Beating the HEAT!

If you can't stand the  heat, you gotta find a way to cope.

Well, we all know I love the heat, LOL. I'm not a fan of the accompanying humidity, but it's kind of a package deal this time of year. 

This week gave me ample opportunities to not only beat the heat, but to also bask in it. Best of both worlds, at least in my ever-so-humble opinion.

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 this week, as I battled the heat:

Kind of a hazy, crazy Sunday... 

Although I'm not a fan of the Canadian wildfire smoke, it does make for somewhat cooler-feeling temps. Sunday morning, my 10-mile ride was oddly cool. I could see the sun in the sky, but it didn't really cast any shadows on the ground. I also knocked out a couple of 2-mile walks (late morning and evening). 

Never miss a Monday...

Well, well, well...I wasn't feeling like tempo'ing, but my legs obviously had other ideas. Sometimes, you just gotta go with it, right? It's not everyday a fast-ish run just happens on its own, but it sure feels good! 

 

Let's GO, Tuesday!

The day began with a 5:00AM 3-mile walk with my sister (the 57F temps felt a bit chilly for July). Next, we did some lower-body strength work. Another walk (one mile), mid-morning, at work. 

 

After work, the weekly hilly bike path ride took place (this was week #11). By then, the temps had reached the low-80F's, so the downhill breeze felt really good. Barb had come along for the ride, so her and I rode an additional 10 miles after we'd returned from the lake. Total miles: 25!

And, since it was the fifth anniversary of Mollie Tibbetts' tragedy, I also hit the road for a simple 1-mile tribute run in her memory. Then, I finally called it a day, LOL.

Another early morning on Wednesday...

Up and out the door for a #5at5 with Barb. Another somewhat cool morning...until I stopped running. It's crazy how the humidity sneaks up on you when the temps feel mild and the sun hasn't fully risen. Also an evening 2-mile walk, with similar conditions.

 

...and an early morning Thankful Thursday as well...

As per usual, Deb and I met (virtually) for our weekly "hour of power," which is 5:00AM my time. It was a 4-mile walk for me, and even Pablo and Max got in on the action, sharing high-5's. Afterwards, I snuck in some upper-body work before heading to the office. This definitely was a walking-dominated day, as I got in two 1-mile walks at work, a 2-mile walk after work, and a bonus 2-mile walk in the evening. So, ten total miles of walking. Yikes!

Finally Friday...

I'd tentatively planned on doing a short sunrise run, but after three early mornings (and a lot of action on each of those days), I just wasn't feeling it. I slept-in a little and decided to go for a ride instead. It was another cool morning (59F), but at least there was plenty of sunshine for my 11-mile ride. 

 

...then, there was a major dance party on deck for myself and the daughters and sister. We saw Pitbull at a nearby county fair. His music isn't really my genre of choice, but what a high-energy show! It was a fun time!

Long run Saturday

Silly me, I had plans to meet with Allison at 6:00 for a few miles before joining-up with Mary and Rebecca. We didn't get home from Pitbull until after 12:30, and I didn't get in bed until closer to 1:00. So, yeah. Believe it or not, I actually woke up before my 5:30 alarm, LOL. Amazingly, this run went well considering my very late night and very early morning. 

...and what's happening for Sunday?

I'm hoping to get out for a short sunrise walk, then it's off on another long bike ride adventure with Mike and Amy. If it's still nice when we get back to town (sometime mid-late afternoon), I'll probably do more walking in the evening. I mean, why not?

So, for totals...running came in at 16 miles, walking had 23 miles, and biking was a low-key 46 this week. Strength-training felt strong this week, as well. 

In case you missed out, you didn't really miss much, LOL...just one post on the blog this week:

Lots to Laugh About

In other news: 

Friday Fashion Flair. As I've said before, summer temps call for easy-breezy dressing. This Aztec print high-low skirt definitely fits the bill. I love the funky white and black pattern, but a little "royal" punch of color never hurt no one.

My favorite lily. I look forward to this beautiful lily every summer. It usually blooms in early July, so it's a few weeks behind this year. The first blossom opened Friday morning, and the second one was waiting for me when I returned from my Saturday morning 8-miler. I have to stop and take a sniff every time I walk past it.

 

RAGBRAI (the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) is happening this next week! You may recall this week-long bike ride that goes through Iowa every summer. I'm planning on riding both Wednesday and Thursday...and those look to be the two hottest days. Just my luck, right?

So, that's it for this week's antics in my little world of fitness. We had some pretty hot daytime temps, even with our cool mornings. Ironically, the wind wasn't such a beast this week (and I was quite alright with that!).

How did your week play out? Are you feeling the heat, or have you had some cloud cover (or smoke-filled haze)? Any races happening?

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