A Wee Little Coffee Chat

As luck would have it, the first weekend of the month is upon us (and so is a fun little Irish-themed holiday, in a couple of weeks).

We all know what that means, right? The Ultimate Coffee Date is on the roster for many of us...a chance to gather, virtually, over a warm beverage of choice, and have some chatter. We can talk running and fitness, or whatever we so choose.

What's there to chat about this month? 

I'm so glad you asked...

Allow me to begin by mentioning the weather. I'll never brag about the consistently inconsistent weather of Iowa, because it's been all over the place. February was especially cold (no surprise there), but Momma N threw in a few days of warm-for-winter weather to give us hope (perhaps?). Then, we turned the calendar to March, and she treated us to a fast-forward to Spring experience. She's played this game before, so I know it's not going to last, but I sincerely hope the worst is behind us.

7-Day Forecast for Central Iowa, ending on March 4, 2022

With this week's warmer weather, I was able to finally wear my Key West shirt! Quite possibly a #FirstWorldProb (at least in my little world of fitness), but I'd been waiting for almost an entire month for the perfect opportunity to break it in. Wednesday's 61F after-work temps were too perfect...so I layered the (long-sleeved) shirt over a tank, and even wore shorts for the first time in 2022 (in Iowa, that is). A small victory, but a fun one!

Next, I'd share my February fitness stats. I'm not one to play the comparison game, with others nor with myself. But, I am happy to see my numbers are bigger, this year, compared to those from a year ago. Keep in mind, a year ago I still was keeping my on-foot activity pretty conservative (remember that stress fracture from a few months prior), so February 2022's running and walking mileage upswing was expected. The biking, though, showed a significant increase (from 160 to 268). That trend has  continued, from last year, as I have been incorporating more biking into my regimen; not only for cardio and leg strength, but also for recovery on my non-running days. No regrets!

Speaking of biking, my January totals were strong (142 miles), but they were not acknowledged by Peloton. In other words, I didn't take many Pelo cycling classes, while in Florida, because I didn't need to, LOL. For those who aren't "on Peloton," we get a monthly progress report, which itemizes all the activity (classes taken, daily streaks of continuous activity, etc.)...and my January report showed my cycling was markedly down from the previous month (December). Oh well. Of January's 142 biking miles, a measly 22 were via Pelo classes (taken after we'd returned, in the final two days of the month)...and February's 268 is just about doubled that. I guess I'm back "on track" with my Pelo biking (by default since it's too cold and treacherous to do any outdoor biking right now). But, guess what? Once the weather gets significantly warmer, those Pelo miles are going to take another nose dive, LOL.

Lastly, the third annual Week of Pi Challenge begins on Tuesday! Obviously not everyone's cup of tea (or piece of pie, LOL), this is a yearly challenge I take on in celebration of my Pi Day birthday (March 14th). Simply put, I run 3.14 miles every day, for seven days, ending on March 14th (2021's recap is HERE, and 2020's is HERE). Last year, a lot of friends joined me...some ran the entire week, some ran just a few of the days, and some just ran the 3.14 miles for the grand finale. I think a few peeps even walked the distance. You can follow along with the #WeekOfPi hashtag (on Instagram) whether you take part in the fun or not. 

Well, I've chatted long enough. Your turn...

What would you share, if we were clustered around a table, mugs in hand.? Has Spring sprung in your area yet? Any upcoming events? Care to Pi with me next week? 

 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 Michelle, Renee, Darlene, Jenn and Zenaida for the Fit Five Friday Link-up.

By the way...are you following me on social media?

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