zTgA6A3cUDSjMNuuVsE4MsP3ePmfuicrwotB88QYQvCkXlaItwjTfiLpCcgRj/w426-h640/California%20Love.png" title="California Love cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: travel to California</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: trail run 8 miles/1200 fr</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: hike 5 miles/800 ft</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 9.25 miles/1825 ft.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: hike 8 miles/1625 ft</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: road trip to the coast</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: Fluid Running (shallow water)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After a long travel day on Sunday, I tried to stay up late to adjust to the 2 hour time change. On Monday, I woke up at 5 am (7 am my time). I had a cup of coffee, and I headed to the mountain trails adjacent to my sister's house to try to catch the sunrise. It was a little smoky! I literally blazed up the trail in record time to get to the peak where the giant cross is located. I was rewarded with a beautiful sunrise! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qhhNACUfQWAsYmWE-Vb-jk-1IfjCHB9AeVrOkhshRyiXt3qioa2I_-otvyoRnypYdJNMDpOkrmG9TCuekuvStMc_ZYtmKBFbP7OsmDFniuCZoPIpZpJ95mQX64ajaeANP2lMtLfQOLQd59hD5WSSmdNHiDAzg9iv-d-_4cEp1W-PhyMTbFFiWk9nxR-_/s4032/IMG_7487.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qhhNACUfQWAsYmWE-Vb-jk-1IfjCHB9AeVrOkhshRyiXt3qioa2I_-otvyoRnypYdJNMDpOkrmG9TCuekuvStMc_ZYtmKBFbP7OsmDFniuCZoPIpZpJ95mQX64ajaeANP2lMtLfQOLQd59hD5WSSmdNHiDAzg9iv-d-_4cEp1W-PhyMTbFFiWk9nxR-_/w640-h360/IMG_7487.heic" title="Palm Desert sunrise" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I headed back down the trail toward my favorite segment, Hopalong Cassidy. I love how this trail winds around the mountains and goes up and down. It's also less popular than some of the other segments. I connected to the Bump and Grind trail, looped around, and headed back towards home. My hamstrings were really talking to me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm077cAq-CN-xgJ5ChKwxhmm2Tck3RFKAry3QURaXP5snM2ZcI2o4t8otvI1B20z6TW1VhDSs3mSBK51b556PQdadHUMuZR3bCXvChHN32E5MB5LYUhVhK8Ss1i2gd_uYqannRa_ne08OKAriLdE1pX4X_AXw67yr0V0spnykrxtBzOW4wymzjZ50-zAxO/s1170/IMG_7564.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1170" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm077cAq-CN-xgJ5ChKwxhmm2Tck3RFKAry3QURaXP5snM2ZcI2o4t8otvI1B20z6TW1VhDSs3mSBK51b556PQdadHUMuZR3bCXvChHN32E5MB5LYUhVhK8Ss1i2gd_uYqannRa_ne08OKAriLdE1pX4X_AXw67yr0V0spnykrxtBzOW4wymzjZ50-zAxO/w640-h360/IMG_7564.jpg" title="trail run Palm Desert" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Later, while my sister worked, my brother-in-law and I took a ride to explore the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea is the largest inland lake in California. Back in the 1970s, it was a bustling resort area. Due to environmental factors, the lake became heavily polluted and highly concentrated in salts. This led to the collapse of the area's economy. The surrounding towns became ghost towns, but people still live there--artists, hipsters, and off-the-grid types. We visited Bombay Beach, imagining what it must have been like back in the day. We saw a lot of graffiti and abandoned buildings, but there were also some, well-kept homes. We had lunch at the<a href="https://secretlosangeles.com/ski-inn-bombay-beach-dive-bar/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Ski Inn</a>, a bar with dollar bills stuck to the ceiling. Anthony Bourdain once visited there and had a patty melt, which is what I had for lunch. Bombay Beach is 223 ft <i><b>below</b></i> sea level. There was salt crusted on some of the lower spots on the beach, reminding me of <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/03/a-week-of-awe.html" target="_blank">our visit to Death Valley last year</a> and Badwater Basin, a large salt flat. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X3IlNTDVE5CnYA25hq4-DGpO4cet1ZUwB96sxJMVz4AYKzdIqjuzt4imxuLU14zK98l6-oVOjhxgX_IzusDgn0ZF9R4-a1mv-sdokVwQC_GqQrkCPaNhsiJsqsnLreU85dC9rQR6xOUtI5qIsaY3VWYc7S-yWBaYmxJIkjK4i5oPvaq-PhblxUmKNivP/s4032/IMG_7625.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X3IlNTDVE5CnYA25hq4-DGpO4cet1ZUwB96sxJMVz4AYKzdIqjuzt4imxuLU14zK98l6-oVOjhxgX_IzusDgn0ZF9R4-a1mv-sdokVwQC_GqQrkCPaNhsiJsqsnLreU85dC9rQR6xOUtI5qIsaY3VWYc7S-yWBaYmxJIkjK4i5oPvaq-PhblxUmKNivP/w640-h360/IMG_7625.heic" title="Bombay Beach" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUURxmFmFXDTTgyaMv_yxlHdHZjg1MJgM-ugcrh2722hC1_ltp9lm3POBnhxnJI_pXn42v2C80sTx0alhI8M7Rqf1aEqBv_N5YOns7qtp71YTDMoX6S6ATQJLobRP3i14NP_6mNOl9iS8Es9pbmAZs2vE7GU716LF-M3O4Yk9J9RJ5cMy3lMg4xWApDCxq/s3733/IMG_7619.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="3733" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUURxmFmFXDTTgyaMv_yxlHdHZjg1MJgM-ugcrh2722hC1_ltp9lm3POBnhxnJI_pXn42v2C80sTx0alhI8M7Rqf1aEqBv_N5YOns7qtp71YTDMoX6S6ATQJLobRP3i14NP_6mNOl9iS8Es9pbmAZs2vE7GU716LF-M3O4Yk9J9RJ5cMy3lMg4xWApDCxq/w640-h360/IMG_7619.heic" title="Bombay Beach retro waterskiing sign" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We also visited <a href="https://beyondthebucketlist.co/slab-city-last-free-place/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slab City</a>, located near the south end of the Salton Sea, which is a community built on the slabs from an abandoned WWII Marine Corps training camp. Known as the 'last free place on earth', it attracts people looking to live off the grid, as well as artists and snowbirds. Everyone lives in RVs or trailers--some very nice and some that look uninhabitable. There is no electricity, running water, or sewer. We were greeted at the entrance by <a href="https://www.salvationmountain.us/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Salvation Mountain</a>, one man's tribute to God. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVsV78LvPHY5Opvk6MRCrsmxqYtFCrEJSV8WJBt2EtEbpgj4wNyq8dAoCZddVlT-E7vwnRXk5IpirPBA9_oLSh5NDfjGLssBLENgmTYkqh9UeMFESg5h_q5RBzH_Hqis4Iprsiwewbl0gtgXFZqCcG7BY-ovDb4rakHUIaoS1WbuuL6BzuvfEgLyCC3Ee/s2997/IMG_7581.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2997" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVsV78LvPHY5Opvk6MRCrsmxqYtFCrEJSV8WJBt2EtEbpgj4wNyq8dAoCZddVlT-E7vwnRXk5IpirPBA9_oLSh5NDfjGLssBLENgmTYkqh9UeMFESg5h_q5RBzH_Hqis4Iprsiwewbl0gtgXFZqCcG7BY-ovDb4rakHUIaoS1WbuuL6BzuvfEgLyCC3Ee/w640-h360/IMG_7581.heic" title="Salvation Mountain" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We made our way around the area to East Jesus, an area of art installations mostly created from trash. To be honest, the artwork was a little bizarre. There were a lot of old TVs, tires, and cars. There was also an old treadmill made into something. You know the saying: one man's trash is another man's treasure. It was an interesting experience. Desert dwellers are a different breed of people. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4_PXRYGTW0OE8cKDTuPfoD8_nTDeZRjliAMH7ufKnTZToNBiUqWKxxT-z3Iy3HB-8BxjM4OareszLV9rE7TU1WRDt9LgY7izwQ35X8t1qOGXvRgjvsrPYvJghuuM4XjLFMtRy4pXfEvk4OlFoibvctY4EeU3xkr04h5_J6F_tm3hUkzeDl5_-zVXgs8p/s3862/IMG_7603.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3862" data-original-width="2897" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4_PXRYGTW0OE8cKDTuPfoD8_nTDeZRjliAMH7ufKnTZToNBiUqWKxxT-z3Iy3HB-8BxjM4OareszLV9rE7TU1WRDt9LgY7izwQ35X8t1qOGXvRgjvsrPYvJghuuM4XjLFMtRy4pXfEvk4OlFoibvctY4EeU3xkr04h5_J6F_tm3hUkzeDl5_-zVXgs8p/w300-h400/IMG_7603.heic" title="an reworked VW van" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc27EinisdL5IsKl88XKlxk3rM4fNeejR3u9UDl8DPpDpHxXrGMTy-L0aQIXVmRKCZnexqMa6sWP84X6HfnWX5JJ3rDpwNxwYzbvtDHmJAr8U2dBUfhinnFtNrfzu9jGDgdWsnIAJyjYFwnvV5crLCoUBozMmcsd4SkfJ2R1pQ2ZwodqMrURYD58r37M-/s2100/IMG_7615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1575" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc27EinisdL5IsKl88XKlxk3rM4fNeejR3u9UDl8DPpDpHxXrGMTy-L0aQIXVmRKCZnexqMa6sWP84X6HfnWX5JJ3rDpwNxwYzbvtDHmJAr8U2dBUfhinnFtNrfzu9jGDgdWsnIAJyjYFwnvV5crLCoUBozMmcsd4SkfJ2R1pQ2ZwodqMrURYD58r37M-/w300-h400/IMG_7615.jpg" title="treadmill art" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YtMQqJ-LyaAgJxt2z3UQyjjyrCW-SLY4bcXxVLFERY3bfQ_opYO1XnDRoNPy4UPJhG-GkJDVJjfWC5DBzImeJUzWVnujQLjR_EgcM3ZnK-7RGV9HEERy9uTMLzo3nY-7oARoN-UdGcuDsUk_OOIgwnNawSNvnztAWuU38lrqKQMhCaH-_pJTojjP81db/s3024/IMG_2453.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YtMQqJ-LyaAgJxt2z3UQyjjyrCW-SLY4bcXxVLFERY3bfQ_opYO1XnDRoNPy4UPJhG-GkJDVJjfWC5DBzImeJUzWVnujQLjR_EgcM3ZnK-7RGV9HEERy9uTMLzo3nY-7oARoN-UdGcuDsUk_OOIgwnNawSNvnztAWuU38lrqKQMhCaH-_pJTojjP81db/w640-h640/IMG_2453.heic" title="frame in east jesus" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My sister had to work on Tuesday again, so my brother-in-law took me to a really fun trail for a 5 mile hike. 5 miles, easy peasy, right? Not so much. This trail was similar to Joshua Tree, with lots of cool rock formations and narrow passages. There were also a couple of steep climbs up to the top of the mountain with a trail along the crest. It was just a beautiful trail and I really enjoyed the hike. You definitely could not run this trail and I think that was a blessing.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFPYz5bniXd1BtKdbh-YR7SxOvJqSgj91iAbQo-EQz6ltCwvJVoN4JCb44t-n72U9_Exvfn3t2SzC2Z64pRIs-L8UNE15x28Eu2ooIWqkSMhnekxXtmqAsmVVc2-jNXNxeXYFWdcvi8GqdFgBqgvWcqN6DY6MphP9a8yCWoJUWQvKpdvgD0jL63mlK1-H/s2897/IMG_7680.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFPYz5bniXd1BtKdbh-YR7SxOvJqSgj91iAbQo-EQz6ltCwvJVoN4JCb44t-n72U9_Exvfn3t2SzC2Z64pRIs-L8UNE15x28Eu2ooIWqkSMhnekxXtmqAsmVVc2-jNXNxeXYFWdcvi8GqdFgBqgvWcqN6DY6MphP9a8yCWoJUWQvKpdvgD0jL63mlK1-H/w640-h640/IMG_7680.heic" title="East indio Badlands Trail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-Ahniz_qGSsOvUUMujxr1O3exqGnlnUhFzaslN1gFyWioaOvPht6JV9IOw-z-x_P_3_HnVK4M1MqSxgZpUyzitFpIqsSgV46KfISh5t3_QCbLTkXV5QpZ3tQETTrTiSeP1vsp5hk6xw96BnkURubeFwcoBqlqdFHJcdcHekIZdGH2m0MyiWtXkSkK4Y-/s2835/IMG_7653.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="2835" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-Ahniz_qGSsOvUUMujxr1O3exqGnlnUhFzaslN1gFyWioaOvPht6JV9IOw-z-x_P_3_HnVK4M1MqSxgZpUyzitFpIqsSgV46KfISh5t3_QCbLTkXV5QpZ3tQETTrTiSeP1vsp5hk6xw96BnkURubeFwcoBqlqdFHJcdcHekIZdGH2m0MyiWtXkSkK4Y-/w640-h640/IMG_7653.heic" title="East Indio Badlands Trail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was overcast when I woke up on Wednesday, so there was no rush to catch the sunrise. I was out the door by 6:30 am, with plans to complete the loop on the Bump and Grind Trail, something I had never done. The trail I normally run on links to it, so it worked out well and gave me lots of miles and vert. The sun came out eventually and it warmed up in a hurry!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KPo-2LRoFpOfrZsXr51c8CBH7wl_3El-AvX6AwcpCjsX0RMt_A5qXZGK03Rl1cx1fg1HYb0_IGsLTUqKXUfCN0L0gLMdpsUkD70Ju7HBvigPHoIVesrD2ak0mEouuvhPoibEKJkRuT-oGymPqfbB4ZjiOkCEu1Wc3ENNXTykuX7wBM6kcg4H333suiy6/s2897/IMG_7691.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KPo-2LRoFpOfrZsXr51c8CBH7wl_3El-AvX6AwcpCjsX0RMt_A5qXZGK03Rl1cx1fg1HYb0_IGsLTUqKXUfCN0L0gLMdpsUkD70Ju7HBvigPHoIVesrD2ak0mEouuvhPoibEKJkRuT-oGymPqfbB4ZjiOkCEu1Wc3ENNXTykuX7wBM6kcg4H333suiy6/w640-h640/IMG_7691.heic" title="Bump and Grind trail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekTjbQGTBFa3vjYBJrQVlCXGAriIw_7d7QOsaGs1tG7Yg1t0fDxr7x0QCqSPG0Z_bcG_f9oMGPTUe7cz2n7JZQEqtLzRvWxUZfVZQBt01Y11tFLnPj2miKCCvBUO9p-pQg8ZeeHQghO2-r8P9yeRbT5I_kPchyTuvyHFKvUWUuNdQXCEM1YpuX_wqXlvE/s2680/IMG_7685.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2680" data-original-width="2680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekTjbQGTBFa3vjYBJrQVlCXGAriIw_7d7QOsaGs1tG7Yg1t0fDxr7x0QCqSPG0Z_bcG_f9oMGPTUe7cz2n7JZQEqtLzRvWxUZfVZQBt01Y11tFLnPj2miKCCvBUO9p-pQg8ZeeHQghO2-r8P9yeRbT5I_kPchyTuvyHFKvUWUuNdQXCEM1YpuX_wqXlvE/w640-h640/IMG_7685.heic" title="Cactus" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I got back, we drove up to <a href="https://escapelosangeles.com/idyllwild-ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Idyllwild</a>, which is a cute little mountain town about 45 minutes away. The road that took us there is a curvy mountain road with lots of hairpin turns. We eventually climbed to 5000 ft of altitude. The temperature was significantly cooler--46F and the landscape changed from desert to mountain, with lots of pine trees. We had lunch at a brewpub and did some shopping. It reminded me of a northern Wisconsin town. Oh, and<a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-20/mayor-max-idyllwild" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> the mayor of the town is a golden retriever</a>! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPWnEjzkMvNtPZrY4KqNson-KXm12hal_uRAolafK4t_fVyO4gWmuzrYEV0SMfja_zjXmLkMYqipxja1q74ke4zzSA_WDWPsGiKQx07aSrJCK_dO_1rj1VccLuOcUCRVGV1uRosvZlymdKkd3sgOObTAY5BZlRQ9VYJnxZRSIu-HVUQ_9Py6tUXyHTUqt/s2291/IMG_7698.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2291" data-original-width="2291" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPWnEjzkMvNtPZrY4KqNson-KXm12hal_uRAolafK4t_fVyO4gWmuzrYEV0SMfja_zjXmLkMYqipxja1q74ke4zzSA_WDWPsGiKQx07aSrJCK_dO_1rj1VccLuOcUCRVGV1uRosvZlymdKkd3sgOObTAY5BZlRQ9VYJnxZRSIu-HVUQ_9Py6tUXyHTUqt/w640-h640/IMG_7698.heic" title="Lisa and me in Idyllwild" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Thursday, my brother-in-law and I went on another hike--this time an 8 mile out and back on the Art Smith Trail. Most of the ascent-we gained over 1800 feet on this hike- is within the first couple of miles on this steep, rocky trail. Last year when I hiked here, we saw Bighorn sheep. We didn't get so lucky this year. But the weather was perfect for our hike--bright sunshine, but cool temperatures around 70F and a gentle breeze. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZvkyy36y9COUsI2XBE2wHvrKI2M_SyGKjCFBcHIbdJvqyGVdviH_2aaNknnmAZ9mmT4sbz3hht0RRgmLUJevxECzBn97pzG5rjrn38bkdB0vmocB04hX9gdTimBNDSSKHRlmr1p1HPFOqoL95xV9FB51Jd30UIT19cPWjbUv5I8nHV1dSmV4JR5JuR98/s2601/IMG_7727.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2601" data-original-width="2601" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZvkyy36y9COUsI2XBE2wHvrKI2M_SyGKjCFBcHIbdJvqyGVdviH_2aaNknnmAZ9mmT4sbz3hht0RRgmLUJevxECzBn97pzG5rjrn38bkdB0vmocB04hX9gdTimBNDSSKHRlmr1p1HPFOqoL95xV9FB51Jd30UIT19cPWjbUv5I8nHV1dSmV4JR5JuR98/w640-h640/IMG_7727.heic" title="the oasis at mile 2.5" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No workout on Friday--we took a ride to the coast! After a 2 hour journey on some twisty mountain roads, we arrived in Carlsbad, a cute beach town where we first stopped for lunch at a roadside taco bar. Then we headed down to the beach to dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjkJKIpEboNXNGdIwR20E8bJYGMBopt9A3KICV7zvj6KI_HEwqzbaSHIrPc8QlfWWYomVN2CKQRE6RhqhP7QKKjPe8WUpUxocMIRQtSEB0D1L2CLOTrQTIFkEbDiMVHyFpq82yK_Or_ST_cOlr894xKgdXUw-S-k0yo806REgyuv8KhZ0lX8q8Xa8W0JH/s2725/IMG_7740.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2725" data-original-width="2725" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjkJKIpEboNXNGdIwR20E8bJYGMBopt9A3KICV7zvj6KI_HEwqzbaSHIrPc8QlfWWYomVN2CKQRE6RhqhP7QKKjPe8WUpUxocMIRQtSEB0D1L2CLOTrQTIFkEbDiMVHyFpq82yK_Or_ST_cOlr894xKgdXUw-S-k0yo806REgyuv8KhZ0lX8q8Xa8W0JH/w640-h640/IMG_7740.heic" title="Carlsbad beach" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After some exploring on foot, we got back in the car and drove through several other towns--Encinitas, Del Mar, Torrey Pines, ending up in La Jolla. We walked around the seaside village and along the shore, hoping to see some sea lions. There were hundreds of them playing in the water and lying on the rocks that lined the beach. I'm not sure why so many of them were there that day, but it was really fun to see them! Day made and after some more walking and dinner, we headed back to Palm Desert for the night. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe5g_HAhc3cOYrHAgyBrI_fUPXWR1LzowSiqVOyAbHLmMFX02mXFJ7quZTq_GuncjO5jzWqVGNfudrpXr7BMkkZAT-shuI-1Pi3KGh43sMyVr8-Gck4QU9IOPPd7TQOQnckyRWsu2oXsmea52IhB3ZN42Epkn70fvQYizmG9_VmFfzUfbzM2HRzUeSDLq/s2577/IMG_7761.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN83gD-MsfLlrIoaa9H2lXwX1cFmGAE6ZD8LdovE7PG5tIA20c0JfHwhFIb32Ty9h-5MZTBv_K3AUwy-rFG9a8XvXeYl7XboXbCNmeet34BmSmplECBfXhuBg3_asVDfZ3iWvOSVDIcmZxKwtfab7z474f42svMqHFJWSRKj7RVJh9hTprTNvPIIw1jBEV/s1170/IMG_7768.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN83gD-MsfLlrIoaa9H2lXwX1cFmGAE6ZD8LdovE7PG5tIA20c0JfHwhFIb32Ty9h-5MZTBv_K3AUwy-rFG9a8XvXeYl7XboXbCNmeet34BmSmplECBfXhuBg3_asVDfZ3iWvOSVDIcmZxKwtfab7z474f42svMqHFJWSRKj7RVJh9hTprTNvPIIw1jBEV/w320-h320/IMG_7768.jpg" title="sea lions playing on the beach" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2575" data-original-width="2577" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe5g_HAhc3cOYrHAgyBrI_fUPXWR1LzowSiqVOyAbHLmMFX02mXFJ7quZTq_GuncjO5jzWqVGNfudrpXr7BMkkZAT-shuI-1Pi3KGh43sMyVr8-Gck4QU9IOPPd7TQOQnckyRWsu2oXsmea52IhB3ZN42Epkn70fvQYizmG9_VmFfzUfbzM2HRzUeSDLq/w320-h320/IMG_7761.heic" title="sea lion sunning in La Jolla" width="320" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Saturday, I skipped a planned trail run and got in the very cold, unheated pool for some shallow water pool running. We took it easy the rest of the day and went out for some shopping and dinner in the evening. My legs and my feet thanked me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? Have you ever been to Palm Springs? Or the southern California coast? Do you like to visit quirky places or do you play it safe? We did a little of both this week! If you've made it this far, thank you for reading!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. I may take a little longer than normal to comment on your posts this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-13736807700849619782024-03-03T05:56:00.002-06:002024-03-03T06:12:12.411-06:00The Real Deal<p>It sure seems that the groundhog was right this year! This false spring we've been experiencing may be the real deal. We had some really strong storms this week with multiple tornados--a real rarity in February for us--a sure sign that the weather is shifting. I've been enjoying some nice runs and even got to run in shorts this week. We were above 70F this week and we're supposed to hit that again. If this warm weather pattern is wrong, I don't want to be right. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwEYHW_DIAkyJAGSPNU43zsCPFjzqkNIYispDStBsCptS1JghXMaoYfhNWlOn6TtamR_yAoFATj2s-KITeyvYzOUn47uGZdbEZtB013IL9DvqjjYJv_cq-egaPTDN7H6PtP3eV4hQoPhAiVn8RiPScA87jeShDH9UftiikFAG-d2wTfvafTRwrSYmnm3C/s1800/The%20Real%20Deal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwEYHW_DIAkyJAGSPNU43zsCPFjzqkNIYispDStBsCptS1JghXMaoYfhNWlOn6TtamR_yAoFATj2s-KITeyvYzOUn47uGZdbEZtB013IL9DvqjjYJv_cq-egaPTDN7H6PtP3eV4hQoPhAiVn8RiPScA87jeShDH9UftiikFAG-d2wTfvafTRwrSYmnm3C/w426-h640/The%20Real%20Deal.png" title="The Real Deal cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 7 miles 1100ft</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: Yoga</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: trail run 7 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">February miles: 85</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were up at the lake last weekend and I was up and out the door early to run the Gibraltar Segment of the Ice Age Trail. The sun was rising as I left the house and by the time I parked my car, it was a bright, bluebird morning. I ran from the parking lot down the connecting road to the trail that would take me up to the top. I was not disappointed. It was a little windy, but it was beautiful! I had the entire segment to myself and as I always do, I took my time up there to soak it all in. The rest of my run was uneventful, save for the frozen footprints on the trail. This made for some uneven footing. I will be so glad when we are done with this freeze/thaw stuff!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7NvhLxSvkvStoj4oXxPwgfUVv-P4fL0CRxJaDLo3sbaLGX4dEsLCqNMeW0f_sSebVGGX_qbcLZ7z6dgXCLh9xCRy4QfrFG8N-hN6nlWPAjD072L9cjgA5l2kew9kT0Kl8imv4Ip63jr71PefMDBQreJSR4jiymJLYaM5jo1H8sXmz1sFmuKlhwNeP0oo/s3700/IMG_7306.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2081" data-original-width="3700" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7NvhLxSvkvStoj4oXxPwgfUVv-P4fL0CRxJaDLo3sbaLGX4dEsLCqNMeW0f_sSebVGGX_qbcLZ7z6dgXCLh9xCRy4QfrFG8N-hN6nlWPAjD072L9cjgA5l2kew9kT0Kl8imv4Ip63jr71PefMDBQreJSR4jiymJLYaM5jo1H8sXmz1sFmuKlhwNeP0oo/w640-h360/IMG_7306.HEIC" title="Gibraltar Rock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My legs have certainly gotten a lot of action over the past week or so! I was happy to see that Monday's WOD was more upper body-centric, which meant my legs were going to get a break. The warm-up was 10 minutes on the bar, warming up for the MetCon, which was 4 rounds for time: 25 toes-to-bar (I did high leg raises/swings), 20 pull-ups (I started with banded but switched to jumping from a box pull-ups with negatives), 15 chest-to-bar (again from the box), and 10 bar muscle-ups (I did 10 GHD situps and 10 dips). After each bar exercise, we did 100m heavy bag carry (I used a 50# wreck bat), 10 burpees over the bag, and 12 calories on the bike. This took me 25:06.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After looking at the weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, I flipped my schedule and went for a run at zero dark thirty on Tuesday and went to the pool on Wednesday. It was a balmy 57 degrees Tuesday morning and I headed out in shorts and short sleeves. The air was very moist and I could see my breath. For safety reasons opted to run the first 3 miles on the road that parallels the bike path. When I looped back to the path for the last 3 miles, it was getting lighter out. I was too early to catch the sunrise, but I did enjoy the light of the moon!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603j_rMCCdqga61rwZI2iSp6OoxjKnkvPOTz3bspBbMk5ojBmpYRuIMfDq6DnwdkMT-U90u1behU0vzs8fJkNGg5mhrZkHGsoxNwEyx9ordPtv_9g4HSZ-3QFoQjRwJiPzMBEE2keoLpZ7IKWMiOo-xajTslnMhGLMBbIQioJIcYoR9tBWDtBfe9moggc/s1440/CE8803CA-3069-46DA-B66C-E27B383296CC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603j_rMCCdqga61rwZI2iSp6OoxjKnkvPOTz3bspBbMk5ojBmpYRuIMfDq6DnwdkMT-U90u1behU0vzs8fJkNGg5mhrZkHGsoxNwEyx9ordPtv_9g4HSZ-3QFoQjRwJiPzMBEE2keoLpZ7IKWMiOo-xajTslnMhGLMBbIQioJIcYoR9tBWDtBfe9moggc/w640-h640/CE8803CA-3069-46DA-B66C-E27B383296CC.jpg" title="Warm Tuesday miles" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The CrossFit Open is taking place the next 3 weeks and many athletes at the gym are participating. So is <a href="http://keeponrunning.net" target="_blank">Catrina</a>! I am not. This is the time of year the the WODs are a little 'lighter' to preserve strength for the Open workouts. The coaches like to throw in different and fun things for us to do. The WOD on Thursday started off with 12 minutes of pullover work. Many of you probably did these as a kid on the playground. It's a whole different thing as an adult! I did mine on the lower bar with some help from a classmate and SJ. You can see my effort <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C38L24mLk11/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on my IG</a>. It's definitely a work in progress. But it was fun! We finished up with a 10 minute Metcon: 5 rounds/2 minutes each with 30 seconds rest of 15 ball slams (30#), 15 weighted situps (using the ball to anchor the feet), and AMRAP shuttle runs. I averaged 7 lengths of shuttle runs for each rep. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx7Oc_mSh7RhTM800-f9AGeJpFxXvYi8Ksk7Atafw1PRCYdvJgeFqNTlG04aXAaqk9Z74oZyvkbqXdTiQ43oEZHA2-SQ9F_jjZ1Dzyxh9dEbfbVW0lgryTU727BytT-3mw6YbSgkgYEm2JlkDv1_60agsvVuy25LPbwAhjLPQ3LJUr0qRhZff2KnhBpf7/s1560/IMG_7380.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx7Oc_mSh7RhTM800-f9AGeJpFxXvYi8Ksk7Atafw1PRCYdvJgeFqNTlG04aXAaqk9Z74oZyvkbqXdTiQ43oEZHA2-SQ9F_jjZ1Dzyxh9dEbfbVW0lgryTU727BytT-3mw6YbSgkgYEm2JlkDv1_60agsvVuy25LPbwAhjLPQ3LJUr0qRhZff2KnhBpf7/w480-h640/IMG_7380.jpg" title="Assisted pullovers" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After a rough day in clinic on Friday with some really sick kiddos, I was really looking forward to hitting the trails on Saturday morning. I didn't get out as early as I wanted, but I was early enough to be greeted by some of my deer friends as soon as I stepped onto the trail. It was almost as if they were waiting for me, lol. I felt fatigued on this run, but enjoyed seeing more deer along the trail as well as lots of bright sunshine. There were lots of downed trees from the storms we had earlier this week. I had some fun leaping over them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hoGdvMbEeyq4_GuwBGwLmgVIL3UFHgi0VuDThMFRVu-54GxdFCtOyvc8-4BzfPs3ysjIB-xKnhK2QVyJ8HRM4ioudOHkJBOfP_vVFyF9YLNj6T8SplBSpHb5Wj1d9XPT8zswQ-jMHzxTUVgELt0DZ-SgJdTmBtT5DQiSzO2VWMmeAEkh8CN8HKcK5ywk/s2182/IMG_7386.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2182" data-original-width="2182" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hoGdvMbEeyq4_GuwBGwLmgVIL3UFHgi0VuDThMFRVu-54GxdFCtOyvc8-4BzfPs3ysjIB-xKnhK2QVyJ8HRM4ioudOHkJBOfP_vVFyF9YLNj6T8SplBSpHb5Wj1d9XPT8zswQ-jMHzxTUVgELt0DZ-SgJdTmBtT5DQiSzO2VWMmeAEkh8CN8HKcK5ywk/w640-h640/IMG_7386.heic" title="deer at deer grove" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyqzMT47sLwaUemYBpr2ZyK2uhIwHdeaxQSBB4_13cDi9iKsNYZVE1PmXQD6-WZ7ydz499toEuSp_hLc64uRkUkLhm7KEjl3X-1YdWzc7iXY8HlPQyejHpGXlDyC2ZTmLBqxWp3BmZbWcObeQHmKjenaI_7CozFO0p3ARiFtqEJgvhGV2y8g3O059shJn/s2897/IMG_7423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyqzMT47sLwaUemYBpr2ZyK2uhIwHdeaxQSBB4_13cDi9iKsNYZVE1PmXQD6-WZ7ydz499toEuSp_hLc64uRkUkLhm7KEjl3X-1YdWzc7iXY8HlPQyejHpGXlDyC2ZTmLBqxWp3BmZbWcObeQHmKjenaI_7CozFO0p3ARiFtqEJgvhGV2y8g3O059shJn/w640-h640/IMG_7423.jpg" title="Deer grove" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I spent the rest of Saturday getting ready for my trip to Palm Desert to see my sister! I'm heading out there for a week. I'm not sure what she has planned for us, but I know that I'll be hitting those mountain trails! Check my IG for updates!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? Are you enjoying an early spring? Did you have any storm damage this week? Do you have any vacations planned?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. I may take a little longer than normal to comment on your posts this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-81315210178763919372024-03-02T13:34:00.001-06:002024-03-05T08:21:07.064-06:00Mini Book Reviews: February 2024<p><i>Disclaimer: I received copies of The Road from Belhaven, My Side of the River, and Wandering Stars from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my review. This post contains affiliate links.</i></p><p>February was a great month of reading for me. While I work on getting through all my NetGalley prereleases, I also was able to fit in a couple of books that I wanted to read. I'm happy to say that all 3 NetGalley books were great and my personal selections were too. If I were to recommend a book that everyone will like, I would pick Kristin Hannah's book, <i>The Women. </i>I believe this may be her best book yet. Ann Patchett's <i>Tom Lake</i> was my favorite, though. </p><p>There's nothing better than a month of good books!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oP71Gdgk5l_3CsDgof016vCL-WRA5bmWh2ak4H_Z4di2gJdn2fI-RiJ97hYls_OaKDVyyPmoasbvOxSoN3P8bBFavcR2LQMFrDDBSqm5Ec0n3s75LKzSCbDhtmiQZFPEkCPjTZZ2A9fxA-azDlyjXSIk_yOSuvOlNriXMyNr4By1oLvSj0zgZtbb0K1G/s1080/Add%20a%20heading.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oP71Gdgk5l_3CsDgof016vCL-WRA5bmWh2ak4H_Z4di2gJdn2fI-RiJ97hYls_OaKDVyyPmoasbvOxSoN3P8bBFavcR2LQMFrDDBSqm5Ec0n3s75LKzSCbDhtmiQZFPEkCPjTZZ2A9fxA-azDlyjXSIk_yOSuvOlNriXMyNr4By1oLvSj0zgZtbb0K1G/w640-h640/Add%20a%20heading.png" title="Mini Book Reviews: February 2024 cover" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOeYjHxmKoqXNr6y5FWlEVWEenAYfBPWa9yTLap4_1iLDglOkyfth5y196vQV3-Jc-xny-vOoXRvRXvVnxIKuS20OX0WBFYfvWxhxtlLAE-cobgT7oe9HY2uRY3jNSvd78yv9q3yCczUE1uBHp1gCnV_9aRHuC_eQrANNJu1brlxGQg-XLFAKfr_E1_M9/s400/150247348.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOeYjHxmKoqXNr6y5FWlEVWEenAYfBPWa9yTLap4_1iLDglOkyfth5y196vQV3-Jc-xny-vOoXRvRXvVnxIKuS20OX0WBFYfvWxhxtlLAE-cobgT7oe9HY2uRY3jNSvd78yv9q3yCczUE1uBHp1gCnV_9aRHuC_eQrANNJu1brlxGQg-XLFAKfr_E1_M9/w133-h200/150247348.jpg" title="The Road to Belhaven cover" width="133" /></a></div>I loved this sweet story about a misguided, naive young woman raised on her grandparents' farm in rural 19th century Scotland. She has inherited the gift of seeing certain incidents in the future, which leads to some questionable choices in her life. She falls in love with a young farm helper who takes a position as an apprentice tailor in Glasgow and follows him, leaving the farm. This starts the chain of bad decisions that had me shaking my head! <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Oq8I9Z" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Road from Belhaven</a> </i>is a quiet story, but you know I love a coming of age story and the historical setting made this a very enjoyable read. <p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5GYqMCiuPBTqS80qaSQArLc90cOHPLetVKDyYtqbBNvvyNj0bHF0P7HIpb2PggETd8KeJGKxCHkBrKCxCe_wSNoI5Hh5PkpKMEimkqphuruUuNqOAizh9Y1OCktaWiPIvYmYZmnFfCm-fhVpXF7DbYT8UwDABgHc6nAJuV2Do6CRd0kA1p7G8-iHGvj2/s400/126918693.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5GYqMCiuPBTqS80qaSQArLc90cOHPLetVKDyYtqbBNvvyNj0bHF0P7HIpb2PggETd8KeJGKxCHkBrKCxCe_wSNoI5Hh5PkpKMEimkqphuruUuNqOAizh9Y1OCktaWiPIvYmYZmnFfCm-fhVpXF7DbYT8UwDABgHc6nAJuV2Do6CRd0kA1p7G8-iHGvj2/w129-h200/126918693.jpg" title="My Side of the River cover" width="129" /></a></div><a href="https://amzn.to/49taAXB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Side of the River</a></i> is a coming-of-age memoir of a young woman raised by her Mexican immigrant parents in Arizona. Her parents were denied their visa renewal, returning to Mexico with her brother, and forcing her to pursue her education and manage independently while living in a less-than-ideal situation. I wanted to take her under my wing! The author does a great job of sharing her plight with the reader without self-pity or judgment. Her story helped me understand the difficulties and prejudice that immigrant children face despite the opportunities afforded to them. This is such a well-written book and in light of current immigration issues, is timely reading. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-TeZVz8unKYQJDCdScXgzbHjw2dEXY2GdoKp2jucVBgO-uNOBZrnheYErhiULR0ZTP61TLZrvc6zNSaVBYG3iWllMFNgydn72fsDglV2FjK3xO84lQ4WUJqQx-9H9XKXd8fd4kPnuXnmb1UGZ3YzzF25dqxz62OP-2dcJzlDe1XQCQIF3QXMiJ6LhLCh/s978/63241104.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="648" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-TeZVz8unKYQJDCdScXgzbHjw2dEXY2GdoKp2jucVBgO-uNOBZrnheYErhiULR0ZTP61TLZrvc6zNSaVBYG3iWllMFNgydn72fsDglV2FjK3xO84lQ4WUJqQx-9H9XKXd8fd4kPnuXnmb1UGZ3YzzF25dqxz62OP-2dcJzlDe1XQCQIF3QXMiJ6LhLCh/w133-h200/63241104.jpg" title="Tom Lake cover" width="133" /></a></div>Ann Patchett has never let me down. In <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3HXlCIG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tom Lake</a></i> she tells the story of a mother of 3 grown girls who lives on a cherry farm in northern Michigan. The girls, who recently returned to live with their parents, beg their mother to tell the story of a famous actor she once worked with and dated. As the story unfolds, the reader also learns about the girls' lives as well as the father's life. Some of the details were a surprise to me which made this an engaging read. This well-written, multi-layered narrative incorporates coming-of-age, family dynamics, and youthful naivete. As I read the story, it also took me back into my past, reminding me of my life before responsibilities. This may be my favorite of all her books.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OsPFxYs3A99L_R6FuANwQumC8eq6Qk2L2HzIbzlkr3JP4FwztH4k6hIcTjJjvqxmhWBvIayBx0_u-Km0mLu5NLTGQFkRlsYbLkXx80xGWLyCDEQyWB-HBASzobwgemu-Bki6q0dSM4KPT48LXSRpOT8sqBBnZZjfBI5HNzNveD2rGOOADenyAzex-13s/s2560/127305853.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OsPFxYs3A99L_R6FuANwQumC8eq6Qk2L2HzIbzlkr3JP4FwztH4k6hIcTjJjvqxmhWBvIayBx0_u-Km0mLu5NLTGQFkRlsYbLkXx80xGWLyCDEQyWB-HBASzobwgemu-Bki6q0dSM4KPT48LXSRpOT8sqBBnZZjfBI5HNzNveD2rGOOADenyAzex-13s/w132-h200/127305853.jpg" title="The Women cover" width="132" /></a></div>Kristin Hannah is one of those authors whose books never disappoint. <a href="https://amzn.to/3OOzWY1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Women</i> </a>is the story of a young privileged woman who decides to enlist in the Army Nurse Corps after her brother dies while in Vietnam. Upon arrival, she is overwhelmed and terrified by the chaos and carnage but quickly becomes a skilled combat nurse. She develops a camaraderie with her fellow nurses and physicians, making lifelong friends. The second half of the book is about the young nurse's reentry into civilian life. Besides being met with hostility by people who were angry about the war, there was denial that women were even in Vietnam. Her mother wishes she would just move on and her father is ashamed of her. Slowly, she starts to fall apart, battling PTSD and addiction. This was such a well-written story. The effort of the author to make it feel authentic was reflected throughout the book. I could not put this one down. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKthaMvjvjlH2c-KRwj6EL2fD9nGmGpTeXOvw21WOOsFwLzltXtLNTrjO_OxEwUi8GN6DFV-OC8gyWFY_hhfAIMomHQV5j-Uh2HWdStnLcSnkMTAOBkEAc2eewnSz7NTJtP8CKOteF-878hc2rNoSRG9GLaaNvMNQ4xFEiSaqW8c_PXSFSuZDXHWUs-ml/s346/174147294.