This week was all about my birthday! I truly appreciate all the birthday wishes on my birthday post, Facebook, and Instagram. It really is nice to be showered with kind thoughts all day, and to hear from friends near and far.
Celebrating My Birthday
I try to be careful with my personal information, but this week I was reminded of how many companies know my birthday when I received emails with special birthday offers. The place I go for massages offered me a good discount, as did my favorite running store. I had to redeem my Starbucks birthday reward on my birthday, but Panera gave me a bit more time to select a birthday treat from their bakery.
It wasn’t a birthday offer per se, but the registration fee for the 2019 Anthem Richmond Half Marathon was at its lowest last week, and since it will be on my birthday next year, I couldn’t resist. I also couldn’t resist the VIP package–a birthday girl deserves VIP treatment, right?–so I ended up spending a fortune on this birthday bargain, but at least now I know how I will be celebrating my birthday next year. 😉
Wrapping Up My Birthday Week
My birthday week started off slowly, but I jammed in a lot of great workouts at the end of the week. Here’s the full run down for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly and Wendy.
Monday: Strength Workout
After running Saturday and cycling Sunday, I was ready for a strength workout on Monday. I finally remembered to wear my Orange Theory Hell Week t-shirt, and think it looks pretty great.
No burpees this week!
Tuesday: Strength Workout
My legs were still tired, so I opted for another strength workout at home, focusing on upper body and core.
Scooby is not impressed with my planking.
Wednesday: Cyclebar
By Wednesday I was itching to move again, and had a blast in Francina’s mash-up ride. Every time I thought a break was coming because a song was ending, it mashed right into another one.
I always take extra time to stretch after spinning.
Thursday: 5 mile run
I was dressed for yoga, but with “winter weather” heading our way, I decided I should get to the office before all hell broke loose on the roads. After I walked Scooby I grabbed my running gear, headed in to D.C., and ran there. I made it about a mile before it started sleeting.
The weather must have kept the tourists away — I had Lincoln all to myself.
By the time I was ready to start my work day it was snowing for real.
Yes, this amount of snow closed schools because the roads were not treated!
Friday (My Birthday): Orange Theory Fitness
Luckily the roads were clear for my dark o’clock drive to OTF–I wouldn’t want to miss my birthday splat points!
The workout was tough. We did drop sets for the first block of floor exercises, and my biceps told me that I definitely have been neglecting them in my strength routine. I could not even do 6 slow reps with 20 lbs weights! The treadmill workout also was humbling. For the first block we had a rare 8 minute run (no intervals), starting at 4% incline and dropping the incline by 1% every 2 minutes. I started out too fast and had to slow down significantly, although I was able to pick up the pace again for the last minute at 1%. For the second block we did the same thing for 4 minutes, dropping the incline by 1% every minute. I ran faster than my usual outdoor pace, but slower than my usual OTF paces.
My Starbucks app opened with this reminder to use my birthday reward. I went for the lemon pound cake–and, yes, enjoyed it for breakfast. 🙂
Saturday: 9 miles run with Scooby!
I meant to run about 8.5 miles, but when my Garmin showed 8.85 miles when we got back to my street, I couldn’t stop there. Scooby did great, although he was more interested in squirrels this week.
I had barely caught my breath when he started dashing after a squirrel.
Sunday: 22 mile bike ride
After being so cold on last week’s ride, I was dreading this ride, but it seemed a smidge warmer out and I wore a warmer top and warmer gloves. All those factors made for a much better ride, although it still was nicer when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
And that’s a wrap!
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
It is hard to pass up all the birthday coupons. I still get annoyed that you have to use up the Starbucks one so quickly. I never get to use it! How fun to be doing Richmond next year. I have not done it but I hear it ‘s a good one. Happy Thanksgiving!
You should consider Richmond – it gets rave reviews!
I am super impressed that you are still cycling outside! I really am a fair weather rider–once it dips below 60, I’m done.
Glad you had such a great birthday!
I’m trying to figure out the combination of temperature, sunshine and layers that makes it fun!
Glad you had a good week- happy belated birthday! The weather was so gross on Thursday. We ended up with an inch or two of snow in Baltimore but thanks to the ice schools were closed.
Thanks. Schools were closed here because no roads were treated. None!
Happy Birthday! So cool that you signed up for the VIP package for the race in Richmond. So many of my friends have run that race and really love it!
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
What a great Lincoln shot!
It’s weird how/where the bday emails pop up. Any medical I assume got it from my insurance paperwork, but some like DSW I have no recollection of providing it to. I like the ones that give you a little more time, especially as my bday is holiday adjacent.
Glad you had a great birthday week
Yeah, Starbucks is ridiculous. I’ll have to find one on the way from the Half next year!
I luckily know where one is near my brother, but not sure if it will be open with university out of session due to holiday. Will have to hope for the best
Scooby is quite the runner! 9 miles is awesome 🙂 Was he tired afterwards?
Probably but not for long!
Congrats on signing up for the Richmond half! The full was hubby’s first marathon. We love Richmond. I am going to do the half some year. Maybe 2019. Nice run with Scooby, too! 🙂
It would be great to meet you there!
Happy Birthday, Coco! You definitely made the most of celebrating all week, as you should! I’ve always wanted to run a half marathon on my birthday. But they are hard to find that close to Christmas around here. I love your hell week tank! Thanks for linking!
Hooray for birthday week! Boo for sleet. That’s a mess. Look at you cycling in the cold. The lowest temp I’ve cycled in is 28 degrees but that was a couple of years ago. I’m not that brave anymore. Starbucks is ridic with their short-lived birthday offer. Geez.
I’ve been ordered to bring fruit to Thanksgiving. And because MIL insists she’s not “well enough” to make pies she insists we have cookies for dessert. I can make pies all day. But no. Fruit it is.
I’m sure the sleet didn’t help before the snow. I DNS’d my 5k because we had freezing drizzle and freezing fog before snow moved in. That would not have been a fun run.
If I didn’t mention it before, Happy Birthday! It’s almost scary how many companies know so much personal info about us!
That is awesome news about Richmond next year! It’s so fun to have a big event planned on our actual birthday.
Glad your birthday was such a grand day! I am always so impressed with all the workouts you squeeze in to your week, and such a great variety! And let’s not forget all that time spent with Scooby 😉
Happy Birthday! I ran Richmond a few years ago and loved it!
What a great week! I seemed to spend a fortune doing the early bird thing on my ultra race what with tshirts and the like. Oh well! Hope the snow isn’t too bad there and love the skull vest to mark your terrifying workout achievement!
Ooh… Richmond sounds like a great way to spend your birthday next year 🙂 That was my first half marathon but I haven’t been back since then. I’ve been thinking about doing that race again since I really enjoyed it.
I am making a very similar Brussel salad — it’s a last minute addition. And yes, of course I use the ones from TJs (and the slivered almonds from there, too). Plus some dried cranberries. My recipe doesn’t have parmesan in it but hat sounds good to me. 🙂
Go Scooby (except after those squirrels). Bandit seems to no longer be interested in running. Heck, he actually snarled at me when I tried to get him off the chaise to go for a walk one day this week. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with him, but he has NEVER acted that way with me and I was just so shocked. Great, just in time to have a houseful of guests & a BIL who loves to tease . . .
Remember I lived in TX all those years. We rarely got snow, but ice wasn’t unheard of. And then again, it was a total mess here last week — and we’re USED to the stuff!
Happy Birthday, it stinks you only made it a mile before the sleet came it. Sounds like you took great advantage of your birthday discounts though. Happy running!