Tiptoeing Back to Where I Want to Be

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

Weekly Rundown:

Sunday: trail run 6.2 miles

Monday: auxiliary strength

Tuesday: Fluid Running

Wednesday: trail run 5.5 miles

Thursday: auxiliary strength

Friday: treadmill run 3 miles

Saturday: rest

Whelp, I skipped my Trail Sisters run--the trail run was set at a local preserve, but the trails there are paved. As much as I love my group, I want to run on dirt. Tough decision, but in the end, I made the right one because....DEER! 

I didn't set out to run the east preserve where most of the deer hang out, but after I started my run, I saw an injured coyote and decided to go to the office to report it. There are also heated bathrooms there, so the decision was easy. Once I took care of that, it was into the woods on the frozen trails. We had a thaw last week, and everything turned to mud, which froze when it cooled off. There was a dusting of snow overnight, which made everything pretty. I saw a few deer on my way into the deep woods, but it was on the return trip where I saw a lot of deer, including a buck! He was favoring his right front leg, which, of course, had me concerned. He didn't seem too concerned, though, making his way through the brush and munching on foliage. There were 2 photographers with the biggest lenses I've ever seen. They weren't as happy to see me. Too bad, so sad. 

The rest of this run was uneventful and I made my way back to where I started. I took a little detour through the woods so I could walk up the sledding hill. That is where I ran into a guy hiking up and down the hills. He told me he was preparing for a trip to Las Vegas, not to go to the strip, but to go hiking with a group of friends. "50 trips up and down this hill will get me ready," he said.

Monday's auxiliary strength workout was another burner. I was still a little sore from last week's sessions! Same structure as the previous week's workouts:

Set 1:

4 rounds: :40 KB (20#) kickstand squat/:10 transition/:40 single leg hip thrusts/:30 rest

Set 2: 

4 rounds :40 KB (20#) lateral step up/:10 transition/:40 kickstand RDL (25# KB)/:30 rest

Set 3:

4 rounds :40 box jumps (18")/:10 transition/:40 tall kneeling palloff press/:30 rest

Set 4

4 rounds :40 A jumps with squat to plate/:10 transition/:40 band pull over with leg raise/:30 rest

Bonus: Tabata single leg v-ups

I woke up on Wednesday morning to 40 degrees. That quickly changed as a snowstorm unexpectedly blew in. It looked like a blizzard outside! What to do? I stalked the radar like the seasoned runner that I am, and by 8:30, I drove to the preserve for my run. The roads were terrible, but I made it unscathed. The trails were as pretty as I had hoped. I decided to stick to the main trail to avoid tripping over the snow covered tree roots that line the single tracks. Mine were the first footprints on the trail, and since there was maybe 2 inches of snow, it was easy going. I hoped to see the deer frolicking in the woods--they love the snow-- and I wasn't disappointed. Eventually, the snow came to an end, and the sun broke through the clouds. The temperature dropped to 19 by the end of my run. Yes, it was cold!

Thursday's auxiliary strength focused on the upper body and followed the same structure as previous workouts: 

Set 1:

4 rounds :40 KB gorilla rows (25#)/:10 transition/:40 DB (20#0 bridged floor press/:30 rest

Set 2:

4 rounds :40 seated landmine press (35#)/:10 transition/single arm landmine row (50#)/:30 rest

Set 3:

4 rounds :40 dips/:10 transition/:40 KB suitcase carry (45#)/:30 rest

Set 4:

4 rounds :40 chin ups (banded)/:10 transition/:40 medball plank tucks/:30 rest

I had hoped to run outside Friday morning, but gusty winds, fresh snow, and early morning darkness drove me once again to the treadmill. Sigh. The treadmill run wasn't a success, with 5 trips to the bathroom after only 3 miles of running. I think the antibiotics I'm taking for my dental surgery have upset my system. Oh well. Three miles are better than nothing, right? I stepped outside for this photo--you know I wanted to run in this!

Off the road...

Fresh off celebrating a Bears win over the Packers, I was feeling pretty good! On Monday, I had dental surgery with the periodontist for a bone graft on a tooth that had been bothering me for some time. I've had bone grafts before, and it was no big deal. I don't know what was different about this time, but I left the office bruised and swollen. It kind of reminded me of when I had my eye surgery 4 years ago. Except instead of my eyes, it is my mouth. I've been eating a lot of pasta this week. Fingers crossed that the tooth heals properly and that I don't need any other procedures.

