The first week of September was a rough one. Just as friends in the Houston area were getting a handle on the aftermath of Harvey, friends in Florida were eyeing Irma and making the difficult decision to evacuate or hunker down. In the meantime, we had gorgeous fall weather in D.C. as everyone headed back to school and work shifted into high gear.
Thanks to Holly and Tricia for extending summer for one more week with the Weekly Wrap Guest Host series, and thanks to Sara @ Sara Runs This Town for wrapping up the series. It’s been so much fun getting to know the guest hosts over the past few months!
Slammed By September
As I headed to work last week, I had two business trips on my fall calendar: one later this week (San Francisco), and one in November (Phoenix). By the time Friday rolled around, I had added two trips in October (Milwaukee and Chicago), one more trip in November (Chicago) and one in December (Boston). Yikes!
Not only that, but my Milwaukee trip is the Friday and Saturday before the Army Ten Miler, and it is not easy to get back from Milwaukee on a Saturday afternoon! If it wasn’t going to be my 10th ATM, I’d drop out and come home Sunday morning. I’m hoping they adjust the meeting schedule once more people figure out how difficult the logistics will be.
In better news, I am excited to share that I won Laura‘s entry to the Runner’s World Half Marathon in October! One of my trips to Chicago is the Friday before the Runner’s World Half Festival weekend, but it’s usually easier to get home from Chicago–except for that time it wasn’t!
Weekly Wrap
Because I had such a rough week at work (the earliest I got home was 7:30 pm on Friday), we decided not to do the 50 miler of the Shenandoah Century. The weather would have been perfect, but I didn’t want to spend 5 hours of my precious weekend in the car. Here’s what I did do this week:
Monday: 6 mile run + Quick Strength For Runners
It felt weird to go for a run while my husband went for a bike ride, but after all the cycling we did at the beach and our long ride last weekend, I was ready for a change. This run reminded me that my legs do get tired on the bike.
I decided to wear my chest strap HRM and compared it to my Fitbit data. I know the chest strap is more accurate, but I was surprised to see this much difference. This run felt more like the chest strap data than the Fitbit data–it didn’t feel like my heart was working that hard.
Tuesday: Indoor Cycling at CycleBar.
After riding at both Revolve and CycleBar, I realized that I need the data provided during the CycleBar classes to push myself–specifically, I need to see my RPMs and be coached to hit (or strive for) certain paces. I know this because while I’ve ridden at Revolve for years, I find it very hard to hit the target paces at CycleBar–even when I have the same instructor!
Aimee led us through a tough class that got my heart rate up higher than it was during my run–and it felt that hard!
Class finished just in time for me to catch this gorgeous sunrise.
Wednesday: Orange Theory Fitness
At OTF we did two different blocks of workouts at each station before switching. One of the floor blocks included burpees with push-ups on an upside-down Bosu ball. Just when I think my core is pretty strong …. Both treadmill blocks focused on incline, which got my heart rate up faster than usual. I can’t believe I managed 30 seconds at incline level 10 and 6.3 mph!
Thursday: Strength workout from Quick Strength For Runners
(^^^Amazon affiliate link^^^)
After so many tough workouts, I was ready for a low-impact workout at home. I supplemented a QSFR routine with some resistance band moves.
Friday: CPY2 at CorePowerYoga
I had so many reasons to look forward to Friday, but I was really looking forward to breathing, stretching and sweating through CPY2. I also finally wore a different outfit–my new SkirtSports top and my favorite capris from Victoria’s Secret.
I’m almost always this first one in the studio!
Saturday: Conte’s Hill Ride
Remember when I was afraid of this ride? Sometimes my GI tract still gets nervous, but my legs usually look forward to the challenge. This week I got my very first flat tire! I’ve been lucky to have ridden for so many years without getting a flat, and still felt lucky to have a real pro along to change my tire.
Brian from Conte’s Bike Shop checking my flat tire
My husband is a good tire changer too, but since it’s one of Brian’s job skills, we let him do it. 😉
Sunday: 54.6 mile bike ride
As I mentioned, we decided not to do the Shenandoah ride, but we did our own 50 miler (and then some) a bit closer to home.
I’ll share more about our ride along the Northern Central Railroad Trail later this week!
Have you been slammed by September?
Have you enjoyed a Pumpkin Spice Latte yet?
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you have been a cycling beast lately! If you ever want to play hooky on a Friday and do a long ride let me know. I’d love to do the Runner’s World race one year. Looks like such a fun weekend of events
I think my days of playing hooky are over for a while , but I’ll let you know!
My flat tire is coming…and I’ll definitely need a Brian. Did you lament “I have a flat ti-yah” like the Geico gecko? LOL When I still wore a Fitbit, the heart rate info was always much different than my Garmin. But now I can’t remember if it was higher or lower. It makes you wonder what is truly accurate. I guess if we always use the info from the same device — it’s relative???
Hah, no, I did not think of that ad! But next time I will. 😉
Great week of workouts! You have so much travel coming up, wow!
There’s a big group of people from my local running group that are going to runner’s world. Wish we were going but we’ll be in Kentucky that weekend.
I’ve wanted to go for years and it’s never worked out — I hope it does this year!
