Hello, It's Me

After 6 weeks of illness and recovery from dental surgery, I can finally say that I'm feeling almost like myself again. Almost, because my mouth isn't 100% healed, but I'm done taking pain meds, and I'm eating food that can be chewed. Lol. Between health issues, the weather, busyness at work, and the unrest in the country, I was feeling a little shaky. I don't want to jinx it, but I'm in a much better place.

Thankfully, we had a reprieve, albeit brief, from the bitter cold this week before the deep freeze rolled back in. I was able to get outside for a run on Wednesday. And what a run it was!! It did me a world of good. Here's to hoping for a few more like that. Weather gods, are you listening?

Weekly Rundown

Sunday: treadmill run 6 miles

Monday: yoga with Adriene, auxiliary strength

Tuesday: Fluid running

Wednesday: trail run! 7 miles

Thursday: yoga with Adriene, auxiliary strength

Friday: rest/virtual conference

Saturday: treadmill run 6 miles

On Sunday, I was having misgivings about joining my Trail Sisters for our weekly run when I received a text from Ilisa, our leader. She said it would most likely be the two of us, and when I shared my concerns about the bitter cold and wind, she called it. She said she thought I was the only one who would still go! I'm not becoming a fan of the treadmill, but if I'm being honest, I need some strong runs to get myself ready for spring. After taking so much time off, I am ready to dial it back up again. And no, I don't have any races on the calendar, but I want to be strong-just in case...

For this run, I decided to throw in some speed intervals every 5 minutes. The treadmill is a great tool for this. I ran a steady pace of 12 m/m, and for the intervals, I ran 8.5m/m. I thought at first this might be too slow, but by the last 3 intervals, I struggled to recover from them! I ended up doing a total of 10 intervals. It was a great workout, and I think I'll do more runs like this as I continue to recover. Hopefully, increasing my speed!

Monday was a surprisingly challenging auxiliary strength workout. The structure was the same, 4 sets of 4 rounds of activities. When I looked at the workout, I thought it seemed easy. I was deceived....

Set 1

4 rounds :40 slam ball (25#) reverse lunges/ :10 transition/ :40 single leg slam ball (25#)/:30 rest

Set 2

4 rounds :40 slam ball side lunge (20#) with knee drive/ :10 transition/ :40 battle ropes/ :30 rest

Set 3

4 rounds :40 slam ball (30#) good mornings/ :10 transition/ :40 depth drops (20' box)/ :30 rest

Set 4

4 rounds :40 sandbag (50#) clean/ :10 transition/ :40 med ball shelf situp/ :30 rest

But wait...there's more! After the workout, we did a group activity--we planked while in a circle, passing a med ball to the person next to you. After the ball pass, you dropped to a low plank, and then returned to the high plank when it was time to pass the ball again. We did 8 rounds, 4 in each direction. Whew!

Wednesday was sunny and...perfect. The temperature was in the upper 20s, and there was no wind. There was a layer of fresh snow on the ground. I couldn't get out the door fast enough! It was quiet at the trailhead. I took my time running on the main trail. I was surprised at my effort-it felt hard with the snow on the ground. I found $2 in the snow and thought it might be my lucky day! As it turns out, it was.

After about 2 miles, I crossed the very busy road to get to the east preserve, where I hoped to see some deer. I wasn't disappointed! I saw a few deer in the field, but couldn't get close enough for photos. As I moved towards the wooded area, I saw another group of deer in the marsh, munching on foliage. I stopped to watch them, and they stopped to watch me. One of the does signalled to the little deer, and he approached me. He stomped his front leg, as if to scare me off! It was just the cutest thing. 

After watching the deer for a while, I moved deeper into the woods. After the windy year we've had, the woods are a mess with many fallen trees and debris. There were a lot of deer tracks in the snow, and I can see why they like it in there--it's a good place to get lost. The herd that I'd seen earlier came through, and they were not happy to see me again. I watched them run away, white tails high in the air, and headed back out of the woods. As I approached the main trail, I saw a guy looking up in a tree. He pointed out a Great Horned Owl. I just couldn't believe it! He also showed me the tree where they nest and told me to watch for babies in the next month or so. Wow. Just wow. 

