2026 Is Here

2026 Is Here

Just like that, our holiday break has come and gone. I’m back to dark, early mornings and the kids are back to school, sports, and our routine. It was a busy week with activities for me and the kids, but we got it done! Here’s how the workouts looked:

Sunday: 4.14 hotel treadmill miles

We had stayed in a hotel Saturday night, so I got to check out the hotel gym for a quick run Sunday morning before check out. The kids were supposed to be enjoying the pool but it was out of order (!!) so they just watched a movie while I ran. The treadmill was set to km, which took me some time to realize, and it took me some time to figure out how far I was running. It wasn’t the best hotel gym but it sufficed for a treadmill run – I didn’t really have time for anything else.

That night was dinner at B’s parents’ house and they had a belated Christmas-type meal. Ham and jello “salad” – have you ever had jello salad before? I’d never heard of it until moving here, but it’s a staple now and B’s mom usually makes it 1-2x a year. (It’s the red stuff- and no, it’s not actually a salad) Note – I’d also never had green bean casserole until moving to Ohio but I think it’s more than an Ohio thing.

Monday: 5.02 treadmill miles, 2.25 treadmill walking with weighted vest, shoulder and leg workout, 1.15 mile weighted vest walk outside

LAST DAY of sleeping in before the big kids went back to school! I set an alarm and got out of bed around 6:00 to get in a workout before work. I got in about 30 minutes of weights before hopping on the treadmill for a walk/run while watching Stranger Things. I’m trying to savor the season – it’s great for me on the treadmill and I don’t want it to be over! I also got in a short outdoor walk – which hasn’t happened in a few weeks. The blue sky was peeping out! I did about a mile in the snow with the weighted vest on.

Tuesday: 4 treadmill miles, back and bicep workout  

It was the first day back for the big kids and when my alarm went off, I was struggling. Why do I do this to myself? I thought for a moment – and I haven’t had one of those thoughts in a while! Luckily, it went away and I got in 4 treadmill miles and some weights before heading into the office.

Wednesday: 3.75 mile treadmill run, 2 mile treadmill walk, leg workout, push ups and core, 2.17 mile walk outside and .75 mile walk later

I woke up to balmy 35 degrees !! But rain, and I wasn’t sure if the streets were wet, so I got onto the treadmill per usual. I got in 3.75 miles running, 2 miles walking and a weight workout before starting my day. I also got an outdoor walk during the day (yay!) and was also able to walk about .75-1 mile to my book club that night.

Thursday: 3.75 mile treadmill run, 2 mile treadmill walk, push ups and core and body weight/mobility exercises, 2.62 mile outdoor walk

I was TIRED after book club and snoozed too many times. Ugh! I need to stop snoozing – I’m not sure why I started doing it or when – I never used to be a snoozer! I was able to get in about 25 minutes of some body weight, mobility and core exercises, followed by some treadmill time. I also got in a great walk at lunch time! It was warm out – 50s – which was great!

That night was the kids’ rescheduled Christmas concert at school – it was fun to get dressed up and pretend it was Christmas again, but man, I miss the holidays!

Friday: 3.1 miles on the treadmill, chest and core workout, 1.8 mile walking outside and 1.5 miles indoors

Finally Friday! I was TIRED and somehow took so long to get ready for my run. I did a walk/run, did some weights, and then even got outside for the first outdoor stroller walk with GM in ages, as ut was 50 degrees! No photos were taken – it started raining as we were walking so we focused on grabbing bagels, bread, coffee, and heading home.

Saturday: 4 miles outdoors! Plus starting bicep and back workout

I set an alarm to run before the kids had soccer, basketball and piano — and I got up in my weights. Then, I decided to see what it was like outside – it was actually okay! I made it outside for my first outdoor run in AGES and it was amazing.

Total:  27.8 miles running, plus some walking and weights

Some questions for you:

  • Have you ever had or heard of jello salad? If so, where do you live/did you have it?
  • My blog has a new look! What do you think? Did you notice? I’m still figuring out some kinks/bugs.

I am linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

20 responses to “2026 Is Here”

  1. Wendy Avatar

    I’ve been extra tired lately too–but I’m chalking it up to recovery from Covid. How long I’ll be able to use that excuse is anyone’s guess, lol

    I feel like Jello salad is a throwback to my childhood! My grandma used to make it–I think my mom did, too. Same with green bean casserole. We don’t eat it now. Could be a midwest thing, too, lol.

    The new blog layout looks nice! I’m thinking of changing mine too–at least paring down the header. Stay tuned…

    1. Melissa (I Crashed the Web) Avatar

      I think the winter just makes me tired lol. I get up earlier, it’s dark, and cold! Perfect formula for exhaustion. That’s fun that you had jello salad when you were young! I never saw it until a few years ago when I moved to Ohio.

  2. deborahbrooks14 Avatar
    deborahbrooks14

    One of my grandmothers used to make something with a green jello! Have not had that since! Your new blog laylout looks nice!

