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Sunday, February 14, 2021

Freeze Frame


Holy Frigid Freeze, Batman!

While we able to avoid extreme weather in January, that has not been the case in February. We've had near-record snow fall and have not seen above-freezing temps in awhile. Truth be told, this past week saw only one day without any new snow and our town is running out of places to stash it. 

But, it's not all bad! We still have had some glorious sunshine, and I've been able to stay just as active by opting indoors. My glass (coffee mug?) has remained more than half full...

Before I share all the frosty 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 world this week:

Never miss a (cold) Monday.
When do sub-ZERO temps feel invigorating? Immediately after a hot 3-mile treadmill run, that's when. Gotta keep that glass half full, right? Running inside is a choice...I could have chosen to run outside (on the dangerous streets), or not at all. As much as I curse the treadmill, I never take for granted that I have one. 'Nuff said. Oh, and 10 bonus biking miles (also inside) after work.
 

Another "chill" Tuesday.
Easy-peasy day...five miles on the elliptical, and a bone-chilling 1-mile walk after work.


Not-so-wonderful Wednesday.
Already, this was my fourth consecutive Milly run, and (already) things were feeling strained with our relationship. No one said it would be easy, right? Treadmill runs and Iowa winters are not for the faint of heart. Thankfully, by the time we got to the fourth mile, I'd found my groove and the run ended on a good note. There also was (another) frigid walk after work, followed by (another) indoor 10-mile bike ride. I was totally cool with that.


Thursday on the down-low.
Not much happening, but I did sneak in some upper-body strength work disguised as a core workout (in the wee hours). You know it's a good workout when the DOMS show up before bedtime. Another freeze-your-face 1-mile post-workday walk also happened. At least, with the increasing daylight, all of my after-work walks have a glimmer of sunlight.


Frigid and frosty Friday.
Though the temps be cold (-8F, with -29F feels-like) and the winds be foul....Blah Blah Blah. I came up with an inverted pyramid interval endeavor (say that three times):

**20 flights of stairs (double-stepped)
**1 moderate mile on the 'mill (9:30 pace for me)
**10 more flights of stairs (also double-stepped)
**another moderate mile on the 'mill (also at 9:30 pace)
**20 final flights of stairs (double-stepped as well)

Total time was 33 minutes. The cardio was more than sufficient, the legs were worked over, and the sweat equity was intense. The outdoor selfie felt incredible afterwards.


Stuck-inside Saturday.
Barb and I had considered venturing to the lake, and running laps. After all, each lap, around the lake, is a mile in length, and we'd have some shelter from the wind. With all the snow we'd gotten, though, and the insanely cold weather, it was doubtful the path would be cleared. So, I summoned Milly (again) for five sweaty miles. These miles didn't feel fabulous, but they definitely felt much better than Wednesday's did. I'm calling that a win. Afterwards, I pedaled and chatted with Renee, Debbie, Kim, Michelle, and Coco for 10 miles. I'm calling that a win as well!


Sunny (on the inside) Sunday.
Yikes! The temps were showing -11F (with a crazy -32F feel-like). I'm usually saying "Go bright or go home," but I opted for "Go pink and stay home." After all, it was Valentine's Day, and pink is a variation of red. Five miles of elliptical (and a couple walking miles with Milly), and that was that. Not sure if the daily outside (1-mile) walk streak will sustain this day...stay tuned.


 So, there definitely was more happening indoors than outdoors this week. It is what it is, and I have complete confidence this crazy cold spell will not last forever (word has it that we may reach the 20F's on Wednesday!). Although not mentioned, the daily planks and push-ups are still going strong. Also, I'm incorporating 10 flights of stair runs as part of my warm-up routine for my runs.

Here's the stats:
*running: 14 miles
*walking: 8 miles
*biking: 30 miles
*elliptical: 10 miles
*stairs: 80 flights (includes pre-run warm-ups and Thursday's interval workout)
*strength: (1) upper-body and (1) lower-body
 
In case you missed out, here's what else went down on the blog this week:

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair! As mentioned, Friday was a very chilly day in Iowa, but I wasn't "blue" about it (more of a "teal" state of mind). What you can't see is the base layer under the t-neck sweater (under the hand-crafted poncho). So, yes, we're talking triple layers here (and I was still cold all day, even with the wrist warmers). At least we had the sun intermittently poking through the clouds. You do what you gotta do. Care to join me? Post a pic of your Friday outfit on Instagram, grab the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and be sure to tag me (@runningonthefly).


