Saturday, December 25, 2021

Ready for Takeoff...


Can we just talk about the busyness of the season?

Well, truth be told, it's not just the festivities that had me busy this week. There was plenty of fitness action, household organizing, holiday prepping and some pre-adventure tasks to get secured.

Yes, there was plenty of busyness...good thing we have our fitness vices to keep us grounded, am I right?

Before I fill you in on all 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 8:00AM (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 corner of the fitness world this week:

Sunday: Rising and Riding
Up and in the saddle! With a full moon run on deck for the evening, I opted for some quality time on the stationary bike. Peloton recently dropped several workouts with the awesome music of ABBA, so Sebbe and  I took advantage. We knocked out 22 miles and afterwards did Day-7 of the 12 Days of Fitness Challenge (7 Tri dips, 6 curtsy lunges {each side}, 5 burpees, 4 plank jacks, 3 bicycle crunches {each side}, 2 jumping jacks and one push-up). 
  

As promised, a few of us met up for a few miles under the bright full moon. We kept the route fairly short (three miles) and headed down to our town's central park to pay homage to the lighted decorations.


Never miss a Monday!
I found two more ABBA rides to do, giving me 15 miles in the early hours. Afterwards, I added eight standing side crunches (each side) to the 12 Days of Fitmas workout. Since I was working from home, I had the luxury of dressing in workout attire, allowing a little more time for a 2-mile #runch over my lunch break (title pic, above). And, since it also was pickle ball night, the hubs and I spent 90 minutes hitting and chasing said pickle balls after work.
 

Tuesday: Celebrating the Winter Solstice.
Amy and I met for our weekly 3-mile run (with 1/2-mile walking for warm-up and cool-down). The temps were cold (low teens), but the single digit mph wind made for a fairly calm morning on the city streets. I'll take it! Even though I'm a die-hard summer gal, I embrace the Winter Solstice. Although the increased daylight isn't obvious immediately, it feels like a major milestone just getting past the Solstice. Brighter days ahead! Also, Day-9 of the Challenge, so nine jump squats were added to the mix.


Double Workout Wednesday
Icky temps (and windy conditions), so Barb and I postponed our #5at5 to Thursday (that seems to be a recurring pattern, LOL). Instead, I opted for a few more cycling workouts (via Peloton) with Sebbe. Twelve total miles of pedaling, and the Day-10 installment of the 12 Days (adding 10 single leg dead lifts, each side) and all was well in my world.



After work, I got out for a quick "chase-the-sunset" run and did some strength and core work. 


Thankful Thursday!
As I've mentioned before, I believe there's plenty to be thankful for on a daily basis. Somehow, these  #5at5 runs, usually with Barb, always reinforce that theory. Of course, it really helps when the skies are clear, the traffic is light, and there's plenty of conversation to help the miles go quickly. Afterwards, I added 11 biceps curls to the 12 Days of Fitmas set. And, the weather was so nice, I did a solo 2-mile power walk after work (in celebration of my final "work day" of 2021).


Friday Fitness: on FIRE!
Holy Tabata, Batman! I did my first-ever Tabata ride, and let's just say it got a little stuffy in the basement (that's code for the red shirt and Santa hat both had to take a hike for the ride). Also, it was the final day of the 12 Days of Fitmas, so I celebrated with 12 sets of walking lunges added to the rest of the moves. It was kind of another icky morning (with fog), so I waited until mid-morning to do my 1-mile streak run (featured below, in the Friday Fashion Flair).


Saturday: Sunny Christmas Day Run!
Barb and I waited until 7:30, when we'd have full daylight, and were rewarded with full sunshine and decent temps. I'd thought of running 7.6 miles (the equivalent of 12.25 kilometers, you know...Christmas numbers, LOL), but finished with a full eight miles instead. Then, there was a full day of family, food, and fun...so I ended the evening with a short 5-mile ride, a core workout and the Great Christmas Takedown (see below).


