Coasting Towards Year End

The nice thing about having no race plans is that I can just run. I used to love having a training plan with miles to accomplish, but I feel differently now. I'm enjoying my retirement from long-distance racing, and my knees are grateful for that, too. I saw my rheumatologist and my internist last week for checkups and both of them expressed amazement that I'm still running at my age and with RA; my annual mileage made my rheumatologist shake her head. I've been running so long that my body just dials in and lets me do my thing. I still lean on running to keep me sane, which has come in handy during this year's end craziness.

As long as I can run, everything else will fall into place. 

1000 miles!

This week I hit the 1000 mile mark for the year! I don't really set firm mileage goals, but in my mind, I like to have 20 miles per week of running, with the ultimate goal of 1000 for the year. I only have data back to 2014, but in the 11 years I've been tracking my runs on my Garmin, I've hit the 1000 mile mark 7 times. 2021 was the year I broke my ankle and foot, and I took almost 3 months off running. 2019 was another off year. I had to scroll back to my year-end recap to remind myself of the prolonged RA flare I had after receiving the shingles vaccine. 2016 was oh-so-close with 973 miles despite dealing with plantar fasciitis and receiving my diagnosis of RA. 

Will I hit 1000 miles in 2025? How much longer will this body let me push myself? I'll just keep lacing up and let it play out...

I Really Needed That Run...

It's a week like this that reminds me of how much running does for me. Sure, there are physical fitness benefits from running--we all know about that. But the main reason I started running and why I still do is for my mental health. This week my husband had his back surgery after that incident he had in August showed he had multiple herniated discs and spinal cord compression. He ended up having laminectomies at L3, L4, and L5, all done as a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. As a seasoned, jaded medical professional, I fully admit to being awed and amazed by his surgeon.

While he's been doing well, he's not able to do a whole lot without pain. He's not a complainer, but if I'm being honest, he's been a little grumpy. 

I took most of the week off to take care of him but was thankful to be able to continue my workouts as usual. While I missed Wednesday's trail run when I took him downtown for his surgery, I made up for it on Friday. That run was everything I needed. I had some good workouts at CrossFit that filled me up as well.

Ouch!

As much as I like to think otherwise, I am not invincible. That point was driven home this week when I pulled a muscle in my lower back while attempting a heavy deadlift. Lucky for me, some quick work on my back by the PT at the gym prevented any major soreness. But it was a good reminder to check myself before picking up a heavy barbell.

The cold weather this week brought a different kind of pain. If you live in an area where it gets windy and cold, you know that feeling of your face freezing. We've had such a mild fall that this sudden cold plunge has been a shock to the system! Looking ahead, the temperatures are supposed to moderate but not a whole lot. 

Can I have my abnormally warm weather back, please?

A Sudden Change of Seasons

As Ron Burgundy famously said, "Well, that escalated quickly!" 

We were having a really fabulous fall, warmer and sunnier than normal. I had hopes that this was our new normal. But on Wednesday, the wind picked up, and it started to snow Thursday morning. The snow was wet and heavy, and the wind was strong. My sister and I drove out to our parents' to meet with their lawyer to go over their estate plans. It was a treacherous drive, less due to the conditions and more due to the poor judgment of the other drivers on the road. Clearly no one was prepared for this sudden shift to winter.

By Friday morning, most of the snow was gone but the cool weather lingered. I couldn't even remember how to properly dress! Looking ahead to next week, my layering skills will be put to the test as we are predicted to have highs in the 20s. 

I'm glad I decided to treat my RA flare with this round of steroids. The timing couldn't have been better! Or maybe my body knew the seasons were going to change?

Looking for Color

It's finally real fall here--the kind of fall we are accustomed to. Not that our recent conditions were fake fall, but all that color, bright sunshine, and warm temperatures aren't what we Midwesterners expect for November. Heck, there are still leaves on some of the trees! I loved our unusually long stretch of gorgeous weather, which mades the arrival of 'normal' a little jarring. I made the most of it this week by wearing brightly colored gear or as I like to say, bringing my own sunshine. 

