A Little Bit of Everything
This week brought about a little bit of everything, everywhere. We started the week still visiting our son and daughter-in-law in Charolette, NC, followed by three days at the farm in SWVA, and finally making our way back home. Workouts took a backseat mid-week, but those easier days were bookended with plenty of activity. All in all, it was a good week!
Overview of the Week
Before getting into each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 3.26 miles
• Average pace: 15:21 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 249 feet
• Start time: 9:47 AM
• Location: Pablo’s neighborhood trail
• Weather: 67° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
Still visiting our son and d-i-l and tired from the previous day’s marathon spectating, I slept in until just after 7 AM. Because we’d be hitting the road for the farm super early on Monday when I normally lift, I started my day with a strength training session. Pablo played personal trainer and didn’t let me slack. 😉 Later, I hit the trail for a walk enjoying the beautiful weather.
Monday
Drive from Charlotte, North Carolina to the farm
Tuesday
There were no designated workouts, but I worked hard all day on the farm. My brother, husband, and I did yard work included burning the brush pile from the huge willow blown down last year by Hurricane Helene. We’d dragged its carcass of a massive trunk and many branches to a pile on the side of the yard. Weather conditions were ideal with a heavy frost making the grass wet and rain in the forecast for later in the day.
In keeping with our wonderful childhood memories of roasting hotdogs whenever our dad or granddad burned brush, we roasted hotdogs for lunch over the hot bonfire embers.
Wednesday
Drive home from the farm
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Thursday
Cycling: 50 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.1 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 5:45 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63° in the basement, 39° and cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Gardening: 1 hour
After missing a week due to me being away, Kim and I met for our weekly virtual workout. I followed up our chat with a virtual client so I had company two of the three hours on my spin bike. Later in the day I did an hour of fall cleanup, but still have about two hours more before I’ll be done for the season – my husband takes care of the leaves or else there’d be many more hours of work for me to do.
With this ride I earned two Garmin badges.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Friday evening we went out to celebrate my birthday a week late with friends. Garmin wasn’t happy that I had a margarita (and shared a second one) and told me the following morning that my sleep had been un-restorative despite the 8:16 of slumber. Looks like Garmin has replaced Fitbit as the judging monkey on my back. LOL
Saturday
Cycling: 18 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.7 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:50 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in the basement, 50° and drizzly outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Walking: 2 miles
• Average pace: 16:23 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 9:29 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66° in the basement, 51° (feels like 44°) and cloudy outside
• What I wore: shorts and sports bra
Elliptical: 1 mile
• Average pace: 13:29 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 10:06 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66° in the basement, 52° (feels like 45°) and cloudy outside
• What I wore: shorts and sports bra
I kept my indoor bike ride on the shorter side so I’d have time to walk. I’d been curious how accurate my new Garmin would be in treadmill walking mode and was surprised to have the opportunity to update my watch distance to the treadmill distance before saving. Next I got on my elliptical which I rarely use giving me an indoor cardio trifecta!
With the spin I earned the Garmin November Ride to 100 badge.
Later in the day, I attended a charcuterie creation class with a friend at a nearby wine shop where I learned to focus on using a variety of colors and textures to make it more visually appealing. We were also taught the importance of building height by using small ramekins to hold long breadsticks and vegetables cut lengthwise to give the board depth.
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
- • Sunday – Weekly RunDown: November 9 – 15 / Birthday Miles and Marathon Spectating
- • Tuesday – Hiking to Apikuni Falls in Glacier National Park
Questions:
- • Did you know that Monday was National Hiking Day? ~ I did, but just didn’t have time to go on a hike even though there were many great places at the farm.
- • Do you make charcuterie boards? ~ I’ve been making antipasto platters for years which are basically the same, but each originates with a very different type of food. More on that in my next coffee chat!
- • Which workout did you enjoy most this past week? ~ It was great getting back with Kim for our weekly virtual cardio workout.
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.











Sounds like a busy weekend at the farm. Does anyone live there now that your mom is gone? Will you keep the farm in the family?
Your charcuterie board looks amazing! I’m not one for making them, but I enjoy eating from one!
I plan to really up my charcuterie game on Thanksgiving with my new skills!
Your charcuterie board looks amazing, Debbie! Seems like taking a course really does make a difference!
