Sunday, February 3, 2019

I've Got Cabin Fever and the Only Prescription is Getting Outside!

Even if you are sick to death hearing about the polar vortex, those of us experiencing it this week could talk of nothing else. It was dangerously cold, ridiculously cold--colder than I can ever remember! While the recent cold spell forced almost all of us inside, I feel fortunate that it didn't affect me in a bad way. My power was on, my home was warm, the treadmill fired up, and I got an extra day off work. I spent the day working on the blog and studying for the class I am taking.

I also did some reading on the polar vortex and found this great article on Mashable. It explains all about why we were so cold this week and yep, it's all due to global warming. I couldn't help but marvel at the palpable excitement of all the TV weather people discussing this phenomenon. I learned about frost quakes, which woke me up at night. And even though we were warned about the dangers of the boiling water trick, you know I had to try it. I love science.

Anyhoo, it was a really interesting week. We went from -25F on Wednesday to 35F degrees on Saturday. What a difference 60 degrees makes! Inside or out, I got my workouts in. Because as we like to say: the temperatures might drop, but the workouts don't stop. Ok, maybe no one likes to say that...I'm just going a little stir crazy over here.

Jumping for joy on Saturday!

Running
Before the polar vortex wobbled off the Arctic Circle and landed in Chicago, we actually had a mini-warm spell on Monday. We got another 6 inches of snow in the morning, but in the afternoon, I laced up my shoes and ran outside in the 27F degree temperatures. 27 degrees might not sound warm, but after experiencing sub-zero temperatures, it felt great. The roads were still a mess from the snow, though. I didn't wear my YakTrax because I thought conditions would be better. This 4 mile run was quite an effort, but I'm glad I got to get out there.


On Wednesday, despite what I posted on my Instagram, I did run 6-ish miles on the treadmill. So many people were concerned that I ran outside in my shorts, but trust me, the 3 minutes I was out there to get a photo was enough to turn my skin red. I felt like I was being burned by the cold! Now I can say I've run twice as much on my treadmill this winter than last year. That would be a total of 2 times. Hoping that I don't have to use it much more, but I'm pretty sure there will be more TM runs in my future.


Saturday I ran 6 miles on the streets. I meandered through a couple of different neighborhoods because so many of the sidewalks were still icy and snow packed. The temperature was in the 30s and I was sweating. People out walking kept commenting to me on how warm it felt. I had a great run! Why can't winter be like this all the time?

Maybe it will be--the groundhog didn't see his shadow!


I totaled up my miles for January and it was an abysmal 55 miles. But in that total is a half marathon and that indoor marathon relay. Quality over quantity!

CrossFit
Coach Sammy Jo pushed me hard on the front squats--it was so freaking heavy that I told her I couldn't do it. She told me I could and put wrist wraps on me (my wrist was hurting) and a back belt to help me concentrate on a tight core. It was like magic. I lifted 110# x 3 reps for my final set. I alternated those sets with Romanian deadlifts, 55# x 8 reps, 4 sets. I love those! After the heavy lifting, I did weighted one-legged box step ups and reverse lunges off of a plate. There may have been a few dance moves too...


Bootcamp was intense! We started off working on handstands. I did "negatives", meaning that I kicked up into handstand on the wall and lowered my head down to a pad. This work will help prepare me for handstand pushups. We alternated this with double under practice. I'll never be able to do double unders. I truly believe you have to be gifted to do them. So I just jumped rope. After this, there were 4 rounds of 500m row, 12 ring rows, and 12 v-ups. We followed that (yes, there was more!) with 3 x 2:00 of 3 cleans, front squats, push presses, and AMRAPs of thrusters. You could use a barbell (which is what I did) or dumbells.

Recovery
I've made recovery a big focus for 2019 and that is reflected in my low mileage for January. While I'll be ramping up my miles again, recovery is going to continue to be very much a focus for me. On Saturday, I had my monthly therapeutic massage and since she was able to work out so much of the tightness in my back last time, this massage was not nearly as painful. She was also able to work on my legs and my shoulders.

