It was a much needed quiet week filled with treadmill runs, lots of cold, lots of wind, and a little more snow. Just enough to be annoying — the kind that if I didn’t shovel the driveway it would turn into an icy mess.
Turns out even with my treadmill runs, icy mess was the name of the game this week.
Which is exactly why I found myself shoveling the damn thing right before my run on Thursday, and may have contributed to my decision to get back on the treadmill rather than run outside.
I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Tricia @ Misssipppiddlin to share that it is possible to be active — one way or another — no matter what the weather.
Workouts update
- Monday: 4.5 easy/icy miles, Dogwalk
- Tuesday: 3.5 treadmill miles, DM Abs & Legs
- Wednesday: DM Abs & Legs
- Thursday: YFPR Hips, 4 treadmill miles
- Friday: DM ST, Dogwalk
- Saturday: 7 mile LSD, JY Hip Reset
- Sunday: Dogwalk
Mileage: 19 (+1.9)
JY = Jasyoga
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*
*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links
Running updates
Monday
Super frustrating. After just 3 inches of snow, it was almost impossible to run at the park. They clear the paths, but then snow blows over, people walk on it, and there are long stretches of ice.
I started out figuring I’ll skip my walk breaks and then just walk where I need to. Which slowed the pace (which I wasn’t watching) down to a crawl because of the loooooong walk breaks. I had to pause my Garmin several times because I could see the ice/snow just went on too long.
Finally I gave up and started to run on the road through the park, which was clear. It’s been a really long time since I ran a mile with no walk breaks . . . it was also cold, very gray (but thankfully not too windy), and I was also getting hangry cause I’d been running errands before running. I called it a day at 4.5 miles (5 were on the plan).
Tuesday
I probably could have run outside. Yes, it was snowing. Big, fat flakes, as a matter of fact. Yes, it was supposed to warm up through the day (and then plunge us into the arctic overnight).
After yesterday’s frustration, though, I made my life easier (and drier) and just stuck to the treadmill. I forsee a lot of that this winter!
Thursday
Windchills making it feel in the single digits, despite the sun, and I was on the treadmill again (that plus the dusting of snow that made the roads just a little icy in spots).
I’ll be honest: I wanted to skip it. I wanted to push it off until Friday. Both were options, as was shortening it. It was a busy, frustrating day, but in the end, as usual, I’m glad I got a run in.
Saturday
There aren’t many places to run once Winter hits in these parts. I know, I know, it’s not Winter yet — but it sure looks like it, doesn’t it? As per Coach Rachel @ Runningonhappy’s advice about running during the winter, I wore my trail shoes. I still had to slow way down, but I was able to stay upright (and I walked down that decline above).
Although several Wineglass girls came, I was running by myself. Gotta get used to that.
Favorites of the week
We celebrated the start of Hannukah with the leftover brisket I made in the Instant Pot and latkes from Trader Joes — I thought I’d heated the oil to hot, but they came out really good!
My Instant Pot experiments this week were a mixed bag.
I made the lentil chili from the recipe book that came with my Instant Pot. It was pretty good, and it sure made a whole lot of it!
Friday night I was tired and decided to make Trader Joe’s Fried Japanese Rice using the saute function. It worked well, but if you don’t keep it constantly moving, it will stick to the bottom. I just sprinkled it with some salt and it cleaned up easily.
Still searching for the perfect way to cook salmon. Still a bit dry. However, I did do the entire meal in the Instant Pot (steamed). Sadly, the broccoli got overcooked (a problem with veggies in the Instant Pot).
I made hard boiled eggs again with the new trivet (Amazon Affiliate link), although apparently the first time I didn’t follow the directions which called for High Pressure. This time I did; while the eggs are just fine, some of them cracked under pressure.
Not pictured: quinoa. Just plain quinoa. Yes, I made 6 hard boiled eggs and quinoa in 45 minutes this morning.
And then there was the steamed bread, which was sadly a little undercooked. Mr. Judy wanted to know why I was making bread when we still had bread left over from the potluck last week. Because I can, of course!
Finally there was the frozen turkey breast that’s been in the freezer since last Thanksgiving (as in 2016). I ended up not using it last year, and it’s just been sitting there all this time. It looks good, but as turkey breast tends to be, a little dry. The furkids sure enjoyed it, though!
And that’s a wrap!
This week I am also linking up with the Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup brought to you by Ilka @ Ilka’s Blog and Angela @ Marathons & Motivation.
Let’s get the conversation started:
Do things stay in your freezer as long as they do in mine?
Are you facing icy/snowy running conditions already?
Find it hard to figure out when to wash your hair because you’re just going to run again?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
So much fun food! I’m glad to see that you are having fun with the instant pot! Great job getting your workouts in this week! You did better than I did lol…..I let the weather get to me and I went in to hibernation mode!
