Summer's Extended Stay

Summer has been booked for an extended stay, and I couldn't be happier!

Just when I had pretty much accepted that fall was setting up homestead, this past week rewarded me with a summer weather encore. The mornings were still cool, but not as cool as they had been recently. The afternoons, though...ahhh! Pure bliss!

This past week also had me approaching the taper phase of my prep for the IMT Des Moines Half Marathon. There was a lot of fitnessing going on, and plenty of sweat equity banked. And I was loving every minute of it!

Fall's First 'Fession Session of '23

I must 'fess up and come clean...

How can it already be time to hit the 'fessional? Weren't we just here, 'fessing all things running (and otherwise) with our friends? Yikes...and where, oh where, did September disappear to so quickly???

Thankfully, I know I'm not alone. And also, quite thankfully, I know I'll feel much better after a session of 'fessing, so let's get right to it....

20 Hilly Trail Rides: DONE!

As the saying goes, "I can do hard things."

That's not only true with my running, strength-training, and stair-climbing, but with biking as well. Case in point, that hilly bike path that I talk about each week in my WRD posts. 

For the past few summers, this bike path has been a part of my late spring, summer and early fall fitness regimen. This was the third consecutive year of making it a weekly ritual (during the biking season) and I'm ever grateful for how it has morphed into must-do thing.

In Denial...

You should know the drill by now...

The temps start feeling like fall, and I do my best (most stubborn act of denial) to stay in summer gear for as long as possible. Yes, I may be donning the arm warmers and calf sleeves, but dammit, I'm still in shorts and tank tops most of the time. 

The irony is that I really detest being even the slightest bit cold. Seriously, admittedly, I really have a tough time letting summer go. And this week was no exception (even though the Fall '23 season officially commenced this weekend). 

Fall Fitness '23: What's Happening?

Anyone else think it feels odd to be chatting about fall fitness endeavors...already?

Even though the calendar indicates otherwise, I'm still in a bit of a summer mindset. At least the weather still has a bit of summer-like feels, so there's that.

So, what's on tap for Fall 2023?

I Can't Complain (much)

I'll admit it: I'm fighting the seasonal shift from summer to fall...but I can't complain (much).

We had cool mornings most of this week, but the temps were back in "seasonal" range by mid/late morning most days. Even the wind behaved itself (for the most part). But, there's no denying summer is winding down.

For me, the best means of coping is to make the best of what remains of my favorite season...so I did. 

Favorite Fitness Must Haves For Fall

 

If I've said it once (LOL), I've said it probably hundreds of times...I hate to see summer ending.

It's no secret I'm totally (hopelessly, if you will) in love with the summer season, and pretty much every aspect of it. Yes...the heat (even the humidity), the long days and the joy being outside without needing to think about layers. 

(sigh)

But, I also respect  if it was summer year-round, I might not appreciate it as much.

That being said, this time of year is tricky. We've already begun the summer-to-fall transitioning, and there are a few key items that play a huge part in making this annual "right of passage" a little more bearable.

Summer's Roller Coaster Relapse

 

Summer just can't seem to make up its mind.

We have a dreadfully hot and humid week followed a pretty cold one. Then, it relapses back to the heat that is expected this time of year, only to take a nosedive back to the cold a few days later. Granted, it's very much a first world problem, but it's also frustrating trying to figure out the appropriate layers.

This week was all over the map, in terms of temps and weather conditions. Oh, and did I mention the wind was a piece of work as well? Such was my reality...

Desperately holding on to Summer

Argh, ever have that feeling that something is slipping away, faster than you can drag it back?

Well, my friends, that would be summer, My Summer. I'm grateful to actually have a summer season, but it's a buzzkill that it doesn't last a fraction of what our Midwest winter entails. As much as I feel like whining about the change of seasons, though, I really try to focus on what remains.

That being said, this past week certainly looked (and felt) like a preview of Fall 2023. No kidding, we had temps in the 50F's almost every morning! I cannot deny those temps are ideal for running, but not in late August (in my ever-so-humble opinion). At least it wasn't snowing...