I wanted to do more yoga this week, but it just didn't happen. On Sunday, I did a new-to-me Rest Day Restorative Yoga for HIIT Athletes. I figured that this class would focus on hips, hamstrings, and glutes and I was right. While I enjoyed the slow pace and the long holds of the poses, I didn't care as much for the chit-chat between the hosts of the class. Call me cranky, but I like my mindfulness time on the mat.

How was your week? Were you affected by the deep freeze? Massages-yay or nay?

~~~~~~~~Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!~~~~~~~~
This week, I have the honor of co-hosting with Amy from She Runs By Faith. Holly is taking a few weeks off as she moves to her new house. 

If you haven't read Amy's blog, this week gives you a great opportunity to get to know her. Please show her the same love you show Holly and me by linking back to her blog and leaving a comment. If you are new to the WW, please check out the rules above. And if you are not a fitness blogger, please don't drop a link and leave. It's just not nice. Thanks again to everyone for supporting the Weekly Wrap!



65 comments :

  1. That Polar Vortex was a beast - but no match for you, Wendy, and your t-shirt and shorts pic! ;) I bet your skin felt like it was on fire! It's so hard not to talk about solely the weather lately. Especially in this Midwest, the extreme cold affected so much; from running to getting to work/appointments to school cancellations. Pretty wild! I'm thankful the heat stayed running, that's for sure. Thank you for allowing me to co-host with you - it's my pleasure!

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    1. I was so happy when Holly told me you wanted to co-host. Let me know if you need anything! Thanks so much!

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  2. Nice job on those front squats!!! *high five* We have those on the schedule for tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to them! They get my wrists, too, and I frequently put the wrist wraps on. And I think you'll be able to get double unders. I'm still working on them and that's actually what it takes to get them. We've got some athletes that come in early every day and work just on those. I once did 11 in a row! And then promptly couldn't do two in a row. LOL

    I still can't believe you went out in shorts for a picture but, *full disclosure* I'd have probably done the same. haha! Us runners are a special breed. :)

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    1. Yep, we're special, aren't we?! LOL!

      I'm glad to hear that double unders are attainable. I don't seem to have the knack. I can't even do the penguin claps...

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    2. I can't do those either. They're weird. ha! One thing that helps me (when I practice) is remembering to keep everything tight. When I loosen up, I jump all over the place. When I focus on a spot and keep my hollow rock position, I do okay. I've recently done 3 in a row! Just need to work more. :)

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  3. Yep. Milly got (at least) double time with me this winter...her count currently stands at 6 (all of it in the past two weeks), and I hope it stays at that. That said, I am thankful she's there when the extreme cold kept me inside. Glass half full, right? I have yet to try the coffee trick....maybe next time...

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    1. There will not be a next time! Let's stay positive, shall we? :p

      I used boiling water, not coffee...

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  4. I LOVE massages. So looking forward to the one after my next half -- for free! We definitely had cold, but nowhere near as intense as you guys. Thankfully. Still, today is the first day I got out side -- period -- since Monday, and yes, I was getting a little cabin fever-y.

    Darlene almost couldn't get takers for her race yesterday. I said not even if hell freezes over, oh wait, maybe it has . . .

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    1. That was the title of my post last week! Because it sure felt like hell froze over, didn't it?

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  5. I've had very few massages in my life - but they always feel sooo good! I also was impacted by the Polar Vortex. It was TOO cold to get outside and run!

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  6. I love that your coach found (safe) ways to help you do that lift! You're so lucky to have her. I guess the polar vortex has left the building - we may see 60 on Wednesday!

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    1. We'll be returning back to 'seasonal' aka chilly temps. It's all good.

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  7. Everyone did such a great job staying so active and getting creative with the weather. Great photos this week too!

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  8. The weather this week was so crazy. I feel like so many area (like Chicago) not only had the crazy low temps but also the huge 60 degree weather swing that you mentioned. Here we had a "snow squall" - my first time hearing that word was on Wednesday, lol.

    For massages - I don't do them often, maybe once every few years, but I would like to try to get in a few every year. I think it would help with my tight joints.

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    1. Oh yes, we have snow squalls all the time! LOL But we learn a new weather term every year.