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="229" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKthaMvjvjlH2c-KRwj6EL2fD9nGmGpTeXOvw21WOOsFwLzltXtLNTrjO_OxEwUi8GN6DFV-OC8gyWFY_hhfAIMomHQV5j-Uh2HWdStnLcSnkMTAOBkEAc2eewnSz7NTJtP8CKOteF-878hc2rNoSRG9GLaaNvMNQ4xFEiSaqW8c_PXSFSuZDXHWUs-ml/w133-h200/174147294.jpg" title="Wandering Stars cover" width="133" /></a></div>A few years ago, I read <i><a href="https://amzn.to/49ogo55" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">There, There</a></i>, the author's amazing debut about 12 Native Americans struggling with their identities and their journeys to the Oakland powwow. It was a book that opened up my eyes to the modern-day plight of Native Americans. In <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3T9L2ct">Wandering Stars</a></i> he revisits these characters and their predecessors, offering a little history as well as the aftermath of the powwow. You don't have to have read <i>There, There</i> to read this one but it would help provide context. Even though I knew the backstory, I found the first half of this book a little hard to follow. I was fascinated and heartbroken by the telling of the attempts to colonize the native people and children. The story shifts to the present, following the ancestors as they cope with modern day pressures. The author's prose is just beautiful and he does a good job of providing history lessons in the format of a novel.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnt2uO-G8oP6JV8D0FRfltdYnyJSc7LuL9tC9C6Rk32QDawX0YCbOTMjYRgbx9n5XDgxyj6kJBvobyizMLuRH9KsdnxCnuvFO0yKrWvbptAwVJ-6868b38kcpY_Y2MI1YYBiG55BZjGPTZJ7rC9mrjgoQAFg8Gs0EMhFlLwI0IjLTenbOuzLbPtnkSyzY/s346/75569082.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="233" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnt2uO-G8oP6JV8D0FRfltdYnyJSc7LuL9tC9C6Rk32QDawX0YCbOTMjYRgbx9n5XDgxyj6kJBvobyizMLuRH9KsdnxCnuvFO0yKrWvbptAwVJ-6868b38kcpY_Y2MI1YYBiG55BZjGPTZJ7rC9mrjgoQAFg8Gs0EMhFlLwI0IjLTenbOuzLbPtnkSyzY/w134-h200/75569082.jpg" title="North Woods cover" width="134" /></a></div><br />What a beautiful book! <a href="https://amzn.to/3wx6nUm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>North Woods</i> </a>is story of a house in the woods and in twelve chapters, of the different people who inhabit it over a period of two centuries. I loved most of the stories and in particular, the story of the two spinsters. This could have been a whole book on its own. Actually, I hated to see the chapters come to an end and wanted to read more about the characters. I marveled at the author's creativity, both in conceptualizing such a book and in each of the stories. He is a gifted wordsmith and his writing transported me to the house. This is a book meant to be savored. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What are you reading? Have you read any of these? Do you like historical fiction?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://runswithpugs.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">J</span>enn</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> and </span><a href="http://zenaida.net/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Zenaida</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> for Tuesday Topics. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkm96OgCOpC3RnRoFVaY9sEoSeB5V9W3hc6-rTOZMZaudvQyBJ6djmHJHJ5NGb4Pt7tFPM3lqg31NzioSCATCzh0UJJgg9Q60rnOpeRbUPNPQOJZWZ82XPzj3TxrRG7qxmYAlSDh2CAZXRTbyb48MRwjycA1TbbaTt9PLIusrLPAhdWIE00BX9Z9OYJ8O/s1024/New-Tuesday-Topics-1-1024x1024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkm96OgCOpC3RnRoFVaY9sEoSeB5V9W3hc6-rTOZMZaudvQyBJ6djmHJHJ5NGb4Pt7tFPM3lqg31NzioSCATCzh0UJJgg9Q60rnOpeRbUPNPQOJZWZ82XPzj3TxrRG7qxmYAlSDh2CAZXRTbyb48MRwjycA1TbbaTt9PLIusrLPAhdWIE00BX9Z9OYJ8O/w200-h200/New-Tuesday-Topics-1-1024x1024.jpg" title="Tuesday Topics badge" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-BOtkOMonbHqA2QbFNJCHwse7q_ZYu4x_nX2ddgNl7RMdFJ0Mg4F3Jkhk7eXCRMt116O3gVkQILmMlkt7G4e15Ljhi_rU1UjA_ku4J_k3Pn7eF_X10MqigDrLV605gRg0qxZoIzUoNq4Kjk4nAXP9tErckxjaJpIQdF2M0qeoktdJfnjgtJu7DNfd-Op/s500/img_6885.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-16832286903035482342024-02-24T15:02:00.004-06:002024-02-26T13:57:54.490-06:00Trail Time!<p>With no races planned right now--save for the <a href="https://www.shamrockshuffle.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shamrock Shuffle</a> 8k in March--I refocused on trail running again. Training for my half marathon was fun and all, but I sure missed my trails. Not only do I love running in nature, but I also enjoy just running for fun, with no paces to hit and no set distance to complete. With the weather improving, the timing is just perfect. I'm looking forward to watching spring arrive. My spidey senses are tingling for an early spring, as the birds have been singing and the deer are frolicking. We've been hitting record temperatures this week, with more predicted for next week. Stay tuned!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HBhEBfGnAQnncnwnhZHw2sMMrPf5GZ3qF4-rLS461h-wZhlQjyZ9tUrCovswmm26_rJ1Xkya9j_OUY9uN-8Fz6GSE-7iIYEICQ_g-SmgEw59MrAzA96NA8YDMfxNnmd4SU22HlIErE1rfzzchLtkVzPfBTTK3tYJ4esO4xGKb-HeulfoqBAeV7bcDvck/s1800/Trail%20Time!.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HBhEBfGnAQnncnwnhZHw2sMMrPf5GZ3qF4-rLS461h-wZhlQjyZ9tUrCovswmm26_rJ1Xkya9j_OUY9uN-8Fz6GSE-7iIYEICQ_g-SmgEw59MrAzA96NA8YDMfxNnmd4SU22HlIErE1rfzzchLtkVzPfBTTK3tYJ4esO4xGKb-HeulfoqBAeV7bcDvck/w426-h640/Trail%20Time!.png" title="Trail Time! cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: trail run 7 miles, 900 ft</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit with <strike>2100</strike> 420m of running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 10 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Sunday, I met up with one of my Trail Sisters for a run on the trails near her house. We had talked about going up to Whitewater, Wisconsin to run on the IAT, but she had run up there the day before and didn't want to drive back up. So Veterans Acres it was! I've run a few races there in the past and it is HILLY. It's also a labyrinth of trails, so I was happy to let her take the lead. We were very compatible runners, with matching paces and willingness to walk up the hills. We had a lot to talk about as she is also an advanced practice nurse (in the adult world) and is the mom of 2 grown children. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQhK5Pd_LjBEz6KZvcctQTEWPMOukBGnUcmZtKd7KB149LrkwjSrGpQ0CWE1w54DlisFS6PVBy-16C2WJw89LXSPQezcCYGoz_M9tcFFrughLy0JWTggu243uM5G_KBWewoh8DG7E8E2NI8gVqDTkhm1DtMkbcf4OwcZKOc1xWqy_x04QoczUxFzsNmH5/s2048/IMG_7066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQhK5Pd_LjBEz6KZvcctQTEWPMOukBGnUcmZtKd7KB149LrkwjSrGpQ0CWE1w54DlisFS6PVBy-16C2WJw89LXSPQezcCYGoz_M9tcFFrughLy0JWTggu243uM5G_KBWewoh8DG7E8E2NI8gVqDTkhm1DtMkbcf4OwcZKOc1xWqy_x04QoczUxFzsNmH5/w640-h640/IMG_7066.jpg" title="Leanne and me" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was a sunny but cold, windy morning. Fortunately, the trees gave us a lot of shelter. I really enjoyed this run and the herd of deer near the end just made my day!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE56lOgysYl6r51aP_pOynTJ84xWLqSczHBt5hQnRNPEwTVb-AWSUDxF3IvYqVhD4Un0QSTmsEUUaI4QkJWN90-9Il4Csux9sRV3iMR2A00lZgCEVG6UIZY3h20xtyOpc-LJQjTIEDQHNf_qz1lgifEnyFrguNkRYehkK5VKfF6RcOjGcMIRQryzfa51X/s1671/IMG_7086.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="1671" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE56lOgysYl6r51aP_pOynTJ84xWLqSczHBt5hQnRNPEwTVb-AWSUDxF3IvYqVhD4Un0QSTmsEUUaI4QkJWN90-9Il4Csux9sRV3iMR2A00lZgCEVG6UIZY3h20xtyOpc-LJQjTIEDQHNf_qz1lgifEnyFrguNkRYehkK5VKfF6RcOjGcMIRQryzfa51X/w640-h640/IMG_7086.heic" title="deer at VA" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I checked the WOD on Monday morning, I saw that there were shuttle runs planned! I wore my Brooks Launch in the cheetah pattern, sure to give me some fast running. We did a BootCamp-style workout using only body weight for activities. The strength portion had us doing an accumulation of 3 minutes of plank holds, 2 minutes of hollow holds, and 1 minute of the top of a dip hold. In typical Wendy fashion, I misunderstood the assignment and thought we had to complete each activity before moving on to the next one. It didn't matter--I finished before the 12 minute time was called. The MetCon was 3 rounds for reps: 1 minute each of shuttle runs, air squats, abmat situps, pushups, and lunges, with a one minute rest before starting again. I finished with 304 reps total. This was a fun one and yes, I felt it the next day--actually for several days after! Body weight work is really underrated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8K7-NN_3RiiC9UC-hUPEH5Cy2frjA4PhlvCQE_2bUgBX5wTUW1B-G_K5Lh9Xs87ApijhqwytADVWVpKLX8EMOEE5_aZnFmoe8yS_rScO3SKtasjegMXAormQoKzpLzRLvpld2TehGAZymbGoMO2SYSVo6NWGKl18EPck4Z-aXmamfihtB-M_JuD2gRnx/s3257/IMG_7115.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2443" data-original-width="3257" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8K7-NN_3RiiC9UC-hUPEH5Cy2frjA4PhlvCQE_2bUgBX5wTUW1B-G_K5Lh9Xs87ApijhqwytADVWVpKLX8EMOEE5_aZnFmoe8yS_rScO3SKtasjegMXAormQoKzpLzRLvpld2TehGAZymbGoMO2SYSVo6NWGKl18EPck4Z-aXmamfihtB-M_JuD2gRnx/w640-h480/IMG_7115.heic" title="CrossFit" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It might have been the good weather or maybe it was the new gear that Brooks sent me, but on Wednesday, I didn't want to stop running. I set out with a goal of 7 miles but as usual, I completely miscalculated my route. It didn't matter. I saw a herd of deer and a Cooper's Hawk. The hawk flew low, over my head, and landed on a branch above me. So majestic, he let me get close for a photo. While I felt as if I could have run there all day, I had to start getting ready for work. What an amazing day!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCURQ4m3D2o7ijT6t6op8Tp_gZfjB1UmweekZNOcK1xGGggUoJQ9DnkSbLOoM0F-kgVzjsUq15cnkIf0UYGXyoOQGputHWNaAwO0W0PaOkZUGN0Z04sL7oVVYcvhjPpVxo4zUHwXV9sY5TMDE2K5oOee4GTgN0JoUAFVR0w9QYIzlJfgCmw7HvDyDAdkF0/s2272/IMG_7145.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="2272" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCURQ4m3D2o7ijT6t6op8Tp_gZfjB1UmweekZNOcK1xGGggUoJQ9DnkSbLOoM0F-kgVzjsUq15cnkIf0UYGXyoOQGputHWNaAwO0W0PaOkZUGN0Z04sL7oVVYcvhjPpVxo4zUHwXV9sY5TMDE2K5oOee4GTgN0JoUAFVR0w9QYIzlJfgCmw7HvDyDAdkF0/w640-h640/IMG_7145.heic" title="Deer at Deer Grove" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTwZB5X9a6JdRPHhnaoMbsFy8hNy2SlusxboPnWZ7Cr0AY7k7Bd03aZgaBjwGNj_I49R0Zrc5Y8fVcsXqDZDxwcRFXNR7eVeBI589bTa5f_SK5NXqcgRjeq9Nj2ADVuRtBfgjVf8pPKIyvrXqIufczKUwt7XMtyEGpmD15HfGL8U4h8a4IwQQd7JPl_jF/s2379/IMG_7162.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="2379" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTwZB5X9a6JdRPHhnaoMbsFy8hNy2SlusxboPnWZ7Cr0AY7k7Bd03aZgaBjwGNj_I49R0Zrc5Y8fVcsXqDZDxwcRFXNR7eVeBI589bTa5f_SK5NXqcgRjeq9Nj2ADVuRtBfgjVf8pPKIyvrXqIufczKUwt7XMtyEGpmD15HfGL8U4h8a4IwQQd7JPl_jF/w640-h640/IMG_7162.heic" title="Cooper's Hawk" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I woke up pretty tired and sore on Thursday. I considered skipping CrossFit in lieu of a rest day, but when I looked at the WOD, it didn't look too bad. Silly me! The strength portion was an E2MOM x 5 rounds of 100 cal on the rower and a snatch complex: 1 power snatch, 1 full snatch (with front squat), and 2 overhead squats. We warmed up to our working weight--for me that was 40#. I struggled a bit with the movement but got them all done. The MetCon was deceptively hard: 10 rounds for time or 15 minutes of 4 strict pullups (I did banded), 8 single arm dumbbell cleans (I did 25#), and 12 goblet squats. This workout crushed my soul and I did not do all 10 rounds. In hindsight, I should have used lighter weights for this one. Live and learn!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN30XQLmSRx9iy9tRugecTnN9zjx5z3QdEblPJiYMpuHCkKox5oBWoAoN8R57ZB3D4K0RpFxXc9tQCTc7iF_PmF8eTipIiH34Pm81xOYctbzvrk0FmcjK7JZfex_2AhwDQpQBhjJ2maF9NnPYWlq-X3BRvLTPsnbOjO75nrTt5_-t2jMNAZw-MTNJLdxWi/s1170/IMG_7198.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN30XQLmSRx9iy9tRugecTnN9zjx5z3QdEblPJiYMpuHCkKox5oBWoAoN8R57ZB3D4K0RpFxXc9tQCTc7iF_PmF8eTipIiH34Pm81xOYctbzvrk0FmcjK7JZfex_2AhwDQpQBhjJ2maF9NnPYWlq-X3BRvLTPsnbOjO75nrTt5_-t2jMNAZw-MTNJLdxWi/w640-h640/IMG_7198.jpg" title="OHS" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I headed out the door for Friday's run, the sky was already beginning to lighten. I didn't have to wear my Noxgear or reflective gear. I felt surprisingly good, considering the hard work I'd done this week. When I got to the part of the path that runs along the lake, the sun was just peeking over the horizon and I paused my watch so I could watch it rise. My Friday mornings are hectic, but it was worth waiting for. I got my photos and continued on my way, running into the brisk wind to my turnaround point. I knew I'd have that tailwind on the way back. It helped me make up some time, giving me my fastest mile-mile 6!-that I've had in a while. What a great way to start my day!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgjAviiSZuZVKbqurW1P2tD13-lppVKxxo-AfUXKLuwAc28_OBlrIP5Yo7eIzKR6AnsxPdw05p9aw05P35Zi7pC3RYOv_UtMvmeMoEPhmGJydrkwMi88WRVjCSlIjWarW88o9KsLJlrqa7A6J2skxnLYplEnDFauweN9G03cWKU6gA3TYhvEh-TksXZhY/s3687/IMG_7205.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="3687" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgjAviiSZuZVKbqurW1P2tD13-lppVKxxo-AfUXKLuwAc28_OBlrIP5Yo7eIzKR6AnsxPdw05p9aw05P35Zi7pC3RYOv_UtMvmeMoEPhmGJydrkwMi88WRVjCSlIjWarW88o9KsLJlrqa7A6J2skxnLYplEnDFauweN9G03cWKU6gA3TYhvEh-TksXZhY/w640-h360/IMG_7205.heic" title="Friday sunrise" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was tired by the end of my workday on Friday! We had a big temperature drop and snow overnight. The hubs and I took a ride up to the lake on Saturday. It was much cooler, but the sun came back out. Somehow that made it all feel better. The hubs and I went out to lunch at a brewpub but the rest of the day was easy. I'm looking forward to some trail miles tomorrow!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? Have you ever stopped to watch the sun come up? Did anyone else get snow this week? Do you do bodyweight workouts?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-83524947820286927252024-02-17T14:39:00.000-06:002024-02-18T05:29:59.894-06:00It's All Good<p>On Saturday, I always sit down to finish up my weekly rundown. I write up my workouts in all week long and at the end of the week, I try to find a common theme to come up with a title for my post. This has been a pretty uneventful week and I have to admit that I was at a loss for a title! In fact, it's been all good this week. So there it is...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlDuzgPoo01CbjVssZ7BjhLGorrLqJIrYtrRvuOTcjOvmieCVrT5CNVZkyuSXcivJzNXGlA4U8fT4SSasHd33mwOLGnwTlJhIZok3Qa54Rp-Bv9LQwJmaDQYQcqOl9uLD1P1OGKj9gxoxh57LYGqY0YHqoDX3_O90ynP0H45QmIBnj31ug3ZL7_5WzaxL/s1800/It%E2%80%99s%20All%20Good.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlDuzgPoo01CbjVssZ7BjhLGorrLqJIrYtrRvuOTcjOvmieCVrT5CNVZkyuSXcivJzNXGlA4U8fT4SSasHd33mwOLGnwTlJhIZok3Qa54Rp-Bv9LQwJmaDQYQcqOl9uLD1P1OGKj9gxoxh57LYGqY0YHqoDX3_O90ynP0H45QmIBnj31ug3ZL7_5WzaxL/w426-h640/It%E2%80%99s%20All%20Good.png" title="It's All Good cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 6 miles/800 ft.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 5.25 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6.3 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest/work</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were up at the lake last weekend, so on Sunday morning, I was excited to lace up and head to the trails. Which segment to run? I ran Gibraltar the last time we were there...it was a cloudy morning...so it was the Lodi Marsh for me. I parked at the trailhead that connects the 2 portions of the segment and oops! I realized I left my Garmin back at the lake house. I knew I could use Strava. There's no cell signal there, but GPS works, so I was good to go. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I headed up the hill, walking, which was a good warmup, and started running once I got to the top. It wasn't long before I encountered ice and snow on the trail. I did my best to move past it, but it was at least a 1/2 mile before the trail was clear again. Another section of the trail was completely ripped up by heavy equipment and then I saw the destruction--every tree in that section was torn down and strewn all over the hillside. It kind of bummed me out. I didn't run all the way to the other trailhead because there was more snow and ice to contend with. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KGW-Au6ezP5bOuH7PMWTBMhmBUn18edEB7WWXjl9nn7YfjRz6KQwxZ97_wijYJ5R96KMlHAySxc0AkXCrAMsfLgSJZ5VWnbtdu5SMUgeOjkb_7wOvl2tc0epcTtH7o99zySGtNNIC65YCn7W4hndE01CqkzRMgAdn90PFOkBIntljbDhUWoi1ZH3CNZt/s2376/IMG_6739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2376" data-original-width="2376" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KGW-Au6ezP5bOuH7PMWTBMhmBUn18edEB7WWXjl9nn7YfjRz6KQwxZ97_wijYJ5R96KMlHAySxc0AkXCrAMsfLgSJZ5VWnbtdu5SMUgeOjkb_7wOvl2tc0epcTtH7o99zySGtNNIC65YCn7W4hndE01CqkzRMgAdn90PFOkBIntljbDhUWoi1ZH3CNZt/w640-h640/IMG_6739.jpg" title="IAT Lodi Marsh" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This time of year is always a challenge! But despite the snow and ice, I finished with an average 13:19 m/m pace, which is pretty good for me on this segment. Finding a painted rock in one of the trees put a much needed smile on my face!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYbuM0fxydTwdj0gmXib9FQmh_dvUObSrwkIVpAVoWPmhlgca1I1aMMMvUf2nM9MSGrFSo-spDEWbcvG5acch4aOVRMzQg9BBaTOanBsfrynQOGh0YLfx9L4kC80nMnnOX7KJYJDxP1x-y7v4ylcyDzGm49LrVctX0GgRe59G04f3MxWuzeBHHmuJMHcu/s2687/IMG_6716.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2687" data-original-width="2687" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYbuM0fxydTwdj0gmXib9FQmh_dvUObSrwkIVpAVoWPmhlgca1I1aMMMvUf2nM9MSGrFSo-spDEWbcvG5acch4aOVRMzQg9BBaTOanBsfrynQOGh0YLfx9L4kC80nMnnOX7KJYJDxP1x-y7v4ylcyDzGm49LrVctX0GgRe59G04f3MxWuzeBHHmuJMHcu/w640-h640/IMG_6716.heic" title="painted rock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I posted a question in the Ice Age Trail group on FB about the demolition in that part of the trail and was surprised by the rude and snarky responses. It was disheartening--I figured nature lovers would all be nice people-- but several people told me the trees were being cleared to help remove invasive trees and plants, restore the oak savanna, and for logging purposes. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I woke up achy and grumpy on Monday and almost skipped going to CrossFit! I'm glad I didn't. It was one of our classmate's 83rd birthday!!! He is quite an inspiration to all of us. For the strength portion, we built to a heavy 3 RM on power cleans. I am pretty sure I hit a PR today on the 3 RM of 90#! I attempted 95# but couldn't get my elbows up on the second lift and completely failed the 3rd. The Met Con was from an old Open competition. I used 65# for my cleans and subbed downward dog pushups for the handstand pushups and made it to 15 before time was called.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGTaftFkbAIYq1GTd5QmnL-T86Po9K7-1eJTRUpPcSO-v1-taq4mfzJYyTl56zXq57NzwHTnwWyx8aOHDHzUtV_l01MAkKrOLDsi0fgdmE8Xxp6R4MFPaehMMoCd2e4YnZqCOVYoJM9qIv03uHyUT_KCOMip68QZedw1esKzG1cUcRSRzEoQlFiWDS90_/s958/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20at%203.16.05%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="374" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGTaftFkbAIYq1GTd5QmnL-T86Po9K7-1eJTRUpPcSO-v1-taq4mfzJYyTl56zXq57NzwHTnwWyx8aOHDHzUtV_l01MAkKrOLDsi0fgdmE8Xxp6R4MFPaehMMoCd2e4YnZqCOVYoJM9qIv03uHyUT_KCOMip68QZedw1esKzG1cUcRSRzEoQlFiWDS90_/w250-h640/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20at%203.16.05%E2%80%AFPM.png" title="metcon" width="250" /></a></div><div><br /></div>On Valentine's Day, Wednesday, the sun was shining bright when I hit the trails. No more than 1/4 mile in, a buck sporting antlers was standing in the middle of the trail. I stopped to take a photo before he took off into the adjacent woods. I started running again but a doe ran across the trail in front of me. Love was in the air! I saw a few more deer and ran into my friend Aimee, who was walking her viszla Greta. This was my kind of run, scenic and leisurely!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYneFd7LNfe_7HOtvn1JorABUX9oMS7ISpV-KaLn2f23sP8_04Zr3H-3yKZYVQL5568T_KVSwcRXPdFGLzwzMhXvihyphenhyphena0QLS7HRCXzK_5duo1tDxXqyoO9EdEG9LJVq_k9WsUg_IXshzxDp5dwR-lR2ph506rIGikEDYKDc1El7cQaJlW-TGCv6a95Qq-e/s1651/IMG_6838.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="1651" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYneFd7LNfe_7HOtvn1JorABUX9oMS7ISpV-KaLn2f23sP8_04Zr3H-3yKZYVQL5568T_KVSwcRXPdFGLzwzMhXvihyphenhyphena0QLS7HRCXzK_5duo1tDxXqyoO9EdEG9LJVq_k9WsUg_IXshzxDp5dwR-lR2ph506rIGikEDYKDc1El7cQaJlW-TGCv6a95Qq-e/w640-h640/IMG_6838.heic" title="Buck in the trail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>There were deadlifts in the WOD for Thursday. The workout was a 15 minute E3MOM of 5 deadlifts, 3 deadlifts, 1 deadlift, 3 deadlifts, and 5 deadlifts. We built to a heavy one rep deadlift--85% or more of our 1 RM. We haven't deadlifted in a while, so my goal was 185# for that one deadlift. It felt heavy but I got it up without a problem. The MetCon was a 4 X 3 minute with 1 minute of work/2 minutes of rest. We rode the assault bike for 8 calories, then did hops over a barrier for a total of one minute, all out. It was BRUTAL. Even with the 2 minutes of rest, I was still winded before we had to hop back on the bike. But I was consistent, hopping 19-20 times over the barrier each time I completed my ride. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nx92qV4LFFH2JlCQA8XbWev6o7rA6k2qeeL5aw0Bl5KFsoenyizKUNyK55zy3X-bJoIh5sUq7qZoc6BBpN84CSXpcN8W0TGpGJ2aIys6P2bhvug46w6CWzWCgcVZz_NK39KaZI3mpstJMKz3v573_I-d7zXGDi5LS2LgVsvsjylDCK2qQYXrlRSje2VW/s1170/IMG_7005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nx92qV4LFFH2JlCQA8XbWev6o7rA6k2qeeL5aw0Bl5KFsoenyizKUNyK55zy3X-bJoIh5sUq7qZoc6BBpN84CSXpcN8W0TGpGJ2aIys6P2bhvug46w6CWzWCgcVZz_NK39KaZI3mpstJMKz3v573_I-d7zXGDi5LS2LgVsvsjylDCK2qQYXrlRSje2VW/w640-h640/IMG_7005.jpg" title="deadlifting" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It was cold and blustery when I headed out for my Friday run on the bike path. I guess I forgot what February is supposed to feel like. Despite the cold or maybe because of it, this was a really nicely paced run with negative splits on the way back, thanks to a tailwind. Since it was so chilly, I only stopped for a bathroom break and to take photos. I was really pleased to run without any walk breaks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nrM3wJZIy_7qkKeFywFuFdxV3Pl3Z68YFT0KQIDrUZyASVfdMH5MWmzPH9C9eD0wYhls_HD2HfKqGN2Sy5OW6FJtQafm46VNM2s87ZaFe3Uui0p8af-QjFK4a4kL0-cqM1kjEQ9QmIERm7KvI4ZCr3m0GXwIIaXGQUqtVouai-BmP1wLmlIk20WFqhHo/s860/IMG_7015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="860" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nrM3wJZIy_7qkKeFywFuFdxV3Pl3Z68YFT0KQIDrUZyASVfdMH5MWmzPH9C9eD0wYhls_HD2HfKqGN2Sy5OW6FJtQafm46VNM2s87ZaFe3Uui0p8af-QjFK4a4kL0-cqM1kjEQ9QmIERm7KvI4ZCr3m0GXwIIaXGQUqtVouai-BmP1wLmlIk20WFqhHo/w640-h640/IMG_7015.jpg" title="Friday bike path run" width="640" /></a></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Off the road...</i></h2><div>A few weeks ago, I had my cholesterol checked. Much to my surprise, my total cholesterol and my LDL were both high. This is new for me--chalk that one up to menopause, I guess. It's just the gift that keeps on giving. Maybe genetics, too. When discussing the results with me, my doctor was reassuring--she told me that since my HDL was also high, it 'offsets' the LDL, and my risk for heart disease is very low. She offered to order a Coronary Calcium Scan, a CT scan that looks for plaque deposits in the arteries around the heart. My score was zero, which means my arteries are clear. Good to know!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also received some surprising and exciting news at work. I was invited to join the General Pediatrics Leadership Council for the children's hospital group where I work. The council will be responsible for making clinical decisions for the medical group. The council will be made up of 5 physicians and one pediatric nurse practitioner--me! I am honored to be chosen and to represent my profession. </div><div><br /></div><div>My clinic celebrates all the holidays and Valentine's Day was no exception. I'm sharing a photo of my team--our nurse, 3 medical assistants, and me--wearing our Valentine's apparel. On Friday night, we went out to dinner. These ladies are the absolute best group I've ever worked with. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfWZHyNRA6jk_vzZg4UNWdmD49l6PGURhT-SCGfqOBF999zNBLU55nWypSNPxP51N4lcMdizT2hr646u1CKDkaHKOzGmJzYPiFTvbOvCDwpXP0_CMmulpnxeWH1f-AJ80uV34ocFVQKdZvssYHYo9H_nClX70GhpTxgqUddM85Pzef_um0UQ54M1cWHcH/s3242/IMG_6995.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2433" data-original-width="3242" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfWZHyNRA6jk_vzZg4UNWdmD49l6PGURhT-SCGfqOBF999zNBLU55nWypSNPxP51N4lcMdizT2hr646u1CKDkaHKOzGmJzYPiFTvbOvCDwpXP0_CMmulpnxeWH1f-AJ80uV34ocFVQKdZvssYHYo9H_nClX70GhpTxgqUddM85Pzef_um0UQ54M1cWHcH/w640-h480/IMG_6995.heic" title="my coworkers and me" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><b><br />How was your week? Did you celebrate Valentine's Day? I worked that evening...but the hubs made me dinner on Thursday night. What do you do if you forget your watch on a run? Who's ready for spring?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWI2RIa3LSN9dHdn9iX4YE2Jccg31jU7gQjKMvzEBK6dKG8_O88qz6r_j0CimMUvVQDBLDzzJ-iqddS3bC5Ryp05Mpr_I_xmpOQd7efARr-tciuxlbM-_8Pmqt9xajBlUA9R_orV3WKjCbtJw_7uEoJ_nQxCNq5_YNk11e-e5RRq5fXIRo8NZohQ30QVC/s958/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20at%203.16.05%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-83257981030331070852024-02-10T17:00:00.004-06:002024-02-11T06:23:18.788-06:00Moving Forward<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">I runfess... </i>I am happy to have that half marathon behind me. </p><p>Every race teaches us something new. What will I take away from this race?</p><p>I won't play the age card or blame my struggles on RA, but long distances are definitely becoming more difficult for me. This week, it felt good to dial it back a bit--to just run and let my body recover. I'm trying to sort out what happened on the race course and why I struggled with my breathing. Did I run too fast at the start? Was I affected by the poor air quality? Was I anxious? </p><p>For sure, I wasn't properly fueled, having forgotten my smoothie at home. My on-course fueling plan was a bust. But the other factors? </p><p>As I put this race in the rearview mirror, I'll continue to reflect on what works and what doesn't. I'm not ready to give up on the half marathon distance!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIzipeuCPlxanWdfOuWKkS5Og_du4YkK_VULikYgMSZta126n1zmwhyUmaVlAhQoHBb_4ZFFIJ_Ylcdjyikeeg8H0yYwqQDc14CBRsqi6aXgzTNXkeyyUqVRkoeXXQ9bn99waCHS3rMliSnKiULQQfZgOl1RVViXTxHYopNn1k7M8Vb95mioHTV6XlIcj/s1800/Moving%20Forward.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIzipeuCPlxanWdfOuWKkS5Og_du4YkK_VULikYgMSZta126n1zmwhyUmaVlAhQoHBb_4ZFFIJ_Ylcdjyikeeg8H0yYwqQDc14CBRsqi6aXgzTNXkeyyUqVRkoeXXQ9bn99waCHS3rMliSnKiULQQfZgOl1RVViXTxHYopNn1k7M8Vb95mioHTV6XlIcj/w426-h640/Moving%20Forward.png" title="Moving Forward cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 6.5 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2024/02/f3-lake-half-marathon-race-recap.html" target="_blank">last weekend's half marathon</a>, I took a complete rest day on Sunday. I was feeling pretty fatigued. By Monday, I felt better, but still a little off. I decided to try going to CrossFit. The WOD didn't look too terrible and it wasn't. The strength portion had a clean complex, building for 6 rounds. This complex was comprised of a pull, a power clean into a front squat, and a hang clean into a front squat. I built to 85# and struggled with the last two hang cleans. Hang cleans are pulled from above the knees, so you don't get as much momentum as you do with the power cleans, which are pulled up from the floor. The MetCon was a 14 minute AMRAP of 15 wall balls (10#), 10 calories on the bike, and 40 double unders/80 singles. I completed 4 full rounds and made it through another set of wall balls and jump rope when time was called.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClqXaXRmWI1cY1PtANOop2jtjcBck5lwmQHdsOADuTzgY3Y93t1nmZsou0G8GN3LYkQghi_dCSw2aJyFGieqHQ2D93qlg9-IXQK1S_obGyDgB7Le2FjUY0JbpB3peVdu7P47YoBQJiCGkbRKEWlUTuB-bjGvdRMkTkb1khsWMGJ-K86SR30milgK3jHTX/s1073/IMG_6471.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClqXaXRmWI1cY1PtANOop2jtjcBck5lwmQHdsOADuTzgY3Y93t1nmZsou0G8GN3LYkQghi_dCSw2aJyFGieqHQ2D93qlg9-IXQK1S_obGyDgB7Le2FjUY0JbpB3peVdu7P47YoBQJiCGkbRKEWlUTuB-bjGvdRMkTkb1khsWMGJ-K86SR30milgK3jHTX/w640-h640/IMG_6471.jpg" title="Jumping rope" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our mild weather continues and I was excited to hit the trails on Wednesday! My legs were still feeling tired and the slower pace of the trails was a welcome break from all the pounding on the pavement. I hoped to see some deer and my wish came true! They were everywhere! Some were curious, letting me approach. Others ran away and there were a few bucks who stomped their front foot when I approached. One chuffed (snorted) at me, so I kept on going. The trails are truly the gift that keeps on giving!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTtwI3rN3EnRGnS3yCgBX14HZwAMOvyzxKhx-2Eat1kY6inwQgV3C483ZJPd8bWKqdaK3XgGMB9ZtSXTU95Yd3JwzOrcVryDo8Ky0Yz-wwQqDG-QBXvd0k1ixMiTTLfOWq8JoRtXkz6qt8jER5J76OY_F4WEswBDHuBm5l09PqRAcqifXw3G176jvxMX8/s1440/157777D2-FD39-4F83-88FD-4620AB7BF4E8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTtwI3rN3EnRGnS3yCgBX14HZwAMOvyzxKhx-2Eat1kY6inwQgV3C483ZJPd8bWKqdaK3XgGMB9ZtSXTU95Yd3JwzOrcVryDo8Ky0Yz-wwQqDG-QBXvd0k1ixMiTTLfOWq8JoRtXkz6qt8jER5J76OY_F4WEswBDHuBm5l09PqRAcqifXw3G176jvxMX8/w640-h640/157777D2-FD39-4F83-88FD-4620AB7BF4E8.jpg" title="Deer on the trail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I woke up on Thursday, I checked the WOD and was excited to see there were 100m sprints! In fact, the WOD was exactly what I needed. For the strength portion, we did 12 minutes of 10-20 second L sit (hands on a box, legs out front), 2 laps of Farmers carries (35# KBs), and 10 GHD sit-ups. I completed 4 rounds of this and was almost through my 5th round when time was called. The Met Con was 4 x4 minutes of 100m sprints, 10 power snatches (35#), and 12 pull-ups (6 kip swings/6 lat pulldowns using a band), The sprints gave me an advantage and I was able to finish each round with about 2 minutes for rest. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXFanaSmPUZ45noP7CFEQr6ggqAZ90zejnTw7qRh1z4JrzUxxzwyEYA7YHUZJqOxb9nujcG8TL7OF3dVo3V1hqlxSCKKybf8IbWmKgn5NqAA8d54zyP2uuopjUoMuMqC15Yc9q7yFl6PDiycCZRGrW3tyfSo8K1RHFFMQG6eBGQ1i9tjxYtRvYgsKa7HA/s1477/IMG_6644.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXFanaSmPUZ45noP7CFEQr6ggqAZ90zejnTw7qRh1z4JrzUxxzwyEYA7YHUZJqOxb9nujcG8TL7OF3dVo3V1hqlxSCKKybf8IbWmKgn5NqAA8d54zyP2uuopjUoMuMqC15Yc9q7yFl6PDiycCZRGrW3tyfSo8K1RHFFMQG6eBGQ1i9tjxYtRvYgsKa7HA/w506-h640/IMG_6644.jpg" title="sprints in the WOD IG post" width="506" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3F_DtnruDA/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i>check out my reel!</i></b></a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">This week, I told SJ I wanted to take a break from training with her. She's been out of the gym quite a bit over the past couple of months and I'm enjoying the WODs. The coach who leads the classes I attend is very good and gives me a lot of tips and help. I'm also enjoying the camaraderie with the other classmates. SJ is very busy--besides coaching at CrossFit, she's also a coach for a youth swim club. She's also been struggling with health issues. I've offered to take a break in the past and she's always told me she's fine, but I'm not sure I agree with that. I think this will be good for both of us. I'm grateful for all the work she's done with me over the past 5+ years--she's given me a lot of confidence along with a very strong body!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The amazing weather continues! I woke up to clear skies and 46 degrees on Friday and hoped to catch a sunrise on my early morning run. The first 3 miles were into the run, but on the way back, I had a strong tailwind that blew me home. It was a great way to start my day and a reminder that I am so lucky to be able to do this!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9CVA5_0aGyzVFl5c25-lkEL76m1lT1lrVKamwhePPMKU6vbbXCkCR_z8jrruRNAJT8oGFYNvN3cQnf5eJTZ67_cVqpLw8B64CaPqcBh9pUecqMSQV-Au6WYcjp8KLLjuXZs1ungQyucz2mKOn9HDQ0gDXhGOe-l0OWIL_go53kS-N5vFtfnMKBzEEFca/s2670/IMG_6658.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2670" data-original-width="2670" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9CVA5_0aGyzVFl5c25-lkEL76m1lT1lrVKamwhePPMKU6vbbXCkCR_z8jrruRNAJT8oGFYNvN3cQnf5eJTZ67_cVqpLw8B64CaPqcBh9pUecqMSQV-Au6WYcjp8KLLjuXZs1ungQyucz2mKOn9HDQ0gDXhGOe-l0OWIL_go53kS-N5vFtfnMKBzEEFca/w640-h640/IMG_6658.heic" title="sunrise run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Saturday, we drove up to the lake. We drove to Waunakee for lunch at a brewpub. As you read this, I'm most likely out on the trails, hopefully under the beautiful blue skies! What wonderful weather we've been having. Check out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wendyistakingthelongwayhome/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my IG</a> later to see what I did. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? Do you reflect back on a race to determine what worked and what didn't? Are you enjoying fools' spring as much as I am? What was your favorite workout this week? Friday's run was mine!