Can't Stop; Won't Stop

There's the saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Or, in my case, the tough keep going, LOL.

Yeah, well, this was one such week. Momma N didn't feel like cooperating, unforeseen hurdles popped up along the way, my lower back decided it was time to have attitude, and there was a Friday the 13th to beat all. It's a good thing we have our fitness vices on standby, am I right?

Alas, things were challenging, but I kept on keeping on...

Before I dis on the crazy deets, 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 crazy corner of the universe:

Sunday: oops, another Slight Sleep-in Sunday

I'm not sure how this has (somewhat suddenly) become a Sunday morning thing, but (again) I succumbed to the warm confines of the bed and didn't rise and shine as early as usual. Honestly, all is well...I realize if my body is feeling tired, it's best to simply honor the fatigue and indulge in a little extra shuteye. Once I was up and moving, I hit the bike for 15 miles of pedal power (because who needs the real caffeine anyways?). There also was an invigorating 3-mile walk in the afternoon, while chatting with a friend on the phone. 

Never miss a Monday!

A stretch move I've been doing, via PT, is the good morning. It's a simple forward-fold, with a bar held over your shoulders for stability. My lower back was feeling especially cranky upon wake-up. A few minutes of these stretches had things feeling much better. I also hopped on the bike for seven miles of cycling (via  Peloton) and did a short arm/shoulder workout before heading to the office.

Over lunch, I opted to get the Monday run done while there was plenty of sunshine. The temps were flirting with low-40F conditions, and the wind was mild for two quick miles of runching. If only this kind of January weather could stick around until mid-April. After work, I had a chat with Deborah while power-walking a couple of miles before dinner.

Typical Tuesday...sort of...

This day had stress written all over it (in boldface, with a permanent marker...for lack of a better metaphor, LOL). I got in five "miles" of cardio on the elliptical (in the early morning) and a stress-burner 2-mile power walk (in the late afternoon).

Double Workout Wednesday

Have I ever mentioned how much I love HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts? The morning started with a couple of Peloton cycling classes, one of which gave me a good dose of those feel-so-good HIIT vibes(10 total miles on the bike). Next, at PT, I did another mile on the bike (for a warm-up) and we focused on back strength and stretching. The day temps were cold, but sunny and calm (in other words, single-digit wind), so a friend and I were able to squeeze in a 1-mile walk mid-afternoon.

 

By the time my workday ended, though, the clouds and mist came in and the sun went hiding. I wanted to go for a longer run, or else I could have done another 2-miler over lunch. Instead, I headed out around 5:15. Although it felt cold and damp, this 5K endeavor really went well. I would have liked to have run further, but needed to get back home for a phone call. Anyways, that was 3.1 miles for the #WednesdayWin. 

A very Thankful Thursday

Truth be told, I'm thankful on a daily basis (I think it has something to do with my #GlassHalfFull outlook). But, starting the day (at 05:00, none the less) with a friend is a gift. Deb and I rallied for 75ish minutes of chatter and laughs, via FaceTime (and 16 miles of pedaling). I also added on an upper-body workout and a core routine afterwards. After work, I layered-up and bundled-up for a short 1-mile walk through the 'hood (the daily #OptOutside streak is still going strong).

Finally Friday...

I don't very often wakeup feeling more fatigued than when I'd gone to bed, but my sleep was all jacked-up this week. Most evenings had me falling asleep on the couch and waking up after midnight...only to then lie awake for a long while before eventually falling back to sleep. Come Friday morning, I thought it best to pass on the routine "cardio breakfast," and instead kept things low-key and low-impact. I stacked a Barre workout with a core workout and finished with an upper-body strength session (all on the Peloton app).

 A Saturday Switch-up...

Having spent the night in Des Moines (see below), I was eager to check-out the city in my running gear. I'd learned of weekly Saturday morning group runs, via a local running store. The store was less than a mile from the daughter's place, so my plan was to walk to the store, run the 5-mile route, then walk back. This week's theme was "eagles," and we were encouraged to be on the lookout for bald eagles along the trail portion of the routes (there also was a 3-mile option). Although the temps were crazy cold, there was enough wind shelter from the downtown buildings, and also the trees along the trail, so I never felt uncomfortably chilled until the walk back home afterwards. The five miles felt good, the sunshine was much appreciated and several bald eagles were spotted. Side note: one does not run near the state capitol without pausing for a selfie, right?

 and about Sunday?

After returning home, Saturday afternoon, from all my Des Moines shenanigans, my left foot was feeling funky. The "top" of it had some odd discomforts (?) when I'd step "down" on the heel. I don't know if I strained it, while running on Saturday morning, or if it was just a weird tweak of some sort. It felt fine in the evening, but I think I'm going to go easy on it in the morning and summon the bike for some early morning cardio fun. The forecast is looking cold and windy (though sunny), so maybe I'll venture out for a walk after lunch. Stay tuned...

Despite the crazy stuff this week, I'm happy with all the workouts that saw me through any and all turmoil. Running didn't have especially high numbers, but the 10 miles run all felt good. Walking (again) is really taking a hit lately, with 12 miles this week (I blame the cold temps and psychotic wind). Biking was decent, though on the conservative end of the spectrum, with 49 miles. The upper-body workouts continue to be my favorite strength work, but I'll be phasing in some more lower-body focused work in the next few weeks.  

In case you missed on checking the blog this week, you didn't miss anything because there was only last Sunday's WRD post:

New Year; Same Me

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. What do you think of this puffer vest, with its mix of colors and funky patterns? Most know I'm not a bland and boring gal when it comes to color, so this puffer is a fun option on a cold day. I also love the numerous colors that I can highlight if I don't want to go the "bland and boring" route with black. 

I'm not catching too many sunrises these days, but Wednesday morning had a beauty. I grabbed this pic as I was walking into my PT's gym. Sometimes, it's the clouds that make the sunrise so breathtaking.

The Garmin badges continue to make me smile. The Active January popped up on Wednesday, following the morning's bike ride. The Step into 2023 showed up on Monday, after I'd finished my 2-miler over lunch. 

As mentioned, Friday was definitely Friday the 13th on so many levels. In a nutshell, the younger daughter had car trouble, and the other daughter had to help with transporting her back and forth (after the compromised car had been towed). I had a busy day at the office, and a small crisis with the turtle's aquarium as I was heading out the door. But, somehow the universe righted itself and all three of us were able to have a fabulous girls night out at an 80's tribute concert in downtown Des Moines. I don't know how much dancing we did, but my Garmin showed I surpassed my daily "goal" in steps (and there had only been a short walk with Max prior to the evening). No wonder I needed a nap Saturday afternoon!

Whew! That was quite a rundown of all the week's antics. Here's hoping this next week is a little less exciting, LOL. 

How was your week? Are you keeping active in the cold weather, or do you find yourself scaling back a bit in the off-season?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter