This week I had a very short trip to Boston—made even shorter by a flight delay. Even with fewer than 30 hours in the city, I had time for a run through the Public Garden and Boston Common on Global Running Day.
Maybe a bit hazy from the Canadian wildfires,
but the air qualty was fine.
Celebrating Global Running Day In Boston
I stayed at a Westin near my law firm’s Boston office, so I knew I wanted to run down Commonwealth Avenue and through the Public Garden and Boston Common. While Commonwealth Avenue is flat and the paths through the Public Garden are mostly flat, the far end of Boston Common includes short climbs up to the Massachusetts State House.
I always have to stop by the Make Way For Ducklings installation in the Public Garden—it’s amazing how the sculptures capture the illustrations from that childhood classic.
The real ducks in the Public Garden pond deserve a photo too!
Celebrating Love In Boston
I had read about The Embrace—the sculpture honoring the relationship between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Corretta Scott King—but didn’t remember it was in Boston Common. It’s a sculpture you have to walk around to appreciate because every perspective is so different.
The message about the power of love is inspiring.
Weekly Wrap
My week was all discombobulated, with a Sunday afternoon meeting in the office, my trip to Boston Tuesday and Wednesday, the smokey air in D.C. on Thursday, etc. Despite all that, I completed week two of the Peloton Pump Up The Volume 1 strength program, and got bingo in the Breakthrough Crew bingo game.
Sunday: 45 min FB Strength + 30 min Peloton Ride
I braved Jess Sims’s 45 min strength class with a long Turkish get-up block. She broke it down so you did 1/4 TGUs, then 1/2 TGUs, then full TGUs, so you really had a chance to master the move. After that, I hopped on Hannah F’s Pharrell Williams Ride—one of the few I love so much I take again and again.
Monday: 10 min Core + 4.0 Scooby Miles
I had to go into the office, but took Scooby for a run first. The weather was much nicer than it had been Saturday.
Tuesday: 20 min LB Strength + 10 min Core + 10 min ALW
With a scheduled 9 am flight, I had time for a workout before heading to the airport. After walking Scooby I jumped into the next Pump Up The Volume workout on my schedule, and then remembered I had forgotten to do a core class. I chose Selena’s Dolly Parton class to get another square on my Breakthrough Crew bingo card—I remember taking it live when it first came out (as a mid-morning break in those early covid WFH days), but had forgotten how hard it is.
Wednesday: 5 min Core + 4.75 Miles + 20 min UB Strength + 2.25 Tread Miles
After my run through Boston, I checked my email to see that my morning meeting was canceled. I decided to take that time for myself, and headed to the hotel gym. I thought it would be less busy at 8 am, but I still had to share the small strength area—and single set of free weights—with two others.
Thursday: 10 min Core + 20 min LB Strength + 35 min Peloton Ride
D.C. had the smokey air earlier in the week, but this was the first day I experienced it. It was so freaky walking Scooby—I cut his walk short as soon as he had taken care of his business. Not only was the air hazy, but it smelled acrid. After that, I headed to my office gym for an indoor strength + bike workout.
Peloton has a collection of 100 rep workouts. I chose the “tuck-ups” one to get that square on my Breakthrough Crew bingo card. Rebecca programmed it in blocks, so it wasn’t too bad.
Friday: 10 min Core + 3.0 Tread miles + 20 min Yoga
The air quality was improving, but still at least code orange, so I opted for an indoor workout. After a solid tread bootcamp, I took the new yoga for runners class Peloton launched on Global Running Day. It was really fun, with Denis leading the class and running coach Matt Wilpers by his side taking it as a not-so-flexible student.
Saturday: 10 min core + 5,3 Scooby Miles
The weather was great, but everything else about this run was hard. I thought about quitting so many times and even stopped/saved my run about 3 miles in. After a very short walk break (a few steps) I decided to get running again, but never got in a groove. Maybe Friday’s workout was harder than I thought, or maybe the travel/work stress of the week had taken a toll. I heard Deborah’s voice in my head asking about my last rest day …
A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.
