Running: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I have been a runner for most of my adult life. The impact that running has had on me is immeasurable. From mental health to physical fitness, from confidence to composure, from youthfulness to body acceptance--the list could go on forever-- running has provided me with so much more than miles. After two runs with friends this week, I was reminded once again of the many benefits of this never-ending gift. 

My why regarding running has changed over the years, but no matter what reason I have for a particular run, I always get so much more than I need. Even the bad runs teach me something--and really, is there ever a bad run? I feel so lucky to be a runner; as I age, even more so! Running truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

Up and Down

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I hate to be that person who talks about the weather, but as a runner, it's in my DNA. While we in the Midwest are accustomed to wild weather swings, this spring has been more challenging than usual. Don't like the weather? Just wait--it will change. And let's not even talk about the ever-present wind. It's enough to send a runner to the treadmill! 

That may be an exaggeration, but I'm glad that I'm not training for anything. Content to 'just run', I got all my miles in this week. I'm always grateful for the sunshine, even on the cooler days. I also received some new gear, which always makes me happy!

Agility, Baby!

Will Spring ever come? It was a gloomy, cool week here in Chicagoland--at least until the end of the week when the sun finally came out! That didn't stop me from taking all my runs outdoors. I had a lot of fun on my trail runs leaping over puddles and fallen trees. It sure keeps things interesting!

I Needed To Run!

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It has been A WEEK. 

Volatile weather, wild swings on the stock market, and 3 trips out to see my parents kept me on my toes. Add to that all those extra work projects I'm involved in. I had to be flexible with my workout schedule and I got it all in except for one run. I'm really leaning into my workouts for stress relief as well as committing to them as 'my time'. I'm going to do my best to not let anything get in the way of that.

The week ended on a high note, though. On Saturday, I had a date with Erica at a sound bath in the city. After that, I met up with the kids for some beers. It's always so great to see them and any time I'm in the city, I do my best to connect!

I Ran a Race!

After all that activity of the past two weeks, I settled back into the routine of everyday life. But not before I ran a race! Long-time readers know that I like to run the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8k in March—it's a race that I return to year after year. I think I first ran it in 1993. My youngest son said he'd run with me. This was his longest race distance so far.

The iconic Columbus Drive start line

I've Been Everywhere

For the past couple of weeks, it has felt that way! This is a long post, but it's mostly photos. It's been a busy but very fun couple of weeks out of the office. 

The Ice Was Singing

Last Sunday, the ice was singing, and once again, trail running proves to be the most interesting way to spend time on your feet! The weather was all over the place this week, but luckily for me, all my runs were done under dry conditions. I was glad to get to do all of them outside this week. By the end of the week, the ice was just about melted on all but the biggest lakes around here.

As I wrap up this week's post, I am sitting on the sofa with my feet up, feeling completely exhausted and looking forward to being out of the office for the next 2 weeks. I'm heading into the city Monday through Thursday to attend my annual pediatric nurse practitioner conference. I'm looking forward to just sitting and learning. I'll be taking the train every day instead of fighting traffic and walking from the train station to the conference hotel on the Riverwalk. The weather looks great for the upcoming week.

Next Friday, I'll be traveling to California to spend a week with my sister and her husband. I can't wait to get my feet back on those desert trails! A change of scenery is just what this girl needs. 

All Over the Place

This week, the weather and my emotions were all over the place. We went from the deep freeze to false spring and back again. The wind was blowing with a vengeance. The conditions made for some interesting runs. I leaned into my runs for emotional support this week as well. I'm always grateful for movement that makes me feel better, physically and emotionally.

An Unintentional Cutback Week

I didn't mean to run fewer miles than usual this week. My weekly 'goal' mileage is around 20 miles. This week I ran about 15 miles. The cutback wasn't intentional--Mother Nature forced my hand. The weather continues to deliver bitter cold temperatures and brisk winds, which is as unpleasant as you might imagine. I'm no weather wimp, but my enthusiasm for all the things outdoors is wearing thin. Long distance runs are really tough when it's so cold.

Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. We've been amping up our strength work at the gym and my legs are feeling the fatigue. Hopefully, between the strength work and the reduction in running miles, I'll see some strong spring runs! 

