Spring in Pittsburgh.

Smithfield Street Bridge - Photo by Danielle Gerson

When the weather starts to break in Pittsburgh, something magical happens. Neighbors -- after months of hibernation -- wave hello while shielding their eyes from the flaming ball in the sky that hasn't been seen in months. Parks pack with puppies and children. Pitt students cover every inch of grass at Schenley Plaza, clad in their bikinis and flip flops. Because why not? It's 60 degrees and that's perfectly normal here.

Credit: Pinterest

As a Pittsburgh native, spring truly makes me grateful. We wouldn't truly appreciate 66 degrees and mostly sunny if actually had more than 60 days of sun each year.

 

No seriously. I'm foreal.

 

Pittsburgh only has about 50 sunny days and 103 partly sunny days each year. That's a total of 162 days with sun. That leaves 203 days of angry clouds and slushy snow storms. And according to my math, that makes perfect sense because that's exactly how long our winter feels.

 

 

So as a little sun salutation, I've taken most of my workouts outside this week.

 

Monday: Rest day. Amen.

Tuesday: Ran 5 miles on the Eliza Furnace Trail starting underneath the Birmingham Bridge.

Eliza Furnace Trail, by Danielle Gerson



Smithfield Street Bridge, by Danielle Gerson

Wednesday: Started to bike to the gym, realized it was too cold, turned around, drove to the gym.

• Ran 2.5 miles on treadmill
• 3 sets of 5 pull ups (with spot)
• 3 sets of 12 lat pull downs
• 3 sets of 12 tricep rope pull downs
• 3 sets of 12 shoulder press
• 3 sets of 12 standing cable row
• 3 sets of 12 bicep cable curl
• 3 sets of 12 back extensions

Thursday: TODAY! 10 mile bike ride (including up the Greenfield Avenue mountain, which is a workout in and of itself). Then 3 mile hike through Frick Park. The high today was in the upper 60's, so I tried staying outside as much as possible.

They turned Pocusset Street next to Schenley into a bikes only road! :)

Eliza Furnace trail head

Friday: 2 mile quick run.

Saturday: Total Body Conditioning class at LA Fitness then volunteering to walk dogs at the White Oak Animal Safe Haven.

Sunday:  This was supposed to be a rest day. (See post from April 13, 2014.)

I'm looking forward to more sunny days. Hell, I'll even take the partly sunny days. Because in Pittsburgh, that means it's time to throw on a tank top, flip flops (or running shoes) and get outside.