You knew I wasn’t taking the summer off, right? I decided it’s time to bring back The Rundown! In case you don’t know, The Rundown is a fun little weekly listing I post on Mondays, of all the training I’ve been doing, upcoming races and a little bit of fun sprinkled in.
Since I have a stellar line-up of fall races and a few big plans for later in the year (not to mention the little sponsorship with Oiselle) I’m upping my game and excitement heading into some cooler running weather and races, races, races. Let’s start our engines!
WEEK OF AUGUST 11, 2014
RUNNING: I’m really excited to be helping a great friend of mine train for her very first marathon. She has been making huge strides in her overall training and speed, and I couldn’t be more excited for her. I also get to run with her a lot! Last week we did her first 18 miler and she powered through it at a 8:15 pace. She’s going to kill this thing! My other favorite workout for my week was the 8x800s (that ended up being 6x800s) at the indoor track during a pouring rainy Wednesday.
Total running mileage: 47
Can you guess which coffee mug is mine?
CYCLING: I’m happy to report that I’ve been cycling through the summer and loving it. I even got to ride with Coach Rocket Scientist! She was injured all though my training for the World Championship so this was huge! We did a 30ish mile ride outside on a beautiful day and it was fantastic! I’m also toying with the idea of doing the V2V race I’ll be promoting (post on Wednesday!). I can do 50, 80 or 100 miles from Vernon, VT to Vernon, CT. Which do you think I’ll choose?
Total biking mileage: 78
CROSS-TRAINING: I’ve also been swimming! Surprise! It’s amazing just how many additional things you can do when you’re not on a strict training regimen. I’ve taken full advantage of not being on a schedule, and instead doing what my body needs/wants for the day, while still keeping my fall goal races in mind. It’s blissful.
I also have to confess that I’ve been doing zero weight training, although I typically don’t. I do however, have to get back to doing my basic strengthening exercises for my hips and glutes. And, I’m reading an amazing book with some perfect workouts that fit that bill. I’ll be reviewing the book, and doing a video with the workout so stay tuned!
RACING: I did my first 5K as a Team Oiselle athlete and it was fantastic! I came in second with a time of 19:06 which is a 26 second personal record for me. Things can only get better, right?
Stretching after a run in Maine, wearing my favorite Oiselle digs.
Fall racing schedule:
New Haven Labor Day 20K – Monday, September 1
Surftown Half-Marathon – Sunday, September 14
ING Half-Marathon – Sunday, October 12
Yes, I’m doing three half-marathons in 7 weeks. What? Technically, the New Haven race is not a half…it’s 12.43ish miles.
FUEL: I have a new favorite new fuel belt – Nathan’s Trail Mix! I was always a diehard Camelbak Catalyst fan but, the water tube was always getting disgusting mold in it, no matter how much I tried to clean it or only put water in it. Nathan’s belt solves all my issues with easy to clean bottles, a huge storage pack, zero chafing and truly an easy fit. I did 18 miles with my friend, refilled the bottles twice and had no issues. I would like to kiss Mr. Nathan.
THINGS I LOVE: The last vacation of the summer. I told my husband that once we left for Spain, way back on May 28, the summer would be over in a flash. Unfortunately, this has been 100% true. We made one last ditch effort to bask in the glory of summer, and went camping in Maine for a long weekend with some family. Now, when I say camping, I mean we rented a deluxe cabin at a camp ground. I need a real toilet and shower people.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Miles and Vaughn starting Kindergarten. WTF?
Is there anything better then a campfire and s’mores?
MUSIC: My latest Fitbie article talks about the power of music for getting though a tough workout and comes with this power playlist from Barry’s Bootcamp instructor Joey Gonzalez. Check it out…
TV: Have you seen The Leftovers on HBO? Start watching it immediately! It’s creepy (one day 1% of the population vanished without a trace), it’s intelligent and there’s a strong woman with a filthy mouth (Amanda Warren) who plays the role of mayor and I love her. Oh yeah and there’s the “hot cop” lead role guy if you’re into that…
READING: Apparently there’s a book of The Leftovers but this time, I’m just going to enjoy the show and maybe read the book afterward. I’ve had the opportunity to read some great stuff this summer but, right now, I’m reading two books for review on the blog. One is on parenting and the other on running – go figure!
RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: There’s nothing like racing through a carnival Fun House with your kids, to bring out your inner Oliva Newton John. #GreaseLightening
[Tweet “The Rundown is BACK! Where are you racing this fall? #runchat #endofsummer”]
Give me your rundown! Races, plans, trips, events – all of it!
What are you doing to end the summer?
I so glad you brought this back! I love Maine! We went 11 years ago and I want to go back so badly. Ogunquit Beach rocks! You’ll have fun with your boys going into Kindergarten. My advice, volunteer when you can with their class. It’s so much fun and the time goes by so quickly! My rundown is that I working my mileage back up with my hip. I have a 5K race benefiting the Roswell Park Cancer Institute this Saturday.
Good luck at your race!!!! Thanks for the advice about Kindergarten. If these first five years is any indication of how the next five are going to go, I had better volunteer a lot!
Maine was awesome. So beautiful and fun – especially for the kids!
