Thumbs Down on the Weather

Talk about your roller coaster rides!

I'm not talking about an amusement park endeavor, but the whacked-out weather that was my reality this past week. WHEW, it was quite a ride!

It's no secret I'm a die-hard hot weather gal, so this simulated winter wonderland (of sorts) was most unwelcome.  It was laden with all kinds of 4-letter words not many of us want to hear...mist, rain, wind, and snow.

Before I dis on 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 ;-)

Anyways, here's what went down in my little world of fitness this past week:

Never miss a (double ride) Monday. Even though we'd woken up to snow on Sunday morning, it was all melted and outta here by mid-afternoon. Temps were chilly for Monday's morning 5-miler, but by mid-morning, the snow had staged an encore. We had approximately 5 inches of the white stuff when it finally stopped falling that afternoon. Surprisingly, the streets were relatively dry and clear, though the temps were still hovering around freezing when I got home form work. Honestly, I have run in much worse (and much colder) conditions, so I decided to go for it and continue my double-ride Monday ritual. This may have been my first ride, ever, with snow all around me. Ten total Monday miles.

A chilly Tuesday, too. Temps were still sitting at freezing (with 28F feels-like). There's nothing like the peace and calmness of a chilly morning, especially when there's no one else to share the streets with. Even I (the summer heat addict) cannot deny that. And that sunrise? Those four frigid miles were well worth it. There also was some Milly time after work...walking AND running (more on that below).

HIIT'ing it hard Wednesday. Remember the good old days, pre-stress fracture, when I used to do HIIT workouts and pay homage to my stairway? Well, it was time to bring those antics back. Go big or go home, right? This is a workout I wrote, back in the spring...

All About the 5’s:

*5 push-ups

*5 plank jacks

*5 burpees

*5 stair flights

*5 push-ups

*5 mountain-climbers

*5 jump squats

*5 stair flights

*1-minute wall sit

Of course, in keeping with the theme, I did five sets of the above circuit, with about a 30-second rest between each one. It took me about 35 total minutes, and the burn was intense. After work, I was able to get in a 7-mile bike ride and made it back home just before the rain hit. Thankfully, all the snow had melted, but there was plenty of fog and mist to keep me company.

Take-it-easy Thursday. The weather was rather ugly (misty and cold, again) at wake-up. I got out for a ride, but bailed after two miles. I considered walking on the treadmill, but decided to just do some stretching instead. After the previous day's HIIT workout, and the after-work speedy bike ride (as well as a 1.5-mile bonus power walk with Milly), my body was feeling a little spent anyways. After work, though, I got in a good 10-mile ride, in the ever-present fog, and (again) got home just as another rain shower hit. Yeah, two thumbs down on all that dampness. 

A Frigid Friday. Seriously, I swear the calendar still says "Fall," but Momma N seems determined to bless Iowa with an early winter. We're talking a high of 40F, with 17mph wind most of the day. Again, I took a pass on a morning ride, but decided to do a quick 5-miler after work (you know, there is that bike streak I'm still hosting LOL). Like running in the cold, once I got out on the street, the ride itself wasn't too terrible. And, I sure enjoyed a hot chai latte' upon my arrival back home. Also, there was more Milly walking after dinner, and another short run!

A (somewhat) long ride Saturday. Again, we had more winter-like weather conditions (at least it wasn't snowing), with 32F temps greeting me in the morning. Thankfully, the wind was "only" at 7mph, instead of double digits. With the cold temps, we didn't have a group ride scheduled with any of our friends, but I still was hoping to get in at least 10 miles. Truth be told, there were a couple times I considered heading home early. Wouldn't you know, at the 9-mile mark, the golden orb in the sky broke through the week-long cloud cover from which it had been hiding. A few strategic out-and-backs, out of the wind, (as well as the surprise sunshine) gave me the mojo to make it to 14 miles, though. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm quite grateful I can do hard things.

A most sensational Sunday. More cold temps (same as Saturday), with more wind (17mph, thank you very much). I decided on waiting for daylight for my daily ride, so I fired up Milly instead. We power-walked a mile (oh-so-close to my usual "power-walk pace"), ran a 1/2-mile, then walked another 1/2 mile. Then,  I layered up and rode eight miles with Gustavas. And, it gets even better, we headed to the daughter's (and fiance's) place for an early afternoon family dinner. 

Despite the unwelcome winter-like weather, I'm glad I was able to get all of my rides done outside. As much as I whine about the cold weather, I refuse to be a victim of it. Besides, all of these cold bike rides are giving me a great refresher on cold weather layering. The temps (and the wind) feel much colder on a bike than they do on foot, so when the time comes for actual winter running, I'll be more than acclimated. I ended the week with 60 miles on the bike (we're now at 753 miles on our bike streak, since August 22nd). Walking saw a mere six miles (plus a few random walks with Max), and I celebrated 1.5 miles of running (more of a "fast" jog LOL). I tweaked something on my right elbow, so I passed on upper-body strength work this week, but it felt AWESOME to be back on the stairs!  

In case you missed out, here's what else went down on the blog this week:

Against the Wind...on the daily

If I could live (and run) anywhere...

A bit of a Sneaky Streak Seeker

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair!  As mentioned, Friday was cold!  The chilly, damp and windy weather had me sporting some warmer layers...long sleeves, sweater, and a chunky (hand-knit) cowl. 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 was recently accepted to extend my partnership with BibRave. I've only been with the program a few months, but it's been fun ride thus far. I've met some great new friends, tested some new products, and I look forward to many more opportunities in this next year. If you're interested, applications are being accepted for new BibRave Pros until November 1st, head to the site (HERE) and check it out!

And, YES, I am running again!!! My podiatrist gave me the go-ahead, two weeks ago, but I waited until this past week to test the waters. I've been doing some power-walking, and my foot has been feeling less tight, so I decided to give it a go. I've only done three "runs" so far, and all have been at a very conservative pace (and 1/2-mile distance) on the treadmill. I'm just so paranoid about re-injury! As we all know, there are no upcoming live races, so the FOMO is MIA. I have no reason to rush things, so I'm playing it ultra safe for now. Though, I do have a couple of virtual races in the works...stay tuned!

So, there you go. Another week, another run down. Yadda Yadda Yadda.

How are things in YOUR world? Did your temps suddenly turn frigid as well? Are you still getting outside, or have you stayed inside on occasion? Any races coming up, live or virtual? 

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