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Last DIY Project… For a While
I’ve done it again… While I don’t love painting, I love a good challenge and certainly enjoy the refreshed look a good paint job can give furniture. The past two weeks found me starting two new projects: my little table and two chairs from my childhood and the built-ins in our master bedroom.
The entire time while painting our kitchen table and chairs two weeks ago I couldn’t stop thinking about how great the honey oak stained built-ins in our bedroom would look if I painted them the same color as the trim. And with a forecast of rain last weekend, I took the plunge and started the project!
Overview of the First Week: April 24 – 29
Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from the first week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Cycling: 18 miles
• Average speed: 17.0 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 9:20 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 64°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Sanding and painting: 4 hours
I waffled on joining friends for a gravel ride, but ended up on my spin bike (affiliate link) since I had a busy day ahead and our gravel rides always end up with a group lunch and a later arrival back home.
I also started another DIY project, this time painting my little table and two chairs Santa brought to me when I was about four years old. I’m painting them to match the kitchen table and chairs that I finished last week.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Painting: 5 hours
Tuesday
Cycling: 9 miles
• Average speed: 17.5 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:28 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65°
• What I wore: bike shorts and tank
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:59 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 72 feet
• Start time: 10:50 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails to W&OD Trail
• Weather: 54° and sunny, climbing to 56°
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
Stretching: 10 minutes
Painting: 1 hour 50 minutes
I headed out in search of a pretty tree with magnificent blooms that I could take take a running picture in front of, but didn’t see any so I took a picture on the W&OD Trail. On the way home, I saw a beautiful snowball bush in full bloom that I’d somehow missed on the trip out. I was in too much of a rush to take a picture and hoped it would still be blooming on my next run.
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Painting: 40 minutes
I stand on one leg and use the Swiss ball rather than a bench to add balance and stability when doing bent-over single-arm rows.
Thursday
Cycling: 16 miles
• Average speed: 17.3 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:00 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 64°
• What I wore: bike shorts and tank
Sanding and painting: 5 hours 50 minutes
I have to be honest, if Kim and I weren’t planning to meet for a ride, I probably would have slept in a little bit. I’d awaken at 3:05 AM the day before and couldn’t go back to sleep so I finally just got up at 4:15 (15 minutes before my alarm went off). It’s nice having a friend to keep me accountable even if she’s 953 miles away!
Annnd… I started working on the build-ins in our master bedroom.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Painting: 7 hours 15 minutes
Saturday
Caulking, sanding, and painting: 12 hours 15 minutes
Sadly, I worked on my project all day and didn’t have time for anything else.
Overview of the Second Week: April 30 – May 6
Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from the second week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Painting: 6 hours
Monday
Painting: 5 hours 30 minutes
I finished the built-in unit, but it will take another couple of weeks to paint the fronts and backs of the doors, and tops and bottoms of the shelves. Fortunately, those items will only take a an hour or so each day.
Tuesday
Cycling: 9 miles
• Average speed: 17.4 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
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:19 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 95 feet
• Start time: 11:00 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 52° and cloudy
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, and visor
Stretching: 10 minutes
Painting: 2 hour 45 minutes
I was pleased to see that the weekend’s heavy rain didn’t destroy the snowball blooms I’d discovered on the previous week’s run and I finally got a picture running past them. I also dodged the intermittent rain and got home just before another shower came through.
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Painting: 45 minutes
My clients hate when I have them do panther shoulder taps, but they’re great for strengthening the core, arms, and shoulder. Focus should be on keeping the hips level and core engaged while moving only the arms, alternating touching the shoulder with the opposite hand.
Thursday
Cycling: 15 miles
• Average speed: 16.2 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:00 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°
• What I wore: bike shorts and tank
While wearing my Tequila Squad tank in celebration of Cinco de Mayo eve, I realized that it was May 4th, or for Star Wars nerds, May the Fourth. Once on the bike and riding virtually with Kim, I asked if she was a Star Wars fan. Unfortunately, neither of us are so my idea of a meme celebrating both “holidays” went down the drain. Not to worry, I stuck with the Cinco de Mayo theme and doctored up the collage, Kim made.
After my ride, my husband and I hopped in the car to drive to the farm for an early Mother’s Day visit with my mom.
Friday
Strength training: 10 minutes of core
Walking: 2 miles
• Average pace: 14:46 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 122 feet
• Start time: 8:37 AM
• Location: country gravel roads
• Weather: 43° and sunny, climbing to 49°
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, and nylon shell
The weather was too perfect not to get out for a quick walk on the country roads at the farm to loosen up my body after sitting in the car for so long the previous day.
Saturday
Cycling: 41.5 miles
• Average speed: 10.7 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: gravel
• Elevation gain: 4,042 feet
• Start time: 9:02 AM
• Location: Rockbridge County, Virginia
• Weather: 54° and sunny, climbing to 64°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, and fingerless gloves
We kicked off cycling season with our first gravel grinder event down in the Shenandoah Valley. The scenery was beautiful, but many of the roads had a fresh layer of deep loose gravel making it extremely difficult to ride. More on that on my recap in the next week or so… Despite the difficulty level, we had a fantastic time with our Gravel Rat and VeloPig friends.
