I'm a huge believer in ending the year on a strong note.
It's also a busy, yet festive, time of year. Why not combine the two?
Well, that's just what some fitness friends, and myself, did!
While the year didn't play out the way many of us had hoped, it was a huge improvement from its predecessor, 2020. Well, at least in my little corner of the universe it was.
Shall we take a brief walk down Memory Lane? How about a few highlights? Maybe some pictures can tell the story...
Holy hyper wicked wind, Batman!
It was a week to hold on (tightly) to one's hat! The temps were a bit all over the place, but the wind was constant. Oh joy!
None the less, I was able to continue my daily "outdoor action" streak. The RW Run Streak continues, as does the (new) Peloton streak. Call me crazy, but it beats sitting idle (don't worry, I'm being careful and am not over-doing it with my #sweatequity). Rest assured (literally, LOL), I'm having fun this holiday season.
A famous Christmas song, Deck The Halls, tells us to "don our gay apparel." But, I ask you, where's it written that it just applies only to formal wear?
This is, after all, a time of year for all things festive and fun. I believe that's true for fitness and fashion as well. Go bright or go home, am I right?
A lot of people have commented on my extensive collection of holiday workout gear. But, here's a #FitnessFashionFession...I really don't have as much as it may appear...
2021 was an interesting year, especially in terms of racing.
Covid appeared to be dwindling, and many runners welcomed the return to live races. For myself, there wasn't as much racing, in comparison to previous years (with the exception of 2020), but all of my races were significant to me. A few were virtual, but the majority were in-person.
And I've got the bling to show for my efforts.
I never said never, but I did take my sweet time in checking out Peloton.
Let's just say it was well worth the wait.
While I am not a certified coach, trainer, or expert, I do know a thing or two about what works for me. I have just enough knowledge (and experience) to be dangerous, and I often times have difficulty with having someone else telling me what to do.
Alas, the 2-month free trial promotion came along at a time when I was itching to try something different. There's nothing wrong with stepping outside one's bubble of comfort...am I right?
Turnabout is fair play, or so they say.
This has been a strange fall season. The warmer temps of summer held on a little longer than usual. Then, we had a couple of lightly snow-dusted mornings, followed by some intense ongoing wind. Oh, and then the temps did a major nosedive, and it seemed like the sub-freezing conditions were here to stay.
But, in case you haven't buckled your seat belts, the weather rollercoaster continued this week. With Thanksgiving's near sub-ZERO feels-like conditions barely in the rearview mirror, Momma N served up some unseasonably warm weather... to the tune of mid-50F's most of the week.
Huh. Sit down and figure that one out, LOL.
Most everyone knows the fall season is not my favorite, but this week has been a nice treat. The thing is, I know it's just teasing me with the 50F temps and mild wind, LOL. Ironically, I'm kind of hoping this particular fall weather will stick around a bit longer. If only, right?
That said, even in the mild (almost balmy) weather, I'm still enjoying my chai latte(s). Honestly, I don't need sub-freezing temps to relish a hot comforting beverage.
What's more, I don't need an excuse to crave some coffee talk with friends, even if it has to be a virtual coffee date. You, too? Shall we?
But, rest assured, this oops is intentional.
Thanksgiving has come and gone, so that means it's time for my annual "Get Me Through The Solstice" end-of-year ritual.
Yes, it was another cold week.
But the fresh air? The breathtaking sunsets and sunrises? The company of friends? A house full of family? All made for a worthwhile week of fitness and fun, and the frigid temps were bearable.
Yes, you read that correctly. The cold of the pre-winter season wasn't too bad...
Here we 'fess again...time to bare (our running soles) and share (a few things).
Funny how each month I wonder if there will be anything that needs 'fessing, and somehow I never have any trouble finding it. Or, maybe these 'fess-worthy things find me?
None the less, here's what's going down at the Runfessional this month...
Thankful. Grateful. Blessed. These three things are paramount, year-round, but especially this time of year.
How would I best describe this week?
In a word, BRRR! If I could add a second word, it would be WINDY!
But I digress. As much as I detest the fall season, I desperately try to hang on (ever so tightly) to it. Why? Because I detest the winter season even more (at least in terms of the cold weather).
While we didn't have actual full-blown (I use that term loosely, LOL) winter weather, we did have winter temps. There was some sunshine, thank goodness, so the chill of the wind wasn't as bad as it could have been, but still BRRR (have I said that already?).
