The Running Mind of a Teacher

Transitions and New Identities

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:07:00 +0000

This week finally feels like I might be making a bit of progress, even though it’s been much slower than I ever anticipated. At least having the same experience with my knee taught me that it will never go as quickly as I think. It’s been hard seeing so many people still out running, accomplishing their goals, while I am still on the couch, fundamentally unsure what the future has in store for me.

My biggest growth was restarting some attempts at cardio. Technically the podiatrist I saw discouraged any lower body exercises, but low impact feels relatively safe, especially with the boot on, and I’m keeping it minimal.

I’m glad that I’m finding comfort in movement routines, in still moving my body 4-5 times a week and feeling myself getting stronger. I’ve never prioritized upper body strength and I am realizing that was such a mistake.

My whole life, I’ve struggled to stay vertical, for lack of a better phrase. It’s very hard and exhausting for me to sit upright for any real length of time, if I cannot lean back. I always saw this as a character flaw, being lazy, but in the past few years have begun wondering in my body structure lacks something. Surely other people doing feel overwhelmingly exhausted just sitting, or else our works would look so different. But the last month strength training has given me hope that perhaps building back and core strength could help create the structure my body naturally lacks, and might make that easier for me.

(Watching my son crush his fitness goals when I’m stuck on the sidelines)

It’s been really hard for my goal centered brain to not be working towards something tangible- to have no “10-week training plan” or goal race on the calendar. Goals right now are much more nebulous- build the strength I can so one my foot is fully healed, I won’t be starting completely over, feeling strong in my body, building myself up so I won’t fall as far when I hit my next chronic illness flare.

I desperately want to make an “I’m back” post as soon as I’m cleared to run again but I don’t even know if I will try to run again, at least for a while. It just makes me too sad when I have to stop. And my biggest goal is to figure out a more realistic baseline goal. I’d rather have lower fitness ambitions that I can maintain than be constantly flipping between highs and lows.

This week will be a big test - I have a 2 mile walking field trip with my class, and am hoping to fully transition out of the boot. So far I’ve been only wearing a shoe at home, with light discomfort but no intense pain. Here’s hoping by next weekend I’ll be feeling more like myself 🤞🏻.

A Month of Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:28:00 +0000

This past month has been both brutal but also transformative for me, in ways I didn’t expect. I think last year, when I broke my kneecap, that was coming off a fairly (comparatively) good stretch of health and just a few weeks after my 50k, and it felt like more of an interruption in my identity as a runner.

But this foot injury has been different. It has broken away that identity that had been slowly crumbling away since my first 50k back. Because while I have been telling myself I’m healthy and should take full advantage of it and do everything I possibly can while I still can, the truth is that this is a disabled body and I can’t outrun it or out-train it. And trying to do that has only made every failure my body experiences that much more crushing. Plus it’s literally putting so much stress on my body that it’s causing injuries like this one.

They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, so why do I keep repeating the same crushing cycle? Rushing to start running again as soon as I possibly can, doing too much for this broken body of mine, because I’m so terrified of it starting to fail, and then bringing that failure upon myself?

This injury is finally forcing me to reckon with who I am and look at how to get into the healthiest and strongest body I can develop, acknowledging my disabilities for once, instead of ignoring them, so that if and when it fails again, I’ll be in a better place to handle it. So I’ve started tracking my food to make sure I’m getting the proteins and vitamins and minerals I need to fuel and heal, and I’m learning how to consistently strength training so that my bones hopefully stop breaking.

And this time I’m not counting down the days until I can run again because that isn’t the goal this time. Running can’t be my fix for my debilitating chronic pain and fatigue when it can be so easily taken away from me. I need to see what else can help. And strength training has a lot of research backing it for chronic pain and fatigue (and does seem more manageable in a flare).

So that’s my focus. Getting strong. Getting back into nature as soon as I can, but slowly, cautiously. I need to find something that my failing body can’t take away from me again and again. And a way to keep my body working as long as possible.

Really hoping that I find a better version of myself in the process.

No More Weeks…

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:34:00 +0000

Well, I suppose it was tempting fate to commit to a race and actually get my hopes up. My track record of being healthy and whole in the past two years has been spotty at best. After my gorgeous Monterey run at the start of February that blew up my foot, the pain kept getting worse.

After seeing a podiatrist, who first recommended an orthopedic shoe that brought only more pain, I was told my only hope was a cast for the next four weeks. While I was initially only diagnosed with inflammation, it soon seemed pretty certain that this is a stress fracture. Dealing with bouts of malnutrition for the past 9 years has clearly taken a toll on my body, to have two fractures in a year.

Looking back on the past two years is illuminating. The yellow dates are when I had an injury or chronic illness symptoms severe enough to make it hard or impossible to run.

Yeah, not great. And 2025 felt definitely markedly worse than 2024 (though 2024 definitely wasn’t great either). The best analogy I’ve come up with is that my life is a series of sprints through an obstacle course full of trap doors. And I never know when the trap doors are coming so I go as fast as I can, trying to cram in as many dreams, and runs and races. But then before I ever get where I’m trying to reach, the ground opens up underneath me and down I plummet.

The holes are different sizes - some are shallow, while others are so deep I can’t see the sky. And after weeks or months of painstakingly clawing my way out, I start moving again. Slowly at first, still recovering from the fall, but forever pushing myself to do more. To be faster. To try to reach my goals. Knowing the next trap door could be at any minute. And that one of the trap doors in my future has no bottom at all. And when I fall through that one, I’ll never find my way out.

So I spend all my time in the pit worrying about the next fall, the time wasted, the worry that I’ll never be free long enough to get anywhere.

And while in the grand scheme of things, 4 weeks in a cast to heal a stress fracture is small, it comes on the heels of a terrible flu, and before that, a month of bronchitis, of a three month fibromyalgia flare, or anemia, of a three week gastroparesis flare where I couldn’t eat, and before that a broken kneecap, which came with its own terrible fibromyalgia flare, because being injured means my brain feels like I am in danger and so decides to make it worse.

And all that in a year has made me more and more desperate to escape this chronically ill body. To sprint faster and faster, to dream bigger, to try to outrun the misfortune of having a body that is always breaking down.