Remember that favorite race of mine, DAM to DSM? Registration opened at 10:00 on Thursday, and within the first hour, over 1,250 spots were filled. I was able to secure my registration within the first five minutes (#whew). Hopefully, by the August 28th race date, things will be somewhat stable and the race will hold...but they are giving us the option to defer, run virtual, or get a refund should there be any "Covid-related complications." 


And finally, Winter. It's been a doozy, just in the past couple of weeks. I've lost count on how much snow Momma N has dumped on Iowa since February arrived. The streets have been plowed, but they're still pretty unsafe for running (says the gal who usually doesn't hesitate to head outside). The temps have been in the low single digits at best, and the wind has been wicked...so, even if the streets weren't such a hazard, the conditions just aren't safe. That said, I have been able to at least get outside for my daily walks. Alas, with each cold week, we are one week closer to Spring (and Summer!).


How are things in your world? Are you entertaining polar vortex-type of weather? Have you been able to get outside, or have you been confined to the great indoors?


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43 comments:

  1. Those temperatures are crazy cold! I don't blame you. I'd be inside too! Hope that cold spell moves out and you can enjoy the outdoors soon. Great workouts this week, you made the most of it!

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    1. I usually don't hesitate (much) about going outside, but these extreme conditions are a no-go. The last thing I want to do is risk a slip/fall with my recovered foot LOL

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  2. We had the Beast From The East and only 19.4 in your temps but that was very cold for us - that's with the windchill. I did run in it, and today when it was meant to be warmer but was wet. We have a downpour of rain right now so it must be warmer, and I'm very glad it is rain! Epic photos as ever and good news (fingers crossed!) about your race.

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    1. These extreme temps are crazy, even for Iowa. It's unusual for this kind of cold weather to stick around for so many continuous days.

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  3. How great that you were able to get into your favorite race. Fingers crossed that it foes on as planned
    This week's weather was a doozy, although we were nowhere near as cold. I can't remember if you're currently WFH or not, but stay safe when you need to go out. Speaking of places to put snow, will never forget probably ten years ago at a restaurant in midtown watching them put snow into a dump track for hauling away

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    1. My WFH was short-lived (during my Covid "crisis"), so I've been back in the office since mid-November. We have a very skeleton staff on-site, though. The walk from the parking lot to the front door is maybe 50 feet...so short, but cold on a windy day!

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    2. Glad it's a short walk and drive. Conditions seem frightening.

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  4. Ugh..February weather has been brutal so far. I have a good relationship with my treadmill, but even I am ready to end things :) I need a good long run outside in 30 degrees and sun to make things right in this world!

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    1. I am craving anything about the 20's!!! It's going to feel tropical!

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  5. It seems like it's been freezing cold everywhere this past week, even in Texas! One of my work colleagues told me it was going to be 20 degrees there this weekend.

    I hope that your DAM to DSM race will be in person. Hopefully most people are able to receive the vaccine by August!

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    1. This week really hit a bunch of us, didn't it! 20 degrees in TX is cold, but it'll feel like a heat wave in Iowa (if it really shows up, as forecast, this week).

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  6. We've had a little bit of snow here, a little bit there (and by little sometimes I mean 6", LOL) but that looks to change big time next week. We're supposed to get a break mid week & I'm hoping the roads will be cleared enough to run outside. Stay tuned!

    Glad you have all your indoor options, Kim. It's important!

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    1. I'm glad for my indoor options, too! It's going to be awhile before our roads are clear enough to safely run on them, but at least walking is doable.

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  7. The weather has been so tough lately! Its great that you have been able to do so many indoor workouts. I have tried to get outside when I can, which was 2 days this week. Even though we haven't had a ton of snow its the ice thats the real problem.

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    1. We don't really have ice, but the snow is just so thick (even on the plowed streets). It's like running (and walking) on quicksand, so your feet slip just by way of "stepping" in it...if that makes sense.

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  8. Great job on your workouts! I can't even imagine those temps for an extended period of time. It's going to be really cold here this week, but I'm sure (and hope) not that cold!

    Have a great week and thanks for the linkup!

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    1. Right? I can handle a day or two with the crazy temps, but for an extended period, it's really a buzzkill.

