What a weird week it’s been around here! It started with a nasty taste of winter, and ended with warmer temps once again. I don’t think I will ever get used to running in the cold this year if this trend keeps happening! I’m not complaining at all; it’s almost mid-January and the worst we have had is a few 20 degree days (with early mornings a bit lower than that).
This was the first full week of the new year, so I kept my goals in mind and tried to stay focused on how I could work towards them each day. So far, I’m doing pretty well but it’s only 11 days into the year:) Here’s how last week looked:
Monday: 5 mile fartlek (1 mile w/u, 3 miles of {1 min hard/2 min easy/2 min hard/1 min easy}, 1 mile c/d), core stability exercises
Walk: 1.5 miles, Push-ups: 30
With a real feel of 3 degrees, this was my coldest run of the season so far. Luckily there wasn’t much wind, so it wasn’t too terrible.
Tuesday: 3 miles easy, TRX/kettlebell workout, short yoga video after work
Walk: 1.6 miles, Push-ups: 30
Wednesday: 4 miles easy, hip exercises, mobility work
Walk: 1.7 miles, Push-ups: 10
Another cold one! I couldn’t even take a picture without my breath showing up in the background.
Thursday: Pilates and yoga video, 1 mile walk
Walk: 3.15 miles
It was really hard to get through this 1 mile walk at 5:30am. I never warmed up, my hands were pretty much numb, and I felt like I was going SO slow. It made me appreciate how it feels to run in the cold a little bit more!
Friday: 4 miles with 6 x 40 second hill repeats, myrtle routine
Walk: 2.5 miles, Push-ups: 20
Saturday: 10.25 miles with a long run workout
Walk: 3.4 miles <– Way more than I like to walk after a long run!
It was lightly raining throughout most of this run, and when I got back my hair was in a huge knot! It took way too much energy to get this out of my hair:
Sunday: Rest
Walk: 4 miles
This was a “rest day” but I was really busy, and covered 4 miles without even going for a purposeful walk. I barely sat down all day!
Totals: Run: 26.35 miles, Walk: 17.85 miles, 4 days of push-ups
Yearly mileage: 64.21/2016
As you may be able to tell from the amount of walking I did over the weekend, it was a busy one! It reminded me of those weekends when we were getting ready to move and were running around doing errands every weekend. We are slowly trying to fill some rooms in our house (we still don’t have much furniture or decorations) and this weekend our master bedroom set was delivered. So we were moving our old furniture to a guest room, and shifting all our clothes to the new dressers. We also went to stores looking for bedding sets (unsuccessfully).
That was way more that anyone needed to know about my weekend, but I just wanted to point out how much more walking I did than the days I worked. I have really been trying to move around more frequently, but I still don’t feel like I get many steps in. My cubicle-mate (yes, I have a cubicle-mate and it’s just as fun as it sounds- luckily we get along really well) suggested we start using exercise bands to stretch out our arms throughout the day so that has felt really good and I think may help with my posture.
This week is gonna be a busy one, so I’m not sure if I will be posting again. We are heading to Florida for the long weekend, so if I’m MIA for a bit that is probably why! Although I do have a few post ideas floating around my head, so I hope to make time for blogging at some point.
Did you have any crazy weather where you live this week?
Does your hair get into a big knot when it rains? Any tips for getting it out?
Are you more or less active on days you work?
Linking up with HoHoRunsOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new window and MissSippiPiddlinOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new windowOpens in a new window for the weekly wrap!
Agreed on the weather. My hope is that if a real winter is going to arrive, let it happen after my half! I have been trying to move and stretch more during the day too, definitely makes a difference in how I feel.
Looking at the forecast for the next few days makes me nervous! And I keep hearing rumors of snow but then nothing ever comes of it. I would be fine it winter waited until Feb to come and only stuck around for a month:)
The weather really is crazy around here! Now we’re in for a lot more cold so you’re lucky to be going to Florida for the weekend. Also when I read 4 days of push-ups I pictured you doing them nonstop, lol 🙂
Haha that would be REALLY impressive!