This week also brought me to my knees, literally, with a full-blown RA flare. A few weeks ago, I received the Covid vaccine and had a very strong response to it, lasting for a couple of days. The body aches subsided, but my joints continued to ache. This week, I struggled with my runs, feeling fatigued and needing to stop frequently to walk. I finally gave in and called my rheumatologist for steroids. It's been a while since I've needed those, but I am feeling better. Friday's run wasn't quite so painful and I could breathe, which let me fly freely. 

Here's to hoping for better days ahead!

Getting it Done

I wrapped up October with the completion of the Mammoth Trail Challenge on the Ice Age Trail. I also finished this month with over 100 miles running! While I might be slowing down, I'm still putting in the work and getting it done. I love nothing more than to run and the trails have reignited my desire to go the distance, on my own terms. 

I'm trying to decide what's next. 

Trail Magic

Trail magic usually refers to the kindness shown to trail hikers and runners, such as leaving treats at a trailhead. But I experienced a different kind of trail magic this week--finding peace and contentment on my runs on beautiful trails. Fall is magical and I hit the trails this week when the colors were at their peak!  The weather has been absolutely spectacular and I look forward to wrapping up the Mammoth Trail Challenge this weekend on my most favorite segment!

Getting Lost

I wanted to title this post 'Getting Lost in the Midst of Chaos', but that seemed kind of dramatic. Life has been overwhelming lately and things have escalated since last week's post. Regarding my parents, it feels as if my sister opened Pandora's box, although I suppose it had to happen. My parents are resistant to the Care Manager my sister brought in and we are struggling with that. Clearly, they need constant help, but they don't see it. I don't even know if the care manager will be enough. In addition, we've been sorting out our roles in light of having the care manager and trying to determine if she's the right person for our family. It's involved a lot of back-and-forth via emails and texts. It's been a lot.

The other issue is my husband's health. We saw the spine surgeon on Thursday and surgery is scheduled for December 4. It will be an outpatient procedure at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. He will have a 'clean-out' of 3 lumbar vertebrae to release pressure on the spinal cord. It amazes me that this can be done outpatient! But before then, he has to see a knee specialist to determine if that needs to be fixed first. 

With all that is going on, I leaned on running to help keep me sane. It's been my go-to for years. The heavy strength training we're doing at CrossFit was also a great outlet for me.

Savoring the Good

I will never complain about the gorgeous fall weather we've been having this year. Yes, we need rain. But I know what's coming--plenty of precipitation as we move into late fall toward winter. I'll take this. Especially when you consider what's happening in other parts of the country.

My heart goes out to everyone affected by both hurricanes Helena and Milton. If you've followed me on this blog over the years, you know that my family has spent a lot of time on the Gulf Coast of Florida, especially on Anna Maria Island. It just breaks my heart to see the level of destruction. I can't imagine facing the rebuilding process. 

The Icing on the Cake

After a busy September, I hoped for a more relaxing October, but this month started with a bang! I'm not complaining--it's been a really great week! Our fabulous weather has continued and I'm going to savor every last bit--I know what's coming. 

If you follow me on IG, you know that I finished this week with some waterskiing on Lake Wisconsin. In the past, I could never imagine skiing in October. But never say never, right? It was 81F and sunny. Yes, the water was a cold 63F. But I have a half wetsuit, which I put into action on Saturday night. It felt as great as you might expect. And my cup is full...

Go Slow Down

I'm not going to lie--as much as I loved all the activity of the past month, I am ready to slow down for a while. September was an incredibly busy and really fun month. It was also exhausting. With October around the corner, I'm looking forward to slowing down a bit and soaking up the last warm weather of the year. 

Speaking of slowing down,  I officially transferred my bib for the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon to a BRC teammate. I didn't feel one bit of regret! Well, ok, I will miss out on the camaraderie, but definitely not the running. I felt a sense of relief, which told me I did the right thing. 

With that half marathon off the calendar, I can focus on the Mammoth Trail Challenge, which kicks off October 1! This year's distance is 44 miles. As you all know, the challenge for me is accessing the trails since I live in Illinois and the trail is in Wisconsin. I'm excited about running some new segments as well as my usual ones. Stay tuned for the recaps!

Soaking up the Last Days of Summer

It's another loooooong post as I recap 2 weeks of fun and fitness. I was out of town last weekend and wasn't able to post a recap. So bear with me as you scroll through!

