After 18 days away on our ski trip it was nice to be settled in to our house again! This week was about getting unpacked, picked up, and getting back into a routine. It was also the first time I’ve run with any purpose for about a month. Let me tell you, downhill skiing is not a substitute for running! Even though you use your legs, it really doesn’t provide the cardio workout. I’m pretty much starting over again with running. Since I don’t plan on running the full or half marathon at our local race in April, the Glass City Marathon, I decided to sign up for a leg of the 5 person relay! I will be running with some coworkers. It’s been years since I’ve run the relay so it should be fun. My leg is 5.8 miles and starts at mile 15 of the race course.
Sun – 3 miles running. After a busy day of driving across country, picking up the cats, and unpacking the car, I was ready to get my legs moving! I went for a short run around the neighborhood to enjoy the last of the snow before the impending warm up. The cats missed me. Can you tell?
Mon – 5 miles running. Wow, I really have lost “running fitness”!! This run was tough.
Tues – 2.25 mile walk. Lunch walk with my Mom! The first one of the year. The 50 degree weather is just a fluke, so our regular walks will probably not start up until March, but it was nice to catch up with her and tell her about our trip.
It was Mardi Gras, and Lunar New Year. Of course I had to enjoy a Paczki that my coworker brought in. I don’t want to be rude 🙂
Woohoo, we finally got our new fridge! It’s so exciting to have refrigerated food again. It’s also been interesting trying to figure out what to buy to fill it up again. We don’t have any remaining refridgerated items, such as ketchup, dairy, sauces, etc, so we’re starting from scratch!
Weds – 3.5 miles running. Afternoon runs aren’t my jam, but I had to take advantage of the warm day! It was almost 70 degrees when I got off work. I also washed my car. Ah, clean cars are the best.
Thurs – 3 miles running. I ran before it got really foggy in my area. The fog hung around all day long! My afternoon was spent with my Mom doing her taxes and going out to lunch. Fun! (well, fun for lunch, boo on paying taxes)
Fri – 4 miles running. Oof! Another run feeling exhausted. I had hoped to go farther but it just wasn’t happening. I did find the last spot of snow on the trail though! Stick season, yuck.
We have a fun new thing at our house – a 3D printer! My husband has been printing all sorts of objects and made a stencil for me, so I can look like a super barista 😉
Sat – 6.5 miles running. Oh boy, a “long run”! My goal was to get the miles in, and that’s what I did. It was actually too cold for vest so I was a bit frigid by the time I got home. I finished it up with a trip to Planet Fitness. I can’t remember the last time I went to the gym on the weekend! It’s a whole different crowd.
Sun – A hearty walk is on the schedule for today. Garmin said I needed 87 hours of recovery from my run yesterday (and maybe that was accumulated from all of the “exhausting” runs I’ve had the past days), so nothing strenuous today!
Need some more inspiration? I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Check out all of the fun blogs there!
My plan has been to relax as much as possible in the next week… because next week we are heading to our next ski destination – Stowe Vermont! That will be a Spring Break trip with our daughter. And just 3 days after that, we are heading to Switzerland! Yes, SWITZERLAND! We are ending our ski season with a grand finale. I can’t wait!
Q: Has anyone ever been to Switzerland?
It’s our first time skiing in Europe.
Q: Did anyone have Packzi’s this week?
Lots of here paczki in Cleveland!! Yum! Glad you had a fun trip and are getting back in the swing of things. I’ve never been to Switzerland!
I never knew paczkis were such a regional thing! They are a bit heavy, so I would prefer a donut, but hey, I don’t question a dessert that shows up at my office!
Ooh I love Switzerland!! I’ve only been in the summer. Skiing there should be amazing and different. Relay races are so fun and so much less stressful. Sound like the right choice for you this year
I already signed up to volunteer at packet pickup for Glass City and who knows, maybe I’ll run the 5K on the day prior! I would have FOMO if I didn’t do something.
I have learned that the mountains seem taller in Switzerland because the valleys are lower. I don’t think we normally ski any areas that have valleys.
Wow, you have lots of exciting things coming up!!! I’ve been to Switzerland, but not to ski. That’s going to be amazing.
