Yes, I Count Gardening as a Workout

I spend a lot more time gardening in the fall and spring than I do the rest of the year, and yes, I count those hours as workouts. We have a lawn service that mows each week (my husband highly encouraged me to give up that favorite chore after multiple skin cancer diagnoses), but I still enjoy doing many of the other chores that I could farm out.

During October, I prune back our foundation bushes (think six hours of squats). Fall cleanup also includes cleaning out the perennial garden – another couple of hours of bending and cutting back dead flower stalks and carrying them off into the woods. And finally, chairs, tables, etc. need to be carried into the garden shed for storage during the winter (think farmers carries).

Leaves (like windows), though, I don’t do leaves and leave that fall chore to my husband. 😉

 

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

Cycling: 34.3 miles
• Bike: Specialized Roubaix Comp
• Average speed: 13.3 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: 1,460 feet
• Start time: 11:42 AM
• Location: W&OD Trail Ashburn/Hamilton loop
• Weather: 54° and partly cloudy, climbing to 60° and sunny
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, jacket, fingerless gloves over nitrile gloves

My husband planned our ride to take us by the fairgrounds during a local cyclocross race where we watched our VeloPigs fearless leader race. It was our first time attending an event like this and I’m still not sure exactly how it works. I think riders go through the challenging course multiple times for a certain amount of time. Maybe whoever gets the most laps wins? Whatever the case, it’s a great sport to spectate because you see the riders many times at several different locations. Obviously, I won’t be asked to be a spokesperson for cyclocross. LOL

 

Monday

Strength training: 1 hour of total body

Walking: 2.04 miles
• Average pace: 15:28 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 116 feet
• Start time: 4:58 PM
• Location: neighborhood streets
• Weather: 64° and mostly sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, and visor

Fighting the early signs of a cold, I took an afternoon nap and later multitasked by walking to the grocery store to pick up a rotisserie chicken for dinner.

 

Tuesday

Walking: 3.17 miles
• Average pace: 15:22 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 57 feet
• Start time: 10:51 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 62° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt pushed up to elbows, and visor

Gardening: 2 hours

I took a walk to check out the Halloween decorations in our community. Halloween has become quite the event for elaborate (and grotesque) decorations for some of my neighbors. I’m much more of a fan of cute little ghosts (bottom center) rather than the creepy stuff, though.

 

Later in the afternoon I finished the fall hedge pruning, working on my puffball nemeses (I’d completed all of the other foundation hedges last week). I prune the puffballs every October and they hold their shape until August/September before sprouting enough new growth to look like one big blob.

 

Wednesday

Strength training: 1 hour of total body

Gardening: 1 hour

Walking: 2.11 miles
• Average pace: 16:34 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 72 feet
• Start time: 7:24 PM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 68° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: shorts and s/s shirt pushed up to elbows

I went for an evening walk to see the Halloween decorations lit up and they were as creepy as expected!

 

Thursday

Walking: 4.06 miles
• Average pace: 15:36 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 110 feet
• Start time: 5:30 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 55° and clear
• What I wore: shorts, l/s shirt, and gloves

Gardening: 1.5 hours

I lucked out with fantastic walking weather, but Kim was stuck inside thanks to rain and wind during our weekly virtual cardio/chat sesh.

Later in the morning, instead of going for a bike ride, I cleaned out the perennial bed. I’m not quite finished with fall cleanup, but I’m getting closer!

 

Friday

Strength training: 1 hour of total body

Balance and stretching: 45 minutes

 

Saturday

Cycling: 16.5 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.2 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 8:18 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in basement
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra

Walking: 3.08 miles
• Average pace: 15:19 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 144 feet
• Start time: 9:55 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 53° and mostly sunny, climbing to 56° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, visor, and gloves

I had to teach a class during the afternoon so I kept my workouts on the shorter side and close to home. That didn’t stop me from taking pictures of the still beautiful fall leaves during my walk, though.

 

Last Week’s Blog Posts

In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…

 

Questions:
  • • Which is your style: creepy or cute (if either) Halloween decorations? ~ cute
  • • Do you enjoy doing gardening chores? ~ I really enjoy most; however cleaning up leaves and spreading mulch are no longer in my wheelhouse. 😉
  • • 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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