What's on tap for Sunday?
A short streak run, some early-morning cycling, and massive packing/prepping for the great escape (see below)...

So, it was quite an action-packed week, and not just in  terms of fitness or holiday fun (again, see below, LOL). Running was pretty solid with 23 miles. Walking was meager (about four miles). Biking was substantial with 68 miles. Pickle ball served as my mobility/cardio training. A few strength and core workouts kept things in balance. Yadda yadda yadda. 

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

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair! With the day off from work, but a full day of last-minute Christmas prep underway, I kept things very fitness-based. The good news? I finally had an opportune time to wear my "holiday lights" shirt for my streak run. It's the little things, folks. 


Many fitness friends donned their festive fitness attire and logged some miles over the weekend! Another thing to be thankful for, on the daily, is the gift of fitness friends. 'Nuff said.


Finally, the hubs and I are off on a new adventure ...we're doing a month-long stint as snowbirds. This past week was CrAzY getting all the details finalized and household stuff ready (including a major take-down of the Christmas decs Saturday night #WhompWhomp), but we're excited! We'll have some major car time in getting there, and there's also a couple of football games to tend to this week - the Iowa State Cyclones are playing the Clemson Tigers in the Cheez-It Bowl (Dec. 29th) and our Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Kentucky Wildcats in the Citrus Bowl on New Years Day. It's rare to have both Iowa and Iowa State playing Bowl games in the same stadium, only days apart. So, why not support both teams? Stay tuned...


So, that's a wrap! 

I hope your holiday season has been full of laughter and good cheer, as well as valuable time with friends and family. Can you believe 2021 is almost outta here?

How did your week play out? Any holiday running? Traveling? Are you ready for the new year?

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36 comments:

  1. Well, here's a shock, I've started joining in again! Will just do one a month as I don't think my running is interesting enough for a weekly post, though. Love all your festive running tops: I really need to up my game as only have one pair of leggings and one buff so round they go again and again! A good week for you, I had a lovely run yesterday and was chuffed to make it into the group photo! Safe travels ...

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    1. Welcome back!! Confession, none of my holiday leggings are true "running tights." They're just inexpensive leggings from a discount store, and I layer them over the "real" tights for a pinch of festive fun ;-)

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  2. Have so much fun on your snowbird adventure! We really enjoyed spending last February in FL and I can't wait to do it again...not sure when but it'll happen! Safe travels!

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    1. Thanks, Marcia! I'm both excited and apprehensive...it's a long time to be away (but I think I'll manage) ;-)

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  3. Enjoy your month down south! Sounds like fun! Will you be staying in one place or traveling around?

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    1. We bought a villa in a community down there, so we'll be staying in one place (working remotely), but plan to do a lot of exploring.

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  4. Oh, wow, enjoy your snow birding and ^Iowa^ game — we’ll be rooting for Clemson in the other game. ;-)

    I’m excited for the additional daylight, even if it’s just a few minutes a day.

    Thanks for making the amazing collage.

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    1. Even though Iowa State is our big intrastate rival, we try to cheer for them whenever they're not playing our Hawkeyes, LOL. It's only in recent years they're football program has really excelled, so it's exciting to see them in a bowl game!

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  5. I know you will enjoy your month down in Florida with the sunshine and warmer temps. Way to keep up your fitness on a busy week nice job w the Peloton workouts

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    1. It will be interesting to be tapping into the Peloton workouts even more while in Florida. I believe we'll have access to several workout centers/gyms in our area, so I'm hoping I can use a stationary bike while there.

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  6. Wow - a month down south? I am definitely envious! It sounds amazing!

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    1. Yes, this will be a big adventure for us...we've never been away for that long before.

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  7. Enjoy your snow birding and the football games.
    Here no traveling due to the Covid problems in Italy, we prefer to be prudent. We will only spend some days in our house on the Bolsena lake.
    No races during these holidays, only workouts.
    Beautiful collage!

