Fall Hiking, What’s Next?
Just this past week I finished and published my last two hiking recaps from our fall trip to Smoky Mountain National Park just in time for our next adventure!
If you’re curious about the Appalachian Trail or enjoy beautiful waterfalls, check out my recaps:
- • Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Two Iconic Routes in the Smoky Mountains
- • Wildlife and Waterfalls: Navigating Cades Cove and Hiking to Abrams Falls
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
Walking: 2.03 miles
• Average pace: 19:44 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 93 feet
• Start time: 9:21 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 18° (feels like 11°) and snowing/sleeting
• What I wore: fleece lined tights, s/s shirt, fleece jacket, down coat, hooded rain coat, neck gaiter, ear flap hat, and heated gloves
Cycling: 16 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.9 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 12:46 PM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 65° in the basement, 24° (feels like 14°) and sleeting outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
I decided to venture out for a walk after the snow plow had made an earlier pass through our neighborhood and knocked off the top layer of snow. I was bundled up comfortably and other than my left glove battery repeatedly turning off (it wasn’t plugged in properly) allowing those fingers to get cold, I was toasty warm!
My pace was greatly affected by the snow, but that was to be expected as I trudged along on a couple of somewhat packed inches. Once finished, I accidentally hit discard rather than save and had to create a manual entry. Luckily, I had looked at the distance and average pace when I finished my walk and I guessed the elevation gain based on similar walks.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 3.13 miles
• Average pace: 18:00 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 126 feet
• Start time: 8:46 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 19° (feels like 14°) and mostly cloudy, climbing to 22° (feels like 4°)
• What I wore: fleece lined tights, s/s shirt, fleece jacket, down coat, hooded rain coat, neck gaiter, ear flap hat, and heated gloves
Pilates: Peloton Emma Lovewell 10-Minute Core Strength
Our circle had been plowed overnight, but the cul-de-sac hadn’t been touched so all in-person clients had to be canceled, and my only virtual client moved to later in the day. I slept in a bit and eventually made my way outside for a walk while the street was still quiet and before the wind picked up. The bottom two pictures in the collage show street conditions on the circle which was easy to walk on and not at all slippery. Once back inside I did a few things around the house before hitting the basement gym, remembering that I really prefer lifting first thing in the morning.
Tuesday
Pilates: Peloton Emma Lovewell 5-Minute Core Strength
I woke up feeling exhausted even though I’d gotten really good sleep for four nights in a row. I skipped my planned Peloton ride and other than seeing two virtual clients, I laid pretty low all day. I never felt sick, but I definitely didn’t feel like my usual peppy self.
Overnight a single lane had been plowed to the middle of our cul-de-sac so our immediate neighbors and I called VDOT once again to let them know that our street still wasn’t clear. By mid-morning a plow showed up and the driver did such a good job that I made him a hot chocolate and took it out to him. He was most appreciative!
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Stretching: Peloton Adrian Williams 15-Minutes Stretching for Longevity
With the 55+ gym still closed and my only home in-person client canceling, I had another light day with only one virtual client. Lifting exhausted me so I kept the rest of the day pretty light.
Thursday
Cycling: 5.1 miles (Peloton Emma Lovewell 20-Minute 90’s Ride)
• Bike: Peloton Bike+
• Average speed: 14.7 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 11:34 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63° in the basement, 19° (feels like 11°) and partly cloudy outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
I begged out of joining Kim for an early morning virtual workout, opting to get some rest instead. I woke up with a few body aches and a mild headache, but not really feeling sick (no congestion, fever, etc).
Later in the morning I tried a Peloton ride, but ended up not being able to keep up with the cadence and had to keep the resistance on the lowest number of the range (I usually stay at or near the top of the range). After that I threw in the towel and stayed on the sofa reading the rest of the day.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Peloton strength: Emma Lovewell 10-minute core strength
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Saturday
Walking: 5 miles
• Average pace: 16:10 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: NA
• Start time: 11:08 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 62° in the basement, 17° and mostly sunny outside
• What I wore: capris and s/s shirt
Pilates: Peloton Emma Lovewell 5-minute core strength
I got up at 6 AM – my usual Saturday wakeup – and immediately got busy working on a couple of projects. Still not really feeling sick, but definitely not normal. Honestly, I was procrastinating because the circle looked icy and it was 6° outside, and I really didn’t want to walk on the treadmill. Eventually, though, I made it to the basement and banged out 5 miles while watching an episode of Impossible Routes presented by Canyon.
Winter Warrior Challenge Outdoor Workouts
In our fifth week of the Winter Warrior Challenge is complete and here’s how my week panned out…
Thanks to Sunday’s snow, we added a shoveling category!
Number of outdoor rides (goal is 1) : 0 (too dangerous)
Number of outdoor walks (goal is 2): 2 (Sunday and Monday)
Number of strength training sessions (goal is 2): 3 (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)
Number of times shoveling snow: 3
Garmin Badges Earned
I earned only one Garmin badge this past week. Less activity meant completing fewer challenges, but it also meant getting more sleep which is a huge accomplishment for me!
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: January 18 – 24 / Branching Out Thanks to Peloton
- • Tuesday – Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Two Iconic Routes in the Smok Mountains
- • Friday – Wildlife and Waterfalls: Navigating Cades Cove and Hiking to Abrams Falls
Questions:
- • Where do you think I’m off to next?
- • Has it been brutally cold where you live? ~ yes, certainly for us in the Mid-Atlantic region
- • Are you affected by the bomb cyclone that’s hitting the lower east coast this weekend? ~ no
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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We’re used to snow and cold in the Midwest–it’s weird to see it affecting so many people in the southeast! In answer to your question, yes, it’s been brutally cold here and for quite some time. It’s been sunny, though, and that makes it a little easier to take. A little.
