The Color Runs...

Autumn in the Midwest is the season of color. Sure, it's nice to see green in the spring after the white and gray of winter, but fall is when things really pop around here. In a sense, it's nature's last hurrah before shedding its foliage and getting ready for winter. Seems ironic, right? Just when it's getting cold, gray, and drab, the trees decide to get naked. Who thought this was a good idea? Don't we need color in the winter?

I don't make the rules, I just live here. And I'm savoring every last moment of nature's show before winter takes over. Not only are the leaves colorful, but the sky has been giving us a nice show in the morning and at night.

This past week was peak season for the colors and I savored it--both on the road and off. Even on the cloudy days, the colors of the leaves made me happy. My weekly training summary is all about the colors of fall!

Running: This was also the week that most of my runs felt good. I'm moving at a pace I like. The cooler temperatures we had for most of the week are definitely a confidence booster! Saturday's run was warm--63 degrees at 7 am, but who's complaining?

Can you even tell that it was raining this day?

For Sunday's long run, I decided to run to this pretty little preserve about 3 miles from my house. I prepared 2 bottles of Tailwind and headed out in the blustery, cold, drizzly morning. This was a tough run from the start. I took it slow and admired the foliage. As I got closer to the preserve, I saw a coyote, but he took off into the woods as I approached. The limestone path was sheltered from the wind. The colors weren't as spectacular as I had hoped, but I found plenty to admire.

On the way home, I stopped at the top of Payton's Hill--the hill where football great Walter Payton used to train--and was stunned at the view. Yes, colors, but also a view of downtown Chicago, which is about 25 miles away!

Total mileage for October? 107 miles...

Yoga: I made it to one yoga class on Wednesday, and even though our regular instructor was still away in Hawaii, the sub was Megan, from my Monday class! As always, her class was amazing. Lots of shoulder and hip openers. It was pouring rain that day, so I did my daily pose in the studio. Our studio is lit with blue lights, and they cast an interesting violet glow on the walls.

Humble Warrior

CrossFit/CrossTraining: I've been asked twice to participate in that 22 day 22 push up challenge to raise awareness to suicide in veterans. It's a great cause, but I'm still fighting that tendonitis in my forearm. I definitely have lost strength in my upper body, but right now, I have to play it safe. I did do some pushups at the playground, along with some other upper body work. On Thursday, Becky had me do a variety of things--some front/back lunges, some core work with the resistance ball, sumo deadlifts, and GHD back extensions. Sore much?

I'm glad to be doing lower body work again--I feel it on the road, with those steady, strong paces. Sunday's run had some steep inclines and I conquered them fairly easily. I'm debating throwing some speedwork into my half marathon training. Do I or don't I? I sure want to keep my feet happy!

But the colors of fall..they are truly a feast for the senses. Knowing what's ahead, those cold gray days of winter, we need to savor every last moment...

How was your week? Anything colorful on your runs?

I'm linking up with Tricia and Holly, as well as Angela and Ilka for their weekly linkups! Please be sure to check out all the posts for inspiration and color!