Were you able to run on Global Running Day?
Have you mastered Turkish get-ups?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Love that you got to run in a work trip. Congrats on bingo too. Yes I ran too. The air wasn’t great but not bad enough to keep me in.
Turkish what?? Lol
When I’m alone my runs often feel hard. But we don’t quit.
It’s a long walk home if you quit!
Turkish get ups are one of those exercises that when you finally get it, they just click. I’d rather do those than burpees for sure. Fun that you got to run Boston-that sculpture looks really cool
TGUs are definitely better than burpees!
Oh, that Denis Morton class sounds awesome! He’s my favorite yoga instructor, and a yoga for runners class sounds great. I don’t really miss Peloton, but I do miss Denis : )
You had a great week. But I’ll echo Deborah’s question- when was your last rest day? Do you take one? I know not everyone does. But I love mine!
Your run in Boston looks amazing. I love that sculpture- I had never seen or heard about it before.
My yoga day is usually my rest day, but I missed that for 2 weeks. I feel better mentally if I start my day with a workout, but I need to figure out how to give my legs a break.
Well, the art geek in me is loving that sculpture, and all that it represents. I did Denis’ flow (with Matt) yesterday after my busy morning of running, and I was feeling like Matt, LOL. I hear ya on the rest days! I do scale-back the intensity of my activity, but taking a true “no movement” rest day is just not in my genetics. My body feels more “recovered” from movement than it does from sitting still, LOL.
Congrats on bingo–it couldn’t have been easy with your traveling and the bad air quality. I always take one rest day per week–nothing strenuous on that day. My body likes it!
What a cool sculpture, I haven’t seen that one before! Sounds like you made the most of the work trip with run tours 🙂 I hope the east coast air quality gets better!
Luckily our air quality was much better this week!
What a great celebration of love. I <3 the Ducklings, real and literary. Sorry yesterday's was icky
It’s been a really long time since I’ve done a TGU. They are hard! All that travel, the air, etc — yeah, that can take its toll.
On Thursday when I ran inside the Index was 180, although it had dropped significantly by the end of the day. We didn’t walk Bandit at all on Wednesday & Thursday (but he has access to the backyard via a dog door).
It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve been in Boston, and I haven’t really run in the city (just a half that included Heartbreak Hill). Ah, those were the days, LOL!
One of these times I’m going to catch you when you come to town! I’m glad you got a chance to see The Embrace.
I want to check out Jess’ class with the turkish get-ups – such a good move! And Denis’ class sounds like a must do.
They both are great classes!
I hope my next trip to Boston has more down time that’s not early in the morning. ;=)
Oh, a run through Boston is a dream! I love the city!
That sculpture is amazing!
I’m always in awe of how you manage to fit in all your workouts with your busy schedule. Doesn’t it feel amazing when a meeting is cancelled and you have that extra time?!
I actually take TWO rest days a week… ordered by my coach, ha!
I take a lot of days off from running, but then there’s cycling and strength workouts. 😉
I had no idea what a Turkish GU is but it sounds brutal. Great jobthis week!
It’s brutal until you break it down and figure it out — at least for me. I’m not that coordinated. 😉
How cool to celebrate Global Running Day in a different city! Thanks for sharing the different angle of The Embrace sculpture. There was so much buzz around it on social media earlier this year.
Love the Peloton Bingo! Such a fun way to try a variety of classes with different instructors.
The air has just been a mess for so many. I am glad it’s clearing up.
Also, it looks like you had a great trip to Boston. That sculpture looks quite moving.
I didn’t see the ducks or the love sculpture when I was in Boston! either I missed it or they both weren’t there in 2018?
well done on your workouts what with your schedule and the air quality (and the two other people in the hotel gym and having to share equipment).
I did celebrate GRD but we “only” did 3km as the depeche mode concert was the night before and the legs weren’t having it. maybe a bit like your run Saturday? thing is, if we don’t have hard runs we can’t appreciate the ones that just feel right.
never heard of a Turkish get-up!
The ducklings have been there a while. I think The Embrace is new.