The Importance of Friends
During the course of the pandemic, I’ve maintained my sanity by being around others when cycling. I made new friends when I joined Dawn Patrol (Bill’s cycling group) and then created my own women’s cycling club. At least three days a week while riding I was able to draw energy from others, something I feel we all need. Unfortunately, I hadn’t seen any of my long standing friends except for when I walked the Virtual Firecracker 5K with Erin.
Two weeks ago I had lunch outdoors with my friend Craig and this week I met another dear friend for an outdoor lunch. Why I didn’t start doing this earlier in the summer is beyond me. Our warm fall days are numbered here in Virginia so these lunches will most likely have to be put on hold until next spring.
Overview of the Week
Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll down for daily details…
Sunday
Bill and I started our ride in Purcellville in the 39° temps (my coldest yet for biking) and rode to Leesburg to join a group of about twenty cyclist (most of whom I’d never met) for a 36-mile ride around Loudoun County from Dry Mill Winery. It was a tough day for me and I struggled to keep up with the group. I’m not sure why, but it was most likely because they were all stronger riders then me. Usually when cycling I’m in the middle of the pack, so it it was a whole new experience for me to roll up to a stop with all eyes on me and to have them immediately turn and ride off giving me zero time to rest. Fortunately, Bill told me to catch my breath and we’d finish the final five miles alone. We rolled back in to where we’d parked our car and I wasn’t really surprised to see that my average speed had only been 14.3 MPH.
Turning to leave the second I rolled in…
After our ride, we dropped our bikes off at Bicycles & Coffee where we’d purchased them to have the tires changed out to tubeless and to have the gears reprogrammed to synchronous shifting (more on that on Saturday’s ride).
Monday
It was 50° when I stepped out the door at 6:15 AM for my 4-mile 4-minute run/2-minute walk intervals at a 10:12 average pace. My first client was out of town so I was able to fit my strength training workout in before starting to see my other clients.
Tuesday
With my Specialized road bike in the shop, I pulled my Salsa gravel bike off the garage wall for my 30-mile ride with Amy. It was 54° at 7:45 AM when I headed down the W&OD Trail and I noticed about two miles into my ride that my left knee was hurting (it quit hurting within a couple of miles). We rode to our usual turnaround in Leesburg and I ended the ride with an average speed of 14.5 MPH.
Later in the afternoon, Bill and I walked to our favorite butcher to pick up chicken to grill for dinner. Shortly after we returned home my knee started bothering me again.
Wednesday
After an extremely fitful night’s sleep with my knee waking me up every time I rolled over, I popped two Advil and took it easy lifting weights, skipping any exercises that bothered it. Bill helped me raise the seat on my Salsa and at 11:30 AM in the delightful 66° I rolled out of my garage to meet Betsy for an easy 15 miles. I warned her that if my knee started hurting, I’d have to turn around, but the combination of the Advil and raised seat worked and we finished our ride with an average speed of 14:3 MPH.
Later in the afternoon I attempted another 1-mile walk without any pain. I took two Advil before bed and slept like a baby.
Thursday
It was 59° and extremely foggy with limited visibility when I started my 4-mile 4-minute run/2-minute walk intervals at 6:30 AM. Despite my left knee bothering me off and on for the last two days, I felt absolutely no pain while running and was delighted to finish my workout feeling just fine. I stopped to pick up a broken bottle left behind by the recycling truck without turning off my Garmin (affiliate link) so that slowed me slightly to a 10:34 average pace.
Friday
No Advil and very little knee pain so I guess it really was that my Salsa seat was too low… I lifted weights in the morning between clients and teaching my Balance and Stretching class via Facebook Live. After an outdoor lunch with a dear friend and a quick trip to Costco, I indulged myself with an hour nap once I got home.
Saturday
Back on our Specialized bikes, Bill and I joined our Dawn Patrol friends for a very scenic 42-mile ride in the countryside of Fauquier County. Our friend Barb even drove over from Alexandria to join us. Barb rides about 200 miles per week and is a very accomplished rider so let’s just say that I only “rode with her” at the very beginning of our ride. I thought it was a very difficult course (close to 3,000 feet of elevation gain), but Bill and I had a great time.
We’re not so sure that we like synchronous shifting and may switch it back, but I think I need to ride with it a little more before I make the final decision. Two of our friends on the ride said that it took them a while to get used to it, but once they did, they love it.
And BTW, my knee didn’t bother me at all during the ride, but I did notice it later in the day.