My youngest son got exciting news on Friday--he's been invited to Northwestern University Feinberg Medical School for his first interview! We've been sitting on pins and needles since he applied to medical school last summer. The waiting has been agonizing, and this news brought me to tears. Fingers crossed this goes well for him! 

And how about those Bears? The Chicago Bears, that is...they are playing for the divisional playoffs against the LA Rams later today. As much as we Chicagoans complain about the cold, it's going to be extra tough for the team from Los Angeles. The Bears practice outdoors, so they are acclimated to it. Coach Johnson isn't going to have heaters on the sidelines. With a high of 22F predicted/real feel 8F, it's going to be tough! But it is the Bears, and you know, anything could happen.

How was your week? Anyone else having a rough start to the new year? Any fun medical procedures?

You may have noticed my change to my blog header. I decided that since I'm spending most of my time on the trails, my blog needs to reflect that. I'm excited for the weather to warm up so I can get back to doing what I love--getting lost in the woods!

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

back at it

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

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

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

Holly Jolly Holy Moley

This post contains affiliate links.

Despite the festive season, the hits just kept on hitting this week. After a visit last week to my PCP, I received my blood test results and found out that I am prediabetic. Not only that, but I carry a gene that makes me at high risk for heart disease. As you can imagine, I was very upset by this news. I hope that eating well and exercising are enough to overcome my genetics. I have scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist in February to discuss my risks and my options.

I also had a couple of really challenging incidents at work this week. While I won't go into details, the antivaccine and antiscience sentiment is increasingly impacting our practice. Vaccines are a hill I will die on, and if this week was a sample of what's to come, then retirement will happen much sooner than I wanted. 

And after Christmas, I fell sick again, with fever, body aches, and congestion. I spent Friday and Saturday on the couch. I thought it was influenza, because one of my partners has influenza B. The hubs went to the pharmacy to pick up a test, but there were none left! I had some old Covid tests, and I tested positive. When I messaged my partners, another one messaged that she has influenza A! We are the trifecta, lol. 

What a way to wind up 2025.

All I Want For Christmas

This year, I had no idea what to put on my Christmas list. I never do, because when I want something, I just go out and buy it. But this week, I was gifted some really nice runs after recovering from that respiratory illness, a new Fluid Running workout, a PR at the gym, a fun photo on IG, and a new Garmin. 

It was a fruitful week! The weather took us on a windy rollercoaster ride, tho....

It's That Cold Day in Hell...

What a week! 

A Big Snowstorm ✅

Bitter Cold Temperatures ✅

Gale Force Winds ✅

Taken down by a virus ✅

Hepatitis B is no longer a required vaccine ✅

Retirement is back on the table ✅

An Unintentional Cutback Week

With the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, things were a little mixed up! Different work hours on Wednesday and a turkey trot on Thursday had me flipping my workout schedule around. The gym has special holiday workouts that fill up fast, and there was no space for me to work on my squats and bench presses. I consider myself to be a flexible person, but I was kind of bummed about missing my heavy strength because the strength cycle is ending in 2 weeks. I did what I could with my home equipment, but you know...it's not the same.

Anyhoo, there was movement every day. Let's just call this a cutback week, shall we?

Finding Gratitude

In these crazy, unsettled times, I'm focusing on finding gratitude for the good things in my life.

I don't know about you, but to me, right now, every week feels like a year. The news cycle is dizzying, and my physician partners and I continue to deal with the fallout from ongoing anti-vaccine sentiment being pumped out of Washington. Work is crazy busy with the ongoing baby boom and the influx of new patients into the clinic. My patients continue to bring me joy--this week I was examining a 4 month old who couldn't stop giggling. She was giggling so loud that my coworkers outside of the exam room could hear her! That was definitely a highlight of my week and a reminder of why I do what I do.

Thankfully, family life has been calm, and I'm looking forward to seeing my sons, daughter-in law and youngest son's girlfriend, parents, sister, and her family on Thursday this week.

I'm happy to be running with my Trail Sisters again, and on Mondays and Thursdays, my workout friends at the gym brighten my day. On Saturday, I had lunch with a friend who always makes me laugh. 

As usual, I found comfort on the trails. Even though the weather was downright depressing, I didn't feel depressed after heading into the woods. My RA symptoms continue to resolve, and I was able to move comfortably on the trails. I have so much gratitude for my local forest preserve--nature is truly good for my soul. 

