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Wham. Bam. Thank you, Ma'am.

Our temps had started to gradually warm-up over the previous weekend. Seriously, anything above freezing felt so tropical and heavenly! Then, things made a turn for the cold...again....

It was great being back outside, but there were was some indoor action as well. Here's how the week played out:


I saved my Monday excursion for the afternoon, and it was beautiful! We haven't had much snow, but the bulk of it was gone from the streets and most of the sidewalks. And, hello, sunshine! Although, I had run both Saturday and Sunday, I opted to run two miles instead of the usual #nevermissaMonday 1-miler. I even sandwiched those two miles in between the 40 burpees (from the Burpees & Planks & Push-ups challenge) on my "plan." Hopefully none of my neighbors noticed.

Yep, burpees on the f ront patio....

With the spring-like temps again on Tuesday, it was inevitable we'd have a spring-like thaw happening. I took Max on a lengthy walk over the noon hour...and even though we stayed on the sidewalks and cleared-off streets, he still wandered intermittently into the muddy grass and remaining snow. No surprises, he desperately needed a bath as soon as we returned home (and, wouldn't you know? I'd just given him a bath 18 hours earlier)!

Max was so excited to go for a walk...it had been over a week since we'd last "harnessed-up"

Did you know Wednesday was National Take the Stairs Day? Well, would it surprise you to know I took it upon myself to celebrate in the only way I know how...a stair workout? I spent about 30 minutes, going up and down the stairs (single-stepping and double-stepping) and doing push-ups as well. All told, I netted 100 flights of stairs and 100 push-ups, all before 6:00 a.m.

Go ahead, give it a try!

The weather report didn't look pretty, so after work, I laced up and headed outside for 3 miles in the (still) warmer-than-usual air. It's not very often I double-up on daily workouts, but with the forecasted cold temps (as well as impending snow and ice), I'd rather get a few extra miles done outside instead of inside on the 'mill. Besides, none of the DOMS from the stair workout had showed up, so why not?

Ah, outside with no puffer vest or gloves!

Thursday was a much-anticipated (and needed!) rest day...after those 50 burpees in the early morning hours. Don't be fooled by the stylish hair, those burpees kicked my buttocks. On the bright side, I didn't have any DOMS pay me a visit this week. That was definitely a #glasshalfful surprise, especially considering all the burpees AND the crazy stair workout. 

I have never done 50 burpees before, in a single day and certainly not within a single workout

On Friday, my body did indeed feel tired. Even without the presense of DOMS, everything just felt tired all over. I did a nice, long plank to start the day...and that's all she wrote. We did have some crazy cold weather return, which started early Thursday morning. Not much for new snow, but there was a bit of ice (courtesy of all those warm temps earlier in the week) and lots of wind. 

Can you see me smiling underneath all the bedhead tangles? Planks are FUN!

Winter certainly was back with a vengeance, and Saturday's temps were a reminiscent of what we'd had prior to that brief warm-up a couple days prior. Ugh. We're talking a 0-degree reading, with a -14F "feels like" on my weather app. What happens when your outdoor mojo has taken a vacay? Well, if you're a runner, you phone (or text) a running friend....and within 30 minutes, the both of us met up and knocked out five tough miles. Funny how my body seemed to totally forget how to breathe in the frigid air (I hadn't run in cold temps like these since New Year's Day). I did remember how to layer up, though. None the less, those five miles felt more like 10, but being out in the fresh air and sunshine was worth all the exhaustion and frustration. Onward!

It may have been a struggle bus run, but the sunshine made it bearable

My only objective for Sunday was to wake up the body. As has been the pattern, I slept in a little longer than usual, and debated for awhile about running right away or waiting until later. We had church on the agenda, as well as taking our son back to college after lunch...I knew if I waited, the run may not really happen (just keeping it real, folks LOL). So, I got it done, and returned back home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after two simple miles. Mission accomplished.

Ahhhh, fresh air for the win!

So, that's another week of my off-season. The running is maintaining, but I'm not forcing any miles unless I sincerely feel like getting outside. The treadmill saw ZERO action this past week and I'm more than alright with that. I have a 5K in a couple of weeks, which will be in very cold weather (if history repeats itself), so I really have nothing grandiose (in terms of distance) to train for at the moment. Total mileage this week (Monday through Sunday) came in at 12. Along with Wednesday's stair workout,  the Burpees & Planks & Push-ups Challenge continued so there was plenty of daily fitness happening. Maybe that's why my body felt so tired Friday and Saturday, huh!

In case you missed them, here's the posts from last week:

#Brrrrrr

Winter Running Hacks for 2018

Keeping It Inside...on the Stairs

In other news:

As mentioned, I'm doing the Burpees & Planks & Push-ups Challenge (hosted by Rachel), and it's already getting tough!  The planks and push-ups are alright, but the burpees...ugh! Although they are getting easier, they still are pretty humbling. Here's what went down last week:

Monday--40 burpees

Tuesday---2-minute plank

Wednesday---40 push-ups

Thursday---50 burpees

Friday---2:30 minute plank

Saturday---50 push-ups

By Saturday, my body was done...those final 50 push-ups were painful

Did you catch my #FridayFashionFlair post? Black and brown are not often paired together...which is why I love the challenge of wearing them! I believe any color combination can be made to work if one has a few accessories thrown into the mix to help them "blend" together...enter : the cheetah print scarf and black/brown riding boots. Easy peasy, right?

How was you week? Did your winter weather wreak any havoc on your outdoor fitness?  Anyone else taking an off-season at the moment? How do you feel about burpees...yay or no way?

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! 

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