Bill and I are outdoorsy people, and we spend as much time as possible outside. Wanting to be ready for our first barbecue on the deck whenever spring decided to show us a visit, I started early trying to get all of the outdoor chores knocked out. It wasn’t until this past week that the weather finely really cooperated.
Last weekend we had a ton of mulch spread on the beds around our house; well, not really a ton, more like 75 3-cubic feet bags. Starting on Monday, I spent every spare second outside spreading grass seed in bare spots, repainting our wrought iron patio furniture, painting our deck’s privacy wall, and transplanting some flowers and bushes. True gardeners like to dig, and I’m happiest with dirt under my fingernails.
Besides training my clients and doing my outdoor chores, I took time to get some pretty decent workouts in…
- Monday
- Strength Training – 1 hour
- Rodney Yee’s Complete Yoga For Beginners (affiliate link) – Yoga ForFlexibility
- Teeter Hang Ups (affiliate link) Inversion – 15 minutes
- Vigorous gardening – 2 hours
Bone tired from a very active day, I picked up a salad at Panera on my way home from Home Depot, ate it at 5 PM and called it “linner.” Bill was in Austin for work until late Wednesday evening, and I took advantage of not cooking.
- Tuesday
- Interval Run – 1.5-mile warm-up, 2 x 1600 at 7:50 and 7:45 paces (7:47 goal pace), 2 x 800 meters at 7:25 and 7:24 paces (7:30 goal pace), and 1.5-mile cool-down; 2-minute rest between intervals
- Rodney Yee’s Intermediate Yoga (affiliate link) Sun Salutations
- Vigorous Gardening – 1 hour
- Teeter Inversion – 15 minutes
- Wednesday
- Strength Training – 1 hour
- Bike – 15 miles – 59:07
- Yoga for Energy
- Vigorous Gardening – 1 hour
- Thursday
- Tempo Run – 1-mile warm-up at 9:17, 5 tempo miles at 8:37, 8:26, 8:35, 8:37, 8:13, and 1-mile cool-down at 10:11
- Yoga For Flexibility
- Teeter Inversion – 15 minutes
- Friday
- Strength Training – 1 hour
- Rodney Yee’s Yoga Conditioning For Athletes (affilitate link) – Mini Workouts for Runners and Cyclists
- Vigorous Gardening – 1 hour
Around 5 PM on Friday, I got the best phone call a mom can get! Joseph was in NYC at a conference and called to see what Bill and I had planned for the weekend. He was thinking of taking the train to DC for the weekend if we could pick him up. Ummm, yeah!
- Saturday
- Exterior Painting – 7 hours
Since his brother was in town, Daniel came out to visit on Saturday. We had a great time with the boys even though we were painting for most of the day. Julie was just starting spring break where she teaches and had already planned to spend it in Virginia, and she arrived on Saturday, too. We all went out to dinner ay Manhattan Pizza rather late after Bill and I cleaned up.
At 9:04 PM I took the first bite of my delicious hamburger and fries. Oh yeah, did I mention that I had a race scheduled for this morning? Exhausted after having worked outside in the warm sun most of the day, I decided what the heck, I was going to enjoy a burger and fries since I had no hopes of racing my 8K. It was after 11:15 by the time I turned off the lights for the night, so my 5:15 alarm seemed to go off terribly early!
- Sunday
- Loudoun 8K – 43:03
- Warm-up and Cool-down runs – 3 miles
- Exterior Painting – 5 hours
I finished the race in 43:03 (8:36 pace), and can’t complain – except three of the four women in my age group who finished in front of me, finished only 42 seconds or less faster. Oh well!
I’m hoping to get my race recap up by Thursday…
Weekly Overview:
- Weight Training: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Running: Tuesday – 6 miles , Thursday – 7 miles, Sunday – 8 miles (Total: 21 miles)
- Biking: Wednesday – 15 miles
- Yoga: Daily except Saturday and Sunday
- Teeter Inversion: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
- Average Steps Per Day: 20,345
- Average Hours Sleep Per Night: 6:43
- Questions:
- Have you run an 8K distance race? ~ Today’s was my fourth.
- How was the weather where you live this weekend? ~ It was perfect here!
- Did you race this weekend?
Have a great week!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
*********************************************************************
I’m linking up with Holly at HoHo Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin for their Weekly Wrap. Be sure to check out not only the hosts, but the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
I love an 8k and wish there were more of them! I almost did that race today but it was a little far for me to go. Congrats on a great time. I love being outside too but my hubs does not. Any ideas?
