Random wo(man)

Rando #1. A man cannot claim to be self aware without having male friends. Part of self awareness comes from social cues. Look around. Any man with a close knit group of friends (even 1!) tends to be more self aware than a man with no friends. Trust me. And for the man who probably meant well when he saw me in the grocery store then said “Being as how you’re a woman, where’s the lemon juice in this place?”, I forgive you but you were very close to serious injury. Asshat.

Rando #2. Do you know what’s calming to me? Sweeping. I genuinely enjoy it, always have. In fact, a few years of high school I spent just sweeping. Down and back inside the huge shop. It’s monotonous, simple, and allows me to think through things. Some people like vacuuming. I like sweeping.

Rando #3. Early 2026, a PhD scholar and journal writer reached out to me about publishing a peer-reviewed article created from my dissertation. Fast forward a bunch of months, I finally dedicated about 4.5 hrs to reducing the ginormous manuscript to 50 pages. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be (fluff, anyone?). I slept on it for a few days, then submitted. More to come!

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I ask you –

What’s monotonous chore do you enjoy?

Share something random!

(The post Random wo(man) first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Monthly Recap

Let’s start off with the fun stuff, shall we?

Crickets.

I did a lot of things – runs, work outs, some volleyball. A few runs at the beach in the early part of the month. Creatine is still doing its thing with daily intake. I attribute it to less muscle soreness and an improved overall recovery time.

Apparently I missed a day. I remember it well – it was the Thursday before Hotter’n Hell and I was everywhere doing all the things but never hit the button to start an activity. I really think Garmin could do a better job with auto-starting activities, or at least asking if I’d like to. Maybe it does. Let me research this more.

courtesy of Strava highlights

The heat has been absolutely brutal. Not good for me, for my body, for anyone really. I woke up on September 1st, dreaming it was raining. I was wrong. No rain, no cool air. Just a repeat of every day prior, temps soaring over 100°, dry air that feels like a blow dryer. Despite daily electrolytes and staying out of the direct sun, I’m over it.

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I ask you –

What’s on your August recap?

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

Ice, Ice

45th annual Hotter’n Hell Hundred rolled through the city.

After 2 very long (12+ hrs) days of preparations + event, I couldn’t wait to just sit down on my ice throne. Then, after sitting, I didn’t want to get back up. This is one of my favorite parts of HHH – sitting in the ice. I look forward to it each year.

HHH cyclists at SAFB Rest Stop #15

I also made some time the same week to take part in the Blue Bell Tour 2026. Free samples of Blue Bell ice cream? Who can say no? They actually gave us 2 samples. Strawberry cheesecake was amazing. And, see photo below, is Cherry Vanilla, which was also very very good. I’ve been looking forward to this tour for months. Jury duty almost derailed my plans, as did HHH prep. Alas, the ice cream won.

Thinking cool thoughts. The thoughts aren’t helping my heat hives, but I’m doing my best to stay cool and dry. It’s difficult when it’s 90° in the shade.

Fall, I’m waiting for you.

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I ask you –

Anyone else in Texas able to participate in the Blue Bell Tour?

(The post Ice, Ice first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

The heat is most definitely on

Title inspiration: every July, we host a 5k titled The Heat is On. Fortunately, for the last several years, it has not been above 90° at the start time. Misleading? Maybe. Appreciated? Absolutely!

Fast forward to today, we’re on day 22? 23? of consecutive days over 100°. It doesn’t best the record 100 days in 2011, but I’m not really interested in setting any records for heat. In fact, I have developed a new heat illness symptom that my doctor wasn’t pleased with. Shade, under 85°, stay dry and cool. Considering I have the Hotter’n Hell in a few days, this might prove challenging. Always winging it.

even the squirrels seek a cool spot of concrete

Let’s switch lanes here –

The other morning, Mini shared how she believes the Titanic sinking was a conspiracy. Pretty sure my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree – I love me a good conspiracy! Her theory needs some finessing, but the fact she came up with it was insightful and fascinating.

In other news, I’m secretly thinking of ways I can exploit her conspiracy tendencies. Maybe she’ll join me in the moon landing conspiracy. I’ll give her a few years to come around.

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I ask you –

What conspiracy interests you the most?

How many days will this heat wave continue? Please let it be only a few more.

(The post The heat is most definitely on first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Reality Check + 5th Grade Draft

Another school year is upon us and I have a 5th grader! Yesterday she was in kindergarten so pardon me while I have a few nervous breakdowns. Who has just one?!

“Lately, it is difficult to tell who is winning the season as the draft picks are becoming trickier.” – a quote I made up by an unknown educator

Still, I’m convinced of my draft suspicions.

The first day went well. Eerily well. For now, excitement rings around having her own locker (top, because she’s tall), taking a snack because they have a late lunch, and her new class friend, a girl whose name I’ve never heard mentioned before. For now, everyone gets along and there is cohesion. It also helped the homework doesn’t really begin until week 2. Oh joy.

Somehow the summer flew by, but I’m hanging on to pool weekends for as long as possible. The weather is cooperative, boasting double digit days in the triple digits. Outside can best be described as “blow dryer with a turbo setting”. Truly, it’s so much fun.

I keep telling myself the heat will break soon and the perfect running temps (60 and below, please) will return. Again, this summer has probably been one of my best for still completing lift sessions outdoors…in the afternoons, no less! I credit the creatine/electrolyte mix coupled with the aforementioned pool recovery. Still, fall is just around the corner. On the other block, lost and confused, slightly inebriated.

