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W&OD Trail Closure
As work continues by Dominion Electric on the aging electrical lines running along the W&OD Trail, rather than continuing to detour traffic for short distances from the paved trail onto the parallel gravel horse trail, both will be closed this coming week between Loudoun County Parkway and just east of Claiborne Parkway.
While driving to the 55+ community to teach classes on Friday, I saw work crews adding bike decals to the right side of the roadway where trail traffic will be detoured. It’s great that pedestrian and cyclist trail users will have the option to run, walk, and cycle along the designated detours, but some of the detours are along a busy parkway. Local readers, if you need to take the detour, please be careful!
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
Cycling: 10 miles
Average speed: 16.7 MPH
Bike: LifeCycle spin
Surface: N/A
Elevation gain: 0 feet
Time of day: 3 PM
Location: basement
Weather: climate controlled 70°
What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Dreary and with a misty drizzle outside, I opted for an indoor ride on my spin bike (affiliate link) while chatting on the phone with my mom. During the spin, the drizzle turned to rain and I was happy I’d stayed indoors.
Gardening: 1 hour
Monday
Strength Training: 1 hour of full body with cardio walk intervals
Tuesday
Cycling: 52 miles
Average speed: 14.6 MPH
Bike: Specialized Roubaix Comp road
Surface: paved
Elevation gain: 2,238 feet
Time of day: 8:10 AM
Location: W&OD Trail and roads to Purcellville
Weather: 62° and overcast, climbing to 68°
What I wore: bike short bibs and s/s jersey, arm sleeves, and fingerless gloves
Because Bill was swamped with work and couldn’t join me, and I was free to ride later, I scheduled an early morning client and rolled about an hour after wrapping up our session. As much as I love riding with my husband and friends, I also enjoy the peacefulness of solo rides.
With just under 6 miles left in my ride, a younger guy caught up with me at a stop light and proceeded to ride right beside me chatting endlessly. I was tired and didn’t feel like talking so I sped up, and he sped up. I was polite and held up my end of the conversation, but I couldn’t wait to turn off the trail to be alone again. Had I been running I would have loved the unexpected company, but I don’t like chatting while cycling.
Wednesday
Running: 5K
Average pace: 8:59
Time of day: 5:32 AM
Location: neighborhood circle
Weather: 62° and extremely foggy
Clothing: shorts and tank
Shortly after getting up I noticed a dense fog warning on my weather app and it wasn’t kidding! With my headlamp illuminating the moisture in the air, it looked like strings of fog were speeding toward me as I ran.
Strength Training: 1 hour of full body immediately after finishing my run
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
Thursday
Cycling: 35 miles
Average speed: 14.7 MPH
Bike: Specialized Roubaix Comp road
Surface: paved
Elevation gain: 1,473 feet
Time of day: 6:47 AM
Location: W&OD Trail and roads to Hamilton
Weather: 57° and foggy, climbing to 65° and sunny
What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, fingerless gloves, and light jacket (took jacket off 25 miles into ride)
Bill and I started our ride in the dark in dense fog. The moisture was so thick that water droplets kept dripping off my helmet visor and nose. Just like with season changes when running, I can never remember at what temperature to add a layer of clothing. Luckily, I threw on a light jacket (affiliate link) as we headed out the door and was comfortable in it until the sun came out 25 miles into the ride. I love this jacket because it flips inside-out into a little self pocket and can be Velcro’d to the handlebars, completely out of the way.
Jacket hanging from handlebars (note the spider webs on the fence)…
Friday
Strength Training: 1 hour of full body
Balance and Stretching: 45 minutes
Saturday
Walk: 1/2-mile with Pablo
Running: 4 miles
Average pace: 9:27
Time of day: 9:33 AM
Location: neighborhood trails
Weather: 68°, breezy, and partly sunny, climbing to 72°
Clothing: shorts, tank, and visor
I had planned to head out early to run, but Pablo wanted to go out for his morning walk just as I slipped on my running shoes (we’re watching his for the weekend). After our walk, which included playing with two giant schnauzers, I sneaked back out for my run.
My 5K turned into 4 miles when I got distracted and was a quarter way into the 4th mile before I realized it.
