Sunday, October 23, 2016

Running Into Fall

Fall has finally arrived in the midwest. It was slow to come--summer just didn't want to let go. The foliage is starting to turn into those beautiful colors we wait for. While it was still very warm at the beginning of the week, the temperatures settled into what is considered "normal" for late October. This is the best time of year to be a runner. The scenery is a feast for the eyes, and with cooler temperatures, it's the return of long sleeves, tights, and thumbholes!

The only bad thing about fall is that we know what's next. But let's not think about that. Here are some of the highlights from my week on the road and the mat.

Taking the Long Way Home



Running:
With cooler temperatures, I enjoyed some nicely paced runs. Instead of heat, I had to contend with wind and allergens. I was so looking forward to my long slow 8-miler to the retention pond on Saturday. It was a cool, crisp morning. Instead of relaxing into my pace, I struggled with breathing. I sipped my Tailwind throughout my run, so my issue wasn't my fueling. When I finished, I had my answer. I was wheezing. It's hard when the legs want to go, but the heart and lungs are telling you to hold back. My legs weren't having it, and it was a battle for pretty much the entire run. But I wanted to run under 9 m/m. Mission accomplished.

Taking the Long Way Home
Running the struggle bus around the pond
In contrast, Sunday's 4-mile run was a pleasure. Another cool, crisp, sunny morning, this time I effortlessly zipped around my neighborhood. I wanted to hold back, but my legs wanted to go and today my heart said, "go ahead". So I did. It felt great and I cheesily held tree pose in front of these gorgeously transformed maples. 8:28 m/m.

Taking the Long Way Home
Like you wouldn't have done the same pose....
Yoga:
I was happy to go to 2 classes at the studio. Megan continues to take her class on a journey through the chakras. This week we did poses to align the naval chakra, which represents fire. It was an energetic practice, and we did a new-to-me sequence of crow to headstand to crow. I could not lift my head into that second crow pose. I'm going to work on that!

Taking the Long Way Homd
This was the crow before the headstand
We had a sub for my other class. Our apex pose was bowed half moon pose--another new pose to me! After all the prep work, we moved from triangle to half moon to bowed half moon. I am not at all flexible, but I'm always amazed at what my body can do with the right preparation.

Taking the Long Way Home

CrossFit:
The first thing I did when I met with Becky was to ask her to try that crow-headstand-crow sequence. Of course, she could do it! Her response was "I like that!" but she acknowledged the challenge of lifting the head on the second crow. Then we got down to business. Becky had me do lunges with kettlebells dangling from the bar. This was extremely challenging to me. There were some seated twists. Lifting a 50# medicine ball onto a box. Many times.

Off the road:
As soon as I got back from my run, my husband, boys, and I drove to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to meet my parents, aunt and uncle, and sister and her family to celebrate my parents' 55th wedding anniversary. My mom booked us on an almost 3-hour tour around this beautiful lake. The weather could not have been better and it was wonderful to celebrate such an amazing milestone. The lake is a summer retreat for many wealthy Chicago families and we loved seeing all the mansions--some of them are over 100 years old. Think Wrigley, Harris, Swift, Sears, and Pinkerton, among others. The fall colors made a beautiful backdrop.

Taking the Long Way Home
My family
Taking the Long Way Home
My parents, Lisa, and me
How was your week? Anything fun and new in your workouts? Are you struggling with your training? 

I'm linking up with Tricia and Holly for their Weekly Wrap, as well as Angela and Ilka for the Sunday Fitness and Food Link Up!


83 comments :

  1. It WAS a great fall week, especially after sweating my behind off in St. Louis last weekend! Lake Geneva must be gorgeous right now. Happy 55 to your parents!

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    1. The lake was spectacular. The trees were in full fall foliage. It could not have been a better day for this.

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  2. This weekend was killer awesome (weather-wise). My run yesterday was near perfect and my run this morning, though a struggle towards the end, was legit. It has been crazy windy, though!!!

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    1. I went early enough this morning before the wind picked up. It was near perfect.

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  3. Great family pics, Wendy! :) Fall colors are popping here in PA too. Very strange week. Some mornings it was around 30 degrees and others I ran in my sports bra!

