Birthday Miles, err Kilometers
For the last several years on my birthday – probably since the onset of social media – I’ve been running or cycling miles equivalent to (or an abbreviated version of) the number of years old I’m turning. Last year after a particularly difficult 66-mile ride, I decided there would be nothing wrong with switching to kilometers, and that’s exactly what I did this year.
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
Drive home from the farm
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 2.08 miles
• Average pace: 15:35 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 92 feet
• Start time: 4:25 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 74° and sunny, dropping to 72°
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
Tuesday
Cycling: 15.1 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.1 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:46 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in basement
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Walking: .53 miles / 3.08 miles
• Average pace: 15:25 minute/mile / 14:36 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 50 feet / 145 feet
• Start time: 12.00 PM / 12:09 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 56° mostly sunny, and breezy
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, and visor
Call me a wimp, but the wind kept me from riding my bike outside, opting instead to stay inside on my spin bike. My walk is broken into two segments because I accidentally hit save rather than resume after stopping for a brief moment to talk to a neighbor.
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Gardening: 1 hour
I wrapped up my fall cleanup after cutting back these begonias and a few other plants which had frozen overnight. I could have covered them to extend their life another week or so, but it’s mid-November and I was ready to say goodbye. This picture was taken while they were still frozen – they turned browned as soon as they thawed…
Thursday
Walking: 4.16 miles
• Average pace: 14.52 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 153 feet
• Start time: 5:29 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 38° and mostly cloudy
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, puffer jacket, knit hat, and gloves with mittens on top
Cycling: 41.6 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.3 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:53 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 64° in basement
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Cycling: 0.000416 mile
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Average speed: coasting
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 0 feet
• Start time: 4:02 PM
• Location: my garage
• Weather: 59° in garage
• What I wore: capris and s/s shirt
At 38° for us both, I lucked out with fantastic weather for walking, but Kim was dealing with wind so while I ventured outside she stayed inside on her treadmill. It was my 67th birthday, but I didn’t want to walk 67 or 6.7 miles and since 67 kilometers is 41.6319 miles, I walked 4.16 miles.
A little later, I hopped on my spin bike and rode 41.6 miles, and then just to be silly I got on my gravel bike and rode 0.000416 mile (26.3 inches) in the garage since it was raining outside. I forgot to take a picture while on my spin bike so I snapped one later while my husband was riding.
After all that walking and cycling, we went out with friends for dinner and drinks making for a fantastic day of celebrating.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
I continued my birthday celebrations with my family – it was the best!
Saturday
Hiking: 2.42 miles
• Average pace: 23.09 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 258 feet
• Start time: 1:48 PM
• Location: Red Rock Wilderness Overlook
• Weather: 54°, sunny, and breezy; climbing to 58°
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, jacket, visor, and gloves
We woke up to a blustery day so we skipped going out for a bike ride, opting instead to hike at a park that runs along the Potomac River.
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: November 3 – 9 /Great Fall Weather, Getting Back on My Bike, and a Trip to the Farm
- • Tuesday – Watching for Bison While Cycling Through Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Questions:
- • Do you do any fun type challenges on your birthday? ~ I do and have for several years.
- • Do you enjoy hiking? ~ We do, but rarely go for hikes. We need to change that!
- • Did you run in a race this weekend? ~ nope
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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Ha, I saw that 0.000416 mile of cycling and I was wondering what was going on
What a brilliant idea! I love how you did it both walking AND cycling!
And going with kilometres instead of miles is absolutely fine with me – that’s what I would do by default!
You do not look 67! How do you do it, Debbie? Tell us your secret!
The 0.000416-mile bike ride was a joke between my friend Craig and me. We came up with the idea over dinner last week. 😉
And thank you for your kind compliment! I don’t know what my secret is other than my genes. My dad always looked much younger than his age.
I had to laugh because I’m so old that I have to convert my birthday runs into Kms instead of miles.
I agree, you look much younger than your age!!
Happy belated bday.
I used to hike all the time and lately I have not.. gotten lazy. I need to rekindle that activity.
No race but I have a fun 5k next Sunday.
Thanks, Darlene! I’m really starting to notice loose skin between my cheeks and chin, though. 🙁
Have fun at your 5K next weekend!
Happy Birthday!!!! I always like to do something special on my birthday, but I will not be running 59 miles this year! I’ll have to think about this… maybe I can use your mile-km conversion trick.
Your hike looks beautiful! I would definitely hike more if I lived in your area.
Definitely feel free to borrow my kilometers instead of miles trick! BTW, you’re going to be 59? I would never have guessed!
Hope your ribs start feeling better soon!
I’m glad I could be a part of your birthday celebration (on the ‘mill and the margarita later, LOL). As you know, I do the Week of Pi every year (the past four years), but prior to that I would do a 3.14-mile run on my birthday regardless.I also know 3.14 km is about 1.95 miles…so I have walked that distance before as a bonus birthday fitness gig. The things we do!
I forgot to mention the picture of the margarita toast you sent! I love your week of Pi tradition. 😀
I missed the 0.000416-mile bike ride on Strava. How funny! Sounds like a great birthday week. I do run my birthday miles (divided by 10!). Very pretty area you hiked in on Saturday. All the crunchy leaves!
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I didn’t use my Garmin for the 0.000416-mile ride so there wasn’t a Strava post. Instead, I measured 26.3 inches on the garage floor and marked it with chalk, then coasted past the marks. LOL
Ha! No shame in the kilometer game! Great job, especially on the indoor bike. How did you keep yourself occupied?
I do love hiking but since I spend so much time running on the trails, I don’t do much hiking. I can see as I age and running becomes too much, I will switch to hiking.
I could see that – if I was still trail running, I wouldn’t go back to the trails to hike. Hiking sounds like a great transition for you. Some day, way out in the future.
Happy birthday!
I like to run on my birthday, and if it happens to fall on a local race, even better.
I also love hiking, but the places close to me aren’t fantastic. I have to drive about an hour away to get to a decent trail, and that can be challenging, especially since no one ever wants to go with me. Boo.
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I ran one of my marathons on my birthday. It was great!
Happy Birthday! You did a lot more celebrating than I was able to.
No birthday miles of any kind for me (well, I did walk Scooby …) but I did get to have brunch with my son and his wife and visit my mom, and that’s what really matters. 😉
Hope you’re feeling better.
Happy birthday! So many birthdays this week! I’m glad you had some enjoyable celebrations.
That park looks fantastic for some nice walking. I love hiking, but hiking doesn’t love me… but I’ll change that.
Your begonia looks beautiful! You inspired me to get some begonias for indoors now. We need some plants in this house.
Thank you! I hope you’re able to start hiking again – you’d have so many opportunities to take pictures. Enjoy your begonias!
Happy belated birthday! How fun to mark it with a virtual friend workout – LOVE the idea of swapping to KM if you need to. Also you look so young! I never would’ve guessed your age.
Thanks, Melissa!