So it may just be four weeks, but it truth it’s causing me to have a real reckoning with who I fundamentally am as a person. I need to stop trying to escape myself and find a way to live within my limitations. To give up pretending that I am a healthy person, who then is devastated every time my body fails.

I’m not yet sure what that will mean. If it means I’m giving up running entirely, or simply taking away the pressure and the plans, I’m not sure. I think it means finally overcoming my fear of strength training, as it’s something that can be done around most of my limitations. It also means finding ways to enjoy nature that aren’t running based.

Tonight I used my knee scooter to go 1.2 miles on the path by the lake. Much more exhausting that walking or even running. But I got to move. And then I sat in the car and watched the sunset. As I sat, I pictured myself sitting in beautiful places, even when I can’t walk. Of being grateful for being in nature, even if it’s also a parking lot. Of finding joy even amidst frustration and sorrow for a life I am just never going to have.

Accepting life as a disabled person is hard. I’ve very much fought against that label for a very long time. But when I was at my doctor appointment for my foot, I looked and I have 13 documented current disabling health issues. It’s time to see my life through a different, more forgiving and more accommodating lens.

It’s a terrifying prospect but there’s no way out but forward. Hoping that this will lead me to a new path, a gentler one where I don’t need to sprint and the obstacles are gentle depressions where I can rest when I need and then walk back out the other side.

We’ll see what the future brings.

Weeks 10-11: Waiting Game

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:41:00 +0000

Whelp, foot definitely isn’t okay. 4 weeks in a special boot/shoe and obviously no running and hopefully it’ll be okay on the other side. Going through all the emotions and definitely still struggling. I have no idea what this means for my race or whether I should drop. But for now I’m trying to stay in the present and look for the positives. I feel like some of the lessons I should have learned about cross training, strength training and what’s important to me have gotten through in a way they didn’t when I broke my knee.

I’ve always been so resistant to strength training. There are just so many variables to it, so many different exercises you can do, equipment, moves, it just felt impossible. But this time around, irs one of the best tools that doesn’t stress my foot, so I finally figured out a system to keep track of the weight on the machines that I’m using, and how to use my watch for it, and I’m just committed to using the circuit equipment and not overthinking it. I ended up spending almost an hour doing all the machines this weekend and I was supposed how much I enjoyed it. I can visualize continuing to do it even when I start running again. And that’s a huge win.

I’m also back on the bike, but for whatever reason I am a lot more positive about it. It might help that I’m finally doing a hill setting, so a lot of the time it’s easier than what I was doing before, but chunks are also a lot harder. I’m getting my heart race up, which was always my issue before. And I am coming close to enjoying it.

Another cardio machine I’m learning is the rower. My first day I could barely make it 5 minutes but now I’m up to 10 and excited by my progress.

Might add more to this later but it’s past when I should be sleeping. So for now, I’m sad, but hopeful too, and staying here in the present.

Week 9: Highest Highs and the Lowest Lows

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:23:00 +0000

Like clockwork, it seems that every 4 weeks something fails. On paper this week was pretty incredible. Ed and I had a mini getaway to Monterey where he finally had a super successful race, after a string of challenging ones.

It was so bc wonderful to see him achieve his 50 miler goal, feeling strong and happy. And while he ran, so did I, hitting 10 miles of perhaps the most gorgeous string of coastline I’ve experienced.

The week leading up to the race was good as well, I hit my run plan, had some nice sunsets, fit in a run AFTER a staff meeting without completely losing the daylight, and even enjoyed a walk with my mom.

The day before Ed’s race, we did a gorgeous 4 mile run on his race course, soaking in the rolling green hills, hawks flying overhead and even a field of baby goats.

Running together is a rare treat, and always brings me back to pre-kid days, though even then it was often limited by my chronic pain, though I didn’t understand that at the time.

So much of the weekend had me feeling stronger and younger, as if we entered a portal back to our first year together, when Monterey trips were fairly common and special trips with this new boy I’d fallen in love with were a regular occurrence.

We even had dinner together on the pier, the same pier where I met his mom for the very first time, where at barely 22, life stretched before me in endless possibilities.

In short, the trip was full of so much loveliness, and if I was just sharing the social media version, I’d stop the story there. Because that version IS true -it was one of our best couple trips we’ve ever taken and I feel so thankful for the trip.

But, the truth of the matter is that under everything was a steadily building pain in my foot that has, in truth, been growing for weeks.

The problem with having chronic illnesses, and especially chronic pain that makes my daily baseline level of pain around a 5/10, is that it’s impossible to trust your body’s signals. So much of my pain is neuroplastic, a mistake of my nervous system that sends pain signals when it senses stress, whether it’s work, family, waking from sleep, or even changes in my body chemistry.

That kind of pain can only be treated by reminding your mind that you are safe, that your body is physically okay, and by calming your nervous system.

But, the problem arises when you have a new pain. Is it a new extension of neuroplastic pain, that should be soothed but not treated seriously, which would make it worse? Or is there a true problem? This is how I ended up running around for over a week on a broken kneecap last year.

And how I ended up running 10 miles in Monterey on what has become an increasingly painful foot that was in agony by the end. I still loved the run and it felt worth the views, but it also made me wonder if perhaps this pain is from an actual injury that can’t be treated with mental exercises.

Two days later, it’s still swollen and hurts to walk, and, whatever is wrong, it’s now fairly clear I shouldn’t continue to run through it.

While I wait to get it checked, a lot has been going through my mind. About the unknown side effects on my body (and bones) following years of starvation and malnutrition from when I was so ill. I keep trying to prove to myself that until my stomach fails again, that I have a strong healthy body no different from other healthy bodies. But that’s just a lie I tell myself.

The truth is that this body has been through the wringer and it will never be the body I had before I got sick. And there are limits I can’t will myself around.

So, what does this mean for my summer dreams? We shall see. I have almost two months to make a final decision. But for now I need to be smart. To go to the gym, give my foot a break, and stop fighting myself.

In the meantime, I can celebrate my own strength in navigating this broken body and never giving up.

Week 8: Double Digits

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 01:12:00 +0000

Definitely celebrating a strong week and a strong month! Not only did I hit my first 100 mile month since June, but I also hit my first double digit run on Saturday. Even with getting sick and losing my long run last week, I still managed to get everything I wanted.