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  4. Wendy, I love the photos of your family and congrats to your parents on 55 years. That is fantastic. We had gorgeous weather here and I finally was able to run after my mandatory no running for two weeks after a marathon. I had a blast running a little 3 miler around the neighborhood this morning and actually wore a pair of capris and a long sleeve top. Love getting out the fall/winter running duds! By the way, nice paces on your runs too.

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    1. I'm enjoying the faster running that comes with the cooler temps! My PF is kind of aggravated tho...

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  5. 55 years - simply amazing - congrats to your parents! I love all the fall foliage colors. It's what we are missing out here in SOCAL so I will live vicariously through yours. The only thing new with my training is that I'm aiming to run more off-road to be race-ready for a trail half marathon in December. Did pretty well this past week.

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    1. You are lucky to have access to trails--we really don't have much of that here.

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  6. Happy anniversary to your parents! Glad you got to enjoy some great fall weather - humidity reared its ugly head here again - summer doesn't know when to go!

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    1. It was 73 today--certainly warmer than it should be but not too bad!

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  7. I think it is a little cooler here--hopefully it will come your way soon!

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  8. Those trees are GORGEOUS! We don't quite have fall colors here yet, although a few trees are changing. Congrats to your parents - what a nice way to celebrate!

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  9. I looked so hard for some fall color today. Nothing. Our color peaks around Thanksgiving. But, 50s with low humidity is much appreciated. 55 years is amazing! Congrats to your parents. The lake tour sounds wonderful. I know you enjoyed spending time together as a family. Great pic too! Thanks for linking, Wendy!

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  10. Great family photos! Congrats to your parents for 55 years! That is wonderful! As much as I do not like the cooler temps, it does make the running feel a bit easier.

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  11. I wish we could hold onto these temps and not think about what is to come! Have a great week

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  12. It looks like you had an awesome week! I'm happy for the cooler temperatures for running! I love seeing all of your yoga poses, it takes so much strength to do what you do!

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  13. 55 years - amazing!

    We've had some warm temps lately but now it is COLD - not ready yet.

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    1. Even the cooler temps have been moderately cool. Nothing dramatic--yet.

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  14. Fall is a great time of year for running! Congrats on your parents' 55th Anniversary! Great job on your workouts too!

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  15. So much greatness - even the struggle of your 8 miler because you did it!! And of course you would do tree pose...duh??? Love the family shot and the boat ride. I would love to see those old mansions!!

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  16. CONGRATS to your parents! You know I would be all over the mansions (architecture nerd). Right now I am struggling with temperatures. I just cannot for the life of me figure out what to wear...

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  17. I'm trying something fun and new this week. Well kind of knew :-) it's been a decade and I've changed so so much I'm calling it a novel experience.
    Aerial yoga!!

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  18. Great week, beautiful family! I love fall running and fall in general. I am trying to stay on a schedule with my workouts committing to at least 5 days. Cooler seasons seem to slow me down but I'm trying not to let it this year.

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    1. It's the opposite for me--I get my speed back in the cooler temps.

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  19. What a nice pose! It is crazy what you can do after a class of yoga build up!

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  20. As soon as I read about your 3 hour tour around the lake the theme to Gillian's Island started playing in my head! ��

    I wish summer would let go here! It's still getting into the 90s every day!

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  21. Even here in Palm Beach the temperatures have dropped at least during the early morning hours. I was running in 64 degrees yesterday!!! Your running fall pics are amazing Wendy! So motivating! Thanks for sharing your beautiful family pics with us! Plus a huge Congrats to your parents!!

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  22. What a beautiful family! that sounds like a fun trip!

    We are getting beautiful fall colors here right now, we are planning on visiting a local park to take pictures this weekend.

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  23. So glad you had such a beautiful day to celebrate with your family!

    It was raw & pouring for most of our move . . .

    I wish my legs wanted to just go. That so rarely happens, it's always a struggle for me even at a slow pace! Fall has basically kind of come & gone now, although there is still some color around.

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    1. Already? We're just getting our full bloom of color! In a week or so, it will be gone, so I'm trying to make the most of it.

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  24. Great combo of workouts! And I love those runs where your legs just want to go. This is perfect running weather. I'm still recovering from the marathon and taking it a day at a time- doing what I feel like. I opted for sleep this morning over my run but am hoping to get out later in the day!

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  25. I like running in the cooler Fall temps for sure. So pretty with the leaves turning.

