I had two good reasons to take it easy this week, but I still struggled to do it. With my type A personality and love of endorphins, taking it easy isn’t easy.
I did find out that even an “easy” 20 minute Peloton cycling class gets me sweaty enough to need a shower. 😛
Taking It Easy
My first reason for taking it easy was my Achilles. Following the podiatrist’s advice, I took another week off from running. I continued to do my calf stretches several times a day. I did not use the stretching boot because it caused weird bruising around my middle toe! I think the padding needs to be adjusted, and will ask the podiatrist about it at my next appointment.
From the 2019 Pennsylvania Dutch Farm to Fork Fondo.
My second reason for taking it easy was to rest my legs for the Farm to Fork Fondo we are doing this weekend. We signed up for the Weekend Adventure with three days of riding and I wanted my legs to be fresh for those Pennsylvania Dutch hills!
Having these reasons to take it easy helped me stick to that plan, but it was still challenging to choose workouts I knew wouldn’t be as “fun”. I’m learning to like the Peloton cycling classes, but my favorite class formats are fast-paced with challenging intervals. I must not be the only one who struggles to take “easy” classes because during the “recovery” rides the instructors repeatedly reminded us to keep the effort easy and that easy days are important.
I am in the midst of a Peloton core challenge (5 weeks of Matty’s classes) and a Peloton light weights arms challenge (various instructors), so having those goals helped keep me motivated to head to my basement gym. The ability to pick Peloton cycling classes based on the playlists helped me find easy rides that I could look forward to for that reason at least.
Monday: My first and last hard workout of the week, with lower body strength that gave me DOMS for days!
Tuesday: I learned that five “easy” 10 min classes add up to a solid workout.
Wednesday: I went harder on upper body strength and took my 1500th Peloton class!
Thursday: I really struggled with motivation in the morning, but after a few hours of work decided to do the recovery ride I had planned for the day. I finished just in time to log into my next meeting—camera off. 🙂
Friday: I knocked out my challenge workouts and a favorite Pilates class before heading to Lancaster.
Weekend Adventure: Stay tuned for my recap.
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link up.
Do you schedule easy weeks in your workout calendar?
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Dialing it back can be tough for sure, but it will pay off! Congrats on 1500 classes!
Thanks, I know it’s the right thing, but it’s still hard in the moment!
If that’s taking it easy I’m a sloth lol.
Congrats on the classes.
Hope your Achilles improves and enjoy your ride.
Hardly! You out run, walk, and hike me most weeks!
Turning it down a notch is always hard for me as well. I’ve learned it can be just what I need at times. Congrats on 1500 classes! Hope you all had a fantastic time this weekend
Thanks! It was a fun trip.
I’m looking forward to your Farm to Fork Fondo recap. Did your disciplined tapering pay off?
The core challenges and upper body workouts are a great distraction from missing out on the hard cycle rides. Well done, Coco!
My legs were happy for the break for sure!
Those Farm to Fork Fondo’s sound so fun! We’re trying to find a “nearby” similar event for the weekend my marathon would have been happening…we kind of have our eyes on a century if we can’t find an official event. I totally get you on “taking it easy.” It definitely ain’t easy. 1500! Wow, that’s an amazing landmark!
A century is HUGE! I hope you find a fun event to do.
Congrats on 1500 classes! Looking forward to your Farm to Fork Fondo recap!
1500. Wow.
I love the light arms classes and really need to do them more consistently. Need too to get in the better habit of getting up on non morning run days. I”m awake but usually reading vs. working out.
If I started reading in the morning, I’d have a hard time making myself stop! I roll out of bed and fire up the Peloton app. 😉
Yep. Bad habit of reading until I need ot make coffee and get to my desk. Well really “bad” as I don’t mind it much and there are worse things.
Congrats on all those classes! I have a hard time taking it easy too. Although sometimes when I can’t run I find myself doing absolutely nothing. Looks like you still had a great week!
I try to keep up my routine with *something* — yoga and light weights are good options.
Oooh! Can’t wait to hear all about your adventure! It’s kind of like you had a taper week, which can be hard. But you still did a lot- it’s not like you were lying on the couch eating bonbons every day.
Hope you’re having a great ride!
You’re right, it was like a taper week. I saved the bonbon eating for the weekend — well, for whoopie pies and ice cream and cider donuts ….
I actually do a lot of the 10 minute arms toning classes! They remind me of the arms portion of a barre class and they burn! Cool to see which ones you’re doing.
Cheers to continued healing of the old Achilles!
I started doing them after I fractured my rib, and got hooked!
wow, 1500 classes!! congrats!! Hope your ride went well, and the seat isn’t too sore 🙂
Ha, ha! We didn’t really ride more than our usual weekend, so I’m OK.
Congrats on 1.500th classes! Awesome and amazing! Easy runs are sometimes hard so I know what you mean. I think a great playlist is also what makes a great class! My favorite ones are the 80s!
Yes, 80s playlists are great!
I also struggle with taking it easy especailly when a medical professional tells me to do so. It’s totally different when I tell myself to take it easy 😉
I know it’s hard but it’s going to be worth it in the end so that you are no longer injured. AND you have plenty of other things you can do in the meantime! Looking forward to your recap!
I realized that there is no such thing as an “easy” Peloton workout, lol. I always thought that the arms & light weights classes would be an easier choice, but my arms are always on fire after those classes.
i hope that your ride this past weekend went well and I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Easy isn’t easy for me, either. However, it does sound like it was the right move for your Achilles and your big event! I always love reading about your Farm to Fork Fondo. It sounds like the coolest ride.
I am so good with easy, LOL! I keep active, but I know the importance of rest, too. It really does a body good! Not that I’ve really had much lately, but that should be changing this coming week!
I hope you had a fab ride this weekend, Coco. Can’t wait to see all the yummy food. 🙂
I loved reading your Farm to Fork Fondo recap! Bill and I really need to do that sometime. I had two reasons to take a similarly easy week as I recovered from my squamous cell surgery and to rest for my century ride.