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Sunday, February 5, 2017

Wind is a 4-letter word....


Well, I declare WIND to be the theme for the past week. 

UGH. Momma N is really having some attitude (and she's giving me some as well).


The week started with decent temps (mid-40's) on Monday. I didn't get home until until after 5:00 from work, so I had limited daylight at my disposal. I was so excited to finally have a #nevermissaMonday run outside, though, that I ran three miles instead of the usual single mile. Even with the pleasant temps, there still was wind to battle, so I did a little layering experiment....I wore two fleece-lined layers under my (summer) windbreaker jacket instead of a "winter" top layer (fleece jacket or puffer vest). Surprisingly, I was a bit warm! The thing is, the windbreaker keeps the wind OUT, but the sweat stays IN (even with tech gear). Oh well, I wasn't uncomfortable, and it was only three miles, so it was not a big deal.
Yes, you can wear a summer jacket in the chill of winter
After having run the previous three days (outside in the wind, none the less), I was ready for some "inside" time on Tuesday. I did my 30 minutes of cardio (courtesy of 'Milly because it was cold and windy outside) and did some intermittent arm work while in motion. 
It's not everyday (or evening) that your weights perfectly coordinate with your outfit
Wednesday was another day inside (sort of an active recovery/rest day). I walked for 30 minutes with 'Milly (again, because of the cold and windy temps outside...can you see a pattern here?).
Planking and Push-ups and Cardio...oh my!
Thursday, oh glorious Thursday! Another long day at work had me getting home around dinner time, and it also was another cold and windy day (I know, #shocker). Not too eager to lace up and head outside, I fired up 'Milly...again. I'm working on building my base back up, and really wanted to do 5-6 miles but didn't know if I was mentally ready for those kind of miles on the 'mill, especially after a busy day at the office.
that would be my PMS (Post 'Mill Sweat)
In keeping with my marathon training routine, I did a few warm-up stretches and ran the first mile easy (speed set on 5.5). I paused the treadmill, got off and did a few minutes of dynamic stretches, and when I returned, I upped the speed to 6. I ran those next four miles at progressively faster speeds, ending with the 'mill set on 7. I also had the incline on 2, so there was a bit of an elevation gain. I ended with a 1/4 mile cool-down. WHEW! Even though I ended at 5 miles (5.25 total miles, including the cool-down), I felt like a beast (a very sweaty beast) for what I'd accomplished. For someone who detests almost everything about the 'mill, this felt like I'd run double the distance and twice the speed than what the monitor indicated.    

Friday was another day of active recovery and rest, and another long day at the office (a co-worker has been on vacation this week, so I've been helping "share the load" by covering her emails). I did my daily "challenge" work (details below) and got in the spirit of Wear Red Day for my #FridayFashion post on Instagram and Pinterest (by the way, are you following me ----> click HERE for Instagram and HERE for Pinterest).


Saturday brought with it MORE cold temps and crazy wind. Seriously. The wind was out of the S-SW, so Barb and I headed due south (you know, to just get it over with) towards the lake, ran a couple laps around the lake (somewhat sheltered from the wind), then headed back home (with a much earned tailwind). Six total miles, but it felt much longer due to the crazy headwind in those first two miles.  
Yes, it was another cold & windy excursion in the running shoes
Finally, Sunday we had SUNSHINE! We have not seen that beautiful, golden orb in the sky all week. Although my body was still a little achy from Saturday's jaunt in the wind, it was total bliss to run a few miles while basking in the sun's rays.

So what if there was an itsy bit of wind? We had sunshine!
My mileage is slowly inching back up to a solid base (18 miles this past week, Monday-Sunday). I have a 5-mile race next weekend, a 10K a month later, and a 10-miler the following week.Those events will usher me nicely into marathon training mode. I'll also be doing some stair training in the next couple months in preparation for the Fight for Air Climb (Des Moines) on April 9th. Time to get busy!

