Mini Book Reviews: May 2022

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I received a PRC of Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my review.

I'm wrapping up another good month of reading! At one point, I had 5 library holds come in at once--why does that happen? I had to let one of them go--I just couldn't read them all in the time I had. Fellow bookworms, do you get me? It's hard to pick a favorite this month. I went into a couple of the books not knowing much about them and not expecting much (Remarkably Bright Creatures, I'm looking at you) but after I finished, I had to stop once again to savor what I had just read. 

I hope you find something here that you might want to pick up!

Bouncing Back

After I ran the Ice Age Trail Race two weeks ago, I took the following week off from running and CrossFit. I ran 3 hard races in the span of 5 weeks and my body was begging me for a break. I also traveled with my husband to Alabama to attend my friend Holly's son's wedding. I didn't completely rest--there was some walking and pool running--but I didn't have a lot to share for my weekly recap. 

This week, I returned to running again, so I'm sharing some of the highlights from the past 2 weeks! Rest doesn't mean doing nothing, am I right? 

Monday's trail run

Runfessions: Gunfessions

In light of yet another mass shooting this week, I've decided not to do my usual silly, irreverent, superficial runfessions. But I do have one runfession that I want to share.

Race Recap: Ice Age Trail Half Marathon

Finally!!! After 2 years of deferrals due to the pandemic and one DNS last fall because I broke my ankle and foot, I finally lined up for the Ice Age Trail Half Marathon. I fell in love with the IAT during the pandemic and have enjoyed exploring many of the segments in the southern half of Wisconsin. I did a lot of training on the hilly trails over the last couple of months and felt reasonably ready for the race. 

Time for a Break

This week, we went from below normal temperatures and rain to above normal in one day.  With my upcoming Ice Age Trail Race on Saturday, I watched the forecast like a hawk. As happy as I am to see it warm up, I do not like to run in the heat. As the week went on, I reduced my mileage so as not to tax myself too much before Saturday's half.

The One Where I Promise NOT to Complain About the Weather

That title ought to get me a lot of views! HA!

When I sat down to write this, I promised myself that I wouldn't complain about the weather and I won't. Even though we had a week of rain and clouds. Even though I had the blahs and was feeling pretty anxious all week. 

Instead, I'm focusing on the positive things: 

• We had a peek of the sun on Wednesday and Saturday brought full-on sunshine which did wonders for everyone's moods,
• We are no longer in a drought,
• My husband mowed the grass this week for the first time this year,
• The leaves are starting to bloom on the trees,
• I got a fun Brooks Run Happy package of spring/summer gear this week,
• The forecast for next week has us warming up significantly. Even Saturday got us up into the 60s.

I stuck to my workout schedule which helped a lot. Here's to hoping the sunshine and warmth will help chase those blahs away. 

Coffee Talk

Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link.

Let's catch up over coffee! What will you be having? I'm drinking a cup of Key West Sunrise from Cuban Coffee Queen, thanks to my oldest, who just returned from a weekend in Key West. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I was touched that he thought of me! Actually, he sent me pictures throughout his trip, which was really nice. 

The coffee is great. Of course, I'm having mine with a scoop of GLG collagen and a splash of half and half. Old habits die hard!

What would you tell me over coffee?

Race Recap: Tear Drop Half Marathon

For the past 2 years, I've put the Tear Drop Half Marathon on my must-run list. But the pandemic interfered with those plans. This year with everything opening back up, I was finally able to make it a date! I still had Delta credits from canceling a flight for last year's race. This is my friend Holly's favorite race and she was all in, so I signed up. It worked out well since I was already training for a hilly trail race, the Earth Day 15 miler. Ok, so that was happening the weekend before Tear Drop. But Tear Drop is a net downhill! What could go wrong? 

Spoiler alert: nothing went wrong, but running that trail race the week before probably didn't do me any favors. No matter. I had a fun time!

Mini Book Reviews: April 2022

Disclaimer: I received a PRC of An Island from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review. As a member of Brooks Run Happy Team, I received a copy of Running with Purpose from Brooks Running. This post contains affiliate links.

I was fortunate this month to have a variety of different books! My hands-down favorite--which will probably be my favorite book of the year--was Lessons in Chemistry. Quirky, clever, and creative, I loved that the main character was a strong woman trying to make it in the very male-dominated science world. It was hard to start the next book--I just wanted to savor it and stay in her world. Has that ever happened to you with a book?

Don't Call it a Taper...

Another week of post-race recovery and...another week of training. In 2 weeks, I will finally line up for the Ice Age Trail half marathon, a race that for a variety of reasons has had to be postponed 3 times. I don't think I've ever trained so intensely for a half marathon before! I also don't think I've ever formally tapered for one either. But with back-to-back challenging races in the past 2 weeks, I need to give these legs a break while keeping them moving. As hard as I've been working, I won't deny that there is a certain satisfaction in watching my body respond to it!

This week, I was lucky to be scheduled for a week of continuing education and attended a virtual conference for pediatric nurse practitioners. If anything good has come out of the pandemic, it is some of these remote options. I really like learning this way instead of going to a live event. I'm so grateful to have had this downtime to recover from my race while I learn for my job. It worked out well!

Friday's run

April Shower Runfessions

It's been a cloudy, cold month--I heard that this is the cloudiest April on record for the Chicago area. I figured as much. It certainly has been tough to motivate myself to get out from under the blankets and head outside for a run. But the running doesn't stop just because the sun isn't shining, am I right? Plus, what would I have to runfess? Yep, once again, it's the last Friday of the month and Marcia has opened the runfessional so we can cleanse our soles. 

Maybe, just maybe, May will bring us some sunshine and warm weather?