These are the things that bring me joy and remind me of what is really important: family, friends, nature, and caring for others.

Weekly Rundown: 

Sunday: Trail Sisters run 7 miles

Monday: Yoga with Adriene, Strength Training

Tuesday: Fluid Running

Wednesday: trail run 8.7 miles

Thursday: Yoga with Adriene, Strength Training

Friday: run 6 miles?

Saturday: Yoga with Adriene

After a good night's sleep--my Oura ring was ecstatic over the 9+ hours of sleep I got--on Sunday morning, I went to meet my Trail Sisters for a run! It's been a while since I've run with them, and I missed them! We met at Moraine Hills State Park, which is right outside the town where I grew up. It was a bright sunny bluebird morning with temperatures in the 40s--the perfect combination for a good run with good friends. After spending all day Saturday on the couch with a full-on RA flare, I was pleased that I felt good enough to run. One of the other women was having high heart rate issues, so we took it nice and easy. I didn't mind at all. The miles passed quickly as the conversation flowed. As always, I am so grateful for this group of supportive, like-minded women. 

Still feeling off, I was a little nervous about going to the gym and lifting heavy stuff. During the warm up, I was doing hip bridges when the room started to spin. I sat up until things stopped. My lifting partner was feeling off as well, so we decided not to push our deadlifts any heavier than last week. We built to 185#, did 3 sets of 2, which felt ridiculously heavy, and called it a day. While the rest of the class did some sprint work, I again worked on shoulder presses, staying at 65# for all 6 sets of 3. 

On this raw, drizzly Wednesday morning, I really wanted to stay in bed. Instead, I laced up for my weekly trail run at the preserve. I planned to do about 6 miles. But I had to take a detour for a pit stop, which led me to running into the piney woods to see if any deer were out and about. And yes, the mama and her two fawns were in the woods! I stopped to just watch them as they grazed for foliage. It's almost magical, being that close to them. As I moved away, I spotted a big buck behind a tree. He wasn't happy to see me and ran off. I kept going, looping around, and saw 3 more deer! On my way back, I again saw the buck, this time taking a rest. As I watched him, it occurred to me how lucky I am to have access to these beautiful creatures in their habitat. My heart was full. 

When I run in this preserve, I always have a 'plan', but often make changes on the fly. The thing about knowing these trails so well is that you can go as far or as little as you want and not repeat a step. On this run, I took a detour along the creek just because I wasn't ready to call it a day, finishing up with 8.7 miles. It's amazing how much beauty I was able to find on such a gray day!

On Thursday, I was set to increase my weights for both the bench press and back squats. My partner and I worked on bench presses, building to 77.5#, miscalculating the plates that we put on the bar. Barbell math is hard! So at that point, instead of pushing to 82.5#, I pushed to 85#. And yes, it was hard, but I lifted at that weight, 4 sets of 3 reps! I was very happy about that. For the back squats, I had planned to increase the weight to 130# (last week I did 125#). You wouldn't think 5# would make a big difference, but as SJ said, 'things are getting very heavy now". I did 4 sets of 3, doing my best to get my hips below parallel. Again, it was hard, but I was pretty happy with these as well. 

I woke up early Friday morning for my weekly bike path run. After my first cup of coffee, I realized that I had gone to bed without preparing my lunch. I'm on a tight timeline in the morning, so that was my first ugh. When I was ready to run, my watch beeped when I connected with the satellite, and off I went to the bike path. At my first photo stop, I looked down at my watch and noticed that while it was tracking my time, it showed 0 miles. UGH. Since I run this route every Friday, I knew I would be running about 6 miles-give or take a few feet. But still. If it's not recorded, did I even run?

Overall, I felt pretty good on this run. It was 46F, there was no wind, and overcast with a little fog. In other words, perfect running conditions. When I finished, my watch clocked 58:37 minutes. Not bad! Garmin showed my pace as 32 hours, 24 minutes, which made me lol for real. Maybe Santa will bring me a new Garmin for Christmas.

How was your week? How do you find your center? What are your Thanksgiving plans? What are you thankful for this year? Have you ever had your Garmin not track your miles?

It's also the end of November, and time for my monthly mini book reviews! Next Friday, I'll be sharing my reads for Nonfiction November. Don't miss it!