In other news:
I unveiled my February challenges/goals: 
Care to join me? I'm still doing daily planking (but didn't feel the need to highlight it since it's such a normal routine for me), and I'm dropping the daily cardio to 20 minutes (from January's 30 minutes) to allow for the extra leg/ab work.
Care to join me? 
There's been a thing going around on Instagram where runners have been asked to share 10 non-running related facts about themselves. I was tagged, so I played along:


And, lastly, I have been sporting a new 'do for a month or so. I have been doing some different things with it (wearing it "down,"or clipping up the bangs, etc.), but have not experimented with "beachy waves," so I played with my straightener (I know, an oxymoron for what I actually use it for) and added some waves. What do you think? I'm always amazed that my hair seems to look longer when it's got some curls going on...shouldn't it look shorter?  



Tell me about your week! How were the temps? Did you get outside? Did you wear red for Wear Red Day?

In case you missed them, here's what I posted last week:
Perseverance...while inside
Making the Grade, Back on Track
Short-term challenges vs. Long-term Goals

I'm linking this post with some marvelous ladies...do head over and check out not only their blogs, but also all the blogs in their link-ups. There's a ton of inspiration awaiting you!

Thanks to Holly and Tricia for hosting the Weekly Wrap link-up
and thanks to Ilka and Angela for hosting the Sunday Fitness and Food link-up




47 comments:

  1. I honestly don't even remember our wind this week. I ran inside twice, though. The one day I ran outside in the middle of the week it was cold and I was grumpy. Saturday was much better. :)

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  2. Haha! You saw me at my finest yesterday--no makeup and wearing my glasses! I'm surprised you didn't scream in terror and hang up! LOL!

    I ran a fast 4 this morning, but I was exhausted after battling that wind! I hope it's not windy for our 10 miler.

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    1. Well, even if it's windy for our race, we'll both be well-trained for it #glasshalffull

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  3. I am just so dang thankful of the weather we have. It's going to be in the mid to upper 70s this week! "Summer jacket" ...what's that? Hahaha No such thing down here in Mississippi!

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  4. I do not leave the house without mascara and some sort of lip gloss. You never know when an instagram moment might happen right?! Wind ugh makes a huge difference and we've also had so many gray days hoping February is better

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    1. The sun certainly made a huge difference today compared to yesterday (and, actually, the entire week)

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  5. I hear ya about the wind. Even when the sun is out, the wind can be brutal. I didn't run for a few days because of the wind so after taking some days off, I knew it was time. I bundled up and looked like I could have been a burglar but I was warm enough and that's all that mattered.

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  6. Yes, WIND is a 4-letter word! I've never tried to figure out which direction it's coming from to plan a run. Often it seems like there's a head wind in both directions! Love your monthly goals but can't remember to keep up with them. :-/

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    1. The wind is such a game-changer! A lot of times, I can't figure out which direction it's blowing from either. The head winds are tough, but I've had cross-winds that have nearly knocked me over, too!

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  7. I hate the wind. Even if its nice and sunny the wind can be so deceiving as to how it actually feels out there. Running against the wind is one of the most brutal things ever.

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    1. The wind is flat-out tough...even in warm temps, it's just a cruel force to fight LOL

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  8. Well, I live in Florida so we definitely have good temps this time of year, but I feel ya on the wind! last Monday morning I went out and did 4 miles and 2 of those miles were into a direct headwind- it was cold and felt so hard to keep a pace that would have been easy for me otherwise!

    I admire your ability to do a lot of training on the treadmill. I hate treadmills. I think if I had the option I'd run outside in almost everything except thunderstorms to avoid having to run on the treadmill!

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    1. Well, the treadmill training is a total LAST resort. This is the most I've been on it (since my first year in running shoes...12 years ago), and it's not been enjoyable

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  9. Perfect title for me today. It's really windy and I plan to run later... makes 3 miles feel like 6.

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  10. Hooray for sunshine! That's always uplifting! Great job on your outdoor and indoor running! We had nice weather last week and the sun is out again today. I hope it stays that way for both of us! Have a great week!

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  11. I tried to comment last night at home on my laptop and couldn't (I've had this trouble before on your blog). Just thought I'd mention it. It wants me to prove I'm not a robot but doesn't give me the opportunity to do so. Anyhoo...

    RAIN is a four letter word as well. I'm very jealous of your sunshine. Your hair is always so cute. I need a haircut but am experiencing FONP (Fear Of No Ponytail). Speaking of oxymorons... Summer Jacket. In my world, that doesn't compute. LOL. I hope you know I'm just messing with you! Thanks for linking, Kim!

