Running and Cuddling
On Thursday I laced up my running shoes for the first time in almost two years when I joined my family to run in our local turkey trot. I stuck with the 2K and was no worse for the wear after the slow and steady run. Meanwhile back home, Pablo was holding down the fort until we all returned. He’s with us for an extended stay while his humans are vacationing in Europe. Needless to say, we’re giving him lots of belly scratches, cuddles, and walks.
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
Cycling: 30 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.7 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 9:14 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in the basement, 42° and partly cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
I woke up way before time to leave for 7:30 mass and spent my spare time tidying up from the previous night’s final birthday celebration of 2025. Once home from church I hopped on my spin bike and had every intention of going for a walk, but by the time I was free to go outside it had gotten extremely windy so I blew off my walk – see what I did there? LOL
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Cycling: 8 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.8 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 11:19 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in the basement, 54° and mostly sunny outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Walking: 3.05 miles
• Average pace: 15:02 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 83 feet
• Start time: 3:33 PM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 57° and sunny, dropping to 53° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, and visor
Knowing that the week would get crazier as it progressed, I did a little front-loading with my workouts. By the end of the day I had earned the November Step Month badge, a new-to-me badge now that I’m wearing my Garmin watch 24/7.
Tuesday
Cycling: 50 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.7 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 5:58 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63° in the basement, 42° and cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
I absolutely had zero plans to ride so long, but I was on a roll and it just happened… I spent the rest of the day shopping for Thanksgiving and doing some blog work.
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 3.14 miles
• Average pace: 16:20 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 173 feet
• Start time: 11:23 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 64° and partly cloudy, climbing to 66° and sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, and visor
This Thanksgiving Eve was all about cooking and prepping anything I could do in advance, but I made sure I fit in my strength training session and got out for a walk – my walk included the 2K course for the following day’s turkey trot.
Thursday
Running: Ashburn Farm Thanksgiving Day 2K (1.25 miles)
• Average pace: 15:03 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 57 feet
• Start time: 8:37 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 37° (feels like 34°) and partly cloudy
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, down coat, knit hat, and gloves over mittens
Walking: 1.11 miles
• Average pace: 22:46 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 50 feet
• Start time: 7:56 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 36°(feels like 31°) and mostly cloudy
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, down coat, knit hat, and gloves over mittens
Our entire family participated in our local turkey trot – our two sons ran the 5K with the oldest son finishing with a 6:41 average pace and the youngest son (the one who just ran the marathon) finishing with an average pace of 7:26. My husband took pictures of us along the course while the rest of us – including the three little ones – ran, walked, or rode in a stroller for the 2K. After a slow start, my little partner and I eventually started running and averaged around an 11:00 pace for the final 9/10th of a mile. I’ve never run a race holding the hand of someone, but can I just say it was the absolute best!
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
It was Friday evening before I finally got down to my basement to workout; and again, earned a unique-to-me badge for strength training, something I’d never had the ability to record with my old Garmin.
Saturday
Cycling: 32 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.8 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:49 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 62° in the basement, 27° and clear outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Elliptical: 1 mile
• Average pace: 14:02 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 9:07 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in the basement, 33° and sunny outside
• What I wore: shorts and sports bra
With turkey trots for both of us on Thursday morning, Kim and I moved our weekly virtual workout to Saturday. With snow outside for Kim and cold temps for me, we both opted to stay inside on our spin bikes, followed by a brief stent on the elliptical for me. With Pablo visiting, we decided to add our favorite pups to the collage.
Collage credit: Kim
I spent the rest of the day putting up Christmas decorations and doing some online shopping before going to 5:30 mass.
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past weeks, here’s what you missed…
- • Sunday – Weekly RunDown: November 16 – 22 / Workouts, Bonfires, and a Charcuterie Board
- • Tuesday – Hiking to Grinnell Lake by Way of Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine
Questions:
- • What’s the longest break you’ve taken between races? ~ It’s been almost two years since my last race, but please don’t think this is a return to running for me. I’m not willing to risk a healthy and happy back for a few months of running.
