Whoa, Winter! Not So Fast!

Despite the calendar still showing Fall (for another four weeks!), it feels like Winter staged an early arrival.

It's no secret how I really feel about the cold weather. Yet again, Momma N seems to have dumped the frigid temps, and unrelenting wind on us, without a gradual transition period. Lucky us!

I guess it's all good, though not ideal. I mean, it's not like Winter wasn't due to arrive eventually...

Before I share all 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 week in my little (suddenly cold) world:

A low-impact Sunday

The morning started with a 25-mile endeavor on the indoor bike, and ended with a 2-mile power walk through my hilly 'hood in the evening. Oh, and there was a bit of errand-running, a coffee chat, shuttling the granddog back to town, and some basketball watching in between.

A damp never-miss-a-Monday

Ugh, the early hours were not only dark, but also quite damp. I opted to keep it inside and knocked-out three miles (or thereabouts) in 20 minutes on the elliptical.

I met Barb, after work, for four miles in the "light" rain. It wasn't cold, so there's that, but it most definitely was very wet. I also did a short core workout, once back inside.

A low-key Tuesday

A short walk amongst all the newly fallen leaves, and then off to the office for a half-day. I scooted out, after lunch, and spent the afternoon volunteering at the Des Moines Turkey Trot packet pick-up. It was non-stop action until my shift ended at 6PM. So many DSM trotters getting their gear for the DSM Trot. I heard there were 5,800 registered for the race!

 

After a nice dinner, I cued-up a couple of upper-body workouts when I got back home.

The coldest #5at5 of the season for Wednesday

Holy Yikes, just like that, the winter season felt like it was in full swing. I met Allison in the early hours, and those five miles were crazy cold! After dinner, I cranked out 12 miles on the bike and started my (hopeful) streak of daily wall sits and side planking (to coincide with the RW Winter Run Streak). 

Celebrating all things thankful!

Thursday morning had me out of bed, in the early hours, prepping the turkey and potatoes, then heading to our local turkey trot at 8AM. This was the 12th year of our local Trot, and we had (what looked like) our biggest attendance yet despite the cold and windy weather. Thankfully, the sunshine was ever-so-bright! Afterwards, it was a full day of food, family and fun.

Black Friday fitness fun

Another cold morning, I was glad I was only doing a 1-mile run. After returning to the warmth of my house, I camped-out in the sweat den down under (ahem, my basement) and did some arms and shoulders strength, Barre, and core work. Then, it was Hawkeye football and Phase-1 of Christmas decorating.

A slow-start Saturday

Nothing wrong with a sleep-in, right? I was dreading looking out the window, but didn't see any of the white stuff that had been talked about in the forecast. And, get this, it was 28F, with NO WIND! That's a rarity in Iowa, LOL! I decided to do a brick workout...5.5 miles on the bike, 2 miles of running, and then 5.5 more miles on the bike.

and what's on deck for Sunday?

Another cold day is in the forecast (also showing more of the white stuff). I'll probably be on the bike at some point, and I'll venture outdoors for a brief streak run. Nothing too grandiose.

All in all, it was a decent week. As most know, it's time for the Runner's World Winter Run Streak. I actually started a day early, due to the #5at5 on Wednesday. Running saw 15 miles this week. Biking had 48 miles in the saddle. Walking, ugh, was pathetic...only three "official" walking miles. Lots of good strength work, though, and I'm getting in daily wall sits and side planks now as well (a new nuance to my  running streak). 

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

Falling for Fall (finally)

Giving Thanks for All the Things

5 'Fessions for November

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. How about a Back in Black theme? After all, (1) it's a theme song for my Iowa Hawkeyes, (2) it's Black Friday, and (3) a chilly day warrants a (black leather) jacket. BTW, the Hawks defeated Nebraska (in Lincoln) to end with a 10-2 season and officially claim the Big 10 West title.

In case you missed my Runfessions post, I shared a pic from our local turkey trot (now in its 12th year). It was a bitterly cold day, but we had an awesome turnout, possibly the biggest showing of participants yet. 

So, that's the latest. As I mentioned, the weather definitely has turned winter-like. It was bound to happen, so it is what it is. I'm glad I'm #IowaTough.

How was your week? Any big Thanksgiving gatherings? Turkey trotting? Cold weather?

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