The week definitely started rough, with a lingering cold, a tired body, and sore, exhausted legs.

I did check out a new to me little trail this week that I’ve been curious about for a while, which was fun, and did some camping daydreaming, wandering through the local campsite.

We’ve been having unseasonably gorgeous weather and, while I know we need the rain, I might as well enjoy these gorgeous evenings.

I also did a new variation on one of my favorites going up canyon, which I loved. It was a little flatter than what I usually tackle, but still more climbing and trails than Spring Lake, so it was a great option. And the light coming back was so lovely.

But the highlight was definitely Saturday. We did my favorite less intense 10 mile loop through Annadel and it was such a treat to get to share it with Ed. He has his 50 miler coming up next weekend so we definitely talked some about that, and just life plans in general.

I love getting to do things like this again!

I wrapped up the week with a lovely walk with my mom ❤️.

Next week, the build continues! I have a little nerve pain in a foot so I might actually take advantage of my rest day tomorrow, but I’m excited to tackle my 11 miler down in Monterey. Hard to believe it’s already been two months of good running!

In race news I am about ready to sign up for the TS Half race at Lake Sonoma in April and just booked lodging for Tahoe. Lots of excitement!

Week 7: Taking a Break

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:27:00 +0000

This week my body was definitely ready to take it easier. I wanted to spend more time soaking in nature without the stress of pushing myself and I mostly succeeded.

Tuesday’s run took me to a new route close to work and became an accidental speed session. A stressful and overly long work meeting plus the anxiety of unknown roads meant adrenaline was pumping and I clocked some way too fast miles. While it’s nice to know I can go fast, I’m not sure it’s my favorite. I also didn’t love the route- it’s through vineyards and a few homes and my anxiety about stray dogs protecting property meant it was hard to enjoy. Probably won’t repeat this route. Wednesday was another accidental speed session- my heart rate has really improved and it was fun to see that, but probably overdid it again. So much for a break week!

So, once I got to Thursday, I knew I really had to take it easier. I committed myself to a hilly 3 up canyon, where I knew I had to slow to a hike, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ended up doing an extra 1/2 mile just because that upper section on Canyon is one of my favorites.

Friday was a running rest day but otherwise far from restful. After a very busy work day, I took Noah beach camping!

This was the perfect break from real life - walking on the beach, lots of reading, sitting by the fire, to the constant symphony of the crashing waves.

The only downside was both of us were struggling with a cold that took a little away from the experience. But it was still immensely more fun than being sick at home.

This week started in like a lion but definitely went out like a lamb- I’m feeling too rough today to do the planned 5 miles, so I’m leaning into the purpose of the week and taking a full rest day.

Soaking in the sunrise this morning reminded me of how small we all are in this immensely beautiful world. And that it’s so much more about appreciating the gifts each day beings than putting on pressure for more and better all the time. I’m trusting that I did need today’s rest amidst the stress of life and the world at large, and coming back from camping feeling more purposeful about cultivating that rest and appreciation in my day to day life.

All that said, the numbers definitely support this as a rest week - almost 4 hours less and almost 10 miles less than last week.

I can only hope that today puts me in a good position to feel recovered this coming week and ready to reach some new training (while still trying to listen to what I need)

As long as I can recover from this sickness decently well I’m going to be attempting my first double digit run this next weekend. I’m nervous but excited. Here’s hoping my strength keeps growing!

Week 6: Hitting My Stride

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 04:08:00 +0000

After six weeks of consistency, I can finally feel it paying off! As you can tell, I did decide to push the training one more week before taking a fallback week, and I’m so glad that I did. The biggest highlight was getting on some real (non Annadel) trails this weekend. I was so nervous making the move to trails with hills, but it truly reminded me how much more special it feels to have an adventure, instead of just getting in the miles.

The highlight was definitely joining my friend for an 8 mile run in North Sonoma Mountain. I used to be too scared to run here (or even drive here) but the more I go there, the more I love it.

I had such butterflies in my stomach headed to the run, especially when I realized that we were essentially starting at sunrise. But, once we began, my fears totally fell away and I was instead so grateful to see a trail sunrise- something I haven’t done in a very long time.

The weather was surprisingly warm and we took it easy, which was wonderful since I was adding 2 more miles to my longest run AND almost 1,500 feet of climbing.

The original plan was for me to turn around at mile 4, while Simmy would continue another 2-4 solo, but gratefully, she decided to turn back with me.

And in what felt like no time at all, the 8 miles were done. I almost teared up driving home, I was just so overcome by how great it felt to get away from my “easy and safe” runs at spring lake, and do something that genuinely felt special.

The next day was a special one too - Noah turned nine! And he wanted to celebrate in the best way, by going for a family hike.

While we love getting out together, it’s generally quite the affair, and usually ends with one child or the other deciding they cannot possibly go. So today by all accounts was a resounding success. Noah chose Hood Mountain, for its bears and beavers (neither of which we saw) but even without the wildlife, it was the perfect choice.

It was a solid 4 miles and 1,000 feet of climbing, and the kids were definitely worn out by the end, but we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. I was a bit worried about my energy for more climbing but I actually felt pretty good. Good enough, in fact that I was able to go back out for a 2 mile run in the afternoon.

All in all it was a great week. I hit 3 more miles than last week, and lots more climbing. And the biggest part was just that I was back doing what I loved.

One of my biggest training hack realizations is how easy it is to get “bonus” walking miles on the treadmill. It’s nice to just chill with a show while I walk, and it’s an easy way to add a bit of low impact mileage to my week.

Next week is…drumroll…a fallback week! All the hard work I’ve been putting in has felt great but I’m definitely ready to take a week to recover. I think it’ll feel relatively normal until the weekend, but my longest run will be 4 miles. I might make a midweek run a walk too, depending how I feel. And I’m going to keep enjoying my epsom salt baths.

Also, look at this fitness growth! It’s so encouraging to see my fitness back where it was in May. Every week I’m feeling better and better about the time I have to reach my goals.

Here’s to week 6! Tahoe Rim Trail 100k is officially 6 months from today.

