Devoloping Character: 1/30-2/5 Weekly Wrap

So last week I wrote about how we’re not buried in many inches of snow. All you people who kept bemoaning our lack of snow — can I please have it all directed at you? Cause it changed for us big time this week, with no end in sight. It’s February, though, and it’s pretty typical for our February.

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Tricia @ Misssipppiddlin and sharing my activities for the week. Check out how your fellow bloggers are getting active and don’t forget to share how you’re getting active, too!

Workouts update

• Monday: DM Chest, Back & Arms, Dogwalk,
• Tuesday: YTU Hips, Feet & Ankles, 5 easy/icy miles, Pahla B Abs
• Wednesday: YFPR Hips, Pahla B ST, 4 easy miles, YFR Foundation
• Thursday:  Pahla B Standing Abs, YTU Hips & Foot & Ankles
• Friday: DM Flow, 5 TM miles (middle 3 steady state — which just means faster than usual for me)
• Saturday: Pilates Perfect Body Belly & Stretch
• Sunday: YTU Hips, Feet & Ankles, Stress relief; 10 Mile LSD

Mileage: 24 (+3.25)

TIU = Tone it Up
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*

*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links

Running updates 

 

I spent a lot of time in those Yaktrax this week

Tuesday

---

Mother Nature is clearly confused. The forecast was for snow turning to wintry mix turning to rain — what I call Dresden weather, because that’s exactly what happened the one day I spent in Dresden.

I was hoping to outrun the snow; spoiler alert: epic fail. I fed myself, fed all the animals, quickly changed into running clothes, did my warmup, got Bandit suited up  . . . and it was snowing. Big, heavy flakes. Crap.

So I pulled/dragged Bandit through less than half a mile and realized it wasn’t happening for him. Turned around, dropped him off, put on my Yaktrax, headed back out. Now it’s freezing rain. Double crap. What to do? Well, I wasn’t falling so I decided to soldier on.

It stopped after a while. Then it started up again, even harder. Then it stopped. Then the blizzard started. Seriously, MN?

I ran through it all, super cautiously (and super slow) and made it through 5 miles without falling or hurting myself.

My fartlek place

Wednesday

---

So envious of the 50s, 60s, 70s. It was a warm day — which means it was 42 feels like 35 when I ran in the afternoon. I really wasn’t even planning to run, but a snowstorm was supposed to be coming (spoiler: yup, it hit), so I snuck  in my easy 4 miles.

I threw in a fartlek at my favorite fartlek place (above), even though it wasn’t on the plan. Which just might explain why mile 3 was a wee bit fast. That’s okay, I dialed back down the last mile — and the previous day’s run was more than slow enough.

Only sunny when it’s too nasty to run outside, it seems!

Friday

---

Bitterly cold (so of course the sun was out). Windy. Snowy/icy streets (and probably running paths). Appointments/errands. And so it was back to the treadmill for a steady state run — basically, these 5 miles were just about 30 second slower than last week’s tempo run when all was said and done.

Maybe it felt a little easier?

Up for a challenge

Sunday

---

I built a lot of character today! The last winter series today was 10 miles, which was perfect for my training plan from Rachel @ Runningonhappy. Only the snow was supposed to start at 10 am — same time as the runs.

I chose to get up early , despite the 3 hours in the car yesterday (trying to get my parents’ home ready to sell), and hopefully outrun the snow. Spoiler alert: it began to snow lightly just 2.5 miles in.

And the path wasn’t clear either — they’d obviously cleared it after our big storm earlier in the week, but we’d had more snow and a lot of wind since then. Packed down snow with a lot of ice underneath — but with my trusty Yaktrax (even with one coil broken –Amazon affiliate link) it was fine (if very slow). Almost negative splits, though.

I wasn’t the only runner there, and I wasn’t the only one there who’d decided to ditch the winter series (which got canceled, btw) and run early to avoid the worst of the snow.

The good news is it wasn’t super cold and it wasn’t windy, so there’s that. And I finished with no falls.

Challenges are meant to be met and overcome. — Liu Xiang

Favorites of the week
It was a long and challenging week, y’all, to be sure. Probably just the first of many. Almost at the peak of my half training, but also needing to go to work on my parents’ house every week.

Anyhoo, next week is my birthday and I enter a new age group. Not that that means much to me — trust me, I’d have to be the only person in my age group to win an award.

 

Heavenly! Happy early birthday to me!

But I did get myself a little early birthday present which I used today after my long run — a foot spa (amazon affiliate link)– it was heavenly. I’ve been thinking about getting one for years, and I’m so glad I finally did! Disclaimer: the links in this post are affiliate links; if you buy the product by using my link, I make a small amount of money — thanks! The opinions are my own.

And that’s a wrap 

This week I am also linking up with the Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup brought to you by Ilka @ Ilka’s Blog and Angela @ Marathons & Motivation.

Let’s get the conversation started:

Valentine lover or hater? 

Is Mother Nature challenging you lately?

How are you overcoming your challenges?