Cycling

Marching along….

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / Leave a comment

Well hello there!

Last time I blogged was January 6th, clearly I’m not cut out for this anymore. I can’t believe its March AND almost March Break!

It’s been a typical winter for me – very little running and lots of winter sports. I mean, can you blame me? I’ve been soaking up last minute opportunities to x-country ski, snowshoe, skate and downhill ski.

Yesterday after a busy day at work, I picked up the girls and took them skating at our local rink that opened up again due to a mega cold snap. We had the think mostly to ourselves.

Things have been open, shut down and then reopened here. Vaccinations have been rolling out but I’m low on the list so I’ll just wait and see when I get it. Hopefully by this summer.

I’ve kinda lost all motivation to run😳 which really sucks. I’ve packed my bags with all my running gear multiple times in the last few weeks and headed off to the office with the intention to run. But, I didn’t. I just didn’t bother. I even planned my lunch break or end of the day to run, but didn’t. I’m just not feeling it.

I’ve been doing little Zwifting but not as much as I was in January when I completed the Tour de Zwift. That was one of the hardest and most intense activity I’ve done in a long time. Often, after a ride, my legs would shake uncontrollably which was a weird sensation post ride. I never thought I would have done that amount of climbing on a ride. Feeling good about that accomplishment.

Well, that’s been my winter so far! With the time change next week and potentially warmer weather coming in a few weeks, I’m hoping to be running a bit more!

Anyone else struggling with running? Or one of your main activities?

Happy March!

First Day of Winter!

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 2 Comments

Happy Solstice!

I sit here writing this as our recent dump of snow melts with temps rising and mist/rain falling down. Wishing it was snow!! Yes, snow! I’m ready to start skiing and snowshoeing.

Early December I signed up for the Coast Mountain Trail Running Winter Scavenger Hunt. There are 20 challenges that you do with a run, wake or hike over 60 days.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen what I’ve been up to….Nog Jog Run, Decorate Yourself Run, Relay Run, Food Bank Donation Run, Bublé Run, Rerun Run, Frozen Run, Holiday Card Run, Dreaming of Summer Run, Cross Trained, and a Chocolate Run.

Frozen Run
Food Bank Donation
Relay Run with Kelly in Ontario (me in NS)
Nog Jog, went way better than expected.

It’s been a lot of fun doing these challenges and I still have nine more to go by the end of January.

I’ve also been working towards my goal of 1000km running and 1000km cycling and getting so close on both.

My husband got me onto Zwift recently and I’m slowly figuring that out and learning a lot. I was super nervous on my first group ride but survived and did another one the following week. Cycling has become a great cross training activity for me. The past summer I fell in love with road riding, something I thought I would NEVER do. I’m hooked!

A December starts to wrap up, winter creaps in, Christmas is days away, I’m looking forward to a new year filled of good times and positivity. Yeah, I’m done with 2020!

Oh, I almost forgot….happy 9 years “blogging” to me. Well, I don’t blog much these days but this thing is 9 years old!

Anyone else still working on their 2020 goals?

What’s one thing you are doing for yourself over the holidays?

Ever do a Nog Jog?

November 30th Already!

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 4 Comments

I can’t believe tomorrow is December 1st….and I’ve barely wrote any blog posts this year. 🤷‍♀️

I’ve been spending most of my social media time on Instagram at “pipersrun”….if you want to see more daily posts, since I suck a blogging this year.

I did however, finish the Run Across Nova Scotia team relay back in mid August. Three of us ran 264km to run the distance of Nova Scotia during wave 1 of this crazy pandemic. It kept me motivated to keep running and getting outsize more.

I got to enjoy some beautiful longer rides this fall with my husband….who is way more of a hard core cyclist than I am. It was fun to be on the road with him. We also did some fall trail running together at Cape Split and Keppoch….both beautiful places we’ll run again. Cape Split is close by and we’ve run it before but Keppoch was so beautiful, I can’t wait to go back!

This fall I’ve been trying to hit 100km a month to reach my yearly goal of 1000km….as of writing this, I’m 4km away from my monthly goal. Yes, you guess it…I’m heading out to get in those 4km today.

I still have 115km in December to hit my yearly goal and I’ve made a plan to get there. I’m also close to my 1000km of cycling goal for the year but it’s time to put my bike on the trianer….sad day.

Yesterday I enjoyed a 13km run in the sunshine. However, it was super cold in the shade. Can’t win them all!

Okay, I’ll off to get a 4km easy run and finish my 100km for the month.

Anyone else going for a monthly goal today?

How about yearly goals?

Are you planning for 2021 yet?

Run or Ride!?!

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / Leave a comment

We’ve been enjoying the beautiful weather we are currently having in Nova Scotia.

I’m trying to take advantage of the nice weather and get outside for as many runs as I can but also rides on my bike. Since I took my bike off is trainer (and won’t be putting it back on until fall), my only option for a ride is outdoors.

Yesterday, late afternoon I managed to get in my longest road ride of 33km done. The first half was a loop I’ve never done and was great. The second loop was horrible and I thought I was going to get hike my so many cars or ride off into the ditch. It was brutal and I’ll never take that road again. Not need to put myself in that situation again.

My girls have been loving getting out on their bikes in our subdivision and local trail over the last few months. Last year we took a ride into the next town and I’m hoping to convince them to do that again soon. It’s only 8k one way but I don’t know they’d be up for the return ride. We’ll see.

Below, I’m “blinded by the light” (of the sun) post ride! Also, one of our favourite songs to dance to in our house. We’ve also got in a few evening rides which are fun and a good way to get out of the house!

On Sunday which was my daughter’s 10th birthday, I managed to get in a faster 10k. Be it the cooler temps and overcast sky, running more consistently for the last three months or losing some weight recently…I ran faster by 4-5 minutes. Not going to lie, it felt great to push my pace and see 5:48/km at one point.

I’m hoping to run a half marathon at some point this summer but I need to work up to it. I don’t seem to have the fitness/body that can just go run a half marathon whenever I want to.

Our “Three Moms on the Run” team is just under 200km into 792km “Run Across Nova Scotia”. I’ve only completed 48km so I’ve got to get running more soon! Sure wishing I was on vacation 😊. So it’s a toss up these days, do I run or ride?

What’s your go to activity? Run or ride? (Or something else)

Are you having good sunshine weather or crappy rainy weather?

Last, are you done with Covid? (Like me)