Sunday, September 12, 2021

Back in Black (and gold)


Well, this definitely isn't the taper I had in mind.

Had the Air Force Marathon not gone virtual, I would be basking in my second week of 26.2 taper bliss. Alas, with the big Cy-Hawk football game (the Iowa State Cyclones vs. the University of Iowa Hawkeyes) on deck for Saturday, this week also would be full of black and gold bliss...so that's what I chose to focus on instead.

So how did that work for me? In two words: quite well! 

Before I share all the black and gold 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, in my little world of fitness and fun:

A simple Sunday
Having traveled to the hubby's hometown (class reunion), this Sunday morning started with a 2-mile walk (in very brisk temps) before we hit the road for the drive back home. After the 5-hour drive back, my legs were craving some action, so Gustavas (the mountain bike) took me for a 10-mile bike ride. All better.


How about a (spontaneous) 10K for Monday?
I opted for a refund from the Air Force Marathon (for the 26.2 event), but I still wanted to take part in some capacity...so I registered for the virtual 10K. I met up with Barb, and we got it done (actually, I ran seven full miles, but stopped my Garmin at the 10K mark). I don't typically run farther than three miles on Mondays, so this 10K was a bit of a struggle for the first 3-4 miles. I was very glad to have someone to chat with or I might have bailed on the second half. Thankfully, my legs loosened up and the last few miles felt pretty good. The day also involved some walking (three miles, with the hubby and Max) and seven miles of late-afternoon biking.
  

Tired Legs Tuesday
Yep, the legs were feeling fatigued at wake-up, so there was a 2-mile walk in the pre-work hours, and another 1-mile walk on my morning break at the office. I contemplated some post-workday biking, but the wind was psychotic. Barb talked me into walking instead (it was a pretty easy sell), and four miles later, all was well. It's been a hot minute since I've had a day with nothing (fitness-wise) other than walking, so those seven miles were pretty legit.


Another crisp & cool Wednesday
By the dawn's (not so) early light...Barb and I knocked out another early-morning 5-miler. We don't usually see much traffic at that early hour, but this week I counted at least 15 vehicles while we did our thing. 


Thursday's Double #Brrr on the Bike(s)
The morning's 8-miler (with Gustavas) was very chilly in the 53F temps. I'm just glad I had that beautiful sunrise (and my Iowa 1/4-zip to keep me warm). Later, we weren't able to meet until 6:30PM for the weekly ride (my fault #HairAppointment). Amy, Barb and I ventured out to the lake, and Holy Brrr, Batman! When the sun sinks that low in the sky, all those valleys (in between all those hills) feel rather frigid. Just saying. Fifteen additional miles for the day, these with Fritz (the hybrid).


Feelin' fine Friday
The legs had earned an easy morning, so there was some upper-body strength work and a 2-mile walk with the hubby and Max (also a 1-mile walk at work). 


Then, after work, I took Fritz out for a 10-mile ride. He'd been a little under the weather, recently, so the hubby had taken him to the bike shop for a quick check-up (turns out he just needed a screw tightened somewhere). This ride felt so refreshing! Seriously, this is my kind of happy hour.


A day of remembrance 
Every year, on September 11th, I find some way to honor the day. I have run (or walked) for 9.11 minutes. Last year, with my stress fracture, I biked for 9.11 miles. I have run 9.11 miles in the past, and it only seemed fitting to do that again this year. Barb was on board with the idea, so her and I met up at 6:00 and got it done on a beautiful morning. Like most people, I will never forget where I was (or what I was doing) when the attacks happened. As frightening and heart-breaking as those events were, 20 years ago, I did find a lot of strength in how our country (and other countries) pulled together and got through such a tragic experience. It's my hope that humanity can rise to the current challenges we're facing and find some sense of unity again.
  

So, for the first time in several weeks, my mileage was back to a more desirable maintenance level. I'd like to get back to running four days each week, but there's really no big hurry (nor an immediate need) for that. It will happen when it happens. This week saw just over 21 miles of running, and all things are feeling pretty good. Walking (finally) got back in the groove and had approximately 22 miles this week. And biking. Sigh. While the recent biking streak did come to an end (it had only been going for about three weeks LOL), this week's 50 miles all felt fantastic. I'm so grateful to have biking in my little arsenal of fitness favorites, especially for recovery purposes. 

