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...

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 blog as well...please don't link-drop & dash ;-)

Anyways, here's what went down in my little world of fitness this week:

Soakin' up the sun on Sunday...

After the crazy cold of the previous week, the heat wave was still in full force. I got out for a short 2-mile run (post-sunrise), and it felt oh-so-good to be back in a tank top sans arm warmers. A short while later, I hit the trails, for 22.5 miles of cycling fun with friends. The evening ended with a tranquil 2-mile walk, just after sunset.

Never miss a Monday!

The temps were still wonderfully warm (no complaints!). Being it was Labor Day, I allowed myself a slight sleep-in before lacing-up and heading out. Quite by surprise, this "easy-paced" 3-miler morphed into a triumphant negative split extravaganza! The first mile was faster than it felt (9:26), so when the second mile popped up showing 9:06, I made it a quest to top that...I guess 8:33 sufficed nicely. Truth be told, I seldom let the Garmin dictate my effort because I'm more of a run-by-feel gal, but that morning must have triggered a small taste of competition with myself. It's fun to see what your body can do on a 72F  morning (with 91% humidity). I also got in some arm strength, core work, and an evening 2-mile walk.

Typical Tuesday (that felt like a Monday)

The day started in the dark, outside on the deck (though the pic was taken after the daylight appeared). Nothing like some upper-body strength (skull crushers, nonetheless) to get your attention! Although the temps were still warm, the wind was viscous. I passed on an early morning bike ride (and walked a couple pre-work miles instead). We walked our usual two miles at the office as well. By late afternoon, the temps were flirting with the 90F's (with 19mph wind), so I passed (again) on a bike ride and (again) walked a couple more miles instead.

A weird Wednesday...

Barb and I met for our #5at5, not really noticing the the air had cooled (that sometimes happens when you're running in the dark, LOL). By mid-morning, the temps were sitting in the mid-60F's, which felt downright frigid compared to the 90F temps we'd had for the past several days. Amy and I elected to postpone our usual mid-week bike path ride because the thought of fighting those hills in the cold (with 15mph wind) was not the least bit appealing. So, again, I walked a couple miles instead before dinner.

 

Thankful Thursday...

As per usual, it was another early morning...and this was a cold one (how does 53F grab you?). I hit the road, virtually, with Deb for our weekly fitness chat session. I ran the first three miles at a somewhat challenging "conversational" pace (9:56), then walked the remaining two miles. 

The day kept me busy with strength work, including some glutes/legs (weighted squats & lunges), arms/shoulders, and core (a big #ouch on everything, LOL). We bundled-up at work (it felt really cold!) for our mid-morning and afternoon walks. It had warmed up by the time I met Amy for our previously postponed bike path ride...16 miles of hills and moderate wind (again). I slept like a rock that night, believe it or not.

Finally Friday...

When I went to bed Thursday night, I could tell my legs would be hurting by morning, and #BoyOhBoy, can you say DOMS? I blame Thursday's deep weighted squats and lunges. I would have loved to have gone for an outdoor bike ride, to flush-out the achy legs...but with temps in the mid-50F's, it was a hard pass (I didn't feel like playing the "layering game"). Instead, I kept the ride inside. But, then I had to take a walk outdoors, afterwards, to cool down (literally, LOL). The day's temps warmed up quite nicely, though, so I got in a 2-mile walk over my lunch break.

A super-charged Saturday

With a full day on deck (the Iowa game!), I got out early for some miles in the running shoes. Allison met me at 6:00, and we knocked out six miles, together, before parting ways, then I added a couple bonus miles to my count. The low-50's temps were cool, but the wind played nice this time, so the fall-like weather was comfortable. Afterwards, it was a quick shower, shampoo and shine, and then heading off to Ames, IA for all kinds of football fun (and lots of walking). BTW, the Iowa Hawks were victorious over the ISU Cyclones.

and what's happening on Sunday?

The day is wide open, and the weather forecast is looking good, so there may be a short recovery run (or maybe just a walk). I'm also entertaining the notion of a longish bike ride. We shall see...stay tuned!

So, all in all, the week played out nicely. This week saw the most miles in the running shoes in awhile; 21 miles logged! Walking also had 21 miles; and biking was a (somewhat) conservative 51 miles. Also, the strength workouts were fairly short, but sufficient (and I had the DOMS to show for it). I feel like I'm in decent half marathon shape, even without excessive weekly mileage, so I'm hoping to keep consistent (in the 20-mile range weekly) as I prepare for the IMT Half Marathon (October 15th).

In case you missed out, all that happened on the blog was last Sunday's WRD:

Desperately holding on to Summer

In other news:

This weekend was the Iowa equivalent of the Super Bowl, but on "collegiate" scale...the University of Iowa vs. Iowa State football game! Hey, we don't have any NFL teams in our little state, so college football is huge! Most know I'm an Iowa alum, so it's a given I'd be sporting my team's gear. Wouldn't you do the same?

That's it for now! I'm really trying to enjoy these last few weeks of summer weather, though the fall-like temps keep showing up in the wee hours. I can't deny they are comfortable for running, but I wish they'd hold-off for a few more weeks (you know, like when it's officially fall on the calendar). 

How did your first full week of September go? Does it feel like fall is in the air where you are? Do you have any races coming up?

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