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  26. Beautiful family! And LOOK AT THOSE TREES!!!!! Stunning. I'm glad you guys are getting true Fall weather now!

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  27. What a fun day with your family Wendy and a great celebration! Wow, 55 years that is awesome! How cool you got to tour the lake and 3 hours it must be a huge lake! So very glad you got this time to spend with family!
    Today I am struggling from the weekend! I'm actually glad to be back at work to rest a bit. :)

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    1. It is a big lake! It's one of the biggest lakes in Wisconsin.

      Take it easy...

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  28. Oooh, that lake tour sounds amazing. I totally agree with you on fall being a great time of year for running. The only thing I don't like is that the daylight really starts to fade and now most of my runs are 100% in the dark.

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    1. Since I'm a morning runner, I can usually get my runs in in the daylight--even in the winter. I do have to occasionally get out there before the dawn tho.

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  29. Sounds like a great week of running and workouts!! 55 years, congrats to your parents! Lake Geneva sounds nice! What a great place to celebrate!

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  30. I love the tree pose by trees! What great colours too. I do love Autumn running and quite like evening runs at dusk when there is a crispness to the air.

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  31. Those colors are beautiful and so are your poses! Our drop isn't happening super quick but I am enjoying each degree drop! I loved the Tailwind- I will use it again this weekend on my long run but I am thinking it is a keeper!!!

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    1. So glad you liked the Tailwind! It's been a game changer for me.

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  32. Yup Wendy, fall is certainly a beautiful time of the year. Very soon we will be saying good bye to the Chicago Cubs. Nighty night even. No chance.

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    1. Funny, I didn't even mention the Cubs in this post. I'm excited for them to win the World Series, tho.

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  33. Oh,my goodness. That foliage is simply amazing! We never get to see anything like that here. I totally understand what you mean about the allergens and the wind - I had a great run the other day, but I was absolutely windburned when I was done. Boo.

    I need to get back into yoga. It's been too long.

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    1. The leaves are starting to drop off the trees...it doesn't last long!

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  34. Those leaves!! And your speed - zoom!! That yoga sequence sounds really tough! I can do a headstand and I can do crow but headstand to crow? I would try it if I had a mat and supervision haha

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    1. It's really hard! I'm going to keep working on it until I get it.

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  35. Fall is good, I am glad to finally have some cooler weather! You are so speedy, I can't wait to try to get to that pace again!

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  36. Congrats to your parents on their milestone anniversary! What a great family photo!

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  37. As always, love your photos! Looks like a fun time! I'm struggling with motivation, myself, but glad you're pushing through (even with holidays on your mind haha)! It helps knowing others are doing their best and motivates me to do the same :D

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    1. I love our little community! We just keep each other going, right?

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  38. I love the fall. And so crazy this year...we had several heat waves where it was 90 degrees in the day. I almost had to turn on the AC last week! But this week is cool and crisp overnight so it is really feeling like fall. I'm staying in denial about the clocks changing shortly...the lack of daylight is always depressing. Great photos Wendy!

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    1. I did turn the AC on one day last week, then the furnace the next day. Crazy, right?

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  39. Ahhhh fall running. When all the hard work you put into summer starts to peak through speed wise! Some crazy winds here but I am loving the chill in the air. I stay in shorts basically until the snow falls but did opt for long sleeves today since it was in the 40's. Now if it just wasn't so darn dark still...THAT reminds me of the winter to come.

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  40. Oh my, that tree is gorgeous! The leaves are just starting to turn here in NC, and it's starting to feel like fall too. I love fall!

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  41. I love all of your fall running photos. They are amazing! I'm still waiting for it to feel like Fall here in SoCal. Maybe if I keep eating pumpkin food it will magically happen.

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  42. Congratulations to your parents on the 55th anniversary, that is amazing! I love Lake Geneva and wish I could get up there more to explore. It sounds like the perfect place for celebration amidst such beautiful foliage!!!

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  43. Wow, Congratulations to your parents! I love your pictures, especially the one of you posing with the beautiful trees in the background. I really enjoy Fall running, but our Fall has been a little odd in Maine with hotter than normal days, then sudden cold, windy days...ugh!! And now most of the leaves are off the trees and I am warming up my treadmill for winter ;-) Have a Great Week Wendy!! As always, I love following your running adventures & appreciate you sharing them at the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up!

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