Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links…

 

Embracing Options

Back in the day, 12 miles was a short run for me. These days, 12 miles is an exciting weekly running total. As I transition to cycling from exclusively running, I’m slowly letting go of my “run all the miles” attitude and embracing my love for cardio cross training on my bike.

A variety of  reasons had me replacing rides with runs last week, and I ended the week with 3 runs totaling 12 miles, the most miles I’ve run in a week in about two years. And even though it made my heart sing to run that many miles, I’ve discovered I have just as much fun on my bike. As I slowly test the water with a few additional running miles, I’m happy that I don’t have to depend on just running to fulfill my love of pushing my body to reach that cardio high.

 

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

I enjoyed a little bit of a chill morning before heading out to run at 10:30 AM. It was 71° and overcast when I turned right out of our neighborhood, but it wasn’t until making that right turn that I considered going a little farther than my usual distance. The start of a light drizzle reminded me of training runs from long ago, sealing the deal on staying out as long as my body was in complete agreement. My usual 5K turned into 5 miles which felt amazing and I wrapped up my run with a 9:09 average pace.

 

I spent several hours during the afternoon helping my son with landscaping in the drizzle and rain, topping off a great day of workouts. Once home I wrapped up foam rolling and stretching, completing 10 minutes of each.

 

Monday

On Labor Day we labor, and with eight clients stacked from 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM, I knew I’d better get my own workout completed before seeing my clients. Up at 5, I was in my basement gym by 5:30 and completed an hour of strength training just before seeing my first client.

 

Tuesday

With cooler morning temperatures, I was able to wait until 8 AM to head out for a 38-mile solo ride (14.8 MPH average speed). At 63° and sunny I was surprisingly comfortable, but by the time the temperature had climbed to 78° I felt quite hot (have I lost my acclimation to heat in less than a week?). I had an enjoyable ride on a combination of the W&OD Trail, that challenging hill I have a love/hate relationship with, and my favorite less-traveled side roads that cut through farms in the western side of our county.

 

Wednesday

I lifted weights during an hour opening in my morning schedule and later during the afternoon hopped on my spin bike (affiliate link) for a 15-mile steady ride at a 16.2 MPH average speed. While on my bike, I watched Ryan Van Duzer’s video on his recent completion of the Leadville 100. We were introduced to his YouTube channel after searching for biking videos and hit the jackpot with this somewhat goofy and funny ultra-athlete who both mountain bikes and runs.

 

Thursday

We hit the road at 5 AM for a long weekend on the farm celebrating my mom’s 89th birthday. Bill had several calls he had to take during the day and we planned our departure carefully so we’d be at a good running spot for me during his 9 AM call. We arrived at Carvins Cove near Roanoke around 8:55 and I headed out into the 66° steady rain shortly after 9. My 4-mile trail run included both technical trail and a gravel fire road circling the reservoir which I completed with a 10:50 average pace.

 

Friday

My brother and I took my mom out for lunch for her birthday and then we all enjoyed cake back at her house. I was busy enough with family time and running errands with Mom that I didn’t take time to work out.

 

Saturday

Because we were only visiting my mom for a few days, I didn’t want to leave for several hours for a bike ride so I left my bike at home. After a relaxing morning, at 10 AM I headed out for a 5K run on the gravel road near the farm. The temperature was 56° and the cool mountain air put a pep in my step and I finished with a 9:20 average pace. I saw a stop sign in the tall grass beside the road and wondered what had knocked it down.

 

Once back at mom’s house, I pulled weeds in one of her gardens for about an hour before rolling and stretching for 10 minutes each.

 

If You Haven’t Checked in, Here’s What You Might Have Missed

In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…

 

 Questions:
  • • What YouTube channels do you enjoy watching (if any)?
  • • If you don’t live near your parents, how often do you get to visit?
  • • Did you run in a race this weekend? If so, was it live or 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!

 

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 small 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.