Almost Blown Away

Apparently, Winter is refusing to leave the party.

Not only did it gift my area with three (count 'em, THREE!) nasty snow storms the previous week, this week it dropped the temps back to January-like conditions. Oh, and let's not forget about the ever-constant wind.

Let's just say I was not amused. After all, there were several Week of Pi runs on the agenda, and they all needed to happen outdoors...

Before I share all the windy 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 in my little blustery corner of the universe this week:

Spring-ahead Sunday.

Not only had I done my longest run in a long time (eight miles) the day prior, but Saturday afternoon's  snowstorm had left the streets messy. I threw caution to the wind (pun intended), stayed inside, and gave my body some TLC, via yoga. In the afternoon, I took advantage of the sunny skies and walked a couple miles and then saddled-up and did a 12-mile bike ride (obviously indoors).

Never Miss a Monday.

I didn't feel like layering-up and fighting the wind (or possible black ice), so I spent a little more time with Hawkeye (my spin bike). An easy-paced 9-miler sufficed quite nicely for my morning "coffee."

Although it still was cold and windy, it had warmed up (ever so slightly) as the day had worn on. I knew I'd be running daily for the remainder of the week, so I kept Monday's run short (two miles) and got in a 2-mile walk after dinner in the extended daylight.

All Things Pi on this particular Tuesday...

Another crazy cold (and windy) morning, I opted to hit the elliptical for 3.14 miles (about 20 minutes) and then did a real quick 3.14-mile ride on the bike before work. I knew there would be plenty of sunshine, so the lunch hour was the perfect setting for my birthday run. I headed to the lake, in anticipation of some wind shelter. Well, my "wind shelter" plan was such a success, I found myself drastically over-dressed, LOL. I'd rather be too warm than too cold, though, so this was a pretty epic start for all the Week of Pi running that would be happening. I even spotted my first robin!  

 

Heavy on the Walking Wednesday...

Can we talk about the sunrise for a quick minute? Wednesday's was spectacular. So what if the early morning temps were frigid and the wind was fierce. The forecast was promising 50F-ish afternoon temps, so I postponed Wednesday's Pi run for after work. Meanwhile, the 2-mile sunrise walk was legit. Michele and I took a late-morning 1-mile walk (at work), but passed on an afternoon outing due to the wind.

 

After work, the 50F temps were nice, but the 20mph? Not so much. None the less, the run went well and my pace was much faster than it felt (especially on mile-1, which was pretty much straight into the headwind). Another 2-mile walk, after dinner, gave me five total walking miles for the day. 

Thankful Thursday.

The forecast was showing rain, starting mid-morning and continuing all day, with snow in the late afternoon/evening (#ugh). That meant my best (if not only) option was to get the Pi run done in the wee hours, before work. I also wanted to do some cycling, so I got up really early and rode 10 miles (with some Tabata and HIIT thrown into the mix) before heading out for the run. I hadn't done any strength work yet this week (due to the focus being the daily Pi runs), so I did a couple arms/shoulders workouts after getting back home from dinner out with friends. And the snow did hit...golfball-sized snowflakes, leaving the lawns white and the streets (again) covered with heavy slush.

A Festive St. Patrick's Friday!

...and with all the previous evening's snow, sleet, and slush, I didn't want to venture out in the dark come Friday morning. Besides, the temps were sub-freezing and windy (I know, #BigSurprise). So, the next best thing was to hit the bike (15 miles, including a short Tabata workout) before heading to PT.

Despite the cold weather, we did have sunshine all day (until late afternoon, LOL). I had been dreading this particular Pi run because I was not looking forward to fighting the wind. Also, my body was feeling a bit tired from the morning's PT session. But, once I got out the door, things felt progressively better with each mile (maybe it was the obnoxious shamrock-bedazzled leggings?). This was Day-4...already past the halfway hump!

A Simply Sinister Saturday

Waking up to temps in the low-teens (with a sub-ZERO wind chill and 20mph wind), I elected to keep it indoors for the morning. How does a 100-flight stair climb grab you? Followed by a 10-mile (indoor, obviously) bike ride? And a short arm/shoulder strength extravaganza? Yeah...all of those were part of my avoiding the ridiculousness outdoors.

After several hours of procrastination and dread, I finally sucked-it-up, laced-up, and headed outside. Yes, the wind was a beast, and it felt like I had an extra 10 pounds of gear layered on me...but it wasn't as treacherous as anticipated. In fact, I finished with the exact finish time as Friday's run...weird because I ran an entirely different route, even if it was the same distance.

and Sunday?

Knock wood, the forecast is showing a return to "seasonal" temps and weather conditions. That day's  Pi run will feel like a cake walk! There will also be some walking and (most likely) easy-paced indoor cycling as well. 

So, how did this final week of winter play out? Running definitely had an increase in mileage, but I attribute that to the Week of Pi antics - just under 21 miles in the running shoes (and all outdoors, thank you very much). Walking took a major hit, due to the insane weather (only 10 miles). Biking was on par with 59 miles. As for strength work, there were only a couple of short upper-body sessions. I guess I can count my PT session as lower-body work, and also Saturday's 100 flights of stairs deserve a nod.  

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

Laughing at Winter

Leprechaun Chase 10K - 2023 recap

Returning to the Sunrise

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. Although there is very little Irish lineage in my blood, I certainly pretend to be a full-blooded Irish lass on St. Patirck's Day. 

In case you've been under a rock, most probably know my birthday was this week. Not everyone wants to bring attention to adding another "number" to their age, but I believe it's cause for celebration. I also like the fact that my birthday coincides with a quirky "national" day, so I have a lot of fun in playing with the numbers 3.14 (BTW, I was a math dork as a kid, so it's only appropriate I celebrate National Day of Pi since it lands on my actual birthday). I was treated to a wonderful dinner with family, and all three kids were able to grace the table. They truly are my three greatest gifts. 

Lastly, this year's NCAA tournament is looking like a repeat of last year with all kinds of  upsets, already in the first round! As this post goes live, my championship team, UCONN, is still in it...but the other three brackets are jacked. I'm just glad it's all in good fun, LOL.

So, there you have it! Somehow, I'm surviving Winter's last hurrah, and am ecstatic to have it vacate the premises this next week. Anyone else?

How did your last full week of winter go? Did you get served some extreme weather as well? Did you wear green on St. Patrick's Day? Any races on the roster...this weekend or upcoming? 

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