I love fall and football and jeans and big wool sweaters but, I absolutely hate the last week of summer. It always leaves me wondering where all the time could have possibly gone? But, then I think about Italy and all my triathlon races, Hershey Park, the national championships in Omaha, trips to Maine and Vermont and I remember just how long and fun and amazing this summer has been.
As in everything I do, I gave the last week of summer everything I had in terms of fun, fitness and food!
WEEK OF AUGUST 22, 2016
RUNNING
I am ramping up my running since I have not one, but two half marathons, coming right up! The first is part of the Rise.Run.Retreat, running the Leaf Peeper half in Waterbury, Vermont and the second is in Las Vegas in November! I’m not sure how much different two races could possibly get but, I’m really looking forward to them both! Not so much the all the running, since the longest run I have done in a while is 8 miles, but the people I will be running with. More on that later…
Getting some easy miles in while at Lake Bomoseen in Vermont last week.
Oh and I still have one more triathlon on September 18 where I hope to qualify for nationals 2017.
CYCLING
I’m happy to report that I now have both of my bikes back however, I only had my road bike put together for my trip to Lake Bomoseen in Vermont last week. It was probably better to have that bike there anyway since the mountains in the green mountain state are no joke. I loved every minute! #ItsTheClimb
SWIMMING
I was so disappointed that the house we stayed at for a few days, on the lake in Vermont, was not swimmable off the dock. There was a lot of vegetation and, when I say a lot, I mean a ton! The more lakes I see and swim in, the more I realize how clean and beautiful Crystal Lake by my home is. I have a new appreciation for it.
I got some pool swims in and also made up for lake swims with SUP, kayaking and indoor climbing. It’s all upper body and core work, right?
An early morning solo kayak. The best!
That would be my dad on belay! He’s sporting his Havana Garage shirt from Omaha too.
FUEL
Pretty soon I’m going to start watching my diet. Any day now…
Until then, I will continue to not think about food as fuel but just food for fun.
The most amazingly delicious pizza on the planet, courtesy of Cornerstone in Ogunquit Maine. Also, my cousin’s cleavage. #sorrynotsorry
Cookie bigger than my head from Bread and Roses Bakery in Ogunquit, Maine.
Dinner and drinks at Lakeside Bar and Grill on Lake Bomoseen, Vermont.
THINGS I LOVE
The never ending humor Ryan Lochte provides. I swear, this guy has about two brain cells but, when he rubs them together and you add John Oliver? Magic happens.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Thinking of certain things as parenting fails when really, I don’t care. Here’s my summer short list of things we did not do:
Read
Limit screen time
Care too much about a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner
Showers in clean water, i.e. not a lake or pool
They do not seem adversely effected.
PODCASTS
My favorite listen this past week was definitely Wendy Rivard of Taking the Long Way Home and her chat with Denny of Diz Runs. I just love how honest and open Wendy was and her sheer love of running came though loud and clear between my ears. She was exactly as she seems on her blog and, at one point she even says, “geez this is so personal” but tells the story anyway. I really admired her courage to be so honest, could relate to a lot of it and, my eight mile run literally flew by. I truly hope to one day actually run with the real Wendy!
[Tweet “Listen to @oldrunningmom on @dizruns #podcast and watch the miles fly by!”]
READING
This week I have one shameless article plug and another about a triathlete I really admire. First, my article, of course:
Five Ways for Beginner Triathletes to Get Faster | Training Peaks
You know how they say you should write what you know? Well, this is everything I have learned thus far about getting better, faster, stronger and smarter in triathlon. Benefit from my mistakes people.
Two Events Fewer but So Many More Miles to Run | The New York Times
Gwen Jorgensen just won the first Olympic gold medal for American women in triathlon and, instead of going to Disney World, she’s going to run the New York City marathon! Just when I thought I couldn’t love her more. In case you’re wondering, she’s never run a marathon. In fact, she’s never run much father than the Olympic distance triathlon which is a 10K or six miles. #Badass
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The following exchange took place between an older, presumably married couple, sitting behind my husband and I on our flight from from Boston to Omaha a few weeks ago…
Woman: So what did he say?
Man: Who?
Woman: Trump!
Man: Oh I don’t know…
Woman: You read the article! What did he say?
Man: Oh something about how he wants to use the second amendment to shoot Hillary.
You really need to hear my husband re-tell it, using their thick accents and deadpan delivery. Hysterical.
How was your last week of summer or is it still going?
What is your favorite summer indulgence?
What will you NOT miss about summer?
You have had such an awesome summer!! I can’t believe you have another tri coming up so soon! There was no structure with my kids especially my eldest who ate like a crazy person round the clock–I won’t miss his hourly check ins for food! 🙂 that food looks so good!! My last week of summer was crazy but a lot of fun.
Totally as it should be!!! I died when I saw the first day of school pictures of your boys!!! They could not be any more handsome…but please have them stop growing!! I can’t take it!
AHHHHH our summer ended last week and I was SHOCKED how smooth the transition was.
Although I also remind myself the first week of school is like CAMP.
All fun and no work.
So perhaps this week shall be crazytown??
(we need a vlog here with your husband telling the TrumpStory!!)
OMG I totally should have VLOG-ed that!!
And I hear you with the first week of school. It’s the first month that is the true test. Good luck!!
I know what you mean about the last week – we’ve been trying to cram everything in yet try to get the kids back into school mode. We go back Wednesday so the final countdown has begun. I feel like I’m ready after having our schedules thrown for a loop for the past few weeks. Schedules are good! Can you believe we’ll be in Vermont in 5 weeks for Rise.Run.Retreat?!?!? How did that happen?
