Busy Days of No Workouts
I roll my eyes when my clients tell me that they don’t have time to work out, but after the last two weeks, I have a better understanding of what they’re telling me. I always thought they could get up earlier or workout after work, but now I realize that’s not always an option.
We spent a week at the farm and even though I got up by 5:30-6 AM each morning and most nights didn’t make it to bed until 11:30 PM, I didn’t stop. Even though I had no dedicated workouts, I got in over 15,000 steps each day just getting stuff done around the farm.
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: 3.08 miles
• Average pace: 16:08 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 44 feet
• Start time: 11:52 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 75° and sunny, climbing to 78°
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, and visor
My husband and I had planned to ride 20 miles with a breakfast stop in the middle, but after I woke up at 3:25 AM, couldn’t go back to sleep, and got up an hour later, I was feeling a little wiped. We skipped the ride, but I did go out for a walk.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 2.13 miles
• Average pace: 14:37 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 90 feet
• Start time: 8:34 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle and parkway
• Weather: 64° and partly cloudy with 15 MPH wind gusts, dropping to 60°
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, and visor
With gusty wind in the afternoon forecast, I squeezed in a walk between morning clients before it got too windy. I stayed out of the woods for fear of tree branches blowing down on me.
Tuesday
Walking: 3.12 miles
• Average pace: 15:17 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 127 feet
• Start time: 5:37 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 44° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, jacket, headband, and gloves
Cycling: 15 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.3 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 2:06 PM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66° in basement
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
It wasn’t a Thursday, but because I’d be at the farm later in the week with no cell reception, Kim and I met a couple of days early for our virtual cardio workout. It was great to catch up after missing the last two weeks while I was in New England.
Later in the afternoon I reluctantly got on my spin bike for a ride. I’d planned to go out on my road bike, but just didn’t have any interest. That’s three rides I’ve skipped in the past week because I just didn’t feel like riding. I think I’ve got a little burnout and just needed some time out of the saddle.
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Drive to the farm
Thursday
No workouts
Friday
No workouts
Saturday
No workouts
Overview of October 20 – 26
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: ~ 1 mile untimed (tied in with an errand)
Monday
No workouts
Tuesday
Drive home from farm
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 3.08 miles
• Average pace: 16:33 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 162 feet
• Start time: 5:09 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 79° and sunny with very low humidity
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt and visor
Thursday
Gardening: 4.5 hours
I begged out from getting up early to walk with Kim because I felt like I was on the cusp of getting sick and opted to sleep in. Even though I hadn’t set my alarm, I woke up just before 6:30 AM and tried to go back to sleep, but couldn’t so I started my day working on my mile-long todo list. After spending 4 ½ hours during the afternoon pruning hedges, I didn’t have time to go for a bike ride, but I did check everything else off the list.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and Stretching: 45 minutes
It felt great getting back to teaching my balance and stretching class after missing three weeks while in Vermont and at the farm.
Saturday
Walking: 5.04 miles
• Average pace: 15:02 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 193 feet
• Start time: 12:04 PM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 65°, sunny, and breezy, turning cloudy
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt and visor
Cycling: 15 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.5 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 3:58 PM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66° in basement
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Early morning plans kept us from going out for a bike ride, but I had the afternoon open to do whatever I wanted. After my walk in near perfect fall weather, I hunkered down watching college football from the comfort of my spin bike.
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 6 – 12 / Two Autumns are Better than One
- • Tuesday – Bike Tour of the High Trestle Trail
Questions:
- • Do you ever get absolutely overwhelmed with stuff to do and have no time for yourself? ~ Rarely, because I usually just get up earlier to fit it all in.
- • How’s fall looking in your neck of the woods? ~ We’re at peak here where we live and the farm was at peak last weekend.
- • 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!
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Like you, I rarely miss a workout–I just get up earlier–but this week, I had to skip a CrossFit class. I needed to go out see my parents and sort out the situation. I’m glad I did, it needed to be done! The run I did the next day was much needed as well!
