Frost came to Northeast Florida this week, and brrrr… what a time. I do love winter weather, but we don’t ever really have a gradual entry to the deep freeze. One day it’s 70F and the next, we are wondering if we will see snow. That being said, it makes for lovely running weather. And I can never turn down a snuggle with the pugs and a fluffy blanket on the couch.
Sunday
- Cardio: 4.25 miles, walking
Hooray for a fun day! I started with my walk, of course.
And then I cleared out some work so I could head to see The Housemaid with my book club. We read it last year, and the movie was actually pretty good.
I then met some new clients who I will be starting with this month. Business is booming and I am so grateful!
Mr PugRunner was still pretty unwell, so I did my best to keep him comfortable and manage the house. Wouldn’t you know that our garage door derailed, so of course, we had to worry about that as well. Good times.
Monday
- Cardio: 6.64 miles, running
- Strength: Upper Body + Standing Core Exercises
Mondays are for longer runs, and I challenged myself to extend my intervals. Right now, I’m running about five minutes at a time before I take a walk break, but today I went for 23 minutes! Whoo hoo! And then off to the gym. Of course, not my favorite, but it was a good strength session with some chest and shoulder work.
And the garage door repair man came and reinforced the rails. The whole thing will need to be replaced (it’s almost 20 years old), but we can make do for now.
Tuesday
- Cardio: 6.43 miles, running + .89 miles, walking
Another good run plus a dog walk.
A went to get all of his Scouts paperwork signed off on and he will be ready to have his Eagle conference before the end of the month. The project is completed, so now it’s just administrative tasks. Let’s go!
Wednesday
- Cardio: 6.01 miles, walking
- Strength: Lower Body + Deep Core Exercises
While the weather was a little drizzly, I managed to avoid the rain entirely on a long walk. I also went back to the Y to do some leg presses, squats, and more core work. Things like suitcase carries, halos, and woodchoppers are doing me in!
It’s worth mentioning that while Leonidas is fine, Luna started acting a little off. Sigh. We decided to keep an eye on her.
Thursday
- Cardio: 6.31 miles, running + walking
It’s starting to get cold out there, in more ways than one! We are absolutely heading into a freeze this weekend. Yuck. But I did some speed work, and then wrapped it up with a walk with J.
Luna did end up at the vet. She needed her glands tended to, but she is back to full power!
That evening, some friends came over to make vision boards for real. It’s always nice to have snacks and enjoy time being creative. I really want to do it more this year.
Oh, also? Our washing machine crapped out. Joy.
Friday
- Cardio: 5.25 miles, walking
So the temps dropped into the lows 30s overnight, and it was brutal out there. My Raynaud’s flared up in my hands, and I am so grateful pulled out hand warmers for me to take to the race tomorrow.
I had a meeting with a social media client, and a meet and greet with a new pup, and then we tucked in for a cozy night.
Saturday
- Cardio: Resolution Run 5K
Good morning and welcome to the first race of 2026! More on the details on Wednesday!
I popped in on some kitty clients, and then hustled home. Would I take down the Christmas tree? Undecided!
Thoughts + Goals
Things are going. It was a tough weak with human and pups down and out, but we rallied on a higher note. It’s also nice
Oh, and after some soul-searching, I submitted my availability for the upcoming elections. I’ll have to adjust my petsitting schedule, but it’s important to me to be a part of our election process, and being a poll worker is a small thing I can do. I believe strongly in the elections process in our county, and as long as I can stand up for it, I plan to do so. Wish me luck.
In Case You Missed It
- Working Through Winter
- The Post-Holiday Pivot: How To Reclaim Your Schedule
- Why Running Feels So Hard: 10 Habits That Are Sabotaging Your Miles
- 5 Ways To Stay Motivated When It’s Freezing
How was your week in training? Any super cold days? Do you enjoy hosting friends’ nights?