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-27241116686191994292024-02-04T20:13:00.000-06:002024-02-06T04:39:37.559-06:00F3 Lake Half Marathon Race Recap<p>The F3 Lake Half Marathon is Chicago's unofficial start to race season. Although it's been around for 15 years, I've never done it. The weather in January in Chicago is unpredictable and usually awful. This year, except for one week in January, we've had really mild, sunny conditions. My friend and fellow Brooks ambassador Frankie put pressure on me to sign up. I took a leap of faith and hoped for the best as I filled out the application. My youngest son wanted to join me, so I signed him up too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwONypew4jATMrMmW9Pg79Q4Bag1iJ5SMfbyr4zBZQlLBg28mPuIYO1DYxqxQkM3Bp91e8ZatqqObPdDNljstXV68GwDwSGqdGZWjbkj5n3wkfwN4P247HsEY7xWnU4QAzKRI2r3Ir_LO_1RaLP_n5c3aNtL1C5ITMazRmLfpR1_GX8KnftKTEbDEX2C4/s1800/RACE%20RECAP.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwONypew4jATMrMmW9Pg79Q4Bag1iJ5SMfbyr4zBZQlLBg28mPuIYO1DYxqxQkM3Bp91e8ZatqqObPdDNljstXV68GwDwSGqdGZWjbkj5n3wkfwN4P247HsEY7xWnU4QAzKRI2r3Ir_LO_1RaLP_n5c3aNtL1C5ITMazRmLfpR1_GX8KnftKTEbDEX2C4/w640-h426/RACE%20RECAP.png" title="Race Recap: F3 Lake Half Marathon cover" width="640" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The race starts at 10 am outside of Soldier Field in downtown Chicago, so I picked up my son at his north side apartment about 8:30. We were driving when I realized that I had forgotten my pre-race smoothie. UGH. I had had half of it before I left the house and was planning on finishing it on the way to the race. Even better, my son didn't eat anything before he left the house. I had some Frooze Balls to eat on the course, but I didn't want to break into them. I hoped we'd find something at the prerace party to eat.</div></span></div><p>Once we parked the car at Soldier Field, we walked up the stairs to the United Club where the pre-race events were taking place. Runners were starting to file in and we ran into several people I knew, including Cynthia Wheeler, a couple of my friends from the bike path, and some Trail Sisters. Chicago races are always a fun place to see friends. Frankie arrived a little while later and we hung with him until it was go time. There were plenty of bathrooms and no line, which was a win! Sadly, there weren't any prerace treats that we could eat. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tM9v1lDjkGeZbpPLGuWp_QQMgiIhI6lr0sUS-9azBWj2roSneiWoNkfp3zQ7UBP3mcDB2-VOeE2rIis95mq_8M2_hd3e6Hm-Rj_H4v-ZggkQEMGovcpZUfW9SVlTJPKXMjK2L_Fsf0o-VYQ5AQ-kNmQ8EXeUdhZ9x7pFIxIIHJtaJTU4d1DfUFnbtn4A/s2958/IMG_6389.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2958" data-original-width="2219" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tM9v1lDjkGeZbpPLGuWp_QQMgiIhI6lr0sUS-9azBWj2roSneiWoNkfp3zQ7UBP3mcDB2-VOeE2rIis95mq_8M2_hd3e6Hm-Rj_H4v-ZggkQEMGovcpZUfW9SVlTJPKXMjK2L_Fsf0o-VYQ5AQ-kNmQ8EXeUdhZ9x7pFIxIIHJtaJTU4d1DfUFnbtn4A/w480-h640/IMG_6389.heic" title="Frankie, Dan, and me" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually after the race with Frankie and another Brooks teammate, Dan</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We joined the mass of runners making their way to the start line. Runners were supposed to line up by their desired pace time, but by the time we got outside, the very small chute was packed and there was nowhere to jump in! The national anthem was sung and at 10 am, the elite runners took off. We spotted an opening at the front of the chute and when the 2 hour pace group ran by, my son jumped in. I went into the chute when the 2:10 pace group passed by. I thought that was the 10 m/m group. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt8QTdYYe7qCz6oWj4WMwzVYpmJOgA7HZOZvIxmHNudnAhyUXBbSFNjtvUnza08tivwUwn6qnqDwv8jR_7PO32r2nkvn9Vk1UC4G5C7_Qn-tbI0_obU5a2VnouyFzG7tyc2NRS_Erhmgz3XaPPpOkmTrZWKQKBViqWt8eswWqDtwqCb5ldIYgfN1iHS5M/s3072/1T9A7429.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3072" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt8QTdYYe7qCz6oWj4WMwzVYpmJOgA7HZOZvIxmHNudnAhyUXBbSFNjtvUnza08tivwUwn6qnqDwv8jR_7PO32r2nkvn9Vk1UC4G5C7_Qn-tbI0_obU5a2VnouyFzG7tyc2NRS_Erhmgz3XaPPpOkmTrZWKQKBViqWt8eswWqDtwqCb5ldIYgfN1iHS5M/w640-h426/1T9A7429.jpg" title="mile one" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you find me?</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>My first mile split was 9:41 and I knew I was running too fast. I kept trying to slow down, but running behind the pace group made me feel as if I had an imaginary leash pulling me forward. One of my Brooks Teammates, Keegan, was at mile 2 with his running group. He ran with me for a little bit, told me I looked strong and sent me on my way. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi166ZAldFtLttnyT1Y3gVD6WEXImOGsZlLRW6rhqp4ZgdMz8M_bITFIt8bXFMcdKV3ilkc19F2IsGiNy7XSYKWMoavZ21upUHfGszTu-w5drfxcNE0KDcZzBAzrJ3eaUISl3HrWFMTRyRNrsovn8XB67qY9ZuBFE-G06NKI7ZXsGNJD3GIf9rvftIaHaTY/s1560/IMG_6455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi166ZAldFtLttnyT1Y3gVD6WEXImOGsZlLRW6rhqp4ZgdMz8M_bITFIt8bXFMcdKV3ilkc19F2IsGiNy7XSYKWMoavZ21upUHfGszTu-w5drfxcNE0KDcZzBAzrJ3eaUISl3HrWFMTRyRNrsovn8XB67qY9ZuBFE-G06NKI7ZXsGNJD3GIf9rvftIaHaTY/w480-h640/IMG_6455.jpg" title="Keegan and me on the course" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I stuck with the pace group for the first 4 miles. At mile 4, I stopped for water and they kept going, never to be seen again. By mile 5, I was starting to struggle. We were running into a cold, damp wind off Lake Michigan and it was starting to affect me. My heart rate was too high. I regretted those fast miles at the start of the race. I kept telling myself to hold on until mile 7. I knew we were turning around to head back north and would have the wind at our backs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gYws07tWZV6WXS79gZ_1bis330XFcpTDxYUxS7cguM2VJNQ0SIAjeISHOK5DG8UwSJHEtlw-f0h53VKvmEvZknvJtHKbiJ8ytoHfHDGg0iialj3AbU7p-fLN9XgNiOSMBqcA5ovTcmOTyphtLcIU5UH1yR0F3MNLQvkbTiZ7ZP1HNbMw1DUwsibnFQ5k/s4288/9852216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gYws07tWZV6WXS79gZ_1bis330XFcpTDxYUxS7cguM2VJNQ0SIAjeISHOK5DG8UwSJHEtlw-f0h53VKvmEvZknvJtHKbiJ8ytoHfHDGg0iialj3AbU7p-fLN9XgNiOSMBqcA5ovTcmOTyphtLcIU5UH1yR0F3MNLQvkbTiZ7ZP1HNbMw1DUwsibnFQ5k/w640-h426/9852216.jpg" title="on the course" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It felt so much better to have the wind at our backs and I thought I would be ok after that. At mile 9, I started to experience shortness of breath and had to stop several times to walk. It felt as if I could have used an inhaler. I did a lot of run/walking the last 4 miles and it really bummed me out. I did my best to keep my head in the game. As has happened to me many times in the past, I was playing cat and mouse with the runners around me. There were a few groups of spectators shouting encouragement, which is always helpful. I thought I heard my name but maybe I was hallucinating? No, it was one of my Brooks Teammates, Nez!</p><p>At about mile 11, I ran into another one of my Brooks teammates, Billy, who ran ahead of me and videoed me running. He offered me water, but I declined, thanking him for lifting my mood! Feeling energized after seeing him, I picked up the pace a bit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjkCvJncg8XhNeD9S7_SpTRsLIsfxBMbxLOajV1IktJpXU7LNGXE9T17zYsFCke7BE_RWR7X9F2yzvjJCUpBm0j6ToC61irOB4SVE5aFZ6Tbi-4sxzNKtT_5MP68eLmxuODLxl8scJpzO2xTxSMCikscQsgSAi4oE1wSk0yeavg9LRdPh88jZNKapt7UC/s1831/9C25EDC9-F0EE-4EFA-BFDE-E4CDBE0C625A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1831" data-original-width="1373" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjkCvJncg8XhNeD9S7_SpTRsLIsfxBMbxLOajV1IktJpXU7LNGXE9T17zYsFCke7BE_RWR7X9F2yzvjJCUpBm0j6ToC61irOB4SVE5aFZ6Tbi-4sxzNKtT_5MP68eLmxuODLxl8scJpzO2xTxSMCikscQsgSAi4oE1wSk0yeavg9LRdPh88jZNKapt7UC/w480-h640/9C25EDC9-F0EE-4EFA-BFDE-E4CDBE0C625A.jpg" title="Mile 11" width="480" /></a></div><p>I continued my turtlely pace toward the finish line. When I entered the chute, I actually was able to pick it up, sprinting across the finish line. I collected my medal and walked towards the end when I spotted my sons and their girlfriends. I was so happy to see them! My son had a similar outcome to mine--he got slower as the race went on. Since he didn't fuel, that doesn't surprise me. His girlfriend told me he only ran twice before the race. All things considered, his 2:06 finish is pretty impressive!</p><p>I finished in 2:17:16, 7 minutes off my goal of 2:10. I was pleased that I did that well, considering how bad I felt. The chaos of the start line contributed to me jumping into a pace group that was faster than I planned and I should have corrected that once I realized it. How often do we runners say never judge a run by that first mile? It's good advice for a bad run, but it's also good advice for a good run. I went out too fast and I paid for it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8vVdj2o9oHgprXg6sBxlRKOZ6oa0Z30hbDBMQhq6OenebE7Aowy_ECHcIquxwv8Xl8C7n04E_rS3DJSDf50IwDV-CWo_C0qhE3P0thwY-rUqQklAc1ITsb3z44BoXkGW9A2PJF_IREpU2GpDAI9n1I3E8G3edjijC2K-fT-Z1weicWqIup-YoWnVSgs9/s3090/IMG_2563.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3090" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8vVdj2o9oHgprXg6sBxlRKOZ6oa0Z30hbDBMQhq6OenebE7Aowy_ECHcIquxwv8Xl8C7n04E_rS3DJSDf50IwDV-CWo_C0qhE3P0thwY-rUqQklAc1ITsb3z44BoXkGW9A2PJF_IREpU2GpDAI9n1I3E8G3edjijC2K-fT-Z1weicWqIup-YoWnVSgs9/w480-h640/IMG_2563.HEIC" title="Matthew and me at the finish" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I also have to blame the weather. Sure, it was 40 degrees for the race, which is a dream come true in February in Chicago. But there was a heavy fog over the city and my oldest son told me later that the air quality was poor that day. I'm pretty sure that both of those things contributed to my high heart rate and breathing issues. </p><p>Since I forgot my smoothie, I wasn't adequately fueled. I did take a few Frooze Balls throughout the race, but they were too dense for my stomach and made me a little queasy. Usually, I carry Tailwind with me and I will go back to that plan if and when I run another half marathon. I was so grateful that I wasn't running this one in the bitter cold--I don't know if I would have been able to finish.</p><p>Overall, I really liked this race a lot and would recommend it to anyone who wants a fast, flat half marathon. The out and back course is completely along the Lake Michigan shore and when the skies are clear, affords a great view of the Chicago skyline on the trip north. The United Club in Soldier Field was a great facility for both pre and post race activities. I can see why this is such a popular race! There were over 1700 finishers this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF8Kg18JomvIaiylNH8rNF08SnmwmZ4lUq0LG5fCKjTTRTc77vZjLVV3G8Sk-dtB7rCBGyPVm-QNMcc0pxr6-bLTLr4wUlNIkMmnkroJ1cRD7pc023VPdNulIOFx3qONwEqmZpt0FxBE40WPFrs4PxVFX44dp2mNQvyULerV9lGzBwtKHeTBHo02XTOwT/s2236/IMG_6447.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2236" data-original-width="1797" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF8Kg18JomvIaiylNH8rNF08SnmwmZ4lUq0LG5fCKjTTRTc77vZjLVV3G8Sk-dtB7rCBGyPVm-QNMcc0pxr6-bLTLr4wUlNIkMmnkroJ1cRD7pc023VPdNulIOFx3qONwEqmZpt0FxBE40WPFrs4PxVFX44dp2mNQvyULerV9lGzBwtKHeTBHo02XTOwT/w514-h640/IMG_6447.heic" title="finisher medal F3" width="514" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Have you ever run this race? Would you run a half marathon in January in Chicago? What's the worst weather you've ever run in?</b></p><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://runswithpugs.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">J</span>enn</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> and </span><a href="http://zenaida.net/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Zenaida</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> for Tuesday Topics. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkm96OgCOpC3RnRoFVaY9sEoSeB5V9W3hc6-rTOZMZaudvQyBJ6djmHJHJ5NGb4Pt7tFPM3lqg31NzioSCATCzh0UJJgg9Q60rnOpeRbUPNPQOJZWZ82XPzj3TxrRG7qxmYAlSDh2CAZXRTbyb48MRwjycA1TbbaTt9PLIusrLPAhdWIE00BX9Z9OYJ8O/s1024/New-Tuesday-Topics-1-1024x1024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkm96OgCOpC3RnRoFVaY9sEoSeB5V9W3hc6-rTOZMZaudvQyBJ6djmHJHJ5NGb4Pt7tFPM3lqg31NzioSCATCzh0UJJgg9Q60rnOpeRbUPNPQOJZWZ82XPzj3TxrRG7qxmYAlSDh2CAZXRTbyb48MRwjycA1TbbaTt9PLIusrLPAhdWIE00BX9Z9OYJ8O/w200-h200/New-Tuesday-Topics-1-1024x1024.jpg" title="Tuesday Topics badge" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-24120263448734237842024-02-04T06:47:00.004-06:002024-02-04T06:47:36.715-06:00Life and a Race<p>My anxiety level was high this week and it wasn't just due to my impending half marathon. </p><p>There was last week's sad news that <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2024/01/better-days-ahead.html" target="_blank">my young patient had passed</a>. This week, my parents asked me to fix their computer <i>again. </i>Like many of us, they are struggling with many passwords, however, their solution is to keep creating new user names and passwords, which eventually gets them locked out of their accounts. I arrived with new solutions and was greeted by my mom, sporting a black eye. My sister had warned me that on the day before, my mom was on her treadmill when the phone rang. She forgot to stop the treadmill and fell on her face. It looked pretty bad, but she seemed ok when I got to their house. </p><p>It was also her birthday and when I set her up for a Zoom call with her high school friends, she asked me what happened to her face. I calmly told her, and my dad and I exchanged worried looks. The next day, I called him to check on her--he thought she was fine, but I urged him to take her to be checked out. I was worried about a brain bleed, and she had a head CT which was clear. Whew. </p><p>My sisters and I have been worried about my mom for a while now. She always took care of everyone, including my dad. Trying to get him to step up after all these years has been challenging. I'm the only one who is local, which is also another challenge. We'd like to see them downsize and move somewhere that would provide more support, but my dad isn't ready to give up his garage and his old cars. I get that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdnj2GWEj9XLu8w5KuSWxSvbqyYCZ7fNFI5F0jFahfuO97PujrvKqseXqL0ugUz-PobZVvshyphenhyphenhbksaNzb6esRyDBk1_p6elZe_PnLnkc0xdWs6Iwu04BrAc1O4hyphenhyphenXif5ty17335qtUregcBDqe4nOanaCgnPO3tFSFMuy_sEZ1jJLkmu9g6ZTimRDAgW4/s1800/Life%20and%20a%20Race.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdnj2GWEj9XLu8w5KuSWxSvbqyYCZ7fNFI5F0jFahfuO97PujrvKqseXqL0ugUz-PobZVvshyphenhyphenhbksaNzb6esRyDBk1_p6elZe_PnLnkc0xdWs6Iwu04BrAc1O4hyphenhyphenXif5ty17335qtUregcBDqe4nOanaCgnPO3tFSFMuy_sEZ1jJLkmu9g6ZTimRDAgW4/w426-h640/Life%20and%20a%20Race.png" title="Life and A Race Cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: run 11 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: tun 4 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: Yoga with Adriene</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: F3 Lakefront Half Marathon</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>January miles: 100!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For my Sunday long run, I originally had plans to run on the Chicago lakefront with my son and my friend Frank. But those plans changed because I wanted to attend the services for my patient later that day. I ran close to home, on the bike path. I figured most of the snow would be melted with the warmer weather and rain we've been having, and I was right. Some spots were ice and snow covered, but for the most part, I could navigate around that. Call it an exercise in agility. When I set out on this run, my goal was the same as I had set for all my long runs this year: consistent pacing, around 10 m/m. My first 2 miles were a little faster than that, and I did my best to dial it back a bit. The snow/ice on some sections of the trail forced me to slow down and it all evened out. I finished feeling that I could go a few more miles--something I hoped boded well for Saturday's half marathon!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2BNCDe11oIboz85U3qghu-qVgfflfcBgG3fHVHxMdMGbl-WQOV1Ss_enrujyw5fs9MPLvrGWZGDLXxu0YHoMen7YSZGM6Ecxu94k2ZK2X6Ws_NEls09lWy_b2On4kVyk7Xti9Af5sS9hhfW95H8ElSiwC0sK5u7dIMdm3pOCIxQzc41vPsPkKirf4s9s/s1440/90ADA529-83D1-4063-BBF1-73B0BA9124B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2BNCDe11oIboz85U3qghu-qVgfflfcBgG3fHVHxMdMGbl-WQOV1Ss_enrujyw5fs9MPLvrGWZGDLXxu0YHoMen7YSZGM6Ecxu94k2ZK2X6Ws_NEls09lWy_b2On4kVyk7Xti9Af5sS9hhfW95H8ElSiwC0sK5u7dIMdm3pOCIxQzc41vPsPkKirf4s9s/w640-h640/90ADA529-83D1-4063-BBF1-73B0BA9124B3.jpg" title="sunday long run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was feeling a little fatigued and very achy Monday morning, but I figured that the best way to shake off my funk was to sweat. The strength portion of the workout had us doing those power clean complexes that we did a few weeks ago, 4 sets, building each time: 3 power cleans into a front squat, 2 front squats, and one jerk. I started at 55#, building to 80#. Barbell cycling really makes your heart race! Whew! The MetCon had 4 rounds of 250m rows, 10 push presses (55#), and 10 v-ups. We had 3 minutes to work, but this was a sprint workout, with the goal of getting at least one minute of rest before the next round. It was hard!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd7WooDb-6e5JS5Gjd6iWhGheR_k1w1thhK1zxO8RwIv8c9hXN-jU6M9f7Q4z6_46WifS-EwA7oBJ1ZpWBuVCo-4UopReOimeu-QZZjFDHlsSatlqcwAIxwlPtR-aTpnnoaEKbvjWzOw8Xnwk39yHCsVWNtEhyNByW93YikLOQCztGVhWYJZJNgWrbt7l/s1170/IMG_6133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd7WooDb-6e5JS5Gjd6iWhGheR_k1w1thhK1zxO8RwIv8c9hXN-jU6M9f7Q4z6_46WifS-EwA7oBJ1ZpWBuVCo-4UopReOimeu-QZZjFDHlsSatlqcwAIxwlPtR-aTpnnoaEKbvjWzOw8Xnwk39yHCsVWNtEhyNByW93YikLOQCztGVhWYJZJNgWrbt7l/w640-h640/IMG_6133.jpg" title="front squat" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After Sunday's long run, I didn't want to do any hard running this week. The plan was to keep my legs 'fresh' for Saturday's half marathon. On Wednesday, I returned to the forest preserve for a trail run. Most of the snow is gone and I figured that while the trails would be sloppy, they would be runable. For the most part, they were. Even though it was cloudy and cold, it felt really good to be back in the woods, and yes, I saw my deer friends! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWe4w2mrXXtkKmpY4CAZw_6t-WcjpJELe_9mIRQ8OYUOiLbKUvdS3jqGRi1PxivWjBEh1QOYCGKV4kAirdN0mD2E2ElwbOIxpPtqgEcwJ79zhGMYZv3KoV3I89RCZN2Njw8tkOneABXeVR8Pr9emuQ9pCreUZu-2ZZFFHy55SzOFnMOtotvSuEEeUeQ-l/s1690/IMG_6147.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1690" data-original-width="1690" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWe4w2mrXXtkKmpY4CAZw_6t-WcjpJELe_9mIRQ8OYUOiLbKUvdS3jqGRi1PxivWjBEh1QOYCGKV4kAirdN0mD2E2ElwbOIxpPtqgEcwJ79zhGMYZv3KoV3I89RCZN2Njw8tkOneABXeVR8Pr9emuQ9pCreUZu-2ZZFFHy55SzOFnMOtotvSuEEeUeQ-l/w640-h640/IMG_6147.heic" title="deer in the woods" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I woke up on Thursday, I checked the WOD and saw that it had thrusters. A lot of thrusters. 73 in total. With my half marathon in 2 days and fearing DOMS, I made the decision to skip the WOD and go for a short, easy-paced run in the beautiful sunshine. I drove to the retention pond. I made my 2 loops around the lake, trying to hold back my pace. I didn't run as slow as I had hoped, but it was a fun run and I am so glad I made the decision to do this. 55F in February? New shoes? Bright sunshine? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPSmnqzDORpNBlt8N_C_10NCOW_OvPnv0f3aDeTpVhVAoeifElhiV3UAIPPqRhxVT97F5y2-k1reUwHt99YhnXijkqaYz_XT_KFWag8uzMssFJxOnKIcPbsMavOPRcUgZ3WenXzrHIUBtuYCnhSZjmrh-HCA2wpYOJ2CwOWE6FbOb3xtCqCetTYJsPgzY/s2610/IMG_6310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="2610" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPSmnqzDORpNBlt8N_C_10NCOW_OvPnv0f3aDeTpVhVAoeifElhiV3UAIPPqRhxVT97F5y2-k1reUwHt99YhnXijkqaYz_XT_KFWag8uzMssFJxOnKIcPbsMavOPRcUgZ3WenXzrHIUBtuYCnhSZjmrh-HCA2wpYOJ2CwOWE6FbOb3xtCqCetTYJsPgzY/w640-h640/IMG_6310.jpg" title="February run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday was race day! My son and I lined up to run the F3 Lakefront Half Marathon. I'll share a full recap on Tuesday, but I'll comment here that despite being well trained for the distance, was another tough one for me. I had some breathing issues in the back half of the race--I couldn't catch my breath and had to stop multiple times. Fortunately, I was able to finish and was greeted by both boys and their girlfriends! We went out to lunch at Cruz Blanca, a fun little spot in Fulton Market that features Mexican food and craft beers. You know I love a good beer after a hard run!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkrHJmEqDh8t2GAW1cByJFSJUJjHKkf5B1pEPVWHirLntbNiZHerDlR7XDjeF6b6sTue7OdfqCl8HKNrA3bWE6yX3t67JoDQQz9WwpIJzKaGwqoUMrDM1Bk4OJ-E6C_pfXDZ1OvKrKHdp2NJmOuDpvhSRiHYamS7YSHgwkq5RYi6TC7SBHWoSdDDaQ8Hk/s3090/IMG_2563.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3090" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkrHJmEqDh8t2GAW1cByJFSJUJjHKkf5B1pEPVWHirLntbNiZHerDlR7XDjeF6b6sTue7OdfqCl8HKNrA3bWE6yX3t67JoDQQz9WwpIJzKaGwqoUMrDM1Bk4OJ-E6C_pfXDZ1OvKrKHdp2NJmOuDpvhSRiHYamS7YSHgwkq5RYi6TC7SBHWoSdDDaQ8Hk/w480-h640/IMG_2563.HEIC" title="Matthew and me at F3" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got home, took a long hot shower, and then it was out with my hubs for dinner and a comedy show at Zanies. The comedian was Pete Lee and he was hilarious. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard. I discovered him one day when I was watching Reels and one of his popped up. I thought he was so funny that I watched a few more. If you get a chance to see him, check it out!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? Did you race this week? Are you experiencing early spring? Did you do anything fun over the weekend?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-9964477772263288662024-01-29T14:28:00.004-06:002024-01-30T16:16:11.131-06:00Mini Book Reviews: January 2024<p><i>Disclaimer: I received ARCs of Come and Get It and Martyr! from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links.</i></p><p>I kicked off 2024 with the resolution to read my NetGalley ARCs before they are published! I have so many that I have fallen behind. I love that they send me so many books to review but now I am below 80% and need to fix that. Moving forward, I'll be sharing a mix of upcoming new releases from NetGalley as well as library holds and backlist books. </p><p>This month had 5 very different books. My favorite one was <i>Martyr!. </i>You can't judge a book by its cover and when I first received <i>Martyr! </i>from NetGalley, I thought I wouldn't like it at all. The first sentence grabbed me and the book didn't let go. It won't be the book for everyone but it gave me a lot to think about. </p><p>It's been a little frustrating trying to find good books to read lately. Every time I pick up a book that everyone is raving about, I'm disappointed. I've got 3 NetGalley books coming up for this month. Let's see what I find.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiMEYkfZFe5nEMEwRedGAWk2pA7Db75_3FCy5ArQz7-PO2vB1inWR6X2XdnfrOk-OtybuGRXsW9nkMJ-1sAOupYzSAS2obY8gDHdPDznjtPgdd26JLJuwQVsuBBXhCxfX-REY7JR_DUu6xpHrpYHcYQ0O01abwVRhPAX_CRg6V-iLmj1uCO2gSBu0viPD/s1080/Your%20paragraph%20text.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiMEYkfZFe5nEMEwRedGAWk2pA7Db75_3FCy5ArQz7-PO2vB1inWR6X2XdnfrOk-OtybuGRXsW9nkMJ-1sAOupYzSAS2obY8gDHdPDznjtPgdd26JLJuwQVsuBBXhCxfX-REY7JR_DUu6xpHrpYHcYQ0O01abwVRhPAX_CRg6V-iLmj1uCO2gSBu0viPD/w640-h640/Your%20paragraph%20text.png" title="Mini book Reviews: January 2024 cover" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuSrsUeRJOuQ1BfL8OcBtqXYggBcQwzgTfMs5pfZVk_nhy-z3VnnWR0tRASR5gCHGJBEnF1crWlfTJb3cdxJ-dJLYnfiT4tEUrRVZ0eQUNW_3JB_xrwZYKotpFJwkdhyvM5l_QOwtiiEGu_AUriw8tv_GwZkFP_APHvc-1EfHt8NqGAG9SzNDZRDJHKLf/s1200/62972519.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="776" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuSrsUeRJOuQ1BfL8OcBtqXYggBcQwzgTfMs5pfZVk_nhy-z3VnnWR0tRASR5gCHGJBEnF1crWlfTJb3cdxJ-dJLYnfiT4tEUrRVZ0eQUNW_3JB_xrwZYKotpFJwkdhyvM5l_QOwtiiEGu_AUriw8tv_GwZkFP_APHvc-1EfHt8NqGAG9SzNDZRDJHKLf/w129-h200/62972519.jpg" title="The Memory of Animals cover" width="129" /></a></div>With a looming pandemic, a young woman facing debt volunteers for a vaccine trial. Sequestered in a hospital-like setting with several other subjects, the world has gone silent and the group sorts out their situation. That alone would have been enough for a novel, but there are a couple of side stories, including about a type of time machine brought to the hospital by one of the other subjects that allow the user to travel back in time. I couldn't help but wonder who would bring such a thing to a hospital, but ok, I'll allow it. The love letters the main character writes to an octopus she once worked with add nothing to the story. Seriously, another octopus love story? Did the author throw this because octopi are trending right now? Beautifully written, I had such high hopes for <i><a href="https://amzn.to/4aGRLkS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Memory of Animals</a></i>, But ultimately, this was an unsatisfying read for me.<p></p><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXF2a93p-DEoOX9sScDpXGI8BBXrkt5KtWT7GjyUphOGDwwues4AVbR5mAQFiyrOc9jPTiaGWlMsCjV8S3x05Le164IQbfWBQdxbbtgIoN8iAeTStGJmrl8kD9EMTkAIhyphenhyphenZRjf03huKEGvZmbw980ZJuAFT2-486-ahPV2d0bcdrKR6U2OeLwU_cMjTRmC/s500/127482608.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXF2a93p-DEoOX9sScDpXGI8BBXrkt5KtWT7GjyUphOGDwwues4AVbR5mAQFiyrOc9jPTiaGWlMsCjV8S3x05Le164IQbfWBQdxbbtgIoN8iAeTStGJmrl8kD9EMTkAIhyphenhyphenZRjf03huKEGvZmbw980ZJuAFT2-486-ahPV2d0bcdrKR6U2OeLwU_cMjTRmC/w133-h200/127482608.jpg" title="Come and Get It cover" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://amzn.to/41Uj4Ep" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Come and Get It</a></i>, Reid's second novel, is a character-driven, coming-of-age story about a group of female dormmates and their RA. A visiting professor offers the RA money to provide access to students to talk about wedding traditions, but she finds their personal stories more interesting and sells them to a teen magazine. The real story begins when dorm pranks go awry and tensions rise, culminating in a near tragedy. This book starts off painfully slow and I started to wonder what, if anything would happen. About halfway through, the story begins to take off. The writing is engaging and the characters are very well-developed. However, when comparing this novel to the author's first, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/49gSlEF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Such a Fun Age</a></i>, this one was a disappointment. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPdNi7dl5_SNbkvGlE3DrKjjJnmyH8lufNc9adulhnrqs0qaajMX_i-JGqmiTDktq9qNPv98B4IPwHk9D-j0f4I7IZQXbHwhQqpmYB1hspVIRdZkhrhrPnVFYXgFpJj6UnLx39LjDsF0odmmCuAX7M0TVHJkFs70hQ4GkWV8UpwRwxY94M9gHiENoJwAu/s2560/139400713.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1718" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPdNi7dl5_SNbkvGlE3DrKjjJnmyH8lufNc9adulhnrqs0qaajMX_i-JGqmiTDktq9qNPv98B4IPwHk9D-j0f4I7IZQXbHwhQqpmYB1hspVIRdZkhrhrPnVFYXgFpJj6UnLx39LjDsF0odmmCuAX7M0TVHJkFs70hQ4GkWV8UpwRwxY94M9gHiENoJwAu/w134-h200/139400713.jpg" title="Martyr! cover" width="134" /></a></div><i><a href="https://amzn.to/48QSSND" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Martyr!</a> </i>is a beautifully written debut and is the story of an Iranian-American who is dealing with loss and trauma. As a young child, he lost his mom when her plane was shot down by US military over Tehran. His dad, who spent his life working on a chicken farm in Indiana, recently passed away from a stroke. The story is told in the first person by this young man, who is a recovering addict/alcoholic. He has a goal of writing a book about martyrs to make sense of his past while exploring the possibility of becoming a martyr himself. It's not as depressing as it sounds--there is a lot of dark humor sprinkled in here as he explores his goal-- and the writing is something to be savored. And how about that ending?! So different from anything I've read lately, I fully expect this one to be at the top of many best of 2024 lists.</div><div><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3SbcqFc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SbcqFc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WZ70Hs9I6GQyqkk450vDUBf-7EgUU7ckCm8KoDV6Ri5a6q_sQlekscCichGrdZ7QToSRKts5coA_5QtfoHzru6NHGcBUYM2fm-FjnFvxhsamEh3idse0lvbnXsZwHFglxo-PjzlZU00AP4fWo8Qj5lTT1gNGySezbiQultUoM47ZRr1Skkx6kPCCDSfi/s834/Screenshot%202024-01-21%20at%207.32.01%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WZ70Hs9I6GQyqkk450vDUBf-7EgUU7ckCm8KoDV6Ri5a6q_sQlekscCichGrdZ7QToSRKts5coA_5QtfoHzru6NHGcBUYM2fm-FjnFvxhsamEh3idse0lvbnXsZwHFglxo-PjzlZU00AP4fWo8Qj5lTT1gNGySezbiQultUoM47ZRr1Skkx6kPCCDSfi/w134-h200/Screenshot%202024-01-21%20at%207.32.01%E2%80%AFPM.png" title="Sorrow and Bliss cover" width="134" /></a></div><a href="https://amzn.to/3SaqqiG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sorrow and Bliss</a></i><a href="https://amzn.to/3SbcqFc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>received so many positive reviews, that I decided to pick it up. I have to admit to having a bit of trouble getting into it until about 1/3 of the way in. The main character, who narrates the story, is completely unlikeable. She's rude and self-centered. Yet, she has a man who seemingly adores her despite how mean she is to him. Everyone seems to tiptoe around her and accommodate her. I questioned why I was reading such a depressing, negative book, yet I couldn't put it down. The story picked up as the character learned she had a mental illness, that once diagnosed, changed the narrative. This book will make you think about people in your life who might be labeled as 'difficult' or who struggle with interpersonal relationships. The author does a fantastic job developing a character in the face of mental illness. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NvIzwYw83euydybayIqt7FcQazwbDZhZFNx8oWSc6JSVVNM26lxoIiczgfGVrZ9SUcm3HWFor-qqOke4dvSyQS_BQIpycvh0q8NrjIm-zTCpfjAILZC4EtNnk1j0jnf5Hu88MyXpxr8jZihLX0r9yXhlqoMyJRD0wMVg7ynvb1XzFyXXXIZ_IcOH3h22/s1142/127305817.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="749" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NvIzwYw83euydybayIqt7FcQazwbDZhZFNx8oWSc6JSVVNM26lxoIiczgfGVrZ9SUcm3HWFor-qqOke4dvSyQS_BQIpycvh0q8NrjIm-zTCpfjAILZC4EtNnk1j0jnf5Hu88MyXpxr8jZihLX0r9yXhlqoMyJRD0wMVg7ynvb1XzFyXXXIZ_IcOH3h22/w131-h200/127305817.jpg" title="Mercury cover" width="131" /></a></div><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Sip8SI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mercury</a> </i>is a complex family drama. A young woman, Marley, moves with her mother to a small town and -oops- becomes part of a family that owns a roofing business. Whether she wants it or not, she becomes the glue that holds this family of men together. The matriarch of the family has long been ignored and stays in the background much of the time. She isn't warm or welcoming to Marley, but as the story travels back and forth from the present to the past, the reader begins to understand why. There are lots of secrets in this family, which are revealed slowly, in bits and pieces. For me, the book was kind of slow to start, but about halfway through, the pace picked up. Stick with it, because it will be worth the read.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Have you read anything good lately? Do you find yourself frustrated by books that get good reviews but don't live up to the hype? What would you recommend to me?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://runswithpugs.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">J</span>enn</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> and </span><a href="http://zenaida.net/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Zenaida</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> for Tuesday Topics. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkm96OgCOpC3RnRoFVaY9sEoSeB5V9W3hc6-rTOZMZaudvQyBJ6djmHJHJ5NGb4Pt7tFPM3lqg31NzioSCATCzh0UJJgg9Q60rnOpeRbUPNPQOJZWZ82XPzj3TxrRG7qxmYAlSDh2CAZXRTbyb48MRwjycA1TbbaTt9PLIusrLPAhdWIE00BX9Z9OYJ8O/s1024/New-Tuesday-Topics-1-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkm96OgCOpC3RnRoFVaY9sEoSeB5V9W3hc6-rTOZMZaudvQyBJ6djmHJHJ5NGb4Pt7tFPM3lqg31NzioSCATCzh0UJJgg9Q60rnOpeRbUPNPQOJZWZ82XPzj3TxrRG7qxmYAlSDh2CAZXRTbyb48MRwjycA1TbbaTt9PLIusrLPAhdWIE00BX9Z9OYJ8O/w200-h200/New-Tuesday-Topics-1-1024x1024.jpg" title="Tuesday Topics badge" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-BOtkOMonbHqA2QbFNJCHwse7q_ZYu4x_nX2ddgNl7RMdFJ0Mg4F3Jkhk7eXCRMt116O3gVkQILmMlkt7G4e15Ljhi_rU1UjA_ku4J_k3Pn7eF_X10MqigDrLV605gRg0qxZoIzUoNq4Kjk4nAXP9tErckxjaJpIQdF2M0qeoktdJfnjgtJu7DNfd-Op/s500/img_6885.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-10493962603494461792024-01-28T05:59:00.001-06:002024-01-28T05:59:33.898-06:00Better Days Ahead<p>It's the end of January, it's gray, and I'm glad to see this month come to an end. The days are getting longer and my early morning runs aren't as dark as they have been. The bitter cold we were experiencing has gone away and we're back into the 30s and 40s. The snowpack is dwindling quickly.</p><p>It's also race week! Earlier this month, I optimistically signed up for a half marathon--one that I've avoided in the past because who wants to run 13.1 miles in the dark of winter? Thankfully, we've had mostly mild temperatures, and looking ahead to next weekend, the forecast calls for more of the same. So fingers crossed it doesn't rain. </p><p>I'm as ready as I can be for this race--I'm not going to race it, but plan to attempt to maintain a steady 10m/m pace. Let's just hope my tummy behaves and then everything else should fall into place. Sometimes that's enough.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp4R-TA4IpnyPt9nBtHCEd_6Kg7taFhaijG9MNCiN6AZ-ZavLOTH0QHQPyEEthRjvuB8LyihhGch65dPL2nN0buPWbk7vrfD9R5WJSQ1t5za0isvxM-g4m2ZdgYd_BTH7JUVBhvZu4Yq8DvHxXcmwjregKzHv5uXEKpiDMYayjlCvu2M81iyQRA8w-JXp/s1800/Better%20Days%20Ahead.