Week 5: Back to Work

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:57:00 +0000

After such a solid week last week, I started week 5 both feeling strong but also a little anxious. Running while otherwise resting on a break is one thing. Running the first eeek back teaching after break is something completely different. It would also be my biggest mileage week and longest run (6 miles) since the summer, before I got hit with all my health issues in the fall.

It started out on Tuesday, needing a lot of willpower to run after the first teaching day back AND after a staff meeting. But I tried out a new route from work and really enjoyed seeing a new part of the town.

On Wednesday I joined some friends for a run. It was so nice to see them and catch up, but I’m definitely not ready for that pace group yet. Back to my slow pace next week.

Thursday was the perfect balm for a beat up body from the previous day’s speed work- I took a friend hiking in Annadel. It was a gorgeous afternoon up to the lake and very fun to introduce someone new to this special place.

After a much needed rest day Friday, I tackled my longest in a very long time on Saturday - 6 miles! I let Strava set the route and it took me around Spring Lake and to Lake Ralphine, but using lots of new to me side trails.

I ended up chatting on the phone with my mom for most of it, and the run really flew by. Almost to the point where I wished I had been able to take it in longer!

I capped off the week with lots of fun - 3 miles with a friend, followed up by rock climbing for the first time and then a sunset walk to end the day.

I’m especially proud of myself for giving this a try. I have negligible upper body strength and this was definitely out of my comfort zone, so I was shocked that I enjoyed it so much. I couldn’t help but laugh when I got down every belay - it was SO hard for me to trust the rope and harness and I felt giddy every time it worked and I slowly fell to the ground,

All told, and exhausting but very fun week. While I wish I had fit in cross training and strength training, I also gave myself a bit of a pass since I knew just fitting in consistent running on top of work would be a stretch. My fibro symptoms definitely started to show up towards the end of the week but I really think staying active helped.

Here are the grand totals:

Next week is a fallback week, though the only real difference is I’m doing only 3 miles instead of a long run. That said, the following weekend is camping, so I might do one more heavy week instead? It’ll be a surprise for everyone, haha. I am definitely going to commit to fitting in more extras this week, though.

Plan;

Monday- Cross training (gym - elliptical and stairs) + strength

Tuesday- 3 miles

Wednesday- 4 miles

Thursday- 3 miles (treadmill) + strength

Friday - rest

Saturday- 3 miles (or 7)

Sunday - 2 miles + strength + XT

How will it go? We’ll see!

See you next week!

Week 4: So Much Rain!

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:32:00 +0000

After feeling so awful last week, I really wasn’t sure what would happen this week, but I was really pleasantly surprised. I changed my Tuesday from 3 miles to 2, and a run to a walk, but after that pretty much stuck to my plan. Granted, my heart rate shot up to the 160s every time I ran, so I had to do a lot more walking breaks, but I’m just realized I didn’t get hit with coughing fits. Now, on Sunday, I’m definitely feeling closer to recovered.

The other change I made was to make Thursday a rest day (just did a mile walk) so I could do my long run of 5 miles when it wouldn’t be raining. We have been getting a ton of it this week, so the trails are soaked.

A highlight was going on a hike Sunday - my first time up to Lake ilsanjo since August! We had a wild creek crossing - water was halfway up my calves and very powerful. There were waterfalls everywhere!

Next week looks pretty similar to this one - adding one mile to the midweek runs to make all of them 3 miles, and going from 5 to 6 miles for my long run. It’ll be a challenge keeping up my energy with work, but I’m excited to have that outlet for my stress. I’m planning on making Thursday a hike as well to keep the mileage growth sustainable.

4 weeks into training, my fitness is growing. I’m proud of myself for working my way back from the flu and not getting to derailed (while also being respectful of my health). My fitness has gone from 22-27 in the last week, up from 12 at my lowest earlier this fall.

194 days to go!

Week 3: The Flu

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 03:59:00 +0000

I should have expected that things were going to well. As is typical, my body had to throw me a curveball. This one was in the shape of a fever, cough, and generally feeling miserable. I’m glad this was planning to be a recovery week, so at least my muscles had time to recover from the added mileage. But this was definitely not what I had in mind.

I often see or hear people talking about getting bored of running, or burned out, and in a funny way, I wildly wish I could relate to that feeling. Because the truth of it is, running always feels like something I hold tight to that is always slipping through my grasp. I never have even a whole year of running without something disrupting my efforts.

With that said, I’m committed to rolling with these mishaps better in the future. Having patience with myself, doing what I can, and, honestly, wearing a mask more at work when kids are being germy or were approaching school breaks.

Here’s this week’s training:

Even though it was a pretty atrocious week, coming home to bluebird skies and gorgeous green everywhere was a definite highlight.

Next week’s plan is somewhat up in the air, as my lungs are still congested and I’m still very much recovering. But I’m hoping by Tuesday I’ll be doing better. It all looks pretty manageable (and walking friendly if needed) until I get to Saturday.

29 weeks and 201 days to go!

Week 2: Wrapping Up C25k

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 01:04:00 +0000

I’ve made it to the final week of my couch to 5k, program, well, at least my version of it. I did weeks 1-3, then got sick for a month, then jumped back in to do weeks 4-6ish. But once I hit that, it was an easy transition 3-4 mile runs, so that’s that! Hoping I didn’t rush the build back, but I’m excited to transition to my 8 week base building plan, which will take me from a long run of 4 miles to a long run of 10 miles in 8 weeks.

Here’s this week’s training for the last 3 weeks::

Does it possibly feel like a steep jump? Yes. But a lot of it was walking heavy, and I’m really hoping that my body DOES remember how to do this, after all.

Here’s some highlights:

I’m finishing the week sore in a great way, and having also fit in some strength training and yoga.

The plan going forward is to use next week as a recovery week, doing less mileage but changing from 4 to 5 days a week of activity, and then see what I want to do from there. My biggest concern is trying to do too much too soon, since I’m just so happy to be back running again so I’m trying to be cautious.

Check out that fitness progression!

I’ve got a big hole to climb out of, but plenty of time to do it.

