I love the concept of a birthday marking a lap around the sun. As a science geek, it’s undeniably true. As a runner, it fits—but with a twist. Instead of celebrating finishing a lap like I usually would, I am celebrating being at the starting line. Sure, I can look back on the year’s accomplishments with pride and recall the year’s memories with joy and laughter, but what energizes me are the possibilities that lie ahead.
Now that Scooby is my running buddy,
it’s been ages since I ran at the track!
Celebrating Another Lap Around The Sun
A Tuesday birthday is hard to celebrate, and work didn’t make it easy. I had Teams meetings at 9, 10, 11, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00, two at 3:00, and 4:00. My son called me 5 minutes before my next meeting and I had to decline my daughter’s call, but we caught up at the end of the day.
Birthday Starbucks grabbed
between those 1:00 and 2:00 meetings!
When I finally logged off work at 6:00, I was exhausted, but dinner at a neighborhood restaurant perked me up and ended my day on high note.
I fended off more meetings on Wednesday so I could have lunch with Cari! I love being a convenient stop along her NY-to-FL route. It was even nice enough to eat outside.
This time we remembered to take a picture. 😉
Weekly Run Down
Workout-wise, my week wasn’t very exciting. I decided to dial back my running because my Achilles still isn’t 100%, and there’s absolutely no reason to push it now. At my last podiatrist appointment he suggested keeping my runs short, so I’m going to drop my weekend “long” runs to 6-ish miles instead of the 8 milers I prefer.
Monday: Core + Glutes+Legs + Peloton Ride
Alex’s Veteran’s Day ride was fast and furious! He gave shoutouts to all the veteran and military members on the leaderboard, shared stories of family members who served, and expressed heartfelt thanks to the leaders who “saved his life” at military school.
Tuesday (My Birthday): 5 mile run
I knew I’d need a hefty dose of endorphins to get through all my meetings, so I opted for a run along my favorite route in D.C. I started in the dark at 6:30, and finished in full daylight at 7:15.
Wednesday: Core + Upper Body + Peloton Ride
I found two fun Peloton rides that paired well together—Sam Yo’s latest Motown ride and Leanne Hainsby’s latest Funk ride.
Thursday: Full Body Strength + 3.75 Scooby Miles
I’m still rearranging my workouts to be able to run in daylight. Thursday I let Scooby out in our backyard so I didn’t feel too guilty doing my full strength workout before taking him out for a run.
Why is only one of my lenses fogged up?
Friday: Core + Full Body Strength
I didn’t hit my snooze button too many times, but I wasn’t very efficient getting up and out the door to walk Scooby, so I didn’t have as much time as usual for Peloton workouts. When you don’t have time to waste, Jess Sims is the instructor to pick, because she doesn’t waste a minute. At one point I thought the workout was almost over, but there were over 10 minutes left to go. 😛
Saturday: 6.5 Scooby Miles
Walking Scooby Friday night, the 30s felt freezing, but with Saturday morning sunshine it felt perfect! I guesstimated a 10K route, and came pretty close.
Sunday: Core + Strength for Runners + 3.5 Scooby Miles
I took my first class with Joslyn Thompson Rule, one of the newer tread instructors based in the U.K. (To take a tread class outside, I preload it on my phone and just ignore the incline cues). I find the U.K. instructors have a more chill vibe and are less chatty although they still provide plenty of cuing and coaching
And a ride later.
First ride since the Shenadoah fondo!
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.
On your birthday, do you look back on the past year or forward to the year ahead?
Is anyone else crazy enough to make pain-in-the-ass apple pie?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Looks like a busy and fun birthday week to me! I think I look forward more than backward. It’s always hard for me to remember the stuff that happened in the past. Maybe I should be better about journaling. My daughter suggested an apple pie for Thanksgiving. I’m already making pumpkin, the jury’s out on apple…although I do adore a good apple pie…even though it’s a total PIA. Haha!
My family doesn’t ask for pumpkin any more. Except my husband, he’ll take any kind of pie!
