I like thinking of birthdays as marking trips around the sun. It captures the idea that life is a journey, but instead of trudging along a path to our final destination, we are on a crazy ride we get to do again and again. 
What I don’t like about this analogy is that, while I just celebrated by 53rd birthday, I am starting my 54th trip around the sun. As unbothered as I am about my age, I’m in no hurry to get to the next number.
Starting My 54th Trip Around The Sun
No celebration has been normal this year, but my birthday was everything I wanted it to be. We had a small family dinner on Sunday (my birthday eve), I enjoyed birthday cards and birthday greetings on Facebook, and while I had to work a full day, there were no unpleasant surprises or stressful emergencies.
In a normal year, getting to Starbucks on a Monday for my free birthday drink would not have been a challenge, but this year it required planning and a special trip out of the house.
I’m still annoyed that you have to redeem this reward on your birthday now.
The caramel drizzle was a birthday splurge.
Unrelated to my birthday, I snuck out of the house on Wednesday for another trip to Starbucks–to have a coffee break with Cari! Since “my” Starbucks is only a few minutes off 95S, she was able to fit a short, safely distanced, outside, meet-up into her itinerary on her way to Florida. We both laughed afterwards at forgetting to take a picture again. Next time we’ll remember!
Starting my next trip around the sun, I don’t have any big plans or goals. If I learned anything this year, I learned to plays things by ear and take opportunities when they come. I’m excited at the prospect of things getting back to normal, but know it could be close to my next birthday before most of us are vaccinated.
Weekly Run Down
I did a lot of fun Peloton workouts this week–including workouts that set Peloton apart from other digital fitness offerings. I thought the highlight would be Jess Sims’ Beyonce Bootcamp, but Rebecca Kennedy’s Hunger Games-themed strength workout was amazing in every way.
Monday (my birthday): 1.8 Scooby Miles + 60 min Peloton Bootcamp
I took Scooby on a short run before doing my first workout in the new set up of my basement gym. I always try to hit a round number on the treadmill, but didn’t realize until I was done that the 3.5 treadmill miles and 1.8 miles with Scooby added up to 5.3 miles on my 53rd birthday!
The Beyonce Bootcamp was a great birthday workout. Jess Sims was so excited, the workout was both upbeat and inspirational, and I definitely got a big serving of birthday endorphins.
Tuesday: 35 min Peloton Cycling + 25 min Peloton Strength
Another workout I was excited for this week was the Hamilton Ride. I was so amped up at the end I had to take a cool down ride. 😉
Wednesday: 5.5 Scooby miles + 30 min Peloton Strength
I couldn’t avoid bundling up for a run any longer, so I dug out my winter gear and faced those 30s. Note to self–it felt great!
Thursday: 30 min Peloton Cycling + 40 min Peloton Strength
My plan for the morning was to do Ally Love’s Beyonce ride, which was quite a show! After that I wanted to do a full body strength workout, and am so glad I opted for this one from Halloween. For the whole workout, Rebecca was “R. Katniss Everdeen” leading us through an epic adventure with a well-cued soundtrack as we tried to evade other tributes. It was fun doing a workout with a story line, but the exercises were no joke!
Friday: 3.5 Scooby Miles + 25 min Peloton Strength
I hit the snooze button many times, but my bad habit of checking my workout email first thing paid off, as I saw that my 8:30 am conference call had been pushed to 8:45, so I still had time for a run and strength workout.
Saturday: 6.2 Scooby Miles + 10 min Core + 24 Miles Cycling
My legs did not feel fresh, but I talked myself into 6.2 miles–literally, as I ran. First I planned on a 4-ish mile loop, then I decided I’d do my 5.5 mile loop, then I decided to round it up to 6 miles, then I decided to run all the way to the top of my hill to hit 6.2.
Since it was supposed to be the nicest day of the weekend, I wanted to get a bike ride in too. The sky was grey, but it was in the 60s–amazing weather for a late November ride.
Sunday: 3 mile run + 25 min Peloton Strength + 20 min Peloton Cycling
I woke up earlier than I needed to, and decided to do a little bit of everything before tackling my pre-Thanksgiving to-do list. I was tricked into wearing a t-shirt by the 53F temperature, but there was a brisk breeze that made this run chilly!
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link up. It’s always great for motivation and encouragement, but now it’s especially important for distance socializing. We may be physically apart, but we are in this together!
What pies will be on your Thanksgiving table?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Yay for hitting 5.3 miles on your 53rd birthday! Congratulations!