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  9. I am with you on the polar vortex, what else is there to talk about? I too am glad that I had a home and heat in my apartment. Although I did turn it up, but because it was so cold, it wouldn’t get warmer. Oh wel, I survived.

    I love massages. I get one every two weeks. There’s been a few times in which I have fallen asleep on the table.

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    1. My massages are a little intense, so falling asleep would be tough!

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  10. Is the cold over for good? So sick of it.

    I don't run on the treadmill so I actually ran OUTSIDE 4 times this week.

    Can't wait to head to sunny Fla on Thursday!!

    I promise not to complain about heat and humidity

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    1. i don't know how you ran outside. It wouldn't have been safe to do that here!

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  11. Handstand pushups - what??? Eeeps! Well done on a good week, sorry about the terrible weather. I realise how mild and temperate it is here!

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    1. You know there's always more, right? As if a handstand isn't enough...

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  12. The good thing about the frigid weather is that once it leaves the teens and 20s feel hot. Lol! I love your saying - the temps may drop, but the workouts don't stop. I'm using that on my patients and clients from now on. Lol!

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  13. Yes, I thought the same with today's 34 without a windchill. Downright tropical even though we weren't as cold as you were earlier in the week
    Love the groundhog meme

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    1. It's crazy how warm it felt after that dip into the deep freeze!

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  14. I was equally as stir crazy. On Friday when the high was 8 degrees I was so excited to go running outside because it was "warm." Isn't that nuts? I also like mindfulness on my mat and would be annoyed with chatty yogis. I've shushed people in classes before but then feel equally as rude.

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    1. I wanted to go again today, just because it was so warm, but my body isn't doing well with consecutive run days!

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  15. It was cold here, but not nearly as cold as there. The coldest I saw was 0° on Thursday morning. We're having a fabulous warmup and it's supposed to get up into the 60's by Tuesday.

    Thanks for the linkup!

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    1. I'm kind of jealous of your 60s--but after what we had this week, anything above 0 is fine by me!

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  16. That's a long video! I found a good 10 min post run stretching video I like. I'm so bad, I don't have the attention span for yoga :)

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  17. I'm so glad to have that vortex behind us. It was a rough week for sure. The warmup is divine but I could do without all the ice.

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    1. Exactly, which is why I had to run all over Arlington Heights yesterday!

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  18. I love that you are focusing so much on recovery this year. It's so good for you and I bet you will feel so much better with regularly scheduled recovery periods.

    Massages are good FOR you, but I just don't personally enjoy them. I don't like being touched and the whole forced relaxation thing is very uncomfortable for me.

    I need to know more about these frost quakes! That sounds terrifying! I'm so glad you're ok and safe and that things are starting to warm up.

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    1. You'd probably like my massages then, because they really aren't relaxing--they're "therapeutic"!

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  19. Double unders scare me. I have been doing 3 x the single unders instead when they are part of the WOD. I think I am ready to progress with my head stand push ups. I am still just doing strict shoulder presses seated but I think I could do the next step.

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    1. You should try! Have you kicked up into handstand against the wall?

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  20. Good perspective to remember we're safe and warm :)

    The dramatic shift occurred in Minneapolis too, we hit nearly 40 degrees this weekend. Craziness! Of course it was so icy out today, so I still ran inside (not worth another broken leg!)

    Thanks for hosting the link-up!

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    1. It is super icy still--the temperatures are supposed to drop this week, which will make things very interesting.

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  21. No deep freeze down in Florida, but we have been having crappy rainy grey weather lately. And it does get cold...for us. It's been in the 30s most of January. It only just got up to reasonable Florida temps. I get sick of the cold after about a week though so I don't see how you guys up north do it!

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    1. I think we can handle the cold because we expect it. Not the polar vortex cold, but regular cold is part of winter for us. And we do escape to Florida after we can't take it anymore!

