Life is a Wild Ride

Life has sure been interesting lately with lots of ups and downs! Read on...

Weekly Rundown:

Sunday: Ice Age Trail Lodi Marsh Segment 7 miles/1100ft

Monday: unscheduled rest

Tuesday: Fluid Running

Wednesday: Trail run/walk 4 miles

Thursday: 10-3.5-30 treadmill workout plus 10 mins warmup/cooldown

Friday: run/walk 5k

Saturday: rest/work

The fog and cooler morning temperatures were so inviting! I had just been to the Lodi Marsh the night before for the Full Moon Hike, so I didn't repeat that part of the segment, instead focusing on the rest of the trail. I loved seeing the full moon still up high in the sky. The fog made everything feel moody and soft, and I took a ton of photos. Still recovering from this virus, I felt pretty good, but I had to stop and walk a few times. No complaints--it was a beautiful morning to be on the trail!

For the past couple of days, I've been battling whatever upper respiratory virus is going around, and on Monday, it seemed to settle in my chest, causing me to cough and feel short of breath. Maybe I pushed myself too hard on Sunday? Who me? I figured I should listen to my body, and I skipped the gym.

Wednesday's trail run/walk was in the rain. I wanted to get outside; I wanted to run, and so I did. Easy, slow, and uneventful. No deer sightings--just a few squirrels. 

It was still raining on Thursday, and with my knee injury, I played it safe (sort of) and took to the TM for the 12-3-30 workout, modified. My TM only elevates to 10%, so I increased the pace to 3.5. I also did a 5-minute warm-up and cool down. 

Off the trail...

As you know, I have been struggling with pain in my right knee for some time now. A few weeks ago, I had a steroid injections in both knees. The injections didn't help much with my knee pain and did nothing to help the main issue--pain below my right kneecap. The only thing that has helped so far is wearing a knee strap. On Monday, I had an MRI of the knee. I learned that I have a partial patellar tendon tear, along with tendinitis and cartilage loss. I attempted to schedule with an orthopedic specialist at Rush in Chicago, and got an appointment in 5 weeks. Not wanting to wait that long and to start on the road to healing, I self-referred to a local PT practice that works with athletes. I also scheduled with a local sports med ortho this upcoming Monday to evaluate my injury. I also want guidance on what I can do while I heal--both on the trail and in the gym. As you might have noticed, I'm still doing some running, but mostly have been walking.

On Wednesday morning, I got incredible news. My son texted me that my daughter-in-law's water broke and THE BABY WAS COMING! I worked that afternoon; he kept providing me with updates, and a little after 4 pm, my grandson was born, 6 pounds 12 ounces. Yes, he came 4 weeks early, but he was healthy and perfect. I had to work that evening, but my last 2 patients canceled, my manager closed my schedule, and I went to the hospital to see him. What a little love! Everyone says he looks like my son. He definitely has Tom's eyes!

The plan was for the baby to go home with his mom on Saturday, but unfortunately, he developed jaundice and bought himself another night in the hospital to be monitored. Fingers crossed this passes quickly!

How was your week? Did you have a lot of rain this week? Do you run when you're injured? What is the best thing that happened to you this week?

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown. 

Oh Dear, Deer!

When I was in the woods on Sunday, I noticed a foul smell in several locations. I suspected dead animals, but didn't see any on my run that day. On Wednesday's run, I discovered the reason for the smell when I spotted a dead deer next to one of the creeks. My heart sank. I have been reading about EHD-epizootic hemorrhagic disease--in deer in Wisconsin and learned that it has also affected deer in northern Illinois. I suspected EHD in the deer and reached out to the forest preserve district office to inform them of what I found. I received a thoughtful answer to my concerns. I was hoping they'd remove the deer to keep the disease from spreading throughout the herd, but I was told that the disease doesn't spread from deer to deer. Instead, the disease spreads via infected 'midges', which I was told will die off during the first frost. 

Um, ok, but don't those infected midges bite other deer and spread the disease? Oh dear, deer...

Usually our first frost occurs in mid-October, but with climate change, who knows when it will happen. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that it's sooner rather than later. Who knew I'd be wishing for an early cold spell!

I've been running in these woods since the pandemic, and I've become very attached to this preserve and all the creatures that live there--especially the deer. You all know I just love seeing them on my runs. I hope that this disease does not wipe out the herd. It's so heartbreaking! 

Weekly Rundown:

Sunday: Trail Run 7 miles

Monday: Yoga with Adriene, Strength Training

Tuesday: Fluid running

Wednesday: Trail run 7.8 miles

Thursday: Yoga with Adriene, Strength Training

Friday: Run 3.8 miles

Saturday: Ice Age Trail Full Moon Hike 1.8 miles

It rained nonstop all weekend. I didn't mind being stuck inside on Saturday because I was exhausted from the week and the family stress. But by Sunday morning, I was ready to go outside. It was still warm-ish, so the rain didn't bother me at all. It was quiet, although I did see a few people on the trails. I also saw a few deer, including the triplets sans spots. They're getting so big! Mama was in the background, keeping an eye on them. I also saw this doe who 'charged' towards me, trying to intimidate me, I guess! I didn't move, just smiled and snapped a few photos. She finally got bored and moseyed off through the woods. It was fun watching her! 

