Christmas at the Farm
We celebrated an early Christmas with my mom at the farm over the long weekend. Both sons and their families were able to attend and it didn’t take long to realize Pablo would love to be a farm dog running all over the countryside. As busy as I was helping mom with chores around the house and nailing down her delicious southern fried chicken recipe, I still found time to go on a run on the gravel road near the farm.
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
Rest day
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 5K
• Average pace: 13:59 minutes/mile
• Elevation gain: 88 feet
• Start time: 9:07 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 40° F (feels like 35° F) and cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, down jacket, gloves, mittens, and ear warmer headband
Tuesday
Cycling: 8.5 miles
• Average speed: 17.2 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 64° F
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:42 minutes/mile
• Elevation gain: 125 feet
• Start time: 8:09 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 29° F (feels like 25° F) and sunny
• What I wore: tights, l/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, mittens, and ear warmer headband
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
After a quick spin while virtually training a client, I changed into festive my Christmas tights and headed outside for a run. It was a little nippier than it’s been so far this fall and I almost got too warm in my full length tights. Apparently, my shins like the feeling of fresh air when I run!
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Thursday
Cycling: 10 miles
• Average speed: 17.1 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 8:05 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
It was 32° F and raining hard (it never turned over to freezing rain or sleet as forecasted) when I hopped on my spin bike. Not that I would have ridden outside if it hadn’t been raining; so much for my promise to myself to ride outside this winter…
Friday
Drive to farm
Strength training: 12 minutes of core
Walking: 1 mile
• Average pace: 14:21 minutes/mile
• Elevation gain: 65 feet
• Start time: 3:54 PM
• Location: gravel country road
• Weather: 38° F, cloudy, and blustery
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, down vest, and mittens
After sitting in the car for six hours, I had to get out for a walk.
Saturday
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:29 minutes/mile
• Elevation gain: 279 feet
• Start time: 7:57 AM
• Location: gravel country roads
• Weather: 29° F (feels like 21°F ) and sunny
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, nylon shell, gloves, mittens, and ear warmer headband
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
I just happened to see my favorite photographer (my hubby) out on a walk and had him take this picture which I think turned out great!
Questions:
- • Do you have any travel plans coming up during the holidays? ~ Our trip to the farm was our last trip for 2022, but there might be a trip to Florida in mid-January…
- • What was your favorite workout of the week? ~ No doubt Saturday’s run at the farm was my favorite workout!
- • Did you run in a race this past weekend? ~ No
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
That photo is a good one! My favorite run of the week was on Wednesday when I ran in the sloppy weather on the trails and saw a lot of deer. It was peaceful and they weren’t afraid of me, which made for a really nice experience. No more races until January for me.
Peaceful trail runs are so relaxing!
That is a great photo! My favorite run was my first one in Aruba last Monday. Always nice to feel the sand and hear the ocean. That’s nice that you were all together to celebrate the holidays. No races for me until probably a Valentines race inFebruary. Have a great week!
Your run in Aruba sounds delightful!
Great photo of you running! We don’t have any plans until maybe spring. I really wanted to go somewhere warm this winter but it’s just not in the cards.
There were bikers out on last week’s snowy run but we’re tough up here.
Definitely tougher than me! I can run, but just can’t ride in this cold weather.
You took some great running photos this week! It’s always a treat to have your fav photographer along, right? Ha! I haven’t mastered the art of action shots of myself, so I only get them when he’s with.
Pablo the farm dog! I love it.
We are not going back to the US this year, but meeting some friends in Finland for Christmas. I’m excited!
Thanks, Jessie! And yes, Pablo would make a great farm dog as long as he could come inside and snuggle with his humans at night. 🙂
Nice action shot in the holiday attire 😉 Since I’m streaking everyday, it’s hard to remember each run, LOL, but Wednesday’s 3-miler in the noontime sun was pretty nice. So Pablo enjoyed himself on the farm, huh!
Thanks, Kim! And yes, I bet those daily runs do all blend together.
Cute tights!
My fave run was Friday with Scooby, even though it was all in the dark. It felt good to be outside.
Happy almost Christmas!
Thanks, Coco!
love your holiday attire… I need some festive tights!
No race this weekend.. not until New Year’s. No holiday travel wither… looking forward to Fla in Feb.
All my runs were alone… except Monday so that was my favorite.
Thanks, Darlene! I got those capris and tights several years ago and it’s fun having them during the holidays.
The photo your husband took of you is great! I really like your festive leggings too!
I had some good sessions in the gym this week but I think my favourite workout was our 9,5 km walk today. It was so refreshing to go out for a good walk after two weeks of too cold weather.
Thanks, Susanne, it’s nice when my hubby is with me and can be my photographer. In this case, he was taking a walk while I was out running and luckily our paths crossed at such a pretty place.
Yes, that is a great picture and it looks like an amazing place to run. I don’t know how I missed your last post, but I’m going back to read it now. I love gift guides!
It’s so pretty at the farm, and the gravel and hills make running a lot more challenging than in my little neighborhood. I definitely have to work a lot harder to run similar paces.
Haha, photographer-husbands can be very useful, right?
Sitting in a car for hours is the worst, I would need to walk as well. Is the farm still operating, with cattle and the like? What a wonderful place it must be.
Yes, photographer husbands are so useful! 😉
The farm was an operating dairy and beef farm until 1987 when my dad semi-retired by selling the dairy cattle (the most time consuming part). Ten years later my parents sold the beef cattle, machinery, and all of the property except for ten acres. It’s a fabulous place to visit!
I forgot to add that the man who bought the land has continued to farm it with beef cattle. He’s very nice and doesn’t mind if we explore our favorite spots when we visit.
Family time on the farm sounds fun! Looks like you have a good array of festive running tights! We are not travelling for Christmas but we have a few out of town guests who will be joining us. My runs lately have been run/walks. I still don’t want to push too hard post-Covid.
I hope you’re recovering completely and quickly from Covid. Enjoy your holidays!
Your husband took a great photo – that’s an awesome running shot!
The early Christmas celebration sounds like a lot of fun, and Pablo enjoyed it too!
Thanks, Kim! Yes, we had so much fun celebrating Christmas with my mom.
Where would you go in Florida? Let me know!
We are planning a trip to Tampa before the year is out. I’m cautiously optimistic.
We have a couple of options. One is to go to Tampa to see the kids and Pablo before they move to Charlotte. We’d spend a few days with friends in Naples (several of our friends have retired to or snowbird in Naples. We might also head toward Miami to meet a good friend for a day or so (or meet him halfway). It’s still up in the air, but that’s the likely scenario.
That is a great action shot! And I love your festive tights – I keep saying I need to get something for the season.
Sounds like a great family gathering! No more travel for us this year. I’m looking forward to some quiet days at home 🙂
Thanks, Michelle!
Quiet days at home during the holidays are so enjoyable. Enjoy yours!