Spring Pink
Locally, our trees are showing off their varying shades of pink. Redbuds, cherry, apple, and dogwoods. Even the tulips are trying to get in on the action. Each time I leave my house for a walk or to drive to work, the trees seem to get a little bit prettier. Now if it would just warm up…
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: 20.2 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.4 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 8:57 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in basement, 61° and cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Walking: 2.07 miles
• Average pace: 15:37 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 88 feet
• Start time: 11:16 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 58°, cloudy, breezy, and misty
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, and mittens over gloves
After feeling somewhat blah the day before, I was set on getting in a good workout. I started the morning on my spin bike before heading out for my walk. I should have reversed the activities because by the time I got out for my walk, the wind had picked up and it had started misting.
With my workouts behind me, I took a quick shower and got ready for church. Unfortunately, the weather had me driving over, rather than walking.
Monday
Strength training: 30 minutes of lower body and core
Cycling: 9.8 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin / Peloton Power Zone and Endurance EDM Ride with Ben Alldis
• Average speed: 17.5 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 10:52 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 67° in basement, 45° and cloudy with a light rain outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
If Saturday had been a 1-2 on the energy scale, this day was a 10 (1 = low energy, 10 = high). In fact, late in the day it dawned on me that I felt really good, the best in 8 weeks since my appendix ruptured!
Tuesday
Cycling: 10 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.6 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:57 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 64° in basement, 36° and partly cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Walking: 2.11 miles
• Average pace: 16:29 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 63 feet
• Start time: 4:28 PM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 46° (feels like 41°), mostly sunny, and windy
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, light puffer jacket, visor, and mittens over gloves
The parkway was exploding with redbud trees blooming so I planned my walk accordingly and wasn’t disappointed. The wind was blowing like crazy, though, and I had to hold my visor on when walking into the wind.
Wednesday
Strength training: 45 minutes of lower and some upper body and core
Walking: 3.15 miles
• Average pace: 15:25 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 77 feet
• Start time: 9:26 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 38° and sunny
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, down jacket, visor, and mittens over gloves
Nap time: 1 hour 27 minutes
It was a gorgeous, albeit cold morning – we were under a freeze warning until 9 AM (it got down to 29°). I’d planned to walk in the afternoon, but when a client canceled, I took advantage of my newfound spare hour. While on my walk I was amused by the mixed messages of these two road signs. LOL
Thursday
Cycling: 20 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.6 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:28 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°in basement, 43° and drizzly outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Kim and I joined forces for our weekly Thursday morning virtual cardio workout. I work out in my sports bra and put on a tank for the picture; and yes, for the second week in a row I chose my tank based on Kim’s selection, going for matchy-matchy rather than coordinating colors.
Although I’m getting tired of blogging about my health, it’s worth noting that I saw my urologist during the afternoon and scheduled exploratory surgery for April 25 where she will go in with a camera up through my urethra into my bladder and on into my right ureter to see the extent of damage done to my ureter during the appendectomy. Another surgery will follow to fix the ureter and I’m praying for the simplest one of the three possibilities – a simple resection after cutting the damaged section away. The third and most complicated option if the entire length of the ureter is damaged sounds terrifying.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Back up to an hour of total body strength training after my skin cancer surgery, I was selective on what upper body exercises I did. Prior to this procedure I hadn’t gotten back up to 100% in weight on a few exercises since my appendectomy, and once again reduced the weights even more. One of the days I’ll get back to where I was on February 10th.
Saturday
Cycling: 6.6 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin / Fitbit 20-Minute Cycling Intervals
• Average speed: 17.1 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:58 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63° in basement, 41° and cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Cycling: 3.9 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin / Peloton Low Impact Ride with Denis Morton
• Average speed: 16.5 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 8:23 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in basement, 44° and cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Cycling: 40 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.0 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 11:57 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in basement, 51° and mostly cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
I took a look at the Dawn Patrol Great American Ride stats and didn’t like where I stood (yes, I’m that competitive). So rather than going for a walk after my two earlier short spins, I got back on my bike for another ride.
I’d finally read Where the Crawdads Sing back in February so I pulled up the movie and watched while riding. Once finished with the movie, I watched the Masters to fill in the remainder of my time on the bike.
And at the end of all that riding I wanted to take a nap, but rallied instead and went to church for our Saturday Palm Sunday vigil.
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog last week, here’s what you missed…
- • Sunday – Weekly RunDown: March 30 – April 6 / Riding Across America… Virtually and with Friends
- • Tuesday – Dodging Alligators while Riding through Shark Valley in Everglades National Park
Questions:
- • Are you competitive? ~ yes (both with myself and others, but mostly with myself)
- • Do you watch the movie of books you’ve read? ~ Sometimes, but I’m usually disappointed with the movie.
- • 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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Yay! Glad to hear you’re slowly but surely returning to normal. And, I was wondering if you and Kim coordinated outfits when I saw the photo on her blog. And- that really is an explosion of pink! SO pretty! Your weather does sound chilly though- I’m surprised the trees are blooming so early.
Ha- those signs are funny.
I am trying to let go of being competitive (with myself) but it’s hard!
I am sorry you are experiencing health issues, but appreciate you sharing about them. I hope the simple option is what you need and that it works.
The trees really are pretty!
Love your virtual workout with Kim – so so fun. And I LOOOVE all the pink!! We’re starting to have some blossoms here but the weather is still so iffy here.
Those trees are so beautiful! We don’t have much spring colors around here yet. I’m praying that the easiest option for the healthcare will get you all fixed up! You have been on quite a journey so far.
Sorry to read that you will need more surgery. I am ready for less rain this week was awful. I know we need it though!
I am always disappointed with the movie. It’s never as good as the book.
Sorry about all your medical problems. I hope you’re done after this.
Yes I raced. and the weather sucked…. snow & rain and I froze.
Thanks for sharing the flower pics. Nothing here yet.
Just this past week the trees have released their colorful blooms…well, most of them. Not much pink yet, but LOTS of white everywhere. Nonetheless, they look beautiful and are a sure sign the weather is headed in the right direction. Those two road signs, LOL!
Those trees are absolutely AMAZING!!!!
I’m sorry about the medical issues and procedures you have to go through. I hope it will be enough with the least invasive option possible. I understand it’s all terrifying and frustrating.
I’m only competitive with myself! There’s no point trying to compete with anyone else – I’m only interested in seeing myself be better than I used to be (in whatever context).
Wow, you were seriously on a spring mission, Debbie! Biking, walking, flower-spotting, and even coordinating outfits! I’m always amazed at how much energy you bring, even with the weather, flying visors, and upcoming surgeries in the mix. So great to hear you finally felt really good again – that sounds like a major turning point!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for April 25 – here’s hoping for the simplest option and a smooth fix.
Sending spring vibes from Zurich!