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp4R-TA4IpnyPt9nBtHCEd_6Kg7taFhaijG9MNCiN6AZ-ZavLOTH0QHQPyEEthRjvuB8LyihhGch65dPL2nN0buPWbk7vrfD9R5WJSQ1t5za0isvxM-g4m2ZdgYd_BTH7JUVBhvZu4Yq8DvHxXcmwjregKzHv5uXEKpiDMYayjlCvu2M81iyQRA8w-JXp/w426-h640/Better%20Days%20Ahead.png" title="Better Days Ahead cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: run 10 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run 7.25 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 5-ish miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were up at the lake last weekend, but the trails were snow-packed with 24 inches of snow. I brought all my cold weather running gear and headed out along the lake for my planned 10 mile run. It was 2F/real feel -7F when I headed out. There wasn't much of a wind and the sun was shining--not too bad! Before I even made it to the end of the street, I spied a pretty sunrise behind the horse barn. The horses were out and they looked so cold! I stopped to say hi to them and one of them walked over to me. The owner told me that they were 'fine' and were waiting for their straw. I said goodbye and was on my way. I spied some snowmobiles heading out onto the lake and not far from that, a woman was out walking with her lab. He ran over to greet me and we chatted for a few minutes. She's a few years older than me and is an avid waterskiier too! I hope I run into her again--it would be nice to have a friend up there. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKNnTVeCsECdZbdLTT7Li8G0mecVrJ0zW3CwjJYFpGWEobQExx9F1SdfQkufRy5tniY3Z2yQ_6kUIVsMGAjtx-k2bmCnbilndtTI7u_ip1y_yIJaG4cJzBkwIdaRyo8BuGEL6jil0ODg2Z5Wc0Wakx3vfjIGbpVzlCJpPx2A5jStwQYFGUN5Ultf_Qx77/s3475/IMG_6007.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="3475" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKNnTVeCsECdZbdLTT7Li8G0mecVrJ0zW3CwjJYFpGWEobQExx9F1SdfQkufRy5tniY3Z2yQ_6kUIVsMGAjtx-k2bmCnbilndtTI7u_ip1y_yIJaG4cJzBkwIdaRyo8BuGEL6jil0ODg2Z5Wc0Wakx3vfjIGbpVzlCJpPx2A5jStwQYFGUN5Ultf_Qx77/w640-h360/IMG_6007.heic" title="horses" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I made my way down a steep hill to the grade--a road that crosses the lake. The wind was blowing across the lake and it was cold! But the sun was brilliant, so I stopped for some photos. At 5 miles, I turned around and headed back home. On the way back, my stomach started started to bother me. I made it back to the cabin, still running consistent paces, and I finished with an average 10:30m/m. Considering the cold and the stomach issues, I was very pleased with this run!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HpSFCIGLqTYbyfVbtF0qHaMmWoxb4-k0tp97zS1ksgaSkViDZVj3IkF3IQlcpIUcAGyd_6iUTNHegf23gXsPQ8mNKHonAI0PUW-oYvLvqBblYjJMbkX4O9deu0ejm6qeLaZorEjOdy1XQ3Upi-UDLEQyXt_NJXB8GesJh2mcGuJ7ygMhPbHyWTpdeTSK/s2425/IMG_6016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2425" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HpSFCIGLqTYbyfVbtF0qHaMmWoxb4-k0tp97zS1ksgaSkViDZVj3IkF3IQlcpIUcAGyd_6iUTNHegf23gXsPQ8mNKHonAI0PUW-oYvLvqBblYjJMbkX4O9deu0ejm6qeLaZorEjOdy1XQ3Upi-UDLEQyXt_NJXB8GesJh2mcGuJ7ygMhPbHyWTpdeTSK/w640-h360/IMG_6016.jpg" title="Lake Wisconsin" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My tummy was still really unhappy on Monday--if I had been scheduled to work, I would have called off. Instead of going to CrossFit, I hung out on the couch with Cocoa and did some continuing education. On Tuesday, I braved the ice storm and slid, I mean drove to the pool for a Fluid Running sesh. I took it easy and didn't dial it up to 11, and this felt really good. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then ugh. Wednesday may have brought warmer temperatures, but it was also rainy and foggy. Still a better option than the treadmill, I decided to lace up my Brooks Ghost GTX and head outside. The rain was light and I hoped I could get my planned 6 miles running around my neighborhood. With the bike path and the sidewalks all still covered with ice and slush, I was pretty limited. Somehow, I managed to get over 7 miles before I arrived home. I felt really good on this run and it was just the confidence booster I needed!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RdGAPZsyhWnKqCJQs7musg-f8uU3unYS0ndYCtudsUWE1zU7edyNSNPIOPab6qZnw_UQQZ9g1kfZSukfNW65_re0Mk9f8y6W199qt42rZAT9zZNszcvbRumSssyYrFNZ7OwpSPiDsos9AQTlVa-a0JqBbC747-EmsWI8k7gG2gyQ8UI7HEWCHFnJhYnQ/s1440/8869A6C9-17D8-48A2-949B-20A6F60515D8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RdGAPZsyhWnKqCJQs7musg-f8uU3unYS0ndYCtudsUWE1zU7edyNSNPIOPab6qZnw_UQQZ9g1kfZSukfNW65_re0Mk9f8y6W199qt42rZAT9zZNszcvbRumSssyYrFNZ7OwpSPiDsos9AQTlVa-a0JqBbC747-EmsWI8k7gG2gyQ8UI7HEWCHFnJhYnQ/w640-h640/8869A6C9-17D8-48A2-949B-20A6F60515D8.jpg" title="rainy slushy run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For the strength portion of CrossFit on Thursday, we alternated 4 sets of 8 GHD back extensions and 4 sets of 8 floor presses, which are like bench presses only done on the floor. Your range of motion is limited to when your triceps touch the floor. I did 55#. The MetCon was a 12 minute E2MOM of 6 lengths of shuttle runs, 12 DB snatches (alternating arms-15#), and 12 waiter's lunges (15#). The power went out at the start of the workout, so we did it in the dark--there are windows--with the coach keeping time on her phone. The owners set up a Bluetooth speaker so we had music too. Way to improvise!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday was the day I should have stayed in bed. But of course, I didn't and I drove myself to the retention pond with the plan to run 3+ loops to get 6 miles. That was the plan. The universe had other ideas. On my second loop, I had issues with my contact lens and lost it somewhere on the path. I forgot to restart my Garmin after realizing that my contact wasn't in my eye--or my hand. Then there was a pit stop that happened even though the bathroom was locked. TMI. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After my 3rd loop, I got in the car, with no idea of how far I ran, blind in one eye, and mortified at my impromptu visit to a bush. In retrospect, I should have gone back to bed. I had no idea what the rest of the day would be like.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykWBYpQp-96PwCZ8RPld0sj5eZODrDAjyeSjmavmpomrl5EmbLmpGQSYCGLmyNa7I1MI4JtH7Y7TvP33pn7vl05sqWUkdvttXYXcobcFpGreB0xawJT110vr4p3FZIJk4HGSE62SIS_N0j-0ShgOGhfwfrN0xOUABhEwBiuuh645TUV17K2ylO6K8W-Ke/s1731/IMG_6088.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1731" data-original-width="1731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykWBYpQp-96PwCZ8RPld0sj5eZODrDAjyeSjmavmpomrl5EmbLmpGQSYCGLmyNa7I1MI4JtH7Y7TvP33pn7vl05sqWUkdvttXYXcobcFpGreB0xawJT110vr4p3FZIJk4HGSE62SIS_N0j-0ShgOGhfwfrN0xOUABhEwBiuuh645TUV17K2ylO6K8W-Ke/w640-h640/IMG_6088.HEIC" title="Friday's run" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>The rest of the day...</i></h2><div>My first 3 patients did not show up. I was more upset that I could have actually spent time searching for my contact lens and finishing my run than I was about the lack of consideration of people blowing off their appointments. But a little before noon, I learned that one of my patients had passed away over the night. </div><div><br /></div><div>While this wasn't unexpected, it was still very sad. The little boy, a 4 year old, had been my patient since birth. Around 4 months of age, I realized something was very wrong with him. Over time, we learned that he had a very rare condition, one that had a life expectancy of 18 months. Over the years, he would get critically ill but would rally back. I credit his mother for this--even with 3 other children, she made sure that he got everything he needed. She gave him a great life. This week, he became very ill and unresponsive. She wanted to know what made him so ill so she took him to the hospital, and once she got her answer, she took him home to die, his siblings at his side.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel so lucky and blessed to have been a part of this family and to have been his primary care provider. The last time I saw him was in November for his annual check-up. He was happy. That warms my heart--that despite his devastating condition, he had a good life. The best, thanks to his mom. I'll see him one last time today, and get to say goodbye.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>But yes, better days are ahead. How was your week? Are you warming up as well? Any races coming up? </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-118980164226484182024-01-20T14:46:00.002-06:002024-01-21T06:00:50.850-06:00A "Real" Winter<p>In spite of, or maybe because of that nice warm fall we had, we are now experiencing a full-on old-fashioned winter. It's the kind of winter that people reminisce about--"remember all the snow we used to get when we were kids?"--and I'm thinking that some memories are enhanced by time. </p><p>Throughout the fall, I kept saying that we were going to pay for all that nice weather we were having. It seems like the universe always has a way of evening things out. It's been bitterly cold--schools have been closed most of the week-- and it's snowy. I'm not complaining except when it comes to running. I think I've run on my treadmill more this month than I did in all of 2023. As you read this, we are up at the lake and I am attempting my long run on the road. It's still very cold, but it's pretty, so fingers crossed I'll get all my miles in. You can check out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wendyistakingthelongwayhome/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my IG</a> for the final verdict.</p><p>The forecast this week is for a thaw and while that sounds good in theory, it's likely not. Seasoned midwesterners know that usually means icy surfaces. I may finally have to cave and buy those Kahtoola spikes I've been eyeing. I wonder what kind of conditions we'll have for my upcoming half marathon?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6Im-wHOiZUMb4aVraXkG7N0ivokWeDluQBiAb8L4f-0BELJxdmsEFSAV6Y_MnMep3CsAqtWVhAR538bHGgbqACutQ88U2S2Y5oQZKMtpWxHS33xadKdUpXyc2Q-Hr00WuI726rtIZi6jkvqBz5EVEaYH7dY3wf45jr5XDr9lpS5W95AbAftUYrQNm6vQ/s1800/A%20%E2%80%9CReal%E2%80%9D%20Winter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6Im-wHOiZUMb4aVraXkG7N0ivokWeDluQBiAb8L4f-0BELJxdmsEFSAV6Y_MnMep3CsAqtWVhAR538bHGgbqACutQ88U2S2Y5oQZKMtpWxHS33xadKdUpXyc2Q-Hr00WuI726rtIZi6jkvqBz5EVEaYH7dY3wf45jr5XDr9lpS5W95AbAftUYrQNm6vQ/w426-h640/A%20%E2%80%9CReal%E2%80%9D%20Winter.png" title="A "Real" Winter cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: treadmill run 10 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: treadmill run 5 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With sub-zero temperatures and an even lower windchill on Sunday, the treadmill was the only option for my run. I started out with a goal of running 6 miles, which I did without stopping once. I felt so good that I decided to keep going one mile at a time, hoping to get 10 miles. That last mile was hard, but yes, I ran 10 miles on the treadmill! This was a great confidence booster for me-I only took one bathroom break after mile 6, otherwise, I ran continuously. I can't remember the last time I ran like this. Yes, it is slower, but with my goal of finishing my race feeling good, this felt like money in the bank! BTW, this photo is from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2FttrdLAgY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a reel I posted on IG </a>of my warmup. I highly recommend trying this--not only did it warm me up, but it also made me smile, which is probably why my run went so well!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpGYEzgU66TkE5wayuP6QlEMOwYZ-iYZLu-koYdaDRyVm-h35SaSvPmLN-OW5R-e7KAmZXS4gIsARybKBrTnMNVv_W4D8r7_J4TaOHfpt9_FqH0jxWv4EyZmvfGXjV_SnmXSrsMLZWrAZPviD3SmdhDHx9mT1YB90XtdvRYAiZ0NBluNSKIWsXwSEOMmm/s1440/IMG_5806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpGYEzgU66TkE5wayuP6QlEMOwYZ-iYZLu-koYdaDRyVm-h35SaSvPmLN-OW5R-e7KAmZXS4gIsARybKBrTnMNVv_W4D8r7_J4TaOHfpt9_FqH0jxWv4EyZmvfGXjV_SnmXSrsMLZWrAZPviD3SmdhDHx9mT1YB90XtdvRYAiZ0NBluNSKIWsXwSEOMmm/w480-h640/IMG_5806.jpg" title="treadmill run" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I probably should have taken a rest day on Monday, but the WOD had deadlifts in it. The coaches programmed an MLK themed workout: 3 rounds for time of 8 deadlifts (135#), 28 box jumps (box step-ups 20"), and 63 cal row. The class was full so we had to share equipment; this meant I started on the rower, which killed me. After the first round, the coach told us to stop rowing at 4 minutes--I hit 48 calories both times. I finished before time was called, so I did an extra set of deadlifts and box step-ups. This workout was brutal. We finished with a Tabata: superman holds, followed by hollow holds. That helped loosen up my back after all that rowing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Tuesday, my body gave me no choice but to take a rest day. I did work, but due to the bitter cold, we saw very few patients, which I was grateful for. I went to bed at 8! and slept until 6 the next day, feeling much better. I did stop on my way to work to snap this beautiful sunrise photo, complete with sundogs! I've never actually seen them in real life and the photo doesn't do it justice. I chased one all the way to work--there was even someone pulled over on the road, taking photos!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwO9yPRHIU9YX08-yo8xPFDYUSuzR4EJKxgNlWdKi9SWQzdkM8XPBBO6iHLWhXPDW9RFtLnRw1vBKMWeTg35xoTa254hTstQLGoT1qM31AFHGWT7nWPXYDXX-VZ37VN-iN8eYNpLIkVS4gjJVfYhVQxoEWYNOxgU8mhUuQTv04I2ChaQlRruYbsxmg5rv/s2725/IMG_5817.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2725" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwO9yPRHIU9YX08-yo8xPFDYUSuzR4EJKxgNlWdKi9SWQzdkM8XPBBO6iHLWhXPDW9RFtLnRw1vBKMWeTg35xoTa254hTstQLGoT1qM31AFHGWT7nWPXYDXX-VZ37VN-iN8eYNpLIkVS4gjJVfYhVQxoEWYNOxgU8mhUuQTv04I2ChaQlRruYbsxmg5rv/w640-h360/IMG_5817.heic" title="sundogs" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I woke up on Wednesday, I was happy to see the temperature was 4F, compared to the sub-zeros we had been experiencing for the past couple of days. I layered up and drove to the retention pond with the 2 mile loop to get in some miles. The path was fairly clear, with some icy patches. The only glitch was when I took the side path, which was only cleared up to the bridge. I should have turned back but instead tried to run in the snow, which didn't go well. I avoided that detour on my next 2 loops. The rest of my run was uneventful. I was dressed appropriately for the conditions and even the brisk wind didn't bother me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVzFRtjLnevZTFoRCabs3rNJfJsu5qiCqxyogDZOUYDSp9zcWQvZmkEe-M5-WRQJU8k6Zh7my3jaREO0xgOrbIu_4oBFZ9TjOvn39V_-leFxp-2XoMUCA69sBF4qmcJ6-0udqhN5zccD4gsnSWVLtb8jwayv3gzcadbdGspczgkCJq9ojXr0rnl5wUpoH/s2020/IMG_5911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="2020" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVzFRtjLnevZTFoRCabs3rNJfJsu5qiCqxyogDZOUYDSp9zcWQvZmkEe-M5-WRQJU8k6Zh7my3jaREO0xgOrbIu_4oBFZ9TjOvn39V_-leFxp-2XoMUCA69sBF4qmcJ6-0udqhN5zccD4gsnSWVLtb8jwayv3gzcadbdGspczgkCJq9ojXr0rnl5wUpoH/w640-h640/IMG_5911.jpg" title="lake arlington run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">SJ is still recovering from her surgery, so I went to class. We are still doing barbell cycling, and we warmed up with <a href="https://youtu.be/HHZ1_OZKLII?si=rJb1d_VS9GhGJ05r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">banded face pulls</a> and banded sidesteps, 3 sets of each. The MetCon was an 18 minute AMRAP 16 power cleans (I did 55#), 16 GHD situps, and 12 cal on the bike. I made it through 4 rounds of this and was halfway through my 5th set of power cleans when time was called. I really like cleans and barbell cycling, which made this a fun workout for me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6XmF_0Y7TYHMYcB2pjJMyQogkhh0Eb-Eh-m5Lpy35yM4G9ovnhlopHyR8hWkU0NRIwf2qze10ZF3-VsPnLedshYfZNCkzZbq2NFzdVvmmfckFwcM6xGzzojyDD7LoE19Bc_blZa1iwjmPscV_A4zhv3rdC5RSPeiT10s7Gm8L7kiA1M4lPyi1kjdr39Y/s1023/IMG_5948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6XmF_0Y7TYHMYcB2pjJMyQogkhh0Eb-Eh-m5Lpy35yM4G9ovnhlopHyR8hWkU0NRIwf2qze10ZF3-VsPnLedshYfZNCkzZbq2NFzdVvmmfckFwcM6xGzzojyDD7LoE19Bc_blZa1iwjmPscV_A4zhv3rdC5RSPeiT10s7Gm8L7kiA1M4lPyi1kjdr39Y/w640-h640/IMG_5948.jpg" title="power clean turnover" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Friday morning brought another fresh coating of snow and bitterly cold temperatures, so it was back to the TM for me. I struggled with this run--I just couldn't get my head in the game, changing my playlists multiple times to find more motivation. It didn't help that my stomach was really unhappy--I had to hop off multiple times to take a pit stop. I finally had to stop because I ran out of time and needed to get ready for work. I'm just glad I was able to get 5 miles out of this run!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtSNqpyorhtpJSFVymRgzybqsCXedxlz_7HVG71bOsjTkLzkofSK8jUJUWPLnbAx8HiDcK2O_b7Wr5MySScOB-p9d68BJ4osHrcBkabNMCCNpCxJMGmTjM65thnDZjd2qq03-yvA7ai65pd0HhrV3q0xlsMSxMW3W36akiBkLx38ndnxlk4-TO0sjscM5/s2177/IMG_5987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2177" data-original-width="1633" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtSNqpyorhtpJSFVymRgzybqsCXedxlz_7HVG71bOsjTkLzkofSK8jUJUWPLnbAx8HiDcK2O_b7Wr5MySScOB-p9d68BJ4osHrcBkabNMCCNpCxJMGmTjM65thnDZjd2qq03-yvA7ai65pd0HhrV3q0xlsMSxMW3W36akiBkLx38ndnxlk4-TO0sjscM5/w480-h640/IMG_5987.jpg" title="TM run" width="480" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>How was your week? Are you experiencing a 'real' winter--whatever that means for you? What are you training for? </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-64117490147442973842024-01-13T13:56:00.001-06:002024-01-14T06:27:30.613-06:00Be Careful What You Wish For<p>I haven't been minding our mild winter at all. But I was hoping for a little snow- just to make things pretty and wintery. I should have known better because as extreme as the weather has been the past couple of years, at the end of this week, we got hit with a really wild snowstorm. Friday morning began with about 6 inches of heavy, wet snow and wind that chased me back inside before I could even start my run. As the morning went on, it changed to rain, turning the snow into slush, changing back to snow again, dropping about 4 more inches on top of the slush overnight. The wind continued, and during the day on Saturday, the temperatures began to drop. It's going to be cold and windy for the next few days, which means most likely I'll be spending quality time with my TM.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUzPfNBN47lb2MzK6TEaksfMDncUx_ri-i_kQw_yLf3jeiInA1BYtnaY6V0W9H315FlUzFH4sU0sLcbnYoVoNPVdLjOukxwuyrvpWJz0oJ8j4N_B_Vne_QDi_mJuGi-ttaqDRXHrWBhZ10TkKOzsU5CiIBIp0B8iyG8abHzpuRxwrv7oUBkMuB2lpIhJG/s1800/Be%20Careful%20What%20You%20Wish%20For.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUzPfNBN47lb2MzK6TEaksfMDncUx_ri-i_kQw_yLf3jeiInA1BYtnaY6V0W9H315FlUzFH4sU0sLcbnYoVoNPVdLjOukxwuyrvpWJz0oJ8j4N_B_Vne_QDi_mJuGi-ttaqDRXHrWBhZ10TkKOzsU5CiIBIp0B8iyG8abHzpuRxwrv7oUBkMuB2lpIhJG/w426-h640/Be%20Careful%20What%20You%20Wish%20For.png" title="Be Careful What You Wish For cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Trail Sisters run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run 10 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: treadmill run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: snowshoeing</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was excited to meet up with the Trail Sisters on Sunday at one of the local preserves. The trails were covered with snow, but it wasn't too deep. As we always do, we split up into groups according to pace. Our group ran at a conversational pace, which fit nicely with my goals. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD3A2S8XuJWpdpGDqHXPVttyo3RPdEtQCfzFPU3h6QBPgQTGoilhMgttaSpIyqkUd49uaQBU7YF32czJ78nPr7nEuUvjhktNDa6sTwqgjF_lnXFFYYS5WaegzvaGOsC2_TRUUG3QcPWaxIZZ7k6Fp4hNgcM563H8gGJc-YuchR8WdxOdXKmxiNdByGoEx/s2640/IMG_5541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="2640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD3A2S8XuJWpdpGDqHXPVttyo3RPdEtQCfzFPU3h6QBPgQTGoilhMgttaSpIyqkUd49uaQBU7YF32czJ78nPr7nEuUvjhktNDa6sTwqgjF_lnXFFYYS5WaegzvaGOsC2_TRUUG3QcPWaxIZZ7k6Fp4hNgcM563H8gGJc-YuchR8WdxOdXKmxiNdByGoEx/w640-h640/IMG_5541.jpg" title="trail sisters run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Monday's CrossFit workout was a Metcon--a CF Open workout from a few years ago. I'm sharing the graphic from the website instead of writing it out in a paragraph: (and yes, we all were wondering about those BJs)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmawg_KdtT0vbz1TtETNuVI_dTxHg-bY1QyrFChKBv37-WddlGuYFFvpdq0wV2-fWvoktJ6uo3YaNhWDcfDWzxrYew0dL96jFlLxFir_TQTYO3nwek1yfAd8t_TaGLnYGPxpL5BfB-XzQhznMHMBkeY0oO2jwsWkJsxNEgwUPOLjX8ZknWYrs_pUfnpQ7/s1800/Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmawg_KdtT0vbz1TtETNuVI_dTxHg-bY1QyrFChKBv37-WddlGuYFFvpdq0wV2-fWvoktJ6uo3YaNhWDcfDWzxrYew0dL96jFlLxFir_TQTYO3nwek1yfAd8t_TaGLnYGPxpL5BfB-XzQhznMHMBkeY0oO2jwsWkJsxNEgwUPOLjX8ZknWYrs_pUfnpQ7/w266-h400/Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text.png" title="WOD" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This 8 minute AMRAP was as tough as it looked. I did the masters workout and made it to the 135# deadlifts, but could only complete 11 before time was called. Those box jumps really slowed me down. We finished with a post-metcon workout: 5 rounds, 30 seconds on, 15 seconds rest of Mountain Climbers, Superman scissor kicks, and bag/bear hug hold (I subbed planks). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvuV2Y6Ab7PCbGaD2XOwogB2cknO6pqsI7axhM6Mn3rp3TqEoRuSeM-mq9Mgqq9UhtrbbVg35oWoTjcEdLAEjJeQNziDKWQHxjLMiGLjgXtuZ0r7e8zXaB1SP-xPAJTHO_XAo7xMfK6-L0fTIwQkvoLT0kPQ56mb8UCa2zi81NSqa49Wp4TV3b6GTT0A8/s1156/IMG_5579.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1156" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvuV2Y6Ab7PCbGaD2XOwogB2cknO6pqsI7axhM6Mn3rp3TqEoRuSeM-mq9Mgqq9UhtrbbVg35oWoTjcEdLAEjJeQNziDKWQHxjLMiGLjgXtuZ0r7e8zXaB1SP-xPAJTHO_XAo7xMfK6-L0fTIwQkvoLT0kPQ56mb8UCa2zi81NSqa49Wp4TV3b6GTT0A8/w640-h640/IMG_5579.jpg" title="deadlifting" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After looking at the weekend's forecast of subzero temperatures--I guess El Niño has moved on--I decided to do my long run on Wednesday morning. The conditions for this run weren't optimal either--we had a snowstorm on Tuesday--but I figured with temperatures in the 30s, I should get this 10 miler done. The trails and bike paths were all snow and ice packed, so it was to the roads for me. It's been a long time since I've done a long run on the roads, but I dialed into my slow, steady 10 m/m pace and weaved my way around the neighborhoods where I live. I did a great job maintaining this pace, save for the few passages where I had to deal with ice/snow. I wore my Brooks Ghost GTX and my feet stayed warm and dry!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3e_Mh7O4btBRby2YMu016xinwCit2FYEHK0fBkRnZANnVE9w-xK5YY7lln18ZKVzonzLAe99qlaqpdYVy4sbbzTQruFuAwtKu9teaj3xb6Vv5GBBJzwVGR_b5MOiAZMDilbD1-RgDta5A0zcHgKcKSDo-7L0wweDYiOiz7lZ_GYsSnfjoxYBKPzYlUs9/s1440/A67ED1AD-16C4-448C-8D26-5DF53C02D0E5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3e_Mh7O4btBRby2YMu016xinwCit2FYEHK0fBkRnZANnVE9w-xK5YY7lln18ZKVzonzLAe99qlaqpdYVy4sbbzTQruFuAwtKu9teaj3xb6Vv5GBBJzwVGR_b5MOiAZMDilbD1-RgDta5A0zcHgKcKSDo-7L0wweDYiOiz7lZ_GYsSnfjoxYBKPzYlUs9/w640-h640/A67ED1AD-16C4-448C-8D26-5DF53C02D0E5.jpg" title="Snowy run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With SJ recovering from her ACL repair (she's doing great!), I signed up for the WOD on Thursday. This was a fun one-- we started off with a group warmup for the Power Snatch Drop Sets workout. Basically, we built to a heavy weight that we could snatch 2-3 times with good form. For me, this was 50#. From there, we <i>dropped </i>the weight incrementally--I dropped 5 pounds from my bar each time--and increased the number of reps until we couldn't do any more. When I was done, I ended up with 20# on my bar and did 15 reps. I probably could have done more, but my heart was pounding! We finished up with a short MetCon, a 7 minute AMRAP of 5-10-15-20-25 wall balls alternating with slam balls. I made it through the first 4 rounds and was starting on my wall balls for round 5 when time was called. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlIIEuAO-eOgoyZMR65_muE94ALsGj0fwn2WV6vsqC3zvdb7MEswPTCKxspNsam0MJjBNpYdPLMgDN31BeQu3bmYTHsnZCCuKkeX-F-VwTTB4jSvetmicjsNXrz_0JqUx_KbcHmKoF2hzXkHFCdhbtS8xUjNluAUlhMMjMYf67Vl-39VW0Krbga7XYA4H/s1383/IMG_5657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="1037" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlIIEuAO-eOgoyZMR65_muE94ALsGj0fwn2WV6vsqC3zvdb7MEswPTCKxspNsam0MJjBNpYdPLMgDN31BeQu3bmYTHsnZCCuKkeX-F-VwTTB4jSvetmicjsNXrz_0JqUx_KbcHmKoF2hzXkHFCdhbtS8xUjNluAUlhMMjMYf67Vl-39VW0Krbga7XYA4H/w480-h640/IMG_5657.jpg" title="Snatch workout" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I woke up Friday morning, I was excited to see that despite the fresh snow we had received overnight, the roads were clear! After a cup of coffee, I got myself dressed to run. When I got outside, the road was no longer clear--there were 2 inches of fresh snow. The wind was whipping, and I started to think that maybe running outside wasn't such a good idea. I went back inside, changed into shorts and a tank, and fired up the treadmill. I just could not settle into a groove, wishing I could have run outside. Still, I got it done. When I left for work, there were 6 inches of snow on the road and I knew I made the right decision.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My office closed at noon on Friday and when I arrived home, I tacked the driveway. Shoveling 6 inches of slushy snow for over an hour has to count as a strength workout! I skipped my strength workout on Saturday, planning on taking a rest day, but the lure of the snow was too much. I took my snowshoes to the trails and did a 3 mile loop. It's quite a workout!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOH_5tHAEA2q7fwQsZ994NiFOPKWc3ETA_RxCyf6z7zjdF7NITuyl6y9-v_UkwYwlGpu6UF_tDui424QMgMee0eiDCD1FCc_j2jNKaL8iPR0vI1oyq9eyQbQSrsKT-Me-yyo-MmQsqXrIUzq7-kdWOT9v-VDHwvRX_cfzU4I__ZEU8xAsLGVhIymcjjixQ/s3862/IMG_5741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3862" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOH_5tHAEA2q7fwQsZ994NiFOPKWc3ETA_RxCyf6z7zjdF7NITuyl6y9-v_UkwYwlGpu6UF_tDui424QMgMee0eiDCD1FCc_j2jNKaL8iPR0vI1oyq9eyQbQSrsKT-Me-yyo-MmQsqXrIUzq7-kdWOT9v-VDHwvRX_cfzU4I__ZEU8xAsLGVhIymcjjixQ/w480-h640/IMG_5741.jpg" title="snowshoeing" width="480" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Good news!</i></h2><div>I'm happy to share that I've been invited to join the Brooks Running Collective for 2024! This is the new iteration of the Brooks Run Happy Team and will be my 3rd year with the team. Not knowing what, if anything, the rebranding would change, I was excited to be asked back. Our first town hall meeting is coming up and we should learn more about the plans for the upcoming year. For this seasoned runner, the enthusiasm of the team continues to fuel my love for running!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs6iTc2XW_RWWATHlCqaMl3ndPqnFOfkjINRzQP5N3y_rl1YOTLpAIOUnGh5mrxLVEqyYbhCClqbc7c_7eTcqxDkIbOFJXD3LhOF0dJ0xdEjlFZWYrIUlHUPwH4mBO8Jrg-i8FfQsAhFcdOzUtgDT1t5aCC69eyAYDJg-JcECQRBj6lDhOrTft1xNcppI/s1687/IMG_5658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs6iTc2XW_RWWATHlCqaMl3ndPqnFOfkjINRzQP5N3y_rl1YOTLpAIOUnGh5mrxLVEqyYbhCClqbc7c_7eTcqxDkIbOFJXD3LhOF0dJ0xdEjlFZWYrIUlHUPwH4mBO8Jrg-i8FfQsAhFcdOzUtgDT1t5aCC69eyAYDJg-JcECQRBj6lDhOrTft1xNcppI/w444-h640/IMG_5658.jpg" title="BRC photo" width="444" /></a></div><br /><div><b>How was your week? Are you experiencing extreme weather? Have you every tried snowshoeing? Are you training for any races? Any good news this week?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-88024121999604440192024-01-06T09:26:00.001-06:002024-01-07T05:53:04.063-06:00Starting the New Year on the Right Foot<p>I've been reading a lot of posts about goals, 'word of the year', 'ins and outs', and resolutions. I think most of you know that I kind of just roll with what the year hands me. Already, I've signed up for a Chicago half marathon that takes place next month. My youngest son is going to join me and I know several other local runners who are doing it as well. I hoped that our mild winter would continue, but it is Chicago, and it looks like we are going to get some winter weather in the coming weeks. To prepare for this race, I'm going to do more running on the roads and focus on consistency. I'm a little less focused on my time. I want to feel good when I cross that finish line!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyebC88oPpgVdfSMjQnbMamqGvQm_HLJA_CLSsTvU8vqYX6BeB5xcQe4P5EhYTjWgss8r2NYzCfO1_GgOSRKEHRsPb6YG1UAVFfdNyDs77ufebhO06t-a50zIYGfg6aulouwAuZqjYboIWepYhIZGJjb4wrd-9Z1dAZXWImxKIDrHraACmKwplwfnxK6M/s1800/Starting%20the.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyebC88oPpgVdfSMjQnbMamqGvQm_HLJA_CLSsTvU8vqYX6BeB5xcQe4P5EhYTjWgss8r2NYzCfO1_GgOSRKEHRsPb6YG1UAVFfdNyDs77ufebhO06t-a50zIYGfg6aulouwAuZqjYboIWepYhIZGJjb4wrd-9Z1dAZXWImxKIDrHraACmKwplwfnxK6M/w426-h640/Starting%20the.png" title="Starting the New Year on the Right Foot cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 6.7 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: run 4 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run 8.1 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: treadmill run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">December miles: 81</div><div style="text-align: left;">2023 miles: 1015</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were up at the lake on Sunday, and of course I laced up my trail shoes. It was blustery and snowy, and the Ice Age Trail-Gibraltar Segment was beautiful! In the winter, I never know if the trails will be runnable up there, so it's always a treat to get in a full run. I was fortunate to have the entire segment to myself! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUiMedGv-krCTEfNdTeBUxbilrSrSS9IYBt-O981dtRYlMPihQQjZ33b9hws_XGYma5E_7FPf-uAAxWC3IVK8TV2B3CAtq5snv5EgCOc_y4hWQGr2H3JBIZya3fUDHbA6Fry0T7D1vXMcPOPfRvcCPacl5VePHRygNS6Li-MiAdNdzqkdIdEa6mjGjqFO/s2897/IMG_5449.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUiMedGv-krCTEfNdTeBUxbilrSrSS9IYBt-O981dtRYlMPihQQjZ33b9hws_XGYma5E_7FPf-uAAxWC3IVK8TV2B3CAtq5snv5EgCOc_y4hWQGr2H3JBIZya3fUDHbA6Fry0T7D1vXMcPOPfRvcCPacl5VePHRygNS6Li-MiAdNdzqkdIdEa6mjGjqFO/w640-h640/IMG_5449.heic" title="mini-snowman on the trail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfp_uRVohDS1wEfRMvGsQWLywwaxfmNXnK8k4HFgnzzVd9WQmPnsuSjVl241xuD0CoRBFszchCF0SwJxikAOFpmREUoWNsMvWIl8yKYjHuPo7l03EVOCBPLnxpzPg1r4ulNsDQXnYKgAi31K_oOdmGEQtB9pzGqPzie4el2d-a8sDQzCQwfAnoTsgH_HJ/s2650/IMG_5454.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2650" data-original-width="2650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfp_uRVohDS1wEfRMvGsQWLywwaxfmNXnK8k4HFgnzzVd9WQmPnsuSjVl241xuD0CoRBFszchCF0SwJxikAOFpmREUoWNsMvWIl8yKYjHuPo7l03EVOCBPLnxpzPg1r4ulNsDQXnYKgAi31K_oOdmGEQtB9pzGqPzie4el2d-a8sDQzCQwfAnoTsgH_HJ/w640-h640/IMG_5454.heic" title="Gibraltar Rock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I couldn't not run on New Year's Day! I felt like it was important to set the tone for the year. With a brisk wind out of the east and temperatures in the low 30s, I was more than happy to keep this one short. I reminded myself that I need to get used to this for my upcoming half in February! I stopped to play in handstand too. Don't be fooled by the photo-- I didn't hold this one and landed in the mud. Made me laugh all the way home. I spent the rest of the day by the fire, watching football. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWMfYjEEKc7VfPp4-ioID2j7XTkD7k2A2iSAKTI5oMttkfN25RLtEG65eEjwTqUIL03Sqz7XP-rEzaNh9w5wKn79RMUThPSuI9DbTziApJ-lNXtqNelm9CKNo2Ufp_oLfC9wP5ck5HvOSCeEoj-Ozp2dWVNGTeUfmJGqGkFL1kxLhhZ64ERXWI-3ylUVO/s1147/IMG_5492.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1147" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWMfYjEEKc7VfPp4-ioID2j7XTkD7k2A2iSAKTI5oMttkfN25RLtEG65eEjwTqUIL03Sqz7XP-rEzaNh9w5wKn79RMUThPSuI9DbTziApJ-lNXtqNelm9CKNo2Ufp_oLfC9wP5ck5HvOSCeEoj-Ozp2dWVNGTeUfmJGqGkFL1kxLhhZ64ERXWI-3ylUVO/w640-h640/IMG_5492.jpg" title="handstand" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Wednesday, I woke up in a funk. It didn't help that it was gray and gloomy outside either. It would have been so easy to go back to bed, but instead, I did a Yoga with Adriene class and then laced up my shoes for a run on the bike path. I need to get some long runs on pavement. Once again, I dialed into that 10m/m pace and maintained it for all of my 8 miles. There was a glitch at mile 4 when I ran across a wooden bridge and hit the black ice that was coating the surface. Thankfully, I stayed upright! I was very happy after this run. I'll continue to increase my miles over the next couple of weeks. It's not a true training plan but with no goal but to finish feeling good, I think it will be fine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa0J2DbLARwNzuftE0yvFYJzO0osTKaO8GATpuUHBEL5I7qDktc_sJNkURJBQPGwVDjCCfw_1vgCbxpU3DPGjYX7yHt796CEc1yuZuvTylHuH5jRPIjNyZ_ip6fyqoRJX0yvc4bfBF7CAZ_D2LN_VXOznFmXKxtNfyZee2gXuOwN1DkG1T8nSILVZkFM0/s1019/IMG_5511.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1018" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa0J2DbLARwNzuftE0yvFYJzO0osTKaO8GATpuUHBEL5I7qDktc_sJNkURJBQPGwVDjCCfw_1vgCbxpU3DPGjYX7yHt796CEc1yuZuvTylHuH5jRPIjNyZ_ip6fyqoRJX0yvc4bfBF7CAZ_D2LN_VXOznFmXKxtNfyZee2gXuOwN1DkG1T8nSILVZkFM0/w640-h640/IMG_5511.jpg" title="dancing on the run" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oh yes, I shook it off in the middle of my run!