- • Did you run in a turkey trot on Thursday? ~ yes
- • Which workout did you enjoy most this past week? ~ I loved running in the 2K with my little running partner!
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!
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What a lovely family event! Forget paces, nothing beats a Thanksgiving trot with three generations out there, everyone doing their own version of “racing.”
Running hand-in-hand is a different level of joy, and that 11:00 pace finish seems to be full of kid-powered momentum, ha! Did your little partner ask when the next race is?
Catrina, my heart was so full! This was my little partner’s third race and he’s always asking when he can race again!
Congrats on the family Turkey Trot! How fun to have the grandkids join in! My sons and DIL ran my TT with me! I was thrilled to have them there.
It’s been almost 2 years since I ran my last half marathon. I’ve run a few shorter races during that time. I just don’t know if this body is up for anything further. Nor do I really want to…maybe on a trail?
Isn’t it fun having your family join in on your annual Thanksgiving morning tradition?!
Aw, how sweet to do the Turkey Trot with your grandchildren! I’m usually to stressed about the menu to do a turkey trot, but I went out with Scooby @ 7 am. 😉
The only race I did this year was Lawyer’s Have Heart in May, so if I do it again next year, that will be one year between races. 😉
I’m sure Scooby loved your very own turkey trot with just the two of you!
Sounds like the perfect way to get back out running slowly with the kids. I have not run in 5 months. I didn’t really plan it and not sure of when or if I will run again. Happy Thanksgiving
I’ll only be running when I run with the little ones, it’s just not worth it to start running regularly again and re-injure my back.
Awww, it sounds like a wonderful day of trotting for your family! I don’t think I have ever held my kids hands while running but I did enjoy the early days of running with them when my son would just chat the entire time. He wouldn’t stop talking! Those were some pretty speedy paces for your boys!!
Enjoy the doggie sitting!
Wonderful memories made, and the family trotting together is a great bonus 😉 I’m glad we were able to coordinate our cycling coaches for the pics…they both are vital to our fitness and wellbeing!
Yes, our furry little coaches are so important in keeping us motivated! 😉
I didn’t have my oldest son out running races until he was in late elementary school so there was no hand holding with him. They both did a short fun run when they were younger, but I was out running the longer race and my husband was with them…
We are loving our Pablo time!
The longest I usually take off between races is 6 to 12 months. I don’t do a lot of them these days because of crazy schedules with kid activities. Glad you were able to get in a Turkey Trot and are feeling okay! I don’t blame you and not wanting to hurt your back.
Do you count running shorter races with your kids in that count?
Way to go getting all the workouts in while prepping for Thanksgiving! And well done getting back to the turkey trot with such a long time since you last did a race. How nice to run with your family too.
I’ve never seen that strength badge on Garmin! I’ve only seen the monthly gains but I’d love to do more strength challenges, I must look for that.
Thanks, Susanne, it was a fun Thanksgiving morning with our family!
I didn’t sign up for that Garmin challenge, the badge just appeared.
Oh that’s so nice! What a fun way to start Thanksgiving. Now I’m dreaming of the day when I can run a Turkey Trot with grandchildren.
Sounds like you had a great week overall, and I love the photo with the dogs. They look similar from behind (I bet they’d be great friends!)
It was so fun having the entire family at the race! You’ll love it when the time comes.
Wouldn’t it be fun if Pablo and Max could meet in real life, too?
I can’t wait to run with my granddaughter – she is only 2. Maybe next year?
Yes, I ran a 10k… it was great to see so many people out there.
If I’m not injured, it’s never more than a month break. LOL
You’ll love running with your granddaughter, Darlene! And yes, you’re the queen of racing and run more races than anyone else I know.
PABLO! He’s so handsome!
I absolutely did the turkey trot by me (there are several), and it was great.
I think my longest break was 6 months when I broke my leg? Maybe a little longer. But now, I’m not willing to risk further injury so I don’t push too hard. I don’t know if that will ever change, but I’m in it for the long haul, not to necessarily break any records.
I’m glad you had a nice holiday!
Yay for running in a local turkey trot! Your long-term running plan is very smart, Jenn.