You packed so much into this week! Farm work, bonfires, virtual training sessions, gardening, endless miles in the basement… and somehow you still manage to rack up Garmin badges like it’s nothing.
Crazy how sensitive Garmin is to alcohol, right? Mine does that too – I barely dare touch the stuff these days!
Thanks, Catrina! It was a busy, but very enjoyable week.
That charcuterie board looks so good! I’ve never made one like that, it looks professional! I did not know Monday was National hiking day, and I did not get in any hikes.i did do a short treadmill run but that was it.
Thanks, Melissa!
I do love to make charcuterie boards as well! I am a cheese girl! I’m sure it was bittersweet to go back to the farm where you all grew up-hugs. Whenever I drink a glass of wine now, Oura reminds me that it really impacts my sleep and readiness quite a bit.
Oh fun that you’re a fellow charcuterie maker! What’s your favorite cheese?
I had no idea how much alcohol affects my sleep until I got my new watch and started wearing it 24/7.
I love a good charcuterie board — yours looks great. Interesting point about the height variations.
My favorite workouts last week were my runs in Sydney!
Thanks, Coco! Oh, those runs in Sydney sound exciting!
Oh, I like that charcuterie board tip! I do like making them but really have no idea what I’m doing. I never thought about adding height. I’m making a charcuterie board this week and I’ll do that.
You had a good week of workouts! Working on the farm definitely counts as exercise, and it sounds really fun as well.
You can just tell Garmin to shut up! You deserve a margarita on your birthday.
Let me know how your Thanksgiving charcuterie board turns out, Jenny!
We had a very enjoyable day of chores at the farm. Of course, any time I get to spend the day with my brother is a good day!
And yes, I like the way you think. I do deserve a margarita as part of my birthday celebrations!
YOU just gave me the “lightbulb moment” idea to make a charcuterie board for Thanksgiving. I have plenty of stuff already on hand, so why not? Pablo is SUCH a sweetie 😉
Happy to be of service! 😉
Awww, Pablo thanks you. BTW, he’ll arrive later today for the holiday!
Confession: I love farm chores. I can’t explain it.
Second confession: I love Pablo. He’s perfect.
Your charcuterie board looks amazing. I haven’t built one in so long. Mr PugRunner can’t have all the sodium in the cured meats (or even the pork really), and my mom doesn’t want my stepdad having it, so it’s a lot of work to just have everyone eating what they shouldn’t. I’m making a turkey board on Thursday, but it’s mostly veggies, with a little bit of cheese and salami, so hopefully that goes over ok.
I do enjoy most farm chores today, but not necessarily when I was in high school and had to get up at 5 AM to feed the baby calves before school and then rush home after school to feed them again, or spending my summers in the hay field when other girls my age spent the day at the pool with friends. LOL
Thanks for the charcuterie board compliment. I consider you a charcuterie expert who could teach classes so that means a lot coming from you. As for your family, why don’t you make fruit and veggie boards with just a small amount of cheese and meats (use turkey with fig spread – that would be yummy).
And I agree, Pablo is perfect! 😀
I love to eat charcuterie boards but have never made one.
3 hours on a bike!!!???
and no about National hiking day. I’m going tomorrow (just a week late).
Best workout? Last Sunday’s 5k.
I bet your friends would love charcuterie next time you host mah jongg. You should try it!
How interesting with a charkuterie board class! I had no idea there was such a thing! But i can see how it can be almost like composing a photograph – to use balance and symmetry and all that to make it visually pleasing? Yours looks great!
When I grew up, roasting hotdogs by an open fire in the forest was a big thing when we were out with the church youth group or other groups of friends. I can still feel the aromas of those hotdogs!
Good point with the composing a photograph comparison. With that said, you have the perfect skills for making a beautiful charcuterie board!
The second my brother said we’d need to burn the brush pile, I said, “I’m bringing hotdogs!” 😀
Well now I know why I lack the skills to make a good looking charcuterie board! Very fun that you took a class in it. That’s something I need! I love the hot dog tradition. Hot dogs over the fire are delish!
Check out your local wineries, wine shops, and breweries to see if they offer charcuterie construction classes.
Normally, I only eat hotdogs about twice a year – Memorial Day and Independence Day – but had to make an exception when I had the opportunity to roast them over an open fire. Yum!