Yes, schedules are definitely very good! And no, I cannot believe we will all be in Vermont in just 5 weeks…mostly because I’m so not ready to run a half marathon!!! Yikes!
Ok, so I just finished reading Carla’s post on friendship and I am mourning the loss of a running friendship/being duped by a woman once again! And then I read this. Tears, and I am not lying.
You made my day! <3 Yes, I'd love to run with you! but it would be slow…because we'd need to talk and I have to breathe…
Really? Oh Wendy I am SO glad!! I really loved your honesty in that podcast so much and, I have so many of the same opinions, feelings and history when it comes to life and running. And, if we ever do get together, why even run? We could just have wine and do a few yoga poses so we can talk more 🙂
so many things to love about this post! first off, wow you’ve got a lot coming up race wise. you go girl! i like the pressure, especially from the sidelines LOL.
your trip looks amazing, anything by the water is my idea of a good time and relaxing (for the most part)
food for flavor and fun is totally ok by me. sometimes i just eat to get in calories because my daily breastfeeding marathons got me like wiped out! it’s crazy how something that just has me sitting on my butt can have me so ravenous. in the meantime, bring me more chocolate and goat cheese…
since i love podcasts i will defnitely be checking out Wendy’s. i love hearing women (and some men) talk about stuff i’m interested in and keeping it real. well duh, i guess that’s why anyone would like a podcast. whatever i’m not making sense.
i LOVE LOVE LOVE Gwen J and had such a great time watching take the gold, i could have watched her 5 times. she’s amazing! i love her and agree, what a badass for signing up for NY marathon. and how hot are her and hubby? they are my fav hot fit couple right now. i love them. puffy heart love.
ryan lochte has definitely entertained me all week, he reminds me of the twat dude i had a crush on in highschool. what a douche… but oh-so entertaining. and YES to john oliver. puffy heart love him, too.
have a fab week, happy Monday!
LOL – you are cracking me up with this one!
I absolutely love all things goat cheese – like puffy heart love – hahaha. Thanks Danielle!
Ah… so jealous you are going to the rise, run retreat….. That pizza looks amazing!! What I am really going to miss about summer is it being light early in the morning and light until late day…. I do more running in the summer because I can get more super early runs in when it’s light out… for some reason I’m just a little scared to go run in the dark at 5:30 am, and I’m not a treadmill person.
I so wish you could join us at the retreat! Someday we will meet my friend…and I kinda hope it’s on your coast because I truly miss California! I hear you about running in the dark. The older I get (and the more bear sightings there are) the more scared I become. Boooo.
All of these pictures made me so incredibly homesick for Vermont! I totally know what you mean about the vegetation in the ponds and lakes. Down here we don’t go in ANY fresh water, because there are likely gators and snakes. Booo.
At least I don’t have to worry about gators!! We have some snakes in the lake I live near but (luckily!) I have yet to see one.
Vermont is so amazing and I’m really excited to be running there this fall. Thanks so much Heather!
Ohhhh to be lakeside. So beautiful. We got our boat and we’ve only been out once, and now the weather is changing! We’re going to sneak out there today before it gets cold and now you’ve inspired me to pack a picnic and a giant wine bottle (for when we dock, of course). I’m looking forward to school for the kids, but not so much the making lunches part. GAH. I need to check out Wendy’s blog! And her podcast with Denny. I know I’ll love it if you do.
I saw your super hot boating photos! Get out there and get some before it’s too cold!!
And yes – you will LOVE Wendy. She is a kindred spirit and doesn’t know how to be anything but real and honest. Have fun!!
That large pizza and cookie is (almost) enough to fill my stomachs. I want that!
It tasted just as good as it looks!!
Oh whew, I love your honesty. We had the same parenting “fails”- but totally worth it. Your lake sounds amazing. I’ve seed a lot of lakes and very few I’d want to swim in. 🙂
So glad you can relate to those! Sometimes the fun of summer just outweighs the proper parenting list 🙂
I can definitely relate as I’ve been trying to cram a lot of stuff in that will not fit into my schedule this week HA. I cannot wait for cooler temperatures but I’m going to miss relaxing in the summer.
It’s funny because most years I’m looking forward to the cooler temps but now that I bike and swim, it’s not the same!!
Here’s to hoping you get everything on your To Do list done!
The lake sounds amazing! Lakes are my happy place recently, we camped at one this weekend and all I could think was that I wish I knew how to do open water swimming. Your photos – and more so getting to meet you and everyone – make me so excited for going to Vermont next month! I’m super excited about Gwen (and Molly Huddle) debuting at NYCM.
I’m sure most of you lakes are fantastically swimmable!! I love that you take the time to camp often and really appreciate your surroundings. So awesome.
And yes, I cannot tell you how excited I am for the retreat and getting to finally meet you in person!! I wish you could bring Charlie.
HAHAHHA That Ryan Lochte video! I am DYING!!!!! He really is America’s douche bag
He really, truly is. #SeaCow
Thanks for reading, watching and commenting 🙂
I hadn’t seen the Oliver video on Lochte – thanks for the laugh this morning! Also love the random quote, the huge cookie, and your lack of concern for “parental fails.” Which weren’t, you know. Your kids had a great summer, so that’s a parenting win. There will be plenty of time to shower later!
It makes me so happy to know you saw that video here first 🙂
And thank you for seeing the big picture with the boys, which is definitely that our summer was amazing from start to finish! Thanks Dana. Hope you’re doing ok with your one bird out of the nest!
My goodness – your exercise routine makes me want to lie down in a darkened room! Looks amazing though, and no wonder you have energy for all the other brilliant things you do!
LOL!! I get that a lot but yes, it only adds to my energy most days and I really have fun when I’m out there. Thanks!!