Enter Winter...ALREADY?

Winter? Already???

Okay, let me set the record straight regarding Winter...

Although I'm a die-hard #TeamSummerRunner gal, I do not hate all other seasons (least of all, Winter itself). Actually, I embrace the change of seasons. But Winter showing up nearly two months early does not a #BlissfulRunner make.


But, before I get too carried away with my #winterrants...Welcome to the Weekly Run Down!

I love hosting this link-up with Deborah (from Confessions of a Mother Runner), who just celebrated a BIG birthday. If you write a fitness-based blog, you're invited to join the party. The link-up opens at 1:00 (EST) on Sundays and remains open through noon on Monday. We love reading about everyone's weekly fitness endeavors, training highlights (or low lights) and race recaps. We ask that you link back to both hosts, and we encourage you to read/comment on the other linked blogs as well...please don't link-drop & dash ;-)

Anyways, if it was actually January, and these colder-than-cold temps were at play, it would be the expected norm. Also, there (probably) would have been a time of transition and acclimation. Unfortunately, that was not last week's reality. Record low temps were set and I was forced to keep things inside more than I'd prefer.

Here's what went down this week:

Monday - #ThankAVet #grateful #NeverMissAMonday
Well, well, well. Temps were cold and the wind was insane. My app didn't show any signs of the day getting much warmer, so it was time to beckon Dear (Old) Milly. Actually, it was a bit ironic...I had not run on a treadmill since Memorial Day (as part of the Murph workout), and here it was Veterans' Day. As a tribute, I resurrected my MCM outfit and knocked out a couple of early morning miles.

Tuesday - #subFREEZING 
As if the weather wasn't already cold, by Tuesday it was downright bitterly frigid in Iowa. I had not planned on running, but it was even too cold to get out for a walk. So, I hibernated in the warm basement and got in a good 30 minutes on the elliptical. I may have even stepped outside for a quick cryotherapy fix (and a chance to stand up, so to speak, to the crazy weather). Turns out that quick jolt of cold actually felt kind of refreshing on my steamy skin.

Wednesday - #InsideWarrior #OutsideSelfie
If ever there was a run that almost didn't happen, it would be this one. The temps were freezing (again) and the wind was howling outside. I knew I wouldn't be heading outside, so the thought of another run with Milly was not especially enticing in getting me to leave my warm bed. I spent a good 20 minutes debating with myself (1) to get up, (2) to stay in bed, (3) to walk or (4) to do the elliptical. Finally, I surmised that it was my off-season (duh) and I didn't have to do the "usual" five miles at 05:00 if I didn't want to....I could run a little while and STOP whenever I felt like it. So, I got dressed and fired up Milly again. After three miles, I called it good. Quite good, actually. I even did another post-workout selfie outside. No regrets.

Thursday - #HIITme UP #fastedcardio
As my Insta/Facebook caption said, "No one said it would be easy, but easy is a 4-letter word I try to avoid." It had been awhile since I'd been on the stairs, and I hadn't HIIT'd in awhile either...so I earned my sweat equity in full fashion.

5 sets:
5 flights of stairs (double-stepped)
5 burpees
15 arm reps (biceps, triceps, etc.)
5 push-ups
5 flights of stairs (triple-stepped)

The entire workout took 24 minutes, but my entire body got worked-over. The first two moves were done as fast as possible. The arm work was done with moderately heavy weights. The push-ups were done on an incline (off the bottom step) to assist in a fuller range of motion. The triple steps were done slowly, like a step-up, so they are kind of a "recovery" move but are a great balance move as well. This workout could be expanded by doing more individual reps or adding more sets.

Friday - #backoutside #mismatchedcolors
You're only cold if you don't appreciate the crisp "autumn" weather, right? The temps were still winter-like, but I was sheltered from the wind by staying in my neighborhood, so it was bearable outside. A hilly 2-mile hike through the 'hood and I was awake and ready for the day, so what if my colors were a little on the clashy side.

Saturday - #ReunitedWithTheRoad
Again, the temps were chilly (30F with a 17F feels-like), but were much closer to what they should be for mid-November. I met up with Barb for five miles, and did two additional miles after she headed back home. This was my first "long" run in a couple weeks, and it really felt good to be back outside and running just for the love of it, with no agenda. And, that sunshine!!!

Sunday - #ouch #justwalking #MaxtonMcArthur
What happens when you wake up still feeling a big groggy (with a cranky back, none the less, and a compromised Achilles)? Well, myself, I take a pass on running and go for a walk instead. It's not a bad thing, especially if you're in good company. The hubby and Max escorted me on a 2-mile walk before we headed off to church. Most of the snow is gone, so that's a good thing!

       

All in all, it was a bit of a challenging week. The extreme cold really blind-sided me, and it felt odd to be doing so much winter-like stuff (indoors) when we haven't even made it to Thanksgiving yet. Alas, it is good to be flexible, and have indoor options.  Total running miles finished out at 12. There were 9 miles walked as well as 30 minutes of elliptical time. Thursday's HIIT workout reignited my love for fast and (somewhat) furious cardio, with a little bit of strength and balance work mixed in, so I'm eager to get back to doing that more often. I think there was a bit of DOMS at play this weekend (probably from the HIIT workout), so my hamstrings are feeling a bit grumpy at the moment. I'm keeping an eye on the Achilles thing...it's probably time to add a new pair of shoes to my arsenal.

In case you missed out, here's what went down on the blog this week:
A Filtered Fall-Out
Let's Warm Up!
5 Strategies That Rocked My Recovery

In other news:
Friday Fashion Flair! I'm not typically a mono-chromatic person, but once in awhile I do get matchy-matchy. The mohair sweater was a bit warm, since the temps climbed to the mid-40's by lunchtime. This sweater is one of my hand-knit creations. I actually made a different sweater with the yarn, several years ago, but never liked the pattern, so I unraveled it and re-knit it MY way (and added the fringe details to funk it up a bit). That's what #artgeeks do, right? As always, you're invited to play along...post a pic (on Instagram) of a featured outfit, grab the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and be sure to tag me (@runningonthefly).

The hubby and I made it to another Iowa football game on Saturday. We typically don't get to so many games in a season (we've been to four games in the past six week). This was a big game, though, because  Minnesota had been undefeated. There's a traveling trophy that goes to the victor each year, a bronze pig (no laughing), called Floyd of Rosedale, so it's always a fun game of friendly rivalry against the Golden Gophers. Well, spoiler, Iowa ended Minnesota's run for 10 consecutive wins this season! Of course, the Iowa Wave always gets me blubbering. For those who don't know, at the end of the first quarter, everyone (including both teams and referees) takes a few minutes to wave to the children at the Stead Family Children's Hospital (the large building overlooking the stadium), and we can see the kids waving back. Sigh...

    

Finally, this pic popped up on my Facebook memories this week.The Las Vegas Rock'n Roll  (2017) was my big rally back half marathon after my surgery. It was such a fun weekend in a crazy city, and there were several bloggers there. Does it get any better?

Anyways, that's it for now. On to the next week, hopefully with much more seasonal temps and weather.

How was your week? Any fitness achievements? Any races? Winter-like weather for you, too?

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