Week 1: Road to 100k

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 02:45:00 +0000

With the fact that I've been able to run and walk successfully all of two days, it might seem a be preposterous that I've just signed up for a 100k. More so, when I reflect that I only was really able to run maybe 4 solid months last year between injuries and illness. And even more so knowing I have an unreliable body that likes to fail periodically and sometimes loses the ability to eat.

But, nonetheless, last night I signed up for the Tahoe Rim Trail 100k race. My very first 50k back in 2008 was the Tahoe Rim Trail 50k, and the highs I felt in that race have never faded. Last year, I backpacked in the mountains for the first time in Tahoe and ran Broken Arrow, and again felt the magic of that place. And so I've decided to be brave. Maybe a little foolish, or foolhardy as well, but life is short. There is no guarantee that I'll have another summer after this one for running adventures. To be honest, it's a leap of faith to think my body can hold it together the next 8 months to put together a solid training block. But, I'm ready to jump.

24 hours later, I can't stop smiling about having a loud, audacious goal on the calendar. The race has a 24 hour time limit, but technically I could count as an unofficial finisher as long as I finish by the end of the 100 miler race, in 36 hours. All I've got to do is keep moving.

So, technically, my race training started yesterday. Right now I'm run/walking 2 miles in 3 minute intervals. And I'm going to build this base, brick by brick. The positive of starting over so many times is I've gotten better and better at it. I know I can't rush it, and I need to actually include strength training and yoga, and take care of my body on all the levels. Good fuel, good rest, good relaxation.

I'm planning on a summer of adventure and am going to do everything I can to get myself there. Only 221 days to go!

10 Years at a Glance

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 02:42:00 +0000

It's been ages since I've used this blog, another 10 years, and this writing style has fallen by the wayside. Nowadays everything seems focused on clickbait titles and selling a story, versus a place to share a journal about your life. On the plus side, I can start using this without thinking too much about an audience.

The last 10 years have been bumpy, to say the least. I never ended up doing that Santa Rosa half marathon. Instead, I sprained my ankle the week before, setting up my new classroom and took way too long to take care of it, as I was between insurances. And by the time I started sone running again, I became pregnant with Noah.

While I loved having a second wonderful child, this was unfortunately when my health took a steep downturn. I ended up getting very sick, getting a feeding tube, and then almost dying when that stopped working. I took over a year off of work and lost so much (including 40% of my body weight while slowly starving).

And while I had a surgery that saved me and is offering a temporary fix, odds are that my issues will return in the next 4-5 years, 10 if I'm lucky. My two years of illness has also meant that I still struggle with multiple chronic health issues that add a lot of complexity to trying to be a runner, de-railing me, it feels like, every time I get started again. Between bouts of fibromyalgia and gastroparesis, life is more complex than ever. But it’s made me all the more motivated to shoot for some big goals while I have the chance,

I ran my first race post sickness in 2022, Rodeo Beach 1/2 marathon, and my first ultra, Quicksilver 50k in May 2024, followed by the Golden Gate 50k in November. Then, a freak slip at home led to a broken kneecap and 4 months off running (and on crutches for 2 of them). I recovered, rebuilt, and ran Broken Arrow 23k in July, felt on top of the world, only to be hit by a crippling Fibromyalgia flare, and subsequent gastroparesis flare, that sidelined me for 3 months. And then after 2 weeks of recovery, bronchitis and asthma flare.

It short, I have been a mess. A less stubborn person would take it as a sign and just stop trying to be a runner. But I'm wildly stubborn. And I love getting to feel like a strong person, increasingly so when I have so many stretches where my body isn't my own, where I'm stuck in bed and can barely move and the easiest things are hard. The drive to feel that strength keeps me going.

So here I stand, in a body that is faulty at best, ready to try. I wrote over a decade ago that I wanted to be someone my son saw as active, a runner, and adventurous, and I still want that, more than ever. Whatever my future holds, I’m going to give it my best.

Running and Motherhood

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 17:29:00 +0000

For what feels like the umpteenth time, I'm dusting off this running blog to share that I've started running again. This time, though, I'm really hoping that it won't go by the wayside like it has so many times before. What I think is different is that while running was just a part of regular life before, and so seemed to belong on my other blog as well, now it's my special "me" time, and something a bit separate from our family life. So, we'll try out the two blog format for a while and see how it goes.

Enjoying one of the many fun events we did when we moved - "Cork to Cactus" wine festival at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

It's funny - since we moved to Arizona two and a half years ago, I really lost all my motivation to run. I'd had no idea how dependent I was on the beauty of my surroundings for my running motivation until I lost it. And, to be honest, blistering temperatures half the year certainly didn't help. The trails here are brutal, full of rocks and "threatening" plants and were very unforgiving, which made it easy to take a break, pour myself a glass of wine, and decided to give up my runner identity for a while. It was enough to support Ed and cheer him at his trail runs.

Last big hike (and I was big!) at around 37 weeks pregnant

But, something funny happened when I got pregnant. I had this vision of our family with a little one, and knew without a doubt it included me being active. Of course, that meant facing this state and finding out what it had to offer! To my surprise, I discovered that while trail running here isn't for me, there are many beautiful hikes well within my abilities.

Hiking with my sweet boy

Once I recovered from giving birth (and the blur of those first months of new motherhood), I knew that I wanted to start running. With the clock ticking down to our move back to California, I knew I wanted to be in good shape. And, more than that, I wanted Evan to know a mom that was active, that loved being outdoors, and that was adventurous, things I sort of lost when I moved here.

Running in Cambria over Winter Break

So, I started running. Well, run/walking at first. I spent about 3 months building up from nothing to my first 5k, the Dana Point Turkey Trot, in November. It went fantastic. I earned a very impressive (for me) 32:41, which was a 10:32 pace. In addition to running, I was (and still am) doing a baby workout class twice a week, getting in some much needed strength training that has somehow helped me become fast!

Finishing the Sedona 10k (you can barely see me as the back runner in this picture

Of course, once I did my 5k, I immediately set my sights on a 10k, and picked out a race in our favorite Arizona town, Sedona. The beautiful red rocks immediately calm your mind and body and put you in a very happy place. I don't necessarily buy into the "vortexes" but I can't deny that there is something truly special about this location. I'd like to do a full race report later, so I'll just share for now that it went even better than I expected, considering I didn't look at the elevation chart beforehand, so I didn't realize it was a very hilly course. Despite the hills, I finished in 1:07, for a 10:49 pace (and, if I go by my garmin, which credited me with an extra tenth of a mile, I had a 10:40 pace!). My last mile, even with some uphill, was a 9:50.

