Up Close and Personal

Can we get up close and personal, for a minute?

Another week has come to a close, and we're all still soldiering on. That's something to be thankful for, right? This has been a tough time for everyone, much more difficult for some than others, but it has affected all of us.

Just as we all train differently, I can't help but notice we all are coping differently. I think that's the way it should be. We all have different life experiences, and different triggers. The best any of us can do is to keep moving forward. Whether you're anxious, calm, scared, pessimistic or hopeful...be rest assured, we are all in this together.

Anyways, it was another interesting week on the fitness front!


Before I lay it all out, 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 in my little world of fitness this week:

Monday - a new personal #nevermissaMonday challenge 
The morning started simple enough (20 minutes on the elliptical), but then things got interesting after work. I'd had a light bulb moment over the weekend, and decided to capitalize on the virtual race situation. I'm taking part in the UN-Canceled Project series, which involves four weeks of themed virtual races (of varying distances). I'm also a big advocate for the #nevermissaMonday gig...so how about combining the two? But wait...it gets better...I'm going to also add a speedwork twist to the mix and run the same 5K route each Monday and try to PR it. Why not?

Anyways, this was week "number two" of said routine (though it had been a different 5K virtual last week). I dressed in the lime green attire (in accordance with the theme for the week, Hope) and ran the 1/2-mile to the "race" site for a warm-up. I set the Garmin and had at it. Only...my legs felt like lead. I was able to keep an alright pace...but didn't come close to beating the previous week's finish time (26:38). But, oh well. As we know, a PR does not quantify a good workout, so all is well. I took a minute to catch my breath, ran the 1/2-mile back home (for a cool-down) and called it good enough. Onward!

The second installment of #nevermissaMonday 5K's

Tuesday - a personal reunion with the early-morning walk
Knowing my body was due for an easy day, and the temps were still nice, I headed out for a 2-mile walk in the early hours. Social distancing is a no-brainer when everyone else is still sleeping, am I right? Oh, how I have missed these outdoor rise & shine walks!

Then, after work, the hubs and I saddled up the bikes and rode for 10 miles. Wow. I had forgotten how great the bike could make my tired legs feel. The temps were just shy of 80F, so I thoroughly enjoyed that as well.

Wednesday - a personal #5at5 victory on tired legs
I met up with Barb for our weekly o'dark thirty hour run. Apparently, 10 hours isn't sufficient recovery time from the season's first long bike ride. Again, my legs were feeling kind of stiff and out-of-sorts. I didn't have my Garmin, so I didn't know our exact pace, but I could tell we were clipping along. I was back to the house, selfies done, and my phone said not even 50 minutes had elapsed from the start of all the action. Yikes.

Yes! Running in shorts!

Thursday - a new personal comfort zone violation
I had seen Deborah's Jump Rope Workout For Runners and decided to give it a try. Honestly, jump-roping is not an exercise I think to do, so it had been awhile since the last time I'd done so. I did 20 flights of stairs for the warm-up, and then got to work. Holy Oh-My-Quads, Batman! It took me about 27 minutes (with a few water breaks between circuits) to do three sets. Let's just say my entire lower half was on fire. Nothing ventured, nothing gained...and I will be doing this workout again!

        

Friday - a very personal DOMS-enhanced recovery day
I expected to have some DOMS waiting for me upon wake-up, and I was not disappointed (in a twisted kind of way LOL). Only, instead of my quads and calves (which seemed to have done the brunt of the work while jump-roping), it was my glutes that were most rebellious. I guess I squatted and lunged with gusto the day prior (who would have thought?). I went for a 2-mile walk (before work) and things felt much better. Over lunch I did a brief 1-mile power walk (virtually with Kim), and things felt even better.

Temps? 29F with a 21F feels-like...yes, I could see my breath

Saturday - a personal 10K to 10-mile upgrade
Our temps and our weather have been all over the place this week, and Saturday morning greeted us with somewhat chilly temps (37F, with a feels-like of 30F), but with sunny skies and barely any wind. At Kim's suggestion, I'd registered for the No Kid Hungry Run (virtual 10K), but was planning on running a full eight miles. I had Barb along for the ride (again, socially distanced as we ran). My watch beeped at the 10K mark, and we kept going (as planned). As we were approaching our split-off, my Garmin showed I'd gone nearly 8.5 miles. I was feeling good, and so was Barb, so we decided to continue on to 10 miles. The thing is, we were able to run the second five miles with a negative split, and maintained a very steady pace throughout the morning (splits were within 5-10 seconds of each other)! I love it when all the stars, moons and planets align like that!

All the flowers and blossoms are starting to come to life!

Sunday - a personal nontraditional Easter Sunday
With rain in the forecast for the entire day, I was pleasantly surprised to awaken to thick fog and NO rain (at the moment). I made a command decision to lace up and head out for a short recovery run...in my Easter tie-dyed patterned tights. The hubby and I took Max for a 2-mile walk afterwards and got back home in time to catch our church's live stream service. Later I dropped off Easter dinner at my parents' house and we ZOOM'd with the kids. Nope, not my typical Easter, but it was manageable.
 

So, another week of #covidcrazy, but another week of day-by-day forging onward. My legs really took a beating this week, but that's all well and good. I pinky promise this next week will be better balanced. Anyways, running saw 21 miles, with speedwork for Monday's 5K. Substantial HIIT with the jump rope workout, which also added some significant lower-body strength work. It was nice getting out on the bike, and the early morning walks felt incredible! Also, some elliptical and stair-climbing helped keep my legs loose. 

In case you missed out, here's what went down on the blog this week:
A Great Big Week of HMMM...
Virtually Quite Content
8 Mini Workday Fitness Fixes

In other news:
Friday Fashion Flair! Our weather reverted, briefly, back to winter late Thursday and Friday. We're talking crazy wind and snow! So, this may be the last time you see the charcoal grey sweater for awhile, but the mulit-colored scarf will be on repeat as we head into warmer weather. I say bring it! I want my summer back! As always, you're welcome to join me on Fridays...post a pic on Instagram, grab the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and be sure to tag me (@runningonthefly).

I have been fielding a lot of questions about my job, and how I'm still working on-site. So, here's my story...I work for a signage company, which is deemed "essential" due to its manufacturing role. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the bulk of our office personnel have been able to work from home, leaving a skeleton crew remaining on-site. Most of the production staff, though, are still needed in the factory. Recently, in addition to producing our usual signage, we took on the task of making face shields and have been donating them to local/nearby medical and direct care facilities, as well as our area hospital. Several of our medical clients (mainly hospitals) are now requesting to order them from us, as well as desk/counter shields. None the less, we're keeping busy! I'm proud that we're able to assist fellow essential workers during this time of great need. It, indeed, makes me hopeful that this will be over sooner than later.

One day at a time...

We decided to extend the 19 Minutes for 19 Days Challenge! Same hashtag, same game...19 days (starting on Monday (April 13th) will take us to May 1st. Maybe things will be in the early stages of heading back towards what we all knew as "normal." None the less, it's been great having so many fitness-minded friends supporting and encouraging one another.

Lastly, for all who celebrated... I hope everyone had a great Passover, and a Happy Easter as well. This will certainly be a spring like no other when we look back on it.

How was your week? Are you able to still get outside? Doing more at-home workouts? Are you going to join us (or continue on!) for the extended #19for19Challenge?

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