Stretching: 10 minutes
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
Questions:
- • Do you have difficulty remembering what you’re comfortable wearing when the season changes? ~ Yes, every. single. season change!
- • Are the leaves changing where you live? ~ They are just starting to change here.
- • 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.
Yes. I do have amnesia on what to wear. It looks like fall but feels like summer. I haven’t taken out the capris or long sleeves yet. But sometimes I should have worn a tank and didn’t. Like every run this week.
No race until next Sat.
I agree about the hubby’s company. Sometimes you just need alone time.
It always cracks me up that we have trouble remembering what’s comfortable at what temperature when the season changes. Even my younger friends have trouble with it. 😉
We have had tons of trail work up this way as well but now it looks fantastic! Our weather has been nutty so I never know what to wear. The leaves are just starting to change and I love it. Logging some serious bike miles Deb! nice job this week
It’s just fixing old infrastructure along the trail in our case… 🙁
I love cycling in the fall and this year I have to keep training through our Florida trip in January so I can keep up with my friends!
That’s interesting that you love to chat running, but not biking. Too bad you couldn’t easily shake the kid!
Bandit will wait a long time to go out the first time in the morning, but man, he gets antsy if he doesn’t get his morning walk. Won’t be long until that morning walk is an afternoon walk!
We had a couple of mornings of intense fog this week, too. Actually, one was the hike — it had burned off by the time we started, but as I was driving there I was going through areas of pea soup! Your photo is really interesting, Deb.
I just feel that it’s unsafe to be riding along at 15-20 MPH with someone beside me while biking, even on the trail. It’s easy to get distracted while chatting and scary things can happen in seconds.
Does Bandit not like the cold and that’s why his morning walk will become an afternoon one? Pablo is always ready to rush back inside when it’s cold and I don’t blame him. LOL
The weather here was kind of all over the place this past week which made it hard to know what to wear. We have nice weather today so I’m hoping that continues into next week!
I have a hard time chatting while running so I probably wouldn’t chat while riding either. I imagine it would be harder to keep up a convo since you’re moving much faster.
You’re exactly right! I feel that the faster speed, especially while elevated on a bike, makes it dangerous to chat. Plus, it’s hard to hear with the wind blowing in your ears.
Sounds like a great week, although I would be nervous cycling in all that fog. But I’m sure you’re just more confident than me on the bike in general.
LOVE that photo of the “strings of fog.” Crazy!
Running attire is pretty simple down here- I basically switch from my summer tank tops to my winter tank tops, ha ha. If it’s really cold I’ll throw on a long sleeve shirt every once in a while. Right now we’re still in “summer tank top” weather.
You crack me up with summer tank tops and winter tank tops. 😀
Thanks, I loved the way the fog looked and was tickled to capture it in a photo!
I swear I feel like a newbie with the change of every season – why is it that we cannot remember how to dress for the seasons?
We had pretty dense fog a couple of mornings this week – I love that picture of the strings of fog.
Isn’t it crazy how we forget what to wear every season change? It makes no sense, but it happens every time! LOL
The leaves aren’t changing much here–it’s so odd! Even up in Wisco this weekend, there wasn’t much color. I wonder if it has anything to do with our prolonged warm weather? It finally feels like fall and in answer to your question about wardrobe probs, yes, this morning for my hike, I dressed as if I would be running in the 35 degree temps! I was a little chilled, but thankfully it warmed up quickly. Of course, then I was overdressed, lol!
When walking/hiking you’re throwing another level of exertion into the mix so I can understand having trouble deciding what to wear. I know that I don’t warm up as quickly when walking and I guess I’d have to compensate for that, too.
Just this (early) afternoon, on our way back from Des Moines, I finally noticed some significant leaf color…but only in certain spots. I just hope we do get some time to enjoy the color change before Momma N dumps all her sub-freezing weather on us. I’m always second-guessing the layers, too! It’s especially tricky on the bike!
Yes, same here, I hope we get to enjoy significant leave color change this year without Momma N playing havoc.
That picture of the fog from your headlamp is so cool! And the spider webs on the fence. Great shots and great week of activity Deb!
Thanks, Jessie!
Yes. I cannot remember how to dress, way over did it today with the long sleeves and capris for 48
I love that fog pic
Cari recently posted…Fabulous Fall Fun
Thanks, Cari!