I'm a Midwest gal, born and raised, but these winters kind of bite.
 |
| A pic of the Sundogs from last Sunday...aren't they beautiful? |
Granted, I do love the change of seasons. If I had the exact same weather year-round, I would not appreciate the weather from each season for their individual nuances. But, hands-down, winter is the most difficult to tolerate.
The weather this past week, in Iowa, has given us some extreme conditions.
 |
| It's been so cold, even Max has been bundled up for his walks |
We had frigid temps the weekend prior, temps so cold that we had sub-ZERO temps with wind-chill. But, those frigid temps rewarded us with blindingly bright sunshine.
 |
| The mid-week temps were nice...and the sunshine made it fun to be outside |
The temps were moderate most of this past week, and by Wednesday we were enjoying above-freezing conditions. You know it's been cold when 40-degrees feels like a heat wave.
 |
| By Thursday, the temps approached the 50's! How about a "gloves optional" run on my lunch break? I'm there! |
Something I did in 2015, and am doing it again in 2016, is (1) not going more than two days without running and (2) never missing a Monday. The Monday thing has been going well, but it's been a little tricky planning out the weekly runs and avoiding the less-than-desirable weather. The temps were forecasted to plummet by Friday, and continue to fall over the weekend. And that they did.
Having run on Thursday, I wouldn't necessarily "need" to run until Sunday...but Sunday was supposed to be the coldest day yet (a predicted "high" of -6 degrees), so I went out on Saturday morning for a quick mile. That quick mile actually felt pretty good considering the single-digit temps Momma N had thrown at me.
 |
| Brrrr! A quick run, followed by a Warrior-3 pose (in victory of getting outside) |
Sunday rolled around, and the temps were just as predicted. I still wanted to do some mileage, though, so I took it to the 'mill and did an interval workout, incorporating 1/4 mile segments with sets of (10) stair-climbs in between. Typically, I'm not a happy 'mill runner, but I don't mind doing intervals. Breaking up two miles into eight smaller increments really makes it go quick!
 |
| Doing intervals (treadmill and stairs) took me less than 40 minutes, and felt great! |
I have also been doing a yoga challenge via Instagram (are you following me there? I'm
@runningonthefly). I even had one of my pics re-posted and shared (courtesy of the host of the challenge,
@fitapproach)
!
 |
| Dolphin pose! |
 |
| Another pic that got a lot of attention was the one of me in Frog Position |
While hibernating inside, I spent a few hours tending to some blogging-catch-up (that nine-day family vacay really hammered into my reading and writing). I also played around and modified my blog's layout and added a new header and tweaked the side bar (a major accomplishment for this tech moron).
So, that's a quick synopsis of the latest and (not so) greatest weather in Iowa. What do you do to cope with frigidly cold temps? Do you suck it up and get outside (like me, most days), or do you find other things to do inside?
I'm linking up with Holly at
HoHo Runs and Tricia at
MissSippiPiddlin for their Weekly Wrap. Lots of great reading, head over and check out all the other blog posts!
Wow. You rock. The coldest thing I ever deal with is upper 20s. That's bikini weather for you. Ha. I'm curious, why are you dedicated to running on Mondays? Years ago, after an ankle stress fracture, I made a rule never run more than 3 days in a row...never a 4th day straight. This old gal needs her rest. After two trips, I still didn't go back and read all the blogs like I should have. I'm just going to have to let that go and try to stay current. I like the changes to your blog. Thanks for linking with us Kimberly. I hope you get some better weather this week!