You know what? Yes, I have been slammed. I start at my new office tomorrow and I hope the pace is much easier. It’s been a tough month. I blame the eclipse. And Donald Trump.
I hope your first day at your new office went well! If not, blame T for sure!
Nice job with your workouts! September has been a hard month for many. It’s hard to watch it from so far away and not be able to really help anyone.
I think we are raised to “do something ” and it’s hard when we can’t.
You’ve been doing great with all of your time on the bike! How fun that you won the entry for Runner’s World – it looks like such a fun weekend. Hope you can work out all of your travel so your races are impacted.
Thanks! It’s going to be a hectic fall!
You’ve been a busy girl! Yes, September has been cray so far. I also find it really hard to cycle into those hard zones. I feel like I’m killing my legs.
I feel like I’m killing everything but that’s what makes us stronger, right?
Wow, my head is spinning trying to comprehend all of these workouts. Dang, you don’t get much down time!
So much down time in front of my computer at work – I have to counter-act that however I can! 😉
I haven’t been slammed by September yet, but I have a number of financial reports due by the end of the month. I have a plan of attack.
I wouldn’t even know where to start — good luck!
Oh my, I feel your pain regarding the flat tire! Remember my experience a couple of months ago? Thankfully a good cycling samaritan stopped to help me!
My goodness, you did get slammed with business trips, didn’t you???? I’m exhausted just reading about them!
Glad you guys got your 50 miler in ….and without having to drive 5 hours!
It still felt like it took all day, but left later and got home early than we would have with the other ride.
Wow, that is a lot of traveling for you. Hopefully you enjoy your trips to Chicago!! The Runner’s World Half Marathon should be fun. I’ve never run it but have read about it.
I hope I have a chance to run in Chicago. I should for one of the trips at least.
Wow – you’ve got a lot of travel coming up! I don’t know about you, but it always seems like my work travel is around a race weekend, lol
Congrats on winning the race giveaway for the Runner’s World Half! I ran the race two years ago and it was so much fun – such a great running weekend overall.
Maybe that’s because we have so many race weekends. 😉 Oh, I’ll have to look for your RWH recap – I hear it’s hilly ….
Traveling is so tough! I took a redeye from LA to NYC so that I could run the Brooklyn half. I came down with a fever on the flight. Still ran the race. HAHA! I hope it doesn’t feel as crazy as it sounds!
Ugh. I tell people at work that I’m too old for red eyes, but I probably would do it for a race ….
Next job: learn to change a tire! It is a pain but it’s a nice skill to have.
Great training week. I don’t depend on my Fitbit HR. I assumed it would be off, but I didn’t realize how much.
If it happens when I’m just with my husband, I’ll do it for sure. No reason to hold up the group ride for a novice tire change though.
Wow, you did have a tough week! But congrats on winning that entry to the Runner’s World Half 🙂
Thanks! I hope to see a lot of running bloggers there!
Wow great job on those cycling miles! I have to admit, I don’t like pumpkin flavored anything! Lol!
It’s not really pumpkin flavor – it’s the cinnamon and nutmeg pumpkin pie spices, but if you don’t like those ….
Nope, no lattes. September is only busy for me because of my peak training, thankfully, I think your schedule would kill me.
That’s too bad about Shenandoah — I’ve always wanted to visit there — but nice you were able to get it in closer to home. And how lucky to have someone there to change your flat for you!
Weekend traffic around here can be miserable — we just didn’t want to face that drive.
Wow – looks like a great week of workouts! And so much travel! Good luck with everything, looking forward to reading your next post 🙂
Thanks — I need work to give me a break so I can write it! 😉
What a great week – you have such a well rounded approach with your training that I’m sure helps a ton with injury prevention!
I haven’t had a pumpkin spice latte but it’s happening soon enough!
That is so true — I’ve been injury free this year but my running has been minimal! Coincidence? 😉
I have not had a PSL yet but I am sure it will be coming soon!
It was a cool day, I had a free drink, how could I resist?
Coco, I can’t lie — your week sounds so exhausting! Or maybe it’s because I’m exhausted myself. 😉 You did such great workouts, I’m impressed!
Hah! I’m really used to the schedule although Cyclebar is kicking my ass. The Contes ride is hard when it’s happening, but since we’ve built up our endurance with longer rides, we both feel pretty good afterwards. Conditioning can do wonders!
Wow with all of that travel! Seems so exciting when you are young, but as you know…it gets old fast!
Yeah, travel gets old really fast these days. Lots of these trips are overnights, so I spend almost as much time getting there and back than I do being there. And, I hate the long taxi ride from O’Hare into the city …. but it’s worth it if I get a run in!
Great job! I’m always interested in the OTF workouts, it seems like such an interesting class! I am definitely getting slammed by the amount of work that I have to do, but I’m not traveling the way that you do!
Wow – that is a lot of trips. You will have a very busy fall.
I hope you can make it back from Milwaukee okay.
wow you are so so so flipping rushed and busy.
THANK YOU FOR FITTING ME INTO YOUR SEPT. and lending me brain power for my life.
Im set.
GOT THE CONDO!
I really hope everyone’s ok–there have been so many natural disasters lately! :/
You definitely sound like you’re having a hectic fall season! I hope you get a chance to wind down and take a little break. Great job on your workouts over the week!!