Fitness Update + Midway Creatine Trial

I love watching young people walk into the fitness centers, load the bar with 180 lbs, then proceed to crank out 15 chest presses. I don’t really love this. I want to ask what was the warm up, did they stretch, are they hydrated? Me? It’s a full prehab, post-hab, rehab and I still get injured!

Wrapping up another Garmin training plan of the big 5 – squat, deadlift, chest presses, overhead press, and row. I’ve consistently lifted 3-5x/week since October and my body is stronger because of it. Sure, we all know we’re supposed to be doing it but yeah yeah yeah. Who has the time? The energy? Answer: no one! However, maintaining any kind of lifestyle requires a lot of dedication. I almost wrote sacrifice instead of dedication but I don’t believe it’s true – I’m not sacrificing anything, I’m no martyr. But dedication? I got this.

Although it’s not about the size or weight, I’ve been maintaining a size I was in high school (ohhhh about 23 years ago) and I weigh less now than I did then. Even with running and muscle mass! Lord knows I lived on Twix bars and chicken in high school so not only incredibly unhealthy but fraught with disordered-thinking. Today? I feel good.

Update on the creatine trial: by the time of this post, I’ll have indulged in daily creatine for 16 days so nearly half the month. First, placebo effect is real. Second, I haven’t witnessed any eye-opening changes. Glutes are the same, in case you wondered. Brain fog seems to have not changed, although I don’t know how I would feel or even know if it wasn’t there. I’ve tested myself a few times to see how long it takes me to remember the word I was trying to say in the moment and maybe it’s a shade faster since starting creatine? I’m still trying though!

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I ask you –

On average, how long should it take for a person to notice the effects of a supplement?

(The post Fitness Update + Midway Creatine Trial first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

April Recap

Still consistently completing at least one intentional movement session/workout per day. Even some regular 3-per-days! Looks like those midweek dual sessions are a standard occurrence which tells me my workload on those days isn’t as heavy as some others. Or…by the middle of the week, I’m in desperate need for me time. Bingo.

While I was in San Antonio, battling the heat and humidity, Garmin proudly proclaimed my heat acclimatization. It is absolutely wrong but I appreciate the encouragement.

Most days my hair started out contained, even mildly on point. By the end of the day, the alpaca look reigned supreme. I forget the humidity differences between north and central Texas. Glad we’re in May so it can really ramp up.

I didn’t get in a run on the first day of the month, or even the second, but I’m back in a routine. I’ll report back soon! Be very afraid.

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I ask you –

How was your April?

(The post April Recap first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Let’s get this straight

In the Navy, Sailors and their families would have an entire conniption at having to go more than 12 hours without constant contact via phone service. But people will pay hundreds of dollars for a cruise with the same cell service restrictions.

Here, at Running on Fumes, you may be wondering if there is really any running-related content. Indeed there is. Occasionally, I post on social media. I try to anyway. No fear. I do still lace up my running shoes. I still run. I still love it. Even if you don’t hear about it as much. Which you’re probably thankful for.

Exercise tip. Walk everywhere. Walk when you can. Walk when you don’t want to. Walking is the most underrated form of exercise. Much research has been done on muscle degradation due to sitting. Move. Your. Body. Just stand up! And walk.

Final thought. Worry is the 3rd cousin of patience, who should have been told to stop long ago yet everyone allows the bad behavior because that’s “just how it is.” Apart from the Navy comment, nothing is “just…” anything. Habits can be positive or negative. It’s your choice.

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I ask you –

Is there something you need to straighten out?

(The post Let’s get this straight first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

I know I just said rest…

Two weeks ago, I completed a 5-week baseline workout plan via Garmin. So much for your last post on rest.

Last week, I began another 5-week series of workouts destined to test my overall strength and grit. Unrelated, I’ve seen the word grit mentioned no less than 3x at work in as many days. Maybe it’s making a comeback?

Results so far indicate I’m vertically challenged, probably don’t eat enough to power said workouts, and are overall incredibly difficult.

As evidence, here is a collection of whackadoo hairstyles I’ve implemented lately –

Alas, the running continues, even with weather fluctuations and holidays. I average 2.5-3.5 miles per run. Nothing fancy, just basic movement. Alongside the strength plan, I aim for several runs/week but sometimes I only get a single or double. Meh.

As tomorrow is Thanksgiving, at the moment I have plans to run a 5k with a local group. But those plans belong to today me. Not the me who has to wake up tomorrow, get dressed, eat, and brave whatever weather is in store. Maybe I’m still resting.

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I ask you –

Will you be partaking in the Thanksgiving Day 5k tradition?

(The post I know I just said rest… first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Running from Zombies

If I’ve learned anything during this furlough, it is to take it slower. Much slower. But not too slow because I just can’t.

A run collection

For weeks, I have been doing two-a-day workouts and I’m feeling the best I ever have. That’s not taking it slow, Kel. In other ways, I have been giving endless grace. The first week of the furlough, admittedly, I was angry. Angry we had gotten to this point. Anger directed at everyone around me. But soon I realized anger wasn’t getting me anywhere. Now, and since, I’ve been in a numb sense of acceptance. I do not like this situation. I still battle anger and disappointment. But I’m humbled every single day by a team of few who continue to show up. And it’s what they deserve from me.

the team

You don’t know what ya got til it’s gone. Oh, but I did know. I would have rather never experienced it. Despite the furlough, the show must go on. Despite taking a massive manpower hit, the expectation to deliver is still there. Thankfully, with the help of dozens of volunteers and a killer core team, we executed the 2025 Zombie Run 5k of over 300 participants. To say I was stressed was an understatement. But they did it.