Your photos of the trees are beautiful!
Same, I usually just get up earlier, but when the days are long for multiple days it’s tough. I once started a long run at 4 AM so I could be ready in time for my b-i-l’s wedding. 😀
Same as you- if I have a lot going on, I just wake up earlier to fit in a workout. I need those endorphins to get through it all! Unless I’m on vacation in an unfamiliar place or somewhere that I’d wake up my kids, that’s how I get it done.
That’s great that you have the discipline to do that! Not everyone does.
Busyness totally sucks the energy; more so than actual physical activity. It robs a lot of mental energy as well. I’m trying to enjoy all the beauty of fall since our trees are really showcasing their colors at long last. Give me a call if/when you need to recharge <3
It’s such a joy being outside on a beautiful fall day! And thanks, I’ll take you up on that – “see” you Thursday!
The colors have been beautiful this year. I wish I had more time to enjoy them.
Working and travelling has had me feeling that I’m never going to catch up.
Running has been minimal but hopefully enough to finish26. 2 miles.
Workouts at the gym have been sparse as a result of the above.
One more week (right?) and then you’ll hopefully have a little more time without those long runs hanging over your head. You’ve got this!
It sounds like you just needed a break. You’ve been traveling a lot and doing a lot of big rides- you probably just needed some down time! Everything goes in cycles. Including the seasons- you fall photos are beautiful!!! I’m just down in here in hot, sunny Florida enjoying it all vicariously.
You’re probably right. I did feel a bit of burnout, something that NEVER happened with running. 🙁
The farm has no cell reception?! I love that!!! It must be absolutely beautifully rural there. Is your mum doing ok?
I wouldn’t worry about not following a strict regimen of structured workouts for a couple of weeks. First of all, you are very disciplined and secondly, you have had a very active biking summer/autumn. A break in the routine can work wonders!
Correct, we have to drive a few miles to get cell reception. We have StarLink at the house so as long as we’re there, we’re good.
Thanks for the words of encouragement!
Sometimes getting through the day is a big enough workout on it’s own! My Garmin has been showing low numbers for my HRV and sleep scores ever since I returned from our European vacation so I made sleep a priority this week. I was so happy to see my scores all within normal ranges by the end of the week. Take care! Hope your stress level is lowering as well as your workload.
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Weekly workouts – decision made
Thanks, Lisa! It’s good to know that you’re getting back on track after your trip abroad.
Sometimes I have a hard time fitting in exercise when I’m traveling with others and don’t want to hold them up while I do my thing. Seems like a similar situation to your week. Or when I’m traveling alone and have an early flight. Election day will be a challenge since I have to be at the site from 4:45 am until 8 pm. I could walk there but I’ll need to bring enough snacks to get me through the day, so I’ll probably drive.
I hear you. It’s tough fitting workouts in when you’re working around other people’s schedules and don’t want to make it all about you.
I always have my workouts in my weekly schedule and fit everything else in around them, but that hasn’t always been the case and I’m well aware it’s very hard to make time for exercise if you have a busy life and work full-time for someone else. When I worked as a nurse I couldn’t imagine going to the gym as well even if I wanted to, I was overwhelmed enough as it was. Even if I had made it happen, with that kind of nursing job, the adequate nutrition and especially sleep would have been impossible! I’m very blessed now to be more flexible.
I like how you add gardening as a workout! That is definitely some hard work!
It’s great that you have more flexibility for working out in your schedule now. I have the flexibility to easily fit workouts into my schedule and often workout between clients or when I have a client cancelation. My week at the farm was very different.
I pay close attention to my Whoop and don’t want to be in the “red” for sleep quality and HRV, so I will skip a workout if needed if I’m busy all day like you were! You are always so diligent, cut yourself a little slack 🙂
The fall trees are stunning, thanks for sharing the pics.
We are all our own toughest critics. 😉
Fall has lasted longer this year than we can remember in previous years. We haven’t had much rain or wind and that’s allowed the brightly colored leaves to hang on.