Mind Over Matter

'Tis the season when the motivation is low. The air is cold, the landscape is ugly- at least in the Midwest- and it's hard to get excited about running outside. I've also been feeling super achy this week. It's been a few months since RA has messed with me, but here we are. I'm just trying to keep moving because movement keeps things loose and makes me feel good. I had to dig deep to push myself out the door and even to leave my toasty warm bed, but I didn't regret any of my workouts.

It was all mind over matter. I've been described as strong willed, stubborn, and driven and those traits served me well this week!

It's Me Time

Before you judge me based on the title of this post, hear me out.

My life has gotten very busy since the start of the year. On the work front, some of the projects I'm involved in have accelerated and are starting to encroach on my days off. One of the meetings was scheduled at the same time as CrossFit, and I excused myself, guilt-free from the meeting to go to my class. My husband's health issues continue. In addition, my parents need more of my time as I try to stay on top of my mom's health issues. I feel as if I'm juggling 3 balls in the air, trying to keep everything going. 

Or maybe a better metaphor would be treading water, trying to keep my head above the surface. I actually do that on Tuesdays, you know 😘.

To preserve my sanity, I've become very protective of my 'me' time. I know that I'm a much happier and more productive person if I get my workouts in. I'm willing to be flexible as much as possible, but conflicts pop up. It feels good to put my needs first and I'm surprised at myself--saying no has never been easy for me. It's a work in progress. 

Brrrrr...

This week was the coldest that I can remember in a very long time. Most days, the temperature hovered near zero, with wind chills in the minus category. I think all of you know that I loathe running inside--I need that fresh air and natural light. I managed to get 2 of my runs outside, well bundled up, but on Wednesday, it was too windy and cold.

Oddly enough, we've had almost no snow this winter. I think the weatherman reported a total of 9 inches so far this season. 

I can't remember the last time we've had a winter like this. But in the glass half full category--this one's for Kim--it was sunny almost the entire week. The sun really does make a difference, even in the bitter cold, and that's what pushed me out the door on Sunday and Friday. 

Cold Air, Don't Care

It's been really cold this winter! But you probably already know that, right? Fortunately, we've seen more sunshine this week, which did a lot to lift my mood. I'm feeling better this week after some beautiful snowy runs and two more great strength classes at the gym. We also had a brief break in the cold on Friday, but the cold air blew back in on Saturday—literally. 

The hubs and I had plans to go to the lake this weekend. I wanted to get some trail running in while we were up there. But with the predicted cold weather and wind, I didn't relish the thought of being up on top of Gibraltar Rock with sub-zero wind chills. I decided to stay home and hopefully get out on my local trails, which are a little more protected from the wind. It will be a last minute, game day decision! You can check out my IG to see if I did!

Chasing Away the Blues

It's been a long time since I've had the winter blues, but they hit hard this week. I'm not sure why this year is different. There are a few things that could be contributing to it--the hubs' health issues, some family drama, the extra few pounds that have stubbornly attached themselves to my middle, learning about a work friend diagnosed with cancer, those devastating California wildfires, and some anxiety about our country's future. Oh, and of course the bitter cold that has settled in our region after we experienced a spectacular autumn.

I'm doing my best to get on top of this. I'm making sure to get outside for all my runs--that's always helped me in the past. Running more with my trail group. I'm excited about the new strength program I'm participating in at the gym. I'm planning a few trips for the spring. Reading lots of books. Leaning into all the cool opportunities I've been offered at work. 

Ok, I'm also going to tackle my closet, declutter, and donate or sell on Poshmark. According to experts, decluttering is supposed to help with anxiety and depression. It's a little disheartening to have all these pants that don't fit anymore. 

What do you do to fight the winter blues?

Weekly Rundown:

Sunday: Trail Sisters run 6 miles

Monday: CrossFit Auxiliary Strength

Tuesday: Fluid Running

Wednesday: trail run 5.5 miles

Thursday: CrossFit Auxiliary Strength

Friday: run 6 miles

Saturday: Yoga with Adriene, work

It was 12F when I met my Trail Sisters for our weekly run. We met at another local preserve, Potawatomi Woods, which is part of the Des Plaines River Trail. This is one of my favorite sections. We ran north and crossed over some bridges to a very pretty section. There was no wind--yay--but it meant I was overdressed. Even this time of year, it's hard to figure out what to wear! As always, we had great conversation and the ladies indulged my need to snap photos.