It was back to the gym on Thursday for another auxiliary strength class. TBH, I did not love this class. It was hard and, and very few of the movements were my favorites. I know, I know...we should do more of the ones we DON'T like...

Set 1:

4 rounds :40 renegade rows 15# with pushup (I just did them on the floor)/:10 transistion/:40 russian twists (15#)/:30 rest

Set 2:

4 rounds :40 hollow body slamball press (20#)/:10 transition/:40 kneeling lateral slamballs 25# and can I say that these were therapeutic/:30 rest

Set 3

4 rounds :40 slamball alt pushups -I could not do these so just did regular pushups/:10 transition/:40 banded PVC lat pulldowns/ :30 rest

Set 4

4 rounds :40 alternating front and lateral dumbbell (8#) raises/:10 transition/:40 wallball chest tosses (10#)/:30 rest

On Saturday, I woke up with visions of running on the bike path, but once I saw the temperature was -10F, my plans changed. Whomp, whomp. I'm no weather wimp, but come on, man! So back to the treadmill it was. For this run, after a warm-up, I decided to do speed ladders, starting with the TM set at 4.0 and increasing the speed by 0.5 every minute until 7.0, then returning to 4.0. I did 8 rounds before I hit 6 miles at 1:07. The time passed quickly, and can I just say: what a great workout! Maybe the treadmill isn't so bad, after all? HA! I went outside after and did this: 

It was -4F, but I was so sweaty that it almost felt good...almost....

Off the Road...

You may have heard something about a deep freeze here in the Midwest! On Friday, I woke up to -8F. With the wind, the wind chill was -20F. I was lucky to have already scheduled the day off to attend a virtual conference. Most people weren't so lucky and had to go to work, including my two sons. My oldest, a union electrician, is working downtown in the Sears (Willis) Tower on the 74th floor. He sent me this photo, which is just breathtaking! You can also check out Erica Agran's IG for a very cool photo of Lake Michigan. It might be brutal out there, but you can't deny the beauty of winter!

And here's one more photo from that beautiful run I had on Wednesday. Days like these will get me through this winter. Even if it's only one outdoor run per week...

How was your week? What was your favorite run of the week? Who else is stuck inside because of the bitter cold? Were you affected by the big storm? Did you have any fun wildlife sightings? Have you ever seen an owl?

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

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.

Happy New Year!

I considered not posting this week, as this is a fitness recap and I don't have a lot of fitness to share. But old habits die hard, and I wanted to start the new year off right. Plus, I had deer photos to share! 

I continue to recover from illness #2, aka Covid, and the fatigue is real. After being off work last week for the Christmas holidays, I returned to work on Tuesday, masking while I see my patients. Still not feeling even close to 100%, I limited my fitness activities to mostly easy movement. 

Overall, December was pretty much a bust for me, fitness-wise. Because I was sick most of the month, I only had 53 running miles for the month. Total miles for 2025 were 880. 

Mini Book Reviews: December 2025 and Year End Summary

Disclaimer: I received ARCs of A Guardian and A Thief, The Tortoise's Tail, Next Time Will Be Our Turn, A Ferryman and His Wife, Family of Spies, and Before I Forget from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links. 

Wow! What a fantastic month of reading. I had big goals for December-I had all my NetGalley reads from November and December to finish up this month. I even managed to squeeze in a few library holds as well. It wasn't hard to do, as I was sick for 2 weeks this month. Lots of time on the couch = lots of time to keep my nose in the books. I can't believe I read this many books, but they were all so good that the pages just flew by!

I also took time to review my Goodreads statistics for the year. They are summarized at the bottom of the post. It was fun to look back on all the books I read this year. I feel so lucky to have access to such great books!

I never set reading goals for the year, and 2026 will be no different. I always vow to dig into my Kindle to clean out some downloads, and I hope to do that again this year. But my NetGalley library is already bursting for January, February, and March with lots of intriguing reads coming up. I can't wait to dig in!

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....