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: April 9 – 15 and April 16 – 23 /A RunDown Twofer Thanks to a Huge DIY Project
Questions
- • What’s your favorite core exercise? ~ I like being creative and adding core into other exercises that might not engage the core when done on a bench or in a chair.
- • What was your favorite workout of the week? ~ It was great getting back outside on my bike!
- • Did you run in 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!
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 don’t think I’ve ever put favorite and core in the same sentence, lol, but if I had to pick, I like those jacknives that SJ has me do while balancing on a bench. As my core gets stronger, I’m starting to embrace more of the movements!
My hubs built our built-ins in the family room–he stained them that honey oak color. There’s no way he’d let me paint over them–i think he might cry, lol
“Favorite and core in the same sentence” – good point!
I didn’t think my husband would like the idea of painting the stained built-ins either, but after he saw how well the table turned out, he was all for it!
I admire your excitement and ability to take on DIY projects. I really want to fix up a set of outdoor furniture but not sure how to do it or if I really have the desire to 🙂
I think every exercise recruits your core if you do it right!
Google and YouTube videos become your best friends when tackling a project you’re not sure how to do. As for the desire, that’s a totally different subject. I’m extremely driven by the satisfaction of a job well done. 🙂
Wow, that is a LOT of time spent sanding and painting! I’m sure it looks amazing, and there is something very satisfying about knowing you did it yourself. Of course it’s been a while since I’ve done a big DIY project- maybe you’ll motivate me to tackle some projects around my own house.
I’ve been liking planks and dead bugs lately for core. I’m going to try those panther shoulder taps this week- they look great!
Exactly! The satisfaction of a job well done is what motivates me. Well, that and the estimate I got for having someone else paint my table. LOL
Yes, try the panther shoulder taps and let me know what you think.
I like the good old-fashioned forearm planks, but I also love varying the position. Side planks definitely seem to work my core more (and in a different way). I need to try those panther planks!
Side planks are definitely challenging. Give the panther shoulder taps a try and let me know what you think.
You are a painting machine! How do you do all that?
I didn’t even bother really tracking what I did — but the hiking to the waterfalls was definitely a favorite of the trip. Especially the solo hike when I didn’t have to wait so much. 😉
Hmmm, well both of my parents were very hard workers who could do any kind of DIY project they set their minds to so I guess I got it honestly. 😉
I’m sure you enjoyed your waterfalls hikes, and taking pictures of the falls.
I think it’s great the way you’ve dived into your DIY projects. All that painting and sanding can take so much time!
Those panther shoulder taps are challenging! Your form looks great.
Michelle recently posted…Well Hello May
Thanks, Michelle!
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with my DIY projects!
That core move looks tough. I am pretty good with shoulder taps, but I class I took this week had you put one hand behind your back and that was a whole ‘nother challenge!
I thought of you and your go pro today when a fox ran across the W&OD right in front of me with some prey in its mouth — it was such an amazing sight!
Oh wow, on the fox on the trail! I saw one on our neighborhood trail on Tuesday’s run, but I didn’t have my GoPro with me and he ran before I could get my phone out.
My favourite core exercises are those that I don’t notice, ha!
In Crossfit, they have us doing toes to bar (which I can’t properly manage) but it involves a lot of core strength.
Now we need photos of all your DIY, Debbie! I’m sure it all looks great!
I need to try toes to bar – not sure how good I’d be at it. Do you just hang straight-armed and pull your feet up to the bar? Can you bend your knees?
If all goes as planned, I’ll finish up my last DIY project (for now) tomorrow. I’ll post pictures at our next coffee talk. I just couldn’t pull a post together for last Friday with going to visit my mom.
My favorite core exercise? I honestly don’t know – I like switching it up and doing different videos to try different exercises. I like dead-bug type moves, but planks can hurt so bad/good too! nice job this week:)
Dead bugs are good and take some coordination!
I really want to see this painting job!
Weirdly, I like dead bugs. I don’t know why.
No races this past weekend. We were slammed.
I had planned to write about the two table and chair projects and post pictures in this past Friday’s coffee date, but with going to visit my mom, I just didn’t have time. I know you’re also wanting to paint your table and chairs and my advice is to use Benjamin Moore Stix primer and Advance paint (it’s geared for furniture). If you want to see pictures before our next coffee date, I can email them to you.
That’s a great question about core exercises. I really love russian twists with a medicine ball but I also love all the variations of standing core exercises as well. I find that those don’t bore me as much as traditional core exercises lol
Russian twists are great core exercises!
Looks like a fab week of cycling in the sunshine! and some runs 🙂
Good for you for the DIY projects! I’m impressed!
We were so lucky with the weather for the gravel grinder. I have another one this Saturday and the weather forecast is for storms. Fingers crossed it’s wrong!
You are always working hard, well done! Moreover the good scenery and the perfect weather help a lot.
Unfortunately no more core exercises for me after the bad incident in 2016. Also swimming is very difficult now but ….. I can run!!!!
Maybe I will enter a race this Sunday, an ondulate 11 km but the weather forecast is for heavy rain.
Thank you, Stefano! It’s great to hear from you again!