Sorry to hear that you’re feeling off–I had a weird headache and felt queasy on Friday and yesterday morning. I had plans to meet a friend for dinner on Friday after work and had to reschedule Down with the sickness! :p
We are just not used to this many days of continued single-digit mornings and the temps not climbing above freezing here in the Mid-Atlantic region – I think we’re on day ten.
I’ve been taking Zicam and I really think it has helped keep this virus at bay.
Wow, Debbie, sounds like you are in full winter warrior mode! Snow, sleet, freezing temps, basement miles, and you just keep showing up anyway. Well done on consistency!
So nice of you to make a hot chocolate for the plough driver! I can imagine that he was appreciative!
I hope you will feel 100% again soon – and ready for your next adventure… let me guess… somewhere like Tennessee? Or Texas? Or no, wait, FLORIDA!
Actually, we had considered Texas for part of our winder trip, but decided we didn’t want to be gone that long. I’ve not been to the gulf coast states except for Florida and we had originally planned to knock those off. We’ll just have to do that another time! So yes, you are correct, Florida is our destination and I hope it warms up down there before we arrive!
Yes we have also had a rough winter! Snow and ice and bitter cold. The temperature is were in the negatives this week and looks like we are going to warm up and be in the teens this week hopefully! I’m so impressed with your continued commitment to walking outside even in the cold temperatures that you’re not used to! Way to go.
Oh wow, you have had cold weather! This winter seems to be brining brutal cold weather to much of the USA. I prefer our normal milder temps here in the Mid-Atlantic!
I hope you have your energy back soon!
Our street (a cul-de-sac) wasn’t plowed until Tuesday night but it took a second pass on Wednesday to look drivable. I worked from home all week and didn’t venture out until yesterday.
I think Emma cues her classes pretty tough; I often have to adjust!
Thanks, Coco!
That’s it! I’ll blame Emma for not doing very well in her class. 😉
They did such a crappy job of plowing that I don’t feel safe walking outside it is so icy. Glad you were able to make it out. I’m bored of my treadmill! Can’t wait to hear where you next adventure is taking you! We will be off to ski in March
My two walks were both after a trip through with the plow and before it had time to ice over. Once the sun shines on it and then it refreezes it just gets too slippery!
Fun! Are you going back to Vail?
Well to answer your question, if the “bomb cyclone” includes the winter storm hitting the Carolinas, then yes it is affecting us! We’re getting huge gusts of winds from that, and that’s bringing our “feels like” temps down to a crazy low number. For once, the weather up north made it all the way down to South Florida!
It sounds like you’re fighting off a virus. i felt like that too this week- I kept thinking “am I getting sick?” but never really came down with anything. I hope you’re feeling back to normal now.
Good job on the challenge- yes, I can see how an outdoor ride was impossible this week!
You are definitely feeling the effects of the bomb cyclone’s wind. Our friend Chuck (who photo bombed you when you were running) sent us screenshots of your expected temps down there for this weekend and upcoming week. I hope it warms up before we arrive!
Hope you’re feeling better, too!
Hmmm, Yosemite? California parks? I have been so busy planning ski trips and a college graduation trip for my daughter that I haven’t given any thought to summer/fall trip planning! I need to get at it.
That’s great your request for plowing was fulfilled. They do a great job clearing the streets in our neighborhood, although I’m not sure how well the cul-de-sacs are. Our neighbors do a decent job of clearing the sidewalks too, other than the house across the street from us. They are renting the place and I don’t think they own a shovel! Shame on them.
Nope, we’re more boring than that! We’re heading to Florida for a couple of weeks with our gravel bikes. We had thought about also going to some of the other gulf coast states, but decided we didn’t want to be gone that long.
How exciting that your daughter graduates this spring!
I think you are off to Florida…
Can’t believe you got snow.
It’s normal for us.
But this extreme cold… and it’s not ending.
I hope Florida warms up by the time I get there.
Yes, you are correct! Expect a text from me once we nail down a couple more things. Agreed, I hope Florida warms up by the time I get there which will be several days before you.
The cold weather has just been endless this winter, but thankfully at least it’s no longer January, which always seems to drag on! I hope you’re feeling better – that “not sick but feeling off” feeling is something that I can relate to!
Thanks, Janelle!
Oooh…. where are you going? I can’t wait to see!
While it’s not quite as cold here, we are in a deep freeze and it’s pretty wretched. I need ten degrees warmer to be happy.
I hope you are feeling better!
Thanks, Jenn! We’re heading to Naples, Florida and then West Palm; bringing our bikes with us!
Your photos look so much like winters in my youth, with all the snow and cold weather. It’s beautiful to look at but I wouldn’t want to be out in it.
So weird about feeling off but no other symptoms. I hope you get back to normal soon! It’s frustrating not knowing what’s wrong!
What’s next – hiking in the rockies? Perhaps you’ve been already. I’m not caught up with your travels!
Where did you grow up, Susanne? If you’ve said, I don’t recall.
We are on our way to Florida with our gravel bikes! We haven’t skied in several years so we’ll save the trips to the Rockies for the summer.
And thanks, by mid-day on Sunday I was back to feeling 100% normal.
I was thinking of hiking in the Rockies more than anything else (but didn’t realise you meant a trip happening soon)!
I grew up in a small town in the middle of Sweden (north-west of Stockholm) where winters often look like in the US right now! I get some odd nostalgia feeling when I see photos of it. Most of me feels I dislike it, other parts of me feel nostalgic and like it’s cosy somehow.