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Who says I wasn’t hibernating too? Notice all the treadmill runs? It’s just sooooo hard to get myself moving in this kind of weather, and the short days really get to me. 😦
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Oh, the ice! I haven’t run on my treadmill all year–I don’t even know if mine works anymore!
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Luckily mine does. You guys have actually had more nice weather than we have (so far).
The wind and lack of sun . . . it’s turning me into a grinch.
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oh the hair! I washed it on Tuesday (I think LOL) after my #5at5, then after Thursday morning…decided to let it go another day because I had a hair appointment on Friday (at noon). My hair is more dry than anything, so I never have excess oil…but two days of dry shampoo is nasty, too.
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I don’t use dry shampoo. I tried it but it really doesn’t do anything for me. It’s actually not as bad in the winter when I can wear beanies, but in the summer when I live in ponytails & buns, it’s often trashed by running.
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No ice yet, but I’ll give it time. I’ll be using my treadmill a bit through the winter, but it’ll keep me moving.
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I don’t love the treadmill, but it has its benefits too (like easier to pace myself on, and so far, knock on wood, I haven’t fallen on it).
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It’s been cold and a little icy but thankfully no snow. Way to get your workouts in and on the treadmill. Sounds like you’re enjoying your instant pot. We just got an instant pot. Hubby made a nice pot roast.
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Your weather out there tends to be a lot more moderate due to the proximity to the ocean.
I’m still working on the Instant Pot, but I love it! Once I’ve mastered it, I know it will be a great tool (and already is for the staples like rice, quinoa, beans, etc.).
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Ha ha. You just reminded me. I think there’s a turkey breast in my freezer from last year.
The three of us walked over all the ice patches but it was just a fun run and we looped the dry section at the beginning. Still called it quits after 6 to get to breakfast.
I have very dry thick hair that luckily looks better after a hat flattens it. I only wash it on Sunday my rest day.
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No wonder everyone left me. I ran on the roads, which were totally clear. The Crossings wasn’t totally clear yesterday, but a LOT better than Lions.
I have thick hair, too. The difference is I sweat & you don’t. That & the fact that I don’t color my hair — gray hair gets very frizzy when wet.
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Delmar rail trail was unrunnable… but I ran in the roads which was fine.
My hair does frizz when it’s humid (like all the time in Fla.) but it is thicker on top than the bottom so it looks ok after wearing a hat.
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We have the same issue in the local park that I run in. Whenever they actually do plow (which is rare!) they only do the driving part for cars, not the inside loop for runners/walkers/bikers – it’s very frustrating! I am thankful that I don’t loathe the treadmill because it definitely comes in handy!
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The park I run at does actually plow, but we’ve had so much wind that the paths get covered, people run on it and voila! ice.
I agree on the treadmill, although I really only like it for shorter runs.
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Ooooohhh….latkes! Happy Chanukah!
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They were yummy. 🙂 And much easier than making them myself!
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Yeah, I had the same issue with the cold and snow last week. It wasn’t a lot, but just enough to be annoying and icy out. I did most of my work outs indoors as it’s too close to race day to risk falling again 🙂
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I do not miss the cold and snow… the hubs does though and is wanting to move north (hopefully I can just get him to visit family in the wintertime for his snow fix). Happy Hanukkah!
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Good grief, the snow and ice has definitely made its appearance in your neck of the woods! Those paths look treacherous to say the least. I’d be on the treadmill for every run if that was my world. You guys are really tough as nails. Lol
I’m enjoying all of your instapot pics and your brisket meal looks delicious!!
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Well, we had a “warm” day yesterday and most of the snow melted. For now.
You guys are just as tough running in the heat — while I prefer neither, I’d rather deal with cold than heat.
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I agree with you …give me cold anyday over heat …but that kind of cold would send me straight to a treadmill! Lol
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Snow, wind & dropping temps have me on my treadmill these days. I wash my hair after every run. I just sweat so much.
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I sweat a lot too, but I just can’t be bothered to wash my hair that often — especially in winter, because it takes so long to dry & I try to avoid blow drying it at all costs. Besides, it’s not really good for my hair.
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Good for you for getting out there anyway! When we do have “winter” storms — they are usually just ice. Not a fan. Ha — and we’ve had snow already this year. Weird. Am I sensing the InstaPot is not all its cracked up to be? Thanks for linking!
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Oh yes, Austin almost never got snow (this year was one of those 7 year rarities), but we did get bad ice storms. Which is worse!
Actually, I’m still loving the Instant Pot but it definitely takes some figuring it out. Making staples like grains, hard boiled eggs, beans . . . so much faster.
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I do not miss having to deal with winter weather and running. Happy to hear you have a treadmill to fill in on those bad weather/road days. Happy Hanukkah!!
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I didn’t miss winter when I lived in TX, either. But then, I’ve lived in the northeast for about 39 years. I’m used to it, but I don’t like it! And mostly it’s the lack of sun that just totally gets to me.
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