I don’t know if it is the sunny warm weather or the continued vaccination news, but this week had me feeling all kinds of optimism about the end of the pandemic and near future return to normalcy.
My runs were mostly those euphoric ones that reminded me why I love running so much. Here’s my recap:
Monday: 5 miles with Christie before work, Virtual 1:1 strength session with Discover Strength after work, 9:05 min/mile
Tuesday: 7.1 miles in shorts before work, 9:05 min/mile
A morning run is always special when I see a bald eagle!
Dustin heard about my bald eagle sighting and raised me with a barred owl from his run! I’m so jealous, I’ve never seen an owl in the wild.
Wednesday: I met up with Christie and Julie before work and it was raining; by the time we were a few miles into the run, it was pouring. Julie and I opted to cut the run a little short (Christie had a workout), and just did 5 miles. So cold afterwards! 5 miles, 9 min/mile average
Discover Strength virtual 1:1 after work
Thursday: I had early meetings, so I snuck in a quick 4 mile run over lunch. The sun was shining, but the wind was kinda rough! 4 miles, 8:55 min/mile average.
I tried out the new Launch GTS 8, which replaced my beloved Ravenna’s. I was worried they were too loose, but they felt better as I ran.
My feet have expanded in the past year, where now I need an 8.5 WIDE; the wides are hard to find! Most of my local running stores don’t carry wides, and online, they are only available in one color.
But, HOT TIP!! I found out that a men’s size 7 is the same as a women’s 8.5 wide, so I just purchased a pair of men’s shoes to try next.
Friday: I met up with my friend Vicki again for 5 pre-work miles, 9:20 min/mile average. Great to catch up with her!
Virtual 1:1 over lunch with Discover Strength
Saturday: A glorious long run. Honestly, the Saturday long run is my only real social life these days, and I really look forward to it.
We were all a little overdressed, as the sun was warm and kept getting warmer as we went! Eventually a few of us stripped down to our sports bras; sports bras with pants, it’s a new look!
10 miles at an 8:50 min/mile average and I felt so happy afterwards.
The weather was so lovely, we took the dogs for a 4 mile walk shortly after the run.
Later that evening, we checked out Twin Spirits Distillery. They have a fun outdoor space and great Covid protocol. You order drinks with a QR code on your phone, masks required when the staff brings the drinks, and everything is well spaced out.
It was nice to get out out of the house! I made sure to part my hair in the middle and ditch the skinny jeans, wearing “mom jeans’ to fit in with the cool young kids! And it’s amazing how Dr. Martens are back in style; I swear, everyone was wearing them!
Sunday: Ruth (our younger vizsla) and I drove out to Eden Prairie, the suburb where my sister Cresta lives, to run a Pi run/ “Feel the Bern 5k” with her!
We looped around a pretty lake near her house, which was about a mile jog from her house. So 1 mile to get there, 3.14 miles around the lake, and a mile back for about 5 miles on the day.
My sister Erin ran the virtual 5k as well, so we shared some virtual high fives across the miles!
Afterwards, I finally got a chance to try out her new hot tub! She’s fully vaccinated (as well as her husband, but not the kids yet) so we felt comfortable together based on the new CDC guidelines.
Summary: 40 miles of running, 3 virtual strength training sessions. Running felt a more normal this week and it was so great to get outside in the sun so much.
I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner Check it out!
The eagle! The owl! Wow! Lovely runs, too, and good you got your social time. Running’s the only time I see people, too!
Hopefully that will change in a few months and social activities will be a little more normalized!
It does feel like the long runs are my social life as well! i am also more optimistic this week we have started planning a few trips for summer. Have a great week ahead
Oh how exciting! Fun to have trips on the horizon.
I got attacked by a barred owl when I was running last fall. Stick with the eagles.
Is that your picture, Liz?
Yes; that was on the second pass of the attack. I’m on Shingle Creek trail (near Victory Memorial). It didn’t actually hurt me, but I was sure I was dead by the time it was all over.
Scary!
You had an awesome week of runs! I think it makes sense to feel optimistic recently. When the year first started I thought going back to “normal” might have to wait until the Fall but now it’s looking like things might be good again in the Summer so that’e exciting.
I love the jacket that you wore to the Distillery! I don’t know if I’ve ever get rid of my skinny jeans, but I’m all about the middle part for my hair so hopefully that makes me semi-cool lol.
It’s difficult to get rid of my skinny jeans entirely…these loose mom jeans are just not that flattering, ha!
I ran a virtual 5k this week too – with Cari and Liz.
Love the Bernie medal and your doll is so cute.
We had shorts weather and then it turned back into winter over the weekend.
Just in time for me to freeze my butt off at a race.
You are tough. When it rains…that’s my rest day.