Looks like an album cover, lol

Fall is slowly moving in, but I still found some colorful mushrooms and fungi hanging on. The berry game is strong, so the deer will have lots to eat as the weather cools down. What a wonderful morning on the trails!

On Monday, we started a new, abbreviated strength cycle to prepare for powerlifting in 2 weeks. YAY!

We rotated through 4 stations 4 times:

-4 x8 per leg landmine clean and press (45#)

-4 x10 goblet squats (20#)

-AMRAP ladder drills

-Laps slamball broad jumps

We finished up a Tabata of 1-leg V-ups alternating with push-ups. This got spicy in a hurry!

I was excited to return to the preserve on Wednesday for another run! I felt like I was coming down with something and was feeling fatigued, so I decided to do a run-hike, taking it slow and being a 'noticer', as one of my running friends calls me. I did see a deer running through the woods, but she was flying--so fun to watch--and I didn't have the opportunity to get a photo. I saw a red shouldered hawk--a new hawk to me-- and lots of squirrels gathering nuts and dropping them on my head, lol. A dragonfly landed on my wrist--it matched my shirt-- and a yellow jacket stung my ankle. Yep, it's fall.

Not sure why the colors in the photo bled onto my skin

Thursday's strength work was 3 rotations:

-4 x8 seated press (20#) per arm

-3 xMax effort (5 banded) pull-ups

-4 x10 per side medball (12#) twist throws

This was followed by an E3MOM of :20 assault bike sprints x5

When I stepped out the door for my Friday morning run around the neighborhood, I could not believe the sky. Instead of my usual route, I sped off to the baseball field, about a 1/2 mile away, to catch this amazing morning sky. I snapped some photos before heading down the road towards the big park where I take so many of my running photos. By the time I got there, the red skies had cleared. I felt so grateful that I was able to witness that beautiful sky! The rest of my run was uneventful--in fact, I took it easy on this run before heading home to get ready for work. 

We were up at the lake on Saturday, and while I wasn't feeling great, I decided to participate in the Lodi Chapter of the Ice Age Trail's monthly full moon hike. It was something I've been wanting to do. The conditions were near perfect--just a few scattered clouds, so I joined about 40 other people and hiked the 1.8 mile loop on the marsh side of the trail. I'm so glad I did--the moon showed up for us!

40+ hikers!

Off the trail...

By the end of the week, the virus took hold and instead of staying home to run with my Trail Sisters, the hubs and I went up to the lake. The weather was beautiful--seasonally cool, but sunny. We spent the afternoon outside to soak up the sunshine and later took the boat out on the lake. Summer sure flew by, didn't it? I packed away my waterski. Until next summer....

How was your week? If you were to give the triplets a band name, what would it be? Have you ever heard of EHD? Have you ever done a full moon hike? How are you enjoying this beautiful fall weather?

I'm wrapping up my September reads and will post my Mini Book Reviews on Friday!

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown. 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

No, it's not Christmas. It's late summer/early fall--my favorite time of the year. The days are still warm; the mornings are cool, and the foliage is turning colors. It's also marathon season, and the memories of my final training runs before the Chicago marathon always fill my thoughts on my fall runs. Mother Nature hasn't disappointed this week, even though there was some light rain. There's always so much to enjoy on my fall runs!

Trail Sisters Leadership Summit!

Last weekend, I attended the first-ever Trail Sisters Leadership Summit in Buena Vista, Colorado. Since I was away over the weekend, I didn't post a recap last week, so you get a recap of the summit with a little bit of my activity from the rest of the week. And as you might expect, tons of photos, none of which will do the Colorado scenery justice. 

Mycelium, Steroids, and a Staycation

This week was a staycation for me. I had a long to-do list--but I may have misjudged my body's ability to tolerate what I scheduled for myself. I still accomplished a lot, but thanks to a 'robust' reaction to the steroid injections I had on Monday to help relieve pain and stiffness in my knees, most of my work was from the couch. The side effects continued into Saturday. The household purge will have to wait.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

It's been a rainy, stormy week--again! But like the good runner that I am, I stalked my many weather apps to find dry moments to get my outdoor activities in. I didn't always dodge the raindrops or even the lightning, but I got it all done. We had plans to go back to the lake this weekend, but with rain once again in the forecast, we decided to stay home.

I'm heading into a week off work, at home this time, and am looking forward to some much needed downtime. I do have some appointments, and I'm planning to do some decluttering around the house. Not my favorite thing to do, but it's long overdue!

A Moist Week

As much as I look forward to summer, I can't help but be disappointed when we have a summer that brings us lots of rain and moisture. I summerfess that I have spent more time indoors than I would have liked this year. Don't get me wrong, I've gotten all my runs done outdoors, but the humidity has limited my distance and/or my enjoyment. I'm glad I'm not training for anything! 

