Prioritizing by Modifying Workouts

There’s only so much that can be fit into a day and when much of the week is spent in a car, workouts just might have to take a back seat, so to speak. One-hour full body strength training sessions became 15 minute core workouts, bike rides bookended the week without any mid-week rides, and I had time for only one run and one short walk. I did; however, spend quality time with my mom and that’s what was most important.

 

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: 24 miles
• Average speed: 12.7 MPH
• Bike: Cannondale Topstone
• Surface: gravel
• Elevation gain: 1,864 feet
• Start time: 9:07 AM
• Location: Canby/Sands/Mt. Gilead Road loop
• Weather: 62° and sunny, climbing to 75°
• What I wore: bike shorts and s/s jersey

We’d ridden this route a few weeks ago and I loved it so much that I requested we do it again. It’s a relatively short course and since we were on a time crunch it worked out great. We shortened the distance and time by driving to meet our friends instead of riding the 16-mile roundtrip to and from the start point.

Later in the afternoon I walked for well over a mile without timing it.

 

Monday

Drive to the farm

Strength training: 15 minutes of core

 

Tuesday

Day of errands and appointments

 

Wednesday

Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:38
• Start time: 11:29 AM
• Location: country roads near the farm
• Weather: 71° and sunny, climbing to 77°
• What I wore: shorts and tank top

Strength training: 15 minutes of core

I woke up to 49°, perfect for a run, but I had an early morning appointment to take my mom’s cat to the vet. By the time I got home and finally got around to running, the temperature had climbed significantly. The leaves have already started to turn slightly in the higher elevation of SWVA and I enjoyed the hint of autumn scenery.

 

Thursday

Day of errands and appointments

 

Friday

Drive home from the farm

Strength training: 15 minutes of core

 

Saturday

Cycling: 65 miles
• Average speed: 12.0 MPH
• Bike: Cannondale Topstone
• Surface: gravel
• Elevation gain: 5,066 feet
• Start time: 9:04 AM
• Location: Loudoun and Fauquier Counties
• Weather: 51° and sunny, climbing to 71° and cloudy
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves for first 12 miles, light jacket

Wow, what a beautiful ride! Bill and I rode the 65-mile route of the Tour de Conservation Easement (there were also 35 and 18 mile routes). The course traversed not only along our favorite local gravel roads, but through some of the private estates along those roads. Thanks to the generosity of those property owners, we were able to enjoy views we’d never seen before. This was a ride worth recapping so stay tuned…

 

Last Week’s Blog Posts

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

 

Questions:
  • • How do you modify your workouts when time is tight? ~ I skipped some walks and shortened my strength training sessions. Less time on the bike and only one run ended up being good for giving my legs some additional rest before Saturday’s 65-mile gravel ride.
  • • What was your favorite workout of the week? ~ My favorite workout was Saturday’s Tour de Conservation Easement ride.
  • • Did you run in a race this weekend? ~ No

 

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!