I didn’t know that Starbucks now prints the orders on a sticker instead of the felt pen scribble. 😊
When I first read about completing your trip around the sun I thought you had covered that distance while running/cycling…. Until I realized how ridiculous that idea is. 😄
That would be quite an accomplishment! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed your birthday! And, how fun that you got to see Cari 🙂
You took some great Peloton classes – I’m bookmarking all of them 😉
They were good ones for sure!
Happy Birthday! And I’m in agreement with you about having to redeem your Starbucks birthday drink on your birthday. I didn’t get there, unfortunately. It’s like they don’t want you to use it…
It’s so stingy!
Happy belated birthday! So glad that you had a great day and that you were able to meet up with Cari. I totally agree with you about Starbucks – I wish they would go back to giving us the whole week to redeem birthday rewards.
I will have to take Rebecca’s Hunger Games theme strength workout – it looks like fun!
I really think you’ll love that workout!
Happy Birthday! Seems like yesterday you were turning 50….me too….time flies. Glad you managed to redeem your Starbucks treat. They are quite stingy these days. How fun to see Cari! We’re going with just pumpkin this year + the Oreo cheesecake. Visions of Dutch apple dance in my head though…
I think we’re going with apple and pecan …. Plenty for 6 people!
Happy Birthday! We’re making apple pie for TG.
That’s my favorite!
happy birthday again! That always annoyed me about the Starbucks coffee. I still have not been since March and I am sure I’ve lost all of my points. Oh well! Glad you got to see Cari that’s fun! We bought a choc pie and a pumpkin pie from Pie Life-have you been there?
have not been there! Baking pies is usually my thing for the holidays. ‘-)
Happy birthday! I totally missed getting Starbucks on my birthday this year. oh well. We’re actually not making any pies. Since its just the 3 of us I’m thinking of just baking cookies or something for dessert.
I’m saving my cookie baking mojo for my Christmas cookies!
I’m glad you had a great birthday, Coco! With no Starbucks nearby (the closest is 20 miles away, and it’s just a little “hub” in a grocery store), I’m totally out of the Starbucks loop on all the rewards. I guess that’s just as well LOL Lots of nice workouts and runs to start that 54th lap 😉
Hah! I’ve got two freestanding Starbucks in the two shopping centers closest to me, and each have different grocery stores with a Starbucks inside. So, if I leave my house at all, it’s convenient. 😉
Yay for hitting 5.3 miles on your birthday!! I am also annoyed that the Starbucks drink is only redeemable that day. It used to be for a month or so.
How fun that you saw Cari!
Oh gosh, we have no idea what we will be eating that day. The original plan was to go to my sister’s but I am not sure. We’ll see. 🙂
Yes, I think it used to last a month, then a few days, and now we’re down to this! It’s best to play it safe this year, as hard as that is!
Dunkin Donuts gave me 5 days. That even was not enough. I got my coffee but gave it to my cousin. It was too late (5:30pm) by the time I went out and I try not to drink coffee that late.
What’s with all these November birthdays?? lol
I remember that you had a month to get your free drink. I actually lost out when they changed.
My B-day is the same day as Jen (runs with pugs) and it’s on Mother’s Day. I hope this will be over by then.
Cari is great at arranging meet-ups.
It would be nice to celebrate Mother’s Day with everyone this year — and going out to eat! Ahhhh.
Yes
Happy Birthday again! How fun to meet up with Cari.
No pies on our table at all. We each bought a cupcake today for Thanksgiving (it’s just the two of us!) but I’m also planning to make an apple crisp (which probably only I will eat). I am just not overly motivated to cook after almost a year of no eating out!
Apple crisp is pretty close to apple pie! Yes, I’m tired of cooking too, but what else would I do on Thanksgiving? 😉
Reheat yummy food. TJ makes a great turkey en croute & that’s what we’re having!
I did bake the apple crisp today. Turned out good!
Happy birthday! I don’t think I’ve ever claimed my Sbux birthday drink. For the longest time, we didn’t even have a Starbucks near me. This year, it’s on.
So glad you got to meet up with Cari! That must have been a nice way to break up the week.
Great job on everything!
Just make sure you plan ahead and don’t miss your chance! I hear Dunkin is more generous. 😉
I first met up with Cari in the before times in February. I’m so glad we made that effort. I’m not going to miss a chance like that now.
So much fun to see you, thanks for making time. We need an alert to ping us when phones are close to one another “Photo now you forgetful two!”
While I totally agree with you re: Sbucks stinginess, it pushed me out for a walk so I can’t complain this year. I lose out when I fall on THanksgiving as suburbs ones usually closed