I think I could outrun the politicians, or zombies, in charge of bureaucratic decision-making. But a nice right hook to the jaw might be more fun. Well deserved.

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I ask you –

In a run with a zombie, would you win?

(The post Running from Zombies first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Seems Odd

Musk is upset with AI, says it’s wrong for it to be so inconsiderate of safety requirements. From the guy who created self-driving vehicles. That’s rich. Odd.

For two consecutive weekends, I’ve taken a 2-hr nap. The weight of tiredness has been exceptionally heavy. This isn’t normal for me. Odd.

It’s that time of year again. Where the weather cools off and you no longer sweat from thinking about going outside. Because people really do sweat before going outside in the summer in Texas. Odd.

Credit: via IG

Drums!

And, finally, the update you have all been waiting for. My drum lessons! I told you, right? Maybe not. I signed up for drum lessons. And I’m well on my way to being the greatest drummer of all time. Jokes. But lesson one went well…now all I hear is oneandtwoandthreeandfour. Then, oneehhanduhtwoehhanduhthreeehhanduhfour…you get the idea. It was fun! I thought I would have to learn to read music. Wrongly odd.

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I ask you –

Tell me something odd in your life!

(The post Seems Odd first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Source of Frustration

This is where it ended. I have never had an issue with Garmin, but the fact that a plan cannot be modified during execution is archaic. You see the Threshold workout above scheduled “today”? It’s the same workout I had attempted every run day prior for over a week. I could not complete it. I tried. I followed the directions, I tried so hard to stick the proverbial landing, but it was out of reach. Every time. Despite the indicated training status and training readiness, I never got above a 3% execution score. Instead of moving on, changing the workout, or deviating in any way, Garmin continued to schedule this threshold workout.

So you know what I did? Never give up! I quit. I stopped the plan. Sure, quitting is rarely recommended, but futility is stupid. I was making a choice to suffer through it – for what? To potentially injure myself trying to attain a passing score on a single workout which meant nothing to my continued mental or physical well-being? No thank you very much.

Sure, I can justify the marbles out of this entire decision. 1. It was week 17 of an arbitrary 20 week plan. I didn’t have a race goal. So who cares. 2. Maybe my watch needed a restart and some updates to get its life together. (I tried it – no luck.) 3. Eventually you’ll get it, Kel. Maybe just not right now.

In conversation, I admitted to having no motivation to run, strength train, or do anything really. Classic overtraining. I ate some chocolate, drank a lot of coffee, and put on my shoes. In no particular order. Then, I crushed 3 days of strength training. Followed by a free run.

Take that, Garmin. I run this.

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I ask you –

What frustrates you?

(The post Source of Frustration first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

I’m Just Here for the Nonsense

Mini is headed back to school! When did school supplies cost $100?!

The Week Junior

From a magazine subscription – the more we teach our children about civics, the more able they are to be informed members of society. Minus the misinformation part of society.

Why make plans and submit calendar dates when someone will color outside the lines and get what they want, upending all your plans. Still a bit heated.

Final thought: High Will, Low Skill, i.e., someone who is willing and teachable yet lacks the current skill level to perform above the minimum. Other iterations: low will, no skill. For example, my running motivation lately.

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I ask you –

What nonsense have you encountered lately?

(The post I’m Just Here for the Nonsense first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Brain & Body Health

I saw a funny Instagram post which basically said I didn’t realize I’d be navigating my daughter’s PMS while also battling perimenopause. I’m doomed. Although I suspect perimenopause is a recently concocted term for all the space and unknown leading to menopause, if this is it then it’s very real.

My memory has taken a nosedive downhill. We all attributed it to PhD brain, work stress, the usual. But when mini started commenting on how I couldn’t even finish a full sentence… yikes. Time to make some changes.

Insert brain vitamins! It’s still the first week, and maybe it’s a placebo effect, but I do feel more focused! Will report back.

Saturday evening I decided to pause my run plan. The past 2 weeks, Garmin has indicated my training status as “straining”. I thought it meant I was coming out of “peaking”, which I had been, but I also thought straining was positive. Ha. Wrong.

It has been struggle city. I haven’t hit any of the prescribed paces, constantly tired, not sleeping well…classic symptoms of overtraining. And perimenopause. All this to say, I’m taking a break. Literally and figuratively. I’ll be back soon.

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I ask you –

What does straining mean to you?

(The post Brain & Body Health first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

New Watch, Same Me

Garmin has a lot of faith in me! This is the Forerunner 955 Solar, a vast improvement to my previous Forerunner 265. The solar feature was a last minute decision, but since this is Texas and the sun is nearly always shining, I thought why not. Even without it, my battery, with regular use, lasts more than a week between charges. It says you can sit the watch in the sun and it will charge without overheating. Haven’t tried yet.

Thus far, I think the watch is much more accurate than my previous version, especially when it comes to heat acclimation. Very important to me. At the time of this post, I’m only 44% acclimated. When my other watch would give feedback, it commonly stated I was 78-80% acclimated when I hadn’t been running at all. Although it doesn’t influence my running habits, I would like a more realistic picture of heat acclimation, which I believe I’m receiving.

For me, this was a satisfactory, albeit expensive, purchase. My previous one, the Forerunner 200-something series, was great…no complaints, but when it started losing charge quickly and began having some glitches, I knew it was time.

Just like this post. It was time. Get it get it.

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I ask you –

When did you last update your electronic gear?

Have you tried a newer version of a watch where it exceeded your expectations?

Tell me what you currently run with!

(The post New Watch, Same Me first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)