Weathering the WHIPLASH

So, yeah. The weather, in Iowa, was anything but smooth this past week.

Extreme shifts in temps were the norm. We're talking mid-winter "feels" with the sub-freezing mornings and psychotic wind. There also was a much welcome 50-degree jump in temps, which catapulted us back to the heat of summer (minus the humidity).  

Figuring out the clothing situation was a major guessing game. But, the good news? At least it wasn't snowing!

Before I dis on the deets, 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 world of fitness, amidst this week's weird weather: 

Sunday: partly sunny, with a chance of a 5K

Temps were in the low-40F's for the start of the Principal 5K Road Race (as part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon weekend). Overall, the race went about as well as could be expected given the grumpiness of my right glute (and vicinity). I probably got in more than a mile of miscellaneous walking before and after the race, and took an official 2-mile walk in the afternoon. Maybe it's because I've run the half marathon so many times (nine times, if we're counting, LOL), but I spent the rest of the day feeling and acting like I'd actually run 13.1 miles (instead of the 10-mile shorter distance).

Monday: moderately cold, with recovery in the forecast

It was freezing outside (literally), so this #NeverMissAMonday started with a 10-mile ride on the stationary bike. I also took a quick 1-mile walk before getting ready for work...and that was it for Monday's fitness. Yes, for the first time in a LONG time, there wasn't any running on Monday, and I was alright with it (I was that tired).

Tuesday: continued winter-like temps with high wind

Baby, it was cold outside (again) so I kept it inside. Don't be fooled by the light hand weights (three pounds each), after 20 continuous minutes of non-stop action (two of Tunde's workouts, via the Peloton app), my arms and shoulders were on fire. After work, I braved the still-frigid weather for a 2-mile walk.

Wednesday: a near record-setting morning low with a double workout day on tap

Umm, this morning the temps were 19F, with a 10F feels-like. I can handle such temps in the dead of winter (you know, when I've had a couple of months to acclimate to them)...but when they happen practically overnight, no thanks. Instead I heated things up, quickly, on the stairs. I did a repeat of the stair/push-up workout from a couple weeks ago: 100 total flights of stairs, done in sets of 20, with 20 push-ups in between each set...thus, 100 flights and 100 total push-ups (and, according to the Garmin,  2,989 "steps" already done before I even hit the shower). I also hopped on the indoor bike for a 5-mile "cool-down."

Later...it had warmed up since morning, but it still felt chilly under the cloudy skies. I was eager to test out the grumpy glute, after a long day at the office. I got in a 3-mile run and called it good. Nothing hurt, but things are still feeling kind of tight (but did loosen up by the last mile). I also had a 3-mile walk in the evening, and that felt good.

Thursday: A warming trend was on the way

The morning started with a heated stack of Barre, core, and arms/shoulders (ever heard of the Steering Wheel?). Since Thursday's forecast had shown warmer afternoon temps (with much less wind), Amy and I had pushed back our weekly ride, and rode a day later. Spoiler - that was a smart move! It definitely wasn't as warm as a summer ride, but it was comfortable. Fifteen more hilly miles in the biking bank, and ride #24 was in the books.

Friday: the warm front arrived, bringing with it plenty of sunshine and heat

What's the sign of a thorough sweat sesh on the bike? When the scent of yesterday's perfume nearly clouds your vision, LOL. Yikes, it got a bit steamy in the basement! We started with 12 miles (and two Peloton cycling classes), followed by a 1-mile "cool-down" walk outdoors. Also, there was a mid-morning 1-mile walk in the BEAUTIFUL 76F temps (and a couple of bonus miles in the late afternoon)! 

Saturday: Daytime highs in the mid-80's

Wowza! How do early-morning temps in the low-60's sound? Pretty sweet, thank you very much! Nothing grandiose on the fitness roster...just an easy 2-mile run, amongst the beautiful fall foliage. The grumpy glute was feeling alright, but I didn't see any sense in pushing things further. Also, a 1-mile walk with Mr. Max, was recorded.

...and what's on deck for Sunday?

With more unseasonably high temps (upper 70F's and low 80F's!!!) in the forecast, there will most definitely be some joyous outdoor time. For certain, there will be plenty of walking at the minimum and (hopefully) some biking as well. There is more wind in the forecast, which can be a game-changer on the bike, so stay tuned....

So, it was an interesting week, jumping around (and sometimes hiding from) from the wacky weather. I also played a bit of the Recovery Game. keeping things pretty low-impact. The running mileage was very conservative (ummm...a whopping eight miles!). Walking was a bit on the conservative spectrum, as well (14 miles). Even the biking took a bit of a hit (42)...and that was alright. I was happy to hit the stairs again this week, and the upper-body strength work was legit. Going forward, I currently don't have any races on the calendar until the spring...but I may register for the Hillbilly Hike (5K or 10K) on November 5th (the jury's still out on that decision at the moment).

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

Acting on Impulse

Principal 5K Road Race - 2022 recap

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. We all know it's October, and most of us are wearing pink. With the awesome temps, I didn't even need a jacket! I paired the hot pink button-down with cinnamon skinnies, and added the cheetah-print shoes. Why not? 

 Lastly, in an effort to become more Garmin savvy, as well as getting back to the routine of wearing a watch regularly (as opposed to constantly checking my phone for the time of day), I have been wearing the Garmin (mostly) on the daily. I have learned a few new-to-me features, so that's all good! I'm working on a blog post that will highlight some of the struggles with this learning curve...so, stay tuned for that as well.

Whew! It's been quite an interesting week! It's always nice to look back and see what all went down and have gratitude for having persevered through it. Am I right?

How was your week? Did your weather have a few (or several) wacky moments? Any training highlights? Upcoming races?

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