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A New Distance Milestone
I had hoped to reach my 4,000th mile on an outdoor road ride, but the combination of the week’s chilly weather and Christmas preparations kept me indoors. At the beginning of 2021 I had no grandiose plans to ride any particular distance and was surprised at how many miles I’d ridden when I checked my yearly distance on Strava a little over a month ago. Riding 4,000 miles in 2021 suddenly became my goal and I carefully calculated how many miles per week I’d need to ride to meet that goal.
I considered riding to just short of my goal and heading outside to cross the 4,000-mile mark on my road bike, but didn’t feel like putting on all of my cold weather gear for just a few miles so I stayed inside on my spin bike (affiliate link). Whether completing my goal indoors or out, I was thrilled to meet it with over a week to spare.
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
Travel day
After a three-day trip to the farm to celebrate an early Christmas with my mom, Bill and I returned home to the rat race leading up to Christmas day.
Monday
Strength training : 1 hour of total body
Walking: 2 miles
• Average pace: 14:41
• Start time: 5:08 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 35° (feels like 30°)
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, velour jacket, mittens, and ear warmer headband
Tuesday
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:10
• Start time: 7:52 AM
• Location: neighborhood streets
• Weather: 25° and cloudy
• What I wore: long tights, l/s shirt, nylon shell jacket, mittens over gloves, and ear warmer headband
Cycling: 20 miles
• Average speed: 16.5 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 10:06 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 67°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
I ran a little later than normal and couldn’t resist asking one of my neighbors who was out walking her dog to take this picture of me in my ugly tights in front of another neighbor’s house. Once home from my run, I hopped on my spin bike for the monumental ride I mentioned at the beginning of this post.
Wednesday
Strength training : 1 hour of total body
Thursday
Cycling: 25 miles
• Average speed: 16.8 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:57 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
My time flew by while riding thanks to virtually training one client and then being entertained by my kids who all showed up to work out in our gym!
Friday
Running: 1 mile / 5K
• Average pace: 9:17 / 9:07
• Start time: 5:523 AM /7:39 AM
• Location: neighborhood streets
• Weather: 36° (feels like 30°) / 34° (feels like 30°) and cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, nylon shell jacket, mittens over gloves, and ear warmer headband
Strength training : 1 hour of total body
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
I headed out for my run, but after a mile I had to sneak back inside to use the restroom. I didn’t want the rush the rest of my run before my 6:30 AM client so I took a picture and headed to the basement to lift weights until time to FaceTime my client.
Once I wrapped up the workout with my client, I completed my run, but by then it was daylight and I didn’t get to enjoy the Christmas lights. I did add a bonus mile by starting from scratch on my 5K. After my run, I finished my strength training workout I’d started earlier in the morning.
Saturday
Walking: 3.25 miles
• Average pace: 18:35
• Start time: 5:10 PM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 69°
• What I wore: capris and jog bra
I had planned to take the day as a rest day, but decided to get on my treadmill (affiliate link) to walk while watching Christmas mass.
Also, our sweet Weekly RunDown hostess Kim was kind enough once again to make a collage of our blogging friends running and working out “together” on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Thank you, Kim!
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
- • Sunday – Weekly RunDown: December 12 – 18 / Missed Holiday Themed Races and Christmas Lights Rides
- • Tuesday – Year of Running 2021
- • Thursday – The Gym Elf is Back and Up to His Old Shenanigans
- • Saturday – Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Questions:
- • What running, hiking, cycling, etc. distance goals (if any) have you set for 2022?
- • How did holiday preparations affect your workouts?
- • Did you run in a race this weekend? Were there any races this weekend?
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.
Merry Christmas!
That’s quite a milestone. I don’t really track my bike miles, but I’m sure they are a fraction of yours.
I haven’t set any goals for 2022 yet …
Thanks, Coco! I haven’t set any goals for 2022 yet, either.
That is an impressive milestone on your cycling! Congrats to you. It has been fun to see you turn into such an avid cycler this year. Not sure yet on the 2022 goals 🙂
Thanks, Deborah! I feel lucky to have found another cardio sport that I enjoy almost as much as running. 🙂
As of this morning, I’m at 2290 for cycling miles 😉 I’m happy with that. There probably won’t be much more added to that in the next few days, due to our travel plans…but you never know. Huge congrats on passing the 4K mark!
Thanks, Kim! That’s great cycling mileage, especially considering how much you also run. Do you have a bike at your place in Florida or might you rent one while there?
Congrats on your cycling milestone – that’s incredible!
Thanks, Kim!
I don’t think those tights are ugly at all — I think they’re cute! How sweet of the kids to come to the gym. And I know your mom LOVED having you there for Christmas.
Congrats on hitting your mileage milestone!
HeeHee! I do love those tights, but was referring to them as ugly in an “ugly sweater” sort of way. Perhaps festive is a better way of describing them. 😀
Yes, our kids love that we have a gym in the basement that they can use whenever they want (as long as I’m not training clients).
Congrats on the cycling milestone! So impressive
Those minions are adorable. Love your holiday gear!
Thanks, Jessie!
Congrats on hitting 4000-that’s amazing! You look so festive in your Christmas tights.
I haven’t set any goals for 2022 yet. To be truthful, I’m a little afraid to do so…
Thanks, Wendy! I hear you on the goal setting. I haven’t set any goals for the last few years other than trying/hoping to stay injury free. When I saw how close I was to hitting 4,000 miles in the late fall it became an impromptu goal.
That is an impressive milestone!!! I’m glad you just continued on your indoor bike to meet that goal. What if you had gotten off and something happened, like I don’t know- you tripped or got sick or something and had to end the year with 3997 miles? (For some strange reason my mind just gravitates towards disasters these days.).
Sounds like you had a great week, and I love your festive running gear!
Thanks, Jenny! I suspect your injuries this past year are why your mind gravitates towards disaster with what “could” happen.
Wow, congrats on hitting such a big milestone! And I love your festive gear 🙂
Thanks, Michelle!
Honestly, the holidays didn’t effect my training too much. I moved my long run to Thursday instead of Christmas Day, and ran Sunday as well. That was it.
I have to think about goals for 2022.
That’s great, a little tweaking of the schedule is usually all it takes to keep our workouts on track.