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  9. Those temps are crazy cold! They might even make me hit the treadmill. Way to get it done this week with a big smile on your face too

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    1. I'm smiling because I know it could be worse...and I know these temps are a temporary thing. But, the treadmill has worn out its welcome LOL

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  10. I love your post-Milli outdoor photos!
    I hope you never get locked out, haha!
    Well done, Kim, for surviving the cold weather.

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    1. Ha ha ha...I had not thought of getting locked out LOL I don't think that could happen with the locks on these particular doors (thank goodness). The post-mill outdoor selfies are my coping vices ;-)

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  11. We're in the same boat--just gotta make the best of it, right? And like you said, we Midwesterners know how to dress for the cold!

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    1. Yes, making the best of it. It's a lot better to laugh about it than whine ;-)

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  12. I feel ya! I was SO over winter this week. We had several days of too cold and icy to get outside and each morning we had a new dusting of snow that just made it that more hard to get out the door. Thank goodness for a few days of sunshine that I was able to get in a run!

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    1. I'm thankful we had a lot of sunshine. Even though it still was bitterly cold, the sunshine really makes it "feel" better.

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  13. My “cold” is not as cold as your cold! WHY do you take pictures outside in your shorts! I would be miserable and my phone would die.

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    1. I take the outdoor selfies as a means of coping with the insane temps and the grit to finish a treadmill workout. Actually, those couple of minutes, outside, just after a sweat session feel pretty good ;-)

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  14. Well, you know we runners have a love/hate relationship with the treadmill... we SAY we hate it, but really are just glad to be running at all. It all counts, and when you're able to get outside again your fitness will be there! Sounds like you had a great week.

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    1. Well, I'm just not a fan of the treadmill...it really wears on my form. It really tests my mental endurance, too. I have to (usually) do intervals or surges, which makes most of my TM runs speed drills by default. They get done faster than they should...and that's not always a good thing LOL

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  15. Glad you were able to get in on the DAM to DSM registration! Let's hope things are starting to settle down by then!

    Great to seeing you yesterday :)

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    1. I'm pretty confidant D2D will hold this year. It's usually the Saturday after Memorial weekend, so they're hoping by pushing it back a few months things will be much more stable.

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  16. I'm struggling a bit with my indoor fitness, I feel like I'm just "running to run" rather than training for anything...like you say it's 100% my choice. I think my fitness goal for next week is to be brave enough to take an outdoor selfie afterwards.

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    1. Oh, yes! Go for the outdoor selfie! It's actually quite empowering, and it's a good way of showing the crazy weather who's boss ;-)

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  17. It's amazing how abruptly Mom Nature flipped the switch from mild to brutal winter. While I enjoyed the dump of snow we got right before we left for Florida, I have to say I'm quite enjoying the fact that I'm missing out on Chicago winter right now.

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    1. Yes, Marcia, it's almost like you knew something when you scheduled your trip ;-) Your timing was impeccable!!

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  18. Sheesh. I just don't even understand these temperatures. The one day, we were in the 20s and I couldn't even feel my face. But today, we had tornadoes, so I guess it's just the devil you know vs. the devil you don't.

    Great week for you!

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    1. Yeah, these temps are odd, even for Iowa. I mean, we get cold days and we get extremely cold days...but not for so many continuous days. I guess they make the not-so-cold days that much more beautiful ;-)

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  19. Wow, that many registrations within that hour? Well, weather wise I am in the same situation as you. Thankfully I have close to a school so the sidewalks are usually clean after a snowstorm. One mile is all i can manage right now.

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    1. D2D is a really popular race! It usually happens the Saturday after Memorial Day, but they pushed it back to late August for 2021. They postponed it in 2020, then it had to go virtual, so all these DAM runners are hungry for the start line ;-)

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  20. Yikes I can hardly deal with our temps and they are probably "balmy" to you Iowans!!! crazy! Glad you got into your race!

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    1. And today it's even colder LOL I'm just glad it's February (and not January), so Spring isn't too far down the road. Fingers crossed this cold blast is the last one of this season.

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  21. Polar vortex here in Kansas!! Definitely derailed my running for the week! I chickened out on a 10K that was scheduled for Sunday due to the cold and snow!!

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    1. Brrrr!!!! I can handle the cold, but not when it's this extreme. I'm just craving temps in the "normal seasonal" range at this point LOL

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