Winding Down for the Big Event
Today’s the Reston Century so if you’re reading this anytime between 5:30 AM and 2’ish PM, I’ll be out riding 100 miles. In preparation, I cut back my workouts leading up to the weekend’s ride.
Overview of the Week
Before getting into each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Walking: 5K / 1 mile
• Average pace: 14:49 minute/mile / not timed
• Elevation gain: 267 feet / not sure
• Start time: 9:07 AM / 7:25 PM
• Location: son and d-i-l’s neighborhood / son and d-i-l’s neighborhood
• Weather: 77°, sunny, and humid; climbing to 80° (feels like 85°) / 84° and humid
• What I wore: shorts, tank, and visor / shorts and t-shirt
Pablo didn’t go with me on my morning walk, but he’s a lot cuter than me, so enjoy this picture of him from our walk the previous night (no pictures were taken on Sunday evening’s Pablo walk).
Monday
Cycling: 33 miles
• Average speed: 12.1 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 745 feet
• Start time: 9:59 AM
• Location: Little Sugar Creek Greenway Trail SC border to Uptown loop
• Weather: 86° (feels like 97°) and mostly sunny, climbing to 93° (feels like 103°)
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, and fingerless gloves
While the kids worked, my husband and I drove to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway to ride south to the NC/SC border and then turn to ride to Uptown Charlotte and back. The heat and humidity made up for the flat trail making it feel quite difficult by the end. I’m hoping to get a full recap up in the next few days.
Tuesday
Rest day / drive home
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 5K
• Average pace: 14:24 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 131 feet
• Start time: 7:05 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 68° and sunny
• What I wore: shorts, tank, and visor
I had a last-minute client cancelation and used my unexpected spare time wisely with a walk.
Thursday
Walking: 5K
• Average pace: 15:11 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 119 feet
• Start time: 6:01 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 68° and sunny
• What I wore: shorts, tank, and visor
With the days gradually getting shorter, the hour difference between our time zones is becoming all the more noticeable when Kim and I meet for our weekly virtual cardio workouts. I skipped my run and walked hoping my legs would be as fresh as possible for my upcoming century ride.
Collage credit: Kim
Friday
Strength training: 35 minutes of upper body and core
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
With the Reston Century ride coming up on Sunday, I opted to take it easy on my legs and give them a break from lifting.
Saturday
Walking: 4 miles
• Average pace: 15:51 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 133 feet
• Start time: 9:02 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 71° and sunny with low humidity, climbing to 74°
• What I wore: short, t-shirt, and visor
Still keeping it easy on my legs, I texted my friend Betsy to see if she was available for a walk. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for getting outside!
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
Questions
- • Do you love or hate tapering? ~ I don’t mind it at all. I know a lot of people make a big deal out of the taper crazies, but it never bothered me. I always felt that I’d put in the work and it was time to let my body rest for the big event!
- • Which workouts were your most enjoyable, toughest, and/or memorable? ~ Monday’s ride in the heat was tough during the last half when I got a really bad headache from either dehydration, over heating, or not taking in enough calories. It went away as soon as I got back to the house, drank more water, and ate something substantial.
- • Did you run in race this 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.
No race but 12 miles with friends was the best workout… the weather cooperated too.
I know from Strava that you did it!!! Congrats!
There are no secrets with social media! LOL
Oooh, I can’t wait to hear all about your ride!
That photo of you and Kim really does how a drastic difference in daylight! Kind of crazy. And, Pablo is definitely a cutie. All Pablo photos are welcome!
Say tuned for next week’s rundown to read all about it – I decided to do a mini recap there rather than a full separate recap.
I LOVE me some taper! Like you said, when the taper hits, we’ve done all we can at that point and it’s time to relax (a bit) and let all the work do its thing as we prepare for the big day. I’m excited to hear more about the century ride!
I’ll tell you all about the century on Thursday.
Pablo certainly is cute!
It makes sense to go easy on the legs before a race. I hope you’ll enjoy the ride!
My leg and shoulder strength session was my best workout this week but the feeling that walking starts to work better was likely the most memorable moment.
Yay for comfortable walks and good sessions in the gym!
Congrats on your Reston Century ride!! Looking forward to reading about it.
I don’t mind tapering either – in fact, I quite enjoy it. It feels a bit like an early pre-race reward for all the hard work.
Oh, I like that… tapering feels “like an early pre-race reward for all the hard work.” And thanks, it was a tough, but fun ride.
Tapering often makes me anxious. It was a hot day for the Reston Century (as it usually is) looking forward to reading all about it
It certainly got hot toward the end, but it was 59° when we rolled out of our driveway at 5:33 AM. Stay tuned, I plan to write a mini recap as part of next week’s rundown.
I’m not sure which is more awesome.crazy — 100 miles or 33 being part of a taper! Congratulations!
The time zone difference is funny. Love your tradition though
LOL, on the 33 miles. If it had been a race instead of a tour, I might have skipped that longer ride (and in ridiculous heat and humidity).
Yes, Kim’s a trouper for getting up so early for our workouts.
I’m sure by now you’re done, so congrats! So impressive, I can’t imagine cycling that far!
Love the Pablo pics…i’m surprised you don’t have your own dog you really seem to love him! 🙂
I don’t mind tapering either for exactly the reason you mention, but I do start to stress about what I’m eating and how it will affect me come race day, whereas I don’t stress about it as much during training.
Thanks, Jessie!
Yes, we do love Pablo and have talked about getting a dog, but just never have. At this point, I think I’d judge all dogs based on Pablo’s excellent behavior and no other dog could measure up. 😉
Totally with you on the taper, and I hope the ride went great! I can also picture where you did that training ride in NC now. 🙂
Wow, what a difference an hour makes! Although it’s really due to the time zone thing — I can remember that from living in TX.
Yes, and also where we live within the timezone. I’m on the eastern end and can tell a difference even when I’m visiting the farm six hours west of us. Not sure where Kim lives within her time zone, though, but there’s definitely a one hour minimum difference.