Darkness Falls Across the Land…

 

Darkness falls across the land…and I’m less than thrilled. 

Did you get that Michael Jackson musical reference (from his1982 hit, Thriller, for those who were drawing a blank, LOL). The dwindling daylight seems to be in overdrive all of a sudden. I know this happens every year, and I have been around for awhile, but it still seems to happen almost overnight. BTW, how is it that we’re almost on the dark side of the Autumnal Equinox?

Anyways, it’s the reality. There’s no sense in fighting it, but I am doing my best to celebrate every minute of each day's remaining daylight. 

Before I dive into the “dark” deets from the week, welcome to  Weekly Run Down!

The '24 'Fessions Are Flyin'

Here we are again...

Not only has January 2024 gone quickly, but the monthly trip to the 'fessional is already upon us. Yikes, how did that happen? Oh well, the faster we get through January, the sooner we'll get to summer. 

As per usual, there's always a few 'fessions that need mention. You know the drill...we 'fess the 'fessions, and we move on.

Not a DOMS Dweller

The DOMS ... Driveway Onset Muscle Soreness. 

Ever heard of it? You may become a lucky victim of this condition after a week (or longer) of daily snow shoveling in one's driveway.

The 20+ inches of snow (from the previous week) kept me busy, gradually chipping away at its lingering remnants. Then, several more inches of the white stuff arrived Thursday afternoon and evening. As a result, my already aching body was blessed with even more driveway boot camp. My biceps have never seen so much action! 

But, all was well. The crazy weather gave me ample opportunity to properly acclimate to the arctic-like conditions as I successfully maintained my #OptOutside streak. Glass half full.

Rockin' the Heat

It was quite the week in Iowa.

The temps were warm. The humidity was high. The sunshine was strong.

And I loved (most) every minute of it.

I mean, it IS July. Even when the temps get uncomfortable, there's always plenty to love about the summer season.

Welcome to my Battlefield

If there was ever a week of battle strife, this would be it.

The warrior: Myself.

The opponents: Wind, Cold, and DOMS (not necessarily in that order).

Seriously. This was a very productive week, but it was hard-fought. It felt like each day brought a different challenge to the fore front. I'm not one to shy away from tough workouts or discomforts, but this week gave me a run for my mental (and physical) mojo.

...and that's not all bad.

Seeing Green

There was a whole lotta green going on this week!

We're talking emerging grass (courtesy of the melting snow). The MSU Spartans had a big victory Tuesday evening. And, there was a St. Patrick's themed (in-person!!!) race on the roster.  

After so much cold, in previous weeks, it was great to usher in an entire week of pleasant weather. March is a tricky and temperamental month, weather-wise, so this past week was a nice treat.

Outside Is Alright

Opting outside for the win!

It's summer, after all. As I've said a time or two (or several), I've waited a good nine months for this weather. I'm not going to "enjoy" it from the confines of my house.  

Quite honestly, there's no place I'd rather be than outside. Fortunately, this past week afforded me the opportunity to take my workouts outdoors, on a daily basis. Let's just say there was a whole lot of sweating and smiling going on.

Runfessions and Coffee Talk

So, what exactly happened to January???

For one of the longer months (31 days, after all) and a cold time of year, January actually went rather quickly. No complaints on my part. The temps were actually more mild than extreme (unlike a year ago). Although I can tolerate the cold, I'm eager to move closer to Summer (well, and Spring, too).

Anyways, shall we gather for a warm beverage and chat a bit? Better yet, shall we share a few runfessions? Surely I'm not the only one with a few of those...

In a DAZE of the DOMS

The DOMS? I get them from time-to-time, but this past week the DOMS were front and center.

Good old reliable Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. We've all had them. Although they can be rather burdensome, they are not necessarily a bad thing. Life goes on, and so does fitness...

Chatting & Chai & a few Runfessions

It's that time of the month...again.

Are you ready for some chatting? Over coffee (or, in my case, chai)? What say we throw in a few Runfessions...you know, just to keep it real?

I'm always game for a (virtual) meet-up with like-minded people. Here's what I'd share if we were having a (virtual) coffee gathering...