Here’s What You Might Have Missed
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
- • Sunday – Weekly RunDown: October 11 – 17 / My First Metric Century
- • Tuesday – My First Metric Century is in the Books
- • Thursday – Tracking Macronutrients: Choosing the Right Fats
- • Friday – 36-Mile Dry Mill Vineyard & Winery LoCo Tour
Questions:
- • Was it crazy foggy this past week where you live? ~ It was unbelievably foggy here!
- • What was the most fun thing you did this past week? ~ I had lunch outside on Friday with a dear friend who I hadn’t seen since mid-February.
- • How many live races have you run in 2020? Virtual races? ~ Zero live and two virtual…
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
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No fog here, just snow, unfortunately. Much too soon. Record setting for Minneapolis 🙁
You really have some lovely biking trails near you. They look so nice!
Agreed, this is much too early for snow!
Yes, we are lucky to live so close to the 44.5-mile long W&OD Trail. Also, the western part of our county has wonderful country roads, both gravel and paved, which are a great place to ride.
I totally agree. Friends make everything better.
We’ve had awesome fall weather. But only one week left before I lose my post work hiking and running time.
I wish I had biked more. Can’t do that in the dark either.
I actually love biking in the dark, but you’ve got to have good lighting.
what you described about being in the back used to happen to me when I started those group Contes rides 2 summers ago. We would power up these giant hills and I just wanted to catch my breath for a sec but everyone else was ready to go. Ultimately, I think it made me a much stronger rider. Kind of sad I stopped doing them and now well you know. Glad you have found some great cycling buddies to ride with! I am not much of a winter cycler outdoors but next spring I am your girl!
Yes, it definitely makes us stronger riders, but I needed a rest! LOL
A year ago today was my last outdoor ride of the season until late May. This winter I hope to ride a little more outside, perhaps going out in the middle of the day when it’s a little warmer. We’ll see how I do…
That fog on Thursday was something else! Everyone from the East Coast to Iowa had it! I’ve had 2 live races and might end up doing as many as 4 depending on how things shake out. Thanks to virtual racing I’m on track to meet my goal of 12 races this year.
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie recently posted…Weekly Sweats: The Final Fartlek
That’s great that you expect to meet your 2020 racing goal!
No fog lately but it has been record highs for temps. I’m ready for some ‘fall’ weather here honestly. I’m over summer.
I did 2 live race weekends in early 2020 (Jan + Feb), but technically 7 races as both weekends were multi-race challenge weekends. So far I’ve done only 2 virtual races. I was supposed to do several more but a stress fracture took me out so I’m not sure I will be able to do them.
Oh no, I hope your stress fracture heals quickly.
Ugh…we had fog, wind (lots of it), rain, mist (when it wasn’t full-on rain) and even snow. I’m hoping last week was just a fluke and not an initiation into Winter. Hmmm…I think ‘ve done four live races, in 2020, and too many virtuals to count.
Oh, I hope last week was a fluke. It’s too early for that kind of nonsense!
I hope your knee is OK.
No fog here but big changes in temperature. Kind of like 4 seasons in 2 days, but thankfully no snow.
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…Weekly Run Down: Week #3 of training for a 5k and weird weather
Thanks, Zenaida, my knee is slowly getting better.
I think a lot of areas of the country had pretty crazy weather last week. Other than the fog, though, it was very nice for late October here.
Glad your knee seems to not be a major issue, and congrats on the amazing cycling. You certainly earned that cheeseburger.
I totally agree re: friends. Humans are not meant to be solitary.
I ran a handful in person and virtual. I think 5/2?
It was so nice to get your text right after I finished my ride, and yes, that cheeseburger hit the spot!
I’m still hopeful that the Santa 5K will be in person, but time will tell… My Thanksgiving 5K is virtual. 🙁
I have been meeting regularly with a couple of friends. Just not in groups, one on one. It’ll be harder during Winter, but not impossible.
Glad that it seems your knee pain was an easy fix! The scenery from that last ride looks amazing.
We did a lot of fun things last week. Unfortunately the week ended badly with Lola’s mystery illness.
Thanks, Judy! I want to go gravel riding on Saturday and I’m a little nervous riding that bike again… We’re going to compare the seat settings one more time before I ride it.
I’ve been working on my recap all week from Saturday’s ride, but I have so many pretty pictures of the scenery that I’m having a hard time narrowing them down.
I love that you are loving cycling so much! That’s so great for you!
I have run zero in person races this year, and countless virtual ones. I’m getting ready to do on this weekend, so fingers crossed it all goes off without a hitch.
It’s been a long week, so I’m hoping the fun will start tomorrow.
I hope your live race goes off without a hitch and that you have a great time! My Thanksgiving Day 5K has gone virtual, but I’m still hopeful that the Santa 5K will be live…