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

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair! Did I mention there was a big football game happening this week? Yes? I'm a strong believer in paying homage to one's alma mater, so I wear a lot of black and gold during the football and basketball seasons.


I played around a little bit with an old pair of Brooks Adrenalines and a fairly new pair of Brooks Glycerins this week. I swapped out the laces between the shoes and Sharpie'd-up the soles of the Glycerins to give them a little funky punch of pink. The thing is, after Monday's 7-miler, there were traces of the pink on my ankles. Oops!

  

Finally, the climax of this Black and Gold Week was the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game Saturday afternoon (trust me, this is like the Super Bowl for the state of Iowa LOL). Never mind the fact that I'd already run 9.11 miles. We tailgated with the two daughters (and the older one's new husband), then the hubs and I headed to the game. While our son (now living in Maryland) is also an Iowa alumni, our two daughters are ISU Cyclones (one is a 2016 grad; the other is starting her senior year). It was a long day, the temps were very warm (upwards of 90F, with all kinds of humidity), and we had a good 3+ miles of walking to and from Jack Trice Stadium. But, the Iowa Hawkeyes came away with (another) victory against their big instate rival. 


So, the big game is over and done, and my week ended on a very happy note. All is well, no regrets.

How did your week play out? Any big training runs that need mentioning? Any weekend racing? Did you do any kind of a tribute for September 11th?

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32 comments:

  1. I love pink details that you added to your new kicks. Congrats on your 10k! I did a few virtual 5k's on weekdays last year so that I didn't have to give up my weekend long run. I always felt a little bada$$ for starting the workday with a race.

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    1. Yes, I felt a little bada$$, too, after my 10K on Monday ;-)

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  2. Sounds like so much fun tailgaiting and going to the game! We haven't been to a football game with my daughter yet, but I'm hoping that will happen soon. Good job on this week's workouts. It is a wonderful feeling when the bike comes back from the shop!

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    1. Oh, we love college football! It's so great to have it back this year! I was really nervous the bike needed a major repair, so it was a relief when the hubby said it took the guy less than 10 minutes to assess the problem and have it fixed.

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  3. I was a tailgating novice until Thing 1 introduced me to game day at Georgia Tech. SO much fun! Glad you were able to knock out the Air Force 10k at least. It escapes me how so many "smaller" marathons had to cancel while the World Marathon Majors are happening. It doesn't compute.

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    1. Yes, tailgating is a lot of fun, even on an especially hot/humid day ;-) I think the Air Force had to cancel (actually, it went virtual) was due to it being on government land with the Air Force base. They didn't have any flexibility with swinging that as an in-person event (again) this year ;-(

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  4. The only tailgating I’ve done was at my son’s lacrosse games — lots of fun! I am so lucky my husband is my own personal bike mechanic. Sometimes I have to discourage him from making it “better” but he definitely keeps it in good working order.

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    1. My hubby knows some of the basics regarding the bike, but this had him baffled. I'm just so grateful it was a minor fix!

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  5. Oh darn- I ran 9 miles today and didn't even think to make it 9.11. I love that idea- I'll do it next year. Next year 9/11 will be on a Sunday (I think) so I won't forget (I work Saturday mornings so all my longer runs are on Sundays.)
    As you know my son is at Baylor and I'm trying to get him interested in the football games! He's such a music nerd (he would be the first to admit it so I'm not being mean.) He didn't get tickets in time for the first one, but I'm nudging him to go to the next one. College football is so fun!

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    1. Does Baylor have a marching band? That may be a good angle ;-) I was in band all through school, but shunned it when I went off to college. I regret that now, because Iowa has a HUGE alumni band that always marches in the Homecoming parade and has a designated spot for the Homecoming football game. They all look like they're having a blast!

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  6. College tailgating is always a good time! Great job getting the Air Force 10K done!

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    1. Well, it's no secret we love our Iowa sporting events! Tailgating is just a bonus, but we enjoy watching them on tv when we can't be at the actual game.

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  7. Oh man, I haven't tailgated in sooooo long!! I am jealous - sounds like fun. Nice job on the 10K!

