Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links
It’s the Busiest Time of Year
Prepping for the holidays with shopping, Christmas card prep, gift wrapping, baking, a visit to my dermatologist, a haircut, doing stuff for my mom, family time, completing workouts, hosting a party and attending another party; all in addition to work had me treading water and barely keeping my head above water all week. But, I love this time of year and wouldn’t change it for the world! However, in the crazy busy – I’ve got to make everything perfect for the holidays – frenzy, I must not lose sight of the real reason we celebrate…
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
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:26
• Elevation gain: 86 feet
• Start time: 10:32 AM
• Location: neighborhood streets
• Weather: 40° (feels like 35°) and sunny, climbing to 42° (feels like 38°)
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, mittens, ear warmer headband, and visor
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
With the start of the most wonderful time of year, I pulled out my HO! HO! HO! !OH !OH !OH capris (one leg says HO! HO! HO! and the other leg says !OH !OH !OH – the risk you take when ordering cheap products from China on Amazon), Santa shirt (affiliate link), and bright Christmas mittens for a delightful late morning run.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 5K
• Average pace: 14:11
• Elevation gain: 150 feet
• Start time: 3:54 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 47° (feels like 44°), sunny, and breezy, dropping to 44° (feels like 40°)
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, fleece jacket, gloves and mittens
Tuesday
Cycling: 20 miles
• Average speed: 16.8 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:29 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Taught 2-hour fitness machines orientation class
Thursday
Running: 2.1 miles
• Average pace: 9:25
• Elevation gain: 55 feet
• Start time: 6:03 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 45° (feels like 42°) and cloudy (could see the full moon trying to peek through)
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, mittens, and ear warmer headband
Cycling: 8 miles
• Average speed: 16.9 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:34 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Running: 1 mile
• Average pace: 9:05
• Elevation gain: 49 feet
• Start time: 7:22 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 46° (feels like 44°) and mostly sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, mittens, and ear warmer headband
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
Even though I got up at 5 AM, it took me until 6 to get out the door and then I didn’t have time to finish my run before starting a virtual session with a client. When I train this particular client, I do it from my spin bike and a 30-minute session usually equals about 8 miles. Once finished, and after throwing a load of laundry into the dryer, I headed back out to finish my 5K run.
While on my first run, I stopped to adjust my headlamp because it kept slipping down on my head. While stopped on the side of the street, a neighbor came up from behind me with his Newfoundland dog. Years ago, when I first encountered them, the dog barked angrily and lunged at me. The man had to hold back his dog with all of his might. Since then, I’ve always crossed the street if I see them coming my way, especially after hearing the story of the dog attacking a male neighbor; although supposedly, the dog likes women.
Anyway while working on my headlamp, on the side of the street, the man and dog came up behind me on the sidewalk (which would have them passing me with only 4-6 feet of separation). I was totally distracted – I know, I should have been aware of my surroundings in the pitch dark of the morning. Suddenly, I heard barking and growling, and as I turned the dog was lunging toward me! What did I do? I apologized for being in the way! Wait, what? The man mumbled something and kept walking. You can bet that when I started my run up again, I crossed the street as I passed them.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Saturday
Cycling: 30 miles
• Average speed: 16.6 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 8:32 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°
I had been on the fence all week on whether or not to run in the Jingle Bell Rock & Run 5K, but ended up not registering. When I got up I was feeling sad with my decision, so I hopped on my spin bike for a nice little alternative workout.
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: November 27 – December 3 / Outdoor Exercise Weather Limits
- • Tuesday – Buddy’s Late-Night Gym Adventures
Questions:
- • Have you ever skipped registering for a race and then regretted your decision? ~ In addition to yesterday’s Jingle Bell Rock & Run, I still regret not running the Flying Pigs Marathon back in the early 2000’s when my friend invited me to go join her for a fun girls race weekend.
- • What was your favorite workout of the week? ~ Sunday’s run
- • Did you run in a race this past weekend? ~ No
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
*********************************************************************
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.
I’ve been consumed by work, so other than putting our tree up and on line shopping the only holiday thing I’ve done is my office holiday party. 😉
I won’t even make it to church until next weekend. But that’s because I’m doing a 15k today. I’m ok let you know if I regret it.
It’s such a busy time of year and your business retreat being rescheduled to December certainly didn’t help, did it?
I still haven’t embraced the running the dark thing.
Um yes of course I race a lot but when I read about a race I didn’t sign up for I have FOMO.
I have an informal race today. It’s snowing so I’ll go but just take it slow.
I hope your race went well today! Hopefully, the snow didn’t make the race course too slippery.
I LOVE running in the dark before daybreak, but know that I need to be extra vigilant.
well, I always have serious FOMO when my friends do a race I am not running-lol. I honestly don’t think I would run outside if I needed to do it in the dark. It is just something I am not comfortable with. Good for you getting it done though. LOL on the capri misspelling
I absolutely love running in the dark and almost prefer it. There’s just something so peaceful about it and knowing you’re experiencing something so many other people are missing.