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

 

Savoring the Last Days of Fall

We have had an amazing fall--warm weather and beautiful colors! The leaves are starting to fall, but we've still got good color. I'm sure that's going to change in a hurry with the impending arrival of more winter-like weather. As much as I don't love winter, I will admit that I am looking forward to days of curling up on the couch by the fire and reading a good book. And winter foods! Soups, stews, and baked pastas--hearty fare that just don't work in the warmer weather. I came home from my aunt's house last week with a bag of wild rice that their neighbor harvested, and I made chicken and wild rice soup with it. I also baked an apple crisp. 

I know by March, though, I'll be ready for warm weather again!

Finding Fall in the Northwoods of Wisconsin

We wrapped up our trip to northern Wisconsin, completing another segment of the Ice Age Trail, and returning to Illinois on Monday. Even though we were only gone for 4 days, it felt like we were away for much longer. I won't lie, reentry was tough after being off the grid and immersed in beauty and solitude. This trip was wonderful. It also made me question why I'm postponing retirement, as I struggled to find my center this week. I'm hoping that with the Mammoth Trail Challenge completed and getting back into my routine, I'll feel more settled. 

If you missed my last 2 posts, here are the links to read about my other Mammoth Trail Challenge adventures:

Trail Magic

A Week of Challenges

A Week of Challenges

It was a week filled with challenges, but they were good challenges! I continued to add more miles to my total for the Mammoth Trail Challenge! I surprised myself on Sunday by knocking out almost 9 miles on one of my favorite, albeit very hilly, trails in Wisconsin, feeling strong after running 8 miles the day before. Back-to-back runs have never been my thing, especially longer runs, but here we are!

I also participated in a challenge for Fluid Running. The actual pool running wasn't the challenge; it was trying to get it done! But if you know me, I'm not a quitter, and I didn't let the glitches stop me. I even made it to work with time to spare.

As you read this, my youngest son and I are currently up in the north woods of Wisconsin, on some new-to-me trails. I always like to check out new segments when I do this challenge, and I was really excited for these. I'll share more on my IG this weekend and the blog next week!

Trail Magic

Trail magic, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, is finding what you need when you least expect it, experiencing rare nature, or encountering acts of generosity. I always leave the trails feeling that I've experienced trail magic, whether it's petting a sweet dog, spotting wildlife on the trail (especially deer), or simply running on a beautiful trail. I even experience the runner's high on occasion on the trails--you know, that feeling you get when everything falls into place. It happened twice this week! 

I've been feeling good about running right now. I'm going to credit the heavy strength we're doing at the gym for giving me a boost. The cooler weather helps, too. Even though I got a late start on the Mammoth Trail Challenge, I'm feeling confident about getting all my miles before the end of the month. I'm halfway there and as you read this, I'm out on the Lodi Marsh Segment working on another 8 miles! Next weekend is going to be extra special as I tackle some new-to-me segments with my youngest son. Stay tuned for that!

Is This the Real Fall?

What I want to know is: where is fall? 

When I step onto the trails, it looks like fall, but it still feels like summer. Usually, this time of year brings crisp temperatures to go along with the crispy foliage (see what I did there?). Not so much this year. I'm all for a warm fall, but it has been downright HOT. Like middle of July HOT. On Friday and Saturday, we hit 90°F/32C. I was planning on kicking off the Mammoth Challenge with a long run/hike today, but I'm postponing it for a few days.

Next weekend is the Chicago Marathon, and it looks to be a warm one. Hopefully, everyone who has been training in this warm weather will be prepared for it.

Looking for the Good Stuff

Throughout my adult life, I've used running to help me through the tough times. When the pandemic hit, and there was nowhere to run, I discovered the trails, both near my house and up in Wisconsin. The trails have become a refuge for me, a place to escape from the heaviness of life and to soak up nature, appreciating the simplicity of listening to birds, watching the deer, and looking for mushrooms. I like to go early in the morning, while it's still peaceful. Instead of feeling fearful about being alone, I savor the solitude. 

Every time I run the trails, I see something new. Nature is always changing, and that keeps things interesting for me. On Wednesday this week, I didn't see any deer and very few mushrooms. But as fall approaches, the sun is a little lower in the sky, and this year we have smoke from the Canadian wildfires, which has kept things interesting, at least from a photographic perspective. Imagine my surprise when I came upon this spot on the main trail! I thought it might make a pretty selfie, so I set up my tripod and used the 10 second timer. I jogged down the trail, waited for the fast flash, and ran towards the camera. One take was all I needed. 