If only I knew you’d be in Maine!! Oh well, we’ve got another opportunity soon, right?? And I totally know what you’re talking about with Fun House. I always feel like Sandy in it!
I know!?! And, yes we will very soon!! That’s too funny about the fun house since you know the exact one I’m talking about at Old Orchard Beach! 🙂
Our cabin had a toilet and a shower…yours didn’t? Or they just weren’t up to your standards? No training for me over here. Contemplated a 10k and decided no races until 2015. I have been mountain biking though :-). John has the same fuel belt 🙂
Ha ha – yes, our cabin had a toilet and shower and they were fine. No pitstops for me on the trail run!!…immediately when I returned though.
Of course John has the same one!! And I think you made the right decision by not racing until 2015. Enjoy the mountain bike!
Love this, and that is SO sweet of you (but I am not surprised) that you a re helping a friend with her first marathon, I bet you are the absolute best person to do this! So selfless 🙂 I actually have a similar fuel belt, and I am gonna use it today on my first 20 miler….I never thought I would use them, but now I see how important it is to have liquids while on those long runs….desperate times call for desperate measures! I like this post….keep them coming 🙂
Thanks so much Tina! It’s not entirely self-less though, as I’m getting my training in (and then some!) as well. I agree about the fuel belt. I used to never use them and now it’s like heaven. Good luck on your 20. I’m sure you will kill it!!
I am so with you on Kindergarten and still cannot believe Emma will be starting in the fall either now. Seriously, she seems fine about it, but it is definitely me having more issues and nerves for sure right now. And love that your rundown is back and definitely smiling at all the races you have coming up, because I know you are going to nail them for sure 🙂
Thanks Janine! And, I know how you feel with the nerves and overthinking everything. I’m way more anxious about the boys first day then they are.
Returning to home (NJ) from an annual family trip to visit my best friend (we met on a Runner’s World forum, btw!) and her family in Iowa…next up is our own fam trip to Virginia Beach for an awesome weekend and the half in Sunday, then school starts for the kids and we head to the PA Ren Faire and HersheyPark. Then the Army 10-mile (I run it every year for Team Fisher House), two half marathons 6 days apart, and I’m toying with the RunnersWorld festival hat trick…and finally, I usually end the racing year with the Philly half or full in November. Just a usual fall for us =}
So much awesomeness!!! Now I don’t feel as bad at all about the three half-marathons in 7 weeks 🙂 You know I love HersheyPark right? So much fun there! And, I though RW already had the hat trick races in June? Theres another in the fall??? Must check that out ASAP!
I’m still trying to figure out where my summer went! After FitBloggin I feel like it just turned into the end of August. It’s all a blur. I work in higher ed, so now we are just getting ready for the upcoming school year… I am pretty sure that my official summer is over. I will be in CT visiting my family this weekend though. 🙂
A total blur! Exactly. This weekend should be a beauty in CT! I wish we could get together…
Next time! 🙂 Bolton is too close to you for us not to get together one day. 🙂
Agreed!!
8:15 for 18 miles training for her first marathon is AWESOME! She is definitely going to kill it!!!!
You camp like I like to camp :). I am very athletic…not so much outdoorsy!
Maybe I should try that fuel belt…I typically hate fuel belts and I actually just really don’t like things touching my stomach.
Your fall schedule looks awesome. I am totally with you on the summer going by too fast!!! We actually started back school today! We start a little early because we take vacation right in the middle of fall.
My fall race schedule is The Bird in Hand Half in 3 weeks and then the Richmond Marathon in Nov!!!! I may throw in a 10 or 5k in between them if I can…we’ll see.
We are doing a FL vacation in Oct :)!!! Should be fun!
Your 5k was amazing..that is such a huge PR on an already super speedy time…great job!!!!!
Thanks so much Jen…and WOW you have a lot going on and all of it good. I can’t wait to see what you do in Richmond and Florida in Oct seems like a great time to go. I hope I can read all about all your adventures!!
Your Total running mileage: 47
My Total couch-azzing mileage: 94,589,562
You are truly inspiring!!! 🙂 I definitely need some more of that!
Totally agree with you that a real shower and a real toilet are a must! AND summer is going by way.too.fast. What the heck!? I suffer through all those long cold months for it to go by this quickly! Need more sunshine!
You have a lot of exciting stuff coming up! Can’t wait to check it all out!
I do love fall and a little tiny bit of winter but, after the holidays? I’m DONE!
So inspiring- you’re killing the workouts! And that 5k time is so fantastic. I’m excited for what lies ahead for you this fall!
Thanks Laura! I can’t wait to see what YOU do post-baby 🙂
You’re so fit! Your friend’s lucky to have you training her for the marathon. So cool!
She is great to train with and we’ve been friends for a LONG time so I really love it. Thanks Jaclyn!
Of course it could only get better from here!! I actually can believe that you are running 3 halfs in such a short period of time, if anyone can do it, you can!!! Have you ever heard of the half fanatics? I am so impressed by your 5k run! And now I want that hydration belt!