That which doesn't kill us, makes us stronger.
Have you ever been caught in an especially tough race, training run or competitive/endurance event? Were you able to dig deep and persevere to the finish line? Did you have enough grit to keep that proverbial white flag from flying?
I have had races where everything fell into place... the weather was optimal, my energy was on-point, the race course wasn't especially hilly or difficult. And, there have been many other races that took more work than usual to stay on course (no pun intended). These were challenging races that forced me to tap into my "grit reserve."
Thankfully, these tough races have made me a much tougher runner...and stronger for the fight.
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Disclaimer: I received two pairs of Knockaround sunglasses (to try out and review) 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.
But not just any shades....
...and if I can do it with a friend? All the better!
The city was Chicago, the date was this past Sunday (November 7th), and the race was the Hot Chocolate 15K, a national series that has venues in various cities across the United States. Oh, and did I mention there was hot chocolate at the finish line?
Can you say WIND?
If so, you'll have a solid grasp on how this week played out for me. We're talking chilly temps, intermittent rain, and all kinds of stuff blowing through the air and against my face.
Yes, there's a reason (actually, several LOL) I don't particularly like the fall season, and this week's weather was at the top of the list. It is what it is, right? Besides, if we didn't have some cruddy weather, we probably wouldn't appreciate the truly beautiful days.
Trust me, I had that mantra on repeat this week...
Time to 'fess up and share a few (or maybe, five?) disclosures, bare the (running) soles, and move forward (mostly) unscathed. Sound good?
While things have been pretty uneventful (in a good way), I do have a few things to share that have me shaking my head. Don't worry, I'm also laughing as I do so...
Ever have one of those weeks where things just seemed...slightly out of reach?
The weather turned on me (faster, and more severe, than forecast), the full moon did its best to avoid me, and my race weekend's recovery was uneventful (as it should be). The reality that Fall is here - in full swing - always hits me hard, but it is what it is. Summer's going to end and Fall is going to happen... might as well make the best of it, right?
So, I did...
I think it's pretty sweet when the stars, moon, planets (and a plethora of other forces that be) all align on race morning.
It had been a four year sabbatical. This was a race that I'd run twice before and I'd had some decent success with my performance. Even though I had a somewhat big half marathon the next day, why not give it a go? Go big or go home, am I right?
So, I went big, and didn't stay home.
Disclaimer: I received a race registration for the IMT Des Moines Marathon weekend 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.
When it comes to repeat racing, I'm guilty. The IMT Des Moines Marathon weekend has entertained me 14 different times (since 2008), and this year was especially significant.
It was significant because it had been two years since the last time I had run this race course (#Covid), but this year I also was seeking a bit of redemption for my less-than-ideal finish at the DAM to DSM 20K (back on August 28th)...oh, and did I mention I also was running the MercyOne 5-Mile Run the day prior?
So, how did that work for me?
With two races on the weekend's roster, this week was all about the taper.
The thing is, it didn't really feel like a taper. Since I was kind of in a holding & coasting pattern (since the cancellation of my September marathon), I haven't really been in a real training mode. I've done some long runs (10/11-miles) in the past couple of months, but no speed-training. The weekly mileage has averaged near the 20-mile mark. And there have been a few weeks with minimal mileage (and lots of biking) while I worked my way through some weird aches and (mild) pains.
Still, as we all know, a busy race weekend benefits from a not-too-strenuous week prior...
It's that time of the year that I dread (almost) the most....the end of summer.
Granted, it's technically been Fall for a couple weeks, but we've had some decent late Summer weather so I've been able to play the denial card a bit longer. The majority of my runner friends, though, are ecstatic to usher in some cooler weather and kick summer to the curb. While I do appreciate the less intense heat and humidity this time of year, Summer will always be my favorite season for running.
How is it that we're already a full week into October???
Thankfully, the weather felt like a continuation from the previous week's return-to-summer party. Granted, it wasn't quite as warm (until the weekend), but it definitely felt more like late-summer than early-fall. Add in all the pink colored stuff everywhere, and it was a pretty-in-pink kind of week.
What happens when a favorite event, that benefits a great cause, is happening the same weekend you're out of town?
Well, I don't know about you, but I opted to register anyways and run this event virtually.
The irony? This event is affiliated with the University of Iowa, and I was in the University of Maryland area for the weekend...and there may have been a football game happening with these two Big 10 schools.
