Thursday, November 18th, 2021:

Today was a home gym workout including core strength. I did make sure to properly flex throughout the body with an upright stature (engage the transverse abdominus), and did:

* Barbell back squats

* Barbell overhead press 

* Machine chest press 

* Yoga swing leg raises (these were tough - need more practice on these!)

It didn't feel like I worked that hard actually, but the next day I was pretty sore.

***

Friday, November 19th, 2021:

15 miles in-town loop at sunset. The gym workout from yesterday really made this run more difficult. My shoulders especially felt very tired, and my pace was slower than expected.

However, I didn't try to push beyond my capabilities and just felt happy to be outside enjoying the evening with a jog.

I found a cool new rock formation on the new (to me) path I selected through Austin Bluffs Open Space. 

Top right: Palmer Point Trail; All others: Austin Bluffs Open Space. 

I enjoyed the nice flat finish to my loop, as I took the Pikes Peak Greenway back south after crossing to the west side of Austin Bluffs Open Space where it splits again to the north towards Pulpit Rock.

Totals for today were 15 miles and just over 1300 feet elevation. 

***

Saturday, November 20th, 2021:

Back to the home gym today! Barbell bicep curls, followed by kettlebell side lunges. Those kettlebell side lunges are really good for me, as they are a unilateral exercise that exposes (and hopefully corrects) weaknesses in each side.

45 minutes on the exercise bike at a fairly easy effort.

***

Monday, November 22nd, 2021:

Another in-town loop day. I chose a hilly way out with a few decent climbs, and I landed right at Pulpit Rock Park at sunset (which again, is so early now!)

I had the whole rock to myself. I've never actually been on the very top, but as the sun was almost all the way down, I wasn't super comfortable with climbing up at night. So I simply rounded the trail at the base of the rock formation, descended safely, connected to the Pikes Peak Greenway, and took the mostly-flat way home. Total today was 16.5 miles and 1500 feet elevation. I finally hit my groove around mile 11, and ended up with a faster overall pace than my 15-miler a few days ago.

***

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021:

Just two exercises today: hanging L-sit practice in the yoga swing, and machine butterfly in the gym.

Not much today, but I'll try to do more in my next gym session.

***

Wednesday, November 24th, 2021:

8 miles, 1000 feet. Lovely clouds above the mountains. It was nice and cold for today's jog, making me feel lively. I managed to fit my run in between the small snow flurries today, but still cold enough to make my hands feel freezing in my gloves. 

For better or worse, the weather is expected to return to the mid-60s again soon. 

***

Thursday, November 25th, 2021:

Happy Thanksgiving! A nice day of rest on this turkey day.

***

Friday, November 26th, 2021:

A really challenging gym workout today!

* Barbell deadlifts 

* Side T-curls (dumbbell)

* Side lunge-squats (dumbbell)

* Toe squats (hindu squats) (dumbbell)

* Lying leg raises (bodyweight)

A really solid full-body day. But I know I'll be too sore to do a big mileage day soon. I'll have to take it easy for a recovery jog tomorrow.

Nonetheless, I'm dreaming of doing a Mt. Rosa circumnavigation loop soon, kind-of similar (but not exactly) like the one I did close to Labor Day this year.

I'm even contemplating going from home, to tally a 34-mile-ish 🤔 day? Maybe midweek next week, after I recover from today's killer weight lifting day.

Big adventures still await even though it's winter! Time to get planning - my chill day yesterday encouraged me to get something that will motivate me on my calendar again. It's been too many weeks since I've done anything but town runs. Let's go to the ⛰ mountains again!