Saturday, April 2, 2022

Sometimes You Gotta Just GO With It!


Sometimes you gotta just GO with it!

It was a crazy week of weather, and there was a lot of pivoting and dancing to get things done. Alas, if you want it bad enough, you'll find a way. Momma N be damned.

So, yeah, there was wind, rain, cold temps, snow...and did I mention wind? Thankfully, there also was some intermittent sunshine thrown in for good measure.

Before I share 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 world of fitness and fun:

Long Run Sunday...
Saturday's postponed long run (due to sub-freezing temps and wind) came to fruition on Sunday morning. Barb and I met up around 7:30 for an 8-mile adventure. Temps were still cold (25F, with a 14F feels like), but we had full sunshine. The thing is, it felt like I never completely warmed up while running. Barb and I concluded the wind was coming at us from every direction (except from behind). The wind had been a mere 7mph when we started, but it was 14mph when we finished! After we parted ways, I circled back around the campus (for the requisite selfie, #priorities), and realized I'd be almost at 8.5 miles once I reached my driveway...so I tacked on a little more distance to end with nine total miles. Back home, I hopped on the bike for 10 miles, which loosened up my legs while it warmed up my freezing cold body.



Never Miss a Monday...
Full disclosure, my body was tired after Sunday's run. Those nine miles made for my longest distance in a few months, after all. Not sure how I'd gotten away from my "morning-after-recovery-runs," but I thought I'd give it a whirl...and WOW. These two miles, Monday morning, were absolute magic. The temps were cold (again), but calm. The sky was clear (the crescent moon was amazing!). And, it truly was a struggle to keep my pace slow because my legs felt so good. Later, there were a couple of 1-mile walks at work, and 10 biking miles before dinner.

Another Tuesday with Tunde...
I'd like to call this an easy-peasy endeavor (at least for my legs), but that's a total oxymoron when Tunde (from the Peloton app) is involved. Like in recent weeks, I knocked out two 10-minute arms/shoulders toners while power-walking with Milly (and kept walking until I reached two total miles). Yep, another #ShoulderSmolder. After work, I did a fast and furious fight-the-wind walk (one mile) in the 30mph wind.


Triple Workout Wednesday...
Things were looking "warm" when Barb and I made plans (the evening prior) for our Wednesday morning #5at5. I'd laid out shorts and a couple of upper-body layers, eagerly anticipating 57F temps. Only, upon wake-up, the temps were showing 43F. But...the 11mph wind felt pretty mild in comparison to the previous day's antics, and the "possible light showers" didn't show up until mid-morning.


After work, I got busy with a stair/push-ups interval workout. Nothing too crazy...just (five sets of) 10 flights of double-stepped stair flights alternated with 10 push-ups (less than 14 minutes of work...50 total flights and 50 total push-ups). I followed that up with 12 miles on the bike. 


Triple Threat Thursday...
Come Thursday morning, I was feeling a bit fatigued. I'd scheduled a few Peloton strength workouts, and knew it would not be wise to "show up" when things were feeling compromised. Instead, I opted for some stretching and saved the workouts for later. After work, I did a 1/2-mile walk, outdoors, as my warm-up, then cued up the postponed workouts. Holy ouch! Daniel's glutes/legs workout definitely would not have gone well had I attempted that earlier in the morning. Rad's arms/shoulders workout was intense as well. Next, I hit the 'mill for two more of Tunde's upper-body workouts. Let's just say I was a glowing and glistening mess afterwards (hence the before & after pics, LOL). Everything hurt.so.good.


A Friday #5at5...
With a rainy weekend forecast, Barb and I made the command decision to run Friday morning instead of Saturday. This was a great run...temps were a bit chilly (upper 20F's), but the wind was mild (4mph) and the sky was clear. Since I wouldn't be doing a "long" run on Saturday, I'd thought of doing a few extra miles after work...but the DOMS (from Thursday's strength session) showed up. I settled for a 2-mile walk instead.


A Late Start Saturday...
I'm here to tell you a late start is better than a no start, LOL. My body must have been tired, because it woke up almost three hours (3 HOURS!) later than usual without an alarm. Maybe it was the two #5at5's this week, the intense strength workout on Thursday, or the DOMS from said strength workout...but it's been a hot minute since that's happened. It was cold and rainy outside anyways, so when the bike called, I answered. I decided to ride for 15 miles (which included a 30-minute Peloton ride, filtered in), and then added another Tunde arm/shoulder (light weights) toner while I slowly pedaled for another two miles.  By mid-afternoon, the temps had risen and the sun had emerged, so I got out for a few miles of walking.

What's on tap for Sunday?
The forecast is looking dry and pleasant for the morning and afternoon. I'm planning on a short run in the early morning, as well as some (indoor) biking. There's a great chance of an afternoon walk as well.

All told, I'm happy with how the week played out. Although I got outdoors everyday, I really am hoping I can get more outdoor walking on the books as the weather continues to inch away from Winter. It's still a bit too chilly for outdoor biking, but I'm hoping that will change by the end of the month.

As for weekly stats:
Running - 21 miles
Walking - 12 miles
Biking - 49 miles
Stairs - 90 flights (40 of those are from pre-run warm-ups)
Strength - upper-body (6 classes), lower-body (1 class), core (only 1 class, but daily planking) 

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

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. Anyone else ready to break out the floral prints and open-toed shoes/booties? 


Momma N's April Fool's joke came a day early. We had rain most of the day Wednesday (thankfully, after I'd finished my run, LOL) and it turned into snow overnight. The lawns were completely covered, Thursday morning, but the streets were clear. Most of it was history by mid-afternoon.