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  22. Awesome job with your lifting!

    This weather has just been insane, but thankfully the worse of this freeze is behind us.

    I like that you've made recovery a big focus for this year. I'm a huge fan of massages and have been trying to make more of a commitment to getting consistent treatment. Hope they help you!

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    1. I feel that the massages have really been helpful. I don't feel so tense and tight in my back. This has been such a good thing for me!

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  23. Omg the cold weather gas been disrespectful! I'm from Buffalo but I'm not used to hearing about temperatures 20 below and colder! Good that you had your treadmill to keep you motivated.

    Love hearing about your crossfit and boot camp workouts, amazing!

    My mileage has been painfully low. Trying not to compare myself to the past or other people, but it isn't easy!

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    1. I have the hardest time not comparing my running to my past. Acceptance is coming, but it hasn't been easy!

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  24. This weekend felt so wonderfully warm after the polar vortex! I typically hate big swings in temperature but I'm okay with it right now. I'm just hoping the cool down later this week doesn't bring too much ice! Great work on staying active despite the polar vortex - I love your saying that the temperatures might drop but workouts don't stop.

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    1. I'm having the same fear about the ice. Fingers crossed it doesn't become too dangerous.

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  25. I avoid front squats because they hurt my wrists. If wrist wraps are magic I might have to try them...
    Also with you on the double unders. But then I can barely jump rope the regular way, I think that takes talent too!

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    1. I was shocked at how much the wrist wraps helped! I will definitely use them if I need, because those front squats are effective.

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  26. Sounds like you made the best of the crazy cold weather! I kept seeing crazy photos of the cold in Chicago.

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    1. And today it's 50 degrees. The snow is almost gone. Crazy weather!

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  27. I hear you! 27 degrees felt downright tropical! And today, it's 50 but sadly I can't run outside. Oh well, there's plenty to come in spring but it's just nice to be outside with a vest and no hat or gloves! And yes, the cold can feel like it's actually burning you!...great picture tho :-)

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    1. I did get out for a run this afternoon--I wasn't passing up the warmer temperatures!

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  28. We didn't get NEARLY as cold as Chicago - but it was sure bitter! This past weekend made up for it a little by giving us some 50-60+ temps...too bad they won't stick around... Keep kicking butt Wendy!!

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  29. The polar vortex mostly affected my travel and it absolutely sucked. Tons of delays and cancellations, but at least I got where I needed to go. I just got home from California at 1:00 a.m. last night/this morning and then I leave for Seattle early tomorrow morning. I'll be done traveling for a bit after this week, so hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can get some of my runs done outside. You are braver than me.

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  30. Very cool to see how the belt and wrist wrap was such a game changer for you with doing that lift. I swear, just like running, having the right equipment makes all the difference!

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    1. I was pretty impressed too! Happy that I could do those lifts!

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  31. No freeze down here in Texas but we did get some 30s a couple of weekends ago. I can only imagine what the Polar Vortex feels like if you were sweating in the 30s! You're definitely a trooper! WAY TO GO ON FRONT SQUATS! Those are hard and the hand/wrist placement always gets me.

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    1. Front squats are my least favorite because of the hand grip. She keeps pushing me to go heavier--glad to find that the wrist wraps helped!

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  32. "The temperatures might drop, but the workouts don't stop!" - Haha!! Allow me to quote this when winter comes round for me! LOL! We are currently experiencing the hottest summer that I can remember. We've had so many health warnings and what they termed a "heat wave" has lasted from November and apparently is only set to end this month. So it seems the world is experiencing such extremes on both ends of the spectrum. That scares me. Workout-wise though, well done on getting it all done! Your strength work is particularly impressive! Wow!

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    1. It has been a crazy weather season, hasn't it? Now that we've warmed back up, we're bracing for an ice storm. What the what?

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