Join me by pulling up a chair and pouring yourself a cup of coffee. As always, though, I’m sticking to water since I don’t care for coffee or tea. Let’s take a break and try to talk about more than just fitness related topics. Sound like a plan? I’ll kick us off…
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..
December was a great month for fitness with the arrival of my new Peloton Bike+. I’d met my 6,000-mile cycling goal less than a week earlier so timing was perfect to transition from long steady spins to short intensive interval type rides. In addition to my regular total body strength training sessions, I added in several Peloton core strength classes which I’m really loving!
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..
With cold weather approaching, I asked Gemini (Google’s AI) to help me make a picturesque winter challenge with activities to get me outside during January and February. I didn’t set perimeters for the length of the walks or bike rides, but I think I’ll set biking at five miles and walking at one mile minimums. By the way, strength training is indoors. LOL
Yesterday, when the temperature was 26° (feels like 19°), the challenge incentivized me to go for my first outdoor winter ride since February 2024. I’ve recruited my Dawn Patrol friends to join me. Any virtual takers?
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..
I heard someone mention that she had a “25 in 2025 list” and I loved the idea so much that I am in the process of creating a list of 26 things I’d like to do in 2026. Some are private, but the others I’m happy to share.
- Try iFly
- Hike in Great Falls
- Plant flowers in front of our house
- Do one more century ride
- Visit at least six more national parks
- Go to Carl’s for frozen custard
- Try zip lining
- Take voice lessons
- Mail at least one letter to someone each month
- Go to the beach house (we haven’t been in almost three years)
- Try one new recipe per month
- Schedule lunch/dinner dates with local friends rather than saying “let’s get together sometime”
- Entertain more frequently
- Plan trips to breweries with friends
- Visit at least one of the nine states I haven’t been to yet
- Grow tomatoes on our deck (and dare the groundhog to eat them)
- Transplant a fuchsia colored peony from Mom’s garden to ours
- Go standup paddle boarding on Currituck Sound
- Do the Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
- Private
- Private
- Private
- Private
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..
I’m really loving my new Garmin, so much so that I don’t even mind walking on the treadmill… well not too much anyway. My new Garmin allows me to calibrate the mileage to that of the treadmill before saving, something I couldn’t do with my old one so I’d try to swing my arm at just the right speed to keep the mileage to that of the treadmill. At the time, I didn’t realize that after I saved my workout I could go back into the Garmin Connect app and adjust the mileage.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..
You might have noticed that one of the two posters behind my Peloton bike in the stats picture is missing. My husband is in the process of updating both posters and one of the two new ones is in the shop getting framed. I didn’t even think to take a better picture of them before he took the one off the wall so here’s a picture from 2017 where both are visible.
- Questions:
- • Are you participating in any winter challenges? ~ this is my only one
- • What activities should I add to my 26 on 2026 list? What would you add to your own list?
- • If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?
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Today I’m joining Deborah at Confessions Of A Mother Runner and Coco at Running With Perseverance for their monthly Ultimate Coffee Date linkup which goes live the first Friday of every month. Be sure to stop by their blogs for a cup of coffee and to say hello; and while you’re there, be sure to check out some of the other bloggers who are participating in the linkup.
What perfect timing for your new Peloton bike! The core classes sound like a nice add-on.
I have great respect for your ride in 26°/ 19°! How many layers were you wearing! How did you keep your feet warm?
That 26-on-2026 list is great. A really nice mix of fun, practical, brave, and meaningful. But I did notice that you have 27 items on your list – probably one in reserve? And what happened to 19–24? Are they still brewing?