For the running- NOTHING keeps you in running shape other than running. That’s been my experience. I remember a time where I couldn’t run for a few weeks, but I was doing really hard spin classes. You would think that fitness would carry over, but nope- running was still super hard when I came back to it. But, you wisely didn’t sign up for any big races, so you can just enjoy your skiing without stressing about it.
I love the photo of the cats- yep, that looks about right!
A cat stuck on each arm while I try to type on my laptop. It happens all the time!! The black cat often gets mad when I move around and she sometimes snips at me! (what a grump!)
You’d think hard spin classes would help you out! I’m sure cross country skiing would keep you in shape for running. Those skiers have crazy cardio endurance. But no, certainly not downhill skiing!
Wow that is so exciting… Vermont is out my way sorta.
I went to Switzerland while in college many moons ago. You will love it.
I agree with Jenny. I’ve walked, played tennis, pickleball but running is running…. Even if I skip a few days, it feels it.
But enjoy your skiing, it only happens in the winter.
The ski season is limited, and it is hard to get a lot days in – especially when you don’t live a few hours from the ski slopes. I’m sure we will both be looking forward to some relaxing when the season (and traveling) ends!
I have never once heard of a packzi!! Learn something new every day.
I’ve never been to Switzerland, but will be going for about 24 hours in April! I’m excited to meet up with Catrina (not sure if you two follow each other’s blogs? https://www.keeponrunning.net/). She’s an INCREDIBLY talented runner that splits her time between Zurich and Cape Town (SA). I’m so excited the stars align and she’ll be in Zurich when I’m there and she’s agreed to show us around! Three cheers for a blogger tour guide <3
Ah yes, Catrina! She lives in the most beautiful places and has such wonderful looking adventures! That’s so cool that you will get to meet up with her. Your trip is going to be amazing too. I look forward to reading all about it!
I’ve skied in Killington, Vermont, but not Stowe. And I’ve not been to Switzerland; although I’d love to go there some day!
How fun does that 3D printer look! I bet you guys will really enjoy having it available to use.
I’m not familiar with paczki – had to look it up.
Switzerland in the summer looks truly amazing, so hopefully we will get back there in the future for some hiking too! We’ve never skied in Vermont, so that will be a new resort for us too.
Wow, so much skiing! How fun that you’re going to Switzerland! I’ve only been there travelling through, back in the day when we drove from Sweden to Italy. I haven’t been to the Swiss alps, obviously since I’m not into skiing.
Your cats look so well behaved to not disturb you when working!
The cats are pretty good, but they insist on being located directly under my forearms which gets in my way. The older cat also gets mad if I move around too much so I’m always afraid she’s going to nip at me! She turned into quite the cranky cat when our younger cat arrived.
Wow! What a ski season for you. The conditions in Stowe should be great!
Where are you going in Switzerland.
Verbier 4 Vallees. Staying in Haute Nendaz. I’m still a little confused on the make up of the valley resorts. Hoping it all makes sense when I see it! But I’ve been watching YouTube travel videos to help me out.
You, my dear, are a skiing goddess! I didn’t think about the lack of cardio (or “limited” cardio) that goes with skiing. I guess you’re not fighting gravity, LOL.
This is true – and the more out of shape you are (more weight) the faster you ski, which seems like a win 😉
I have to admit that I am envious of your ability to just pick up and go! My job isn’t portable, sadly. How fun that you are going to Switzerland!
Someone always brings paczki to the office for Fat Tuesday. We have a large Polish population in the Chicago area and lots of Polish bakeries!
I was disappointed to learn that the paczki had prune in it instead of chocolate, so I opted for a cream cheese frosting center after sampling the first one 🤣
I do have great flexibility with my job! Since ski season is limited, I’m just taking time off for Switzerland and the Vermont trip fits in with my days off. Creative scheduling is key!
Oh my goodness! Switzerland! I went to Lucerne in high school, and I just remember how “green” the air smelled. It was summer and the sky and the grass were basically technicolor. It was so beautiful and I would love to visit again.
I would think skiing would totally keep you in running shape! How interesting! You’ll be back on track soon enough and marathon relays are so fun. I love that for you!