For those who missed my coffee post, I mentioned the Fight for Air Climb. It's May 7th this year, and is happening (again) outdoors at Principal Park in Des Moines. This will be my ninth year climbing! If you're interested in donating to the cause, my fundraising page is HERE. Funds raised go towards supporting the American Lung Association in their efforts to assist those affected with lung disease. Needless to say, I'll be adding in some stair-focused workouts to my weekly fitness regimen these next five weeks.


So, that's the run down. This next week is looking damp, too, but warmer. Hopefully we've seen the last of the white stuff (that shall not be named).

How did March end for you? Any winter "precipitation" showing up in your area? Spring rain? Crazy wind? Any racing, this weekend or in the upcoming weeks?


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27 comments:

  1. Oof just when we think we're out the snow shows up and pulls us right back in to winter. But the nice weather will win (at least until next fall).

    Congrats on your 9 miler! "Our" half marathon (the two different races that you and I are running on April 24th) is coming right up! I've got one more super long run next week that I'm folding into a race and then a low mileage week and then BOOM race day!

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    1. Yes, the 24th will get here quickly! I'm shooting for a couple more 10-milers, then coasting through taper ;-)

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  2. we had ridiculous weather swings this week too and even a tornado warning. Crazy start to the month. Great job on a solid week. Always good to take extra sleep when your body asks for it

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    1. We had our tornadoes a couple weeks ago...really early for Iowa!

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  3. We had snow agaim this week too- and the wind! Hopefully we get real spring soon.
    Great stairs this week! I'm tired just reading about those workouts.

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    1. I knew there was a chance of snow (Wednesday evening), but it's still a buzzkill when it actually does show up. I'm glad ours was gone almost as quickly as it arrived ;-)

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  4. We also had snow this week--twice! Yesterday we got another inch and it is still there this morning. Sigh. I think we may just not have a spring this year.

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    1. Spring is really a joke in Iowa...we're lucky if we even have a week or two of it. Winter drags out far past its welcome, then Summer is here quickly because our Spring is so late showing up.

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  5. Crazy wind here.... I have been getting all my runs done. Not many walks or hikes. That will increase once the temps increase... Zero biking... lost all my mojo.

    No race this week but I think I am eevry weekend until mid June!!

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    1. You're going to be busy with all those races! I'm sure they'll be tons of fun, though.

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  6. The final week of winter left me so hopeful. Now, not so much. The weather was definitely tough this week. Way to get it all done as well as rest when you need it!

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    1. Isn't that the irony? Winter "ended" much nicer than Spring "arrived."

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  7. Leave it to you to make Tunde’s arm challenge even harder than it already is!

    Yay on sleeping in. I’m sure your body really needed the rest and I bet you will have a better week because of it.

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    1. The last few of Tunde's classes have seem tougher than all the other ones I'd done, LOL Yesterday's class (that I did on the bike) had so many hollow holds...OUCH!

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  8. Wow, March really didn't go out like a lamb for you! Snow on the 31st. I like the description of your run where you said the wind was coming at you from all directions, except behind, ha ha. That's also funny about your late start on Saturday! I'm wondering how you felt that day- sometimes when I sleep much later like that I feel weirdly groggy all day, almost like I got too much sleep or something. Anyway, sounds like you had a great week!

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    1. I did feel kind of zombie-like (yesterday) after waking up from those three extra hours of sleep! I don't know how people function with 8-9 hours of sleep on a regular basis, LOL

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  9. Nice job on that 9 miler! Well, Spring weather is just crazy. Period. I got to dodge raindrops most of the week and was happy to stay dry.

    Sounds like you made some wise fitness decisions this week, Kim!

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    1. Thank you, Judy! While I thrive on much less sleep than most people, I do respect the rest when it's needed. It just feels weird, and out-of-balance (?) to be starting my day so much later than usual.

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  10. Our weather was all over the place this week too, with sleet/snow and then a long run in shorts and a tank by Saturday. That's spring for you in the Midwest I guess!

    Love those Tunde classes! She's so awesome.

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  11. Great job on your wide variety of workouts, Kim!

    It was warm here our first day home from Florida, but then it turned blustery and cold. We even had severe storms and tornado warnings on Thursday. I feel like a wimp when I see pictures on social media of some of my local friends riding bikes outdoors, but I'm just not ready to fight the cold and wind for several hours. It's got to warm up a little more for me.

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    1. Oh, and it's even colder in Iowa, so there's no way I'm mounting an outdoor bike just yet. I'm eager to get back out on the road...but not THAT much, LOL.I

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  12. The weather was all over the place again this week and the wind was the worse of it here.

    Great job this week! You're killing it with those double Tunde workouts ;)

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    1. Tunde is AMAZING!!!!! I love her enthusiasm and these arms/shoulders toners are such a quick fitness fix!

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  13. That is so much (and varied!) exercise, as usual.

    I did fit in my first run of 2022 on Friday. Today I was scheduled for another one but we have snow (quite a bit and it's VERY slushy) and the kids are home from school, so I'm waiting for tomorrow when it's supposed to be sunny and warm.

    What a winter! I finally threw our my winter boots that sprung a leak back in February...and now I'm wishing I'd sourced another set. Oh well, I made do and did fit in a long outside walk today with the kids through all the slush and snow.

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    1. Ugh, the slushy snow is really the worst kind. I hope things warm up (and dry up) for you soon!

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  14. I feel you are due some good weather soon! That wind with Barb sounded awful! Another super week for you! And yes, a selfie is always a priority, LOL!

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