Where Did My Summer Go?

Suffice it to say that things were a bit out-of-sorts this week.

After a few weeks of outright denial, reality smacked me in the face. The sunrises (that I love so dearly)  are coming later and later, and the morning (and some of the evening) temps are on a downward spiral. These are all things I'd noticed, but they really became evident this week. Ugh...why, oh why, is the summer season so short in Iowa???

It wasn't just the seasonal shift in daylight and weather, though, that affected my livelihood. The Iowa State Fair was underway, and I simply had to make a trek (or two) to see the sights (and compromise my already-jacked sleep schedule). 

Alas, you only live once and I  believe in seizing each moment, day, and week whenever possible. So, that I did...

Before I dis on the deets of the week, 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 blog as well...please don't link-drop & dash ;-)

Anyways, here's what went down this (out-of-the-ordinary) week:

A low-key/low-impact Sunday.

I promised myself (and others) that I'd keep things easy for Sunday, and I delivered. The day began with a 2-mile walk (after a slight sleep-in), and a 3-mile (mid-morning) walk with my sister. In the evening, I did a short arm/shoulder workout and some core work.

 

Never miss a Monday.

Up and out the door! The day jump-started with a tempo-ish 3-miler (9:37 pace). We did a 1-mile mid-morning walk at work, then the rain/mist entered the scene, so we took a pass on an afternoon walk. Later, I hit the road, for appearance #1 at the Iowa State Fair (Des Moines, about a 45-minute drive). A friend and I did a lot of walking (approx. two miles) and a lot of dancing (at the Hairball concert). I made it back home just after midnight.

Not a typical Tuesday...

Despite the late night, I was able to rise and shine on schedule. I got out for a brisk 2-mile walk (ahem, in the 56F temps), and cued up an arm/shoulder workout (via Peloton) upon returning back home. There only was time for a 1-mile morning walk at work, because I left mid-afternoon for appearance #2 at the Fair, this time with another friend. There was even more walking than the day prior, fun fair food (on a stick, LOL), and another Hairball concert in the evening (with even more high energy dancing). Also, another late evening...back home just before midnight this time. 

  

Wednesday: feelin' the fall chill...

Allison joined Barb and me for the #5at5. With the temps in the mid-50's (again) and the sunrise nowhere to be seen, this run was a bitter taste of what's to come with the seasons on the verge of changing. With another late night behind me, somehow my body work up before my 4:35 alarm. Not sure how that keeps happening, LOL. I napfess, though, I did take a 30ish minute snooze before heading to work. I also got in a couple of 2-mile walks (after work and later in the evening).

Triple-threat Thursday...

Finally, it felt a little more like summer again. Temps were sitting at 70F when I rallied with Deb (virtually) at 5:00AM for our weekly chat session. Four walking miles later, I also had daylight (seriously, when did it get so dark in the early hours???). Since I hadn't been on a bike since Saturday (who am I?), I had time to squeeze in a quick 7-mile ride, amidst the bright rising sun, before heading to the office.

After work, Amy and I braved the 14mph headwind on the hilly bike path. Wow, that was a tough jaunt to the lake, but the return trip was much better. We certainly earned our "tailwind" on that one! After we parted ways, I continued riding for a little longer, ending with 20 miles.

And, after grabbing some dinner, I hit the mini gym (in the basement) and knocked out a stack of Peloton workouts. The glutes/legs workout was felt almost immediately. The arms/light weights kind of snuck up on me as well. And, silly me, I should have known a "simple" 5-minute core workout with Tunde wouldn't be simple at all.

A Friday "finale" to the week...

With a long day of travel planned for Saturday, there wouldn't be a long run happening...so I did a semi-long run on Friday instead. Allison was willing to meet me for a #5at5, and this semi-long run morphed into another tempo-attempt...to the tune of a 9:33 pace. Later, that evening, there was a solid two miles of "social walking" (for lack of a better term, LOL).

Sort of a simple Saturday...

There was a day trip on deck, with my sis and parents, to SE Minnesota. Our departure time got moved back to 7:30, so I laced up and headed out, at daybreak, for a quick 2-mile walk. BTW, this was following (yet) another late evening (which seemed to be the theme this week). Suffice it to say we kept to a pretty tight schedule, and were able to make four stops and were able to spend time with numerous relatives in four different towns. It was almost 9:00PM when we pulled back into my driveway. Believe me, all that car riding felt more exhausting than had I done an actual long run!

...and what's happening on Sunday?

We are currently under a heat advisory for the next several days. I'm planning on a short walk in the early hours (or maybe a short run?), and then a long bike ride.

So, about this week....eek! Yes, things were a bit out of whack (#understatement). There were more late nights than not (and these were past midnight late nights), just saying. Most of those late nights were followed by very early mornings, LOL. Somehow, my mind and body were able to just go with the flow. In all actuality, this kind of made for a bit of a recovery week in terms of cardio-based fitness. Running saw some moderately low mileage (13 miles!), but there was some nice "tempo'ing" happening. Biking may have been at an all time low, with 27 miles (but I'm jump-starting this next week's biking mileage on Sunday). Walking, though, was pretty stellar, with 26 miles of movement. The strength work was legit, and didn't give me any DOMS (worthy of a celebration, no?).

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

Keeping At It; Keeping Fit!

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. After a few days of feels-like-fall temps, the heat of summer returned on Friday (but the humidity stayed away). I was feeling kind of red and white and flowery...so I donned the appropriate top with the appropriate pattern.

These Morning Glories! Silly me, several years ago I planted these from seed, believing them to be annuals (as was indicated on the seed packet). I planted more, the following year. Well, over the years, these pretty purple beauties have become a Jumanji jungle surrounding my mailbox. That said, they're still quite strikingly beautiful this time of year.

Finally, as mentioned, I went to the Iowa State Fair on both Monday and Tuesday evenings to see the band Hairball (their site is HERE). A cover band, based out of Minneapolis, they tour all over the country, but hit the Midwest especially hard. They have elaborate costumes, pyrotechnics and do  authentic imitations of all the hair bands of my era. They don't just put on a concert, it's a major dance party...hence the high number of "steps" for Monday and Tuesday (over 12,000 "steps" happened during the concerts, LOL). It's a good thing I was taking things "easy" on the running/biking cardio this week.

So, that's what she wrote for this week. Somewhat scaled-back, yet heavy on action and movement. Low on sleep (#MyBad). But, absolutely no regrets!

How did your week go? Any highlights? Were you busy in the fitness shoes, or were there signs of recovery at play? Have you ever had two solid nights of concert-going (and crazy dancing)...and lived to tell about it?

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