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.

____________________________

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.)

Cooperation: necessary

The mental prompt: I was walking behind a woman while grocery shopping. Her shirt said something about supporting those seeking organ transplants.

The mental reaction: How angry would I be if I saw the recipient of one of my organs smoking, chronically eating unwell, and/or not exercising?

Answer: I would be livid. How dare someone take my free gift and not treat it like a priceless artifact.

Disclosure: I don’t know how often this happens but with morbidity and obesity rates what they are, I would not be surprised.

Let’s just do better, ok?

Not one to skimp on the “find some random crap to do every day”, I noticed my hips getting tighter. Could it be getting older? Could it be my running regimen, or lack thereof? Could it be the strength training splits? Maybe it’s Maybelline. I have zero idea, but, in an effort to mitigate the effects, I started stretching a bit more.

The forward fold really sucks. You won’t find me saying how much I love it, because I would be lying. Why not add a yoga block to the stretch to make it even tougher and more loathsome? Sure, why not. Yet the results cannot be denied. It hurts so good! The hips don’t lie. If only everyone could truly appreciate how funny I am.

____________________________

I ask you –

What’s your idea of a fun time? Tell me it, too, is learning a new stretch and repeating it daily until the muscle cooperates.

(The post Cooperation: necessary 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.

____________________________

I ask you –

Anyone else anticipating fall weather?

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

Mission Accomplished

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 – Deadlift

70 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?

(The post Mission Accomplished first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Data Circles & Cycles

Screw this. -me, most of the time

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.

(The post Data Circles & Cycles first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

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!

____________________________

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.)

AF Fitness Standards Thoughts + Jan Recap

courtesy of Strava

Although I intended to complete a workout every single day of January, meh. Life happened. P.S. I’m not sure why the graphic says February 2026, when it hasn’t arrived yet. Weird.

screenshot via Strava

Interestingly, the screenshot was correct but not when I use the share button. How odd.

Anyway, now I’ve forgotten the point of this post.

Ok, I’m back.

As 1 March draws near, the grumblings surrounding the Air Force’s updated PT standards resound louder. I’ve heard of every reason why a 2-mile run is simply impossible, including the Body Comp updates, the inclusion of the InBody, etc. This is a sampling of my favorite reasons why a service member believes they will fail –

I’m big boned. Wrong, sir. We all have the same size bones.
I’m a body builder. I can’t run. You can run, but just like you trained to lift heavier weights, you must train aerobic capacity, too.
My job is admin. Why do I need to run anyway? There are many scientific principles regarding cardio and how it trains your body to do other hard things, personally and professionally.

Typically, I answer with my own question – How many overweight people are 80+ years old? Or 70 years old? Or gasp 60? Where and how much weight you carry is directly proportional to longevity.

I don’t know about you but I want to live to see mini graduate as many stages as she desires. I want to meet my grandchildren, and maybe great-grandchildren. I want to run when I’m 60, 70, 80 years old. I want to bend over and tie my own shoes. I want to balance on one leg. I want to outlive the naysayers.

For those who state “We’re all gonna die anyway”, well, good luck. Discipline is hard. But loss is harder. Portion control is hard. But burying a loved one at 50 years old due to heart disease is harder. Exercise is hard. But raising your right hand to defend your country is harder.

Personally, I’m glad the bar is being raised. I’m glad fitness returns to the forefront of military standards. I’m glad decision makers have opened their eyes to the necessity of the 2-mile run and strict body comp measurements. Are there flaws? Absolutely! But will this force the 1% to a) make better decisions regarding their health or b) find a different career field outside of serve and protect?

You know the answer.

________________________

I ask you –

As an outsider, or insider, what are your thoughts on tightening the belt loops of the Air Force’s “fit to fight” culture?

(The post AF Fitness Standards Thoughts + Jan Recap 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.

_____________________

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.)

Reading and To-Do List, in progress

Although I’ve already read the series below, I’m sharing them because they are really that good!

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom, a thought-provoking novel set during the Holocaust, chronicling the intertwined lives and stories of four individuals with Truth as the narrator.

The AJ Docker Series of 5 books by Gary Gerlacher. Imagine Harry Bosch meets medical nonfiction. Easy to read, intriguing, and can be read in any order. Thank me later.

Events / Travel in 2026

Run the Jailbreak: South Padre Island, TX

Handel’s Ice Cream in Plano, TX

_________________

I ask you –

Of the list above, have you tried any?

Recommendations?

(The post Reading and To-Do List, in progress 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.

_____________________

I ask you –

What frustrates you?

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