Oh wow, I didn’t even catch that there were 27 items, thank you for bringing it to my attention! It probably added on when I inserted something up the line – I just corrected it. The missing entries are items I’m still mulling over…
Oops and to answer your question about what I wore on my cold ride yesterday… I wore fleece-lined bike pants that I bought in the fall of 2024, but had never worn (they worked great!). I had on very unconventional cycling attire on my upper body – a hoodie sweatshirt and down coat – but I was toasty warm! I was wearing regular sneakers and my feet didn’t get cold until the final quarter mile. I kept my ears warm with a fleece-lined bike hat that has ear flaps, and instead of bike gloves, I had on mittens over gloves with hand warmers between the two. I set out for a quick few laps around my immediate neighborhood and felt so great that I ventured out a little farther and longer. 🙂
I knew you would love all things Peloton! The core classes are a great way to mix it up. I’m personally challenging myself to walk outdoors more days than indoors. I do love the Pelo hiking classes for indoor days-check those out! A challenge list is fun! IFLY is a blast! Friends and I we just talking about trying it again
I’m loving Emma’s core class, but am taking a short break to figure out why my sciatic pain is creeping back. Even though I have the strength to do the planks, I don’t think my body likes them – I may need to modify that part of the workout.
Yes, I can’t wait to try iFly in March!
Wow, your winter challenge sounds great, and your goal list is impressive! Take voice lessons? That’s awesome! Visit six more national parks sounds awesome as well. As well s zip lining… you’re going to have quite a year!!!
Don’t be too impressed, Jenny, I want to take voice lessons so I can sing happy birthday or sing along in church without embarrassing myself. My favorite priest once said that I should sing extra loudly to make God wish he’d given me a better voice. LOL
The 26 in ‘26 is a great idea! I should do something similar. As for winter challenges..I’m still rocking the #OptOutside daily gig. I remember January 3rd (of last year) was Day-1500, so I’m currrently at Day-1856 (which includes this morning’s 3-mile walk).
Nice job on your opt outside streak, Kim!
I’m glad you are enjoying your Peloton! Will be interested to see if you like the PowerZone classes or prefer traditional interval classes.
I like the variety of your list. No way would I get on my bike in this weather! I know the hardest part is getting started but … BRRRR! Scooby gets me out for a walk most days although if it’s in the teens I might let my husb take him out instead. 😉
My husband is loving the power zone class, but I haven’t tried one yet.
My unconventional cycling attire had me completely comfortable on my bike ride and I wasn’t the least bit cold. 🙂
congratulations on getting a peloton! I dusted my little spin bike off back in September with good intentions and… made one ride since :D. mind you I did have surgery in October and only got the all clear less the a month ago but still. I think I need to revisit my plan!!
love the 26 in 26!! I might do something like that myself! I definitely want to add some dimension in my life and already have a few things planned – one I’m really excited about it a Moonlight walk in a nature area near me in Feb. Oh and doing an Italian cooking workshop in Feb as well! But I’ve also thought about sending real cards, postcards, holiday cards – things I never do anymore and I think it’s such a shame!
I did a summer challenge like your winter challenge but set the bar too high and then failed miserably… also asked AI to help me devise it, but clearly it was not attainable.
Here’s hoping you can get back on your spin bike consistently in 2026!
I would love to do an Italian cooking workshop! And I added walking through our local botanical garden light show next Christmas to my 26 in 2026 after reading your comment. Thanks for the idea!
Congrats on your new Peloton bike!
I really like your winter warrior challenge and the 26 in 26 idea – I may need to create something similar. Thanks for the ideas!
Thanks and you’re welcome, Michelle!
Enjoy that new Peloton Bike! While I still walk outdoors, biking is off the table since it’s so icy, I would not chance it. Love the idea of 26 in 26. I’ll have to think about that.
Thanks, so far we’re really enjoying the Peloton! And believe me, if it’s icy I won’t be riding or walking outside.
Love the idea of the 2026 list, especially national parks and states. Which are you missing? I have Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Kentucky so I WILL do 50 before 50. Been trying to do the put a date thing too, because “sometime” never comes.
The states I’m missing are Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Michigan, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Alaska. Alaska is on the calendar for 2027.
The peloton is perfect for you.
No challenges other than running outdoors. Which here is a big challenge.
Add meet up with some bloggers. lol.
Happy New year. Hope it’s a good one.
Fingers crossed our Florida dates workout. I’ll text you and Jenny in a week or two to see what we can come up with, sound good?
Oh, what a fun challenge!
At the moment, my challenge is keeping my boy pug from being too crazy: he tweaked his back while we were away and he is on crate rest while he heals. It’s not great!
Oh no, I hope your little guy heals and feels better soon!