</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On Thursday, SJ and I met for our weekly strength sesh. We talked about strength goals for the first part of the year. Since I'm running a half marathon in a month, neither of us thought taxing my legs would be a good idea. In addition, SJ is having her ACL repaired next week and will be out for a couple of weeks. When she comes back, she's going to program some drills and agility work. In the meantime, I'll go to class. </div><div><br /></div><div>For this week, she had me work on snatches and overhead squats. I did a lot of prep work for this challenging lift--lots of shoulder and hip openers. I started light and built to 40#. It sounds light, but trust me when I tell you how hard it is to pull the bar overhead using a wide grip! I did snatch complexes--2 full snatches into an overhead squat followed by 2 overhead squats. She was very pleased with my progress. In between, she had me pick up and hold a 70# slam ball for 1 minute. That was NOT fun. But I did it 4 times and am a better person because of it--or so she says. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF_YjeAJoHQguiOJAOz-WuzWYKKOgXWCDH2gHmc6pNOOy15ac3m12JqLg9Z9jAw6hAwDBvOZRXiu5rV4eXjaLphooNT00sIxHj75GY1NPPiHk4x1BYyKVocIydbJ_h_nQcxbyoXc6e01wSc3IHMhWaK7KChae4f9mpr39N9GWqLqRN7NsuMfFp5v77pq1/s2286/IMG_5519.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZVVTkBwfVpsq3X5CDzyry5wyBJAwx0XGtDNs9Zg3IbZToyAjvLGySR3eV7ypP8HdxHwuCTZDOpSpFkZW1poVHKe4RUumI6NT4ba0mX5cUHk90IhQ09o9dv80pGgdurGAnQ7Zfu5rbJ9n-HtbVSeyNk-MaCzASfMn4iOLBjF-WbIhrNs4v_RwrA84zZq-/s1170/IMG_5522.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZVVTkBwfVpsq3X5CDzyry5wyBJAwx0XGtDNs9Zg3IbZToyAjvLGySR3eV7ypP8HdxHwuCTZDOpSpFkZW1poVHKe4RUumI6NT4ba0mX5cUHk90IhQ09o9dv80pGgdurGAnQ7Zfu5rbJ9n-HtbVSeyNk-MaCzASfMn4iOLBjF-WbIhrNs4v_RwrA84zZq-/w320-h320/IMG_5522.jpg" title="OHS 35#" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2286" data-original-width="2286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF_YjeAJoHQguiOJAOz-WuzWYKKOgXWCDH2gHmc6pNOOy15ac3m12JqLg9Z9jAw6hAwDBvOZRXiu5rV4eXjaLphooNT00sIxHj75GY1NPPiHk4x1BYyKVocIydbJ_h_nQcxbyoXc6e01wSc3IHMhWaK7KChae4f9mpr39N9GWqLqRN7NsuMfFp5v77pq1/w320-h320/IMG_5519.heic" title="slam ball hold 70#" width="320" /></div><div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday's run, I passed a guy hanging out in the underpass on both trips through. It struck me as odd and was a little unnerving. So much so, on Friday, the thought of running in the dark on the bike path made me a little nervous. While I'm sure it would have been fine, I took my run to the treadmill, running an uneventful 6 miles--save for a little tummy trouble. It seems I made the right choice for this run!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_p2ZzfNdrL9FR2q6rMmNutK5ei5Tu7VwOwT6UAKkKc56-XDmrgvR3m61k_r9eug_XiUY_c3beNG_g0-cfSgzWaEIyjBawDvfdLIPgFLqSEt9YFbItgC7amazOKvPMdglGeaXHIRW3tL9Ylj7TPIKB3XUXXIz1uXR9f8emgP8mTKZQbPjdvBlE2PH3iBM/s2596/IMG_5526.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2596" data-original-width="2596" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_p2ZzfNdrL9FR2q6rMmNutK5ei5Tu7VwOwT6UAKkKc56-XDmrgvR3m61k_r9eug_XiUY_c3beNG_g0-cfSgzWaEIyjBawDvfdLIPgFLqSEt9YFbItgC7amazOKvPMdglGeaXHIRW3tL9Ylj7TPIKB3XUXXIz1uXR9f8emgP8mTKZQbPjdvBlE2PH3iBM/w640-h640/IMG_5526.heic" title="TM run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I woke up to fresh snow on Saturday and oh, how I wanted to go running! But with plans to run with the Trail Sisters on Sunday and a spot reserved in Saturday morning strength class, I headed to the gym. I love going to the gym on Saturdays. There are actually 3 classes going on at the same time: CrossFit, rowing boot camp, and strength. The energy is just infectious! </div><div><br /></div><div>The strength workout for today included power cleans 5 sets of 3 at <85%. I built to 70#. We also had back squats, 5 sets of 4 at a light to moderate weight--I maxed at 85#--because we were supposed to focus on form. We finished with 4 sets of 30 flutter kicks. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've shared before about my fear of heavy squats, so the focus on form was really helpful! What was also helpful was working out next to a guy in class who happens to be a strength coach and a CrossFit judge. He's given me a lot of tips over the past couple of months, but when I told him about my squatphobia, he gave me a lot of good advice, including hanging out in the bottom of a lighter squat for 3-4 seconds before pushing up. I wasn't going low enough either, so we talked about that as well. He was happy with my final efforts and told me to send the photos to SJ, which she loved.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dfIkuWAQ8LRyOE8wjiuTVcyYFnbZM1rn9cC3yVrUi1bkXuqJNCb1oVaOV42ySRoDyxqnRbGjNFRkJi_jCAFIcmijQWeWzg3vL5q0tV00Gu36lcow_irhTnhCsA0GKOP6ZMBBEMqLBUSR0yO13FXWxbjn8dyBp8p27z2aoN_5THwQVAkPp0sBUzsuISry/s1004/IMG_5530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1003" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dfIkuWAQ8LRyOE8wjiuTVcyYFnbZM1rn9cC3yVrUi1bkXuqJNCb1oVaOV42ySRoDyxqnRbGjNFRkJi_jCAFIcmijQWeWzg3vL5q0tV00Gu36lcow_irhTnhCsA0GKOP6ZMBBEMqLBUSR0yO13FXWxbjn8dyBp8p27z2aoN_5THwQVAkPp0sBUzsuISry/w640-h640/IMG_5530.jpg" title="back squat 85#" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><b>How was your week? Did you make any goals, resolutions, or ins and outs for the New Year? Are you running any races this winter? </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-7975972279380198982023-12-31T06:37:00.005-06:002024-01-02T04:56:19.420-06:00Mini Book Reviews: December 2023<p><i>Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. </i></p><p>What a great finish to a great year of reading! As I read my final book of the year, <i>Strange Sallly Diamond, </i>I couldn't help but notice some of the themes of the books I read this month overlapped. I read two books with quirky characters, <i>The Mystery Guest </i>and <i>Strange Sally Diamond. </i>Questionable adoptions were the themes in <i>The Berry Pickers </i>and <i>Strange Sally Diamond. </i>I couldn't help but make comparisons between the books. In <i>All That is Mine, I Carry With Me, </i>and <i>Strange Sally Diamond, </i>you have themes of misogyny and victimization of women. Don't let that deter you from any of these books--they were all good reads!</p><p>This year I read 70 books and DNF'd 3. My top 10 books were; <i>Demon Copperhead, Hello Beautiful, Adelaide, The Great Believers, Last Summer on State Street, The Collected Regrets of Clover, Shark Heart, Birdie and Harlow, The Berry Pickers, </i>and <i>Strange Sally Diamond. </i>There were many other good ones as well, so if you don't <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1916173?ref=nav_mybooks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow me on Goodreads,</a> please do so you can check them out! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaHUCE71icAdgXfYglGQlMQDG2THxu5k4sBO4BDyyyPbRa9oYJR8wKLM4focaZaP6f4iCunYCMxgucK7GspckMKsU5zGAm0iEyvHqBLBEAyyUZal005zIk9rOTLyB2xT8L_PU1wDfZ4gUw8NqO9KjWwjSDsf3jW_mX-rO682Ej1neq8XQCFkNC2G_Yray/s878/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%201.10.19%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="872" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaHUCE71icAdgXfYglGQlMQDG2THxu5k4sBO4BDyyyPbRa9oYJR8wKLM4focaZaP6f4iCunYCMxgucK7GspckMKsU5zGAm0iEyvHqBLBEAyyUZal005zIk9rOTLyB2xT8L_PU1wDfZ4gUw8NqO9KjWwjSDsf3jW_mX-rO682Ej1neq8XQCFkNC2G_Yray/w636-h640/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%201.10.19%20PM.png" title="Mini Book Reviews: December 2023 cover" width="636" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTYJHyf9af4xY4J2OEbEpRkWz2L7zh1_Mk5E1fKNoUEU6yztE1-EdQCdNjTS4LO7Aq8yHMD647qr3z-wg5n27QZHOlBzi_UxpI3JDdj9tLXvlDol3y_zG6lYJcNpX3s1Uk_BtMfIUBFSLwG0kkXQNw0rUmu92DFjJxgtDSfsnDC2MnjY_moB3eal5hu81/s5550/61385615.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5550" data-original-width="3675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTYJHyf9af4xY4J2OEbEpRkWz2L7zh1_Mk5E1fKNoUEU6yztE1-EdQCdNjTS4LO7Aq8yHMD647qr3z-wg5n27QZHOlBzi_UxpI3JDdj9tLXvlDol3y_zG6lYJcNpX3s1Uk_BtMfIUBFSLwG0kkXQNw0rUmu92DFjJxgtDSfsnDC2MnjY_moB3eal5hu81/w133-h200/61385615.jpg" title="The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise cover" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://amzn.to/3Nc9sP9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise</i></a> was a really fun read about a young woman, Tanner, who is just kind of lost and goes to live with an elderly woman, Louise, who needs live-in help. She doesn't think she needs the help. Tanner has been living an aimless existence after a devastating soccer injury, playing video games non-stop. This situation makes for some really entertaining dialogue. She starts to notice that things are not what they seem with Louise. The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place when Louise wakes Tanner up at 1 am after receiving a mysterious letter, demanding that they leave immediately in a mint green Jaguar she has hidden in a shed. The trip takes the 2 women on an adventure and as they travel, Louise begins to share more of her story with Tanner. The snappy, witty dialogue made the pages turn for me. <p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQumlyJgiJOTVwEtdVD9-JlZdZlxnVH9xdfh2Z3N7Tda5tN5QEPyDcgb8meaQ0YJecKUn3tPA1x2u9h4na4c_MJgyCkiaHU1LM1NHvFIMe2KFxWxMq1c40Q1A0lkR_20H-qXVWXL0U14P3iL__SHFCujuVOHm6mc3ctlHqPJFo8pPi_adDaBpUyxLIg6T/s400/157062582.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQumlyJgiJOTVwEtdVD9-JlZdZlxnVH9xdfh2Z3N7Tda5tN5QEPyDcgb8meaQ0YJecKUn3tPA1x2u9h4na4c_MJgyCkiaHU1LM1NHvFIMe2KFxWxMq1c40Q1A0lkR_20H-qXVWXL0U14P3iL__SHFCujuVOHm6mc3ctlHqPJFo8pPi_adDaBpUyxLIg6T/w131-h200/157062582.jpg" title="The Mystery Guest cover" width="131" /></a></div>I loved <i><a href="https://amzn.to/46OX8vt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Maid</a></i> when it was released--Molly the maid's unique, quirky voice and devotion to her position as a maid, solving a murder at an upscale motel was one of my favorite reads of 2022. I had mixed feelings about reading a sequel--I always do--I wondered if it could stand up to the original. While <a href="https://amzn.to/3TeEBWi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Mystery Guest</i></a> brought back Molly's unique perspective, I found the mystery somewhat predictable, the ending a little too pat. In the original story, Molly's peculiarness seemed offputting to the other characters, but in the sequel, she was almost lovable. There is a subplot, a backstory about Molly's early life with Gram that could have been a whole separate book. Lots of repetitive dialogue made me ready to be finished. Call this one Molly-Lite.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl4xCddCjZfAPPShJhQdfs7QNgSZb8R6MGHM4f5O_A0BFH3Pf16caC3bkAASGoONb-VJxbl57WE3E-9X4yduq-YTj2KuFdgqRHJOXbWwXAr1IOzgWMaCyg2sex0SRlP_Jl_R8wMNQYU189Lq2V3aG58arNbP0PmcqoE1LUd4gZ3-gaZA6WbUdfA5VSfIz/s499/59381516.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl4xCddCjZfAPPShJhQdfs7QNgSZb8R6MGHM4f5O_A0BFH3Pf16caC3bkAASGoONb-VJxbl57WE3E-9X4yduq-YTj2KuFdgqRHJOXbWwXAr1IOzgWMaCyg2sex0SRlP_Jl_R8wMNQYU189Lq2V3aG58arNbP0PmcqoE1LUd4gZ3-gaZA6WbUdfA5VSfIz/w133-h200/59381516.jpg" title="Evil Eye cover" width="133" /></a></div>After reading and loving <a href="https://amzn.to/3NiY3wY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>A Woman is No Man</i></a>, I knew I had to read this one. The author's latest is another take on life as a Muslim woman, but in <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RCEJO6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Evil Eye</a></i>, the main character is college educated and an art instructor at a local college. Tradition still rules, and she also is responsible for raising the couple's young children, as well as maintaining the household and keeping her husband happy. As she sinks into a depression, she begins to compare her life to her mother's, having flashbacks to her own violent childhood. This was a sad but ultimately rewarding read. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE0onBXvDRX89kcuCHntuiMkPCxB_ewBXPVCQRn7Gx0SziPCNMWfPi81Ix_RFmNDnfQ8d-rqWUjcL-Z1U1pl7mEMZY3kV00JMlShwcbvbk2jSapgFNYDG86EVmQqP2IufvlWNOc208ziKrV4I8vuZUMFk13M-MOn3hpG3bvKKU_GuSjB5kQOzk9NMAMCV/s1500/134115745.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="969" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE0onBXvDRX89kcuCHntuiMkPCxB_ewBXPVCQRn7Gx0SziPCNMWfPi81Ix_RFmNDnfQ8d-rqWUjcL-Z1U1pl7mEMZY3kV00JMlShwcbvbk2jSapgFNYDG86EVmQqP2IufvlWNOc208ziKrV4I8vuZUMFk13M-MOn3hpG3bvKKU_GuSjB5kQOzk9NMAMCV/w129-h200/134115745.jpg" title="Liz Cheney: Oath and Honor cover" width="129" /></a></div>I normally would agree very little with the views of Liz Cheney, but after the events of January 6, I found a whole new admiration for her. Instead of stepping in line with the rest of her political party, she did the right thing, stepped 'across the aisle', and fought for democracy and the Constitution. In <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3GNKpOW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oath and Honor</a></i>, she retells the events of that terrible day. She shares how she was selected to be a part of the investigative commission and the exhausting search she and the others did to uncover all the facts about the events leading up to that terrible day. The attention to detail is impressive and after reading this it is hard to understand how anyone could deny the election results or what took place in our Capitol that day. I finished this book in awe of Cheney and all the others who risked intimidation and threats to make sure the truth prevailed. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eAVQJpantM9yFLqE6GZDUbSBQUFkIIflgy18bwED5UMRHocB347jZlPws0A55SWstwbaRgV70P3f-3HdVu18XwnuuOKm-2lg6b8iyiVnbR0mSWmRzUNLoaOtwMQvEvIZLTSwP4R9tDup-By4MgIcSf-NvgrVoYnuJfWKX36kUqwKc4wIg40DnUNCG52p/s400/61058004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eAVQJpantM9yFLqE6GZDUbSBQUFkIIflgy18bwED5UMRHocB347jZlPws0A55SWstwbaRgV70P3f-3HdVu18XwnuuOKm-2lg6b8iyiVnbR0mSWmRzUNLoaOtwMQvEvIZLTSwP4R9tDup-By4MgIcSf-NvgrVoYnuJfWKX36kUqwKc4wIg40DnUNCG52p/w131-h200/61058004.jpg" title="All That is Mine I Carry With Me cover" width="131" /></a></div>A 10 year old girl comes home from school to find her mother is missing. The primary suspect is her dad, who somehow manages to maintain his innocence. Set in the 1970s, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/41AeJpL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">All That is Mine I Carry With Me</a></i> navigates the 3 children's lives as they grow up without a mother. Her sister steps in to help the kids and defend her sister's legacy. This was an engaging story, but a bit long-winded. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. The reveal isn't so much of a revelation as the ending, which had me scratching my head. Overall, this was worth reading. Oh, and that title? It's a translation of a Latin quote- <i>omnia mea mecum porto- </i>that one of the characters has tattooed on her arm. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG6YEounV3YPO0vQqzhehxKOK15GeOavuQA9O6Yxaa0RbDiH4iOKcu-S_GMVO5rhosMHLg7S77ci4CGYHP4zcj6ZLU0eEVMvGVcKmPiyfLDMifAs3XW9fR55Ag1Xs_-frRQ8hmbEbFomE5Wxg5-0BW3UoEuDNAJfhcyOVCMHmDuDJeTfCKtaDhKbm-LLR/s2100/123036004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG6YEounV3YPO0vQqzhehxKOK15GeOavuQA9O6Yxaa0RbDiH4iOKcu-S_GMVO5rhosMHLg7S77ci4CGYHP4zcj6ZLU0eEVMvGVcKmPiyfLDMifAs3XW9fR55Ag1Xs_-frRQ8hmbEbFomE5Wxg5-0BW3UoEuDNAJfhcyOVCMHmDuDJeTfCKtaDhKbm-LLR/w133-h200/123036004.jpg" title="The Berry Pickers cover" width="133" /></a></div>This beautifully quiet book should be on everyone's reading list. Told from several perspectives, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/47ghVbc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Berry Pickers</a> </i>is the story of a native Canadian family who traveled to Maine on their annual trek to pick blueberries. The youngest child, who wandered off to eat her sandwich, disappears without a trace. One of her brothers lives with the guilt of being the last to see her--something that affects him for the rest of his life. Norma is a young girl being raised in Maine by an overprotective, anxious mother. Many things about her life don't feel right, and as she gets older, she begins to ask questions, only to be shut down. There are no surprises and you know how this book will end. The journey is the destination. I loved this book. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL3kry26Hi5MoSchvOe82gP2sM-HhkYf5XaVI0Gq4PJ5saXndZn0ZNV0DnN7dUz-jS17fTPQ847hteHKKZALRVnmuGJ-H9dEnn_kcOO2pydMZVnLG16Si2jg6bWpjlybJ8bGfRokO2AyDBRO7PEG1xhsh0QmVkyG-v9sIdykJwDJb3zYqFTMkkuC_xzvv/s500/62606369.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL3kry26Hi5MoSchvOe82gP2sM-HhkYf5XaVI0Gq4PJ5saXndZn0ZNV0DnN7dUz-jS17fTPQ847hteHKKZALRVnmuGJ-H9dEnn_kcOO2pydMZVnLG16Si2jg6bWpjlybJ8bGfRokO2AyDBRO7PEG1xhsh0QmVkyG-v9sIdykJwDJb3zYqFTMkkuC_xzvv/w133-h200/62606369.jpg" title="Strange Sally Diamond cover" width="133" /></a></div>Quirky characters are having a moment, aren't they? Meet <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3H3tEPK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Strange Sally Diamond</a></i>--a reclusive young woman with few social skills who takes everything literally. Prior to his death, her father instructed her to carry his body out to the incinerator in the backyard, which she does, lighting it on fire. As this absurd story unfolds, we learn about the horrific early years that defined Sally's childhood. It's a twisty tale and there's a lot to unpack. It's a dark story, with a lot of disturbing scenarios. Sally's innocence and bluntness lend a lot of humor throughout the book, which helps lighten the tale. I went into this one blind--it was recommended by a few book bloggers at the end of the year, so I impulsively picked it up. You should too. It was probably one of the best books I've read this year!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What have you read lately? Do you ever notice recurrent themes between books you've chosen? It kind of reminds me of that compare and contrast activity we had to do in English class in high school! Any books you would recommend for me?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="http://runswithpugs.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">J</span>enn</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="http://runswithpugs.com" target="_blank"> </a>and </span><a href="http://zenaida.net/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Zenaida</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> for Tuesday Topics </span>and with the ladies of Fit Five Friday: <a href="https://myfirst5kandmore.com/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Darlene</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">, </span><a href="https://www.runningwithattitude.com/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Michelle</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">, </span><a href="https://runswithpugs.com/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Jenn</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">, and </span><a href="https://zenaida.net/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Zenaida</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-BOtkOMonbHqA2QbFNJCHwse7q_ZYu4x_nX2ddgNl7RMdFJ0Mg4F3Jkhk7eXCRMt116O3gVkQILmMlkt7G4e15Ljhi_rU1UjA_ku4J_k3Pn7eF_X10MqigDrLV605gRg0qxZoIzUoNq4Kjk4nAXP9tErckxjaJpIQdF2M0qeoktdJfnjgtJu7DNfd-Op/s500/img_6885.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-BOtkOMonbHqA2QbFNJCHwse7q_ZYu4x_nX2ddgNl7RMdFJ0Mg4F3Jkhk7eXCRMt116O3gVkQILmMlkt7G4e15Ljhi_rU1UjA_ku4J_k3Pn7eF_X10MqigDrLV605gRg0qxZoIzUoNq4Kjk4nAXP9tErckxjaJpIQdF2M0qeoktdJfnjgtJu7DNfd-Op/w200-h200/img_6885.png" title="Fit Five Friday badge" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi890cRHnp32jvOVTScXAX5It1ymSsYhy2haW6pxAp5-o_HQ9CNr2ZItS6EYj2w9UeFYhEZZbmJbd3wey5Hk2AsuDbAETzINDAjQlnAKpQ5dCeGY7ucs94iEUKXLtkgBwRa9ueAlteUs8XD/s280/48423983_285042255481282_5454521484242321408_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi890cRHnp32jvOVTScXAX5It1ymSsYhy2haW6pxAp5-o_HQ9CNr2ZItS6EYj2w9UeFYhEZZbmJbd3wey5Hk2AsuDbAETzINDAjQlnAKpQ5dCeGY7ucs94iEUKXLtkgBwRa9ueAlteUs8XD/w200-h200/48423983_285042255481282_5454521484242321408_n.jpg" title="Tuesday Topics badge" width="200" /></a><div><br style="background-color: white;" /></div></div></span></div></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-22791480716505115282023-12-30T07:03:00.000-06:002023-12-31T05:42:24.635-06:00Mission Accomplished<p>I continued my quest to hit 1000 miles for the year and on Wednesday, my mission was accomplished. I didn't stop running, though! I kept up with my usual routine, adding a few more miles to my yearly total. I'm feeling very satisfied with how my year went, both on and off the road, and that is a great feeling!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N-C4BxTDaN1C9gy0S3hMN9I1pGTtZFRSJqYxGVWFcwqPa-z2EcSPsdlmKEM05JMSfrpP-1dyZWdWylCPs9TfxXqLfgQ5J4WK5LH0vOasPAXTr2asaOKeTu52pPk70GJrUqTTebiYgk8MqdEu1wXOyhtdH7AxebPxeRAyJkmo3tcH2q8OeNVGEsyTrFxl/s1800/Mission%20Accomplished.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N-C4BxTDaN1C9gy0S3hMN9I1pGTtZFRSJqYxGVWFcwqPa-z2EcSPsdlmKEM05JMSfrpP-1dyZWdWylCPs9TfxXqLfgQ5J4WK5LH0vOasPAXTr2asaOKeTu52pPk70GJrUqTTebiYgk8MqdEu1wXOyhtdH7AxebPxeRAyJkmo3tcH2q8OeNVGEsyTrFxl/w426-h640/Mission%20Accomplished.png" title="Mission Accomplished cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: trail run 6.75 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: Christmas Day</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run 7.3 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: treadmill run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our strange weather continues! On Sunday/Christmas Eve, it was 50 degrees when I left to run at the forest preserve. I wore shorts! It was foggy and the trails were muddy and wet. It felt more like spring than December. No deer sightings--there were too many people on the trails. Despite that, I had lots of solitude. I took a detour into the woods to check out a structure that looked like a well from the trail but turned out to be what my trail friend said was a salt lick. Going off trail is always risky and the buckthorn had its way with me. IYKYK. Aside from all the battle wounds, this was a very strong run for me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmPTMkshJyWdkIVwo3ubCW89xGuSbBc3P-3BTGk1M2OnYIYzLYMWo3JMhy5YBxu41jip13KLoWXPuLGXWi9BHzTCeymHZIGgKIt6IukEQ0QubrYfBx4HztD7Ia8Kfd44IVhWYoL9SW5TI7IA0abtg6OyNrFCqs66AsZ93gaceWgsw52uV26i0Vh9DlIF-/s4032/IMG_5192.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmPTMkshJyWdkIVwo3ubCW89xGuSbBc3P-3BTGk1M2OnYIYzLYMWo3JMhy5YBxu41jip13KLoWXPuLGXWi9BHzTCeymHZIGgKIt6IukEQ0QubrYfBx4HztD7Ia8Kfd44IVhWYoL9SW5TI7IA0abtg6OyNrFCqs66AsZ93gaceWgsw52uV26i0Vh9DlIF-/w640-h360/IMG_5192.heic" title="Little lake in the middle of the meadow" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqbuD2il2wOU3ugkoL9XQnfkh7kfr76pbQoNGbIJ64gOAlKLsW_3T_eTFnhy5iGwPt-9Eq9LE94KPF6FatzWwoxpYyMi2uPD1MChpxtCrX0VVOaWLhWwXSgKtDwBQgALYoLoRk-QdibJG8kgFVKHcI78AMafGdsLNidmOJv3DNS32SU52DpbTL0wUrE-V/s2415/IMG_5197.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="2415" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqbuD2il2wOU3ugkoL9XQnfkh7kfr76pbQoNGbIJ64gOAlKLsW_3T_eTFnhy5iGwPt-9Eq9LE94KPF6FatzWwoxpYyMi2uPD1MChpxtCrX0VVOaWLhWwXSgKtDwBQgALYoLoRk-QdibJG8kgFVKHcI78AMafGdsLNidmOJv3DNS32SU52DpbTL0wUrE-V/w640-h640/IMG_5197.heic" title="salt lick" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Salt Lick</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I didn't run on Christmas Day--I was hosting my entire family and needed to save my energy! I woke up Tuesday morning completely exhausted and not at all sure I was up for CrossFit. But after 2 cups of coffee and a smoothie, I felt a little more ambitious. I was so glad I went because I felt much better after the workout. The workout itself was painful: for the strength portion, we did a 12 minute EMOM alternating toes-to-bar prep with 2 laps of farmers' carries (I used 35# KBs). For the MetCon, we did an 18 minute AMRAP of 15 cal on the bike, 14 toes-to-bar or prep (I did straight leg raises), and 10 box jumps (I used a 20" box). I made it through 5 full rounds and an additional 9 cal on the bike before time was called. I was really happy with my TTB prep--I feel as if I am making good progress and should hopefully have TTB soon!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHZ1eMnlpeXa3jbiHPROlTrKP5vatlpq-XksYub8tu-SQ5drIcnvqqqc_Rc8VXseoFZpUUq3YJF2JBQquODC9RC6xV109yggMxGm4EAR9esYTV7AB51zbB40JnzRCU9dvhRuv4hSSSYjszBfGLdNMhWkAU-rxX9_E88FA5r3fIt7CyI_HTsVQ-i1Xb0ZB/s1032/IMG_5226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1032" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHZ1eMnlpeXa3jbiHPROlTrKP5vatlpq-XksYub8tu-SQ5drIcnvqqqc_Rc8VXseoFZpUUq3YJF2JBQquODC9RC6xV109yggMxGm4EAR9esYTV7AB51zbB40JnzRCU9dvhRuv4hSSSYjszBfGLdNMhWkAU-rxX9_E88FA5r3fIt7CyI_HTsVQ-i1Xb0ZB/w640-h640/IMG_5226.jpg" title="TTB prep" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday, I laced up my road shoes and ran the 7-ish mile loop at Busse Woods, one of the other pretty forest preserves near my house. While I've run there many times over the years, with my focus on trails, I don't think I've run there at all this year! It was a pretty morning and I mostly had the path to myself, save for some fisherman. There were some slick spots on the pavement and the trees were covered with hoarfrost. The elk were out and it was a treat to see them. I brought my headphones but forgot to put them on--it was just that beautiful. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU67frBcoCzxFAY4oGYNZo7zRUSsraNWI1beDTI-Aw6xl6IHm6vCJFGCAVLxI1MKqC-YT_CDPWXCmCwHD5pipXM1WLRKjCpgcgUbnLU_cj6sCTh8nURlYTa-XWqOQeySGcQDymAtCX9U1OdndgdPXpXhpcuid2B_Cpgl5avZCx2wjHCZz-AreH0TavkWn/s2444/IMG_5234%202.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2444" data-original-width="2444" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU67frBcoCzxFAY4oGYNZo7zRUSsraNWI1beDTI-Aw6xl6IHm6vCJFGCAVLxI1MKqC-YT_CDPWXCmCwHD5pipXM1WLRKjCpgcgUbnLU_cj6sCTh8nURlYTa-XWqOQeySGcQDymAtCX9U1OdndgdPXpXhpcuid2B_Cpgl5avZCx2wjHCZz-AreH0TavkWn/w640-h640/IMG_5234%202.heic" title="Busse Lake" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwA-F-8gVWgGSmRXKOnOQr742Nct8-jzFHeJO8derbr6lzXGiVdhD91bO2827qs5qeXJjJH1AmUFS0ZNp64dNp6jsPz5klCplVU5h_0xI6CPv4AKpMMH64KkfQznx17RCwvZ4yxoHJ4YI05wByibVwZNXuo_DpLnw9f0rOjkjlnHZMKujT0au9B1d8_k4/s2250/IMG_5365.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="2250" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwA-F-8gVWgGSmRXKOnOQr742Nct8-jzFHeJO8derbr6lzXGiVdhD91bO2827qs5qeXJjJH1AmUFS0ZNp64dNp6jsPz5klCplVU5h_0xI6CPv4AKpMMH64KkfQznx17RCwvZ4yxoHJ4YI05wByibVwZNXuo_DpLnw9f0rOjkjlnHZMKujT0au9B1d8_k4/w640-h640/IMG_5365.heic" title="the elk at Busse Woods" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>SJ had Covid, so I did the WOD on Thursday instead of strength training. For the strength portion, we again worked on cleans and jerks. The class was large, so we were partnered up with another classmate. The assignment was to do 5 sets of squat cleans and one jerk. We built to 65#. The MetCon was a chipper: 18-15-12-9-6-3 calories on the rower, burpees, and abmat situps. There weren't enough rowers, so I did the bike, which takes longer to accumulate calories than the rower does. No worries, it was a good workout and I finished in 16:11.<div><br /></div><div>Friday morning was cold, rainy, and dark; my joints were achy, so I made the decision to run on my TM. It wasn't a difficult decision. I ran an easy paced 6 and headed off to work. The achiness stuck with me all day and into Saturday. I opted out of a planned strength class and gave my legs a rest. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPTyba6w9EyFuO0XUMoRkQ__527w_MJXt9LcBmr-N1liWz3F1HzGRBQ-8OjZ4rUQbOiRle-1sIsl_RlZVR5IV_xZ5mDyfucEysrsHCNEsXmhQUYQOYMiw6lyhKelNNmXRitlqlpGUB4babe99CYg05ZwjX3bZgwWwFr8wDqCxGAidroK538WS8-DCKDfq/s2897/IMG_5377.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPTyba6w9EyFuO0XUMoRkQ__527w_MJXt9LcBmr-N1liWz3F1HzGRBQ-8OjZ4rUQbOiRle-1sIsl_RlZVR5IV_xZ5mDyfucEysrsHCNEsXmhQUYQOYMiw6lyhKelNNmXRitlqlpGUB4babe99CYg05ZwjX3bZgwWwFr8wDqCxGAidroK538WS8-DCKDfq/w640-h640/IMG_5377.heic" title="TM run" width="640" /></a></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Christmas Day</i></h2><div>We hosted dinner on Christmas Day! We had 13 total and it was a fun, lively gathering. Both the boys brought their girlfriends. We also found out that my sister is going to be a grandma this spring! I've said it before and I'll say it again--having grown children is really the best! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngdI-IJxOfHQNBoRzAf8bF3VM6VAtdsjJbO38D-z4LzqL15CjKM6wCKaPRoCnYno8JubPyj4aBhNcsB0D3YhVE2JHl1ecumNHDt0gwwAU_tYvPhxx1g6IxVz_wrE369Bq-0SSJoZleZYbVDcwF_gTmFDtVOv8OwWZHP1gcScRUxLNOnxyGtuWkNPUlhID/s2675/IMG_1527.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2006" data-original-width="2675" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngdI-IJxOfHQNBoRzAf8bF3VM6VAtdsjJbO38D-z4LzqL15CjKM6wCKaPRoCnYno8JubPyj4aBhNcsB0D3YhVE2JHl1ecumNHDt0gwwAU_tYvPhxx1g6IxVz_wrE369Bq-0SSJoZleZYbVDcwF_gTmFDtVOv8OwWZHP1gcScRUxLNOnxyGtuWkNPUlhID/w640-h480/IMG_1527.HEIC" title="family" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Cocoa update</i></h2><div>On Wednesday, I took Cocoa up to the University of Wisconsin for her follow up. The dermatologist called her 'the patient of the day' and it wasn't because she is so cute. Between her ear and her skin, she's just a hot mess. She has really bad allergies and we've been playing with her medications to try to keep her from itching so much. This predisposes her to superficial skin infections and they gave me some new medicated soaps to wash her with. With regards to her ear, the ear drops they've given me have kept things stable, but she is very likely going to need total ear ablation in her remaining ear. I have time off scheduled in April and am hoping to schedule it then. Sadly. I just hate the thought of her being deaf, but we're between the proverbial rock and hard place. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPDflDNaqH0mDiz1KPdCvIZVYVH4j3Ec2CovzfNZBTUMJjAiNMWwm4p__w2bD6e8O778QbsJTu1D_s6LZ5Un0l2aEc94_A95HOOWtVjlfPKOvfSLz7MOK0BNHzJABvWqqI78ncJGPzQOjj2S9cXihjAK_DrUGistL8SEK-HAnozjUlhUb3MfOdXOQnBK7/s2023/IMG_5214.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="2023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPDflDNaqH0mDiz1KPdCvIZVYVH4j3Ec2CovzfNZBTUMJjAiNMWwm4p__w2bD6e8O778QbsJTu1D_s6LZ5Un0l2aEc94_A95HOOWtVjlfPKOvfSLz7MOK0BNHzJABvWqqI78ncJGPzQOjj2S9cXihjAK_DrUGistL8SEK-HAnozjUlhUb3MfOdXOQnBK7/w640-h640/IMG_5214.heic" title="Cocoa Christmas" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><b>We're wrapping up the year without fanfare. We're going to my parents' today to exchange gifts with my youngest sister and her family, then we'll spend a quiet NYE at home. Just how I like it! Do you have any plans for NYE or NYD? Are you running any races this weekend? Did anyone have a White Christmas?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Coming up on Tuesday are my monthly mini book reviews for December!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-11572008060577733262023-12-23T18:19:00.001-06:002023-12-24T05:28:08.369-06:00Chasing 1000 miles<p>When checking my annual mileage last week, I discovered that 1000 miles for the year was within reach! This week, I chipped away at that goal, getting to 989 miles for 2023 after Friday's run. Barring any unforeseen issues--illness stay away!--I think I got this! </p><p>The last time I topped 1000 miles was in 2020, during the pandemic. That year I ran 1208 miles, which included several virtual and live half marathons. In 2021 I ran 917 miles for the year, despite being sidelined for several months after breaking my ankle and foot. Last year, I ran 970 miles. I wasn't paying attention--otherwise, I would have pushed a little harder to top 1000. </p><p>What's so important about topping 1000 miles? I never set a mileage goal for the year, but there is a certain satisfaction in hitting such a big number. A Google search revealed that 1000 miles is a fairly common goal for runners--defined by <i>Runner's World </i>as 'both terribly daunting and totally attainable'. For this runner, topping 1000 miles feels very satisfying. Hitting 1000 miles for the year reminds me that I can do hard things. It's a goal that takes commitment and consistency, a gift that extends into other areas of my life and makes me a better person.</p><p><i>"The journey to 1000 miles begins with a single step." ~ </i>Lao Tzu</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PhqVYLgvonYxRvuhcGg9mC3uq6hfa6zVlE7x1IbKBvHe_AG7NYON3SrxBS5y52eI8yWfK1yMn8q6zjrxas_9YVSNXOJh6m26H0m8S8zluCsqrIxybesu6z_2Ljbex4deqDkEHltby3xhm23MGwSY575APZc6xgcNzWzHYPq9gUUuBkMldnWTNSBTLSc3/s1800/Chasing%201000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PhqVYLgvonYxRvuhcGg9mC3uq6hfa6zVlE7x1IbKBvHe_AG7NYON3SrxBS5y52eI8yWfK1yMn8q6zjrxas_9YVSNXOJh6m26H0m8S8zluCsqrIxybesu6z_2Ljbex4deqDkEHltby3xhm23MGwSY575APZc6xgcNzWzHYPq9gUUuBkMldnWTNSBTLSc3/w426-h640/Chasing%201000.png" title="Chasing 1000 cover" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: trail run 5 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run 8.5 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: Strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: CrossFit 12 Days of Christmas workout</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday was rainy and gloomy, and I knew the trails would be muddy. But I needed to run! Once I got to the forest preserve, I made a quick pit stop in a freshly cleaned porta-potty--isn't that always a treat? I made an on-the-fly decision to head into the woods on a new-to-me trail, and within minutes, I ran into mama deer and her little one! They didn't run away from me and let me take some photos before meandering off into the woods. This set the tone for a fun, muddy run around the preserve. I miscalculated my planned distance--no surprise--and didn't go as far as I wanted. It was slick in spots, but thankfully I stayed upright!