Another cold week #literally

It was another cold week, in more ways than one.

In case you missed the play on words, I continued to do battle with the previous week’s head cold. I didn’t necessarily feel any worse, but things were still not ideal with my “sinus situation.”

The weather also took a turn for the cold (rather, colder than what we’d been experiencing). This is January in the Midwest, after all, so cold temps (and snow) are to be expected. Knock wood, though, the snow has pretty much been MIA in my area, thus far, in 2026….  

Before I get into the nitty gritty 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 ;-)

Sunday - Sleeping-in and hitting the stairs

A solid week into the aforementioned “sinus situation,” I opted for an indoor sweat session, via the stairway. Instead of doing intervals (as in previous weeks), I simply did 50 continuous flights (double-stepped). Later, after it warmed up a bit, I got out for a refreshing 2-mile walk in the sunshine. 

Never miss a Monday…sort of…

Although I still didn’t have much for symptoms, other than a gunky nose, I thought it wise to stay home from work and seek some medical attention. I hit the bike in the early hours and stacked a couple of upper-body workouts (from Peloton). Max even got the privilege of a mid-morning walk, in the sunshine! BTW, all my vitals were good, my ears and throat were fine, and my lungs were clear. I was advised to try a nasal spray and come back in a week if things didn’t improve (seriously?). Since the sunshine was bright and the temps were moderate, I treated myself to a short afternoon run after getting home from the clinic (title pic, above).   

Not my typical Tuesday

The afternoon forecast was looking sketchy, so I decided the early morning hours were my best option for an outdoor walk. I got out for a quick 1-miler, then hit-up Peloton for a full-body strength workout. There was the daily 2-mile skywalk adventure, and Max took me for a windy ‘round-the-block walk after work.

A Whirlwind Wednesday, quite literally

The Wednesday run group unanimously decided to pass on the scheduled run, due to the weather conditions. Instead, I hit the bike for 12 miles, then did a quick 1/2-mile walk outdoors…and promptly wheeled both my garbage and recycling bins back into the garbage. Ugh! The wind was already crazy, and both bins were tipped over (with the contents inside), so I knew they’d be halfway to Chicago if I left them out all day while at work. Thankfully, the skywalk served me well for my noontime walk. Max and I walked after work (the wind was still psychotic), and I squeezed in a short stack of upper-body and core in the evening (in between basketball games).

Thankful Thursday

This week’s workout with Deb started with 12 miles on the bike, then I joined her (virtually) outside for a quick lap around the block (for a cool-down under Jupiter and the waning crescent moon). I got in a speedy 2.5-mile walk over lunch and another 1/2-miler with Max before dinner.

Yes, those early morning temps were chilly, but calm due to the lack of wind. It may have actually felt warmer in Iowa than in Virginia, LOL.

Friday’s fitness - at the bare minimum…

With an early out-of-town appointment, I hit the elliptical for 20 minutes (3-ish miles) before heading out and hitting the road. Not much else to report other than a short (and windy) walk with Max and some upper-body strength work. The wind, as per usual, made the outdoor conditions pretty icky with the day-long threat of snow squalls. 

Long Ride Saturday

There were a couple of Garmin badges up for grabs, and very undesirable outdoor conditions, so the bike was a no-brainer. I was, ironically (?), exactly 24.9 miles short of achieving the 200K January Ride badge, and the Weekend 40K badge would fit right into that distance. I was feeling ambitious, though, so I went for the 50K distance (then added another mile, just for kicks). I finished the morning with a short chest/back workout (Peloton). Later, after it warmed up by a few degrees, I forced myself outside for a quick 1/2-mile lap around the block (gotta keep that #OptOutside streak going!).

…and what’s happening on Sunday?

The forecast is looking equally cold, but not as windy. I’m probably gonna hit the stairway, in the early hours, and save the outdoor action until the afternoon (you know, slightly warmer and daylight for the win).

So, despite the outdoor cold and the continued “sinus situation,” the week played out alright. The running took a big hit (ahem, two total miles), but I thought it wise to give my lungs a break from the cold air. Walking was on the lower spectrum, with 15 miles. Biking dominated with 74 miles in the saddle. There were several strength workouts, and those all felt great!

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

Sweating out the “Cold”

In other news:

Friday Fashion Flair. A cold and windy day called for a cozy mohair sweater. This fringy little number is one of my designer originals, from several years ago. It’s lightweight, but much warmer than it appears. And I think the fringe accents give it a funky look, LOL.

Did you know January 14th (Wednesday) was National Take the Stairs Day? I work on the eighth floor of my office building, so I took advantage of the stairway on my afternoon break. Besides, it’s good training for the Fight for Air Climb! The Des Moines event is March 29th…if you’re interested in donating to the cause, my fundraising page is HERE. 

Finally, there were a few Garmin badges earned this week. The 30-Mile January Walk badge popped up on Wednesday. Just this week, I started tracking my strength workouts on my Garmin, so I was awarded the Super Strength badge for having done five strength workouts, LOL

So, that’s the latest and greatest! As this goes to press, the “sinus situation” finally feels like it’s on the verge of vacating the premises. I seldom ever get sick, so this has been a major annoyance. I’m grateful it wasn't anything serious, but I look forward to losing the nasalized raspy voice. 

That’s a look at my week of fitness and whatnot. How was yours? Did your weather take a sudden turn for the cold as well? Are you staying healthy, or have you had to deal with any setbacks? Upcoming races on your 2026 roster? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter