To Catch a Sunrise...

I've had a thing for sunrises lately.

I guess it's a byproduct of my being an avid #artgeek and an early-riser.

Honestly, the summer season is so short (at least in Iowa), I refuse to let all these sunrises go to waste. I'm not only willing (and able) to sacrifice a little bit of sleep, but that's what my body seems to prefer. Heck, most mornings I'm awake before any alarms go off. 

There are many benefits to getting outside early on a summer morning, though. Catching a beautiful sunrise is just a bonus.

The Summer Heat Meets the Street

Baby, it done got hot.

In the state of Iowa, that is. Don't worry, I'm not complaining (though a tad less humidity would be nice).

As I've said a time (or ten) before, I wait upwards of 10 months for summer weather to arrive. I don't spend much time indoors (other than for working and sleeping), so the heat and humidity are just part of the reality. I'm good with that.

I was able to take all my workouts outdoors again this week, so there was plenty of sweat equity deposited in the fitness bank. I'm totally fine with that as well.

Runfess? I Think YES!

It's really a good thing we have the opportunity to runfess each month.

If we were talking full disclosure, there's always a few things that I need to come clean on anyways. I've learned it's always best to runfess and move on. I can only imagine it's the same for others...am I right?

That being said, here's the latest...

My Summer Running Essentials

Summer, easily, is my favorite season for running. 

I love the fresh air (even on a hot, humid day). I love the sunshine. And I love logging all those outdoor miles. Even without much happening this year for Fall races, I still plan on running and training as if there were (though with some modifications).

A huge part of running is the having the necessary gear. Having the "right" gear, though, will vary from one runner to another. Just as we all train differently, we all have different preferences on what we deem essential.

Cruising into the Solstice

...and just like that, the solstice arrived.

I gotta admit, I have mixed feelings about the summer solstice. I'm all about the heat of summer, the extended daylight, and all things green, flowering, and beautiful. But once the solstice hits, we start that downhill jaunt to winter. Even though the days will stay long and bright for awhile, they will be (ever-so-slightly) getting shorter. UGH.

All the more reason to get outside, everyday, and enjoy these summer days to the fullest. And I did just that this week, taking all of my workouts to the great outdoors.

So.....Now WHAT?

So...anyone else looking at a big question mark for the Summer of 2020?

You probably heard that my marathon has been cancelled. Yes, I'm bummed, but I'm not heart-broken. Don't worry, I will not be hanging up the running shoes or giving up on my fitness. Things are going to be different from what I've come to know for the past 12 years, though.

Honestly, this is going to be way out of my comfort zone. I'm not afraid of all the unknowns or lack of schedule. But with no big Fall race on the calendar, I feel like I'm embarking on a journey into the great unknown.

It's both exciting and a bit eerie, but it is what it is.

12 Weeks of 5K’s Virtually UN-Canceled

I guess you could say my training took an interesting twist this Spring. 

With all of my races either getting canceled, or assuming virtual status, nothing was looking normal. COVID-19 may have wreaked havoc on my races, but I wasn’t going to let it dictate my (running) livelihood. 

Thanks to the UN-Canceled Project, (promoted by Run The Edge), I fostered a new game plan. 

Outside Is Alright

Opting outside for the win!

It's summer, after all. As I've said a time or two (or several), I've waited a good nine months for this weather. I'm not going to "enjoy" it from the confines of my house.  

Quite honestly, there's no place I'd rather be than outside. Fortunately, this past week afforded me the opportunity to take my workouts outdoors, on a daily basis. Let's just say there was a whole lot of sweating and smiling going on.

10 Days, 10 Pics

10 Days. 10 Pics.

If you were asked to share 10 random running pics, that all had significant meaning, would you be able to do so?

Sure, we all probably have hundreds (thousands?) of running pics to choose from. Could you narrow it down to just 10, though?

 

Oh, and here's the challenging part, you aren't supposed to say anything about them. Just the 10 pics, over the course of 10 days. No explanations.

Keeping fit while on a trip

Have you ever felt guilty skipping a workout (or several) while vacationing?

Personally, I feel minimal guilt (if any) if I scale-back the fitness while traveling. Honestly, there's probably a good reason why I'm on vacation in the first place...relaxation!

But who am I kidding? Most of us who live an active life feel out-of-sorts if we're NOT being active, even while on holiday. Our bodies (as well as our minds) are used to being in motion. For some, it's how we wake up in the morning. For others, it's part of our routine (after coffee or breakfast). Some rely on fitness to wind down before lights out.

What's a fitness junkie to do?

Let me introduce you to the fine art of compromise...

and then suddenly...It Was SUMMER!

and then suddenly...it was SUMMER!

Yes, summer arrived this week, leaving no doubt that it was here for the duration. As much as I love all things summer, I do appreciate an itsy bit of acclimation. That said, summer has arrived in my world, and I'm ready to roll!

We had plenty of sunshine, a good doze of humidity, and a few thunderstorms...but I was able to get outside every day. No complaints, no regrets.

Coffee, Chai, & Chatter

Here we are again.

A new month. A new season. A new set of things to chat about.

Shall we gather (virtually, since that's the thing to do these days), and have a chat? You can have your (virtual) coffee, or any other beverage of choice. Myself? I'll be sipping a hot chai latte (yes, even in the heat of summer, I prefer my chai's hot).

Global Running Day...shall we?

We are runners, and runners run.

We have the gear, and we have the gadgets. We even have our own special day, Global Running Day!

Since its inception in 2009 (when it was first called National Running Day), this special day is celebrated, annually, on the first Wednesday of June. In 2016, its name was officially changed to Global Running Day (source). 

Shall we celebrate? I'm game, are you?