After a few runs that resulted in hair that could barely be saved, I started braiding it for raining runs. It helps SO much.
For some reason my hair gets even worse when I braid it. It turns into a braided knot, which is even worse than a regular knot. I think its because my hair is naturally curly and gets super frizzy when it rains.
Brrrr I can feel the cold coming through your pictures, especially that first one! I honestly don’t know how you do it all winter long. We had a couple of cool days last week and I realized how much of a wimp I am. As soon as it dips into the 60s I start shivering!
Our weather has been weird too. We started last week in the low 70s and ended up in the mid 80s by Saturday and today the high is 70!
I hope its warm when I am in Florida! Even though it hasn’t been too cold here, I would love some warmer weather for a few days:)
Thank you for reminding me we have a 3 day weekend coming up! I totally forgot! Now I have something to live for!!!! 😉
MLK day always sneaks up on me and its such a nice surprise!
My hair was a hot mess on Saturday too! Some people say braiding it is helpful, but my hair is too short for that, so I just fight it afterwards with a wide tooth comb. I can’t believe you braved the 3 degree weather morning–I wussed out and ran indoors!
My hair doesn’t work in a braid either- it just gets more frizzy and turns into a big knot. I don’t have an indoor running option, so if I want to run at all I need to do it outside. I think Wednesday is supposed to be the worst so I will probably do some strength training or something that day:)
I’m with you on the crazy weather! First it was warm, then it was bitter cold, then it warmed up, and now it’s back to bitter cold. Have a great long week and long weekend!
I would rather have these warm days mixed in, but it’s just so weird! I am constantly checking the weather because I have no idea what to expect.
I once spent 25 minutes trying to get knots out of my hair after a half marathon. It was awful. We had similar weather here in WI last week. Cold to warm to really cold. Its 1 degree here today with a -6 wind chill. Yikes. Needless to say I opted for the treadmill this morning. Great week of training!
The wind chills are the worst! And I have had days where my arms get sore because it takes so long to get a knot out of my hair. So frustrating!
My ponytail gets tangled when it’s misting, but it’s better if my hair is completely drenched. Not that I want to get drenched while running, but it makes dealing with my hair easier. I’ve learned I need to brush out my ponytail first, then take out the elastic, otherwise I have a big rat’s nest to work through.
I agree! I would rather my hair be completely wet I think. And I also have to brush out my hair before I shower otherwise its never getting untangled.
I feel the same way about this winter. Our mild December has caused me to go soft. Last week when we got down to single digits, I really felt it. This week we’re sub-zero with -14 wind chill and to the mill I go. Have a great trip!
Ugh, those wind chills are the worst. We got some bad wind yesterday and I think its coming back again on Wednesday. I’ll probably be keeping my workouts indoors until I escape to Florida!
that band stretch feels so good! i do that one sometimes and i love it. my hair doesnt get in a knot when it rains but I run with it in a top knot bun so it stays in place. I hate running in the rain though, being soggy is the worst for me. you are well on your way to that 2016 miles goal!
I can’t get my hair to stay in any sort of bun when I run, I think I bounce around too much and it falls out:)
It’s so hard adjusting to the cold weather right now. I can’t bring myself to run much because one day it’s 60 degrees and the next it’s 10. That’s why I’ve been so into Rev and CorePower lately ha I’m becoming such a wimp when it comes to the cold. If it was consistently cold, maybe I’d be more likely to adjust to the weather change. Not that I’m complaining that we’re halfway through winter and it hasn’t even really hit yet…
I definitely agree! I feel like it just makes more sense to wait for the warm days to run:) I am trying to get out there but its definitely a shock to my system when Im not used to running in the cold.
My friend Lora has the same problem with her hair and so what she does it she always wears a hat and then ties her hair into a ponytail and ties elastics all the way down, kind of like a caterpillar. Does that make sense? And then when she pulls all the elastics out before we go to the pub, her hair is ship shape.
Wow, that sounds great! I will need to try that next time.
I have that issue with my hair too. Sometimes I try to fashion it into a bun before I run, but honestly, I haven’t nailed down a method that works, so the bun is hit or miss.
