A recent commander’s call resulted in the following phrase: Rise to expectations, fall to discipline. I saw many head-nods in the crowd, but I didn’t exactly understand what the phrase meant. It sounded pretty catchy. Indeed, I went looking.
Turns out, some Greek dude named Archilochus stated, “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training”. Same, same. Essentially, our daily behaviors are more meaningful to producing change than a one-off situation or experience.
Which is the perfect segue for this post! Ta-da!
If only you could understand how many times I change post titles, words, captions, and questions, this might not be surprising. Why, thank you, Word Press, for acknowledging my skills!
According to Strava, I missed 2 days in July, but I don’t recall the circumstances surrounding it. I swear I didn’t miss any days. Oh well.
In other news, and I know I touched on it before, but I had a helluva 5-week training cycle!
I was able to update my benchmarks for all 4 lifts. Amazing what discipline does in 9 months. But I also must give credit where credit is due. The creatine makes a huge difference. The fog has lifted, my strength performance has improved (as evidenced by the PRs), and, overall, I feel like me. Sure, the words don’t always come to me, but I’m learning to give myself some much-needed grace.
____________________________
I ask you –
How was your July?
(The postJuly Recap! first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
A repost from October 13, 2025, just as the furlough was beginning, at a time I still had good spirits. Things changed fast, didn’t they? Anyway, I’m recovering from the island life so bear with me as I continue sorting laundry, vacuuming endless amounts of sand, and remembering how to work with people. I’ll be back in full force soon!
A few forgotten things about leadership:
The potential you see in others means nothing without their buy-in. If they don’t want it for themselves, it’s a brutal lesson in futility. Yours.
You will spend more time at work than with your own family over the course of a lifetime. Best love what you do. And surround yourself with the right people.
Do not expect others to care the way you do. Alternately, you may not care the way they do. It’s ok.
It weighs a lot because it is insanely lonely at the top. The sleepless nights, the fights with other decision makers, the balance never found. You probably won’t have any friends and, if you do, watch out for perception. I am not inclined.
A lovely friend sent me the following graphic after she proudly exclaimed how I had “grown a pair”.
What she does not realize is for every day my “pair” swings, I have just as many softer moments, where I’m reminded to fight the good fight means not acting like a complete arsehole and picking my battles. Forever, a work in progress.
________________
I ask you –
What is your toughest leadership challenge?
(The post Leadership 101 first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
Another repost while I bask in the sunshine and salt water of island life. This post was a little special to me because I’m constantly reminding myself what I bring to the table. Hope you enjoy it!
“I sell pizza.”
That’s my new motto. Three seemingly small words which indicate a new heartfelt response. Epiphany? Maybe. Rebranding? Sort of. Reframe? Bingo.
I sell pizza. I don’t sell ice cream, or hotdogs, or juice boxes, or hamburgers, or any other version of convenient foods. Pizza. That’s what I sell.
I don’t owe a dime and I don’t have to do anything. I owe it to myself to establish clear, direct boundaries. No further explanation. No long-winded and easily misconstrued version of trauma which led to…blah blah blah.
For some, pizza is the Michelin star in perfect triangular form. It can be customized, dressed up, transformed into an award winning dish. The pizza I sell? Cheese. I sell cheese pizza. Not because I’m boring or don’t want to put in the effort, but because cheese pizza is tried and true. It’s the basics. The foundation of pizza. Cheese.
You’ve probably figured out I’m going somewhere with this schpill. You are, right? When tested, I easily revert back to foundational principles – kindness often mistaken as weakness, or I shut down completely. Rarely do I come out fighting. All noble reactions yet kindness has not served me too well. Good thing kindness isn’t for you, Kel. Kindness is a reflection of the heart. It’s a desire to do better, be better, give others grace. It’s not easy. People test, they try, they dig in their heels, they make messes where no mess should ever be. At some point, kindness is overshadowed, and those without boundaries are the first to succumb.
Not this time. Not to the lady who sells pizza. Kindness is no longer a convenience, it’s a requirement. To be part of my world, kindness is a non-negotiable. Just because I sell pizza does not mean I will sell it to you.
Cheers to holding the line. And selling a damn good pizza pie.
On the cusp of vacation, I remind myself to set clear boundaries regarding my time away. Work: true emergencies only, don’t forget you have a mandatory 2-hr teams call. Home: ehhh, Parts has it. Fun: enjoy every second!
The (partial) team!
Which leads me to a topic I know I’ve previously discussed on RoF. Two words: decision fatigue.
I don’t know the average number of decisions one makes a day, but I bet I outpace the average. By at least a hundred. As a leader, it’s expected and applauded to make decisions. I got it. Oftentimes, however, that role bleeds over into every other part of my life. And it’s tiring. I would still give the same percentage to my job even if I wasn’t being paid, but there is a level of expectation to relax while away from work, to simplify, to rest.
