Thursday, January 31, 2019

Coping with the Cold...over coffee


Did you hear?

There was a major dose of  freezing cold weather this week, courtesy of Momma N. It's been called many things (#arcticblast2019 and #polarvortex2019, to name a couple) and it brought record-breaking, sub-ZERO temps throughout much of the Midwest. Fun, frigid times, right?

Anyways, as much as I long for the heat (and humidity) of summer, this crazy and extreme winter has been bearable. Yes, even this summer-loving runner chick has been coping with the less-than-desirable outdoor temps.  Honestly, what good would it do to cower under a thick blanket and wish it away?


So, shall we call winter's bluff, and face it head-on? At the very least, we can gather for a warm beverage and chat about how cold it's been. And, we could share our various coping strategies. Maybe have a laugh or two (after all, a sense of humor can make even the ugliest circumstances not appear so dark or forbidding).

Here's what I'd share with you....if we were having coffee.

First of all, I'd suggest you let the cold weather empower you.  My hubby recently, after 30+ years in the field of life insurance/investing, chose to make a career change. In doing so, his new position has him out of town a couple evenings each week. In layman's terms, I'm on my own while he's gone. We had a substantial snow storm recently, dumping upwards of 12 inches of the white stuff on our large driveway and adjacent circular drive. Do you know how fulfilling it was to clear the majority of said snow away, all on my own, via a shovel? I had to do it in stages, and I may have slipped and fallen twice, but scoop-by-scoop, I got most of it done.
Three lanes of parking space, as well as the circular drive...
I'd encourage you to celebrate your sense of humor. We all know that I detest the treadmill, especially for running. It's just not my thing....but, in the past two weeks, I have done SIX consecutive runs on it. A couple of the runs were in the daylight (both on back-to-back Saturday mornings), and the rest were in the wee dark hours of early morning, before work. Every run had me leaving "perspiration droplets," everywhere, and said droplets were quite obvious on the dusty surface of the treadmill that had not seen much action since the previous winter (I know, I know...ewwwww). I had to laugh, though, at the sheer irony of it all. There I was, on six different occasions, showing Milly so much attention (in a relatively short span of time) after neglecting her for so long.
Plenty of sweat equity in the bank, courtesy of Milly
Another coping trick is to acknowledge that the extreme cold is a (relatively) short-term gig. Granted, it will still be cold, just not polar vortex frigid 24/7 until summer. In fact, our temps are supposed to be in the 40F's on Saturday and in the 50F's by Sunday! After one of my Milly runs, I stepped outside, and struck a victory stance amidst the still-falling snow. What I didn't anticipate was the picture looking like I was socking it to Old Man Winter, Jack Frost and Momma N...all with a simple flex of my right wrist.

Lastly, I'm all about looking ahead to other things. At my place of work, we have a stair-climbing challenge that goes from February 2nd - March 3rd. Our company encompasses the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado; a tall building was picked from each of the satellite locations, and the grand total of the flights of stairs (from all of the buildings) came to 562. Well, as you can imagine, I am totally embracing this challenge. We have four weeks to try to climb that many flights of stairs. With all the stair-training I do, I'm going to shoot for 1,000 total flights of stairs....go big or go home!

So, those are a few cold weather coping strategies that have worked wonders for me. Care to give any of them a try? Do you have any tricks or techniques to help you through the winter season, or an extended cold spell? Did the recent polar vortex pay you a visit?

Since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm linking this with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date.

I'm also linking this with Meranda and Lacey for the Friday with Fairytales and Fitness link-up. 

 


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35 comments:

  1. More than anything, the PV brought out my gratitude. For a warm home, a garage, heat, a warm coat. Stuff we totally take for granted until we can't. I'm happy to have the worst of it over. Now if the snow would cut us a break and stop...

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    1. Absolutely!! There is so much to be grateful for, especially when the weather doesn't necessarily play nice.

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  2. Ditto to what Marcia said. Now we're getting ice. I wonder if I'll be able to run outside after all.

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    1. I think the ice is missing us, but it's gonna be a little sloppy in the streets. I'm still getting outside, Milly needs a time-out.

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  3. We have nothing near what you have but of course it is bearable. You are certainly making the most of it. Nice job! Thanks for joining us for coffee today stay warm

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    1. As much as I'd rather be outside, it really hasn't been that bad staying indoors. I'm thankful I have lots of fitness options in the house ;-)

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  4. I think having a sense of humor is a good way to get through the crazy temps. I also agree with Marcia that it made me very thankful to have a warm home to stay in as I know many people don't have that unfortunately :(

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    1. Agreed! The warm (dare I say tropical?) temps emitting from my Milly time was bearable.