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    1. That's strange about the robot thing....I've never noticed that (but, I've never tried commenting on MY blog LOL). Weird... But YES, RAIN is another evil 4-letter word. I love the FONP! ;-)

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  12. Well, I'd call your hair wavy, not curly. When it's wet, my hair is MUCH longer than when dry -- exactly because of the curls.

    I fear I'm going to have to spend way too much time on the TM this week. Cold rain, freezing rain, snow, time constraints . . . well, it makes us tougher, right?

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    1. Ha ha....with my bone-straight hair, the slightest hint of "non-straight" is curly to me LOL

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  13. wind is totally a four letter word!!! give me cold, heat, rain, snow and I'm find. give me wind and I struggle!!!!
    you did a great job this week battling the weather. Loved the 10 non running things about yourself btw!
    hope you have a great week ahead with less w#@!

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    1. Yes, I'll gladly take all the other 4-letter weather conditions ;-)

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  14. It was so windy on Saturday when we went skating. My daughters had a hard time skating against the wind but it made them go fast in the other direction! It was also really cold, I don't know how they lasted so long outside!

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  15. That Thursday treadmill run sounds awesome!!! I hope Mama N brings you more sunny days (with no wind!).

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  16. I really need to improve my push-ups so maybe I join you with that?

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  17. Sorry wind was such an issue for you last week. I think we had some windy days and the one day I actually ran outside it was downright frigid (4 degrees). Everytime I see the sun lately I am so grateful. January was brutally grey.

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    1. The wind was pretty ugly last week...I'm glad things turned around on Sunday and Monday ;-)

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  18. It's been crazy windy here too and very grey - makes it so much harder to want to be outside! I love how you always have a challenge/goals going for each month. My goal is 5 min of planking a day.

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    1. Thanks! I like my monthly challenges ;-) Good luck on the planking!!!

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  19. Great job as always! Running in the wind during the winter is no joke! It must be great to have Milly at home ready and waiting...I like the workout you created!

    Our weather has been pretty tame I must admit, so I can't complain too much! Saturday was pretty cold in the upper 20's but it really didn't feel that bad! I need to start hitting the steps in preparation for my stair climb...I still don't have a good game plan.

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    1. I need to start weekly stair workouts....always a fun training season!

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  20. love the scarf! :) super cute and your hair! :) And, the wind has been brutal here too! Always about 10-15 degrees colder than expected because it's been so dang windy.

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    1. I think the wind has been blowing non-stop since before Christmas....but things finally calmed down Sunday and Monday....#fingerscrossed

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  21. You are a beast on that treadmill! Way to go!

    It was an awful week over here, and I didn't get in much running or anything else. It happens, but I am pretty dang aggravated and feel really unaccomplished.

    That being said, I did wear red on Friday. I didn't realize I was supposed to, but I did it anyway ;)

    Your hair is adorable!

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    1. Thanks! But,don't be too impressed with my treadmill time.....it won't be happening much longer as the days get longer and the temps (slowly) start warming up

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  22. Isn't is so nice to see the sun after its been cloudy for awhile? Ugh the wind is the worst. Good job getting out there in it! Glad you have the treadmill to turn to when the weather gets to be too much.

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    1. Well, the treadmill is handy, but certainly NOT a favorable option LOL I'm looking forward to longer daylight and warmer temps

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  23. The weather has been pretty decent here in NC, thank goodness. Typically in winter every once in a while we have a really warm day and today is going to be one of those. My kind of day! :)

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  24. That wind really does a number on trying to decide what to wear. It was very windy in NOLA for our race on Saturday and with temps in the upper 30's (it's not supposed to be that cold there!) it felt more like freezing.
    I'm looking forward to this weekend temps are more normal for Mississippi and the hubs said last night we may go to the campground so I'm happy!

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  25. The wind has been brutal here in Maine! It is so miserable to run in...ugh, I've been doing a lot of treadmill runs lately. I love your February goals, sounds like great challenges!! Thanks so much for linking up at Sunday Fitness & Food :-)

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