#Brrrrrr!

It's safe to say that my Outdoor Running Mojo has left the building...but I, on the other hand, have been staying inside all week.

That's right. This Iowa gal, who ran outdoors for 40 consecutive days, has been hibernating indoors ever since New Year's Day. And, I'm quite content with that.

We have had three solid weeks of sub-freezing temps, and most days the "feels like" temps were sub-ZERO. Granted, Iowa is usually a cold month in the winter, but this is the coldest (and longest) stretch I can remember.


Things were downright Arctic-like on Monday, New Year's Day. For the past several years, a few locals and myself  have been getting together at "the lake" and running a few miles to kick-start the new year. Also, New Year's Day was the grand finale of the Runner's World winter streak. Four of us showed up and we ran three miles (three laps around the lake). About 2/3 of the trail around the lake is unpaved, and there were several inches of new snow to trudge through, making for a simulated quicksand-like excursion in our running shoes.  In case anyone's wondering...YES, you can sweat in -20F weather...and your hair wispies may turn to ice as a result.

The few, the proud, the cold....

What was so significant about Tuesday? Well, it was Day #1 of my off-season! The temps weren't quite as cold as Monday, but still in the low single digits. I had ZERO plans of running, but I dusted off  'Milly and her and I walked two miles together.

Don't adjust your screens...that IS 'Milly

On Wednesday, I had the afternoon off from work and decided to shake things up a bit. One of my goals for January is to do 20-minutes of cardio everyday, and another is to focus a little more on strength-training. Why not take care of both of these goals in a single workout?

Let me introduce my latest at-home-workout creation: The 10 X 10 X 10's Lower Body Buster:

*10 flights of stairs

*10 (weighted) forward lunges (each leg)

*10 reps of hammer curls (both arms)

**10 flights of stairs

**10 (weighted) reverse lunges (each leg)

**10 reps of bicep curls (both arms)

*10 flights of stairs

*1-minute wall sit

*10 reps upright rows (both arms)

**10 flights of stairs

**10 (weighted) sumo squats

**10 reps triceps extensions

*10 flights of stairs

*10 (weighted) walking lunges (each leg)

*10 reps shoulder presses (both arms)

*****repeat*****

I wanted to focus on lower-body, so I kept the arm moves pretty light (and used them more as a recovery set between each lower body circuit). Doing all five circuits ((twice)) gave me 100 total flights of stairs, 100 total lower body moves, and 100 total upper body reps. Total workout time was just over 45 minutes. Whew!

In anticipation of some potential DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) arriving as a result of the prior day's Lower Body Buster, I fired up 'Milly (again) Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to run far or fast (ugh, certainly NOT with 'Milly anyways), so I ran a couple easy-paced miles. Then, things got ugly...like, burpee-ugly. 30 burpees then followed....they were not easy and they were not the least bit pretty, but I got them done (more on this further down).

another sweat session with 'Milly....

More cold weather on Friday! I realize it's crazy cold everywhere right now, but this extreme stuff has been such a buzz kill. Funny how I was so committed to my running streak (just a few days prior) and got outside no matter what. Well, I totally did an about-face this week. No outside action, but I did some extra planking minutes for the Burpees, Planks, and Push-ups Challenge. 

Yes, you can do planks in your work clothes #NoExcuses

Always on the quest to violate that comfort zone, I tagged along with the hubby to the gym on Saturday morning. Ugh. I respect that a lot of people LOVE their gym time, but it's just not my gig. I think it goes way back to memories of my ever-clumsy, uncoordinated, awkward self trying to survive PE classes in grade school. Well, Saturday's rowing circuit class was reminiscent of those childhood experiences.  Rowing in slow motion was much tougher than when we were doing the speed rounds. My form must have been off, because I didn't feel much resistance (though my heart rate certainly was elevated). After class, I opted to do three miles on one the gym's treadmills....not the greatest experience because the room felt so hot (or was that just me, in my post-rowing glow?) and the treadmill was very confusing with all the unfamiliar settings and numerous buttons to navigate. Finally, I wrapped up with 30 push-ups...yep, right there in the middle of the gym. There was a break in the action (between classes), so I don't think many people got to witness me in all my sweaty glory, but still. I think I much prefer the confines of my own house for "indoor" exercise activities.   

Comfort zone violations all over the place!

Momma N must have taken the day off, because Sunday blessed us with "warm" temps! Granted these temps were still sub-freezing, but they felt like a heat wave in comparison to the past three weeks. I didn't have my watch with me, but those three miles felt pretty fast....a caged bird set free, right?

YaY!!! Back outside never felt so good!

So that's a wrap on the start of 2018 and the first week of my off-season. Obviously, my off-season is not a time for total rest and relaxation, but a time of rejuvenation (and less running). My mileage clocked in at a mere 11 (running) miles...and that's just where it needs to be for the next few weeks.
  

In case you missed them, here's what else was posted this past week:

My #Plottwist of a Year - 2017 in review

 We're Off and Running

Welcome to my Off-Season!

In other news:

Did you catch my #FridayFashionFlair post on Instagram? I featured a popular winter color, burgundy, but I paired it with a subtle camo-patterned pair of leggings...and the color totally popped! Also, it's no secret I'm a strong believer in silver jewelry, and lipstick!  If you'd like to play along, share a favorite pic, hashtag it #FridayFashionFlair, and give me a tag (@Runningonthefly). Don't be shy, show us what you're wearing!

Although I have whined a great deal about the unusually cold weather, there are a few perks. Wednesday morning, I was greeted by this awesome display of sundogs on my drive to work. Sun dogs appear when it's really cold, and are caused by the reflection of ice crystals in the atmosphere. This pic does not do it justice...the "dogs" were much bigger and brighter than they appear, and looked like tall rainbows. 

There is beauty in the #brrrrr

As mentioned above, I'm doing a Burpees, Planks, and Push-ups challenge (hosted by Rachel) this month. Every day, we have an allotted number of the day's featured move and a group to report back to for encouragement and support. I am all on board with the planks, and I can do push-ups when summoned to...but the burpees? They're another comfort zone violation, but this challenge fits nicely in with  my January goals. Bring it!

Lastly, anyone notice I've added a new page, #NotJustARunnerWorkouts, to the blog? This little project has been in the works for awhile, but I finally got it ready for the world to see just this past week. I have written several workouts for my own "in-home" use, and I thought it would be nice to have them all in one place for reference. Check it out! It's along the navigation bar above or you can find it HERE.

So, how did your 2018 start out? Cold weather? Inside workouts? How do you feel about going to a gym?

I'm linking up with Holly and Wendy for the Weekly Wrap. This weekly check-in is such a great place to connect with fellow fitness-minded peeps. Please join us!