That’s a great perspective to look forward, instead of looking back, on your birthday. I think I do a little of both, but definitely embrace the new year ahead and all the exciting possibilities that are waiting. I totally agree that the sunshine makes the cold temps seem not as cold. Now if only the wind would take a breather….
Wind is hard to cope with!
Oh wow, that’s A LOT meetings, Coco! And you even had to decline your daughter. I’m glad you could catch up at the end of the day and that you got your free Starbucks! Yay!
Oh yes, absolutely, I’m a “forward-looker”. I love to make plans and to imagine future things. The only time I look into the past is when I do my personal quarterly review and check whether I met my goals (all sorts of goals… fitness, social, “character-building” goals and stuff like that).
Looking forward to following you for the next lap around the sun!
Thanks! It’s been great getting to know you during this one. 😉
Happy belated birthday! I also always run on my birthday, if possible. I never really thought about it, but I guess I look forward more on my birthdays. I know some people don’t like birthdays as they get older, but I love them. I’m glad you were able to sneak some celebrating into that busy day!
As they say, celebrating another birthday is better than the alternative. 😮
Sorry I missed you lunch w Cari she is a sweetheart. Happy birthday again and I love your analogy of being at the starting line again. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours
Thanks! Same to you! Hope to see you in December.
I also like the analogy of another lap around the sun. I like to reflect back on the year but also look ahead. As I get older, I try to frame it in a positive way because I am scared of getting old, lol. So glad you got to meet up with Cari. I want to meet her too!
Team Apple Pie!!! Although I cheat and use the premade folded crust from Trader Joes. It’s really good and you cannot tell it’s not homemade. I won’t tell if you don’t.
My son’s a stickler for homemade, but I might sneak pre-made in the pecan. It’s hard to notice under all that sugar.
OMG to all the work meetings on your birthday! Glad you got to go out & enjoy a nice evening out. Happy Birthday!
Fun to meet up with Cari. She sure does get around!
Sorry you feel you have to dial back the runs, but probably a wise decision. Then you can get after next year’s goals feeling good!
I actually had blocked off 4-6pm, but then something came up I had to deal with …. But really, it was a good day!
I’m happy you still got to enjoy your birthday. 🎉
OK there should be a rule around how many meetings can be scheduled on your birthday! 🙂 I like your perspective of being at the starting line anticipating the new lap ahead.
How fun to meet up with Cari!
Great week of workouts – hope your Achilles continues to heal.
LOL, there should be a rule like that! I did make up for it with a 2 hour lunch with Cari the next day. 😉
Thanks on the Achilles. I’m trying to do my part by giving it a chance.
Happy Birthday.
Cari is lucky to drive from NY to Fla I always fly! We will have to meet-up another way.
me too with trying to run in daylight. Hard to fit it all in with work.
I’d fly too! But I’m glad she drives sometimes so I can see her.
Work does put a crimp in my weekday runs. Too bad!
I know. We do the best to fit it in.
Yes, weekday birthdays aren’t as easy to celebrate, but glad you at least able to go out to dinner. How fun that you were able to have lunch with Cari on her trip through the area!
Thanks! It’s one advantage of living right off the Beltway. 😉
I love our lunch tradition. So much fun. And from your options this year we have at least two more restaurants to try so at least two more drives.
How did you manage two 3PM meetings? Even though I can set up two computers my internet connection wouldn’t manage
LOL, I prioritized and was late to one of them.
I can come up with a lot more restaurants. 😀
I’ll have to talk my husband into making that pie! He enjoys making apple pies but it’s a very basic recipe and I feel like it’s lacking a bit in the middle. That looks delicious!
Happy belated birthday!!
Glad that you had a nice birthday despite all of the meetings. It’s such a bummer to have that many meetings in one day – and I’m sure some of them could have been emails, lol.
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What a fun week, happy belated birthday! Love to see what strength you stack now that I’m a Peloton fan 🙂
Those days with so many meetings can be so draining, hopefully you have a quieter week this week with the holiday!
So fun you had lunch with Cari!