Weekly Rundown
I am linking up with the Weekly Rundown, with Confessions of A Mother Runner and Running on the Fly! Check them out!
Oooh, can’t wait to hear about the race — hope it went well.
Ugh on the garage door and washer. I does seem like appliances conspire to break down at the same time.
I’m jealous that you’re still in shorts! I know it’s cold there for you Floridians, but it sounds pretty nice to me! We have a feels like -8 right now.. ugh
How exciting for your son to wrap up his Eagle Scout quest! Things are happening!
I hope your race went well!
I admire that you are volunteering to be a polk worker. Thank you!
It’s really important. In fairness, we do get paid, but it’s long hours and pretty thankless in a lot of ways.
I was wondering if the Housemaid would be good-sometimes the movie version is just nothing like the book. Hope you had a great time at the race this weekend. Stay warm!
Ugh the garage door AND washing machine? Being a homeowner is annoying ha. I’m sorry about your Reynauds – i have it too, especially in my toes, and winter is rough especially for a runner who likes to be outside! I’ve just been staying in more. Hopefully you feel better soon. And hopefully Luna is ok!
I was in Tampa this week and it was COLD!!!!! I know the northerners are snickering at us, but the temps were in the 30s and it was WINDY!!! And we were walking a lot… brr. We don’t get those cold temps down here in South Florida (although it is supposed to get down to the 40s tonight!) It’s nice for a change, because we know it will be hot again soon enough.
Nice week of workouts! Your strength sessions do sound intense. I hope Mr. Pug and Luna are feeling better! You have had a lot of vet visits lately.
I still have random Christmas stuff around the house- my goal is to have all the “stragglers” put away by the end of the month.
I hope you had a great race this morning and that your hand warmers kept your fingers protected. Can’t wait to read the recap!
It sounds like your appliances are following along with the expression “when it rains it pours.” Our did the same when our garage door broke in November at about the same time our refrigerator started complaining. Hope that’s the last of those to break for us both!
It’s so important for all of us to learn how the system works and being a poll worker or other role is such a great way to do that. Glad Queen Luna is on the mend and I hope the same is true for Mr. Pug. This weather. Rude
SO RUDE!
I think everyone should have to work in their local government at some level. People have so much to say but no idea how it really all works. And that is so dangerous.
From your clothing it looks like some pleasant weather! I hope you had a good race. Hope Mr Pugrunner is better and that the dogs stay well.
I seem to be excessively frustrated about weather this year – not sure if the weather is actually worse than usual for this time of the year or that I’m much pickier. I’m indoors a LOT.
I do get hot very quickly, so you will see me in tank tops in the 50s and shorts in the 40s.
I’m not frustrated by the weather, exactly. Well, rain frustrates me. But we don’t get a ton of that.
I’m with ya – I haven’t been motivated to take down ANY of my Christmas decorations. And now it’s getting really cold here in my town so the outdoor lights will have to wait a bit more. I’m sure they are all frozen to the ground and trees!
Glad to hear your business is going so well. I bet you are getting good referrals too!
Ha! We still have some outdoor lights up because no one wants to get the ladder.Oh, well!
I’m getting great referrals! I am actually starting to turn people down!
We just took our tree down yesterday – so yeah, I was in no hurry either.
Love that you met with friends to create a vision board. How fun. I need some local ladies for that kind of activity 🙂
And it’s still up! I do have a few nice circles of friends to do little nights like this. I would like to push more for larger events, but I’m an introvert, and it can be hard.
I’m insanely jealous of your running in shorts! The forecast is showing -17 (with windchill) in the morning in Iowa…BRRRR. Looks like I’ll be back in the basement on the bike or flirting with the elliptical.
Now that’s cold! Stay toasty!
I hope the race went well.
30 degrees is a heat wave here. LOL
You’re increasing intervals and I’m decreasing. We are enjoying 1 minute runs.
I read the Housemaid and enjoyed. I didn’t realize there was a movie. Was it true to the book?