Because I Can

Well, it was a week!

The weather was very seasonal…hot (at times), cool (on a few token mornings), and humid (as per usual). There was a little bit of rain, but it was in moderation. There still is a plentitude of standing water in the fields and streams, though the levels appear to be gradually dwindling.

Myself? Getting outside on the daily, as usual, was without question. I may be in denial in acknowledging  the slightly lesser daylight, but I’m definitely soaking up as much of summer as possible.

Before I dive into the deets from this week’s antics, 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 blog as well...please don't link-drop & dash ;-)

Anyways, here’s what went down in my little world of fun and fitness this week:

Sunday - no time for sitting still

This day saw plenty of action! The morning saw a 2-mile walk before church. BTW, if you want a fool-proof guarantee to avoid rain, bring along an umbrella (seriously, it works every time!). Max also took me for a couple of short walks.

Then I decided to go for a 20-mile ride. The temps were balmy, but there was a gentle breeze. Total perfection. 

And let’s not forget the Sturgeon Moon. In addition to an evening 2-mile walk, I also seized the opportunity to  knock-out two more miles of action, via the running shoes. After a failed attempt, on Saturday morning (check last week’s WRD post), I was blessed with a near-miss late Sunday evening. The moon kept playing Peek-a-Boo, but I was able to snag an authentic full moon selfie after my run. Totals for the day: walking-5 miles, biking-20 miles, and running-2 miles. Believe it or not, I slept like a rock that evening! 

Never miss a Monday (even if I you keep it short)

After my action-packed Sunday, I kept things very lowkey on Monday. I kept my Monday run short, like only a single mile, LOL…but the sunrise was total perfection. I got in a conservative lunchtime walk and a short walk with Max after work (two total miles).

Taking charge Tuesday

Waking-up to rain, I opted for a quick 5-mile ride on the spin bike, then knocked-out some upper-body work (Peloton app). Although the rain had long since moved on, I hit the skywalk for another 1.5-mile lunchtime walk (the humidity was a little steep outdoors). Max took me for a short 1/2-mile walk after work, then I headed back out for 2-1/2 bonus miles after dinner.

A Wonderful Wednesday

It was just Bill and myself this week, but the 4:45AM temps were wonderful! He and I ran the 3-mile route, then I continued on for two more miles after he headed home. There was more walking over lunch (1-1/2 miles) and approximately two miles of State Fair waking (and some rock concert dancing, LOL). 

Thankful Thursday

Even after a late evening, the early morning hour of power with Deb still happens! After an hour of walking, amidst a couple of beautiful sunrises, her and I parted ways for the day.

Then, it was time to hit the weights. My hip “vicinity” was feeling a little funky (I still haven't had a chance to snag some new running shoes, #MyBad), so I kept the strength work above-the-waist. As per usual, there was more lunchtime walking (two miles) and evening walking (two miles as well) 

Friday - low-impact cardio for the win

Oops, someone may have accidentally fallen back to sleep briefly. I barely had time for a quick 1-mile walk (amidst yet another beautiful sunrise) before heading to the office. I got in another walk over lunch, and a couple more miles of State Fair walking (and a little more rock concert dancing as well).

Long Run Saturday and then some…

Oof, it was a sticky and (potentially) icky day. The temps were already sitting at 75F (humidity was a mere 100%) when I headed out for my run. Again, the sunrise was striking, but my clothes were extremely sweat-drenched after those six miles. A short while later, I loaded Krystal in the car, and we met Carol for 47ish miles along the Raccoon River Valley and High Trestle Trails. Let’s just say the temps were 20-degrees warmer by the time we finished. We made several stops (for hydration and food), so our little ride took us around seven hours from start to finish. Still a fun day nonetheless!

Anyways, this was a fun week! Some of the workouts may have looked a little daring, given the weather conditions, but I’m thankful for all that I got done. I’m ever grateful for my heat tolerance, which enables me to face the heat without issues.  Running saw 14 miles. Walking logged 27 miles. Biking shone, with 72 total miles. The daily wall sits and planks are still going strong. All is well. 

 

…and what’s the plan for Sunday?

I’m meeting some friends mid-morning for more biking. The weather conditions are looking very similar to Saturday, so I expect there will be some serious sweating happening.

In case you missed out, here’s what went down on the blog:

Gimme Me Some Summer

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. When there’s a tight schedule following work (picking up the daughter’s sweet pup, racing home, then catching the shuttle to the Iowa State Fair), the concert outfit does double-duty as workday attire. I simply added a colorful cardi (because the office A/C is freezing, LOL), and all was well.

I’m not sure what’s up with Wordle, but there have been some strange words as of late. I also have gotten very lucky guessing the word of the day after striking-out with the letters (I’m looking at you, LEVEL). 

Garmin was generous with the badges on Saturday. I knew about the Weekend 5K, but the Cycling Stage-3 showed up a little earlier than anticipated. I like it when that happens.

So, that’s the latest!

How was your week? Any fitness highlights? Hot weather? Humid conditions? Upcoming races?

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