Fall...It's-a-Comin'

It's that time of the year that I dread (almost) the most....the end of summer.

Granted the majority of my runner friends are ecstatic to usher in some cooler weather and kick summer to the curb...but not me. Well, I do appreciate the less intense heat and humidity, but I have a special place in my heart for all things summer.

None the less, I live in Iowa. We get to experience the change of seasons. As much as I love summer, though, I doubt I'd love it so dearly if I lived in it year-round. Besides, getting to experience both extremes of weather reinforces just how much I truly love summer more than winter.

As we embark on the end of summer, I thought I'd share a few realities and some coping strategies to ease the transition into the cooler temps (and darker days) of the fall season. Just as we need some "easing in" when the mercury rises, it's also best to be prepared for the shift towards the cooler days ahead. Read on!

Rebounding!

Can you say Rebounding!

After a week of playing host to the virus, and isolating myself from most of the world, I was ready to be back in action. Thankfully, the virus hadn't kept me down (much) in the previous week, so resuming my fitness routine wasn't a big adjustment.

I can assure you, though, it felt awesome to be back on the "other side" of Covid.  

August's 'Fessions? Full Tilt!

There's nothing like a good cleansing session at the 'Fessional.

Let's just say that things have been a little crazy, and my world has been a little topsy-turvy recently. And, the dwindling daylight has got me in a bit of a funk (seriously, I really hadn't much noticed the days getting obviously shorter until this week!).

Unloading a few 'fessions does wonders for one's mind, body and sole(s), if you know what I mean.

Favorite Summer Must-Haves

It's true, we all have our seasonal favorites when it comes to fitness gear.

The summer season is no exception. While some of these favorites have been around for awhile, in my fitness gear arsenal, there are a few new-to-me discoveries that have been big players this summer.

Care to hear about a few of mine? Read on... 

It Is What It Is

It is what it is, and this past week was its own breed of something.

Hey, if nothing else, we gain our most strength by overcoming obstacles and unforeseen struggles along the way. Life would be quite boring without a few challenges, am I right?

Such was the case in my little world. Nothing I couldn't face, and nothing to keep me down. But there definitely were some moments...

Running & Racing Through the Alphabet

With all the sharing of places and spaces and races, throughout the alphabet, it was only a matter of time before I joined the party.

Most of us take great pride in taking our running with us when we travel. Besides, we all know the best way to explore a new-to-us location is via the running shoes. 

So, buckle-up and get ready! I'll take you on a journey of where my shoes, legs, and Garmin have taken me...

and we're Back in Action

After a scaling things back, in the previous week, this past week had me back in action.

The weather played nice, for the most part, granting some cool mornings and not-too-dreadful daytime temps on several occasions. The humidity was still a bit balmy, but that's all part of the summer-in-Iowa gig. As long as we're not blessed with both high temps and heavy humidity, it's a win-win in my book.

RAGBRAI for a day: Take-2

Yes, I did it again.

With my love for all things cycling front and center, my heart was leading me to do it again. Not an entire week, but simply (I use that term quite lightly) for a mere day. 

It wasn't just any day, either. It was the final day of a famous 7-day trek (of numerous cyclists) across Iowa. 

I loaded up my hybrid, Krystal, and we made it happen.

RAGBRAI for a day...

All. Is. Well.

Another week down, and another recovery session in the arsenal.

Funny how it seems like (almost) every-other week I'm recovering from one event or another. 

This week? It was all about the legs. Everything actually felt great following the previous week's high-mileage biking, but I knew to keep things low-key anyways. Call me crazy.

And all went well. 

A Full Cup

There's the catch phrase "my cup runneth over," and I can relate (in a very good way).

It's been a busy summer, and I know it's far from over (at least in my world). There's been plenty of fitness, lots of fun, numerous beautiful sunrises to witness and some great milestones achieved.

Also, given the time of the month, it's a perfect time to gather, grab some coffee (or any beverage of choice) and have a gab session. I'm game...are you?

Seize the Century!

I came. I rode. I conquered. But I didn't do it alone.

As most know, my love for cycling has exploded in recent years. Last summer, I got the wild notion of doing a century ride (and so did a few of my friends). After all, I had ridden 88 miles (and change) in late July, for RAGBRAI. Surely an extra 12 miles weren't very far out of reach.

After almost a year of talking, scheming, and a lot more biking, my first 100-mile ride came to fruition on Wednesday, July 27th. 

And, here's the story...