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I ask you –

Anyone else anticipating fall weather?

(The post Reality Check + 5th Grade Draft first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Well, I’ll be

Palindrome post achievement from last Wednesday’s post.

18 mins per day – totals 1,000 minutes per year. If you want to excel at something or see measurable results, commit to 18 mins per day. Guitar lessons, dance practice, and millions of other ideas you may have for yourself could be realized in just 18 mins/day. Now, I sound like one of those commercials for abused puppies.

The AI experience is out of control. Every flyer looks the same. Social media is overrun with it. You know the button you’re supposed to click to indicate it was made with AI? Yeah, no one’s doing that. It actually sickens me. And don’t tell me marketing has no role in today’s world. We need them to clear out the AI clutter and broadcast original ideas. Soap box, anyone?

I have no context for the hilarity of the above photo. Pretty sure I was asking McK about something while she was trying to do math. Me? Looking for an adult. McK? Looking for snacks. We were both sleep-deprived.

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I ask you –

Have you ever seen a photo of yourself where you wondered what was going on in that moment?

(The post Well, I’ll be first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

I see you!

A collection of observations –

It is hard to believe it took a massive installation-wide inspection for my job to not feel as if it was on fire. Seriously. I haven’t felt a peaceful moment at work since the first furlough. More accurately…since Jan 2025. This past week was 3 consecutive days of calm.

Referred to here as obligation overload, the trend in my workplace is to wait until the end of the week to load the schedule. For example, Thursdays are my busiest days. But why. I’d rather front load the entire week so I can deal with other things towards the end. I don’t believe this was thoroughly thought through.

Recently, I read an article regarding Gun Violence | Rockefeller Institute of Government https://www.rockinst.org/issue-areas/gun-violence/. I follow this Rockefeller site as it publishes information, data, and research related to immigration, which I’m deeply fascinated by. If you consider yourself as one who has an open mind and can read a research article with transparency and potential for usefulness, you, too, might find it interesting.

Finally, an observation meets obligation. The customary Change of Command ceremony, complete with pomp and circumstance. Meet my 6,000 closest friends. I ended up in the cheap seats, although there was a kind offer to sit on someone’s lap. Hallelujah for the dreary day because I brought my umbrella, just in case, old lady-style.

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I ask you –

What day of the week is your busiest day?

Have you ever brought an umbrella to a sunny outdoor event?

(The post I See You first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

May Recap

I’m both thankful and surprised this month flew by. I thought it would never end.

From traversing over 2,000 miles in just a few days to executing 2 large-scale work events (only 1 of which I actively had anything to do with) to fighting to keep what little budget we have to completing my services course practicum a week before the deadline – May was a lot. May it only come around once a year.

Unfortunately, the day before Mother’s Day, I failed to log any type of workout session so my streak ended there. The goal had been to log an activity for 365 days. I guess 364 will do. That day was busy – we had a community event, followed by graduation photos, then some other stuff I can’t recall. The workout just didn’t happen.

courtesy of Strava

I’ve also been struggling with some hip/lower back pain. A lifelong injury. Although I prehab, rehab, stretch, modify, eat right, drink enough water, limit sugar, and do all the things – still it persists. But the show must go on.

Surely I’m missing a huge part of this recap but, again, I’m mostly thankful May is over. For me, June is the first indicator of summer – with pool days, sunscreen, vacation plans, books by the dozen, lazy mornings, and all the iced coffee I can drink. We’ll see how it shakes out.

P.S. Today is Global Running Day so you know where I’ll be.

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I ask you –

Highlights of your May – please share!

(The post May Recap 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.)

Celebratory (Cup)Cake

10 years total as active duty + civilian! I’m blessed to have the perspective of both sides of the uniform and two different military branches. There was nothing easy about either; however, I make a better civilian than I did in NWUs.

This seemingly rickety bridge has been around longer than 10 years. Probably 100. As you can see, the Wichita River is flowing courtesy of the recent rains. As several of us volunteered to set up an obstacle run, the Texas-sized mosquitoes tried to carry us off. We prevailed.

Surviving an incredibly long, stressful, packed week warranted ice cream and cupcakes. The ice cream? Meh. I think Cookie Two Step rates much higher on the “you gotta try this” scale. Brookie A La Mode just didn’t do it for me.

The star of the show was the cupcakes. I’m not sure if I ever mentioned it before, but when I was stationed in Pensacola my first year in the Navy, my best friend, Sam, turned me on to Kimberly’s cupcakes. Who knows how many cupcakes were consumed as we tried them all. All. I don’t recall ever eating a bad Kimberly’s cupcake. It’s the perfect blend of frosting and super soft, moist cake. They are divine. When I lived in Virginia, I could still purchase Kimberly’s cupcakes. However, upon moving back to Texas, I only recall seeing Kimberly’s cupcakes a handful of times in the local grocery stores. It’s been at least 5 years since their last sighting. Until now! A new (to me) grocery chain recently opened and they have Kimberly’s cupcakes. This will not end well.

I didn’t set out to celebrate 10 years with the customary ice cream and cake yet somehow it found me when I needed it. Thanks, Kimberly, wherever and whoever you are.

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I ask you –

Have you ever tried Kimberly’s cupcakes?

What are your thoughts on the Blue Bell flavor?

(The post Celebratory (Cup)Cake first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)