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Spring Fever in the Making
It may have been short-lived, but this past week’s mild weather gave me a whooping dose of spring fever after spending some time outside gardening, running in shorts, and spotting a few Robins. This morning’s snow squashed the fever, but I’m hopeful there will be more days like this past week and fewer snow days as we make our way past mid-February.
Overview of the Week
Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Walking: 2 miles
• Average pace: 14:38
• Start time: 4:42 PM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°
• What I wore: capris and jog bra
I took advantage of multitasking and hopped on my treadmill (affiliate link) to walk while chatting on the phone with my mom.
Monday
Strength training : 1 hour of total body
Tuesday
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:31
• Start time: 11:27 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 40° (feels like 32°) and sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, ear warmer headband, and visor
Walking: 1 mile
• Average pace: 15:03
• Start time: 11:58 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 41° (feels like 34°) and sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, ear warmer headband, and visor
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
I decided to let the temperature warm up a little from the 20’s before heading out for a late morning run. It felt so good to be out that I added in a short walk before wrapping up my workout.
Wednesday
Strength training : 1 hour of total body
I always try to incorporate core work and balance into my strength training workouts. One of my go-to exercises is single-arm row while in a single-leg stance on a stability pad (affiliate link). Core strength and balance go hand in hand and is something we need to focus on as we get older (I teach a balance and stretching class for seniors every Friday). A few other balance exercises I do are airplanes, single-leg deadlifts, pistol squats, super slow curtesy lunges, super slow dynamic lunges, and tightrope walk with eyes shut.
Thursday
Gardening – 2 hours
With temperatures in the high 50’s I so wanted to join my husband for an afternoon bike ride, but I needed to stay close to home for various reasons. Fortunately, I was able to enjoy the nice weather while outside cutting back our perennial garden and digging out leaves that were still clinging to some of the foundation bushes.
Friday
Strength training : 1 hour of total body
Cycling: 15 miles
• Average speed: 16.6 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:58 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 64°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Stretching: 15 minutes
At 28° I had no desire to ride outside and knew I wouldn’t have time later when the temps were forecast to get into the low 60’s, so riding my spin bike (affiliate link) would have to do.
Saturday
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:21
• Start time: 8:31 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails and W&OD Trail
• Weather: 47° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, ear warmer headband, and visor
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
Mid-morning brought nearly perfect running weather with a taste of spring and I happily donned my shorts for the first time this year. I got a little warm and had to take off my jacket and gloves about halfway into my run and chuckled at the strange looks I got from people all bundled up walking their dogs.
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
Questions:
- • How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? ~ We had a high of 58° yesterday and it’s snowing this morning.
- • Do you incorporate core work or balance drills into your workouts?
- • Did you run in a race 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!
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I’m struggling with our weather right now–the cold doesn’t bother me as much as the up and down cycle and the ICE! Going to head out with my trail group this morning. Should be interesting.
My coach has me do a lot of agility and balance work. It’s so important!
Ice is a deal breaker for me and keeps me inside on my treadmill. Stay safe on your trail run and have fun!
Well, I did have to take off my gloves for my run yesterday, but was still in leggings and a somewhat heavy coat. It was in the 30s when I went out (would go up to about 50).
Still, after the cold we’ve had (and are having) yes, those temps were most welcome!
It’s hard to know how to dress when the temps are all over the place, but hey, if we can carry our gloves and tie our jacket around out waist that’s it certainly makes it easy to run with temperature fluctuations.
we sure did have an odd weather week around here! Way to take advantage of it and get out there. i also love the one legged balance moves. Looks like a great week of cardio and strength for you
And today it’s snowing… I love snow, but really hope we don’t get very much this time around.
Wow, gardening and shorts? Sounds nice! Nope, not that warm here. I think we did get to 50 degrees this week, but I was not outside enjoying it. That little taste of spring was nice!
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Weekly Workouts – GCM training week 6
And today it’s snowing… Bleh!
Last weekend, we had a tiny taste of spring with the 34F temps on Saturday evening…but that ended quickly come Sunday. I’m actually doing a presentation on balance/mobility for a ladies group this week, and I’ll be sure to include the moves you mentioned. I’d forgotten about the blind tightrope walk!
How fun that you’re doing a presentation on balance and mobility. I just texted to you a video of clock – it’s another great one.
I do a lot of balance drills- both in my workouts (I try to find classes that incorporate single leg movements) and also in my everyday life. I’ll do things like balance on one leg, then the other, while I’m doing some of my normal activities. But wait- tightrope walk with eyes shut????? Balance is so much harder when you close your eyes.
Sounds like you had a nice, balmy week! Your warm weather is our coldest- but it’s all relative.
You would be my ideal student since you practice your balance drills at home, too. 🙂 I suggest my students brush their teeth in the morning while standing on one leg and in the evening while standing on the other leg, etc. And for the tightrope walk with eyes shut, I walk parallel to the bar so I can reach out and touch it as necessary.
Isn’t it funny how folks’ outfits differ? I was running on the river yesterday and was warm in tights/long sleeves. Others were bundled like nanook. Today I saw runners in shorts and couldn’t get my hands warm.
Glad you got to play outside even though you couldn’t go for the ride
Cari recently posted…on the train to taper town
Yes, everyone is so different when it comes to our body temperatures ranges. I’m weird in that I’ll be in shorts and a tank, but might need gloves. My hands are always cold!
Balance is so important! That’s awesome you incorporate so much of it.
It’s amazing the differences in how runners dress- I’m quick to switch to shorts and I’ll see others in pants/jacket/hat/gloves, etc!
Doing balance exercises becomes even more important as we get older so I won’t be stopping until I can no longer do them.
I’m like you and switch to shorts earlier than most of my running friends. In fact, when we run together my friends say that they look to see what I’m wearing when I step out of the car and then they add a layer to whatever I have on. LOL
The routes where you run through are very beautiful.
Today 58° F here. This year I have never wore gloves and hat during my workouts as I had to do last year.
Bad weather is expected this week but for sure I will still find the time for my outdoor runs.
Yes, thank you, our community has 26 miles of running trails winding through our community.
It sounds like your winters are pretty moderate and that sounds nice to me on this cold winter’s day!
Those milder days last week were great! i loved the temps on Saturday but then we went right back to super cold temps on Sunday – talk about whiplash!
Yes, the milder days were great and I’m so ready for spring!
The temperatures were around 42-50 every day last week, with a couple of really nice sunny days. The flowers are slowly coming up, and the trees are getting their first leaves. Spring is coming early this year.
malthehaagen recently posted…A weekly gym workout routine for beginners
That sounds like delightful running weather!