I'm looking forward to fall--it's my favorite season. I know what comes after that, so I plan to enjoy it as much as I can!

Another Whirlwind of a Week

After a really fun and busy 10 days away, I returned home Sunday night. I did my best to jump back into my routine, but as I write this, I'm feeling grateful for a rainy Saturday to put my feet up and recover. Our weather has certainly been strange this year! This summer has been abnormally warm, wet, stormy, and at times tornadic. On Monday, we had severe storms with more tornadoes in the area. I was home with Cocoa, and we watched the storms roll in around lunchtime. They blew up quickly, and there was no indication of how severe they would become. My area was spared the brunt of the storms--not everyone was so lucky. 

I'm ready for fall...

Vacation Time!

I worked Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and then I started my stretch of 10 days off. WOO HOO! I got a lot of busy work done on Thursday, and on Friday, we hit the road for a long weekend with the boys and girls in Door County, Wisconsin. You may remember my parents had a lake house up there for many years. Sadly, my parents decided a few years ago to sell it. It was really hard to say goodbye to a place that was part of my life for so long. My youngest son was sad as well; he has returned there several times since. 

Earlier this year, he proposed a family vacation to my hubs and his brother, citing the big changes that will be affecting them this fall. He will be starting medical school, and his brother and wife will be welcoming their first child! Life will certainly be different for all of us, and he thought it would be great for all of us to go away together. The hubs and I told him to look for a place, and he found one, on Lake Michigan. It's time to make new memories!

My 20 Mile Hike...and the rest of the week

What a week! It started off well, with my successful completion of the 20 mile Mammoth March in Wisconsin on Sunday.  But when I returned home, I discovered a very large blister on the back of my heel. My tendinitis in my right knee also flared up. I took a rest day on Monday and went to the pool on Tuesday, which helped me feel better. There was no running this week, while I allowed myself to recover. A brutal heat wave arrived on Monday, with 'feels like' temperatures into the 100s, making it a lot easier to lie low!

In My Head

I dialed my miles back this week in anticipation of tomorrow's 20 mile Mammoth March Wisconsin. I'm also nursing a few niggles and did not want to make things worse. Off the road, the family situation continues to weigh on me, and I believe that the stress is taking a physical toll. I didn't realize it until someone pointed it out to me, but my confidence has also dropped (see my strength fails below). 

I'm looking forward to a full day in the woods, off the grid. Hopefully, this will help me reset. I'll share all the details on my IG and in next week's blog post.

Still She Persevered

I'm not exaggerating when I say that I had DOMS all week. From Sunday's run to Monday's strength training class and forward into the week, I struggled with soreness, tight muscles, and limited mobility. It's not as if I was doing anything more extreme than usual. But the DOMS, once they hit, wouldn't let go. I'm pretty sure our wacky weather added a whole extra element to the pain. Yet I persevered...

Celebrating Global Running Day on the Trails

On Wednesday, runners all over the world celebrated Global Running Day. Global Running Day was started as a movement in the US in 2009--do you remember National Running Day? It eventually evolved into a worldwide celebration of running and has grown in size and popularity over time. 

As a longtime runner--I've been running for well over 30 years-- Global Running Day always reminds me to reflect on how important running is to me. I started running in my late 20s to help me manage my debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. Growing up as an anxious child in the 1970s, I didn't learn any coping skills. By the time I was in my 20s, I was struggling. Someone suggested that I try running as a good way to 'get rid of negative energy'. I didn't even know how to start. We were living in Chicago at the time, and I joined a beginner's running group with the Chicago Area Runners Association. We trained for a 5k--the Zoo run at the Lincoln Park Zoo--and I was hooked. 

Looking back on my life as a runner, I can say without a doubt that running has been a gift to me. Running has carried me through every season of my adult life--through infertility to pregnancy to parenthood (especially the teenage years) to grad school and now into my current era--gram to be, retiree to be, and caregiver for my elderly parents. Running saved me from myself. Running gave me confidence and strength--both physical and mental. Running has brought some of the best people into my life. I don't know where I'd be without running, and I can't imagine a life without it! I'm grateful that my body still lets me move like this, and I continue to be grateful for the gift of running.

It Was A Good Week

I'm happy to report that I'm starting to feel better. Not fast enough for me, of course. Friday's run was especially promising. I think you all know that I'm not a patient person, but as it was my body putting on the brakes, I had to listen. I haven't minded slowing down as much as I thought I would--as you'll see below, I was rewarded on Wednesday's trail run for my meandering pace. 

In retrospect, it was a good week!

Keep 'Er Movin

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

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

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

Getting My Groove Back

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

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

From the Frying Pan Into the Fire

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

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

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

A Change Did Me Good

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

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

Springing Forward

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

The portapotties are not yet out. Sadly.

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

Bye February!!

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

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