I've been really enjoying our extended summer, with warmer than usual temperatures, no rain, and bright sunshine. Everyone seems concerned about our dry conditions, but trust me when I tell you we will make up for it very soon. In fact, it is raining in Wisconsin as we speak!

Me, I'm just soaking all the unseasonably warm weather up. I know what's coming...

Summer's End

Disclaimer: As a member of the Brooks Running Collective, I receive complimentary gear and shoes in exchange for social media sharing.

I was out of town last weekend and didn't post a recap, so this week, you get 2 recaps in one post. I apologize for the length. I really tried to limit myself. There is just so much to share! With summer coming to an end, I tried to pack as much in as I could. 

Morning Motivation

It's been another challenging week. This is the crazy season at work, as parents are scrambling at the last minute to get appointments for their annual school physicals. Add to that the current baby boom we are experiencing--I saw 5 newborns last week-- and we are running, literally and figuratively. The hubs' health issues are in a holding pattern as he works to schedule tests and go to his physical therapy appointments. It's been overwhelming. Like I always do during times of stress, I've been leaning into running and fitness. It's no surprise that I've been having some RA symptoms, but so far, not an official flare. Fingers crossed.

Thank goodness for running and fitness!

Digging in and Getting it Done

Our week started out hot and ended up cool. But no matter what the weather, I was getting it done, really leaning into my runs and workouts for stress relief. In addition to the hubs' health issues that I shared last week, it was a really challenging week at work. Or maybe it just felt that way because I was pretty worn down from life. I'm really grateful that I have my fitness to lean into--nothing feels better than a good sweat!

Speaking of the hubs, he saw the spine specialist and will be having more testing done. It feels good to cross those appointments off the list. He's also going to physical therapy, which also seems to be helping. He hasn't fallen this week, which is good news. Hopefully, we're moving in the right direction.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Sometimes a staycation is just what you need. It's nice to enjoy the local happenings and that is what I did this week. It was a really low key, low stress kind of week--exactly what I needed. I'm lucky to live outside of Chicago as well as close to Wisconsin, and I took full advantage, spending time in both locales. 

I also kept up with my fitness routine! This post is a little longer than usual, as I'm recapping not only my workouts, but also sharing some highlights from my week. Thanks for indulging me!

Don't Count Me Out!

This week was remarkable for our wild weather! We had terrible thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday night--the sirens were blowing and while we didn't have a lot of damage, others around the area were not so lucky. By mid-week, the weather calmed down and we had some really pleasant conditions. I had to move my runs around to accommodate the conditions as well as some lingering soreness from a tough mid-week workout. I got it all done, though, and wrapped up the week with a really good run. At this point in my life, anytime I can finish a 10k in under an hour is a win.

What a way to make me feel like I'm still a runner!

Running is Leaving Me Breathless

The heat and humidity continue! I've been committed to getting up and out the door early, but despite my best efforts, I've been struggling on my runs. After a couple of miles, my heart rate spikes and I have to slow to a walk. The heat has never been my friend, but this is the first summer I can remember consistently having issues with high heart rate and breathing. I'm blaming the weather, but I'm considering programming run/walk intervals back into my runs. I'm going to see how this week goes. Stay tuned. 

More Rain! More Mud! More Humidity!

The title of this post is not a wish list. It's a lament. I only wish we could get a break from this relentless moisture.

While we aren't getting rains that Wisconsin is--more on that in a minute--we've certainly had more than our share. When it isn't raining, it is oppressively humid. I try to find the good in everything and yes, the flowers and foliage are lush and beautiful. But it's hard to breathe when I run and the mud on my trails is making me slip, slide, and fall. The biting flies are loving the conditions and my repellant isn't as much of a deterrent as I hoped. I broke down and ordered a head net to keep the flies out of my eyes. 

The other bad news is that my upcoming trail race, Dances with Dirt, scheduled for next weekend in Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin, has been canceled. This is due to all the rain, which has led to poor trail conditions and flooding in the park. I've been wanting to run this race for years! I signed up for the 10k to see what it's like. I was hoping to run a half there next year. I have to decide if I will defer or run it virtually. 

Wisconsin has had so much rain that last week our lake was a 'no wake zone'. Boats and piers were freely floating in the water. The water has receded some, but more rain is on the way. The storms just keep tracking across that same area. You know how bummed I am about not being able to ski much this summer! I sure hope things improve.