It’s Okay to Bike
A frequent flyer with my dermatologist, I was back in his office on Thursday morning for the removal of a spot on my upper abdominal area. It was precancerous, but with my history it was removed with all the precautions of being cancerous. As a result I have a 1-inch horizontal incision and will need to limit my activities for 10 days.
Running is out, but walking is fine. Strength training is obviously out, but what I wasn’t expecting was for my doctor to tell me that easy biking, as long as it doesn’t pull on the sutures, should be okay. He knows me well!
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
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Planning ahead knowing I wouldn’t be able to lift weights on Friday, I moved my strength training sessions from Monday/Wednesday/Friday to Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday.
Monday
Cycling: 10 miles
• Average speed: 15.9 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:27 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66°
Gardening: 3 hours
I took advantage of a beautiful day and a limited work schedule (I only had virtual clients since I continued to test positive for Covid) by pruning back all of our foundation shrubs.
Tuesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 2 miles
• Average pace: 14:08
• Elevation gain: 115 feet
• Start time: 10:39 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 47° (feels like 43°), sunny, and breezy
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, mittens, headband ear warmer, and visor
I started out on my walk with just gloves and no ear warmer, but ducked back inside at the half mile mark to grab mittens and a headband when my fingers and ears wouldn’t warm up.
Wednesday
Cycling: 15 miles
• Average speed: 15.8 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:02 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 64°
Thursday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:38
• Elevation gain: 66 feet
• Start time: 6:33 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 32° (feels like 28°)
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, ear warmer headband, gloves, and mittens
I got up at 4:30 AM so I’d have plenty of time to get in a strength training session and run before showering and heading to my dermatologist’s office for surgery. I expected him to tell me I couldn’t workout for 10 days and wanted to get in one last workout…
I was also desperate to get in a run because Covid had prevented me from running since my last run two weeks earlier in Bar Harbor, Maine. I was thrilled that my lungs cooperated completely and that my run felt so good – amazing, actually.
Friday
Balance and stretching: 35 minutes
It felt great to finally teach my balance and stretching class at the 55+ community after taking 4 weeks off for a combination of vacation and Covid. I normally participate in all of the activities while teaching the 45-minute class, but had to skip a few so I wouldn’t pull on my wound.
Saturday
Walking: 5 miles
• Average pace: 16:35
• Elevation gain: 197 feet
• Start time: 1:31 PM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 64° and sunny, climbing to 68°
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
I met my friend Betsy for a walk. Two summers ago we rode our bikes together about once a week, last summer only once, and this summer not at all. We were happy to finally find a time to fit in a walk together.
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: October 9 – 15 / What a Difference a Week Makes
- • Tuesday – Exploring Acadia National Park’s Carriage Roads by Bike
- • Thursday – Touring Acadia National Park’s Park Loop Road by Bike
Questions:
- • Do you decorate for fall and/or Halloween? ~ I decorate for fall and have a few Halloween items I put out.
- • What was your favorite workout of the week? ~ My run on Wednesday felt amazing, but it was fun catching up with Betsy during our walk on Saturday.
- • 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!
I’m glad you are so diligent about your skin checks! And glad it was only one spot this time. Thank goodness.
My favorite workout of the week had to be that mountain climb yesterday! I’m so sore and tired in the best way. Looking forward to one more mountain trail run tomorrow morning before I head to the airport.
I bet your mountain climb was fun, especially since you shared the experience with your sister.
it’s mu 3rd try but now I’m on a computer…
Glad to hear you are well and can return to running.
My favorite this week was a run with Cari.
Yes, I did race yesterday- a local 5k.
I am decorating minimally this year because I don’t want to put things away… lol
Yes, running with a friend always tops the list of favorite workouts!
LOL on the reason for decorating minimally. 😀
I am seeing my Derm this week and she always seems to find something to freeze off. My favorite workout this week was my run today. It felt good to get back some longer miles
Yay for longer runs and skin checks! 😉
I have really gotten out of the decorating thing since the kids got older. I do have a small sign with a ghost on it by my front door, LOL. I haven’t even bought any mums for the porch yet (and the window is pretty much closed on that unless I bring them in for the winter to brighten my sunroom). I had a mole removed two weeks ago. It wasn’t a cancer scare in the least, but just located in an inconvenient place on my shoulder (about 1/2-centimer “outside” of the bra strap area, LOL), and it was one I’d had all my life so it had gotten bigger over the years anyways.
Glad you got your mole taken care of and that it wasn’t anything to worry about. I have a mole on the middle of lower back that I hit when I pull my pants up. I’m thinking of having it removed since I often catch it with my thumbnail and cause it to bleed.
Wow, that’s great that you recovered from COVID so well! I swear just the vaccines/boosters effect me forever.
I have a friend that I do get together with regularly, but lately we haven’t been able to meet up — mostly due to me. In the Summer we sometimes just chat in my backyard, but sadly it’s too cold for that now.
Yes, I felt very fortunate to recover so quickly, and luckily, the shots or booster never bothered me.
Awww, I hope you and your friend can find a way to get together soon.
You really have had some ups and downs lately- the trip, and then Covid, and now this. But this isn’t really a “down”- you’re probably feeling good that you got it taken care of. I think I missed your second trip recap- I’ll go back and read it now! hope you have a good recovery week.
Thanks, Jenny!
So glad you’re on the mend in a ll ways and can still exercise through the suture recovery
No races this weekend, but I am my own Halloween decorations for some costume fun next weekend
Thanks, Cari! I’m looking forward to seeing your pictures and hearing about your shenanigans!
That’s great you didn’t have to stop cycling completely. Also, that’s great your run post-covid felt good! It does take a real toll on the energy levels. I need to figure out when to get my next booster.
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Weekly workouts – that’s a wrap!
Thanks, Lisa! The good news is that I won’t have to worry about the booster for three months now that I have natural immunity.
It’s so good that you keep up with regular checkups to the dermatologist and hat you are so diligent! I hope that the incision heals well.
So happy to hear that your run post-Covid felt so good!
Yes, thanks, my post-Covid run felt great and I realize I’m very lucky that I didn’t have any lingering fatigue and tiredness.
I get a full body check three times a year and really don’t have any other choice. I’ve had way too many serious skin cancers to mess around with not getting checked regularly.
I appreciate your sharing about your skin checks and spot removals. I am pretty good about seeing my derm, but I had to reschedule an appt due to a business trip and the next available isn’t until February!
My favorite workout last week was my Saturday run — it was so gorgeous
Yes, my dermatologist is very backed up, too. Since I get full body checks three times a year, I always schedule at least two appointments out to be sure I can get in. Of course, if I call and say I see something suspicious, due to my history they fit me right in to look at it.
Way to be diligent about having your skin checked. Better to be safe than sorry. I’m loving my trails lately…well always….but the leaves and weather have been spectacular. It won’t be long until everything is bare here. I decorate more for fall but like you, there a few Halloween things too.
Same here, this fall is spectacular and the trees along our trails are so pretty.
I am glad you’re feeling better.
I usually do quite a bit of Halloween decorating, but with marching band and Mr PugRunner going on a month and a half of allergy and sinus related issues, I haven’t had it in me. We also won’t be home for Thanksgiving, so I feel less motivated to decorate for the season. I’ll get to it.
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Thanks, Jenn!