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Spring Clean Your Workout Gear-There’s More In Your Gym Bag Than You Think
You should have come out! It’s really not that far, but for some reason people who live inside the beltway think it’s a lot farther to drive to Loudoun County than we think it is to drive to DC. LOL
Does your husband have allergies? If so, I can understand.
8k’s are a great distance! I did the Run for the dream 8k a few years ago in Williamsburg, VA!
The weather is gorgeous here and we got all our patio furniture out this weekend!
I agree, I wish there were more 8K’s around. For some reason I like racing that distance, but don’t care for the 10K. LOL
I love the 8k distance. I can really go all out!
I could never survive on 6.5 hours of sleep. I need 8-9!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Big Sur Marathon Training Week 11
Oh wow, good for you! I would never get anything done if I required that much sleep. Actually, I am working on getting more sleep (seven consistently would be nice) because last summer I was only getting five hours most nights. I say this as I type this comment after getting just five hours sleep last night…
I have some gardening work for you if you need more 🙂
Congrats on the great 8K time! I have run that distance, but much slower than that ! That is pretty darn awesome for working all day and staying up late.
This week was the best weather ever! I wish it would stay this way.
Karen recently posted…Bling! Yes, Please 🙂
I’m hoping the weather will be this nice next weekend down in Richmond! I need to start stalking Richmond’s weather.
I’ve only run a couple 8k’s because they aren’t offered very often. It is a nice distance for a race and congrats on doing so well after all the hard work the day before. Our weather has finally turned a corner and hopefully spring is here to stay.
Pam recently posted…Weekly Workout Roundup: Apr 18th
Thanks! I rarely see an 8K offered, so that’s why I asked that question. I would love to see more of them!
So nice to get a surprise visit! I hope you’ve got most of your outdoor spring chores down, now, so that you can enjoy the gorgeous weather this week. We had great weather this past weekend, too! It was a perfect day for Saturday’s race (although probably a bit hot for those half and full marathoners). I had a blast running the 10K, though. Congrats on your race!!
Meagan recently posted…The North Face 50K – Race Report
Thanks, Meagan!
Well, I did get to enjoy the beautiful weather on Monday and Tuesday, but that’s because I was outside painting that privacy wall for seven hours both days. 🙁
I’ve never run an 8k – there aren’t any that I know of. Congrats on your speedy finish.
We had a perfect weather weekend but unfortunately, I did not race.
Darlene recently posted…Monday Running Update
Yeah, 8K’s are hard to find, but a fun distance to race!
I’ve never done an 8K, it takes my brain a minute to do the calculation… Good job on your 8K!
A burger!! Yums!! I need a Burger soon!!
Ana recently posted…Gettysburg Marathon Training Week #14
Somehow, the burger and fries didn’t bother my stomach. The only other time I was that reckless with my pre-race nutrition, I paid for it dearly.
Ha Ha! We call it “lupper”. Can you come work in my yard? I’m so behind out there. If I could only stay home…adventures have been calling. I’m not a big fan of 10ks, but I do like an 8k. There are only a couple around here each year. One is in May and I hope I can run it. It’s super hilly though. You had a GREAT finish time! And, I know you enjoyed having the family visit. Thanks for linking with us Deb!
HoHo Runs recently posted…Coastal (WW # 37)
That’s funny because I have the exact same attitude about 8K’s and 10K’s. I just can’t keep up that pace for another 1.2 miles, but think I should!
That outdoor work is a killer workout! We have been working the last 3 weekends replacing all the wood on our dock. WHEW! I haven’t done a 8K yet but it sounds like a great distance! Congrats on your finish!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…One Week to Go to Half #8
Good for you, and that means you know exactly where I’m coming from!
I’ve done a 6K and a 12K – no 8K yet, I don’t think. Great job!
Looks like another wonderful week for you! I love how you were able to get all your outdoor stuff done. Our weather has been amazing: cool and crisp and breezy. The afternoons heat up a little, but the temperatures drop back down in the evenings, so I’m good with that. Hopefully, summer is mild.
Jenn recently posted…weekly recap: 4/10 â 4/16
You and me both! Let’s hope for lower humidity, too! 🙂
Oh wow Deb what a tight race that was for you! Love the picture of you up in the air too! I have never done an 8k but my husband did while we were in Memphis. He liked it. I remember when I use to fix up my flower beds. Spend all weekend long and a ton of money only for the dogs to rearrange them, needless to say at least they’ve grown up. Thank you for linking up with us Deb.
Tricia@MissSippipiddlin recently posted…Weekly Wrap 37 Beach Time
We don’t have many 8K’s around here either, but I find them to be a great distance. My friend did a great job making me look good in that photo, didn’t she! 😀