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    1. We didn't have any football games last year (thanks to Covid), so it had been two years forus...but it all came back pretty easily ;-)

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  8. LOL about the pink ankles!

    I'd like to get back to 4 x week running, too, but somehow I don't see that happening in the immediate future. But you never know.

    Sounds like a great week, Kim, congrats on the (virtual) 10k+ & the 9.11 miles. I just kept the day in my thoughts.

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    1. Yeah, the pink ankles! Apparently, I was shuffling the feet a bit (probably in the first couple miles).

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  9. Good job on the virtual Air Force 10 K (and more).
    In Italy people don't follow football, most of us (99%) get crazy for soccer (I don't). However USA football looks like a very beautiful sport.
    Running 11.9 miles (or 11.9 K) is a very good way for the Tribute.

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    1. Football is pretty big in the US. Soccer definitely has its own fan base, but it doesn't get the accolades that football gets (which is unfortunate).

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  10. that is a thoughtful way to honor 9-11. I was really overtaken with emotion last week visiting there. College football is so much fun!

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    1. Oh gosh, it would really be tough seeing all of the 9-11 stuff in person. Our son-in-law said the Pennsylvania crash happened about 90 minutes from his house! So many people were affected by that day...

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  11. I love your 9.11 mile run tradition. I can't believe it was so hot for the football game! Iowa fans are very passionate :) Great week Kim, thanks for hosting the link-up!

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    1. Collegiate sports are BIG in Iowa because we don't have any professional teams. This rivalry between Iowa and ISU is crazy! No one is going to sty home for that, no matter the weather ;-)

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  12. Sounds like your week worked out well! That was a great idea to run 9.11 miles on Saturday. When it falls on a weekend that works out well, unless you're marathon training and are supposed to run longer than that. Tailgating looks like fun!

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    1. Well, had I been still training for the marathon, I would have found an alternate way to honor it...9.11 minutes of a tempo pace, or 911 "steps" (approximately 75 flights of stairs), a specific workout, or even a bike ride or walk. I'm pretty sentimental ;-)

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  13. Lovely that you did your 9.11 miles, must have felt good to have been able to run it, as well. I had a bit of a an unfortunate day yesterday as having run to parkrun, volunteered and run home I had to take stock and realise I've been running too much and have worn myself out (not sure menopause fatigue is helping, either). Have had to make some decisions and roll things back a bit - disappointing that I'm not invincible, but it seems I'm not!

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    1. I was pleasantly surprised how easy these 9.11 miles felt, given the recent hip/groin discomforts I've had. I guess it was meant to be. And I don't think any of us are invincible LOL

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  14. Great job on your workouts and your virtual 10K last week, Kim! I love that you take your bike out for shorter rides. I have this mentality that if I'm going to go through the hassle of getting all of my bike stuff together for a ride, it needs to be a longer one to be worth it. I need to change that!

    Great win for your alma mater! As you know, I watched the game and was cheering for the Hawkeyes!

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    1. Thanks Deb! I sometimes wonder if the short (less than 10 mile) rides are worth it, but I do know my legs feel so much better afterwards. Plus, for those short rides, I don't really need all the biking gear...I seldom wear the "diaper shorts" and don't wear an official jersey unless I need the pockets for my phone (if I don't feel like wearing a fuel belt for it). Thanks for your support of the Hawkeyes!! Maybe I need to get you a team shirt (?).

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  15. You're so lucky you could get a refund from your race!

    Your Hawkeyes are doing really well this year! I can only hope the Badgers get their act together. Their opponent yesterday didn't give them much of a challenge.

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    1. Fingers crossed I actually get the refund LOL It was almost two years ago that I first registered (for the 2020 event, then deferring that to 2021). We're really glad to have football games back...we'll be heading to Madison Halloween weekend!

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  16. I am always super amazed at how much you pack into one week and you're never tired, lol. I would need a nap at some point.

    I'm glad that you are able to get a refund for the race. A race I originally signed up for in Fall 2019 refuses to give refunds. The race was originally supposed to happen in March 2020 and has now been rescheduled 3 times. The only option is to do it virtually or defer to March 2022. I deferred to next year but who knows if it will actually happen.

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  17. With the time difference we were running together on 911 <3 I really love that.
    COngrats on another solid week and glad Fritz is on the mend.
    Here' s to football season

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