The week in review-Consistency!

So, yeah. Another week is in the wraps. If I had to pick a theme for this past week, it would have to be consistency.

The week started off with a trip to the downtown office building for some stair-training on Monday after work. I have wanted to make this a brick workout (of sorts)....run (literally) from my house to the building, do my stair routine, and then run back home. So far, I'm 0-for-2 on that endeavor. Stay tuned....I promise it will happen.

Ready for the stairs!

Anyways, this was only my second time (this season) working out on the stairways of this building (I routinely do stair-training in my home, though), and I was a little gun-shy after the week prior. I may have kinda/sorta overdid it by doing 16 sets of climbs (80 total flights of stairs) that first week. Even though I felt great, approximately 20 hours later, it was a different story when the dreaded DOMS hit me hard, and my calves were a painful, knotted-up mess. This past week, I did 12 sets (60 total flights). I still felt a good burn, and I was able to "run" most of these sets.

 

Later, I did a quick mile on the 'mill (#nevermissaMonday) and also a some-what intense cardio pyramid workout. All was good, and the DOMS were a no-show.

Want a quick "little" cardio challenge? Give this a whirl!

Tuesdays have been my long-standing arm/shoulder/upper body day. This goes way back to my days of long ago, when I first started doing strength training via P90X. That old habit of  "Tuesday arms,etc." has stuck, and I have the guns to show for it (#bang) (sorry, bad joke).

Wednesday, the temps started to climb. When I got home form work, we were entertaining upper 30-degree temps, so I took it to the streets. Three miles later, I returned home feeling like the caged bird who had been set free. Cabin fever is not my thing, and I have logged more miles than I care to think about on the 'mill in recent weeks.

Ahhhh...outdoor miles!!!!

Thursday also had pleasant temps for Iowa in February, so I met up with my friend, Barb, after work and we did 4 miles at a decent tempo-ish pace. It has been so nice doing all these miles in the daylight! It really is the little things that make me smile.

Barb & I ready for some daylight miles

Those daylight miles became tempo miles...and I had to shed the jacket and do a waist-tie

Finally, the weekend had me lacing up for back-to-back outdoor miles. Saturday, Barb and I ran 6 miles in the early morning sunshine. The temps were in the low 40's, and the wind was minimal. Most of the roads were clear and dry (from all the melted snow and slush).

The sunshine on Saturday was glorious!

Sunday, I waited until late in the afternoon, and did a quick 2-miler, again at a near tempo pace...not sure what is happening with me running faster than normal (no complaints). Typically, I don't do back-to-back running days, but sometimes the weather just beckons me outside. My mileage is still pretty much at the minimum, but will be gradually increasing as I get ready for my spring races. I could just jump right to 10-milers on the weekends, but this year I am committed to doing things gradually. After all, just because I can do certain things, doesn't necessarily mean that I should.

Feeling fine after Sunday's run

On a side note, another fun weekend project that I finished was my first-ever knitted hat!  I have made numerous scarves and sweaters, but have never attempted a hat with double-pointed needles (and a somewhat complicated pattern). The color scheme was my idea (because I'm an #artgeek #colorfreak), and so was the funky pom-pom.

Here's a closer look. I'm not really into skulls and such, but I thought the pattern was cool, and I'm always up for a challenge.

Were you consistent this week with your workouts? How was your weather? Have you ever created any wearable art from yarn?

I'm linking up with the awesome Holly from HoHo Runs  and Tricia from  MissSippiPiddlin  for the Weekly Wrap link-up. Do head over, and checkout what everyone's been up to. You're sure to get some great inspiration!!