ReplyDeleteI saw a challenge on Facebook last year...it said to have it as a goal to never miss a Monday, and I thought that was brilliant! Typically, if I have a race on the weekend (no matter the distance), the urge is great to "rest and recover," but by doing just a little something on Monday (even if it's just a slow and easy mile) helps me kick-start the new week. Your rule about never running more than 3 consecutive days is great, I'm in total agreement with that. I do an occasional streak (very occasional, like maybe once a year LOL), but otherwise I don't believe in daily running. I think all bodies need rest ;-)
DeleteFrog looks like a great stretch! I often do Happy Baby which I think stretches similar muscles but is not necessarily as Instacool ;) I remember those cold days in the midwest - first 28 years of my life were spent in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota and Ohio. We are more mild on the East Coast but we get a chilly blast every so often. This week will be cold. Funny about gloves optional! My hands are always cold. I think I could run around in my underwear as long as I had gloves on! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThis weather as of late really bites....but putting things in perspective, we had a very mild December. So, there's that. It seems once I make it through January, the rest of winter is (mostly) bearable.
DeleteI agree about the seasons. I lived very briefly in southern New Mexico while in school, and as December came, I was really bothered that it stayed warm and sunny and the leaves didn't change. I try to appreciate all the seasons, but agree that winter is the most challenging.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the cold weather, but the past couple weeks have been just frigid! And, it's been non-stop frigidness this week..UGH!
DeleteI can't believe you get out there in those temps. That is a hardcore runner for sure. We moved out of the cold northeast when my husband retired and I don't miss winter much. Max looks cute in his coat but I always feel sorry for little dogs when it is cold outside....my Yorkie hated the winters in NH
ReplyDeleteMax is funny...some days he won't leave the front porch (though he and I both know he NEEDS to do his business), other days (when it's unbearably cold) he'll want to meander around, sniffing every suspicious stray leaf or stick.We always walk him (instead of letting him have free roam of the yard).....so we get to wait around for him deciding where & when to do his stuff LOL
DeleteI keep telling myself this winter is nothing compared to the polar vortex we had the past 2. And yet, it seems SO cold this year. I'm all for winter but could do with it being a tad shorter.
ReplyDeleteyes, this winter is mild compared to the previous two winters...but, hello? How about a bit of a transition? A mild December, then BAM! Holy Artic Chill. And a few days of "thawing out?" This current week has been absolutely brutal!
DeleteWow, that's cold weather. I am originally from Maine and grew up with those kinds of temps. Now, 30 degrees is pretty much as cold as it gets here. And I have the option to run at lunch rather than first thing in the morning... which I do when its cold ! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteTypically, I don't mind the cold...it's just been really nasty this week! I wish it would just stay 20-degrees instead of getting "warm" (and teasing us for a few days) and then plummeting back down to single digits. It's crazy!
DeleteIsn't it amazing how habits done on Monday's flow so easy to the rest of your week? Like if I'm I'm late getting in the bed on a Monday, you can almost bet I'll be late the rest of the week. I think it's a great plan! I have no words for your temps, I wouldn't even know what to compare it too. I mean ice water is warmer right? Great job on getting your workouts done Kim! Glad your back! :)
ReplyDeleteha ha ha...ice water probably is warmer ;-) The cold temps are bearable if they stay consistent, but the warm-up/freeze-down cycle is what makes it challenging.
DeleteI have 4 miles on the plan tomorrow and I think I may have to suck it up and go outside. My tears won't freeze, right?
ReplyDeleteActually, if it's cold enough, the tears may (indeed) freeze. Hugs to you, FrIeNd ;-)
DeleteI am honestly so happy to be running this winter without injury that I don't care at all about the temps I just want to run. Never miss a Monday for sure!
ReplyDeleteI like the "never miss a Monday" routine. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular, just as long as it gets me outside and moving (except, yesterday I had to suck it up and stay inside and do some 'mill time #yuck).
DeleteWe had one of our first "feels like" of a single digit today. I ran in it, but the wind was killer. Brr...
ReplyDeleteThe wind certainly is the deal-breaker!
DeleteI'm not a fan of running outside when its its super cold. In fact, I'm not a fan of doing anything outside when its cold, so I can only imagine how great that 40 degree weather felt after so many days of those colder temps.
ReplyDeletethe 40-degrees felt almost tropical! Gloves optional ;-)
DeleteA high of -6!?!?!?! GAH! No thank you! Kudos to you for getting out in 9 degrees! That's no easy feat, either!