Thanks Darlene! I bought the crochet doll on Etsy for me and my sister.
Rain isn’t too bad when its just light, but Wednesday it was a downpour!
I have seen an owl in the wild once!!! It was up in Door County. I let the dog out early in the morning and it was in the tree right next to the driveway. I was so excited. We see eagles quite frequently up at Lake Wisconsin. It never gets old, does it?
No mom jeans for me ever. I’m old and already did that in the 80s, lol. But I can part my hair in the middle. And I got new glasses yesterday, round frames. I’m so hip…lol
Very cool that you have seen an owl! We do see eagles a lot here, but I still get excited.
Oh, I am impressed with the round frames 🙂 You are hip Wendy!
We have had a lot of sun this week — lots of wind, some cold, some warm. Sunshine is nice!
I can only imagine that a hot tub would be nice, too. My SIL has one, but she’s on the west coast.
Sounds like a great week of running for you! Always nice to be meeting up with friends. It’s been too long for me!
The hot tub is nice- she also has a sauna! She has all the fancy stuff out there in the suburbs. Our small city house has no room for that, ha!
I’ve been feeling more optimistic recently too! I think the nicer weather really helped. Great job with all your runs this week!
Thanks Lisa!
Ha ha….I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a center part LOL Totally not a flattering look for me (not now, nor was it way back when, ha!). It felt so good to be back in shorts this week! I even got to rock a tank top a few times 😉
Spring running is the best! But each day is so different- especially with wind! Got to keep all the gear options available for a bit longer…
I’m pretty sure that I saw an owl while running once. It was only for a second. I’ve been running in men’s shoes for years. The downside is that I’ll never have pink shoes, the upside is that I don’t have to tear my hair out trying to find women’s wide.
Very cool that you saw an owl!
Yes! Why is it so hard to find wides??
A week filled with euphoric runs is awesome! I think the sunshine makes all the difference. I recently went through a 3D insole fitting process and was told my feet are now wide as well. I’ll have to remember your tips about mens’ sizes!
It sounds like wides are more common than the brands realize 🙂 They need to offer more!
What a great week! Love the photo of the owl! Are you saying the Ravennas are discontinued? Glad I just got a fresh pair …. So, was it really warm on your run or just Minnesota warm?
Yes, Ravenna’s are discontinued. The Launch GTS 8 (not to be confused with the regular Launch) are the replacement.
Haha, I guess Minnesota warm! I mean, it was 60 and sunny; I had a thin long sleeve on and was so warm by the end, I needed to strip down to regulate for a bit!
Your runs AND your non-running experiences sound really fun! And thanks for the shoe tip- I also need wide sizes and haven’t tried switching over to mens yet- but I will. Wide are sometimes hard to find.
It sounds like wides are more common than one might think! Perhaps brands need to offer more of them, as they are hard to find!
What a great week! Ruth’s and Matilda’s expressions absolutely made my night. They are just so cute.
Love that you are getting some time with your sister and her family.
You can pry my skinny jeans from my cold, dead hands. I survived shoulder pads and mom jeans, and I am not going back. My hair parts where it parts, and I just do what it says.
Thanks Jenn! I think Ruth and Matilda are pretty great too 🙂
Shoulder pads, argh, yes! I already have broad enough shoulders, they never made any sense to me. I’m really trying with the middle part, but my hair doesn’t want to cooperate 🙂
Strong week for you!
Love the photos of both the eagle and owl!
It’s great that you got to run and spend time with your sister. That Bernie medal and doll are too cute 🙂
Yes, that Bernie medal was very cute! Very popular for a virtual run too!
I love the optimistic feeling the new season brings! also with some positive changes just in people, the weather,vaccinations, possibilities, etc. wonderful!! Good week for you! And look at you in regular clothes!!!
I have seen that dr Martens are also popular again too! I still have mine from 1992! Ha!
You need to pull out your vintage 1992 pair! I’ve heard they are quite comfortable.
You always look so cute!! Looks like you’ve had some great runs and a wonderful time this week! I love that picture of you with your sisters.
You’re too nice Zenaida, thank you!
It was great to connect with my sisters through a virtual run.
Wow on that owl sighting! I’d love to see one. Too funny about your middle hair part. I don’t think I could do that to my hair! My image is ruined when I have to whip out my “peepers” to read the menu. haha!!!
My hair doesn’t seem to want to cooperate. It’s so used to a side part!
Nice week of running!
We saw a bald eagle in our back yard two days in a row several years ago, but haven’t seen him since. We saw an owl twice, both times at dusk as he was hunting. We hear him many nights – he’s quite talkative and often wakes us up.
I didn’t know owls were that talkative! I want to hear that, I bet its very cool!