Well played, Momma N...Runfessions for February

Well played, Momma N. Well played.

The weather has been rather undesirable in recent weeks (like, the past six weeks, but who's counting?) Seriously, winter was pretty mild up until mid-January. We hadn't really had much for snow. The temps were cold (this is the Midwest, and it is the winter season, after all), but nothing extreme.

Once the temps plummeted, though, they pretty much elected to set up camp and stay awhile. The Polar Vortex of 2019 came barreling in the following week, and it's been a continuous onslaught of single digit (and colder) feels-like temps, more than average amounts of snowfall, and unrelenting ice.

And it's been a serious battle for this glass-half-full gal to keep her steaming mug(s) of chai latte' from running out. None the less, Momma N is not gonna win this battle. I have a few runfessions in my arsenal, and airing said runfessions makes everything better, even the weather conditions.

Freezefest 5K Race Recap

There's a first time for everything, right?

How about a new-to-me race (my first race of 2019, none the less)?  On a cold (though quite sunny) February morning? Even though it was only a 5K, how about we do the majority of our pre-race running indoors in preparation for this outdoor endeavor? Oh, and just to make it interesting, maybe we could forget our Ipod and Garmin back at home?

Would you be game?

Such was the case for the 2019 Corridor Racing Freezefest 5K.

A Winter Rebel...with a cause

Call me a rebel.

I have found that laughter is (almost always) the best medicine in curing an attitude problem, especially in terms of dealing with the weather. We can't change the weather, after all, but we can control how if affects us.

Recently, in light of my repeated treadmill runs (BTW, current count is at 11 in the past 30 days), I decided a small act of rebellion was in order. If I wasn't able to run outside (due to ice or extreme cold), I could at least snap a quick post-treadmill-run selfie outside. Not only were the numerous sweaty treadmill selfies getting rather b.o.r.i.n.g., but that small act of stepping outside was rather empowering.

Running...Be Still My H.E.A.R.T.

What happens when your heart (figuratively) just ain't feeling the run?

How do you know when to call it quits, turn around and head for home?  Or, if  you're pounding out some miles on the treadmill, how do you know when to pull the power?

Let me set the scene...
Winter has really turned on me. Granted, I'm a self-professed summer gal who much prefers the heat (and subsequent humidity) to the frozen tundra of winter. I've lived in the Midwest all of my life, though, so I know how to deal with the cold (even when it gets extreme).

Going with the (cold) Flow

Well, it's been cold in Iowa.

This is February, after all, and the Midwest is not exactly known for warm (or mild) winters. Although the Polar Vortex has moved on, the frigidly cold temps have remained. What's a runner to do? This runner tries to keep her glass half full and go with the flow, no matter what Momma N throws at her.

The Treadmill - Five Recent Reality Revelations

The treadmill.

That indoor apparatus that allows one to walk or run when the great outdoors aren't so great.

How do you feel about the treadmill? Do you love it? Hate it? Love to hate it (or vice-versa)?

Stuck inside? A few non-running fitness options to consider

The temps have been chilly (polar vortex chilly for some of us).

Being stuck inside can be a tough setting for some runners. Granted, rest/recovery days are warranted, but what if you're stuck inside for several days at a time?  Not every runner has an in-house treadmill or access to an indoor track, after all. Many don't have the space for a home gym either.

Have you ever been at a loss for indoor fitness options? Ever wanted to do something "active" that didn't involve the actual act of running, but would benefit your running none the less? 

Here are a few suggestions for indoor fitness when running isn't an option. Most of these don't even require the expense of equipment, nor do they demand a lot of space.