ReplyDeleteit's not so bad, especially if it's been that way for several days in a row (believe it or not, your body actually acclimates to it.....like with heat/humidity), but the wind is the deal breaker. But, when the temps spike up to above-freezing for a couple days, your body (again) acclimates to the warmer temps...and when the temps plummet, it throws you into "shock." Figuratively speaking LOL
DeleteFREEZING! I was losing it at just 32 degrees. I can't imagine colder!
ReplyDeleteYou had a great week! Keep it going!
thanks! This week has been absolutely frigid, with single-digit "highs" everyday. And the wind has been kind of killer....I have had to do a couple days on the 'mill - you know it's BAD outside when I choose to stay in. UGH
DeleteCold temps out here are really difficult for me- I feel like cold without snow is "wasted" if that makes any sense LOL
ReplyDeleteI agree.....if it's gonna be cold, there better be snow on the ground to make it worthwhile. It definitely feels colder when there's no snow, paradoxically.
DeleteNope, I'm a total wuss when it comes to running in the cold. I'm all about the mill baby, which I'm sure you already know :) Props to you cold weather people. I think I would get out there more if I actually had some good, warm cold weather gear, but I have none!
ReplyDeleteA lot of my cold weather gear is actually "double layers" of regular stuff. If it's above freezing, I can usually get by with "regular" tights. If it's below freezing, that's when I use the fleece-lined tights. If it's bitter frigid, I wear the fleece-lined tights UNDER a top layer of regular tights LOL Obviously, you and I are polar (no pun intended) opposites when it comes to 'milling ;-)
DeleteKudos for getting out in those freezing cold temps. I'm gonna have to think of you when I want to stay in my warm bed in the mornings. High 20's/Low 30's is nothing compared to your weather. I'm loving your snowy pics and yoga poses on Instagram.
ReplyDeleteThe cold weather certainly makes me question my sanity (sometimes LOL), but it does feel good to conquer those temps ;-)
DeleteWe're in a cold spell now and I'll be hitting up the treadmill. Since I run before sunrise it is just too damn cold!
ReplyDeleteThe cold has had me inside more than usual.I've been on the 'mill three times in the past 8 days or so...that's about my yearly quota already. UGH. I'm glad I was able to get outside yesterday and tonight ;-)
DeleteI think my coldest run was 13 degrees. It was kind of entertaining for the running group. The freezing water bottles gave us something to talk about ha!
ReplyDeleteHa! I don't usually go far enough that I need water (or I'd loop back to my house), so I've never had it freeze on me. I have seen some crystalized (?) sweat appear on the outside of my hat, though.
DeleteThe blog looks great! I am spoiled rotten down here and a weinie when it gets cold. 38 degrees is the coldest I have run in! I have 4 miles on the schedule this morning and it is 45 and I am dragging! You have motivated me to get moving!
ReplyDeleteHa! We get all extremes in temps and weather in Iowa. #funtimes
DeleteAwesome job, Kim! Sub zero temps keep me inside, but I've remained active doing workouts at home (Tracy Anderson is amazing!) as well as doing what I can on the mill despite my loathing of it, LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou know I hate the 'mill, and I've been on it three times in the past 8 days or so...glad I finally got back outside yesterday & tonight ;-)
DeleteWow! Glad that I don't have to brave temps that cold, I would probably start using a treadmill for my runs. Keep up the good work and you'll be strong come spring, you should be making some new PR's.
ReplyDeleteI don't especially love the cold temps, but running in ALL temps does make me stronger than if I stayed inside. It's all good ;-)
DeleteTry coming back from Mexico to this. SEND ME BACK.
ReplyDeleteGreat job getting out there! Last winter, I didn't run outside if the windchill was below 0. Otherwise, I was out there!
I'll gladly (well, mostly gladly LOL) take the frigid temps over the boring (running-in-place) monotony of the 'mill. #nobrainer
Delete