Tackling the Treadmill Turmoil

The treadmill has been my nemesis for quite some time.

I'm not afraid of it. I'm not intimidated by it. I'm certainly not in a battle with it. But I avoid running on it at (almost) all cost.

A bigger-than-BIG goal of mine, this winter, is to have a much more open mind and a welcoming heart when it comes to indoor running. Heck, if I can make it through a Polar Vortex (and endure upwards of 20 Milly runs, all in one season), I can probably survive most any (near) catastrophic experience.

That's not an exaggeration.

Okay Momma N...GAME ON!!!

Momma N seems to love playing games.

I try to keep an open mind to her antics, but I'm not always amused. I have learned, often times, it's best to call her bluff and beat her at her own game. Such was the case this week.

Yes, it's Winter in Iowa. It happens every year, right? It snows, the wind blows, the temps dive well under the sub-freezing range. And we all survive. If we're lucky, we all can find some humor in the discomfort...

My 2o2o Focus

Do you have a vision for 2020?

Any goals, or ideals? New habits to implement?  Bad habits to kick to the curb?

Recently, I came up with a personal mantra of sorts. Kind of a slogan, kind of a theme. More of a focus, though, than anything else...

Yes, It Just Might Be Winter!

 Lest there be any doubt, I do believe Winter is officially here for awhile.

As much as I'd like to avoid it completely, it's my Iowa reality. At least now, after this week's crazy weather antics, I can just settle in for the season.

So far, it hasn't been too treacherous....

Five 4 Friday - Current Hashtags

How do YOU feel about hashtags?

Do you use them? Abuse them? Roll your eyes at them? Or, do you get a good laugh at a few random clever ones sprinkled into an Instagram post?

It's no secret that I use them frequently, and not just on Insta. They have a way of revealing a bit more insight into a story or situation, without any unnecessary words or sentences. Although not always grammatically correct, they are a unique nuance to modern day vocabulary.

Five Fun Features from my recent Run Streak

Have you heard? The Streak has ended.

The 2019 Winter Run Streak, that is. This was my seventh year taking part in the annual Runner's World-promoted event, this one encompassing 35 days of continuous daily runs.

There were morning runs, after-work runs, runches and even a couple races. There was no time for boredom to set in or burnout to take over.

Care to hear a few highlights?

Back to my Regularly Scheduled Winter

We all knew it was bound to happen, right?

Momma N had given us nearly two weeks of unseasonably warm "winter" temps. As much as I enjoyed those temps, it was a gamble just how long they'd stick around. This is the Midwest, after all.  It's not supposed to be shorts-wearing weather this time of year, even for runners.

Oh well, it was ever-so-nice while it happened!