Not Just Another Week

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.

Before I give you the nitty gritty 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 down this past week:

Never miss a Monday.

Another Monday, another 10-mile ride to start the day. Seriously, these early morning rides are really feeling good! After work, I got out for a 5K run on the route that goes by my house (it goes out on a county road and loops back by the college campus, before finishing at my driveway). I'll spare you another post-run selfie LOL...but trust me, the run DID happen.

Another Typical Tuesday.

You can't see him, but the hubby joined me in the sweat den; he got the bike and I got the elliptical. Messy hair, don't care (that's what five "miles" of elliptical action will do to you)...and if you want to add some wrinkles, try a mosaic filter on your photo. You can also take a quick 1-mile walk after work (that's what I did).

Another Wonderful Wednesday.

In an effort to mix up my routine, while adding a little more distance to my mid-week run, I came up with the idea to run a figure-8 pattern around some of the (hilly) blocks in my 'hood. The temps were cold and windy (8F, with a -5F feel's like). Since I was constantly changing directions, though, I didn't have to fight a headwind very much. Alas, this run felt really good! Four figure-8's netted me 12 hills and four total miles. I even threw in a few strides on the downhill portions...because, why not? And, another 1-mile walk after work. Ta-da!

Another Thankful Thursday.

Admittedly, I have been going pretty hard on the cardio lately.  Instead, I did some focused core/balance work and snuck in some upper-body strength work with it. Planks, twists, and lifts...let's just say we had a ball, literally. Later, there was a sun-filled 2-mile walk over lunch.

Another Fun  (but Frigid) Friday.

When it's just you and Ellie (and Grace and Frankie), there's no need for caffeine. Five miles of glorified gliding had me glistening and glowing (and giggling). BTW, Ellie is the elliptical, and she showed me no mercy. After work, the hubby joined me for a 2-mile freeze-your-face walk.

Another Sensationally Sunny Saturday.

Call me crazy, but I love an action-packed Saturday morning. Temps were freezing (literally), but I met up with Barb for a 5-mile run at 7:00AM. The sunrise was absolutely breathtaking (#NoFilter), the streets were clear, and the wind was pretty much a no-show. Afterwards, I had a 10-mile Zoom ride with Coco and Kim. And, believe it or not, my legs felt like jelly when I was finished (but a good kind of jelly LOL). Another upper-body workout, in the evening, ensured a good night of sleep.

Another Simple Sunday.

Often times, the un-shoveled path is far more exciting, invigorating and will give you a better burn. Case in point, Sunday morning. I had contemplated a short recovery run, but my lower back was feeling cranky. Instead, I opted for a 2-mile walk, which turned into more of a power hike in the 2-3 inches of fresh snow. There were several "balance check points," so hiking definitely was the smart way to go. Glass half full! Afterwards, I hopped on the bike for five quick "warm-me-back-up" miles.

So, I'm happy with the week! I'm slowly increasing my weekly running mileage; this week saw 12 miles. Walking was a bit meh, with only 9 miles this week (there may be more happening later Sunday, though). The elliptical and indoor bike are my early morning go-to's when I'm not hitting the streets; 10 "miles" on the elliptical and 35 on the bike. I'm also incorporating 10 flights of stairs prior to some of my runs, as a warm-up (30 flights this week). Two strength workouts. Ka-ching.

 

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

...Because I Choose To...

Pandemic: Lessons Learned

Winter Running - 5 Things to (currently) Love

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair! Friday was one of our coldest days of the season, temps pretty much stayed in the low teens all day, and the wind kept the feels-like temps in the lower single digits. At least we had clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine. I double-sweater'd it to keep from shivering, and the kiwi scarf was a bonus piece for warmth (as well as a needed punch of color). Have you ever double-layered the sweaters to stay cozy in the cold? As always, you're invited to join the party...post a pic on Instagram, grab the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and be sure to tag me (@runningonthefly).

It was a week of celebration with our little Max. His birthday was on Tuesday (the 19th), and his Gotcha Day is today (January 24th)!  We've had him for six years already, and we're so thankful the stars, moons and planets all aligned in finding him at a nearby shelter (#AdoptDontShop).

Lastly, I finally bit the bullet and re-registered for the Air Force Marathon. I was registered last year, but Covid jacked up the live race. Sorry, I have ZERO interest in running a virtual marathon, but was able to defer my registration to 2021. I'm hoping marathon weekend holds in September, or I may be deferring it to 2022. Fingers crossed!

So, there you have it! Another week in the books, and we're another week closer to Summer. It's all good.

How are things in your world? Sub-freezing temps? Opting outside? Any big races that you've optimistically registered for in the fall?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter