On any given Saturday or Sunday, the W&OD Trail is chock full of runners and bikers – some weekend warriors, some daily users, all with the same common goal of trying to stay healthy; and almost all middle aged or younger.
On several occasions this spring and summer my mid-week runs have found me on the trail during the late morning or early afternoon. Even though I’m on the same trail, it’s a totally different scene – and it’s impressive. Rather than forty-somethings and younger, I find myself surrounded by sixty-somethings and older.
Wednesday at 10 AM, as the heat and humidity started to take over our area, I headed out for a run. I stopped two times, both times at the water fountain to refill my water bottle (affiliate link); and both times I chatted with retired gentlemen who were out on their bikes.
I spoke the longest with a gentleman named Phil who was riding his bike from Alexandria. He was spending the night somewhere nearby before heading on to White’s Ferry the next day to catch a ride over to Maryland so he could hop on the C&O Canal and make his way back toward DC, and then home. Our conversation turned toward his Achilles injury which took him off the running trail and onto a bike.
Like most of the other people on the trail that day, Phil was enjoying the great outdoors in his favorite way, while not letting his age (or injury) keep him from staying active. I left our encounter, happy that I’d taken a moment to get to know just one of the many retired people I see on my occasional mid-day runs.
Inspired by these fit retired runners and walkers, I aim to inspire as well, and hope that when younger people see me pushing hard on the trail, they think, “One day I hope I’m still out there running just like that lady.”
As I continue to make changes to my Weekly Wrap post, today I’m introducing my new Weekly Run-Down infographic. Last week I added my weekly stats as an overlay on a picture, but didn’t really like that. After seeing Tricia’s infographic a couple of weeks ago on her blog, I immediately knew that was the look I wanted, so yes, I’m guilty of stealing her idea and creating my own chart. Tricia, as they say, “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery,” and I thank you for the idea!
Fitness tools beyond the equipment in my gym that I used during the week included:
- Rodney Yee’s Complete Yoga For Beginners (affiliate link)
- Rodney Yee’s Intermediate Yoga (affiliate link)
- Rodney Yee’s Yoga Conditioning For Athletes (affiliate link)
- Teeter Hang Ups Inversion (affiliate link)
Cameras used for blog photography include:
- GoPro Hero 4 (affiliate link)
- Canon Power Shot Elph (affiliate link)
- iPhone 6S (affiliate link)
- Questions:
- Have you tried making infographics? ~ I may have texted Meagan for advice, and then ended up doing a lot of Googling, downloading a template, and watching “How To” videos to figure mine out!
- What was the favorite thing you did this week?
- 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.
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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 like the new info graphic! You’ve got all the information right there. I’m always amazed and inspired by people who are much older and yet so very active. That’s the way I want to be when I “grow up”. We also need to be open to other possibilities like Phil who now enjoys cycling. You never know what you might find interesting. I wish we had a place like the W&OD trail! Thanks for linking Deb.
Thank you! It was pretty easy to make the infographic once I found a template to use, and I think it will be easy to update each week.
My husband enjoyed biking, but preferred running until his knee surgery last summer that seems to have put an end to his running. He’s biking lots now – 50 miles yesterday and 31 today; so he certainly has opened himself up to other possibilities.
What a great meeting from Phil! Isn’t it so inspiring to take the time to find out what someone’s story really is. We’ve all got one to share too!
I love your graphic and I’m so glad I inspired you to do one! I have to say yours is pretty darn impressive too! I think you’ll be just like me and really enjoy updating it from week to week!
Thanks for linking up with us Deb!
Tricia @ MissSippipiddlin recently posted…Weekly Wrap 49 Home this Weekend?
Thank you, and thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
I like how you added the photos to your info graphic.
I also like the story you shared about the older gentleman. I don’t know exactly where your trail is in conjunction to wear this man was going but it sounds like he was on quite an adventure. I find it out that the older people are out in the afternoon. You would think they would want to be off the trail before it got too hot!
He’d ridden a long way by the time I saw him, and I think he said he’d timed it so he would get to his hotel by his 2 PM checkin. My guess is that it was about a hundred miles round trip.
The info graphic does look fantastic! I really like how clean it is laid out 🙂 It is beyond my skills, I would have been doing the same as you!
I am sure you inspire many people you pass 🙂 and it is fun to find someone to chat with who loves fitness…it is truly one of the only things I like to chat about these days, with all the craziness going on.