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dUIbyDblP1VirRpH3nMyjUihE9F67G8-6Iylmjn4OTvswa0K0SWr4yw_qMSQXhV3pRcG6GtBgckzx9SaDMrSwHESFlINWCkgvYeWswoVRgxThKeII-4pmF4BwAok7VFgo8v9fLhY_2lm6Atzn9N4gKs-UInUssvTYBKS5AeoxtGY4XTIRGGP9QCj5wcP/s2897/IMG_5022.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2897" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dUIbyDblP1VirRpH3nMyjUihE9F67G8-6Iylmjn4OTvswa0K0SWr4yw_qMSQXhV3pRcG6GtBgckzx9SaDMrSwHESFlINWCkgvYeWswoVRgxThKeII-4pmF4BwAok7VFgo8v9fLhY_2lm6Atzn9N4gKs-UInUssvTYBKS5AeoxtGY4XTIRGGP9QCj5wcP/w640-h360/IMG_5022.heic" title="mama deer" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8LtNTa-wYGhQKo7V8rTWkbC3nnQBnorgI7uGPFsKkEnPYnflrtuig4PNZGC5n2B0Tt0nvL4O4AsMGxk2lqTGkyQit_7iwSRh0AvF7Aa9m79hSlugrzkBgoazPBpbRqzOUkRCR-Y7DQn9NTE2q_IUJdO-lVExPtemSLfCMEEGTqgiWghrTqPAZZteshnE/s2652/IMG_5035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="2652" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8LtNTa-wYGhQKo7V8rTWkbC3nnQBnorgI7uGPFsKkEnPYnflrtuig4PNZGC5n2B0Tt0nvL4O4AsMGxk2lqTGkyQit_7iwSRh0AvF7Aa9m79hSlugrzkBgoazPBpbRqzOUkRCR-Y7DQn9NTE2q_IUJdO-lVExPtemSLfCMEEGTqgiWghrTqPAZZteshnE/w640-h360/IMG_5035.jpg" title="bridge to nowhere" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I found this half bridge in the middle of the woods. So many questions!</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday's WOD started off with a clean and jerk complex at 55-60%. I had no idea what my max is. Coach said they should feel easy, so I built to 55# and stayed there. Before we started, the coach put us through an extensive warmup to open everything up. I was really happy with my lifts! In between the lifts, we did 20 second hollow hangs from the bar. The MetCon was a 14 minute AMRAP: 40 double unders (I did 80 singles), 40 atomic situps, 15 goblet lunges (30#), 10 KB swings (30#), and 5 KB hop burpees. Rinse and repeat--I did 4 full rounds of this and 40 single jump ropes before time was called. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqlQgQfkdmbgYcm-L900ky4JFYCJQPen7C34irAAhA7ww2Fh_yRZRIVQAEpt67AuLEn6j4fbRdVEL9-AFNpmn6gQ64ZCu9vGPFR-T1RoGiyyVHW8jHFAKryXS0uldDYa6eLznGI6BlYh-93gdG04OT-jT0og4xefireLRFs66sBzaXOLLibq2kar9Jady/s1403/IMG_5104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1052" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqlQgQfkdmbgYcm-L900ky4JFYCJQPen7C34irAAhA7ww2Fh_yRZRIVQAEpt67AuLEn6j4fbRdVEL9-AFNpmn6gQ64ZCu9vGPFR-T1RoGiyyVHW8jHFAKryXS0uldDYa6eLznGI6BlYh-93gdG04OT-jT0og4xefireLRFs66sBzaXOLLibq2kar9Jady/w480-h640/IMG_5104.jpg" title="pushing up out of the jerk" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My RHT friend Frank asked me if I would interested in running the <a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Chicago/F3LakeHalfMarathon5k?raceRefCode=ljCIvjCI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">F3 half marathon</a> on February 3. I've never run this one and everyone says it's really fun. I haven't run a half marathon since last summer. Could I be ready to do one in 6 weeks? On Wednesday morning, I decided to lace up my Brooks' Ghost 15s and work on reeling in my pace to see if I could run 8 miles without stopping to walk. I drove to the retention pond with the 2 mile loops and settled into what some might call sexy pace. I was really pleased with this run and finished 8.5 miles with a 10 m/m average, not stopping to walk. I felt good after I was done, too. Maybe, just maybe I have a few more miles left in these old legs! I'll let you know what I decide in the next couple of weeks.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvR4R9OkJVQPRS6zdCyb1G87X2dvKfxard9ZPWoFP11UDpYoJEfMNQkWi3l4nhImVz86LRFpN0nRfh15Q-8R8L19E4AmrU_T5lYtLUH80ylLV222RExHRuRksZvzrFWLS4JXhLB-NrDdh0qdyfa2E3EzbR4oe0sB15iWMTW98Ip2wT14Ga3ciGwjDO_0c/s2897/IMG_5112.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvR4R9OkJVQPRS6zdCyb1G87X2dvKfxard9ZPWoFP11UDpYoJEfMNQkWi3l4nhImVz86LRFpN0nRfh15Q-8R8L19E4AmrU_T5lYtLUH80ylLV222RExHRuRksZvzrFWLS4JXhLB-NrDdh0qdyfa2E3EzbR4oe0sB15iWMTW98Ip2wT14Ga3ciGwjDO_0c/w640-h640/IMG_5112.heic" title="Lake loops" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For my strength sesh with SJ on Thursday, we revisited those power clean complexes--only this time she had me do them with more weight, sets of 2 power cleans and 2 front squats. We built to 85#. As the weight got heavier, that became a challenge! I alternated 2 sets of those with handstand holds x2, then a horrible exercise where I put my toes on a 36 inch box and walked around the box using my hands. As if being upside down isn't difficult enough! I finished with 2 sets of 15 hollow rocks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50rfp6OUFRG5TthReDuZIIVnBoXcEl-6VdAk7prRcy0iqrkbXmC3Gm5q7KyQUpGpz4vkLmKNYeqC8rh73LiiLL2_RdMx5LUlpGmHWS4n42HJYAE5vwckv0v5IAUZM2XHKaDTgw59WQU8QviAb3ZbbfNzjzz9gwzG5V-6Tvk42lM2pOOJWKst8i2v8u1Ou/s1560/IMG_5131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50rfp6OUFRG5TthReDuZIIVnBoXcEl-6VdAk7prRcy0iqrkbXmC3Gm5q7KyQUpGpz4vkLmKNYeqC8rh73LiiLL2_RdMx5LUlpGmHWS4n42HJYAE5vwckv0v5IAUZM2XHKaDTgw59WQU8QviAb3ZbbfNzjzz9gwzG5V-6Tvk42lM2pOOJWKst8i2v8u1Ou/w480-h640/IMG_5131.jpg" title="handstand walks around a 36"box" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was another unseasonably warm--45F--morning when I headed out into the dark for my Friday run. My legs were tired from Thursday's strength workout, but I pushed them, only stopping to tie my shoes, snap photos, and change the song on my playlist. Nothing eventful, just some nicely paced miles--this run averaged 10 m/m again. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02HEklzmJ2kVo9rAxKFANU0diatRAE6Xh3UQShe0f74YU4KcIglWQXow68eQo7kGaHjl2BzEijUsDiTjm1RkCB8bTK_qhh3-IkJi7LwMu5kQHZ89EnnJBZZkgVCTHd05YvuTOjO3i4CvDdDyE1qMeDrTM5U6i3518ywSqeTMKxTZcAIlC7bG89v9Fkb6b/s2308/IMG_5150.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2308" data-original-width="2308" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02HEklzmJ2kVo9rAxKFANU0diatRAE6Xh3UQShe0f74YU4KcIglWQXow68eQo7kGaHjl2BzEijUsDiTjm1RkCB8bTK_qhh3-IkJi7LwMu5kQHZ89EnnJBZZkgVCTHd05YvuTOjO3i4CvDdDyE1qMeDrTM5U6i3518ywSqeTMKxTZcAIlC7bG89v9Fkb6b/w640-h640/IMG_5150.heic" title="hiviz Friday run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Saturday, I did the 12 Days of Christmas workout at CrossFit. "That workout is so much fun," they said. You be the judge. I felt a little pukey after this one. It was a large class, so we were split in half. I started from the bottom and worked my way up. The other half did the workout in order, so if you sing the song but substitute the workout, you get the gist of how it went. Oh, and we did this to the Def Leppard Christmas album.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv07mRJrTZnLtN-Uae_DMhoEnSIGvqqybQizw3R1puZ180SSVbVem6yhZuj-WszNvSp3BzYzNFAQBadrFfyai91LrSljH7f7oCVwrjFkJR8DMorboS_rqpp_5EF_zaBxpn_0hCk0v5nH-7LpECgRrVDe6ukcu-IQUznBVRbPfK1JmpZL9pDhXWt3jNmJIc/s1080/4503.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv07mRJrTZnLtN-Uae_DMhoEnSIGvqqybQizw3R1puZ180SSVbVem6yhZuj-WszNvSp3BzYzNFAQBadrFfyai91LrSljH7f7oCVwrjFkJR8DMorboS_rqpp_5EF_zaBxpn_0hCk0v5nH-7LpECgRrVDe6ukcu-IQUznBVRbPfK1JmpZL9pDhXWt3jNmJIc/w640-h640/4503.png" title="12 Days of Christmas CrossFit" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9A_XsAm_BdqwNUVdj0qvdZrOSTK5_vNDpFEchPY3kVlQkB68KfgO4QbV7x-i6CdD6pDwn6XfkIdL-RuJEsBsLkjEPWI25AqPOfk9vZ2VyXwh7riVaSlOGztE30tsneF6ZCULLzG6aUBf_WCa6Zb8VkcrxVWAqXOAGjN63eYdQlB5x3W00qzuoiglPRzq/s1090/IMG_5179.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1090" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9A_XsAm_BdqwNUVdj0qvdZrOSTK5_vNDpFEchPY3kVlQkB68KfgO4QbV7x-i6CdD6pDwn6XfkIdL-RuJEsBsLkjEPWI25AqPOfk9vZ2VyXwh7riVaSlOGztE30tsneF6ZCULLzG6aUBf_WCa6Zb8VkcrxVWAqXOAGjN63eYdQlB5x3W00qzuoiglPRzq/w640-h360/IMG_5179.jpg" title="12 Days class" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Off the Road...</i></h2><div style="text-align: left;">The hubs and I took a trip into the city on Sunday to see Hamilton! We missed it the first time it came through and I was determined not to miss it this time. We splurged on good seats in the loge balcony, center stage and it was so worth it! The Nederlander Theater is the refurbished Oriental Theater, which dates back to 1926 and was fully restored in 1996. It's a beautiful venue. The show exceeded my expectations--the amount of talent on the stage just blew me away. After the show, it was a short walk to Catch 35, where we had an amazing dinner and split a bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse. On our way back to the car, we took a brief detour along the riverwalk to soak in the atmosphere. What a fun day!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8sBRQGThDjJAoo46H5R65lJYo2WI1fShcAHWmKXrd2tY7ljwOEjNRND1E_HuahKk9PEY6Rf-wNqRxHZk5I_suJ3jnogWTDp3hOInxJKPiDWtKcN5ig7MTS3NO9lTadGGpfsKz2R3AU9MywOFsHlJ6hbN9I6rjlr2iKP4oB8QDPZOMZzarNFRQrVHuBTW/s3340/IMG_5085.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3340" data-original-width="2505" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8sBRQGThDjJAoo46H5R65lJYo2WI1fShcAHWmKXrd2tY7ljwOEjNRND1E_HuahKk9PEY6Rf-wNqRxHZk5I_suJ3jnogWTDp3hOInxJKPiDWtKcN5ig7MTS3NO9lTadGGpfsKz2R3AU9MywOFsHlJ6hbN9I6rjlr2iKP4oB8QDPZOMZzarNFRQrVHuBTW/w480-h640/IMG_5085.heic" title="Mike and me on the riverwalk" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And just to keep it festive, I wore a Santa hat to work on Friday morning. I got some odd looks from my younger patients who didn't understand why Santa was examining them! She sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you are sick...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJegVSH6vMEk091ZcE4wDFkwpG22vpcq_ltf-rhvZcY2z3YO2lNOlgbE2yx8uFupRwD8_gCm3qfBjGndOEt8JVg-3J9LsNtZj4Cz6eWPbDV5CrGvgI77_QZbK_m7aV6avzGFS2BX7WSyH8OKSyiczimRN0VxBDU3qNRD4xAUtGo3hindJNdtSf9xKMTIt3/s1968/IMG_5158.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJegVSH6vMEk091ZcE4wDFkwpG22vpcq_ltf-rhvZcY2z3YO2lNOlgbE2yx8uFupRwD8_gCm3qfBjGndOEt8JVg-3J9LsNtZj4Cz6eWPbDV5CrGvgI77_QZbK_m7aV6avzGFS2BX7WSyH8OKSyiczimRN0VxBDU3qNRD4xAUtGo3hindJNdtSf9xKMTIt3/w640-h640/IMG_5158.heic" title="Santa NP" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? Are you experiencing unusually warm weather? Do you set mileage goals for the year? I have to apologize for the change in font size--I have no idea what happened and I couldn't fix it!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy Holidays! No matter what holiday you celebrate, I hope you are spending time with the special people in your lives. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-63307719681242277602023-12-16T14:46:00.004-06:002023-12-17T06:07:28.719-06:00A Record Breaking Week!<p>Ok, the title of this post might be a bit misleading...but I did have 2 big PRs at the gym this week! I might not be able to PR in my running shoes, but it is nice to know that I can still make gains in the gym. This made me so happy and was a really nice way to wrap up my year of fitness. </p><p>I haven't made any plans or set any goals for 2024. Right now I'm content to soak up what was one of the most fun years, both on and off the road, that I've had in a while. My running shoes took me to some really fun places--<a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/03/a-week-of-awe.html" target="_blank">from running the mountains in Palm Desert</a> to <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/07/race-recap-leadville-silver-15-mile.html" target="_blank">running that trail race in Leadville, Colorado</a> to <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/08/brooks-hype-fest-2023-recap.html" target="_blank">running on the beach in Santa Monica at Brooks' Hype Fest</a>! I <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/06/race-recap-chicago-131.html" target="_blank">ran the streets of Chicago</a>, trying out a new half marathon on the boulevards of the west side. And while I didn't run in Alabama, my feet got plenty wet while <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/07/on-road-again.html" target="_blank">I skied behind Holly's boat.</a> Don't forget about<a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/10/hello-my-pretty.html" target="_blank"> that sister trip to Banff</a>! Of course, there were all those miles I ran on the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin, culminating in <a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2023/10/dancing-in-dark.html" target="_blank">completing my 3rd Mammoth Challenge in October. </a></p><p>While I take some time to catch my breath, I'm also waiting to hear if I've been invited back to join the Brooks Running Collective. In the meantime, I'm just going to lace up and enjoy my miles. At this writing, I have 38 miles to get to 1000 for the year. I had no idea I was that close, so let's see if I can dial it up for the next 2 weeks. You know I love a challenge...</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDZp9FNwm_v5IOUa4tvHgh3-ZhyphenhyphenOhr6rLWjLUUUC6OhRLm3zj97K_2eYWHqW_zl9Lf-KP11CpOoXBwxRLsg23yMVh0TmVyUP_0x8o1VqqIExA5MpJbtw41_WWFwcU2kM-jVkYw4J77B5SKmmjGIUyqexM0mGuPHDd2qBFrbFzG9TGR32oo8ccMGq7I_uU/s1800/A%20Record%20Setting%20Week.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDZp9FNwm_v5IOUa4tvHgh3-ZhyphenhyphenOhr6rLWjLUUUC6OhRLm3zj97K_2eYWHqW_zl9Lf-KP11CpOoXBwxRLsg23yMVh0TmVyUP_0x8o1VqqIExA5MpJbtw41_WWFwcU2kM-jVkYw4J77B5SKmmjGIUyqexM0mGuPHDd2qBFrbFzG9TGR32oo8ccMGq7I_uU/w426-h640/A%20Record%20Setting%20Week.png" title="A Record Setting Week cover" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Ice Age Trail Run 7 miles, 900 ft</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 5 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: Strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were up at the lake, so on Sunday morning, I took my feet to the Lodi Marsh Segment. It was chilly and gray, but since I hadn't run there all month--it had been closed for deer hunting--I was excited to be there. After being sick last week, it felt good to just move. I was surprised at how strong I felt! There were a few pheasant hunters in the woods and 2 other women running, but overall it was really quiet. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL7qsnF-G6EytDZpU8bDlab6_o59R4xWAjZtU9wDF6uRQB-x3h1hXrrzxmhsieTU-wmOzEggFOJ02cvkRrooPNsjRwB0-F830VXEbHxKxCbOFKnihSPg03HO3cWk1Yr0VqHJSZ0kXIwWb-segro81NiYwE9ikXRJdSVv_5j3Mp1wJq0iyFqmKSO8dD0nt/s3916/IMG_4717.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2203" data-original-width="3916" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL7qsnF-G6EytDZpU8bDlab6_o59R4xWAjZtU9wDF6uRQB-x3h1hXrrzxmhsieTU-wmOzEggFOJ02cvkRrooPNsjRwB0-F830VXEbHxKxCbOFKnihSPg03HO3cWk1Yr0VqHJSZ0kXIwWb-segro81NiYwE9ikXRJdSVv_5j3Mp1wJq0iyFqmKSO8dD0nt/w640-h360/IMG_4717.heic" title="IAT Lodi Marsh Segment" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d9fcDLlQMPf5DleFxT3GzXomkS6Dn7KJkCTlFQvQlIoP8glnV1Ozy9aMS7nBsRzIoffbyhmFdEl2rpOTh8ziEl87qk5yUKjX101CNAWYwDXNfZUMBh7hbEw-tmaBOeqD9E9tMjacokKZdL8X8y8vjPgJcMDkKCmLWRPf0fRxqBdujf5Uiil5yKz3qXYI/s1099/IMG_4742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="1099" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d9fcDLlQMPf5DleFxT3GzXomkS6Dn7KJkCTlFQvQlIoP8glnV1Ozy9aMS7nBsRzIoffbyhmFdEl2rpOTh8ziEl87qk5yUKjX101CNAWYwDXNfZUMBh7hbEw-tmaBOeqD9E9tMjacokKZdL8X8y8vjPgJcMDkKCmLWRPf0fRxqBdujf5Uiil5yKz3qXYI/w640-h360/IMG_4742.jpg" title="on the trail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At CrossFit on Monday, we were going to challenge our 1 RM for the bench press! Out of all 3 lifts we've been working on, during this powerlifting cycle, the bench press is the one where I've made the most progress. I was anxious to see how it went. I am happy to report that I had a big PR--I hit 95#! At the beginning of this year, I set a goal to hit 100# on the bench press. After hitting 95#, I did attempt 100, actually 3 times, but I just could not do it. Still, I was not disappointed--I'm so close and it will happen. Plus, I got to ring the PR bell! The MetCon was a 8 minute AMRAP of 10 dumbbell snatches (20#), 6 DB bar hop burpees, 10 single arm dumbbell snatches (20#), and 6 leg lifts over the dumbbell. Rinse and repeat. I finished 4 rounds save for the final leg lifts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgC3h7Mm4FB04IXXOA2czEfEbg7zA8LS6ktW7hOvOazCejYvkPQ9xgoEtXWLCct4uJnUejN1nSZCkD1Gw63cbkqTrDjHALIrV_zvr7gub16UAXhUcTx6vbBNM9YnJ9stlXy9zkxsLV6eNaV0NFFNkmnf_bsBFtX25AfxrAariQBt9PkamnGJ3Xy_Z1bfR/s1091/IMG_4747.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="1091" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgC3h7Mm4FB04IXXOA2czEfEbg7zA8LS6ktW7hOvOazCejYvkPQ9xgoEtXWLCct4uJnUejN1nSZCkD1Gw63cbkqTrDjHALIrV_zvr7gub16UAXhUcTx6vbBNM9YnJ9stlXy9zkxsLV6eNaV0NFFNkmnf_bsBFtX25AfxrAariQBt9PkamnGJ3Xy_Z1bfR/w640-h640/IMG_4747.jpg" title="bench presses" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My spotter also PR'd her lift at 160#!</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Wednesday was beautiful--sunny and seasonally cool. I received the final gear drop from Brooks and was excited to try out some of the pieces they sent. I wore the Notch pullover under the Shield vest. I worried that I'd be too warm, but it was perfect for my trip around the woods. I ran into some mama deer and babies! They weren't afraid of me and I was able to get close enough to get some photos. This was just a gorgeous morning to be outside and such a treat this time of year.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafdKu7zLYpLkpXAKb2POl1fgNYJoOAr872idiY9DbTXVoHECHqIyao1_tDLvNORZzkO8v-SE-VfEMMCryQYeAnavcqVLfexNi0hKAs4ca3mOL_ZmYo6p5XXM-WAmTGW6hhJgh5yba-P7rGKelc7fT51tO3TBO1Lw6YbGYDEhG4ykFf_dmfVJizSjtsxiN/s2895/IMG_4759.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="2895" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafdKu7zLYpLkpXAKb2POl1fgNYJoOAr872idiY9DbTXVoHECHqIyao1_tDLvNORZzkO8v-SE-VfEMMCryQYeAnavcqVLfexNi0hKAs4ca3mOL_ZmYo6p5XXM-WAmTGW6hhJgh5yba-P7rGKelc7fT51tO3TBO1Lw6YbGYDEhG4ykFf_dmfVJizSjtsxiN/w640-h360/IMG_4759.heic" title="modeling the shield vest and notch pullover" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitLY_pMClKGT6t6X2ZX6eRpaTcWxY9x9Rsafu_rqmeobNFeVvBQd5hDAYKyesqbMPhH3rWijk-aPAzLrAk8R82Q_7IW9Afpk78-btfc2ZnVsLUN6SsQ-yBqzwdkr5zSBoou8RXH9pYSfjzhqYEeJRUaCAHzuplyC_wk7Ds-r7dyO3ncG_kmXTximRls7r/s1193/IMG_4785.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1193" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitLY_pMClKGT6t6X2ZX6eRpaTcWxY9x9Rsafu_rqmeobNFeVvBQd5hDAYKyesqbMPhH3rWijk-aPAzLrAk8R82Q_7IW9Afpk78-btfc2ZnVsLUN6SsQ-yBqzwdkr5zSBoou8RXH9pYSfjzhqYEeJRUaCAHzuplyC_wk7Ds-r7dyO3ncG_kmXTximRls7r/w640-h360/IMG_4785.heic" title="little guy" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>On Thursday, SJ and I met with the plan for me to challenge my 1 RM on the deadlift. I warmed up and stretched before attempting this. Then she slowly built up the weight on the bar. She never told me how much I was lifting, but complimented me on my form each time. My final lift was so heavy that I struggled to pull it up, but I did and she was soooo excited! It was 205#! Yes, it was a small PR over last year's 202.5#, but a PR nonetheless. I attempted and failed twice at 210--I think I lifted the bar an inch off the ground. She told me how proud she was of me! She also told me that once we get to our heaviest lifts, it is much harder to PR and that our increases are going to be small. What a great way to finish off the year!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqFnc1eF6DG8ykES_NsXvZVlpRVwMwitvMdRLIyMXVQrPwork3oZ99LkeopVoMhOyRYpjlLOLy4xSECFaooSp848PV2cfCxwb3xQRUskJ1FO8AkTKQp376pKeqQBUHvHJ4ccrDRG3Bqc_n19bUwP9SzgA0FGkV9-W_itDFNqYa7cegdEt6kj5xczdVJql/s1100/IMG_4988.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1100" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqFnc1eF6DG8ykES_NsXvZVlpRVwMwitvMdRLIyMXVQrPwork3oZ99LkeopVoMhOyRYpjlLOLy4xSECFaooSp848PV2cfCxwb3xQRUskJ1FO8AkTKQp376pKeqQBUHvHJ4ccrDRG3Bqc_n19bUwP9SzgA0FGkV9-W_itDFNqYa7cegdEt6kj5xczdVJql/w640-h640/IMG_4988.jpg" title="deadlift PR 205#" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>For my Friday run, instead of running to the bike path, I drove to the local retention pond. It's been a long time since I've run there. My goal was to catch the sunrise and get some speedy miles. I started out in complete darkness and was the only person there, which was a little unnerving. The next two loops were in the emerging sunlight. I caught this gorgeous sunrise on my last loop and it put a huge smile on my face. So did my splits, which were pretty even and averaged 9:38. What a great start to the day!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrjPaeE9tfUU2Lv4yilPSwdVUflALif1Rxj6Z2yam4VVEJaNR6bEVFV8OH7U_0s3A-dwtGHTG5hEzKXrWclbgaE0F51DzaKwKOXL5MQl7U01CW0p7NOPK7TbwrL79JDEbXrKsrkAd2LnR41pNd5NcLl-JcuMhN3f3yL3eY1iXkvIcaj01tHE4aD9F7-N6/s2739/IMG_5008.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2739" data-original-width="2739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrjPaeE9tfUU2Lv4yilPSwdVUflALif1Rxj6Z2yam4VVEJaNR6bEVFV8OH7U_0s3A-dwtGHTG5hEzKXrWclbgaE0F51DzaKwKOXL5MQl7U01CW0p7NOPK7TbwrL79JDEbXrKsrkAd2LnR41pNd5NcLl-JcuMhN3f3yL3eY1iXkvIcaj01tHE4aD9F7-N6/w640-h640/IMG_5008.heic" title="sunrise run" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>How was your week? Did you set any new records this year or get any PRs? Do you have any goals for 2024? Are you have a sunny winter so far? </b><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-78910373478559108562023-12-10T05:33:00.002-06:002023-12-10T05:56:41.236-06:00I Need A Run!<p>On and off the road, this was a tough week. </p><p>The cold virus that took me down last weekend slowly improved. I was pretty fatigued early in the week and didn't get much movement in. That in itself was a stressor and reminder of how much running and sweating help my anxiety.</p><p>By Wednesday, I was feeling pretty good. I was literally walking out the door for a run when my youngest son called me. He was getting ready to leave for work and he realized he forgot his keys. He was locked out of their yard, so he tried to climb over the fence. His pant leg got caught on the top and he fell 6 feet to the concrete below, landing on his face and hurting his wrist. He did not sound good. So instead of driving to the forest preserve for a run, I drove to the city, taking him to the ER to be evaluated. Fortunately, he 'only' had a concussion and a wrist sprain. If you've been following me for a while, you know this kid has had his share of injuries over the years. I really think I should wrap him in bubble wrap! I'm so glad he is ok.</p><div>I also learned that I didn't get a bib for the 2024 Chicago Marathon. I read that over 120,000 runners applied to the lottery. Yes, you read that right. 😳 To put it in perspective, the first time I ran Chicago, in 2011, I just signed up. Not getting in this time hit harder than I expected. Even though I swore off marathons after my diagnosis with RA in 2016, after spectating this year, I wanted to run Chicago once more, to prove to myself that I could. And no, I don't want to pick a different marathon. I'm going to take this as a sign that I need to follow a different path. </div><div><br /></div><div>No matter what, I will continue to run. Running is my therapy. I also love the feeling of running. Now that I know I don't have the marathon on my calendar, I can decide what, if anything will be next. You know there will be plenty of trails, though! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRjD_c5tSgt3OiDJhwxeBt58q3KKbpByVyXkGmmvRNpHpsIefwUr6a-nJQEjK85mY1jnCX-G9QxaaE1wjOBFzLA6qc0GBfy0kHJNqYm2EmlnClJua44-sTNrmqhKLeW32K7F048P_O7cmu9sh6_v9Jer3DZPQhEKVczNKULRPOqSxxflusTXsbgUx0g2J/s1800/I%20Need%20A%20Run!.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRjD_c5tSgt3OiDJhwxeBt58q3KKbpByVyXkGmmvRNpHpsIefwUr6a-nJQEjK85mY1jnCX-G9QxaaE1wjOBFzLA6qc0GBfy0kHJNqYm2EmlnClJua44-sTNrmqhKLeW32K7F048P_O7cmu9sh6_v9Jer3DZPQhEKVczNKULRPOqSxxflusTXsbgUx0g2J/w426-h640/I%20Need%20A%20Run!.png" title="I Need A Run cover" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: run 4.25 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: yoga</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: run aborted</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: strength</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6.3 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: drive to the lake</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since I was still feeling sick on Sunday and skipped my run, I decided to run on Monday. I wasn't anywhere near 100%, but I needed some fresh air. I ran around my neighborhood, close to home. While I did have to take a few walk breaks, it felt good to move. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuIM3prIl6J79ClyIh8FpZFl1NJiUok8i0BOZxhJWk8pbsvminN7FHnqoCb0qCoWj4xhkfIX2y6SoTRIYrPLod8cQF-sLgQ5evoWNLHsalRfoHv5oI3s2VHUYCEGEtpVk2H8drdhBoZq_cN9HShk0J-FkyWmRcjwhMqeoodrb12K7FcUL3ZkKvkd9VsGF/s868/IMG_4630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuIM3prIl6J79ClyIh8FpZFl1NJiUok8i0BOZxhJWk8pbsvminN7FHnqoCb0qCoWj4xhkfIX2y6SoTRIYrPLod8cQF-sLgQ5evoWNLHsalRfoHv5oI3s2VHUYCEGEtpVk2H8drdhBoZq_cN9HShk0J-FkyWmRcjwhMqeoodrb12K7FcUL3ZkKvkd9VsGF/w640-h640/IMG_4630.jpg" title="monday run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Sammy Jo arrived at the gym on Thursday with her knee wrapped. She tore her ACL and sprained her MCL while skiing over the weekend. She's going to have it repaired once she decides on a surgeon. Before this, I had asked her if we could do bench presses since I missed doing them last week. She had me build to 3 sets of 2 at 87-92%, which was 87#. She initially had me attempt 90#, but I was unable. I alternated those with banded pull-aparts, 3 sets of 10. After that, I did cyclist squats using a 35# KB, 3 sets of 12, alternating with banded pulldowns, 3 sets of 15. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7SWIF-9nLUhE8cjsVcsGIVS07OXEwrGyy9Sl3RfGYEaTUvygeeiFNjbh6DocIhfEk7sEZNsjFgsByejr6hyphenhyphenpeaXbfDJu5FX1Idw2PtlzEYpndvHDWyYlgGGz9vK4K8lB-5gf2aJMTouncGvi8p-GkZpeiOI6PwrgPpO-SKNqrl3kr36KLWBOZ2aWnf2t/s1479/IMG_4656%202.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1479" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7SWIF-9nLUhE8cjsVcsGIVS07OXEwrGyy9Sl3RfGYEaTUvygeeiFNjbh6DocIhfEk7sEZNsjFgsByejr6hyphenhyphenpeaXbfDJu5FX1Idw2PtlzEYpndvHDWyYlgGGz9vK4K8lB-5gf2aJMTouncGvi8p-GkZpeiOI6PwrgPpO-SKNqrl3kr36KLWBOZ2aWnf2t/w640-h640/IMG_4656%202.heic" title="cyclist squats 35# KB" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Since I was sidelined earlier this week due to illness, etc, I stayed after to work on the deload lifts that I missed. I built to 55% on both my deadlifts (115#) and back squats (90#), doing 4 sets of 5 of each. It felt good to be able to focus on form instead of struggling with the heavy weights. I felt much better mentally after my strength session. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcZMYwIZDyLriuAv7xGsS3zP_RI6Ty-XZj7KjxsUi2eHkUjJo2Pt7_UulikP6M6mtxe4j34RxT6g-56C97YLTAJqgOGsSeQUO_Vv1YMBHOXn9qxln-7LG64BaP2en6G40S175bTS4JbyLJ5MEx8e8rUhQxUuy50X2IRSx4MNPJ5fvCRPbTcKm_c2wHuJp/s1170/IMG_4667.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcZMYwIZDyLriuAv7xGsS3zP_RI6Ty-XZj7KjxsUi2eHkUjJo2Pt7_UulikP6M6mtxe4j34RxT6g-56C97YLTAJqgOGsSeQUO_Vv1YMBHOXn9qxln-7LG64BaP2en6G40S175bTS4JbyLJ5MEx8e8rUhQxUuy50X2IRSx4MNPJ5fvCRPbTcKm_c2wHuJp/w640-h640/IMG_4667.jpg" title="Back squats 90#" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Friday morning was relatively warm with the promise of a beautiful sunrise. I was so happy to lace up and I worked on holding back on my pace, which made for a successful run with no walk breaks! I did have to make a pit stop at the local grocery store--dammit--but overall, it felt great to be back!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCb74Qec5ThW_-dY6bVPFEguc_7oyeVtXAHqPSKM8zRl9cqaQwgW6AqGzH-ud-kCGcYUCr3UAMUftm0Eqtr3j-WQTr2QXcehvB_E0cxtd5kjLfyy_WepedHjrnEewBqi9KA70DDiFgfyGtPrJkjUhV5AGJMHtCSLGYEAksCwZoG4ei9aF6zIRLun5pUK4/s2897/IMG_4685.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCb74Qec5ThW_-dY6bVPFEguc_7oyeVtXAHqPSKM8zRl9cqaQwgW6AqGzH-ud-kCGcYUCr3UAMUftm0Eqtr3j-WQTr2QXcehvB_E0cxtd5kjLfyy_WepedHjrnEewBqi9KA70DDiFgfyGtPrJkjUhV5AGJMHtCSLGYEAksCwZoG4ei9aF6zIRLun5pUK4/w640-h640/IMG_4685.heic" title="Friday run" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Christmas prep!</i></h2><div>Let the holiday prep begin! While I'm slowly decorating my house, last week I took time to bake a fun batch of cookies. My inspiration came from none other than Brooks. The RHT was presented with a couple of challenges including a cookie baking contest, an ugly sweater contest, and a wallpaper/background contest. I didn't win, but there was a lot of competition! And in case you were wondering, these tasted as good as they look!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvwJdCFo1B1m2lJQ-2BQ-G0-yZRtm8gWvhxVH6zd0xRIPw8UDvv57HuOOLl4lUP525yVoKVd-vftlcNpyi71-hJD5wBnjbUI5tADTD7HfDXceFXi-FNYXVrwAsKLLY35DQ5302H3Ibib6Sem4kMj7kcEVZI-SZmQs04G90hS9k7un2XkZxmrUjzljS26b/s2059/IMG_4622.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2059" data-original-width="2059" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvwJdCFo1B1m2lJQ-2BQ-G0-yZRtm8gWvhxVH6zd0xRIPw8UDvv57HuOOLl4lUP525yVoKVd-vftlcNpyi71-hJD5wBnjbUI5tADTD7HfDXceFXi-FNYXVrwAsKLLY35DQ5302H3Ibib6Sem4kMj7kcEVZI-SZmQs04G90hS9k7un2XkZxmrUjzljS26b/w640-h640/IMG_4622.heic" title="Brooks cookies" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>How was your week? Has anyone else been fighting illness? Did anyone else enter a cookie contest? Did you run a race this weekend?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm l</span><span style="text-align: center;">inking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-5357858691082083442023-12-03T06:27:00.001-06:002023-12-03T06:27:40.420-06:00'Tis the Season!<div style="text-align: left;">'Tis the season for:</div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">- snow, which we've had twice already and it has melted both times,</div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">- holiday prep, which I've been embarking on this weekend. I already have some shopping done, the tree is waiting for decorations, and I'm planning on baking today,</div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">- holiday fun! I had two fun events planned for this weekend,</div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">- holiday themed runs--I don't have any on the calendar this year...<i>yet,</i></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">- sneezin'. I'm battling a cold virus and trying to power through it as much as I can. On Saturday, I had to bail on my planned 3rd strength sesh and plans to go to the holiday light show at the Botanic Gardens with my sister. </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXEH2dq_ork44ajl5haiGECJhcGu5-cwzqfwGy9Icu8FfGEpJ20XYSc5UUqeDRylGLXen63baZsjQphCix-e31cvFF1LkDzlqln7e4psrTz4_f0b0bG5KLfL5VjE2NgPo5VH1r1JXqt1yKY0eFSUrNFudZ3Aabjg3_9w7ODdAPDM8j8lWEElbTI2ag8yt/s1800/%E2%80%98Tis%20the%20Season.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXEH2dq_ork44ajl5haiGECJhcGu5-cwzqfwGy9Icu8FfGEpJ20XYSc5UUqeDRylGLXen63baZsjQphCix-e31cvFF1LkDzlqln7e4psrTz4_f0b0bG5KLfL5VjE2NgPo5VH1r1JXqt1yKY0eFSUrNFudZ3Aabjg3_9w7ODdAPDM8j8lWEElbTI2ag8yt/w426-h640/%E2%80%98Tis%20the%20Season.png" title="'Tis the Seasoncover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Ice Age Trail Run 4.5 miles, 800 ft</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday; Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 6.2 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: treadmill run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">November miles: 77</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I woke up to snow on Sunday morning. We were at the lake, and I was excited to hit the IAT for some snowy miles. It was the last day of deer hunting season, so I was limited to where I could run--the marsh segment was closed for hunting. I dressed in blaze orange, just to be safe, and took my shoes to the Gibraltar segment, which was really the best option anyway. With the fresh snow, it was slow going and I did a lot more walking than I wanted. But the scenery was worth it! Since I'm not training for anything, I took my time and a lot of photos. This run made my heart so happy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo71NUfAvCnSwyprCbjbbelK9u-HQYDzGiMZJQNPmW4Cjfhu2jmbIrK8KDv-QnepVc8o_Qn2Q0IbQ2jUi74eRslpDNIYqPsU-Oya3u10_j8APhd79sDbBdW5Z7U_qRB8wnbYRIAPg9bhOovCQOzCzk42bYgdutLJ5M9Xlke-ngeFSQx7Grlq2Len4nAQvO/s4032/IMG_4454.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo71NUfAvCnSwyprCbjbbelK9u-HQYDzGiMZJQNPmW4Cjfhu2jmbIrK8KDv-QnepVc8o_Qn2Q0IbQ2jUi74eRslpDNIYqPsU-Oya3u10_j8APhd79sDbBdW5Z7U_qRB8wnbYRIAPg9bhOovCQOzCzk42bYgdutLJ5M9Xlke-ngeFSQx7Grlq2Len4nAQvO/w640-h360/IMG_4454.heic" title="Gibraltar rock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Wbi7JG18vp0uVDBuJFvzYdxif_EaUrKKYro2SVSHfyb3-IjB64bxcVe4VU-bj5Qx8EWbkkIuMVasbh04iC4RO-HVUZBU0JF2PTQzsLBpXnCWBNDX4XQMjQvb2WZWWQugbdIkayrHoV6XGR-w_Ea7WUrgqIb3-DccYqwSHuIIKVKcZ3mVXIw3Wvb7x_Do/s4032/IMG_4479.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Wbi7JG18vp0uVDBuJFvzYdxif_EaUrKKYro2SVSHfyb3-IjB64bxcVe4VU-bj5Qx8EWbkkIuMVasbh04iC4RO-HVUZBU0JF2PTQzsLBpXnCWBNDX4XQMjQvb2WZWWQugbdIkayrHoV6XGR-w_Ea7WUrgqIb3-DccYqwSHuIIKVKcZ3mVXIw3Wvb7x_Do/w640-h360/IMG_4479.heic" title="back of the rock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is the final week of heavy lifting at CrossFit. While I'm not participating in the powerlifting meet in 2 weeks (<a href="https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2020/01/prs-and-my-first-powerlifting-meet.html" target="_blank">I did this back in 2020</a>), that is the goal for many of my fellow lifters. Today's lift was deadlifts, 3 sets of 2, at 86-92%. This put me at 185# and after warming up well, I hit all 3 sets. Next week is an offload week (like a taper for us runners). For the MetCon, we had a 9 minute AMRAP: 3 sets of Devil's Presses, 6 box jumps, and 9 GHD sit-ups. I did 5 full rounds and a partial 6th--I just didn't get in the sit-ups.