Gettin' My Giddy On...

Gosh, I'm feeling SOOOO giddy!

Momma N has finally gifted me some weather I can be thankful for. I know, I know....I'm on my own little island with this, but the brief return-to-summer temps has left me so giddy! Or, maybe it's the return to running? Quite possibly, both!


Let's chat about this week's activities, and maybe you'll be able to share in my giddiness.

*On Thursday, I had a hot & humid run!
I realize that heat and humidity make for tough (even hateful?) conditions for running. But when the gift of running has been taken away from a runner....well, they will long for ANY kind of running, even if it involves extreme heat or bone-chilling/buttocks-freezing cold. Seriously, every sweaty selfie I have seen since June 29th has left me green with a bitter taste of envy scalding my throat. Isn't it ironic (or maybe it's Fate?) that the heat of summer would return for my first week back in my running shoes? I'm just thankful to get to experience a small taste of what I missed these past three months.

Oh, did it EVER feel great to sweat in the early morning heat & humidity!

*On Wednesday, I did a stair workout (also outside,  in the heat)!
Granted, stair climbing is not at the top of most people's lists of favorites, but it's one of my favorite cross-training options for my legs, glutes, and cardio in general. This is another activity that has not happened for several months and I'm glad to welcome it back to my workout arsenal. It's only recently that I've been able to go up (and down) a stairway without needing the handrail. Don't forget, a recovering knee that has limited bend-ability can be a face-plant-waiting-to-happen, especially on a stairway.

Back on the outdoor stairway

*On Sunday, I went for an 8-mile bike ride on a somewhat hilly route).
It's true, I have never been an avid cyclist. Ugh. The thought of padded shorts and clip-in shoes totally creep (and freak!) me out. But not being able to ride my bike for the past three months has been a bummer. So many well-meaning friends encouraged me to go riding (when I was not able to run)...but, again, there was that knee thing (with a 6-inch suture seam right over it that needed to heal). I still do not have full range of motion back in my knee, but I can bend it enough (finally!) that the pedaling no longer puts any additional stress/strain on it.

Yay! The knee liked the bike!

*On Saturday, I went to my first college football game in a long time.
My beloved Iowa Hawkeyes hosted Northern Texas, and won! This game was a fun time on a beautiful (warm) afternoon, but the stadium is quite cramped for a gal like me with unusually long legs. There's no way my legs (and that compromised knee) could have handled the close confines of the stadium seating a few weeks ago. The fact that I can (now) bend my knee almost 45-degrees, certainly made for a much more enjoyable experience.

Go Hawks!

*This was my first week back in my running shoes...and nothing hurts!
 I have been pleasantly surprised how smooth this transition has gone thus far. I'm taking things slow and easy. I'm doing plenty of dynamic warm-ups (and cool-downs/stretching/foam rolling). I'm using intermittent walk intervals. And, I'm not going very far (yet). My first race of the season is a 5K (next weekend). Obviously, I will not be "racing" it, nor will I even be thinking of attempting to PR (ha! wouldn't that be a recipe for disaster?). I'd like to be able to run the entire distance, but I'm not afraid or embarrassed to use run/walk intervals if need be. I'm just so grateful to be running again!

Everything feels great!

So, can you see where all this giddiness is coming from? My Road to Recovery has lead me to this Return to Running state of bliss, and I'm eager and excited for this next season. After all, I waited all summer for it!

I'm linking this with Meranda and Lacey and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0. Today we're talking about fall activities...Please join us!!