You will be needing it very soon for some of those long runs you will have!! And, I have not heard of the half fanatics but it sounds like I AM one 🙂
Smart writing and a “strong woman with a filthy mouth?” I am SO all over that, thanks for the recommendation.
And wowza, can’t believe all the different stuff you’ve been doing with your training! You are an inspiration!
Oh you will LOVE that character!! Thank you!!
Yay for the Rundown!
Also, WTF for kindergarten!
We have 2-3 more weeks of summer and I really want to do special things, but not overdo it, either. If it were totally up to my heart, we’d be racing around and looking for moose every day.
Since my brain is also involved, eh, a lot of playground time and a few special day trips.
Oh Tamara I was desperately looking for moose in Maine…and hoping NOT to see one while trail running. Unfortunately, the only one I saw was mounted on the wall at L.L. Bean. Boooooo!!!!! And, I’m very upset that we haven’t made it to the Coventry Farmer’s Market even once this whole summer! We need to make that happen!!
Happy to se the Rundown again – I love reading about all the things you are doing both training and otherwise!!
I’m actually getting ready for another ultra (on September 11) – I haven’t written much/anything about it yet because that hasn’t worked out well for me in the past:)
I know and I’m so glad you keep getting back on that horse! Third time is the charm, right? I’ll be rooting for you!
I can’t believe that the summer is almost over!! You have an awesome line-up this fall my friend!!
We’ll see how awesome I feel come November! Thanks Christine 🙂
Congrats on your PR! That is awesome! I signed up to do the Disney Princess Half Marathon this winter, so I’d better get a move on my training!
You did? OMG that is great Michelle! Can’t wait to read all about it…
I’m looking forward to reading your Rundown! Congrats on the PR! You’re going to rock your fall races no doubt.
Thanks so much Jill!
I missed the Rundown. From someone else it may make me feel like a lazy sack of poo, but from you it’s fun and inspiring. I am watching The Leftovers, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s pretty slow at times, but I’ll finish the season. I have HBO anyway since I’m watching True Blood 🙂
Thank you for saying that Dana! I really appreciate it.
My husband feels the same about The Leftovers and, granted there was that one with the priest that went on and on and really didn’t reveal much, but I feel like it’s really picked up and I have no clue how this is all going to end!? It will be weird for sure.
Wow, great week for someone not training 😉 I’m in the midst of marathon training and I’m getting to the point where I’m feeling burnt out…it seems way to early for that. MCM isn’t until Oct 26th, i’ve still got a LONG way to go! I’ve got the Air Force/Navy Half Marathon, Army 10 miler and the Marine Corp Marathon in the next 2 months…and I just realized they are all military related! HA! Good luck on the 1st day of school, definitely a lot of mixed emotions for me when I sent Ryan to his first day of kindergarten a few weeks ago. Excitement and sadness all at the same time!
I’m training but not following a plan 🙂 And my oh my you have a lot coming up too – love that…and also love that you realized they’re all military related! As for the little “slump” for MCM, I’m sure you’ll come out of it. It happens to a lot of people during marathon training. It’s just such a beast!!
So much of this post brought back memories. I used to LOVE campouts in Maine, such a beautiful state.
And, in this week when I’ve sent my youngest off to his freshman year of college and my oldest is about to start his sophomore year, I have to smile thinking about when they started kindergarten. Such mixed emotions then, such mixed emotions now.
Oh I’m so glad! When I was reading your post about dropping your son off to college in another time zone, I just couldn’t fathom it! My kids will literally be less then a mile down the street, at elementary school, and I’m freaking out. And YES so many mixed emotions. Kids bring those out a lot in moms, don’t they?
Yay!! I’m so glad the Rundown is back! 🙂 Once again I don’t even know where to start with the comments. I love that coffee mug. 2014 has been an amazing running year for you -I’m sure you will kill those Fall races. I’m thinking I need to bite the bullet and buy a belt with bottles – I use the FlipBelt, but I’d rather not be a slave to the water fountains route. Maybe I’ll try it. I’m sad there’s not much longer of shorts every time I run. I cannot even imagine kindergarten – my brain is not ready to go there! And I’m LOVING The Leftovers! I didn’t read the book, either, so I’m enjoying watching it all unfold. I love Norah’s character.
I wish I had a water fountain option!!…but yes, get yourself a belt – you won’t be sorry. I’m testing out the FlipBelt for the first time later this week. I can’t wait to see how I like it. And, I’m SO excited you’re watching too!! Norah’s character is awesome. She’s funny, smart, brave and a little nuts. What’s not to love?
Wait, it’s summertime? I completely forgot. Is this a good or a bad thing, I have no idea. LOL! I am just always working with no breaks! I need a vacation from my brain. Perhaps that is called dreaming? HA! Thanks for NOT inviting me on your last vacation of the summer, 😉 JK!
I wish you were there!!! And, isn’t it pretty much always summer where you live? Perhaps that’s why you didn’t notice 🙂
EXACTLY – and that I am always working so I don’t know what seasons are anymore!
You’re a machine! But that’s not surprising.
Yeah, I don’t do the traditional sleep-on-the-ground camping either. Not that I’ve tried, but if I had to, a proper toilet is a must.
Good luck with the races!
A must!
Thanks Alison!