I use a product called Infusium 23. It’s a leave in conditioner that I discovered YEARS ago. It works great, you can put it specifically on the knotted area & then I work through my hair with a wide tooth comb. Usually Walmart or Target has this product. I’ve even found it at Dollar Tree! & it doesn’t leave my hair greasy either, which is great, because it seems like everything does.
Oh I will need to look out for that! Thanks for sharing!
It has been so cold! I like the idea of exercise bands to stretch out the arms – easy enough to do at work (luckily my cube is very tall)
Yes, and I never really stretch my upper body so its a good chance to multitask and get that done:)
Winter is really playing mind games with us this year! I landed in NYC last night and it was 58 degrees, I was OK in the shorts I wore on the plane from Florida. This morning, 20s and gusty winds!
I know, it’s crazy!
Our weather keeps going back & forth too. It was “warm” yesterday, if you can call pouring rain, a thunderstorm, and 50s warm. But mostly it’s been in the 20s with crazy, crazy wind — sunny, but it’s so cold even Lola doesn’t want to walk.
I love my treadmill. I love my treadmill. I actually do, even if I’d rather run outside, but I like that I have the choice and today I chose the treadmill.
I think its great that you have the option to run on a treadmill! I think I would really like to get one at some point so I have the option to run indoors during extreme weather.
I can’t believe your hair, Lisa; oh, my gosh! Since I’m such a short hair girl, I guess I never think about this; what a nightmare! I love this idea to stretch your arms in the office; tell your cubicle mate that I said thanks – ha! I may need to try this in my office! Hope your week is off to a great start!
It’s really inconvenient when my hair gets like that! You should be happy you don’t have to deal with it:)
it’s super hard to plan to get a workout on days I work. I have typically scheduled my week-day runs monday/weds and then switch it to tues/thurs or even weds/fri if I need to. Just get it in when I can. Which usually works out but it’s more stressful than being able to rely on a particular schedule. What do you do for your kettleball workout?
I havent figured out too many exercises with the kettlebell, but since I was using the TRX also I did sets of kettlebell swings and deadlifts in between my other exercises.
The weather the northeast has been getting has been so nutty! When I was in NJ for Christmas I couldn’t believe that it was warmer there than it was where I live in San Diego….and I left right before that little cold front moved in.
Ugh, I’m familiar with hair knots! When my hair starts to get really long like it’s been getting, I get these weird little knots underneath that are so hard to get out.
I know its time for a haircut when my hair starts getting more tangled than usual!
As you know, I agree with you on the weather! You had a great week!! I love that blue jacket you were wearing in the first pic! My hair sometimes gets in knots, the perfect storm is rain and wind or just super windy if I am wearing it curly vs. straight. Sometimes a spray it detangler helps, otherwise, its just time with the brush and a lot of swearing! 🙂
Haha yes, I feel like there are strategies to help avoid the big hair knot but if the weather is bad it’s gonna give me problems no matter what:)
oh the knot pony…i feel for you. I try to either braid or bun if I know I’m going to be running in mist or rain!
I’m much more active on days that I don’t work. Definitely the hard part of having a desk job but I try to do something active everyday even if it’s just a dog walk on a rest day.
That’s great- I need to get into that habit! Even just moving around more during the work day would help.
Feels like 3 degrees? Holy cow! I had the opposite 68 degrees 100% humidity can’t find the air problem. My ponytail is quite short so I don’t get the tangle. That’s an impressive amount of walking miles. I really enjoy walking in the summer after supper when we have more daylight to enjoy. I love that you are your cubicle mate are doing stretches! Enjoy your time in Florida! Thanks for linking with us Lisa!
It’s been cold here in Mississippi the last several nights like below freezing. I’m not running this week, still in recovery but it does make it harder to feed and especially water animals with it frozen. I’ll be out in in next week though. With my hair being curly I will get knots like this too. In fact it would be soooo easy to have dreadlocks! I’ve got to get a daily stretch routine down and down quickly!!! Thanks for linking Lisa!!!