I was excited to go to CrossFit on Monday morning where we would be starting a new auxiliary strength program! The coaches developed this program to augment the strength training we normally do. There will be 4 week cycles, 2 days per week, which happen to fall on the 2 days I go to the gym. This first workout had 4 sets of 2 activities and we did 4 rounds of each set. Each activity was done for 40 seconds. there was a 2 minute transition between sets. All the activities were done with dumbbells.

Monday's focus was lower body:

Round 1: goblet squats (25#) alternating with frog pumps--hip bridges done in a frog leg position (30#).

Round 2: step up to a box with knee drive alternating with RDLs (10#)

Round 3: calf raises on a plate alternating with deadbugs (12#)

Round 4: reverse lunges with knee drive alternating with bear crawl hold (knees hovering above the ground)

This was HARD! At the time, I wished I had gone heavier with the dumbbells. But the DOMS hit me on Wednesday--my legs were fatigued on my run and my core was pleasantly sore.

Wednesday was cold but the sun was out and there was no wind. Having learned my lesson about overdressing on Sunday, I went a little lighter on the layers for this run. I was warm everywhere except for my face. I felt pretty blah when I headed out and I couldn't really shake it. It didn't help that I saw a dead deer on the roadside on my way to the trailhead. I didn't see any deer on my run and actually, it was quiet overall in the woods. It was very pretty with the sun shining brightly and a light dusting of snow on the trails. 

On Thursday at CrossFit, we did the upper body auxiliary strength workout. Just as we did on Monday with the lower body workout, each lift was 40 seconds with a 10-second transition between lifts. We did 4 sets of each round, with 30 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between rounds.

Round 1: marching front plank alternating with supermans (prone back extensions)

Round 2: alternating one armed seated overhead dumbbell press (15#) alternating with banded pull-aparts

Round 3: alternating one arm dumbbell bend press (15#) alternating with dumbbell upright rows (15# each hand).

Round 4: alternating arm bicep curls (15#) alternating with 'skull crushers' aka dumbbell overhead tricep extension (20#)

My arms were jelly after this workout. If you think these weights are light, try doing these movements for 40 seconds. 4 times. It's much harder than I expected and by the last round, I was ready to be done!

Early Friday morning, I woke up to a dusting of snow. No problem, right? I laced up my Hyperion Max, but after slip-sliding my way to the end of my block, I turned around and headed home. No, I wasn't going to take it to the treadmill! I just wanted to change shoes to the Ghost GTX, knowing that these shoes would keep my feet on the ground. They did, but there were a couple of close calls when I hit a few patches of black ice! I kept this run slow--10:30m/m pace--and stayed upright the entire run. I call that a win.

How was your week? Have you ever had the winter blues? What do you do to stay positive during the winter?

I shared the details of my strength workouts in case anyone who does home strength wants to try it. If you do, let me know what you think! I'm really impressed with this so far.

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

 

New Year, Same Old Me

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions or set goals. 

I have the goal to hit 1000 miles running for this year, but that's been something I've done for many years. Does that count? 

I plan to do the Mammoth Challenge again in October, but again, I wouldn't call that a goal since it's something I've done for 4 years now. My goal oops, I mean, my plan is to once again visit a few new segments while chasing my miles.

I'm going to lean into strength training more than in the past. My gym is starting a new strength class in addition to the strength workouts that I've started doing on Thursdays. This new class is going to be different than the heavy strength I'm accustomed to--more body and dumbbell work. I want to see how my body responds to more strength work. 

I can tell you what I'm not going to do. I'm not going to run any more long-distance road races. My body does not like it, and I no longer enjoy the training. Maybe that will change with the strength work I'll be doing. Never say never, but all signs point to no. Short distances, like 5k, 10k, or even 15k, are still options, especially if running friends will be there. 

While I don't have any races on the calendar this year, I'm not ruling out any long distance trail races. Walking is always acceptable and I do love that finish line feeling! If I do run a trail race, it will be a game day decision. The conditions have to be right.

So 2025, let's do this. Keep moving. Stay strong. Enjoy the ride. Have fun. Get muddy. Embrace nature. Never, ever give up.

A Holly, Jolly Holiday

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This was such a nice week! Christmas fell on Wednesday this year and with Thursday being my usual day off, I also took PTO on Friday, and voila! I had a whole week off work. I needed that time to prepare for hosting my family for Christmas. But I made sure to get all my workouts in. A day without movement is like a day without sunshine, am I right? And we've had plenty of those this week. The gray skies didn't dampen my holiday spirit though! 

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?