Perhaps I should approve a yes moratorium during vacation to combat the decision fatigue I will inevitably feel obligated to address. I’ll just say yes to everything. What do you want to eat? What time are we…? Do you want to stop here? How many minutes until…? When are we leaving? Where are we going? Have you…? Should we…?
Yes. The answer is yes. Does it truly answer a fraction of the questions? Meh. But the answer is yes! It never fails that at least a dozen instances will arise where I just remind everyone I, too, am on vacation and would really love to enjoy myself.
No more questions, please. Just yes.
____________________________
I ask you –
Is the most exhausting part of your day the decision-making?
(The post Choices first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
A few weeks ago, Parts excitedly told me at 40 I needed to start having annual mammograms. So I scheduled one. TMI I’m not sure how this all works with the diminutive size of my breast material but whatever.
I’m still a little bitter that Parts told me I had to have one. But shouldn’t she, too? We could have made this a joint activity!
On the anticipated mammogram day, I figured out how it worked. It will forever be known as “The great smash and dash!” Which oddly sounds like I’m committing a felony and is truly exciting.
Behold! My boob!
Ok, if you don’t think it’s funny that I’m making jokes about having a mammogram, then I’m sorry; feel free to never read my posts ever again. Yes, I am aware of the seriousness of breast cancer as I have a very close friend currently in the throes of chemotherapy which will be followed by surgery, then culminating in radiation. It’s serious. And my heart hurts for her. I am not making light of her situation, or anyone else’s. However, if you know me well, you know I have the absolute worst sense of humor when it comes to serious things, like death, funerals, and, now, mammograms. It’s my coping mechanism. Could be worse, maybe?
Fortunately, the results indicated no issues except a gentle warning I have dense breast tissue and I have been granted a reprieve until next year.
Other things -:
The week of the great smash and dash included the great grab and smash. I’m onto something.
100 lbs – Deadlift70 lbs – Overhead Press
For context, 100 lbs is approx 70% of my bodyweight. And I’ve never lifted anything close to 70 lbs over my head. This “realization phase” was quite a success!
A week of reloading, then a week completely off from everything. Except running, of course. Then, I’ll start another 5-week routine.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
____________________________
I ask you –
For my mammary-beholden friends, have you completed your annual mammogram?
Whoever decided to save the consumer some money is a genius, in my opinion. I don’t need another bottle or vessel or container. I just need a refill! I’m already purchasing expensive shampoo, I don’t require another of the brand’s probably excessively marked up plastic. Just unscrew the cap, turn it over, and pour!
It’s taken 10 years but Mini finally stopped biting her nails. There hasn’t been a lot I could say to help, console, or threaten as I was nearly her exact age when I stopped biting mine. So we continue to celebrate with polish! Best idea!
On the horizon: my little area of Texas will be a recipient of the great Texas Blue Bell tour! Two days of giveaways, free ice cream, and fun activities. I can’t wait!
____________________________
I ask you –
I’m obviously in the immediate weeks leading to vacation so these posts are just not the epitome of my word breadth. I’ll try to do better.
A compilation of the random things I tell myself and what I’d tell many women navigating life –
Girl, you don’t need another eye cream. You need a consistent sleep routine.
Girl, you don’t need excuses. You need actions.
Girl, you don’t need to use AI. You need to use 4 functioning brain cells.
Girl, you don’t need to date someone in the church. You were told to bring someone to church! If you read this and think these shoes fit you, they probably do. Put them on, march yourself outside, and start looking.
Girl, you don’t need any more energy drinks and you sure don’t need to check your blood pressure while drinking it. You need water!
Girl, you don’t need another cookie…wait, yes, you do!
P.S. do not try the newest Blue Bell flavor, chocolate lava cake. I want it all for myself!
____________________________
I ask you –
Anything to add to this compilation?
Have you tried the new ice cream flavor?!
(The post Girl, yes, you do first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
You see that thing that says “Intensification Phase”? Well, the me who created this plan to coincide the Intensification Phase with my Luteal Phase (pre-period week, for any non-ovary owners) was an absolute idiot. My stomach looks like I drink beer for a living, and I’m craving donuts. Nonstop. I feel like garbage, I look like garbage, and my bloated belly is both uncomfortable and very unfortunate for my workout goals. I hate this part.
So, instead of complaining, kidding, I’m doing that anyway, I suck it up and complete the hellish workout, for intensification purposes only. Might even throw in a good run, to round off the rage and loathing. But, wait, there’s more! After the intensification phase is a lovely phase titled the Realization Phase, which is a nice way to say you’re about to lift some heavy a** sh*t and you’ll be powerful and awesome and toned and kick butt all day! Just don’t die.
And another thing! This is the worst time to learn a new skill, such as data analysis using this fun little program called Power Bi. It’s not fun. I should have been able to plug in an Excel document, tell it to analyze the data, and a happy graphic pop out. Ha. What I got was a headache, convoluted data, and no happy graphic. I did receive a graph, but it didn’t have anything populated so it was basically blank and unhappy. Much like me.
