Thursday, November 3, 2022

If we were having Coffee


Is there anything better than a comforting hot beverage, especially when the weather feels less than perfect?

Truth be told, I can drink a hot beverage anytime (no matter the season or the weather) and be quite content. Although I don't drink true coffee, per se, I often have a coffee mug in-hand on a daily basis. 

And, wouldn't you know, it's time (already) for another gathering of like minds for some stimulating chatter as we sip our beverages of choice. Myself, I'm indulging in my most recent new favorite, a hazelnut cappuccino. How about you?

While we're officially a full month into the fall season, the weather has been leap-frogging from summer heat to winter chills, and then rebounding back to summer (no complaints on my end, LOL). I've also been doing my share of back-and-forth antics, especially in terms of running. I've had to switch my routine a bit, and do a little more of one thing and a little less of another.

But, I'm a  survivor, and all is well (at least at the moment).

Anyways, shall we get this coffee chat started? 

If we were having coffee, I'd start by telling you about my October fitness and whatnots. Most know of my hamstring/hip/glute issues in recent months. Nothing was chronic or debilitating, but I opted to scale-back the running miles considerably. I even took a pass on the IMT Des Moines Half Marathon and ran the Principal 5K Road Race instead. Thus, October saw my lowest running mileage month in a long time (like since, this time two years ago, when I was playing hostess to my first-ever stress fracture). The walking and biking held their own, though, and I was ecstatic about that.


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you a little more about my physical therapy and how I'm coping. In a nutshell, things are going good! Over the summer, I developed a fondness for Barre workouts (via Peloton). Little did I know that those very workouts were preparing me for my current PT sessions and regimen. And, a bonus is that I can do those lower-body (glute engagement, etc.) moves with music and my favorite Barre instructor, Ally. Win-win!

If we were having coffee, I'd tell you about getting reacquainted with Sebbe. Remember him? My stationary bike, situated in the confines of my basement? Yeah, him, LOL. He has already seen a lot of action in the past couple of weeks. Last weekend, he and I did a spontaneous 20-mile ride and Garmin surprised us with a badge for our efforts. So, let's just say Sebbe is my current BBF (Best Biking Friend) for the time being, and we are LOVING our rides together (especially the Tabata workouts).


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you how surprised I was to see most of the leaves have lost their seasonal color! The weather has been unseasonably warm the past 10 days or so, and the colors appeared to be peaking. Imagine the buzzkill when I awoke Tuesday morning, and noticed (most) everything looked like a drab shade of brown, just overnight. Apparently, the warmer-than-usual weather, and plentiful sunshine, fooled me into believing the colors would last a bit longer. Sigh...as if the impending "next" season isn't bad enough, right? 

Finally, if we were having coffee, I'd tell you how smooth the transition was moving most of my workouts back to the basement. I'd established a great groove of taking my workouts to the deck, patio, or backyard over the summer months. I even continued many of these sweat sessions as the daylight was dwindling, by use of the deck lights. Well, it was simply getting just too cold (in those early morning hours), so I spent a few weeks working-out with the yoga mat and hand weights in the sunroom...but finally hauled all the gear back down to the dredges of the workout area in the basement. First world probs, anyone?

Alas, that's what I'd share with everyone over coffee. I've chatted enough, so your turn!

What would you care to share, if we were having coffee? How did your October play out? Are the leaves, in your area, still holding their color, or have they assumed a shade of brown? Are they still intact, or have most fallen to the ground? 

 Since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm linking this with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date.


I'm also linking this with MichelleReneeDarleneJenn and Zenaida for the Fit Five Friday Link-up.


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25 comments:

  1. We had such a gorgeous fall, and yes a lot of the leaves have fallen but we still have a few gorgeous red and orange trees here and there. Plus we're having a warm spell so November is actually playing really nice with us. I hope some of the warm stuff makes it out your way.

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    1. Our colors were breathtaking, so it was a shock to have almost everything go brown overnight. Now we have rain (all day yesterday, and most of today), so the leaves are falling....

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  2. We've still got some color here, but after this weekend, it will certainly be gone! I didn't share it, but I bought an assault bike from the gym after they replaced them with newer models. Hoping to get some good work done on it this winter.

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    1. I hope you enjoy the bike! I was extremely surprised how much I love indoor cycling (though I still prefer being outdoors, hands-down).

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  3. It's always fun when setbacks open the door to new things...like in your case, embracing Barre. Those workouts can be tough! We are past peak color here but all the leaves on the ground are fun too!

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    1. I have learned that every setback is an opportunity...no sense dwelling on the situation.

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  4. We are having a crazy warm week right now, but our leaves are still pretty — we hadn’t gotten as cold as you did now.

    I enjoy my basement gym year round, but in the winter enjoy being able to crack the door to let some cool air in — there are no windows. ;-)

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    1. It was in the 70F's most days here this past week. We had some crazy wind, at times, but those temps were amazing!

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  5. Most of our leaves are on the ground... that makes for some slippery running paths.

    Look at the biking mileage!! You are still in great shape even if you are not running much.

    Running has been good... no injuries so I just run!!

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    1. Our leaves are falling at record-setting speed with all the rain yesterday and today.

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  6. We were at peak color this week and it's still pretty gorgeous outside for another week maybe. I am soaking it all in. Glad you found some help w your glute/hips. It takes a lot of work to keep it together doesn't it?

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    1. The PT has been going well, but she's been working me hard!

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  7. Well, if your leaves have lost their color then I can stop being insanely jealous of everyone's photos! I'm definitely not jealous of that "next season" coming up.
    Yes, barre is GREAT PT! I'll bet it feels really good on that hamstring/glute area. I'm sure all the cycling is helping as well- go Sebbe!

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  8. We have had the most outstanding (and long lasting) fall I can remember in a very long time. This week's weather has been equally fabulous!

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    1. This week has been the kind of fall I can really dig ;-)

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  9. I'm so glad your recovery is going so well. Everything is green here. We literally have two real trees in our neighborhood that lose a few leaves in the fall. It's kind of sad.

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    1. The recovery is really going well, but ouch! My PT gal is not showing me much mercy, LOL

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  10. I really need to follow your lead and embrace more of the barre classes - I'm glad the classes are helping you. Sadly this seems to be the week where all of our fall color has faded. October is always spectacular for the color here but November not so much.

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    1. Barre has really been a good fit for me. It has a recovery "feel," but also has been a fun way to get in some glute-activation work.

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  11. I didn't know about the physical therapy but glad to know it is going well. It is also warm here for October/November. I am not complaining but now it makes me wonder if we will also have a warm Winter or a cold one.

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    1. The PT just started last Wednesday (a week ago), so it's very new, but needed. I would LOVE a warm winter!!!

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  12. I've told my husband I definitely want a sun room in our next home. His answer was pretty much to roll his eyes. Except I am totally serious.

    We actually missed a lot of the warm weather with being up in the mountains for almost half our vacation (and one day of pouring rain) -- I am very grateful that that was the only bad day of weather and we had a great (if tiring) time.

    I didn't use my Garmin to record any of my walking/hiking . . . I get tired of charging it. Of course I recorded my race, though. :)

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  13. Warm drinks + hot soup = where it's at when it's cold outside!!

    Most of the leaves in our area usually never really change, but I went to Napa for a conference recently and the fall colors there were super pretty! Still intact for now but will probably be gone in another month or so!

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  14. COuld you put a sun lamp in the basement to help?
    I'm typically an iced coffee all year round, but over covid switched to mostly warm. It's a great hand warmer too at football games.

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