Hiking off of Highway One north of Cambria

I'm definitely a runner again, and it feels great. Next up is maintaining this fitness for a few months. I almost always like to go from zero to marathon when I start running again, which is exciting but ultimately less sustainable I think. So, I'm just going to hold steady for now, doing 6-7 mile long runs on the weekend, and 3-4 mile runs a few times during the week. I want to keep hiking at least once a week, and do my baby workout group a couple times a week. I know that this privilege of time will evaporate when I start working in the fall, so I need to make sure I take full advantage of it!

Adding some running at the end of a hike

For now, I've set my sight on the "Water to Wine Half Marathon" in Santa Rosa in August. It'll be a celebration of moving to our new home, and a last hurrah before I re-enter the workforce. And hopefully in the meantime, I'll have some fun adventures to share.

Changing Identity

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:12:00 +0000

(I posted this over on my life blog, but so much of it is about my identity as a runner turned pregnant person, that I really wanted it over here, too. It also explains a little why this blog has gotten put by the wayside a bit

Ever since I started thinking about having kids and being pregnant, in that concrete, sometime in the future way (rather than the "I'm 13 and love babies" way), I had a vision for what I'd be like as a pregnant woman. And, especially once I became a runner in college, that vision always included me being very active.

Ideally, I'd still be putting in lots of miles and getting to be one of those women who stayed super strong throughout pregnancy.

Then, reality hit. First trimester was sort of a wash with feeling sick all the time. But, at 12 weeks, I was really to recapture that vision. I set a goal of 5 days a week of activity and was hitting it most of the time. I was even running again! Plus, I started doing more hiking than I had ever done in our time in Arizona. Life was wonderful and it felt like I could be that person I'd imagined.

Then I hit 24 weeks, and things started changing. Running became really uncomfortable, so I had to switch to just walking (and was totally fine with that). But then the contractions started.

And suddenly this whole idea that I could just push myself to keep doing fun, active things got a very heavy dose of reality. The past 5 weeks have been a struggle, trying to figure out what I can still do - what is safe for me and the baby - and Tuesday and yesterday I hit a wall.

Apparently, going on a challenging hike Sunday was way too much for this pregnant body, and Tuesday afternoon, the contractions that I'd been getting since 24 weeks suddenly became more frequent. As in every 5 minutes frequent. For a frame of reference, it's considered concerning if you get them every 10 minutes, so double that is pretty bad.

Having already called and gone in for frequent contractions before (but never this frequent), I knew the strategies to try, and spent the rest of the night trying to get things under control, with some success. But, when I woke up, they were back and in that 5 minute range again. Again, I did my strategies and got them mildly under control, so I headed to work. But it became clear an hour in that they weren't going to do what I needed them to do. After a talk with the school nurse (who is wonderful), a call to the midwives, and a tearful conversation with the school secretary, I was sent home to rest and visit the midwives as soon as possible.

The wonderful news is that it doesn't seem like there's a correlation right now between all these contractions and labor. They checked me and did a test that can predict with 99% accuracy whether your body will go into labor in the next two weeks, and it was negative, so that is very good news. I still had lots of contractions all day, but after a good night of rest, they do seem a bit better.

This was definitely scary enough, though, that I really do need to rethink how the rest of these 10 weeks of pregnancy will look. My midwife has asked me to get my FMLA paperwork in order so that I can take days off of work here and there when I get a bunch of contractions like I had yesterday, which hit home for me that being as active as I was hoping to still be is out at this point. If I can't even always go to work, I certainly can't go out for big hikes on the weekend, or maybe even go to the gym. Thankfully, yoga should continue to be a good choice :).

Obviously, I will do anything in the world to keep this little boy of ours safe, but it is mentally very hard to have to know that no matter how "strong" I want to be, I cannot control my body or how it handles this pregnancy. I'm sure there's a good lesson for being a parent wrapped up in there, but for now, I'm just adjusting to this new normal. Hopefully, if I can actually listen to my body and take it much easier, this will be the last big scare of this pregnancy. After all, as my midwife said, it won't be too, too much longer until contractions become a good thing and we'll be ready to welcome our little boy into the world.

North Mountain Preserve Hiking (Flashback)

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 03:58:00 +0000

These pictures are from at least a month ago, but I still wanted to share them, since it was another great hiking experience. Funny, though, how much hotter this was. This was, I think, the last hike I did with just a water bottle, as opposed to a hydration pack. This was a very tough hike, but really great. It was the first hike we did that wasn't flat but was still most manageable. It was pretty open and much more barren than our more recent hikes, but still beautiful.

After our hike, Ed went out for a run, while I took a leisurely stroll on the bike path.

Happy hiker!

Falling in Like with Arizona (Trails)

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 14:29:00 +0000

Yesterday, we had my favorite Arizona trails experience to date.

Arizona winter weather has really hit its sweet spot this weekend, with cool evenings and days topping out in the high 60s and low 70s.

So, Ed decided to take me someplace I'd wanted to go since we moved here - the Superstition Mountains! I can see these mountains daily as I drive home from work, and their very unique visage has alway made me want to go explore them. However, I was always afraid their trails would be out of my league.

Thankfully, the trails were surprisingly lovely! We realized that maybe there is a correlation between paying a park entrance fee and getting nice trails :). Totally worth the $7 to be on trails this smooth.

I also decided to borrow Ed's hydration pack for our hike, since on previous hikes, my one bottle of water seemed inadequate. Even though I didn't drink probably even half, since the weather was so mild, it was mentally great to know I had more than enough.

The lighting on the trails was just spectacular, and the recent rains meant that a fine layer of grass covered the ground.

Who would have thought - a green Sonoran Desert?

Eventually, we began climbing, which started gradually.

What's that in the distance?

Downtown Phoenix!

Finally, we got up high enough where the sun was blocked by the cliffs, and the temperature dropped at least 15 degrees. Even though it wasn't that hot, being in the shade felt heavenly.