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    1. I'm really looking forward to doing all of my runs outdoors, in warmer temps! I know it won't feel like summer, but it definitely won't feel like an Iowa winter, LOL

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  8. I am so excited that you get to miss out on a month of winter! Enjoy your snowbirding. I'm determined to get the hubs away for a snowbird long weekend sometime this winter.

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    1. Thanks ;-) It will be nice to get away from the sub-freezing temps for awhile.

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  9. Enjoy your snowbirding! Safe Travels!

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    1. Thank you, Michelle! Looking forward to a little bit of warmth...

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  10. Sounds amazing...I am ready for some warm weather already.

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    1. Honestly, our winter has been pretty mild, for the most part. We've had some cold, but the snow has stayed away. The wind, though, has been relentless. I'm looking forward to a change of scenery and less layers!

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  11. That is one busy week, Kim! Enjoy your snowbird time. It's actually something we really want to do as we explore where we want to retire to, but until this chapter with my mom is over it's just not the right time.

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    1. This is kind of a crazy time for us, as well. But, we were able to get the go-ahead from our employers to work remotely, so we thought we'd give it a try. Fingers crossed!!

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  12. I really enjoyed all of your festive outfits this week and thanks again for pulling together that amazing collage.

    So excited to follow along for your new adventure. I have no doubt it will be a month full of fun!

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    1. Thank you, Kim ;-) I had fun "playing" in all the fun festive stuff...tis the season, after all ;-)

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  13. Reading about your week made me tired- when you read my post you'll know why, although I suspect your week would make most people tired.
    I think you already said this but I forget- what part of Florida are you coming to? Are you attending both bowl games on the way? Baylor is in the Sugar Bowl- we'll be watching on TV!
    Good luck with your drive! We've got some nice warm weather for you when you arrive!

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    1. We have a villa in The Villages, in the central part of the state. Yes, we're going to both bowl games, which are both being played in Orlando. Hoping for good weather!

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  14. Good for you and your husband for a little warm-weather escape! Enjoy. Safe travels and I hope you get in lots of good sweaty sunny runs!

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  15. Enjoy the sunny getaway! That sounds glorious, and will be such a nice break.
    I'm so impressed with your exercise on Christmas. We did a short family adventure, but I'll be surprised if I logged more than 8,000 steps on the big day. Ugh.
    My parents are visiting this week, but the only thing I'm excited for with January 1st (COVID is going crazy here and I'm expecting the kids to be off school for...ever, sigh), is getting back into a workout routine.
    I think I'll do some sort of January streak, just haven't figured out what just yet!

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    1. I'm running a half marathon while in Florida, mid-month, so I need to log a couple more "longish" runs to stay on track with my endurance. Usually, I only run a few miles on Christmas morning, just to get out and have some me-time before all the family stuff starts....since Christmas fell on a Saturday this year, that's when the miles best fit my schedule.

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  16. You get major kudos for getting so much done and starting your trip the day after Christmas. I love the "tips for driving in the snow" meme.

    Can't wait to read about your adventures in Florida! Safe travels and have a great week!

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    1. Well, our trip is actually starting very early tomorrow morning...so we at least had all of today to get all the last-minute stuff ready. UGH...there was a lot that we couldn't do until today, so it's been a l.o.n.g day!

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  17. Oh wow, how exciting that you are going south for a month! That will be so fun, I can't wait to hear about it. I'm just packing for the slopes and (hopefully) lots of snow! :) have a safe journey and I'll stay tuned!

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    1. Ha ha...yeah, you'll have much colder weather than me, LOL. Enjoy your trip!

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  18. Absolutely on the winter driving tips. I'm actually headed north tomorrow and eek. But luckily roads meant to be dry.
    Drive safe and have an amazing time. Eat all the cheez its for me please, and good luck to your teams!

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  19. Snowbirds! How fun! What an amazing adventure for you! I can't wait to see how it goes!

    I love all your holiday themed outfits! You're so cute!

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