Oh, and my team may have been the victors.
It's almost like Momma N knew she'd wronged me.
After the previous week's fast-forward to all things (late) fall-like, this week saw a resurrection of all things summer. We're talking daily sunshine and near-record-breaking temps. Let's just say, I was totally back in my element.
Ahhh, here we are again...
Time to gather for some chatter. Time to share a few stories. Time to reflect on the past few weeks. And time to enjoy a cup of whatever beverage you so choose.
It's always fun to get together and share some conversation, laughs and an occasional hug.
It's true. I'm a hopeless sunrise worshipper.
I'm also an art geek, so capturing the sunrise is something I thoroughly enjoy doing (pretty much on the daily). I'm also an early-riser, so this all works well with my lifestyle. Besides, sleep is overrated LOL.
They say turnabout is fair play, but Momma N didn't want to play nice this week.
I was dreading the end of summer, so I was already in a blah kind of emotional state. Suffice it to say I was not the least bit amused when the frigid fall-like weather arrived a day early. Nor did I appreciate the sudden plummet in temps and upswing of wind.
Alas, I did live to tell about it (or you wouldn't be reading this LOL). Just because I can handle the crazy Iowa weather doesn't mean I have to love it. But, I refuse to let it dictate my livelihood. Or something like that...
We all knew this was going to happen.
You know the drill...The solstice arrives, and from there on out, the days start getting shorter. The beautiful sunrise makes its appearance later and later. The early morning runs get cooler and darker. And, those bike rides start to feel even more windy.
Summer ends, and Fall begins. Don't get me wrong, it's not ALL bad, but it's my least favorite change-of-season. Why? Because, at least in Iowa, it happens practically overnight and then ushers in Winter a very short while later.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. With Summer coming to a close, I have a few 'fessions to bring to the forefront...
This was a week of strategy.
I found myself, numerous times, giving in to spontaneity. Having a plan of action, albeit whimsical, was necessary - on the daily - to keep things (somewhat) functional and on track. At least that's what I kept telling myself.
It's okay to try new things; actually it's great to do so.
It's also okay to try doing "old" things in a new way.
Case in point, there are a few new and/or different things that I've been doing in my little world of fitness. They've been a little scary, and I did have some doubt how things would play out. In retrospect, though, these things weren't as tough as anticipated. And, I came away much stronger, physically and emotionally, for the challenge of doing them..
In case you haven't heard, my much anticipated marathon bit the dust (well, sort of).
As much as I was looking forward to the Air Force Marathon, I'm totally at peace with NOT running it. It was to be my 10th marathon, and it may still be (someday), but for now it's off the table and deleted from my 2021 calendar.
Actually, I have my eyes towards a Fall full of care-free fun (did you try to say that three times, really fast?).
Well, this definitely isn't the taper I had in mind.
Had the Air Force Marathon not gone virtual, I would be basking in my second week of 26.2 taper bliss. Alas, with the big Cy-Hawk football game (the Iowa State Cyclones vs. the University of Iowa Hawkeyes) on deck for Saturday, this week also would be full of black and gold bliss...so that's what I chose to focus on instead.
So how did that work for me? In two words: quite well!
Where did my summer go?
Apparently, Momma N is in a much bigger hurry to shut-down the summer season than I am. The days are getting markably shorter, and my dear sunrise is arriving later and later each morning. Alas, I'm determined to get outside everyday and embrace what's left of summer.
That's the plan, and it kept me smiling most of the week.
As the saying goes, "always earned, never given."
That's true for many things, in running and life in general. It was the paramount mantra that got me to the DAM to DSM finish line on Saturday morning.
I have said it many times, but this event is one I look forward to every year. With Covid-19 wiping it off the grid for 2020, this race was a long time coming.
Well, it was a week!
And Momma N certainly had her own agenda for what kind of weather she was serving up for me. She kept me guessing, she threw a few surprises my way, and she definitely tested my tolerance for her antics.
It's a good thing she keeps me entertained because there were never any dull moments.
Rest assured, I have a few. Actually, I have several things worthy to 'fess-up about...but I'll spare you a lengthy post and just share five (you're welcome).
There's been a lot of things going down, and some exciting things on the horizon...
We all have a few favorite things when it comes to running.
While my Arsenal of Running Essentials has evolved over the years, it has many items that are invaluable to me. In the past year, though, a few key items have been added that I can't imagine life without.
Care to hear about them?