One of my Trail Sisters once commented that I am very observant. When I run on these trails, my head is on a swivel. I'm looking for tree roots on the trail. I'm looking for deer, of course. But while I'm looking around, I spot a lot of good stuff. This year, it was the mushrooms. And sometimes, the good stuff is the angle of the sun on the trail. I always leave these trails feeling content and calm.

What will I see next week? 

Smoke and Heat

Our summer's theme of heat, humidity, and smoke continued this week. Last week's cooler temperatures felt so good, but they were just a minor reprieve. Wednesday's run felt fine despite the smoky skies, but I paid for it later! I've never smoked, but I had chest tightness and a cough after that run. It felt as if I'd smoked a pack of cigarettes. I do love summer, but this year summer has been on fire!

Back At It!

'One day I won't be able to do this, but today is not that day. Today I fight! ~ origin unclear, but perhaps paraphrased from J.R.R. Tolkien, in The Lord of the Rings. 

I do love a good quote.

Yep, I'm back to running again--slowly and using walk intervals. But it's worth celebrating, am I right? I'm grateful that my injury wasn't worse and that I can get back to doing my favorite thing while I continue to rehab my knee. 

Down but Not Out

This week was all about moving my body in a way that didn't aggravate my knee injury. It helped that as the week went on, the pain lessened. I'm so glad that I'm able to walk. When I first started walking on my trails, I felt like it was taking forever! But as the week went on, I started to enjoy the slower pace. I'm spotting a lot more things that I might not have seen had I been running. And I have to admit that I'm glad to be walking when we are experiencing some of the highest temperatures we've had in years! 

I'm working hard to keep my miles up so that when I'm ready to return to running, it won't be like starting over again! Fingers crossed that it will happen soon.

Looking for a Silver Lining

I'm trying, guys. This week challenged me more than I've been challenged in some time. Problems at work, the ongoing saga with my parents, wedding planning,...you name it...I felt like I couldn't get my head above water. Sometimes life is like this, and we all need to have a way to deal with it. Mine is running. And right now, I can't run because I'm injured. 

There may have been some tears shed this week--not because I'm hurt, but because I can't run it out. I have a lot of backup tools that I can lean on for cross-training, but when I'm stressed, there's only one thing that works. Running is the one thing that lets me push myself as hard as I can, pound it out on the pavement, and just let it all go. It's been a long time since I've felt so stressed as in the recent weeks--even my Oura ring is concerned--and I haven't had to rely on running as much as in the past. 

So what's an injured runner to do when she can't run? I'm leaning into nature and my trails, which helps a lot. I'm going to do my best to try to maintain fitness, like I did when I broke my leg and my foot. The PT at the gym taped my knee for tendonitis, but she suggested that I might have a meniscus tear. I hope not. I see my rheumatologist for my semi-annual appointment on Monday, so I'll see what she says. I'm also going to schedule with a knee ortho, who I already know is going to recommend PT. I'm a good patient, and I'll do what I need to get back to running. 

In the meantime, I'm looking for that silver lining.

All Mixed Up

I was all confused this week--my work schedule was altered to accommodate my 3 partners who were all out of the office this week. Plus, I had to drive my parents downtown on Monday for a doctor's appointment at Northwestern. More on that below. Besides my work schedule, the only other thing consistent in my life is my workout schedule, and I had to move things around to fit into my days. I got it all done, though! I think that is what kept me sane. I like to think that I'm pretty flexible, but this week I didn't know if I was coming or going!

Is anyone else hearing the Cars' song All Mixed Up running through their head right now? Or is it just me?

Playing Outside

This really is the best time of year to be a runner! Or is it fall? I love them both so much. As for all my complaining about the slow arrival of spring, I will grudgingly admit that these cooler temperatures have made for some great runs. It has also allowed me to really appreciate the arrival of all the blooms. I've made sure to get out early to soak up all the beauty and solitude that comes with being alone on the trails.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link.

Yep, the weather has been kind of sucky, but that hasn't stopped me from getting outside and getting it done. I have to admit that even though the temperature has been more like April than late May, it's given me some really decent runs. What would be ideal? Cool mornings and warm afternoons. Wouldn't you agree? 

We're up at the lake for this Memorial Day weekend. Sadly, it's going to be too cool for any waterskiing, even in a wetsuit. I can only hope that it starts to warm up! At least the rain is gone. I'm looking forward to hitting the trails on Sunday and Monday. Check out my IG for the details!