It's definitely Winter in Iowa.
For the first time, in a long time, I had to mix up my weekly routine to accommodate (or avoid) the crazy "seasonal" weather conditions. Believe me, I'm no hero. It's something we all have to do on occasion, and not just in Iowa.
Besides, change is good. It's kind of fun to switch things around. No harm, no foul. And all that jazz.
Runfessions...oh yes, I have a few. And they're not all running related.
So, here we are. The first official 'fessional opportunity of 2021.
What say we get started. I'm game, are you? Yes, let's 'fess!
Oh, for the love of shoes.
Well, not just any shoes. We're talking running shoes here. I've worn many in the past (almost) 16 years of lacing up. Some have been good. Some have been duds. And some have been nothing short of total perfection.
I'm a proud sentimentalist, and I don't easily part with cherished pieces. That goes for greeting cards, thank you notes, past training logs and an occasional art piece from our (grown) kids' (childhood) art classes. And, my running shoes are no exception.
It was not like any other week.
The winter temps are still a reality, but they have been bearable. We've been blessed with a lot of sunshine, and the wind hasn't been too evil. As much as I look forward to the arrival of summer, though, I have actually been quite content with Winter (so far).
Trust me, stranger things have happened.
No question, I'm a summer runner gal.
But, thus far, there have been some good things happening. Maybe it's just that #GlassHalfFull thing I have going on, but I've actually been loving this winter running gig.
Even though it's only January, and there's plenty of cold weather still on the horizon, I'm choosing to celebrate the current situation. After all, I gotta take what I can get as I work my way back towards Summer.
Well, obviously, this pandemic belongs to ALL of us. I would argue, though, that each of us has experienced it differently. We've all had fears, anxieties, frustrations...and we all have brought our own life experiences to the table.
That said, my pandemic experience came with many lessons. Most weren't necessarily new "aha moments," or ground-breaking revelations...but all of them left me wiser, changed, and ever more grateful.
Choices aplenty...
Right? Most everything is a choice, at least regarding our behavior, our attitude, and our actions. This past week presented me with plenty of choices...weather (stay inside or opt outside?), workouts (cardio, strength, both?), and wellness (to snicker or smile?). The list could go on...
Bottom line, we have a lot more control than we sometimes realize. I'm quite grateful for that! This is my journey, after all, not anyone else's.
I have often said, "I run, therefore I am."
But running is no longer my one and only when it comes to fitness. It took several years of ongoing injuries to learn that good runners run, but great runners do other things as well. Truth be told, I don't consider myself a great runner, but I'm definitely an experienced one.
As much as I love strength-training and HIIT workouts, I have to admit cardio (in general) is my fitness "drug" of choice. When my body needs a break from pounding the pavement, though, I'm thankful to have several options to choose from when I'm craving a cardio fix. The newest member of my fitness clan is our stationary bike, whom I've named Sebastian (but I call him Sebbe, for short).
This may have been the least stressful streak I've ever done.
Why?
Coming off a stress fracture, my streaking strategy was to have zero expectations. Besides, it's not like I had any big races happening any time soon.
So how did that work for me? The short answer: Mission Accomplished!
With the new year here, there's no time like the present to get things rolling...right outta the gate.
So, that's just what I did.
While nothing has really changed much, just flipping the calendar page feels so refreshing and invigorating. For myself, it brings much hope.
Before I give you a peek at my first week of 2021, welcome to the Weekly Run Down!
Disclaimer: I received a registration for the Criss-Cross Virtual Challenge as part of being a Bibrave Pro. Learn more about becoming a Bibrave Pro (ambassador), and check out Bibrave.com to review, find, and write race reviews.
Let's just say they call it Perfect Timing for a reason.
Ever been there? In the early phase of a comeback, when an opportunity practically landed in your lap? And your gut instinct immediately said, "Let's do this!"
Well, it's been my reality for a couple of months now.
If I were asked to pick one word as a theme for 2021, it would be difficult.
After all, there are many words I frequently use (often disguised as hashtags) that I'd say accurately describe my perspective on fitness, drive, attitude, well-being, and life in general. A few of these include #GoBrightOrGoHome (bright colors are everything), #ThisIsMyCoffee (early morning workouts are my gig), #GlassHalfFull (because, why dwell on what's missing?), and #SmileThroughTheSweat (fitness feels great and brings me infinite joy).
So many words, so many choices. There's a lot to think about as we forge into this new year. Myself, I refuse to sit still and I'm all about enjoying the journey (in good times and in bad).
With that, I give you my 2021 focus: Blissful Persistence!
"Let your BRIGHT shine" definitely was the theme of the final days of 2020.
At least in my world, it was. Maybe it was because Christmas had come and gone (and I was a bit burnt out on red and green). Perhaps it was to bring a touch of zing to the white backdrop of snow. Or, most likely, it was just me being the art geek/color freak that I am.
Whatever the case, it was a fun week of fitness. The bright colors that I brought to it were merely just a bonus. You can decide...