Being at the high point also afforded us some more views.

At our high point, we made good use of a bench while some horses passed by, and then started our (precarious) downward trek.

For future reference, we did this loop backwards. Our downhill was not the smooth, groomed experience we had going up, and I *may* have lost my footing coming down. Not usually a huge deal, but a little more concerning when you're carrying a little one inside. Luckily, it was one of those slow motion falls, where my feet slipped out from under me and I was suddenly not so gracefully sitting on the trail. I did scrape my back a bit on a sharp rock, but otherwise only my pride was injured.

Little Evan has been kicking plenty since then to let me know he's no worse for wear :). Ed and I wondered out loud on the hike how he experiences outings like this. How much can he hear? Can he tell we're outside? Can he feel the bumpiness of the trails?

As our journey came to a close, we got to take in some beautiful wildlife.

Finally, we reached flat land again, and took a few moments to soak in that view for a little longer.

Just 2.4 miles and an hour on the trails, but the beauty of the day made it incredibly memorable. Experiences like this make me realize that there really is a beauty to the nature here, and that maybe, just maybe, trails here aren't all bad after all :)

Fall Hiking in Prescott

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:52:00 +0000

Every year on Ed's birthday, we take a little weekend getaway (the benefits of being born near a 3 day weekend). This year, we chose Prescott!

Neither of us had ever been there before, and we thought it'd be fun to explore a new place that actually got some seasons.

Our first stop was a hike, on the Peavine Trail, a Rails to Trails project that promised a flat, smooth grade, leaving us free to enjoy the day.

We Phoenix hitting the high 80s that weekend, we were so thrilled to be enjoying mid 60s on our midday hike, and couldn't stop exclaiming about the fantastic weather. It's been a very long time since we've been able to go on a hike at 11am and feel wonderful the whole time.

Of course, Ed being Ed, he wasn't completely content with our very quiet trail, and suggested we try the short off-loop. Of course, the sign said that it was extremely difficult and technical. Ed promised it wouldn't be so bad :)

We were featured with some more beautiful views of Watson Lake - a man made reservoir whose rock structures reminded us a bit of Big Thunder Mountain.

There was definitely some climbing on rocks to be done, but all in all, it was pretty mild. That said, I was happy that our adventure was short and we got back onto our regular trail.

Once we got back on the trail, the sides of the trail started heading upwards. The red granite was everywhere, and quite spectacular.

Many more "big thunder mountain" rocks were everywhere, which reminded me not only of Disneyland, but of their inspiration at Squaw Valley.

A gap in the rocks showed us another offshoot of the lake. Sometime, it would be fun to come back and kayak here.

Finally, we reached our turn around!

4 miles roundtrip might not seem like much, but it's the furthest I've gone since getting pregnant, and I was pretty excited about it (and pretty tired by the end). It's been a very active week, with 2 runs, an intense yoga class, and then this hike. I definitely earned our rest in the hotel later!

It was fun to try out my new maternity running shirt (from GAP!) and my cheap, new, larger running shorts, that hopefully will work perfectly for the rest of this journey.

As we finished up that last mile, we both enjoyed how lovely it was to spend this time together, in cool, crisp air, taking in the fall colors.

The perfect way to start the birthday celebration!

Thriving

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 16:12:00 +0000

One aspect of yoga that I've really appreciated, especially at this center, is that at the beginning of each class you choose an affirmation; something to center you throughout your practice. When I first began, my mantra was often, "I am Whole". With all my pain issues and limitations, its hard to feel like a complete person sometimes, and yoga was a wonderful way to focus on the positives. Especially since the poses also were, in part, healing for my body.

In prenatal yoga, we also choose an affirmation, but now it is for both ourselves and our baby. That first prenatal yoga class, where I started making my affirmation "I am..." but had to switch it to "we are..." was this really meaningful moment - where I realized it wasn't just me here practicing yoga. The class has made me feel more like a soon to be mom than really anything else, mostly because so many times in the class we bring one hand to our belly and the other to our heart to consciously become aware of how our breaths and heartbeat go to our baby - giving it oxygen and helping it thrive.

So, today, my manta was, "We are Thriving." I spent most of the first 8-9 weeks of knowing I was pregnant worrying about everything. Worrying the pregnancy wouldn't last. But since hitting 12 weeks (and especially since hitting 14), I've been able to let go of a lot of that fear. I think seeing my body changing has been a wonderful affirmation that things are going well. Part of why I was so inactive the first trimester (besides feeling sick a lot of the time) was because I was so worried about doing anything that would harm the baby. Everything felt so fragile.

But now, I'm getting increasingly confident in exercising, in getting healthier and stronger for myself and for my baby, too. I did two run/walks this week (averaging about 15 minute miles for 2 miles), which has been lovely.

(glad my running skirt still fits! It's getting quite cold in the mornings, though, so I'll need to get a new pair of running pants. This was before I went to the gym last week)

I'm setting a goal of being active 4-5 days a week, and am going to try to do a little yoga every night, since I need to work on my flexibility more than just on Saturdays.

So, I am enjoying this phase of pregnancy. Where I can really feel like we are both Thriving :).

Early Morning Run

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:32:00 +0000

After being fairly lucky the last few weeks, I got bit by the insomnia bug last night, up from 3-5 with choppy sleep after that (and trouble initially falling asleep to boot). So when I woke up at 6:40, I didn't want to do much more than sleep for another day, but I'd been having some nightmares, and knew I wouldn't be getting any more restful slumber. I also knew that my plan of going to the gym after work would probably be shot, since I knew I was going to be even more than normally exhausted.

So, I made a better choice. I threw on some (increasingly tighter) running pants and a long sleeved shirt and headed out the door. Ed decided to walk the first block with me so he could get the mail (and we could spend some nice time together) and then I was off! I decided to ambitiously do a longer loop I haven't done since we first moved here (And I was overwhelmed by the crazy heat), so doing it in the 40s was a totally different experience.

All told, I was out there about 30 minutes and completed about 2 miles. I probably ran over half of it, and felt pretty darn good the whole time! I'm really viewing this new adventure as my next training goal, and so far it's been quite motivating. We'll see how long it lasts :).

Happy Halloween Running!

