Gloomy, Not Doomy

You've all heard the phrase, "Gloom and doom."

Talk about your gloom-ridden weeks. Cold temps, rain, sleet, ice.... mix and repeat. Gloomy weather kept me inside more than I'd prefer, but I did my best to keep the doom away. After all, I think there's a sun hidden up there in the atmosphere...somewhere...

Day 1 of Gloom was waiting for me on Monday morning. The temps were just above freezing. The air was damp, rainy, and windy. There was an incredibly thick blanket of fog. Triple whammy, right? I decided to postpone my #nevermissaMonday run until after work, in hopes that the fog would lift or the icky weather would improve. Spoiler - no such luck. I fired up 'Milly and we did a couple of relatively easy miles together, followed by a series of 30 burpees and 80 supermans. No harm, no foul. Onward.

'Milly showed me ZERO kindness 

Tuesday was a rest/recovery day, thankfully. All of the Monday's rain and above-freezing temps had given way to an abundance of melted snow everywhere...which had turned to ice overnight. I did my 80 squats over my lunch break and called it good.

Max will vouch that I did all 80 (even though he appears to be sleeping)

Wednesday greeted us with continued below-freezing temps, meaning all of the ice still remained everywhere. I didn't think a run on the dark (icy) streets at 5:00 a.m. was in my best interest, so I opted inside instead. Let's just say my usual easy #5at5 run morphed into a difficult #4at5 exercise in frustration . A lot of that was due to the anticipated dread of it, no doubt. Mind you, my PR distance on the 'mill is five miles (possibly six? ), so I knew attempting five miles at such an early hour was gonna be tough. By the 2.5-mile point, my mind, body, and soul had checked out. I decided to try to make it as far as four miles....and that's all she wrote (or ran). Huge props to those of you who love your treadmill runs, but I will not be seeking membership in your exclusive club. Just not my gig.

It's a good thing treadmill miles count double...

In keeping with my Fight for Air Climb training, Thursday was a designated stair circuit day. This week, I decided to add some slow-mo push-ups to the mix, not only for the strength component but also for the brief "rest period" they allowed between the HIIT work.

This week's workout:
*5 slow-mo push-ups
*10 burpees
*15 flights of double steps
*20 supermans

Four sets netted me 20 push-ups, 40 burpees, 60 flights of stairs, and 80 supermans (plus an additional 10 supermans to meet the 90 on tap for the Challenge). How's that for a heart-pumping start to the day?

another early morning sweat session courtesy of the staircase

Nothing major on tap for Friday, since it's usually a rest/recovery day. I had 90 squats on the roster for the Challenge, and that's all that happened.

I've been playing with filters lately...easy way to add some interest to an otherwise boring pic

More gloomy weather on Saturday, only this time we also had intermittent sleet pelting us in the face and a strong and steady East wind to keep us humble. Thankfully, the streets were pretty clear (most of the ice had melted and the majority of snow was gone). Barb and I rallied around 7:00 and got our nine miles done without any issues, other than the micro-dermabrasion treatment on our faces from the sleet. That which doesn't kill us, right? Actually, although the weather conditions were not ideal, we could very well face similar weather for our half marathon on March 17th. This is Iowa, after all, and everything is possible weather-wise this time of year.

pay no attention to the sleet pellets everywhere

Guess what greeted us Sunday morning? That beautiful golden orb in the sky...I think it's called the sun? I decided to wait until after church to do a routine easy-paced recovery run. By then, most of the remaining ice (from the prior evening) had melted. Also, the hubby joined me again, so how could it get any better?

ahhhh...finally some spring-like temps!

All in all, it was a decent week in terms of fitness despite the constant gloomy weather. My mileage (Monday - Sunday) tallied up at 17, and there was almost nonstop daily action. I have a 10K happening in two weeks (March 10th) and the half marathon a week later (on the 17th). I'm feeling ready for both, and am eager for spring to make its arrival. Anyone else?

In case you missed them, here's my posts from last week:
Another Week Closer to Summer
The Change of Seasons
Hmmm...Shall We Runfess?

In other news:
**My #FridayFashionFlair post (on Instagram) reflected all things sunshine. Sometimes you gotta create your own sunshine, after all, even it it's by way of bright colors. And, if by chance, the actual sun shines as well then it's a double bonus. Most people know I'm all about puffer vests, and I don't wear them only for my winter running adventures. I'm also all about cheetah print. And white skinny jeans (even in the dead of winter). And boots. You're invited to play along...post a pic of your Friday outfit on Instagram, use the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and tag me (@runningonthefly)...it's fun to see what everyone's wearing!

lime green and hot pink to brighten my day

**As mentioned, I've been doing the Superman, Squats, and Twists Challenge this month, and we're approaching the finish line this next week. This past week's roster:

Monday - 80 supermans
Tuesday - 80 squats
Wednesday - 80 Russian twists
Thursday - 90 supermans
Friday - 90 squats
Saturday - 90 Russian twists

Russian twisting

 **Despite the gloomy (and icy) weather this week, there was quite a bit of beauty to witness...

aren't the icicles pretty? 

**And, finally, I have to keep my sense of humor regarding all things most unpleasant...like my time with 'Milly. Although I am grateful to have a treadmill, it is always my last resort.

So, enough about me. Tell me about your week...any races coming up? Icy weather? Treadmill...yay or no way? Favorite indoor exercise option?

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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