  3. deborahbrooks14 Avatar
    deborahbrooks14

    One of my grandmothers used to make something with a green jello! Have not had that since! Your new blog laylout looks nice!

  4. deborahbrooks14 Avatar
    deborahbrooks14

    One of my grandmothers used to make something with a green jello! Have not had that since! Your new blog laylout looks nice!

  5. Coco Avatar

    I’ve had Jell-O salad. I think my Mom grew up with it in the south. She kept it simple with fruit—nothing odd mixed it.

    Nice getting back into the routine!

  6. Debbie Avatar

    You got in some great workouts despite being back into your early morning routine.

    How fun to have the make-up Christmas concert in January!

    Jello of any type is a huge thing in the south (and apparently in Utah). My mom made several different types of jello “salad”. It was kind of a shock to my husband when he joined our family and I never make it because, well, it’s jello. LOL Another story, neighbors (originally from Utah) said they’d bring a salad to a huge barbecue we throw, I was assuming tossed veggies and you guessed it, it was “jello salad”. Sadly, not a person touched it but their family.

  7. jennystancampiano Avatar
    jennystancampiano

    Yes, I noticed the new look right away- I like it! And… oh yes I’ve had jello salad. My grandmother used to make it for us (when we visited them in Wisconsin). I’m pretty sure it was the only kind of “salad” she ever served!

    I don’t think that make up Christmas concert sounds fun at all! It would be depressing! No “Christmas” events in January- it would just make me feel worse that the holidays are over.

    Nice week of workouts, although I’m sure those early morning wakeups again were brutal.

  8. runlaugheatpie Avatar

    good week for you Melissa and YES I think the new blog look is great! it’s fun to change it up every once in a while. I still have a few kinks on mine as well.

    We definitely had jello salad (not a fan, personally) and green bean casserole in Illinois. No jello salad in New Mexico, but GBC definitely. it’s like the ONE thing I miss with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners!

  9. runlaugheatpie Avatar

    good week for you Melissa and YES I think the new blog look is great! it’s fun to change it up every once in a while. I still have a few kinks on mine as well.

    We definitely had jello salad (not a fan, personally) and green bean casserole in Illinois. No jello salad in New Mexico, but GBC definitely. it’s like the ONE thing I miss with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners!

  10. runlaugheatpie Avatar

    good week for you Melissa and YES I think the new blog look is great! it’s fun to change it up every once in a while. I still have a few kinks on mine as well.

    We definitely had jello salad (not a fan, personally) and green bean casserole in Illinois. No jello salad in New Mexico, but GBC definitely. it’s like the ONE thing I miss with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners!

    1. Melissa (I Crashed the Web) Avatar

      Thanks 🙂 Glad you like it! It’s still a work in progress.

  11. runlaugheatpie Avatar

    good week for you Melissa and YES I think the new blog look is great! it’s fun to change it up every once in a while. I still have a few kinks on mine as well.

    We definitely had jello salad (not a fan, personally) and green bean casserole in Illinois. No jello salad in New Mexico, but GBC definitely. it’s like the ONE thing I miss with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners!

  12. Darlene Avatar
    Darlene

    My blog needs a refresh… my header pix are so old. I like yours.

    I’ve had jello salad and green bean casserole. Never growing on on LI but upstate NY.

    1. Melissa (I Crashed the Web) Avatar

      Ha, that’s funny – I never had them in Albany. But my family isn’t from the area and holidays are spent with family who is from or in NYC, so maybe that’s why I never had them until moving!

  13. Kim at Running on the Fly Avatar
    Kim at Running on the Fly

    That’s funny about the green bean casserole and jello salad! My mom hates green beans (as do I), so she NEVER made anything with them. As a result, I never acquired a taste for them either. I’ll eat them, if they’re served, but I’d never quest them, LOL.

    1. Melissa (I Crashed the Web) Avatar

      That’s so funny! I never had those until I moved here – we still only eat them about once a year but it takes some getting used to.

  14. Jennifer LE Avatar
    Jennifer LE

    I was about to say… do mine eyes deceive me? I love the new look! It’s so pretty!

    I have HEARD of jello salad but I’m not sure I’ve ever SEEN jello salad. The only way I like jello is in shot form so I probably would not be down for it. And casseroles are not really my thing, green bean or otherwise. Do you watch TheMidwesternMom on social media? She makes “salads that aren’t really salads” from her Minnesota experiences and it’s so interesting (and she’s funny).

    Great week for you! Keep it going!

    1. Melissa (I Crashed the Web) Avatar

      Yay, I’m glad you like it! I’m still figuring it out but I figured I would just hit go live and see how I feel. It was time!

    2. Melissa (I Crashed the Web) Avatar

      Yay! I’m glad you like it. I am still figuring out the kinks and a few things, but figured I’d just hit “Go live” and make it work.

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I’m Melissa

Welcome to I Crashed The Web — proof that I’ve been oversharing online since the early days of blogging. It started as a blog (back when that was cool), morphed into a mom blog (when that was cool), and now it’s my happy place for all the things I love: running, baking, reading, traveling and life with my family of five.

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