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.

Recovery

Much like the week after a marathon, I needed some time to recover from my son's big wedding. It really was like a marathon. I was exhausted both physically and emotionally. 

Friday was the rehearsal dinner, and then Saturday, the big day, which started at 8 for hair and makeup, followed by bringing lunch to the hotel to feed the groomsmen, and then helping my son get ready and take pictures. I went to the venue after that, but they didn't need me for about an hour, so I found a place to sit and read. When the bridal party went outside to the golf course for photos, I followed, taking many of the photos I shared in last week's post. The hubs arrived for photos, and once those were done, we walked to the clubhouse to grab something cold to drink. It wasn't long after that that the guests started arriving for the ceremony. 

I only cried once during the ceremony--when I hugged my son after we walked him down the aisle. He let me hug him so tight--something out of the norm for him--and when I sat down, the tears just flowed.

Time really flew after the ceremony! We were busy greeting the guests; then we made our big entrance! We sat down for dinner, but I was called to the floor to give my speech. I thought I'd be nervous, but I had practiced what I wanted to say, and it went well. My speech was followed by the father of the bride, the best man (my youngest son), and then the maid of honor (the bride's sister). The cake was cut and the party started! 

I danced with my son to Landslide and the bride danced with her father to My Girl. The bride and groom surprised me by dancing to one of my favorite songs, Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton. My son and I had gone to see him about 5 years ago!

The night flew by. By 10 o'clock, I told my hubs I was ready to go home. The party was going strong, but almost all our family and friends were gone by then. The next morning, I saw a lot of photos of what we missed, and it looked like things got wild! My youngest son did a back flip on the dance floor; the groomsmen carried my oldest son around overhead, and another video showed my youngest doing the worm through Tom's legs! I think I can say that a good time was had by all.

I've spent a lot of time this week going through photos and videos. What a wonderful wedding! And for all the boy moms out there, this was such an emotional experience for me, seeing my son so in love with his bride. He looked so happy!

BIG WEEKEND!

It was hard to believe that the time had gone so fast since my son and his girlfriend had announced their engagement 15 months ago. But here we are--wedding weekend! This week was all about last minute preparations and wrapping up all the details we've been planning for the past year! The runs and the workouts continued uninterrupted, though. I would never have gotten through this weekend without them!

The Calm Before...

...THE WEDDING.

EEEK! It's here!

Next week is my oldest son's wedding. All the planning is done and the big--very big--event takes place next weekend. This week will be all about preparing for the big day. I am excited and also anxious! I've been asked to give a speech at the wedding, and I have it written. I'm only working one day this week. My future DIL and I have plans on Wednesday for a mani-pedi, which will be relaxing and a chance for us to decompress. And yes, the workouts and runs will continue, right up to the big day. 

It feels like a marathon, with all the pre-race jitters! 

Attack of the Deer Flies

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Oh, summer, how I await your arrival! After enduring months of cold weather, with the arrival of warmer temperatures, we Midwesterners are able to strip off all our layers and bask in the sunshine. It's like being at a party you wish would never end.

But every party has a pooper, and summer in the woods comes with a few uninvited guests: stinging insects. The worst offenders? Deer flies. You'd think after dealing with them every year, I'd be prepared for their arrival. But no, the nice weather of spring and early summer gives me amnesia about my past encounters with them. As a child growing up in a rural area of Illinois, my sisters and I would spend our days swimming in the family pool, only to be stung in the head by one or more eagerly awaiting deer flies when we came up for air. I could just imagine them hovering above the water, rubbing their little arms together in anticipation of a tasty meal. I looked back on old blog posts and found that every year at this time, I write about these awful little pests.  

I 'did my own research', aka a Google search on deer flies. Know your enemy and all that. Apparently, there's nothing to deter them, but besides the super spray I use, there are some things I can try. Wearing light colored clothing can help, according to some sources. Multiple trail runners and hikers suggested applying sticky tape to a hat so when they land on your head, they stick to it. Another suggestion is to wear 2 hats--one forward and one backwards, so the brim covers your neck. I have a head net that I bought a few years ago, but I haven't used it. Don't ask me why. The last suggestion was attaching a fake dragonfly to your hat. Apparently, deer flies are afraid of dragonflies. Remember, this was all on Google, so I know it's true. 

I ordered the items from Amazon, so stay tuned for the results! I also learned that they are mostly evil for about 5-6 weeks in late June/July, when they are biting to find blood to feed their eggs. Ewww. I also found a hilarious essay about deer flies HERE. 

Soon they'll be gone and I'll be able to run in the woods without fear of being bitten. Next up...yellow jacket season...

Deer flies enlarged for dramatic effect

So Much Water!

Not only did we have a lot of rain this week, but I also spent a lot of time on the water. I love being on the water, whether I'm in the boat, on a ski, or in my kayak. I was able to do all those things this week!

I also worked on easing my knee back into running--as you might expect, it didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped. But I got some good mileage in. The rain didn't keep me inside, although the humidity was off the charts. There was no escaping the water this week!

What Next?