It is nice having the trail so close to you.
Karen recently posted…A Victory of Sorts 🙂
Thank you! Google and YouTube are wonderful things! 😀
And yes, having the W&OD Trail so close by is really, really nice.
I *love* the infographic! Kudos to you. To answer your infographic question, I have tried and failed repeatedly to make running infographics that I like. I like the ones Julia makes for her training recaps: http://www.jtrunningdc.net/
Kim W recently posted…Course Guide: Women’s Distance Festival 5k
Thanks, Kim! Also, thanks for the tip about Julia’s blog. It’s new to me, and you’re right, she has some great infographics.
I made an infographic last winter to sum up my year. It was a ton of fun to make! So many people asked me how I did it, and sadly all I could say is I used an app. Yours looks great!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Sole Food: A Week Off the Road
Thanks, Wendy! I looked for apps first, but then found a template to use with PowerPoint. I think I was most pleased that I didn’t have to ask anyone for help once I got started. I proved that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! 😀
It’s funny how the different trails have different personalities, and how that changes. Looks like you had a good week of training.
Coco recently posted…Fighting Off Hopelessness
We’ve always noticed that the closer in toward Arlington we got, the younger the runners seemed. Not sure if that’s true or not, but it sure seems that way!
I really like the info graphic and in our company we have a saying “steal with pride”. It all makes us better in the long run.
I am impressed with all of your weekly goals… if I can can my 3-4 times / week training runs in and eat a generally healthy diet, I am satisfied !
Karen – Fit in France recently posted…Summer has finally arrived
Thanks, Karen! I’m glad everyone likes the infographic. It was fun making it once I got going.
I need to remind you that it’s easy for me to do a quick yoga session or lift between clients since I’m surrounded by gym equipment in my job. 🙂
I LOVE the infographic and want to do it as well. I also love that you have water fountains on your trail. The one I go to does not and sometimes I need to carry my CamelBak depending on the distance.
No race for me.
Hmm, I think eating and sleeping were my favorite things. 🙂
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…2016 Chicago Marathon Training Week 5
The water fountains are somewhat spaced out on our trail so I’m lucky that one is pretty close to where I usually run.
I like your favorite things, too! 😀
Love the infographic.
Even more impressed with ALL your weekly activity.
I feel like a slug. LOL
Darlene recently posted…Monday Running Update
Darlene, since I’m a trainer I’m surrounded by gym equipment all day. It’s a little easier to fit my workouts in than if I had to go to the gym after work.
I love the new graphic!! I wish I was more tech-savy and could figure things out like that! You’ve inspired me to try again!
Michelle recently posted…Weekly wrap-July 4-10
Definitely try it again. My tip for making it much easier is to look online for a template you can use. I downloaded several for free and this one seemed to meet my needs the best. I also followed a tutorial to figure out how to do a couple of things that didn’t seem self explanatory. Good luck!
I love Tricia’s inforgraphic too, and when I have a chance, I just might steal it too. I am actually able to spend a fair amount of time in our office, as Bandit is perfectly content to hang out with me there.But I also have to make time for Giz & Lola and today Lola is losing out although I’m trying so hard . . . . anyway.
My race last monday was definitely the highlight of my week. Mr. Judy has been quite helpful with this whole mess (I didn’t get into it on my own, after all), so that’s good too.
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Sadly, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: 7/4-10 Weekly Wrap
Giz is a new name to me! Who’s that – one of your cats or a dog that I’ve missed hearing you mention?
The info graphic looks great! For being such an #artgeek, I have a hard time with computer graphics. My brain does not like all the bells & whistles required to make the graphics work…..computer stuff takes me so much longer than just pulling out a pencil & sketch pad LOL I need to broaden my mind, though, and try some new things 😉 Thanks for the inspiration!
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Reality Bites. Literally.
Thanks; and you’re not alone. I think a lot of things are simpler doing them the “old fashioned” way!
YouTube is an awesome resource for yoga videos, too! I really like the “Do Yoga With Me” series — they have a wide variety. And kudos to you for reaching out to learn something new from Phil the biker! I was looking at a site with comments about trekking on the C&O canal and it’s pretty amazing. My boss and a couple of my cousins do super long bike touring and it’s something I’d like to explore.
Anne recently posted…Vacation Visceral
There are very organized long bike rides all over the world. My friend Miles and his wife have done several of them and always have so much fun! I’m not really a biker (yet?) and I think that sounds so fun.