Fortunately, the very next day post-Power Bi BS was fraught with zero Internet connection so everyone received a reprieve from work. Haha sort of. Not me though. I had a 2-day unexpected delivery of fitness equipment I think everyone forgot about. They said delivery in April, then May. Almost July is good. There was trash scattered from one end of the facility to the other. I walked 18,000 steps that day and, if I’d known what the day would bring, I would not have run!
But guess who didn’t have to Power Bi that day? This girl! Alas, I still have tutorials to watch. And data to analyze. Pie chart, anyone?
Welcome to PMS, friends. It will probably get worse before it gets better but maybe it’s just the hormones talking. Maybe I can make a graph of mood swings.
____________________________
I ask you –
How does the Power Bi thing work? I’m googling demos.
There was a lot of strength training, some runs, and many days at the pool! Floating, of course.
I realized I haven’t been giving proper updates on the short disciples but, let me assure you, they are alive and well. And I am not. Alive maybe, but not well. Summer changes them into little gremlins. The class sizes have almost doubled, I’ve solo’d more times than I care to count, and if I am asked one more time for a prize – from the least well-behaved child – I might start throwing a fit on the floor. But I keep showing up.
Which is what June’s workouts were…a lesson in showing up. I eventually figured out the back pain was actually glute pain from (drumroll, please) not wearing my old lady orthotic shoe inserts. I suppose my hip/back/glutes began to take the brunt of the foot issues. Hence the revolt. Once I returned to wearing them regularly, almost all pain disappeared. Magical.
I guess some are expecting a creatine update, too, huh? Here goes –
Dare I say it’s not a problem to be fixed. The last several years, I have expected…demanded…perfection from myself. No missteps, all A’s, keep every ball in the air, no room for failure. Yet my brain cannot be expected to keep up. At some point, it will flounder for words, simple words, simple things I shouldn’t forget but have. But the big things? I don’t forget them. The big balls stop it Kel are still in the air, floating victoriously toward their finish line. Small balls? Well. They rolled away.
So what if I struggle for some meaningless term to describe the thing that changes the channel. Or that dude’s name. Or what I ate for breakfast. Who cares.
My very real and noticeable effects thus far are in exercise performance, specifically long-lasting energy during workouts and a reduction in post-strength training soreness (aka DOMS).
Now…does that mean I won’t keep trying to obtain a fix or placebo for brain fog and memory issues? Hahhaha. No. I’m not the type to give up. Maybe it doesn’t happen in 30 days. Maybe it takes 60 or 90. I’ll keep trying until I have determined all options have been expended.
I’ve decided to continue another 30 days with a daily creatine regimen but with one major update: a dosage increase. Research points to pre-menopausal women who regularly strength train and incorporate a cardio element, i.e., me, have shown cognitive success (in addition to exercise performance success) when utilizing a max load phase of 15-20g for 3-7 days, followed by supplementation of 5-10g indefinitely. Interestingly, upon full discontinuation, creatine remains elevated for approximately 30 days. What does this all mean? It means there’s promise in the creatine realm and I intend to explore it! (Smith-Ryan, A. E., Cabre, H. E., Eckerson, J. M., & Candow, D. G. (2021). Creatine Supplementation in Women’s Health: A Lifespan Perspective. Nutrients, 13(3), 877. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030877)
I do plan to talk to my doctor about prescribing creatine. If he balks, I’ll calmly explain that since social experiments are frowned upon (how unfair!), then allowing me to conduct my own medical experiment as the only subject should be an acceptable alternative. Regardless of placebo effect, there was/is an effect and I’m enjoying the longevity it gives me during workouts. I’m now taking 20g for 7 days (5-11 Jul), then returning to a 10g dose for the remainder of the 30 days.
Basically, more to come. Standby for another update in 30 days.
Finally, the culmination of months of dance, dance practices, rehearsals, fall recital, costume changes, new shoes, and lost accessories – henceforth, the recital! This is the first year Mini hasn’t been galivanting across the U.S. on her summer travels so she actually had time to participate in the final 4 weeks leading up to the big summer recital. I didn’t know how much work went into the final weeks. Somehow we also managed a volleyball camp in here, too, which is shocking. And ambitious.
My biggest complaint…only complaint…is I missed the mud volleyball tournament because, apparently, our city chose the short stick (for 2 years in a row?!) to host Independence Day festivities the weekend prior to the holiday. I’m irked. This same weekend coincided with recital so decisions were made. I chose volleyball and I was vetoed. So here I am in a dress instead of a swimsuit covered in mud. What a sacrifice.
So what’s next? A 6-week break, then we do it again! I can’t recall at the moment but I do believe Mini is doing musical theater and ballet next semester? I don’t know.
This is fun, right?!
____________________________
I ask you –
When does your community host July 4th festivities?
Running on Fumes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.