This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  Feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

I wrote about my first experience with Inside Tracker back in March.  My results from that test were the following:

At risk: LDL

Needs improvement: Glucose, HbA1c, Hemoglobin, Iron, HDL, Triglycerides

Optimized: Vitamin D, Calcium, Folate, Creatine kinese, Total cholesterol, Magnesium

Each biomarker is categorized as optimized, needs improvement (could be low or high), and at risk.

I went again in June and got updated results.  I’ve made some improvements but still need to work on a couple more things.  It is always something, right?

At risk: Vitamin D (low), Glucose (high), Total cholesterol (high), LDL (high), 

Needs improvement: HDL (low), Triglycerides (high), Ferritin (low), Hemoglobin (low)

Optimized: Calcium, Magnesium, Creatine kinese, Folate, HbA1c

I made another appointment to get tested again in September.  However, I am also going to see my primary doctor for my annual physical test in September too.  I will talk to her about my results and ask her to order blood work.  Then I will skip the one with Inside Tracker.

I am aware I should be concerned about cholesterol and LDL levels, but I am more concerned about the ferritin and hemoglobin levels.  They’ve both gone down since March.  I sent a message to a sports doctor I’ve seen before hoping that I could see him and work with him sooner than September.  After going back and forth he ended with “Let’s start with your primary doctor first”.  I get it but still it doesn’t help.

What have I been doing? 

• Taking supplements but do not want to depend only on them.
• Trying to eat more iron rich foods but that isn’t always easy.
• Eating more quinoa, tofu, and red meat (the latter not too much since I don’t like it too much). 
• Cooking in avocado oil.
• Eating more fruit and vegetables. 
• Keeping up with running and Peloton bike classes. 

I feel like I am on the right path.  

School will start next month and the first few months stress me out – way more than the rest of the year!  I am known for eating a “not so healthy meal” from McDonald’s when I am stressed out.  😬 😬

Topic for next week – Where I’ve been, A-Z: Letters A-I.  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Brag Time: Share some of your most popular running related blog posts!  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Last year I wrote a similar post – My most popular running related blog posts.  Today I am going to focus on only 5 Tuesday Topics posts.  It was so much fun checking out past posts from this linkup and others in general.  At one point I was writing about my training to get a BQ!  Ha, who knows if that is something I will consider again.

✸ I walked 610,966 steps in the StepBet Challenge!  Published on 2/2/2019.  It was a fun challenge!  I didn’t care too much about winning money but I also didn’t want to lose the $40 I paid.  I haven’t done another one of these again but now am thinking about it.  I will be going back to school next month and most likely will be walking a lot more.  Have you participated in a StepBet Challenge?

✸ Thankful for running.  Published on 11/24/2020.  I will always be thankful for this hobby of mine.  But it was during that year that I was even more thankful for running.  It has gotten me through some very tough times whether it was personal or work related.

✸ What I bring along on my run.  Published on 3/19/2019.  I have made a few changes since this post was published.  I sold my lightening layers and got the Noxgear vest.  Sometimes I forget my pepper spray.  I definitely run with my Road ID and a Koala Clip (instead of a running belt).  Depending on my runs I wear the Oiselle pocket joggers and I store my water bottles in the pockets.

✸ My cold weather running essentials.  Published on 2/19/2019.  Just thinking of cold weather makes me shiver.  Haha.  Last year I was outside running every single day during the Winter.  This year I was not brave enough to get out there.  I know the right gear makes a big difference.  I have added an insulated Vim jacket and fleece lined tights from Baleaf.  Let’s see if I will be brave again this Winter.

✸ Publix Atlanta Half Marathon Race Recap.  Published on 3/3/2020.  A HILLY race!  This race was after the Olympic Marathon Trials so it was a fun weekend.

Topic for next week – Ask someone who’s been struggling to share their story.  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Your 2020 mid year review.  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

In December I wrote my goals for this year.  Since we are halfway through the year, let me update you on how it is going.

 Stay injury free.  So far so good but I’ve been noticing some pain that feels like plantar fasciitis.  I’ve been using my mom’s leg massager.  It has been helping a lot.  I like to use while watching “Golden Girls”. 

 Buy a house.  Still looking.  Supposedly house prices are going to decrease?  

 Travel.  Nothing yet but thinking of going to NY for my 50th birthday.  Don’t want to be there when it is cold but I am sure it will still be fun.

 Continue to be patient at work and at home.  Going good.  Though sometimes I have my days when I am so frustrated and sometimes lose it.  I am human.

 PR in my 50k.  Last year I started training for a 50k in March.  I stopped because of the weather.  Yep, excuses.  I am training again and that is still the goal.  My race is on October 29th.

 Run 1,200 miles.  I thought about changing it but I decided to leave it to see how close I get to it.  I am trying, but regardless I will still be pleased with whatever number I end up with.

Complete 300 Peloton rides.  Very close to it.  Right now I am at 274 rides.

So let’s review on how 2022 is going so far.  

January-February

✳️ Picked my word for 2022 – Patience.

✳️ Took my first bike class with Camila and decided to do all of her classes.  At one point I needed 34 classes to go.

✳️ I stopped running because of the weather. 

✳️ Ran 11.10 miles in January.

✳️ Signed up for the Bank of American Shamrock Shuffle.  My first race since February 2020.

✳️ Ran 1.49 miles in February.

March-April

✳️ Ran the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k.

✳️ Got bloodwork done through Inside Tracker – low iron and high LDL cholesterol.

✳️ Ran 27.68 miles in March.

✳️ Thought about running the Marine Corps 50k in October to celebrate my 50th birthday in November.  

✳️ Ran everyday in April.  

✳️ Ran 68.13 miles in April.  Highest mileage to date.

May-June

✳️ After over 10 years of not wearing contacts, I began wearing them again.  I think eventually I will get Lasik surgery again.

✳️ Got a cold.  First one in over 2 years.  I had to stop my run streak.  I was not upset about it.

✳️ Got my assignment for Summer School to teach 1st grade GE.  I was not happy about it.

✳️ Found out my school will be closed for the 2022-2023 school year.  Was moved to a different school.

✳️ Ran 55.40 miles in May.

✳️ School ended.  Had 3 days off and began teaching Summer School.  

✳️ Went to see “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations” and had a blast!

✳️ Decided to run the Chicago Lakefront 50/50 on October 29.  I don’t have to travel, I can sleep on my own bed the night before, and I can actually train on the course.

✳️ Ran 62.42 miles in June.

✳️ Summer School ended.

Topic for next week – Brag Time: Share some of your most popular running related blog posts!  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!