A Grand Finale

Can you believe 2019 is winding down?

It's been quite a decade, a phenomenal year, and a decent week for this runner. This final full week of 2019 had all the makings of a Grand Finale. Go big or go home, right?

Before I give you all the details, welcome to the Weekly Run Down!

I love hosting this link-up with Deborah (from Confessions of a Mother Runner)! 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 ;-)

So, here's what went down on the fitness front this week:

Another #nevermissaMonday 
Can I just say a sincere "Thank You" to Momma N? She's been pretty generous, recently at least, with all of this unseasonably warm weather. Anyways, my legs were a bit tired (Umm...Sunday evening's Under the Holiday Lights 5-mile run was fun, but the final three miles were fast). I elliptical'd for 20 minutes in the early hours...

...then got in a great 1-miler after work in the pleasant 48F temps. This itty bitty 1-miler put my 2019 miles at 1,001! I've come close several times (in the upper 900's), but have never crossed the 1K mark for yearly mileage.

Not a typical Tuesday
Another 5-miler with Barb...this was our fourth 5-mile run in the past five days...and  my legs (finally) said "Mommy, no more!" I typically don't push the mileage that much in such a short time span, but it's the holidays and those miles were necessary (more for scheduling issues than stress LOL).

A non-traditional Christmas on Wednesday
The hubby and I had a noonish plane to catch for a (somewhat) impromptu mini holiday vacation. I got out for a brisk 2-mile walk through the hilly 'hood before we hopped on a 3-hour flight to Phoenix.

We met up with some local friends (who were, coincidentally, vacationing with some of their family in the area). I went for a short (1.5-mile) run and refueled with a couple of hand-picked oranges. Trust me, that doesn't happen in Iowa!

An action-packed Thursday
Another early morning, the hubby and I were in the rental car by 6:00 for our 5+ hour drive to San Diego. All was going well until we made it to Ocotillo...and I-8 was closed, due to an unexpected overnight snowfall! We hung out in a crowded parking lot (of a shady convenience store) along with hundreds of other vehicles for over an hour before the road was re-opened. Eventually, we pulled into San Diego around 1:00 p.m. We checked into our room, and had plenty of time to head downtown for some of the Holiday Bowl festivities...including the National Funding Holiday Bowl 5K.

I'll save the bulk of details for the recap, but suffice it to say the iffy (rainy) weather cleared up. The course was shortened due to flooding, but the first and third miles on the route were intact. I was able to secure a 2nd place AG (out of 35), and the hubby (who has not run in a few months) was able to avoid any walk breaks.

Holiday Bowl Friday...but first a streak run!
What a beautiful morning! Even though I'm the running streaker (for a few more days), the hubby wanted to run a couple miles with me Friday morning. We took a scenic route around some of the Coronado Naval Air Station grounds.

Double Run Saturday
With another long drive on the agenda (this time heading back to Phoenix), I took a short run through downtown Coronado.

We were back in the car, and on the road, just after lunch. We made it to Phoenix just as the daylight was fading. Since it wasn't too late (or too dark), I decided to do another short run. Believe it or not, Phoenix (and vicinity) was under a freeze warning. After all, I won't be running bare-legged (among random cacti) for awhile, right? And my running streak ends on New Year's Day...why not have a little fun?

  

TBD on Sunday
As this post goes live, I'll be enroute back to Iowa. I do plan on a short run after we make it back home, so stay tuned...

**UPDATE** I did get out for two fast and furious (and nearly freezing LOL) miles after we made it back to Iowa. Dang, the temps sure did plummet...30F temps, with a 20F feels-like, were a major jolt to the system after several days in California and Arizona.

All in all, it was a decent week, despite the travel and not being in my own setting. The running miles tallied at 16 (which includes two from Sunday afternoon). Walking was on the upswing (in comparison to recent weeks) and came in at 13 (possibly more of those on Sunday afternoon/evening as well). There was one elliptical session (20 minutes) and some body resistance work (while on vacation)...kind of meh. It is what it is LOL

In case you missed out, here's what went down on the blog this week:
My Kind of Winter
One Last Set of Runfessions for 2019

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair
OOPS! In all the busy-ness of Friday's Holiday Bowl, I totally forgot to post my Friday outfit. No big deal....but I was decked out in black and gold, repping for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Anyways, you're always welcome to join the party on Fridays...post a pic of a featured outfit, grab the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and be sure to tag me (@runningonthefly).

Go Hawkeyes!
As mentioned, the hubby and I traveled to San Diego to support our alma mater, the University of Iowa. In addition to the  race, we also saw some of the parade and attended a pre-game rally and met up with some friends for tailgating. It was a great game, and the Hawkeyes defeated the USC Trojans 49-24. Go Hawks!

Finally, it was a nice Christmas with our family, albeit celebrating a day early on Christmas Eve. It was a major non-traditional experience, though, spending it in an airport (and also on a plane).

Enough about me, how was your week? Any big family get-togethers? How's your weather been? Have you ever traveled on Christmas Day?

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