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWK5Bw2lOkLkgO820By18zNFmtAHSmjq064OWeaCG7gV8n9w1n7aNiQrhFoL49OnZE95a2NRbOj9KYIDrBqM1eaeSp95TCeQjFd74E_5SAtJ42Wo7KFYsAroEhrfxqeDAJYZgQkYprEyev7__gAibs4htN5MS1Ql3gUUIAMT9mPlyNzuINhTT9fO3i5yY/s1170/IMG_4517.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWK5Bw2lOkLkgO820By18zNFmtAHSmjq064OWeaCG7gV8n9w1n7aNiQrhFoL49OnZE95a2NRbOj9KYIDrBqM1eaeSp95TCeQjFd74E_5SAtJ42Wo7KFYsAroEhrfxqeDAJYZgQkYprEyev7__gAibs4htN5MS1Ql3gUUIAMT9mPlyNzuINhTT9fO3i5yY/w640-h640/IMG_4517.jpg" title="deadlift 185#" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Heavy lifting is so glamorous! </b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday's run was a little rough. I waited until it warmed up a bit to head out. As I expected, the trails had a lot of ice on them. Even the single tracks had a lot of ice, although most of it was broken into chunks. This made it hard to get my footing, so I had to take it slow. I'm fighting a cold, so I actually didn't mind. Even though it was pretty nice out, I had the trails mostly to myself. People don't know what they're missing!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGWFp1mvtCwY_DFqE0JhS68m_U5QS7ZsKwzu9a4xnygZFDlmSwnNMs9HxL0pQWW2PSlfDiKPVXAqnF3fuvUeAi8rOwNUPP_f_pXhXWNIYwQnTYzvztlCcK8_TxLfkgm9-3oTFCD0QCZ_Iip4vHIYUbHU7-n0nl9b0Ti8X4-T0TM2YX_11tRHQVY2q6qPc/s1115/IMG_4568.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1115" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGWFp1mvtCwY_DFqE0JhS68m_U5QS7ZsKwzu9a4xnygZFDlmSwnNMs9HxL0pQWW2PSlfDiKPVXAqnF3fuvUeAi8rOwNUPP_f_pXhXWNIYwQnTYzvztlCcK8_TxLfkgm9-3oTFCD0QCZ_Iip4vHIYUbHU7-n0nl9b0Ti8X4-T0TM2YX_11tRHQVY2q6qPc/w640-h640/IMG_4568.jpg" title="snowy trail run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">SJ was out of town on Thursday, but it was good timing, considering that this week was the final build for the powerlifting cycle. Back squats were on tap, 3 sets of 2 at 86-92%. Heavy squats have always been my nemesis, messing with my head. The coach had us do a slow build, which went really well. But when I got to my goal weight, 150#, I struggled on the first lift and had to bail on the second. Was I disappointed? Of course. I have no doubt that this was mental since all the other lifts were fine. I'll re-attempt it in 2 weeks when we go for our 1 RM. We finished up with a Tabata workout: superman scissor kicks followed by switch lunges. My legs were trashed after this class!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XE6WGX8KEz7st_59Xw1FCeGE-8tQvnfh3uXKgaN7dCpiR45DSSgkuJ5JHMIt29f0Px9dCZbaGaLnOz3nEoAMTd1x20dpibHFfwp6i8Td0iO8FKAOryhdpvFitGUpmXEm6VE64o7YnuIrzKV2c6f8HUV8TJxRc_lKJYVVgPiHr686suvNTYJxPDFyB9fe/s994/IMG_4578.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="994" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XE6WGX8KEz7st_59Xw1FCeGE-8tQvnfh3uXKgaN7dCpiR45DSSgkuJ5JHMIt29f0Px9dCZbaGaLnOz3nEoAMTd1x20dpibHFfwp6i8Td0iO8FKAOryhdpvFitGUpmXEm6VE64o7YnuIrzKV2c6f8HUV8TJxRc_lKJYVVgPiHr686suvNTYJxPDFyB9fe/w640-h640/IMG_4578.jpg" title="bailing on back squat" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My bail, pushing the bar off my back</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>With rain, wind, chilly temps, and dark skies, I took Friday's run to the TM. Since I moved my TM to my sons' former playroom, I'm not minding running on it so much anymore! There's something to be said for having a dedicated workout space. My goal for this run was to run 6 mile continuously without stopping. I set the speed to a leisurely 5.5 (I think it's about 10:30m/m). If I get into Chicago, my goal marathon pace will be about 10-10:30m/m, so it was nice to try it out. I need to work on this pace on pavement, which is always a challenge for me. My legs seem to dial into a faster pace. Any suggestions?</div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Tis the Season!</i></h2><div>I kicked off the holiday season on Friday with a ride into the city after work to join my boys and their girlfriends for a Krampus parade! <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Do you know about Krampus</a>? He's the anti-Santa that German parents use to keep their kids in line for Christmas. We are German and when I saw this event on <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eater</a>, I had to check it out. Thank goodness my boys are always down for an adventure. My hubs was not. We started at a German bar, <a href="https://www.dmentap.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dmen,</a> where the parade was to begin. We got some food there--a gyro-like wrap that was delicious and a holiday ale made by <a href="https://revbrew.com/visit/brewery" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Revolution Brewing</a> especially for the event called Fist of Krampus. It was really good! We followed the parade to the brewery, a few blocks away and enjoyed another beer while the band played New Orleans-style music. Krampus made his rounds, playfully hitting people with his broom. This was one of the more entertaining holiday events I've been to--everyone else agreed!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPduiLrmn-FFGLmvbhBVVIOfLf7Pj_jL-suAceF4SONiv5qsDkEpJ33-qLrBXmYSMKOz0PMJHOwmHBSwdwlc9IvgA7DdHpJou-E7894VmB2bvUXcl3wRh5Iz03hVXa6fJhmxc7FP6cJ19ORceetvCzZhH_c5VzG41GBwwJYW4wJACdzdRoM7LI_Mk5kwj/s2717/IMG_4608.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2717" data-original-width="2038" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPduiLrmn-FFGLmvbhBVVIOfLf7Pj_jL-suAceF4SONiv5qsDkEpJ33-qLrBXmYSMKOz0PMJHOwmHBSwdwlc9IvgA7DdHpJou-E7894VmB2bvUXcl3wRh5Iz03hVXa6fJhmxc7FP6cJ19ORceetvCzZhH_c5VzG41GBwwJYW4wJACdzdRoM7LI_Mk5kwj/w300-h400/IMG_4608.heic" title="family" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMttHAegF2M1_Zga3O7As97P9soX8RkxSIUJ_B60em_S5O7lgmxy0eSEv30GL0a23NFXbjya4CZz4__p3-OuU21gbck8o3sHGXVmeRzRau6HDxszCUml5kpREwj3TWTeZ4bYMYleBmQTYNolIYsq2ZDZmf0zXimDpgfJVP_fk2xJyK3Ffq8-4Ih1zpPCm/s1560/IMG_4619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMttHAegF2M1_Zga3O7As97P9soX8RkxSIUJ_B60em_S5O7lgmxy0eSEv30GL0a23NFXbjya4CZz4__p3-OuU21gbck8o3sHGXVmeRzRau6HDxszCUml5kpREwj3TWTeZ4bYMYleBmQTYNolIYsq2ZDZmf0zXimDpgfJVP_fk2xJyK3Ffq8-4Ih1zpPCm/w300-h400/IMG_4619.jpg" title="krampus and me" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>The cold virus that came out of nowhere on Friday escalated overnight. I spent Saturday on the couch with tissues, saline nose spray, Sudafed, and Cocoa. She's not feeling so well herself--her allergies have been out of control and she's licked her paws raw. I'm so glad I went out Friday night--at least the weekend wasn't a complete wash. I hope this is as bad as it gets and I will be on the mend quickly! Cocoa too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLACfvraeTSvjOq6FQu4lKGbI8V1JWjRXnUr3eG0laxvxB-vN6vegUR7qiCSACSs-caqRgxiLfgSFRHURX5io147xsxdatftdRrnBxauNjVYM0hvzdyA8t0j9gwkTNh_EQ5PgMzL7_UjAK3q11sDRrIqal2SFH-J26FVTvfSiwL6Eada7t_C8S2fKYgG0/s2717/IMG_4608.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa01nAYwk_YcW632ut59H2gs5cQVyTQy0m6jXTRAelX2SQIYihDH_JIDOh436IEgwCtw9f6v1SS8TFKzYqf9tthGpQejdt3FXV0RlIESKSVKFR2I-7Ebd9ETOrhFzQz4j5dWL2-8xAWOCNugV0sVCWoJcSu6BHVcasY-R0Mz8lCpj-2TegXP_dKzo4Alx/s1560/IMG_4619.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>How was your week? Are you getting ready for the holidays? Did you do a holiday-themed race? Any fun holiday events? Have you ever been to a Krampus parade?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm l</span><span style="text-align: center;">inking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-80621930359452101092023-11-28T17:31:00.001-06:002023-11-30T05:46:48.977-06:00Mini Book Reviews: Nonfiction November 2023<p><i>Disclaimer: I received an ARC of The Meth Lunches: Food and Longing in An American City from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review. This post contains affiliate links.</i></p><p>After reading another 'highly-rated' fiction book that I struggled to get through, I decided to jump into non-fiction November again this year. I was inspired by <a href="https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2023/11/20/nonfiction-november-week-4-worldview-shapers/" target="_blank">fellow blogger Liz Dexter</a> who cohosts a non-fiction November linkup. I'm so glad I did. To kick off the month, I dug into my library's new releases and was stunned to find Britney Spears' memoir available. Sorry, not sorry, I was curious and it was a surprisingly good read. <i>The Meth Lunches </i>and <i>Hidden Valley Road </i>were both interesting and eye-opening, but very socially relevant. If you didn't love Dolly Parton before, you will after you read Sarah Smarsh's portrayal in <i>She Come By It Natural. </i>For followers of Anthony Bourdain, <i>World Travel</i> makes an excellent supplement to his shows. And what to say about <i>Birdie and Harlow </i>except to warn you to have a box of tissues nearby. What a sweet sweet story!</p><span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnEhlCnq4u9YB7kBKNk9M5t0C3rxfTG7O-4YqFz2QZH5QzIUZUjj7-MZT_BKaN_DuIK99UWulXc771d-L86G9vYbxEidSGjXEbm4KcxrDJj9Fpu7GrKsSRyToTKYX3n1QX_KwCZCrTuS5t-awI4rdwfPS9hloQ8LSanEqKEF1QxwKprIFXoFl0755zD7C/s1080/Add%20a%20heading%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnEhlCnq4u9YB7kBKNk9M5t0C3rxfTG7O-4YqFz2QZH5QzIUZUjj7-MZT_BKaN_DuIK99UWulXc771d-L86G9vYbxEidSGjXEbm4KcxrDJj9Fpu7GrKsSRyToTKYX3n1QX_KwCZCrTuS5t-awI4rdwfPS9hloQ8LSanEqKEF1QxwKprIFXoFl0755zD7C/w640-h640/Add%20a%20heading%20(1).png" title="Mini Book Reviews: Non-Fiction November 2023" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbirx6MtLn8c4oZh5_JnlN15sa4kmd9cmpHUNPSmPOqUSpjlMdKZBSVeScD6auM0xZadoaNqfV3e0rB-J8fFEfEBxMKsqnVZme5vDOTT_WTOEEhq71BjlmN8Hb-1EYBd0IEtONYCisTF4Bes4k0t2IYFlrLzO3yUA8NqwsS07_DbewQoxCLDEYVKShRv5H/s1500/63133205.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="969" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbirx6MtLn8c4oZh5_JnlN15sa4kmd9cmpHUNPSmPOqUSpjlMdKZBSVeScD6auM0xZadoaNqfV3e0rB-J8fFEfEBxMKsqnVZme5vDOTT_WTOEEhq71BjlmN8Hb-1EYBd0IEtONYCisTF4Bes4k0t2IYFlrLzO3yUA8NqwsS07_DbewQoxCLDEYVKShRv5H/w129-h200/63133205.jpg" title="The Woman in Me cover" width="129" /></a></div>In <i><a href="https://amzn.to/460EAI6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Woman in Me</a>, </i>Britney Spears tells her story in her own words. Told in a conversational tone, she talks about her childhood as a star on the Mickey Mouse Club and her breakout as a pop star. She doesn't hold back. Taken advantage of and gaslighted by just about everyone in her life, it's no surprise that she spun out of control. Treated like a child her whole life, she never got a chance to grow up, and as I read this, I reflected on the almost juvenile tone of the narrative. I kept thinking that I was missing something--why didn't anyone step up to help her, especially with regards to the conservatorship? How did that even happen? Who are these doctors who put her on lithium? What is the backstory? Britney's memoir is just plain sad and should be a cautious tale to any aspiring child performers.<p></p><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhwQ7UyRU_EBnMlzahLDDIsWcV_DiGOBjfhFc9dXVuAg7gKnIU2YWpvXEZZ-6GTvBQ3wJncWbkIOUI9UmpBJnGHBHagKCGJ7VXKZPJeXx6_PqU40XWrW3Ku8m4-7yxN8e2a0qi8tpmWwa3uYvuUt9mIGjdxT8qHyYX2IMu0yG9k6Q6O2LojZb2Sr_0QVW/s400/65213876.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhwQ7UyRU_EBnMlzahLDDIsWcV_DiGOBjfhFc9dXVuAg7gKnIU2YWpvXEZZ-6GTvBQ3wJncWbkIOUI9UmpBJnGHBHagKCGJ7VXKZPJeXx6_PqU40XWrW3Ku8m4-7yxN8e2a0qi8tpmWwa3uYvuUt9mIGjdxT8qHyYX2IMu0yG9k6Q6O2LojZb2Sr_0QVW/w131-h200/65213876.jpg" title="The Meth Lunches cover" width="131" /></a></div>The premise of <a href="https://amzn.to/47pDXcN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Meth Lunches</i> </a>started as an essay about hunger and homelessness in Las Vegas, for which the author won a James Beard award. The book expands on that premise. The author shares her experience with operating a food pantry out of her front yard, which turns out to be a social experiment. Addiction, homelessness, and hunger are pervasive; the author employs a handyman who is addicted to meth--her lunches with him prompted the title of the book. She also fosters and eventually adopts 2 children born to an addict. There is a lot to unpack in this book but it was an engaging and compelling read. She offers her opinion on solutions which include feeding people good, quality food. Her descriptions of the food she prepares made me hungry and also provide a much-needed distraction from the bleak tales she shares. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEuUjqr5WcbdxSxdsOVE0i0CxkjuRWQfZJYBtqnLJhfpAbzQrN_ihKgEZjnR89h7fMIfV6a7Ten4SqgOCZjiqkj6HV_Uftf2EtvUx-DMqRGdpJkF9jkKPE412sVWGaH85BQcPbChzN4brrm3QPlgHByqy4DUJ0yibcYKQlgFDaUT39VbdYbiiZ4sE_PQH/s1979/53763820.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1979" data-original-width="1399" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEuUjqr5WcbdxSxdsOVE0i0CxkjuRWQfZJYBtqnLJhfpAbzQrN_ihKgEZjnR89h7fMIfV6a7Ten4SqgOCZjiqkj6HV_Uftf2EtvUx-DMqRGdpJkF9jkKPE412sVWGaH85BQcPbChzN4brrm3QPlgHByqy4DUJ0yibcYKQlgFDaUT39VbdYbiiZ4sE_PQH/w141-h200/53763820.jpg" title="She Come By It Natural cover" width="141" /></a></div>When most of us think of Dolly Parton, what comes to mind? Her accomplishments as a country singer? Her voluptuous figure? Her philanthropy? Her contributions to feminism? In <a href="https://amzn.to/49DdCsS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">S<i>he Come By It Natural</i>,</a> Sarah Smarsh focuses on Dolly as a cultural phenomenon, providing insights into her life. I really enjoyed reading her perspective about how Dolly impacted her life as well as that of many other women. It truly amazes me that Dolly has always had a sense of purpose and even though it couldn't have been easy, she never compromised herself to get ahead. Often the butt of jokes, Dolly has a self-deprecating sense of humor and always seems to laugh it off. The author does a great job with this one and I found it an interesting contrast to Britney Spears' story. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_hFYxrjBP3YMO4ZXPpyws7h95-ZDLyATU9dugQeWqlT_94et1M8INTwgTGPNt7uyqExbKv_t464xo-5wf5w5mj1S6rejgKlrh2mUj8qH2HuW2_yLLIdEr9OQf2dGADw8He4TrovNMD2pcpRIoOWG2P8IlvIANFHy4K5BEcWEqjtNiJz5uKTLVE5xBgX1/s2775/50496808.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1838" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_hFYxrjBP3YMO4ZXPpyws7h95-ZDLyATU9dugQeWqlT_94et1M8INTwgTGPNt7uyqExbKv_t464xo-5wf5w5mj1S6rejgKlrh2mUj8qH2HuW2_yLLIdEr9OQf2dGADw8He4TrovNMD2pcpRIoOWG2P8IlvIANFHy4K5BEcWEqjtNiJz5uKTLVE5xBgX1/w133-h200/50496808.jpg" title="World Travel: an Irreverant Guide coverr" width="133" /></a></div>Chef Anthony Bourdain traveled the world and sampled all the food. He was bold and brazen, game to try anything. At the time of his death in 2018, he and his assistant had started working on this book, which she finished on her own. <a href="https://amzn.to/46jSPI5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>World Travel</i></a> shares snippets from his travels, quotes, and anecdotes about each stop. Each chapter--and they are brief--highlights a couple of favorite places, including sights and yes, restaurants. There is also information on lodging and traveling. I would call this less a travel guide and more of a window into Bourdain's experiences. There are quotes and anecdotes from him as well as a couple essays from friends and his brother. If you haven't seen his shows, this book most likely won't make sense. I enjoyed reading his thoughts and always irreverent humor, which I could almost hear in his heavy New Jersey accent. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38MBNiRJRoFTssgX5ECK967GMfmgj1vW8JDKUgCeO_vDm6YlDXIcBKfszRd8p2OL1gNDISEzy03zPoeF5qSrkZGSLpKpQn29vpBD84YvD1fIyf5Bma0TdHxb4yxcgvHoOUS_WUekkpctSJDkozCbJwR3y7K6FFq2OYaChbqA4zkMwUSH8l2TVd7jqP2i3/s400/75289875.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38MBNiRJRoFTssgX5ECK967GMfmgj1vW8JDKUgCeO_vDm6YlDXIcBKfszRd8p2OL1gNDISEzy03zPoeF5qSrkZGSLpKpQn29vpBD84YvD1fIyf5Bma0TdHxb4yxcgvHoOUS_WUekkpctSJDkozCbJwR3y7K6FFq2OYaChbqA4zkMwUSH8l2TVd7jqP2i3/w133-h200/75289875.jpg" title="Birdie and Harlow cover" width="133" /></a></div><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3usfRPY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bidrie and Harlow</a></i> is a sweet, poignant, engaging memoir of a young woman who spontaneously adopts a dog and finds a furry soulmate. Her tale takes the reader through life with the dog as well as her life with her husband and their journey to begin a family. Her writing is so engaging that I had trouble putting the book down. She tells her story with humor, but also with feeling. For me, the story was especially poignant, as a fellow dog lover and infertility warrior. Be prepared to laugh out loud but have the tissues handy. You know how it ends. You don't want it to end. Loved loved loved this one. Dogs are the absolute best. Even when they're pooping in the shower. And as <a href="https://www.therightfits.com/" target="_blank">Jessie</a> said, we don't deserve dogs. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HtQt58JNRRTFyQrGX2pyRumRdhBVlnktKmFyRV6fXb62dUZUjfXX9HeFKF19ZqCGPekJM4xoTMzvdVvkSpwdg_1cDshyphenhyphensz5QXHhwZ_QiOEG50YazZbz-bU5L2gB__7F7_M5Mue22-XGlEFBSFlBxMwwbEZLiUqSdi9kH1xyHKm7qhOHI_mOoPgOwU8u9/s400/50088631.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HtQt58JNRRTFyQrGX2pyRumRdhBVlnktKmFyRV6fXb62dUZUjfXX9HeFKF19ZqCGPekJM4xoTMzvdVvkSpwdg_1cDshyphenhyphensz5QXHhwZ_QiOEG50YazZbz-bU5L2gB__7F7_M5Mue22-XGlEFBSFlBxMwwbEZLiUqSdi9kH1xyHKm7qhOHI_mOoPgOwU8u9/w131-h200/50088631.jpg" title="Hidden Valley Road cover" width="131" /></a></div><i><a href="https://amzn.to/40WaKnf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hidden Valley Road </a>, </i>the true story of a family of 12 children, 6 of whom develop schizophrenia, just blew my mind. The narrative follows the family from the beginning, post-WW2, when the parents were dating and starting their life together. Until the boys hit adolescence, everything seemed normal--as normal as it could be with so many kids. After the symptoms of mental illness started in the oldest and then in the other 5 boys, the mother was determined to maintain a facade of a happy family--as evidenced by the family photos, where all the kids were lined up in order in matching outfits. Along with the details of the family's life and the boys' breakdowns, the author takes a deep dive into the treatment of mental illness over time. I found this just fascinating and also disheartening. Over the years, the care of mentally ill patients has evolved slowly until the study of genetics began to explode. The pharmacologic management has yet to catch up. I could not put this one down. What a great read!</div><span></span><span><br /></span><div><b>Are you a fan of non-fiction? Have you read any good non-fiction lately? Have you read any of these books?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="http://kookyrunner.com/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> and </span><a href="http://zenaida.net/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Zenaida</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> for Tuesday Topics </span>and with the ladies of Fit Five Friday: <a href="https://myfirst5kandmore.com/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Darlene</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">, </span><a href="https://www.runningwithattitude.com/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Michelle</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">, </span><a href="https://runswithpugs.com/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Jenn</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">, and </span><a href="https://zenaida.net/" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank">Zenaida</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-BOtkOMonbHqA2QbFNJCHwse7q_ZYu4x_nX2ddgNl7RMdFJ0Mg4F3Jkhk7eXCRMt116O3gVkQILmMlkt7G4e15Ljhi_rU1UjA_ku4J_k3Pn7eF_X10MqigDrLV605gRg0qxZoIzUoNq4Kjk4nAXP9tErckxjaJpIQdF2M0qeoktdJfnjgtJu7DNfd-Op/s500/img_6885.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-BOtkOMonbHqA2QbFNJCHwse7q_ZYu4x_nX2ddgNl7RMdFJ0Mg4F3Jkhk7eXCRMt116O3gVkQILmMlkt7G4e15Ljhi_rU1UjA_ku4J_k3Pn7eF_X10MqigDrLV605gRg0qxZoIzUoNq4Kjk4nAXP9tErckxjaJpIQdF2M0qeoktdJfnjgtJu7DNfd-Op/w200-h200/img_6885.png" title="Fit Five Friday badge" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi890cRHnp32jvOVTScXAX5It1ymSsYhy2haW6pxAp5-o_HQ9CNr2ZItS6EYj2w9UeFYhEZZbmJbd3wey5Hk2AsuDbAETzINDAjQlnAKpQ5dCeGY7ucs94iEUKXLtkgBwRa9ueAlteUs8XD/s280/48423983_285042255481282_5454521484242321408_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi890cRHnp32jvOVTScXAX5It1ymSsYhy2haW6pxAp5-o_HQ9CNr2ZItS6EYj2w9UeFYhEZZbmJbd3wey5Hk2AsuDbAETzINDAjQlnAKpQ5dCeGY7ucs94iEUKXLtkgBwRa9ueAlteUs8XD/w200-h200/48423983_285042255481282_5454521484242321408_n.jpg" title="Tuesday Topics badge" width="200" /></a><div><br style="background-color: white;" /></div></div></span></div></div></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-15694134134638499372023-11-25T14:20:00.001-06:002023-11-26T05:54:32.790-06:00Turkey Trotting<p>It was another fantastic weather week--sunshine every day! This is so unusual this time of year for us that I can't help but comment on it. I am loving it. The realist in me knows it's going to come to an end and in fact, as you read this, we are receiving snow. 'Tis the season, after all!</p><p>I had a very productive and busy fitness week, including a Turkey Trot under the Thanksgiving sun with my son! But by Saturday, I was feeling tired, achy, and just off. As much as I wanted to go to the gym for that 3rd day of strength this week, I did not. Sometimes you just have to listen to what your body tells you, am I right? I am hoping a day of rest will prevent this from turning into something. I've been seeing a lot of sick kiddos in my clinic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPTjfl50C0PRiOX0HdwsM82o_OTd1o5ryrBg8fwoK6xJ3pB55MmrSK5AqP1JAfW93IK385vRYk85jGXhIkC7jKdWOFf0D_RzWkHjnAlv6DUKFQ9eTneL9dndp77M0SMhhf9o2JWayYv6OCcs3RC2x3gSrmlffOqffsUsuopNPUK-6kqZGmEhRSdKHGvQl/s1800/Turkey%20Trotting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPTjfl50C0PRiOX0HdwsM82o_OTd1o5ryrBg8fwoK6xJ3pB55MmrSK5AqP1JAfW93IK385vRYk85jGXhIkC7jKdWOFf0D_RzWkHjnAlv6DUKFQ9eTneL9dndp77M0SMhhf9o2JWayYv6OCcs3RC2x3gSrmlffOqffsUsuopNPUK-6kqZGmEhRSdKHGvQl/w426-h640/Turkey%20Trotting.png" title="Turkey Trotting cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Trail Sisters run 6.2 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: Turkey Trot Chicago 5k 30:40</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: yoga/rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Sunday, the plan was to meet up for a joint run/ruck with the Trail Sisters Chicago Northwest and the Mother Ruckers at a preserve that has wide limestone paths. I put the preserve name in Google Maps but ended up at the wrong entrance. I called our leader, and she redirected me. Unfortunately, she gave me the wrong directions, so I called her again. It seemed like I was heading in the right direction, so to be certain, I put the name of the preserve in again. BUT NO! I ended up at the entrance with the canoe launch. Who knew there were so many entrances to this preserve? When I parked my car, I was also at the trailhead for the Des Plaines River Trail. I knew it would take me towards where I needed to be. I started to run and yes, eventually, I did meet up with my Trail Sisters--actually, 3 separate groups of them, but they were running in the opposite direction. What an adventure! I finished up with 6+ solo miles on this beautiful day, followed by coffee with a couple of the ladies. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T15clcs47j1V3b8u-FO1A6rnvE5S0c3gMYuSB6gRmIZf8eODmSKV8TGHvtv8Fg9lvDjnbW2pdPjOj73lnNaGq6GCgy5RBLhcVixUnOntfYM4HAOHyspb2iSbwYeMU0EbtMk9gT0BNPOilMSg5ykyB0B1NA6VNjDjxe8gXkZwMpgO5mPazLJHjChYGXvJ/s2219/IMG_4357.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2219" data-original-width="2219" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T15clcs47j1V3b8u-FO1A6rnvE5S0c3gMYuSB6gRmIZf8eODmSKV8TGHvtv8Fg9lvDjnbW2pdPjOj73lnNaGq6GCgy5RBLhcVixUnOntfYM4HAOHyspb2iSbwYeMU0EbtMk9gT0BNPOilMSg5ykyB0B1NA6VNjDjxe8gXkZwMpgO5mPazLJHjChYGXvJ/w640-h640/IMG_4357.heic" title="1 group of Trail Sisters" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTizjQ8nz1f5KCTQVcQ2ZPpEqUnwuW_BYaVEBmcVrjM5is8ZeUnRSMhZaxRqOn8GVhElidm4mGOI6rlCxIfhK4L0bHr8yYbnFGKCddKZ1SUCLQ7D3QWuTROKCVAbFyVp3HqgDkDrbvdyvhBGVWLtyYAv99kxAshDcgiXvd2k_f-MFKxJ8ekjLmAnMxc5IP/s2897/IMG_4362.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTizjQ8nz1f5KCTQVcQ2ZPpEqUnwuW_BYaVEBmcVrjM5is8ZeUnRSMhZaxRqOn8GVhElidm4mGOI6rlCxIfhK4L0bHr8yYbnFGKCddKZ1SUCLQ7D3QWuTROKCVAbFyVp3HqgDkDrbvdyvhBGVWLtyYAv99kxAshDcgiXvd2k_f-MFKxJ8ekjLmAnMxc5IP/w640-h640/IMG_4362.heic" title="Des Plaines River" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Monday's WOD had bench presses, 5 sets of 3 at 85%. Before we started, the coach led us through a workout that opened up the muscles we needed for this heavy lift. For the lift, I worked with 3 other women. This allowed us plenty of time to rest between sets while we each got a turn. My goal was to hit 85# for those sets of 3 and with the encouragement and tips from the other women, I was able to do it! All of us hit our goals and it was a lot of fun to do it in a group. The MetCon was a 10 minute AMRAP: 5 KB box step overs, 10 KB single arm clean and jerks, and 12 V-ups (I subbed atomic sit-ups). For the KB movements, I used a 20# KB--those clean and jerks were definitely challenging! I finished 6 rounds of this when time was called.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With the Turkey Trot planned for Thursday, on Wednesday, I decided to do CrossFit instead of my usual trail run. The class was full--in fact, I was initially on a waiting list but luckily got in-- and we were split up into groups of 3, taking turns like we did on Monday. I was excited for this workout because it had deadlifts in it, 5 sets of 3 at 85#, which was 175#. I hit them all and was just thrilled. The MetCon was called 'earn your second helping' and it was a 10 minute AMRAP of 15 wall balls, 10 cal row, 15 abmat situps, 10 cal bike, 15 pull-ups (I did ring rows), 10 cal row, and 15 box jumps. I made it through almost 2 rounds, except for the last row and the box jumps. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqRdqbxxk8xBRmX8fRL7_jE9aVz9r0n4TK6BI-yFVCar67kAeWMs4vj_3gRyzoAYpq0YIkDUJhTWxRwMx2tEqyc967vn7dH8KKiVjb2aAsnnNC1cr7EpOqfOixaNRmyHButTu2nAHim0qYrInUKKNuGD9gf3GvMs79VkuDaOAqvYYdTePW6KgPGDJinao/s979/IMG_4390.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="979" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqRdqbxxk8xBRmX8fRL7_jE9aVz9r0n4TK6BI-yFVCar67kAeWMs4vj_3gRyzoAYpq0YIkDUJhTWxRwMx2tEqyc967vn7dH8KKiVjb2aAsnnNC1cr7EpOqfOixaNRmyHButTu2nAHim0qYrInUKKNuGD9gf3GvMs79VkuDaOAqvYYdTePW6KgPGDJinao/w640-h640/IMG_4390.jpg" title="Deadlift 175#" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My youngest and I ran a 5k Turkey Trot on Thursday. He would only agree to a race in Chicago/Lincoln Park. I was fine with that--an early morning trek into the city is no big deal. I picked him up on the way to the venue. We picked up our bibs and stopped at the portapotties before lining up in the 9 min/mile corral, where we ran into Cynthia Wheeler. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImT0JLT1lkveJbUgHBFHNxgvmdr8AK1g39BcAtVjepPojf_ApFtnCydouofw1e3D7oGgMELljU6ojwDeRiGCyeJj-jQyaQr7b524O7hO2U-1fgF1-d3zaY1arafuVlvfMaN1xU4Vc-gueQnlmpGghMXj_uH-1qH6N_1fDbMlDCYJ65FSu2XrwPV4P42gR/s3456/IMG_4400.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="2594" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImT0JLT1lkveJbUgHBFHNxgvmdr8AK1g39BcAtVjepPojf_ApFtnCydouofw1e3D7oGgMELljU6ojwDeRiGCyeJj-jQyaQr7b524O7hO2U-1fgF1-d3zaY1arafuVlvfMaN1xU4Vc-gueQnlmpGghMXj_uH-1qH6N_1fDbMlDCYJ65FSu2XrwPV4P42gR/w480-h640/IMG_4400.heic" title="Cynthia and me" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then it was go time. The starts were staggered by corrals and we crossed the start line at 9:11. The runners were funneled onto the Lakefront Path and with the large number of runners, it was slow going for the first mile. We did a lot of passing on the side of the path. This kept our pace down. The pack didn't really thin out until after mile 2, which is when we really picked up the pace. In fact, we ran so fast that I wasn't sure I'd make it to the finish line! I kept telling M to run ahead of me, but he stayed with me the whole time. When we crossed the finish line, the announcer called my name, but instead of calling my son's name, he was 'some guy wearing a Packers shirt'. LOL--if you are from Chicago, you will understand this. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdUv9BjIDvNVEmbpRD5duWdUDSd2IfyB6d6p5x_npE5BempbIEeI_LmLs7QuU1uuxAbn_U1_xqUh66ii8USmq6y5hZyc-lE93Z2VaWCUTq7Gio862nOvg_UrOytPjIa9qPd2D9lcENRxl-otLEjZbCEnTPsH2wL31ue76AyXsylVnBhlq6K4PMReRd7hi/s2281/IMG_4405.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2281" data-original-width="2281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdUv9BjIDvNVEmbpRD5duWdUDSd2IfyB6d6p5x_npE5BempbIEeI_LmLs7QuU1uuxAbn_U1_xqUh66ii8USmq6y5hZyc-lE93Z2VaWCUTq7Gio862nOvg_UrOytPjIa9qPd2D9lcENRxl-otLEjZbCEnTPsH2wL31ue76AyXsylVnBhlq6K4PMReRd7hi/w640-h640/IMG_4405.heic" title="Finish photo with Matthew" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The turkey was not a fan of my son's Packers sweatshirt!</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There was water and lots of fruit at the finish line. We also received a medal and picked up a stocking cap for our race swag. We redeemed our coupon for beer--Lagunitas Hazy Wonder IPA, which was delicious! We also received some donut bites from Clyde's donuts, which actually went well with the beer. Who knew? After we finished our treats, we made our was out of the post-race party area and walked back to the car. We had such a great time and I would definitely do this one again. I had hoped for a better finish time but with the crowded course, I am happy with what I did. The race was a great way to start the day before heading to my sister's house for a delicious Thanksgiving feast. We joined my sister's family, my parents, my boys, and their girlfriends. It was such a fun afternoon and believe it or not, I forgot to take any photos.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For my run on Friday, I headed out into the dark and eagerly awaited the sunrise. I did not expect it to be so cold. With the wind, it felt like needles poking at my arms, even through my clothing. I'm not sure how I feel about running through another winter! Anyhoo, I felt good and had a nice evenly paced 6 miler, finishing with an average 9:24m/m pace. The post-run shower felt good although it took me a while to thaw! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioARh-H7K6zk3nQ8cwJXZsHTFb4-JUo50y5LCK39zKLUuZy_AgZF1pn9cSTiBz5HEZy2QKVsywIiEVB8kGts6-KsWmK9gNA6uty7xyxfiiVghpf0rwxTmbBXQa4Z5DpGSVnvhCJITLXcxromA0wh7T6ib4sWVCCqRHNFNWNcpx6ap7c-B0MipkBnZW-c5H/s2313/IMG_4418.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2313" data-original-width="2313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioARh-H7K6zk3nQ8cwJXZsHTFb4-JUo50y5LCK39zKLUuZy_AgZF1pn9cSTiBz5HEZy2QKVsywIiEVB8kGts6-KsWmK9gNA6uty7xyxfiiVghpf0rwxTmbBXQa4Z5DpGSVnvhCJITLXcxromA0wh7T6ib4sWVCCqRHNFNWNcpx6ap7c-B0MipkBnZW-c5H/w640-h640/IMG_4418.heic" title="a cold morning run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Saturday, we drove up to the lake. It was cold but the little town was bustling with small business Saturday. Thanks to the Ice Age Trail, the main street is lined with little shops. This makes my heart happy! We had lunch and did some shopping. Here's to hoping that this little funk I'm feeling doesn't turn into anything.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How was your week? Did you Turkey Trot? Are you experiencing unusually sunny days? Did you get any good Black Friday deals?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm l</span><span style="text-align: center;">inking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-3236910477673923682023-11-18T14:05:00.003-06:002023-11-25T06:26:22.606-06:00Still Can't Beat It!<p>And by that title, I'm referring to this fantastic fall weather! The leaves are mostly off the trees but it's still relatively mild and that sun just keeps on shining! No complaints--I'll take this fall as long as it wants to stick around. It's been an uneventful week for me and I'm happy about that too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHBt92vjRQdWV873Nl-opYhTkCyc5CsWZlFas8e9uUlKsAEnBXWOjm37R3LSAahcj-N1u7VNZqalXrdf2q-m3RmixJjtyb9gEVKFMVjMx_aoAs666KzlovCKAKivuPkmlyd-TNWvrbGQMgIWBwmQCRUlnLITQF_SDuK8ueUIVTN7AMFf94-YBAcBkN-XZ/s1800/Still%20Can%E2%80%99t%20Beat%20It!.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHBt92vjRQdWV873Nl-opYhTkCyc5CsWZlFas8e9uUlKsAEnBXWOjm37R3LSAahcj-N1u7VNZqalXrdf2q-m3RmixJjtyb9gEVKFMVjMx_aoAs666KzlovCKAKivuPkmlyd-TNWvrbGQMgIWBwmQCRUlnLITQF_SDuK8ueUIVTN7AMFf94-YBAcBkN-XZ/w426-h640/Still%20Can%E2%80%99t%20Beat%20It!.png" title="Still Can't Beat It cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Ice Age Trail Run 7.6 miles, 1100 feet </div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 7.2 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6.4 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: work/rest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was another beautiful fall morning on Sunday! We were up at the lake and I took my shoes to the Gibraltar segment, hoping for some beautiful views. I wasn't disappointed. It was really windy, though, especially at the top! The local trail alliance volunteers have been busy creating loop trails on both segments. One isn't complete and shhhhh...I tried it anyway. This segment has been loved to death and I'm glad to see that there is an effort to decrease wear and tear on the trail. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBZ5pmZwzx6zHSaIy_BavZhBNitUP2ssKefsVK_UdCNdmR8AoQeqAaAH-bopJkveoSjUURjKeFQV6H7RPNUhyphenhyphen5tOW2Cwl4D0T2md9hPGBqoYK7n14MTt5QsM4nLEShK5NQDm91mADX73YHrmyF_-oj1OoVbmHt3Iv3kSppwLAiNbktV2Y8QqcKw70j1cH/s3913/IMG_4124.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="3913" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBZ5pmZwzx6zHSaIy_BavZhBNitUP2ssKefsVK_UdCNdmR8AoQeqAaAH-bopJkveoSjUURjKeFQV6H7RPNUhyphenhyphen5tOW2Cwl4D0T2md9hPGBqoYK7n14MTt5QsM4nLEShK5NQDm91mADX73YHrmyF_-oj1OoVbmHt3Iv3kSppwLAiNbktV2Y8QqcKw70j1cH/w640-h360/IMG_4124.heic" title="windy gibraltar rock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU0GSENKZOeB4-ldrfzpLdCD_PkRq-zH6RJ7oEyCN16R1HPC6pQW1gdBxOKY3oe6kXzpXuVFnSMkIcr4gsu43Sd-1Ij1JsuhIpNDPdSXJmzjmQb9SGlew6sPo71m-rDNyG62L1QayMD_mwe_BJCktcok8YseGrpYpTdw-_7s8Ok1IdMr5hTo3rcHG2Qcr/s4032/IMG_4132.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU0GSENKZOeB4-ldrfzpLdCD_PkRq-zH6RJ7oEyCN16R1HPC6pQW1gdBxOKY3oe6kXzpXuVFnSMkIcr4gsu43Sd-1Ij1JsuhIpNDPdSXJmzjmQb9SGlew6sPo71m-rDNyG62L1QayMD_mwe_BJCktcok8YseGrpYpTdw-_7s8Ok1IdMr5hTo3rcHG2Qcr/w640-h360/IMG_4132.heic" title="gibraltar view" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Monday, I had a meeting at work which conflicted with CrossFit. I could have gone to the 6 am class, but when I looked at the WOD, which had 100 toes-to-bar with 5 burpees every time you dropped off the bar--I decided to work out at home. I did a variation of the strength and conditioning workout that was posted for the day, modifying based on the equipment I had on hand. There were back squats alternating with dumbbell pullovers. For the back squats, I used 2 25# dumbells held on my shoulders and did 4 sets of 10, which felt sufficiently challenging. I was able to do the DB pullovers with a 20# DB, 4 sets of 10. I felt that I could have gone heavier on those and will do that next time. Next were Bulgarian Split squats, 4 sets of 5 per leg, which I did holding 20# DBs in each hand. I alternated those with front and lateral DB raises, 4 sets of 5 per arm using 10# DBs. I don't have 12# and 15# is still a little too heavy. I finished up with Superman holds, 4 sets of 5 with a 3 second squeeze at the top of each one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With unseasonably warm weather predicted for Wednesday, I was excited to head to the trails. This run felt unusually difficult. I'm not sure if it was the warm weather or tired legs from Tuesday's Fluid Running session--I did a level 3 class. Regardless, I was determined to make the most of the beautiful morning and made my way around the preserve. The trails were strewn with crunchy leaves and it was hard to sneak up on the deer--their hearing is so good! It's amazing how well they blend in with the fall foliage. Can you see them in the photo below?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENVE74dD2yZFQi83WmjlZiqZTGV4JFiRPYgIbspWNR7XkVCUsoCoa_xCAY3a9XAWTdIkR5ggtrLl96zW69NOpH3kz3Pk7ViNrse6V5JDcVMcEZjbV_-Pshx9wPbE59zfvmA37Uqr3DSJeZ5URIt8ZQhLHJedplzRtAze7K5txcS6Jxc8_mDobuwAXEuRo/s1762/IMG_4172.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="1762" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENVE74dD2yZFQi83WmjlZiqZTGV4JFiRPYgIbspWNR7XkVCUsoCoa_xCAY3a9XAWTdIkR5ggtrLl96zW69NOpH3kz3Pk7ViNrse6V5JDcVMcEZjbV_-Pshx9wPbE59zfvmA37Uqr3DSJeZ5URIt8ZQhLHJedplzRtAze7K5txcS6Jxc8_mDobuwAXEuRo/w640-h640/IMG_4172.heic" title="deer" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I woke up Thursday morning, I felt unusually stiff and sore. I hit the yoga mat for a quick stretch sesh with Adriene and went to the gym early to do more stretching. By the time SJ arrived, I felt pretty good! She put me to work, alternating 4 sets of 8 front squats at 65# alternating with 4 sets of 8 bench presses at 65#. Neither felt easy--these were heavier than I'd done in the past-but I finished them all without any assistance, save for some reminders about form. I was really excited about those bench presses--I used to struggle with one rep at 65#! I finished up with 3 sets of 20 skater jumps alternating with 3 sets of 20 second hollow holds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jeDmjSoCPUjepUIdyg2_DNdUDC9FL-83kJVqbq123gLB3b6QHzfcRGY1H5QMwMSpCmYS-olgI1w_9dnSvlEto_v-VOuC7XYdKe6D32QtpYn5pTI9nH563vjggNtkPkr1iPj3Dab8YED-tURey0-1x8yJlrOtNsnDHrk_M7q62J6zFczO6x9_mnXiTxjr/s2159/20729D7B-EC16-4563-BDAE-DE62499BA1A8.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU13_a3p66v4fRP92N2ErqLfSdIgtzjwUm1BEbKOX3vpCCsAP_gbPbFXuqptQdpfmbUOPph4sfBnlVmN09aVo7eQrbIhQGpG3jfXUtwtu2nYa75zsN-H683_vCEbPIgG2ohM04XXniQQ1uNVazrg0u_Jn_huWgbriUoM1wwcG1Xaq0bCZJXeZo3rbqR3w/s2655/IMG_4206.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2655" data-original-width="2655" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU13_a3p66v4fRP92N2ErqLfSdIgtzjwUm1BEbKOX3vpCCsAP_gbPbFXuqptQdpfmbUOPph4sfBnlVmN09aVo7eQrbIhQGpG3jfXUtwtu2nYa75zsN-H683_vCEbPIgG2ohM04XXniQQ1uNVazrg0u_Jn_huWgbriUoM1wwcG1Xaq0bCZJXeZo3rbqR3w/w320-h320/IMG_4206.heic" title="front squat 85#" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2159" data-original-width="2159" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jeDmjSoCPUjepUIdyg2_DNdUDC9FL-83kJVqbq123gLB3b6QHzfcRGY1H5QMwMSpCmYS-olgI1w_9dnSvlEto_v-VOuC7XYdKe6D32QtpYn5pTI9nH563vjggNtkPkr1iPj3Dab8YED-tURey0-1x8yJlrOtNsnDHrk_M7q62J6zFczO6x9_mnXiTxjr/w320-h320/20729D7B-EC16-4563-BDAE-DE62499BA1A8.JPG" title="bench press 65#" width="320" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What to wear for Friday's run? At 6:00 am the temperature was 57 degrees, but it was windy and the forecast was for a rapid plunge into cooler temps. I decided to wear shorts but a long sleeve half zip on top. I did not regret this decision--that north wind was brutal and the thumbholes came in handy. A sign that our extended fall is coming to an end. Not only were most of the trees bare, but the portapotties were gone. I had to make a little detour to a grocery store to use the facilities. Overall, this was a decently paced run!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykz363fgUacTryTSAXvjxt4kJtezF5L9BwO2KV33uJinLqrDKJQ81HaKtyYk5pyyshCjOfen9s7qeNgnuz8CBHADrlMLHWwQRYWVU9l6V7-PC8f-z3OXO4EF8MrrZdJEQKNz5kMXBoLjfCI1DSSSUMkKLszg_GsoBC1wvZZ87n1lj7Dl3qZmq8jYn57Cq/s2718/IMG_4315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2718" data-original-width="2718" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykz363fgUacTryTSAXvjxt4kJtezF5L9BwO2KV33uJinLqrDKJQ81HaKtyYk5pyyshCjOfen9s7qeNgnuz8CBHADrlMLHWwQRYWVU9l6V7-PC8f-z3OXO4EF8MrrZdJEQKNz5kMXBoLjfCI1DSSSUMkKLszg_GsoBC1wvZZ87n1lj7Dl3qZmq8jYn57Cq/w640-h640/IMG_4315.jpg" title="Friday's run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Speaking of gear...</i></h2><div>It's been hard not to notice all the early Black Friday sales! I have to do my due diligence and mention that Brooks has 25% off <b><a href="https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us?tid=inf:ig:micro:run_happy_team:pm1x:usa:wendyistakingthelongwayhome" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">many items</a></b> until November 24! Two of my favorite items are the Notch Thermal Hoodie and the Shield Hybrid Jacket. Both come in pink, so if you're shopping for me...just a thought... I shared some of my other favorites on <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzybvXcrCX9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my IG</a></b> as well. So many good items right now!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>How was your week? Do you struggle with wardrobe choices this time of year? What signs are you seeing that it's the end of fall? Have you found any great early Black Friday sales?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm l</span><span style="text-align: center;">inking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-32996549209367982152023-11-11T11:24:00.001-06:002023-11-13T05:06:27.835-06:00Sometimes You Get Just What You Need<p>Reflecting back on the past week, overall, it was a good one. The weather was decent, especially for November which IMHO usually rivals February for the worst weather of the year. My workouts went well--I'm making gains in strength and on Friday, had the speediest run in a long time. That always feels good. I keep meeting and hearing about women in my age group or older who are doing amazing things! This week, the Chicago Marathon posted on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzcBx5fMwZ-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">its IG account</a> about 2 older women who set new records on this year's course: the always awe-inspiring Jeannie Rice AG75-79 3:34:32 and Jenny Hitchings AG60-64 2:49:43. Both finish times would be remarkable in any age group, but these ladies are certainly proving that age is just a number. </p><p>I find it serendipitous that these people and stories are coming my way when I'm contemplating running Chicago one more time. No worries, I'm not going to break any records or set a new PR. Plus I have get a bib first! But these are the kinds of stories that inspire me and quiet the voices in my head that tell me I'm too old to be doing this. You really do get what you need--you just have to open your mind to the possibilities!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfM-5mVbF4oFm_pYdLtNADNQetsr1QniBJLsPPZkVB-x0CIe-krtb822SYy7h_gH5oZEdicya-elZiElO5HLE22_yWX17MIveKYgzNr2IGf2GU8ZibD9YgBAYXviiKwoTSj_y3NM-A5X0jMnsqoJ2MmjSjRj3JOFKePTcophoivLrnmjyNWcwB5fPZ6Zv/s1800/Sometimes%20You%20Get%20Just%20What%20You%20Need.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfM-5mVbF4oFm_pYdLtNADNQetsr1QniBJLsPPZkVB-x0CIe-krtb822SYy7h_gH5oZEdicya-elZiElO5HLE22_yWX17MIveKYgzNr2IGf2GU8ZibD9YgBAYXviiKwoTSj_y3NM-A5X0jMnsqoJ2MmjSjRj3JOFKePTcophoivLrnmjyNWcwB5fPZ6Zv/w426-h640/Sometimes%20You%20Get%20Just%20What%20You%20Need.png" title="Sometimes You get Just What You Need cover" width="426" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: Trail Sisters run 5.5 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 6.6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For our Sunday Trail Sisters run, our leader was out of town running NYCM. She asked me to lead and I met with 6 other women at the trailhead of my favorite local trail. The weather was gorgeous and even though it was a little cool at the start, I was glad I wore shorts as it warmed up quickly. We all started out together but split into 3 groups of 2. I ran in the back of the group with another woman named Mary, by whom I was completely awed and inspired. She talked my ear off and the miles passed quickly. Mary has run a marathon in every state--twice. She's an avid kayaker who placed 3rd in the Des Plaines River kayak marathon this past spring. Oh, and she's 70 years old! I think I found a new BRF. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUeiFzKGFn8aFCfKmgn8RcfOZYPpDfM-qZ-Csw_kZrONQyfcZoR1nLdXV0F1F4Q8ylo8c9d9BQOQnhB-OOfpllSEmPOljpeLQI7Q_yQ_LkRYxeUjTmluQPTthmqmSzCuygpEBpq0uq3EHOKh3QikD8qLj_CX5PrYiCyt7yh05tJQZzNAhYndzQrmdTirT/s2227/21CE65A7-C9F5-4857-AE4B-D7C41A417E3B.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="2227" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUeiFzKGFn8aFCfKmgn8RcfOZYPpDfM-qZ-Csw_kZrONQyfcZoR1nLdXV0F1F4Q8ylo8c9d9BQOQnhB-OOfpllSEmPOljpeLQI7Q_yQ_LkRYxeUjTmluQPTthmqmSzCuygpEBpq0uq3EHOKh3QikD8qLj_CX5PrYiCyt7yh05tJQZzNAhYndzQrmdTirT/w640-h640/21CE65A7-C9F5-4857-AE4B-D7C41A417E3B.jpg" title="Trail Sisters Chicago Northwest" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>And yes, that's Jen photoshopped into the back, lol. <br />She came late and missed the group photo but didn't want to be left out!</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Monday's WOD had bench presses and you know I love those! We had to do 4 sets of 5 at 70%, which would have been 63.5#. I rounded up to 65# and did 3 sets without much problem. The coach told me to increase the weight and I did, going up to 70#--it still wasn't too hard and I probably could have increased even more! I remember when 70# was my 1 RM, so this was very exciting for me! The MetCon was a 10 minute EMOM of toes-to-bar on the odd minutes and burpees on the even minutes. TTB are hard and while I'm getting closer, I'm not there yet. I did 6 attempts each minute and 10 burpees each minute. <div><br /></div><div>It was damp and cloudy on Wednesday and when I pulled into the parking lot at the trailhead, it started to rain. Fortunately, the rain didn't last long and as soon as my Garmin got a signal, it stopped. The trails were damp but not muddy. Right at the start I saw a buck ahead of me on the trail--I couldn't get too close though, so my photo is a little blurry. I saw quite a few deer and very few people. The leaves are still pretty full on the trees and even with the gloomy skies, the colors made it feel very bright! I felt really good on this run--I recently purchased a Theragun massager and have been using it on my leg muscles. It has made a big difference for me! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO_Sw7v5iEioSEv5v6509unXrCaUSTCXw_Z-d3mGBizDdnM_ida_eMB3kl0-8Yjy51q_BjWXA6IrPkbVuPztGZo969mxHFb7g3-PEFyHQZuXpMU7c8jz4FmnJHP79XoJHL36vZl0rgBC1TosOPKgF3j4XTcIekdVYtPDtoxNLt4l0NguKuHY9eptworfX/s1138/IMG_3932.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1138" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO_Sw7v5iEioSEv5v6509unXrCaUSTCXw_Z-d3mGBizDdnM_ida_eMB3kl0-8Yjy51q_BjWXA6IrPkbVuPztGZo969mxHFb7g3-PEFyHQZuXpMU7c8jz4FmnJHP79XoJHL36vZl0rgBC1TosOPKgF3j4XTcIekdVYtPDtoxNLt4l0NguKuHY9eptworfX/w640-h640/IMG_3932.heic" title="buck on the trail" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I met with SJ on Thursday for strength training. She had me start off with back squats, 3 sets of 8 at 100#. I alternated those with strict presses, 3 sets of 8 at 50#. I finished up with GHD sit-ups, 3 sets of 10 alternating with 3 sets of farmer's carries, 1 lap, carrying 2 50# kettlebells. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUspYZE4jHyPM-s34T6W9-dmoFJbrfB0NswsV0_-apVX1zU9Bn1Kct0P3OSF3F9ShQJqRhDEE2_y4gEudK7gZ9rmXMuzRs75NrPF0j61Jk03ALJVsh9PbRGLqwMqmH5PXnbo4j_0CiL1tvB1KXNHwXVA8ZFrVBMQ3gUJfC_17kFAkd_GCeFNbvh26kfAM/s2859/IMG_3967.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2859" data-original-width="2143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUspYZE4jHyPM-s34T6W9-dmoFJbrfB0NswsV0_-apVX1zU9Bn1Kct0P3OSF3F9ShQJqRhDEE2_y4gEudK7gZ9rmXMuzRs75NrPF0j61Jk03ALJVsh9PbRGLqwMqmH5PXnbo4j_0CiL1tvB1KXNHwXVA8ZFrVBMQ3gUJfC_17kFAkd_GCeFNbvh26kfAM/w300-h400/IMG_3967.heic" title="backsquat 100#" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzH5cpYyiNWw0Qs7hJui5txwRTfEhB0ZtpTpLz7HLc2l3DKxGAvhd6aHgbH8zmGOfwTX_vkhPFDwYW90Ra4D-V_1ljkXkFoOYuPixD80XopnHDxEqGqiGqCdjHyOzD25ifTeVQFtRRiv9I1eevSb_UZ0B4rzXop0SJGHqJjbOb_YAYuGN_N-IvDmArCnGr/s3163/IMG_3970.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3163" data-original-width="2372" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzH5cpYyiNWw0Qs7hJui5txwRTfEhB0ZtpTpLz7HLc2l3DKxGAvhd6aHgbH8zmGOfwTX_vkhPFDwYW90Ra4D-V_1ljkXkFoOYuPixD80XopnHDxEqGqiGqCdjHyOzD25ifTeVQFtRRiv9I1eevSb_UZ0B4rzXop0SJGHqJjbOb_YAYuGN_N-IvDmArCnGr/w300-h400/IMG_3970.heic" title="strict press 50#" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For some reason, I woke up way before my alarm. Maybe it was because I heard Cocoa barking, but I was up early. After a cup of coffee, I was out the door before 6. But the sky was brightening (yay DST!) and I didn't have to wear any illumination. I used my Theragun before I left the house. I wore the pink Launches (see why below) and my legs let me fly for the fastest 6 miler I've run in a long time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweppycCaSEK1u9Poib8L4SLWsV-ZnNvA4C_-8ahrdjCTaGJFPJcxf66hYPkeh1vRHg9QfzjutnFB1qKSm_zc0i722Qq8zMsB_ZdsV30VTi1Tkoe4iXpfh4yYAy67f4SicE-j0wwnWJsrxLFVYgIAvzkjJIsG5Nhi3x4FdAdHdR7Eq7UWPsf6XFupx_9HQ/s2875/IMG_4038.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2875" data-original-width="2875" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweppycCaSEK1u9Poib8L4SLWsV-ZnNvA4C_-8ahrdjCTaGJFPJcxf66hYPkeh1vRHg9QfzjutnFB1qKSm_zc0i722Qq8zMsB_ZdsV30VTi1Tkoe4iXpfh4yYAy67f4SicE-j0wwnWJsrxLFVYgIAvzkjJIsG5Nhi3x4FdAdHdR7Eq7UWPsf6XFupx_9HQ/w640-h640/IMG_4038.heic" title="Friday sunrise run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh yes, I did! I got that third day of strength in this week again. The hubs wanted to go to the lake on Saturday, but first I went to the gym for the 7 am strength class. There were deadlifts in the workout and you know I didn't want to miss that: 1 set of 3 at 55% (115#), 1 set of 3 at 65% (135#), and 4 sets of 5 at 75% (155#). Yes, it was hard. I alternated those with 4 sets of 5 banded scap pulls. That was followed by DB shrugs, 4 sets of 5 (30# each hand) alternating with wrist rolls, 3 sets of 4. I had never done wrist rolls before, so I didn't load any weight onto the apparatus. Next time I will. <b><a href="https://youtu.be/__IP3Wc23FM?si=6PHhHeX8bRpc1KIU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> is a video of someone doing wrist rolls using a barbell. Wrist rolls are good for grip strength and forearm strength. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Popeye</a>, here I come! We finished up with DB bicep curls, 4 sets of 5 (20# each hand) alternating with abmat sit ups, 4 sets of 20. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOLDOy_BZvzjcCV0SdErv2P5IVciS66lP48gZWGIVrNCCRpFQIxsD3HISn4wWee73Hp4Gv5-Em3KY-9JQqQez1MvPCP0godDCrAENcrZgHkRF8bYVIAYE9t3N9EHqKhu-G5R8h2CALeWm2f6qAHnNuOURF0uIEaPoKRdtm4UMFLRhk-RICsWNxpwDeVYX/s1206/IMG_4065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="904" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOLDOy_BZvzjcCV0SdErv2P5IVciS66lP48gZWGIVrNCCRpFQIxsD3HISn4wWee73Hp4Gv5-Em3KY-9JQqQez1MvPCP0godDCrAENcrZgHkRF8bYVIAYE9t3N9EHqKhu-G5R8h2CALeWm2f6qAHnNuOURF0uIEaPoKRdtm4UMFLRhk-RICsWNxpwDeVYX/w480-h640/IMG_4065.jpg" title="Bicep curls" width="480" /></a></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Off the Road...</i></h2><div>After CrossFit on Monday, I took Cocoa up to the UW-Madison Veterinary Clinic for her follow-up. And just to share how I had to multi-task this morning, I did a one hour Teams meeting for work in the car on the way up. Sigh. Anyhoo..we got a mixed bag of news. She's definitely doing better on her new medication but the ear infection isn't gone. Her medication was changed, we're weaning the steroids, and we have to go back in a month. The dermatologist did tell me that doing the ear surgery wouldn't be wrong at this point. We'll see how she's doing at her follow up. Meanwhile, while we were waiting for her meds to be filled, I took her for a walk on the Lakeshore Path along Lake Mendota. It was a beautiful fall day and boy oh boy do I love Madison...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0TevF8HjbZrDuLTGfKy6FYid1gPyzwYEL8bJssZb8fOO2Y-vz2Oq-02a-MqYrCbMssh4m-MjdUeOsFfiP0K0FIgjHvH1F6y9xz8YlqqxzxCHWNRaKg6DbS1qc-HWDFWFcb2rOWx3-XfMLjvZROj4BtRcBN7V7m_5ylH0cz_nRVluzSLhXCaOHnh0UoP/s1133/IMG_3877.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1133" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0TevF8HjbZrDuLTGfKy6FYid1gPyzwYEL8bJssZb8fOO2Y-vz2Oq-02a-MqYrCbMssh4m-MjdUeOsFfiP0K0FIgjHvH1F6y9xz8YlqqxzxCHWNRaKg6DbS1qc-HWDFWFcb2rOWx3-XfMLjvZROj4BtRcBN7V7m_5ylH0cz_nRVluzSLhXCaOHnh0UoP/w640-h640/IMG_3877.jpg" title="Cocoa" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I set up all my running shoes in a circle for a photo I planned to use this week. Cocoa clearly knew which pair she wanted me to wear on my Friday run! In fact, multiple photos showing her returning to this same pair, so yes, I wore them on Friday.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQk7IWhAv4mR6DRHN_7oCnOZFSGJSp-jJd3fQxxntqOmfF4JZYqSapHOSAMeXA-bhFt0qdqDLJM9BPXapVCK9Tg-A_b76OdRhKvESUZFzPXx2RkdBviRmwpbxclgPqNPirGBc7qQfzYqRkH0KAPhCoRELBq34PgM7lLBCEvgKC2bT3JM4tXtFXSj3_lOw/s1903/IMG_3930.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1903" data-original-width="1903" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQk7IWhAv4mR6DRHN_7oCnOZFSGJSp-jJd3fQxxntqOmfF4JZYqSapHOSAMeXA-bhFt0qdqDLJM9BPXapVCK9Tg-A_b76OdRhKvESUZFzPXx2RkdBviRmwpbxclgPqNPirGBc7qQfzYqRkH0KAPhCoRELBq34PgM7lLBCEvgKC2bT3JM4tXtFXSj3_lOw/w640-h640/IMG_3930.heic" title="Cocoa and Brooks" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>So as you may be aware, Brooks has opened up their applications for the 2024 Brooks Running Collective (formerly known as the Run Happy Team. I've really enjoyed my 2 years on the team and have already reapplied for next year. I hope I get asked back! The application process closes on November 20. You can apply <b><a href="https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/brooks-running-collective/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. If you have any questions, let me know! And yes, you do get lots of shoes to try!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>How was your week? Did you get anything you needed? Are you getting outside a lot still or has your weather turned yucky? Have you ever done wrist rolls? Do you have a favorite pair of shoes?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>BTW, <a href="http://susanne.ie" target="_blank">Susanne</a> reached out to me last week about the # symbol--a good reminder that I have readers outside of the US. My weights are all stated in pounds, which is indicated by #. The conversion to kilograms is 1 kg/2.2 pound. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm l</span><span style="text-align: center;">inking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-33587558605945454092023-11-04T18:37:00.000-05:002023-11-05T05:26:55.207-06:00A Wild Week<p>Wild seemed to be the theme for my week! The full moon was last Saturday, so I can't blame it on that, right?</p><p>The weather this week was definitely wild! The transition between fall and winter is always crazy, but this week, it was all over the place. We had 1.2" of snow on Halloween, which didn't set a record but was definitely unusual. Fortunately, the sun came out in the afternoon, but it was cold for the trick-or-treaters. By the end of the week, we were back in the 50s, which felt like summer. </p><p>It was also a wild week at work. We're having a baby boom! I don't ever remember seeing so many newborns, but I am here for it. I seem to have at least one, maybe 2 newborns on my schedule every day. Our schedules continue to be full and there are more sick kids coming in, as you would expect in the fall. It's definitely keeping me on my toes.</p><p>It's never dull around here!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3L91RTxcXA_YVhYeUxtAVF6dln1nwEzNBGLbjEyrnJ_IXc44uw84f0EmlBkiIF8b_u-xJAteaNQXDtOIS2BcLhi5BHtvzcOp7wMPfcdd48FlVXvpMAybjwoG1QJUTQtY_gOgL2drxSVIkmnxeilqx853Odsi6810tgGxEC-q5xyauWRwCgavHOjBYEKQ/s1800/A%20Wild%20Week.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3L91RTxcXA_YVhYeUxtAVF6dln1nwEzNBGLbjEyrnJ_IXc44uw84f0EmlBkiIF8b_u-xJAteaNQXDtOIS2BcLhi5BHtvzcOp7wMPfcdd48FlVXvpMAybjwoG1QJUTQtY_gOgL2drxSVIkmnxeilqx853Odsi6810tgGxEC-q5xyauWRwCgavHOjBYEKQ/w426-h640/A%20Wild%20Week.png" title="A Wild Week cover" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly Rundown</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday: trail run 5 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday: CrossFit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday: Fluid Running</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday: trail run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday: run 6 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday: strength training</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was so excited to meet up with my Trail Sisters on Sunday. Between traveling, the Chicago Marathon, and the Mammoth Trail Challenge, I hadn't run with them in over a month. The plan was to meet up at one of the local preserves. It was a Halloween run and we were meeting up in costume. Not everyone was dressed up, but we had a good turnout. The cooler weather was a win--this trail has very little shade. We went out for coffee after the run and once again, I was so grateful for these wonderful ladies!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHbPq0Hu5fo0nSeXVpsQ6uHhu94BSZ1Td0NWUdc14vNhozFqhMULLw-H_lB-40LEyjfB8AgAmiZ73hyphenhyphenUfqzOjY0bY92VguejZR-TJbgWu_6rEWfSn6nijZzqQ_5zZ7EuiwpIIBb7zgxzY1PsC2Bbw894SYZj-dzLD0zWjC-JEqGJPiLZn4hCxTyLnvBH2/s1603/IMG_3448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="1603" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHbPq0Hu5fo0nSeXVpsQ6uHhu94BSZ1Td0NWUdc14vNhozFqhMULLw-H_lB-40LEyjfB8AgAmiZ73hyphenhyphenUfqzOjY0bY92VguejZR-TJbgWu_6rEWfSn6nijZzqQ_5zZ7EuiwpIIBb7zgxzY1PsC2Bbw894SYZj-dzLD0zWjC-JEqGJPiLZn4hCxTyLnvBH2/w640-h640/IMG_3448.jpg" title="Trail Sisters run" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Monday, I woke up feeling oddly sore from Sunday's run--maybe it was the chicken suit--so I did some yoga before heading off to CrossFit. Once again, there were back squats for the strength portion--4 sets of 5 at 70%. I built to 110# and that was plenty heavy for me! In between sets, We did some thoracic stretches to prepare us for the MetCon. The MetCon was a workout from the masters championships and I'll do my best to explain it. We had the option of doing snatch to overhead or clean and jerks for the movements. Here's the breakdown: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVosm_6Y0DNT-P1o1tUDLmYNZ1ibjPn7mTUixWvOF1gtyXhQIET5M4BLgdrSOTfxSTztqg2AlnEmp7Rf19sNCvZZ84oCVXxH9TrHMVLXORNCc4X38K5vGtAhIlf9I1TYTJOI0ZgVPYYEiY3bAQE0hLPS4Sy50v5BO3yVGKDU69lnt4TaMeazasjFAPH8-/s900/Screenshot%202023-10-30%20at%2012.13.15%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="900" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVosm_6Y0DNT-P1o1tUDLmYNZ1ibjPn7mTUixWvOF1gtyXhQIET5M4BLgdrSOTfxSTztqg2AlnEmp7Rf19sNCvZZ84oCVXxH9TrHMVLXORNCc4X38K5vGtAhIlf9I1TYTJOI0ZgVPYYEiY3bAQE0hLPS4Sy50v5BO3yVGKDU69lnt4TaMeazasjFAPH8-/w400-h297/Screenshot%202023-10-30%20at%2012.13.15%20PM.png" title="CrossFit metcon" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I started with an empty barbell (35#) and did 8 snatches to overhead for the first set. After that I did all clean and jerks, 55#, 65#, and finishing with 70#, completing 10 reps of each in the time allotted. I was really happy with this workout--it definitely showed me that I am making progress with those overhead lifts!<div><br /></div><div>I woke up on Wednesday to snow! and sunshine. There was a coating of ice on the sidewalks and roads. My decision of where to run was easy--I knew the trails would be pretty but I also knew that the deer love to play in the snow. I was not disappointed--the deer were everywhere! This is mating season and I witnessed several bucks chasing does in the woods. I also saw a mama with her 2 young ones--one of them was watching me and stomping his leg as if to show me how fierce he was. This 6 mile run took me almost 3 hours because I kept stopping to take photos and watch the deer. There was also a well-intentioned but poor decision to follow a trail around the lake into the woods. Sadly, the trail has been overtaken by buckthorn and I had to turn back after getting stuck in the thorns a few times. Other than that, this was an amazing and beautiful way to spend my morning before going to work!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyqnDLwu3GK29wpBoIKbWCPfMMFGOQKwzDZ2Wb9XUFyy-uqcT-bT1DIhBXyJZu6QfSwm-_hWgbl1cdNrsSVkpHtlO-TWh9il6E03BtTThFRGGnCQFzz2Z0HvvEw07iIsZZAjec6YdvETm32NNX2mATqfmW5-vKtWMUVcGlgwQzkrqJ7S5p2TDtfw6heIA/s4032/IMG_3511.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyqnDLwu3GK29wpBoIKbWCPfMMFGOQKwzDZ2Wb9XUFyy-uqcT-bT1DIhBXyJZu6QfSwm-_hWgbl1cdNrsSVkpHtlO-TWh9il6E03BtTThFRGGnCQFzz2Z0HvvEw07iIsZZAjec6YdvETm32NNX2mATqfmW5-vKtWMUVcGlgwQzkrqJ7S5p2TDtfw6heIA/w640-h360/IMG_3511.heic" title="Morning in the snow" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFGhC88BGevEaW1bqcbI98i5eNK3zgo1tnXG6dfXsV3YCxklgk56aTNVDIOTqhuBKS7NT5UrUcHitZ8mp7Qdn4DkAhpn0iL_RZJ7aJisHbq5JakqwhK2hs51GlsR3m5rTIaiY-T3P1vkbbS4nl8DXq4-dT-YZUKJNy8-27pxxXm576IXVHW0RfcXzugYi/s4032/IMG_3587.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFGhC88BGevEaW1bqcbI98i5eNK3zgo1tnXG6dfXsV3YCxklgk56aTNVDIOTqhuBKS7NT5UrUcHitZ8mp7Qdn4DkAhpn0iL_RZJ7aJisHbq5JakqwhK2hs51GlsR3m5rTIaiY-T3P1vkbbS4nl8DXq4-dT-YZUKJNy8-27pxxXm576IXVHW0RfcXzugYi/w640-h360/IMG_3587.heic" title="mama and her babies" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>On Thursday, SJ and I reviewed my goals for the upcoming weeks. Since I am not planning on participating in the powerlifting meet in December, she's going to program other lifts for me as well as the powerlifting trifecta of back squats, deadlifts, and chest presses. I love the variety and my goal is to get stronger, not to compete. Today I started out with 3 sets of 5 push-ups and some resistance band work to open up my shoulders and lats. After that, I did 3 sets of 10 bench presses at 52.5#. For legs, she had me do barbell hip thrusts (75#), 3 sets of 12 alternating with 24" box jumps, 3 sets of 6. I had never done box jumps at that height before and was really excited to land all of them but one, which I repeated and landed. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdyP7iqXhDXbDQ714m-K2D4FajdBrlf3WQnJkZ50xjnjUdCrfRpKjLdfpMq19vXzOkY8qSc6LGs4e4XKyd-gkorC4x_9jQbHBB_Vk3OgvCW5TVDHC1qoXL3dOFIr5bgr3GDclhLmI73D9GzrM6InQuQjqHlPyAk9f4MzZs0x_D_ViHqEEuegtMCVbK1eI/s2099/IMG_3650.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMq1-nymnxc57X75xpl-lpjKpys9DgGIlroPCU2HyhpyttxE2-76jMbixZbAALpEVf_lIj8-DaE4Ijw5_1fsLLkX9RDj0WRqJP-oM8QwzYtKucaz7f-ocRlycFVA9fS3BHv0s-vVMy0nUz_RMY9Jp-GH6nLhYiSwNmFOi0BA2lKXxWKQZC6GAUmEqzPmS/s2235/IMG_3658.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="2235" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMq1-nymnxc57X75xpl-lpjKpys9DgGIlroPCU2HyhpyttxE2-76jMbixZbAALpEVf_lIj8-DaE4Ijw5_1fsLLkX9RDj0WRqJP-oM8QwzYtKucaz7f-ocRlycFVA9fS3BHv0s-vVMy0nUz_RMY9Jp-GH6nLhYiSwNmFOi0BA2lKXxWKQZC6GAUmEqzPmS/w320-h320/IMG_3658.heic" title="BB hip thrusts 75#" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="2099" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdyP7iqXhDXbDQ714m-K2D4FajdBrlf3WQnJkZ50xjnjUdCrfRpKjLdfpMq19vXzOkY8qSc6LGs4e4XKyd-gkorC4x_9jQbHBB_Vk3OgvCW5TVDHC1qoXL3dOFIr5bgr3GDclhLmI73D9GzrM6InQuQjqHlPyAk9f4MzZs0x_D_ViHqEEuegtMCVbK1eI/w320-h320/IMG_3650.heic" title="24" box jumps" width="320" /></div><br /><div>On Friday morning, I headed out into the dark for my weekly bike path run. I wore my headlamp and Noxgear, but it was still so dark! I was spooked a couple of times by the posts they installed along the path to help the snow removal crew find the path in the winter, as well as by walkers who weren't illuminated at all. At the turnaround point, I saw the emerging sunlight which was so nice!. It looked like it would be a good sunrise and I sped up to try and catch it. You know how quickly the sky changes and by the time I reached the lake, I missed the best part. It was decent, though. So was my run!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTO3ECVfl-BxyaWm_V5JtvN1ajW-qnmIgMzalVJmWn_MnUV_SDwxI2s2FLec7411icG6NGs4ShS4-ordkdmZRjgU2eKs5UgbXJ-2jAu4buikoffH6ycUsnvhvD6b1gzK8MVFamLP1bFyyVApR5-631uGXfG4Ay5joADVz4hB7t5lQLFmv8xXeCLGu_2Cy/s4032/IMG_3752.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTO3ECVfl-BxyaWm_V5JtvN1ajW-qnmIgMzalVJmWn_MnUV_SDwxI2s2FLec7411icG6NGs4ShS4-ordkdmZRjgU2eKs5UgbXJ-2jAu4buikoffH6ycUsnvhvD6b1gzK8MVFamLP1bFyyVApR5-631uGXfG4Ay5joADVz4hB7t5lQLFmv8xXeCLGu_2Cy/w640-h360/IMG_3752.heic" title="Lake Louise sunrise" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And...I got a third day of strength training on Saturday. It turns out that along with a CrossFit class and a rowing boot camp, there is a Saturday 7 am strength session! There were 5 of us in the group, working out in the back of the gym. The workout had back squats programmed, but since I did them twice this week, the coach recommended I do deadlifts. Which, of course, I was happy about. After warming up, I did 4 sets of 5 deadlifts at 70% (145#). This was followed by 4 sets of 6 DB pullovers (25#) done while reclining on a bench. Next, I did Bulgarian split squats holding 20# DBs, 4 sets of 5 per leg. One of the other participants showed me a nifty set up she had--using a barbell low on the rack with a pad in the center that I could rest my ankle on. So much better than with my foot on a bench! Next were front/lateral raises--I used 10# DBs for these--4 sets of 5 per arm, and I finished up with supermans, 4 sets of 5 with a 3 second hold at the top. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisej4AzkmeiUa0BTI_bOLWrk9P0g1hgutr9oAbcAIjl3TUEL9hsYMawMLqhclm2KNXiH50eEIxm6TZcGfFR0a9THSYd9iS1jUuBr_LfXPKry3LmChLBgBlj4tmgiBt8sSaC7F0_XbjqBcVUrGf1zh03isuHMDT8EgejG413QYsyRLjgGuvmJCABHbyI9-e/s1170/IMG_3821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisej4AzkmeiUa0BTI_bOLWrk9P0g1hgutr9oAbcAIjl3TUEL9hsYMawMLqhclm2KNXiH50eEIxm6TZcGfFR0a9THSYd9iS1jUuBr_LfXPKry3LmChLBgBlj4tmgiBt8sSaC7F0_XbjqBcVUrGf1zh03isuHMDT8EgejG413QYsyRLjgGuvmJCABHbyI9-e/w640-h640/IMG_3821.jpg" title="deadlift 145#" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><b>How was your week? Did you have some crazy weather shifts? Did you dress up for Halloween? Are you happy about turning the clocks back? I am looking forward to having a little more light in the morning. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">I'm linking up with </span><a href="https://confessionsofamotherrunner.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Deborah</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://kimrunsonthefly.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kim</a><span style="text-align: center;"> for the Weekly Rundown. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/s563/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmytjI2WV915ONbslLJWQDhxi8Q1Wh6h7yjiSyIhuZdtOzTUOeV_ViMX4NrrMd7wrBhKwoRXs5NSAzMVJFokrbYYI5vH-5akOQLO3xibbnIL6F6UTxHoOKJxhUv9CBWMtpR_StgaiGwtTEYb0w_odEEl_YE5D2bMrG_vsDu0W7C_pk2ecFjRuGyGjb1w/w150-h200/weekly-run-down-final-640x640.jpg" title="Weekly Rundown badge" width="150" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com26