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    1. it is what it is...might as well make the best of it ;-)

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  6. I'm LOL at your sweat droplets on the dust. :) Our weather wasn't great, but not quite as extreme as yours - on either end. Cold, but not as cold as you, and this weekend will be warmer -- but not as warm as you. We might get to 50 by next Tuesday but that's as good as it gets.

    Still, MN was kind enough to allow me to find a way to get my long runs done outside -- there will be one more after this weekend, and who knows about that one, but it's looking like it could be ok and thankfully I don't have to face 12 miles this weekend in the teens. So grateful for that!

    I don't like the snow blower either. Mr. Judy used to travel a lot. I have shoveled the driveway many times -- and with some really big snows, I've had to do it like you, part at a time (I start with my side of the driveway). We also have to shovel paths in the backyard for the dogs.

    Mr. Judy is going on a business trip at the end of the month. Which is usually when we get really big storms. Crossing my fingers for no big storm while he's away!

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    1. Oh, the sweat droplets were so plentiful, and SOOO nasty!

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  7. I always like your outlook! I dont like the cold but I have learned not to HATE winter.

    We have a snowblower but I always use a shovel too. Seems like anytime we get snow, my husband is is of town..lol

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    1. Yes, snow blowers are for guys who think they need "toys" to get the job done LOL

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  8. Yup the polar vortex hit us. I skipped a few runs cuz I refuse to use the TM but yesterday I did do a short run in the single digits and it was not bad. The hardest part is deciding to do it and finding a place that is not icy.

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    1. I'm hoping to head outdoors on Saturday...I might be in shorts becasue 40F is gonna feel so warm!

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  9. We have had our own bout of cold (for us) weather and it's been hard. I can't even imagine how it must be where the temps are in the negatives. Hopefully there is an end in sight for you all.

    That being said, you've got a positive and sunshiney outlook and that makes all the difference.

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    1. Well, the fact that we're forecast to be in the 50's on Sunday is crazy....that a 100F increase in feels-like temps!

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  10. This cold has been no joke, I am so over this crazy Iowa weather!!! I just bundle up like crazy, drink my hot drinks like lemon water and coffee and hope spring gets here quick ;)

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  11. I also share the same joy/satisfaction in shoveling snow. I had to do it many times when I first moved to Chicago. I'm grateful it's warming up now though.

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  12. I like your strategies! I definitely think a sense of humor will go a long way to dealing with this crazy weather. Thankfully we know it won't last forever.

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    1. Agreed. We might as well have a laugh over the craziness of it all, right?

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  13. So glad I missed most of the polar vortex by visiting my sister in Florida last week. We just came home today through a snowstorm! Ugh! It was snowing and traffic was crawling all the way from DC to PA. So glad to be home, but really missing the warm Florida sunshine!

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  14. Those are some good tips! And definitely this level of cold isn’t sustainable for too long I hope. Plus, it will definitely make me appreciate the 40s this weekend :)

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    1. So true!!!! The 40's are gonna feel heavenly (well, almost LOL)!

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  15. You really got me all hyped up to go out in the cold but them I went outside and my body was like, "Nah De, you weren't made for this." Seriously rethinking my residency.

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  16. Our cold wasn't as bad as yours but my strategy this week has been to stay inside sitting on the hearth by the fire! Yesterday I learned the hard way that a certain pair of gloves are not warm enough for walking Scooby when its 20F. My hands HURT! But tomorrow is should be in the 50s.

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  17. Nice calf muscles!! :) Shoveling is a great workout. I'm usually the one that does it at our house. When I was walking into work this week and it was so in the negatives, I thought about you guys in the midwest and how you had it much worse this week!

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  18. I know that stair challenge is right up your alley! Have fun as you tackle your goal of 1,000 flights. I have no doubt you'll reach your goal.

    Enjoy your warmer weather! We supposed to warm up to the 40's today, the 50's tomorrow, and the 60's by Tuesday!

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  19. Loved the photo of you in the midst of winter wearing shorts and a tank top! I get chilled at 50 deg �� and do my runs indoors.

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  20. Wow, what a big change for your husband and for your entire family! My husband and I have been in the same careers since graduating college over 35 years ago. I can't imagine making a change at this point. Good for him! I actually don't mind the treadmill at all, thank goodness. I've really gotten my use out of it these past few weeks!

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  21. It has been so, so cold lately! :[! Hope you're staying warm, and props to you for still getting a bunch of runs in on your treadmill even if you don't like it!

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