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Memorial Day Weekend
I tend to work most holidays like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc. The gyms where I worked were always open and quite busy with people who had the day off so we were always scheduled to work. When I opened my own business that mindset stuck with me and I continued to offer to train clients. This year, though, I took Monday off and enjoyed a three-day weekend!
We used to have a huge barbecue on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, but Covid ended that and we didn’t resume hosting this year. Instead, we enjoyed a bike ride with friends and invited them back to our house for a much smaller scale barbecue afterward.
The most appropriate acknowledgement of the Memorial Day holiday was the year we paid tribute at Arlington National Cemetery. We should do that more often…
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
Cycling: 32 miles
• Average speed: 11.6 MPH
• Bike: Cannondale Topstone
• Surface: gravel
• Elevation gain: 2,362 feet
• Start time: 8:58 AM
• Location: Loudoun County, VA
• Weather: 68° and sunny, climbing to 78°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, and fingerless gloves
Bill and I joined our friends for a gravel ride out of Leesburg under delightful weather conditions – cool, low humidity, and puffy white clouds dotting a beautiful blue sky. Bill recently got a new toy, an Insta 360 camera (affiliate link) which takes amazing photos while erasing the selfie stick to give the impression of drone photography. You can see the shadow of the stick which could easily be photoshopped out.
Monday
Cycling: 42 miles
• Average speed: 14.6 MPH
• Bike: Specialized Roubaix Comp
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 1,440 feet
• Start time: 8:45 AM
• Location: W&OD Trail Route 28 Bridge to Hamilton loop
• Weather: 71° and sunny without a cloud in the sky, climbing to 84°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, and fingerless gloves
Stretching: 10 minutes of shoulders and chest
I headed out alone – Bill wasn’t available to join me and sometimes it’s just easier and quicker to take off than trying to find a friend to join me. I had a great ride and enjoyed my time alone reflecting on Memorial Day and why we celebrate it.
Tuesday
Rest day
Wednesday
Strength training : 1 hour of total body
Gardening: 2 hours (it was 92 and mostly sunny)
Running: 2.5 miles
• Average pace: 10:04
• Start time: 7:22 AM
• Location: One Loudoun
• Weather: 87° and cloudy (feels like 92°)
• What I wore: shorts, tank and visor
There was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to run with Meb even though the run would be in the evening and the temps would be soaring. Bill tried to get me to take the Insta 360 camera with me, but I chose not to (yes, I regretted it) and ended up not getting any running pictures. Spoiler alert, I couldn’t keep up with Meb. LOL
Luckily, my back felt fine, but I could tell that I shouldn’t push it with another run during the week. Slow and steady wins the race, right? 😉
Thursday
Rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
Friday
Strength training : 1 hour of full body
Walking: 5K
• Average pace: 15:06
• Start time: 8:57 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 65° and sunny with a low humidity and breezy, climbing to 69° and cloudy
• What I wore: shorts and s/s shirt
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
After work we walked to a food truck parked at a nearby church to pick up dinner.
Saturday
Cycling: 43 miles
• Average speed: 13.1 MPH
• Bike: Cannondale Topstone
• Surface: gravel
• Elevation gain: 2,513 feet
• Start time: 9:01 AM
• Location: Western Loudoun County
• Weather: 71° and sunny, climbing to 90°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, and fingerless gloves
We joined the VeloPigs for a gravel ride in western Loudoun County, riding from our home to join them in Leesburg. It was one of the best rides I’ve had in a long time and not once did I look at my Garmin (affiliate link) to check the mileage which is always a sign that I’m having fun.
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: May 22-28 / Finding the Right Balance
- • Tuesday – Celebrating Global Running Day With a Celebrity
- • Friday – Catching Up Over Coffee: a Kitchen Makeover, Two Trips to Florida, and Running With Meb
Questions:
- • Did you do anything special for Memorial Day?
- • Did you celebrate Global Running Day?
- • 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!
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.
Sounds like a super fun week! I think Meb could easily lap me a few times, LOL! that would be one way to get a photo, right?
Most of my holidays are spent at my moms. Memorial Day was the first time we’ve been able to enjoy the picnic outside in a long, long time, but it was hot, humid, and sunny & we were seated at a table with no shade! My mom was ticked (but that happens frequently anyway).
It must be very moving to be able to celebrate it at Arlington Cemetery. I’m not sure I’ve ever been there.
Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…In a Holding Pattern: 5/30 – 6/5 WRD
Oh, I hadn’t thought of that, but yes, Bill could have gotten a great picture of Meb lapping me had we run the loop again. LOL
That’s a bummer that you had to sit in the sun at the picnic. I’m sure it was quite uncomfortable for everyone.
I haven’t been to Arlington National Cemetery in a few years and should go more often – my grandfather and grandmother-in-law are buried there.
You logged some serious biking miles this week! I’m so glad to have the summer temps (though they area bit chilly some mornings on a bike). It feels great to go for a quick “spin” in the early hours before work, or after getting home for the day. The hubby’s new camera sounds like a great investment!
Yes, I was out on my bike a lot more than in previous weeks – the extra time over the holiday weekend helped.
We go boating usually on Memorial Day. This year the weather was great.
Glad to hear your back is better. Mine too.
Love those photos Very cool.
I ran before the rain on Wed. And a 5k yesterday.
Your time on the boat sounds fun and very relaxing!
Thanks, and happy to hear your back is feeling better, too.
That is a cool toy your husband got! It’s funny to see the shadow of the selfie stick but no stick.
I’m like you- I always end up working on holidays (except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and July 4th.) So I worked on Memorial Day and then just came home and relaxed. I was happy with that! I’m very glad your back felt good for the run with Meb!!! You couldn’t miss that.
Yes, it just makes sense to work those holidays because most clients are free that day.
I think we’ll really enjoy the new camera!
Lots of great biking miles! Glad your back is feeling better.
Thanks, Michelle!
We had great weather for cycling this week – glad you were able to take advantage of it. It’s great you have friends who enjoy all sorts of cycling. Gravel is not my thing, but my husband probably would enjoy it.
What a fun event with Meb!
Gravel has really grown on me in the last year! I love that there’s usually less traffic and it’s quite exhilarating maneuvering around potholes and washboard roads while flying down a long hill. The climbs can be grueling, though.
Lots of cycling this week for you! Do you prefer the gravel rides now over the paved? they kind of scare me
I like aspects from both gravel and road riding. Traffic is generally a lot lighter on gravel roads; however, they are usually narrower and without much shoulder. You can go faster on paved roads, but it certainly is exciting flying down a gravel hill maneuvering around pot holes and washboards. I generally like climbing on paved roads, but I don’t like climbing when there’s fresh loose gravel because that makes it much more difficult. This time of year they’re repairing the roads from the winter damage so we often see a new layer of gravel out there.
That camera is amazing.
We had a very lowkey Memorial Day. Mr PugRunner is itching to get back to real entertaining, but I prefer the quiet. Sigh.
To run with (or near) Meb would be amazing! How fun!
Yes, the new camera is pretty amazing, just wish I’d used it for Global Running Day. With a long enough selfie stick, I could have taken pictures of Meb running, too. LOL