Going With The (weather's) FLOW

 

Well, it was a week!

And Momma N certainly had her own agenda for what kind of weather she was serving up for me. She kept me guessing, she threw a few surprises my way, and she definitely tested my tolerance for her antics.  

It's a good thing she keeps me entertained because there were never any dull moments.

Before I share all the details, welcome to the Weekly Run Down!

I love hosting this link-up with Deborah (from Confessions of a Mother Runner)! If you write a fitness-based blog, you're invited to join the party. The link-up opens at 8:00AM (EST) on Sundays and remains open through noon on Monday. We love reading about everyone's weekly fitness endeavors, training highlights (or low lights) and race recaps. We ask that you link back to both hosts, and we encourage you to read/comment on the other linked blogs as well...please don't link-drop & dash ;-)

Anyways, here's what went down this week:

Sunday: cool in the morning...

Fresh off of Saturday's (almost) 49-mile bike ride, I thought it wise to keep things on the light side. The hubs and I went for a 2-mile walk with Max. Temps were in the mid-50's...can I just say #Brrrr? I know my summer is slipping away, but there's no need to rush the "crisp & chilly" fall temps just yet. I also did a short 3-mile "shakeout" bike ride (with Gustavas) later, and the temps felt much better by the afternoon.

Then, later, since there was a full moon...can you guess what happened? Barb and I met up, around 9:30, and ran and chatted for four miles. By nightfall, the summer temps (and requisite humidity) had returned, so I truly felt like I was back in my element.

Monday: morning rain; afternoon heat; day-long humidity

Surprisingly, the forecast rain was late to the party, so I got out for a 2-mile walk before work. After work, it was a double delight with a 2-mile #NevermissaMonday run followed by a 5-mile ride with Gustavas (the mountain bike)...in one of my vintage Dam to Dam shirts (see below). 

Tuesday: Continued humidity

With an easy day on tap, I opted for a 4.5-mile early morning ride, under the still (somewhat) full moon. When I got back to the house, Max and the hubby were waiting for me, so we knocked out a couple of walking miles before starting our work days. I also walked on my morning break, at work, and had every intention of another short walk...but the sky was full of storm clouds on my drive home and rain was falling by the time I reached my driveway. Oh well.

Wednesday: a repeat of Monday's weather (rain, heat and humidity)

I'd considered a bike ride, but it was lightning something fierce so I opted for a short walk. It was a good thing, because I made it back home just before the rain hit. Had I gone for a ride, I would have gone much farther and gotten soaked. Whew!

...but, the rain cleared before lunch, giving way to a sunshine-filled afternoon, The temps were warm (upper 80's with plenty of humidity), but also a breeze...so Amy and I met up for another weekly ride out to the lake. This was my 12th consecutive (weekly) ride on the hilly bike trail this summer!

BTW, that's another vintage Dam to Dam shirt

Thursday: moderate temps with unusually high humidity

After a 2-week sabbatical, Barb and I resumed our #5at5 routine. The 69F temps weren't too terrible, but the 100% humidity was just painful. My eyes were majorly burning from all the sweat dripping into them. After missing the two weeks of 5:00AM runs, it was a total buzzkill to only have the slightest hint of daylight when I returned home. Ugh...the early morning daylight sure disappeared quickly! Also, 5.5 miles of biking after work (keeping the legs loose and primed for Saturday's 20K race). 

 

Friday: continued humidity with sunny skies and warm temps

Easy-peasy day, fitness-wise...short early morning walk before work, and a 1-mile walk on the morning break. The son was home, so he and the hubs challenged me to a "dead arm hang" contest of sorts. I surprised them (and myself LOL) with a 40-second hang (hanging from an overhead bar). I may have found a new fitness thing to do on occasion (stay tuned). Also, a short 4-miler on the bike after work.

  

Saturday: crazy heat and humidity!

Race day! Wouldn't you know it, Momma N blessed us with a heat advisory for the DAM to DSM 20K (formally known as Dam to Dam)! While I can usually tolerate all things heat &humidity, Saturday's race was tough. Not sure if it was the extreme heat (temps had a feels-like of 92F when we finished), a fueling/electrolyte thing, lack of sleep (ahem, 3:30AM wake-up) or just one of those days when the universal forces-that-be just didn't align. My energy crashed and my calves got pretty angry in the final miles, so there was a lot of unexpected power walking. My finish time wasn't horrible (2:19), but definitely one of my "slower" D2D performances. No big whoop, though, because this event never disappoints, and I still finished with a smile on my face. Race recap coming, so stay tuned!

 

If the colors of our clothing looks dark, it's because we all were thoroughly saturated after those 12.4 miles in the crazy heat and humidity

Sunday's forecast? 

Most likely, an early morning bike ride, then the hubs and I need to hit the road for a family funeral. I may be delayed in reading/commenting/replying, but promise to catch up when we return to town Monday evening. Thanks for understanding ;-)

So, it was a challenging week in terms of unpredictable (and extreme) weather. I think I did alright, though, staying active while keeping things pretty low-key in prepping for Saturday's race. For activity, there was 15+/- miles of walking, almost 23-1/2 miles of running and 41 miles of cycling. Also, the daily push-ups are still happening, as well as the planks and now I've added ab rollouts with an ab wheel (yikes!). 

 

In case you missed out, here's what else went down on the blog this week:

Back in Maintenance Mode

Favorite Finds in my Running Arsenal

Got a Few 'Fessions?

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair! What happens when you buy a cute sundress (without trying it on) and discover it's a tad bit too short? If you're a tall gal like me, you slide on a pair of capri's and pretend the dress is a tunic-length top instead. Hey, it works!

One perk of the early mornings (of the late-summer blooming season) is seeing the Morning Glories every morning. I planted a package of seeds, many years ago. They're supposed to be annuals, so I planted another package of seeds the following year. Well...both sets of these flowers have returned every year since (some are blue, some are purple). They kind of take over my mailbox flower plot, but they're so pretty....

Family ((sigh)). Our son accepted a job, out on the east coast, and left Saturday to drive out there. We had a big family dinner last weekend. I know we raise our kids to grow up and (eventually) go out on their own...but UGH. It's tough letting them go.

So, that's the latest and greatest in my little world. 

How are things in yours? Any races this weekend? Did your weather play nice last week? Ever tried doing ab rollouts, or dead arm hangs?

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