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:14:00 +0000

Happy Halloween! We are going to have a gorgeous day today - high of 77 and a low of 46. I woke up early (awake a little after 5am, and couldn't fall back asleep, so I got up about 5:45) which meant I got to watch the gorgeous day unfold. Clear sky with that crispness you can almost see. It doesn't feel that long ago that our lows were in the 80s; what a change!

With tutoring after school and trick or treaters probably starting to come by not long after I get home, I was a bit puzzled on how I could get in some activity today. Until I realized I should just go back to basics. So I threw on some workout clothes (Halloween appropriate), laced up my running shoes, and headed out the door.

Yes, it's been a long time since I've run outside. The heat plus all the nerve pain stuff has made it super challenging. However, I have been doing some running at the gym and knew I'd be keeping it short, with some walking thrown in. I ran a bit over a block, walked a few blocks, and followed that pattern for the rest of the "run," arriving back home a bit more than 10 minutes after I started. Barely anything, but I figure I should be cautious to start, and make sure the baby is happy with this new activity :).

Still, that all over buzz your body feels when it's all toasty warm in cool, crisp air is fantastic. I'd forgotten how wonderful that feels! I've so missed running, especially outside, and I'll take that 10 minute chunk any day. So long as the rest of the day leaves me feeling just as great, this may become a daily occurrence!

Hope you all have some great Halloween runs!

A Happy Hike!

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:14:00 +0000

Since I've moved to Arizona, this blog has been pretty lacking in outdoorsy adventures. Mostly because desert really isn't my thing, apparently. The bay area always felt so inviting: "come into the redwoods. Enjoy the waterfalls. Sit on a log and take in the cool mist." Arizona feels like it's out to get you: "watch your footing on the loose rock. You might fall off the drop off or into that cactus. Careful where you put your hands and feet - there could be a rattlesnake or scorpion. Watch that heat" Part of the problem is so far, I'd been letting Ed choose our trails. And the trails he chooses? Sort of challenging.

Now that I'm emerging from the other side of morning sickness (knock on wood), I decided that we could try an excursion, but that I'd pick the trail. I discovered that many trails in our area are actually leveled, with the trails Ed likes being black diamond (loose, uneven footing, major obstacles, steep drop offs, etc). I found us a nice easy trail, described as a flat desert loop, and off we went.

Ed was a bit skeptical, but honestly, this was exactly what I needed. The trail was smooth, wide, and easy, and I never had to worry about what my feet were doing.

Instead, for the first time, I could actually appreciate our surroundings! We had fun admiring all the jumping cholla (while being careful not to get too close).

This guys seemed particularly jumpy, and we had to be careful not to step on any, especially when we'd step off trail to let bikers go by.

We were surrounded by some pretty mountains, which made everything even more scenic. And of course, made me want to take lots of pictures.

Had to document our growing little one - a little over 14 weeks!

The Superstition mountains were straight ahead, and looked quite beautiful.

I was even more grateful for the easy trail about 45 minutes in, when the hot temperature got to be a bit much (which honestly usually happens). However, thankfully the trail remained easy, which helped me keep my head and my happiness. Ed let me use his hat, I kept up with my water, and pulled up my shirt a bit to try to get cooler. I forgot that in the span of an hour, the desert can go from a cool 65 to a hot 88. Oops. Should probably be more careful!

In any event, we finally made it back, and Ed went out for another loop while I headed to the visitor's center for some nice cold water.

When I picked him up 25 minutes later, we reflected on what a great hike it was, heat notwithstanding. "Ah" Ed reflected, "so this is the kind of trail you want."

Exactly. Something where I can enjoy the nature without worrying about every step I take. Where I can enjoy just spending time with Ed.

What a lovely Sunday.

Our Next Big Adventure!

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 20:45:00 +0000

So, there's a reason I've been so quiet over here lately :). We're excited about our little runner in the making and can't wait to share more details about this happy event! Now that I'm starting to feel a little better, I do have some fitness goals to keep me in shape during this journey, so I'll hopefully be blowing the dust off this blog and getting writing again. For now though, I'm happy to just be celebrating this next step in our lives.

One week later

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 04:53:00 +0000

So, I'm closing on my first of 4 weeks of hardcore primal eating, and I have to say, it's been great!

Here's a look at some of what I've been eating:

(fried egg with mushrooms and arugula)

(creole salmon salad)

(grass fed sirloin with green beans and pine nuts, and kale and mushrooms)

(bison burger, with guacamole, mushrooms, tomato, wrapped in lettuce, with a side salad)

(homemade almond butter!)

("Paleo Paella" from my new recipe book. Shrimp, chicken and veggies in cauliflower "rice")

(bacon wrapped mahi mahi, topped with guacamole, mushrooms and onions, wrapped in lettuce, with a balsamic pesto salad)

Notice any patterns? Lots of good protein, good produce, and good fats. And definitely no grains, legumes (green beans don't entirely count, since they are more like seed pods and can be eaten raw), alcohol, or dairy. We are trying to be good about the grass fed/organic, but are a bit hit or miss, which I'm okay with at this point. Fruit has been a great desert, but I haven't even been needing that every day. Homemade almond butter is amazing, and we've eaten almost the entire batch already. Definitely a new staple. I'm also super proud that I made and ate a dish with cauliflower, which I historically haven't been a big fan of. End up that when you season it, it can taste amazing! I am loving that this food philosophy is getting my out of my comfort zone with some foods and showing me new things to try.

Ed and I have both noticed since eating this kind of food, we feel much more satisfied all the time. I think I'm also starting to feel more energized (though that could be psychosomatic). I really haven't found this switch to be hard at all, I think because we were not huge bread people to begin with (except on special occasions as an appetizer with olive oil and balsamic). I have missed my yogurt breakfasts, and the glass of wine, but I can add both those in after the first month if I want.

No change in pain symptoms yet, which I can't say I'm shocked by, though I still have a little hope. In any event, I am feeling really good and glad to be putting so many more healthy things in my body, after a summer with more than enough indulgence. We'll see how things go when I head back to work (tomorrow...gulp), but fingers crossed that boundless energy this eating plan promises shows up :).

Until then, I'm just going to enjoy feeling healthier starting the new year!