Oh yes, I hate standing on the sidelines and missing an opportunity to race! I hope you get to sign up for the 5k next year.
What a scary dog encounter! Isn’t it funny that our first reaction is to apologize – even though the other person is at fault?!
Well done on finishing Thursday’s 5k despite the interruption!
Yes, that kind of shocked me that I had apologized even though I’d done nothing wrong. Why do we do that?
Yes, this time of year is crazy busy! Sometimes I’ll start to get stressed out, and then I remind myself, these are all things that I LOVE and I’ll be sad when it’s over.
That’s an annoying story about the man and his dog- HE should have been apologizing to YOU.
I really considered not registering for the Turkey Trot this year, but ended up doing it and was glad- I think I would have been sad on Thanksgiving if I didn’t run it.
I’m sure you were very happy you’d registered for the turkey trot. At this point for me, it’s just not Thanksgiving without running a turkey trot. 😀
I’m not sure if the man speaks English or perhaps not very well so maybe that’s why he didn’t call out? ♀️ At the very least, he should have crossed the street.
FOMO for missed races? A big YES to answer that! I had major when a friend did the IMT Des Moines 13.1 (back in 2007…my “early” days of running). A few months later, I registered for Dam to Dam (then a 20K) in early June 2008 and also did the IMT Des Moines 13.1 in October of that year. Problem solved, and the rest is history!
Awesome way to answer to your FOMO!
Oh, that’s too bad about the man with the dog…hopefully you just startled the pup and its not aggressive 🙁
Ho Ho Ho and Oh Oh Oh- too funny. I’ve had some recent Amazon fails lately- today was a staircase for dogs for Matilda in her old age and it was NOT at all as advertised and I’m really disappointed. Sending it back…at least the capris are still wearable and are good for a laugh!
Unfortunately, the same dog attacked another neighbor when he found it out of its yard and he and his wife brought it into their house for safely. Apparently, the dog likes women, but not men and at some point turned on the man who had tried to keep it safe until his owner could come and get him. He’s a beautiful dog, just not friendly, and because he’s so large it makes it all the scarier. 🙁
Ah, too bad about the doggie staircase; and yes, I get a good laugh out of my capris every year when I get them out for the holidays.
Wow, well done with all your strength training, cycling, walking and running this week! I would be really uncomfortable about that dog if it has a history of attacking people.
The thing with your Amazon capri print is hilarious, by the way! 😀 I hope you get a good week ahead!
Thanks so much Suzanne! Those capris crack me up every year when I get them out for the holidays. 😀
Despite the fall, today was probably my favorite run. And my walk with my friend.
Oh no at the Newfoundland behind you! That sounds pretty scary. Seriously the owner should be apologizing to YOU!
Oh no, I hope your fall wasn’t too bad!
Yeah, I’m still shaking my head wondering why my reaction was to apologize.
Sorry that you have such a rude dog owner neighbor. I encounter a lot of dogs on the trails, but 90% of the time, the owners apologize for them, even if they are really friendly! I had a black lab circling around me today, barking and wagging his tail. He wouldn’t let me pet him and his owner said he’s pretty protective of him. But he wasn’t mean.
I am feeling less FOMO about races than I used to!
I’ve never really had any negative dog encounters in the past (a dog out in the country chased my bike this summer) in our neighborhood. Heck, I know the names of more of the dogs than their humans of the dog/human teams I encounter on my walks and runs. 😉 Of this particular duo, I know neither of their names. This particular dog is beautiful and I’d love it if he was friendly.
Yes! Very thankful for that reminder of the real reason for Christmas. It’s way too easy to get wrapped up in the hustle of the holidays. I’ve been listening to the Christmas stations on Spotify and Pandora while working – it helps to keep my calm and gets me more into the holiday spirit.
That story about the dog really irks me – and for the owner not to apologize?? Totally unacceptable, but I am glad that you are okay.
I agree, I listen to a lot of Christmas music on Alexa this time of year and really enjoy it!
I just went back and reread what I’d written and realize that I’d typed the man had said nothing when he actually mumbled something, but I assumed he was talking to his dog. Sorry about that, I’ll correct it.
Your dog encounter really bothered me – I have a couple of rude dog owners in my neighborhood and it’s so frustrating. I’m glad you were ok. As the owner of a big dog, I think it’s completely unacceptable that the dog lunged at you and his owner didn’t offer an appropriate apology…ok stepping off my soap box now.
Michelle recently posted…Keeping it low key
I was surprised that it didn’t leave my heart pounding and really annoyed at myself for apologizing.
I just love all the winter festivities. I’m in it for the lights and music and general festive mood.
I ran in two races this weekend. Saturday’s was my favorite. It was a new to me race and I had a great time.
So do I – just wish I wasn’t quite so busy so I could enjoy everything a little more.
Yay for running in two races over the weekend!