Living in the Midwest, we're used to wild weather swings. This past week was off-the-charts bonkers. Considering what we've experienced this year so far, that's saying a lot. It was record-breaking warm, so wild weather was to be expected, but a DUST STORM? That was a first for me. I'm glad I wasn't outside when it blew in. I wear hard contacts, and when dust gets in my eyes, it's a very painful experience. Back in the day when my boys played baseball and the bored players kicked up the dust on the diamond, I'd have to run to the car with my eyes closed to avoid the dreaded contact attack. IYKYK

Anyhoo, the dust storm was weird. I wondered if the locusts were next. Is it the end of times? Not to get all deep and philosophical, but fellow Midwesterners have to agree, we've been subjected to some really extreme conditions these past couple of years. Mother Nature's got some splaining to do.

Meanwhile, today we're in the 50s, after breaking records for highs in the 90s just 2 days ago. The wind continues to blow. Dare I ask: what next?

I'm Spending Lots of Time Outside

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Last week, I asked for sunshine and Mother Nature delivered. It wasn't especially warm--Lake Michigan is to blame for that--but I can't complain. Everything is in bloom, and I enjoyed lots of time outside soaking it all in. I can't get enough!

Did I say lots of time outside? Read on...

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!

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.

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! 

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. 

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!

The Make-up Race

It was race week and I was ready! I had some great runs leading up to Saturday but I didn't push myself too hard. I wanted to keep my legs fresh. I did notice an area of concern--my left glute is not firing. I noticed it on Sunday. My right glute was really sore after my run and while I was running, I felt like it was doing all the work. At my race on Saturday, I stumbled way more than I should have--catching my left toe and nearly falling multiple times. I didn't fall, thankfully--that would have been tragic on this trail, as it's really rocky and rooty. But it reinforced that I need to get back to basics with some posterior chain work, focusing on that side.

This week I learned that I received a complimentary entry to the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon from Brooks! The race is November 9. I've always wanted to run this one and November is a good time of year for a long distance race. A couple other teammates will be joining me.  I keep saying I'm done with long distance road racing, but here I go again.  People who've done it say it's a 'fast course'. We'll see about that!

So Many Miles, So Little Time

I runfess...oops, I apologize that I haven't been runfessing or linking up for coffee lately. Life has gotten busy and with the exception of the Weekly Rundown, blogging has taken a back seat. Since returning home from Brooks Hype Fest, Brooks has been keeping us RHT members busy. We've been sharing lots of photos from that weekend. We've also been posting about our latest gear drop and are awaiting some new exciting shoes that are coming out soon. The Chicago Marathon is next weekend, and those of us RHT members who aren't running are planning some meet-ups and a cheer station. It's a good kind of busy and it's really injected some good energy into running for me!

In addition to running related commitments, I've been asked to participate in a big project at work, a Zero Suicide initiative for my large healthcare system, which will include developing policies and protocols to help guide providers to prevent suicides in patients and intervene when there is the threat of suicide. It's a daunting task, but a worthwhile one. 

On the health front, I am definitely feeling better and weaning the steroids slowly. I don't want the flare to flare up again. I have to admit that I haven't minded the steroids at all. In fact, since starting them, I feel like I am 10 years younger. I wish I felt like this all the time! And speaking of steroids, Cocoa and I road tripped to Madison this week to see the dermatologist at the UW vet clinic. In the doggy world, the derms manage skin, allergies, and ears. I was so impressed with the plan the dermatologist came up with. Fingers crossed we can avoid surgery. 

Finally, I'm thrilled to wrap up September with decent mileage. October looks to be another high mileage month as I'm kicking off the Mammoth Challenge today. 

A Great Week on My Feet

Disclaimer: As a Brooks Run Happy Team member, I receive complimentary gear. 

But...the RA flare that I mentioned in last week's rundown continued into this week. While I didn't let it stop me from doing anything, I was in a fair amount of pain at rest. You know...motion is lotion... and all that. While ibuprofen has been taking the edge off, I finally broke down and called my rheumatologist on Friday for a prescription for steroids. 

It's been a long time since I've had to take steroids and as of today, I haven't started them yet. As you read this, I'm on a 'field trip' with my Trail Sisters in Whitewater, Wisconsin on the IAT. Canceled due to rain. I'll see how I feel and if I'm still hurting, I'll start taking them. 

Stubborn? Yes. But I haven't had to curb my activities yet, so fingers crossed (and yes I can do that too) that this thing just burns itself out.

In spite of the flare, I had a great week on my feet! Read on...

When Birds Attack

Unless you saw my Friday IG post, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about! Luckily for you, I'm sharing the recap below. It's late spring and it seems that this week, nature is feeling itself. I blame the heat. It's been really hot this week, especially for this time of year. Hot weather makes people more violent, so why not birds too?

As you read this, I'm hopefully crossing the finish line of my first road half marathon in over a year. I had sworn off long distance road racing, but the Chicago 13.1 intrigued me--it's not the usual location for a long distance race in the city. The course runs the boulevards, a network of sprawling streets that run from north to south in the middle of the city. Beautiful historic architecture lines the boulevards and most of them have large green spaces for recreation. Being a big fan of my city, I'm looking forward to exploring this on my feet. 

Note to self: this is a training run. It's going to be a hot one, so that will be my mantra. Check my IG later for updates.