Traveling is great. It truly is. You know what’s not great? Running say anywhere from 13.1 to 27 miles and then getting in a car and driving 4 to 5 1/2 hours either to or from a destination. But, that has basically been my life for the past three weeks and I have it to look forward to one more time when I race the NYC Marathon and then get in car to drive home…with my husband, dad, stepmom and kids who missed Halloween to be there.

Traveling is great. It truly is.

From my trip to Vermont which was nicely sandwiched between racing weekends!

From my trip to Vermont which was nicely sandwiched between racing weekends!

WEEK OF OCTOBER 12, 2015

RUNNING

I have to say that I have enjoyed running so many miles for so long that all my triathlon training is becoming a distant memory. I haven’t been on my bike in two weeks and the last time I was in a pool it had fountains, splash pads and a slide. I’m definitely looking forward to more pool time on the other side of the NYC marathon but, this is what happened last week:

Monday: Unplanned rest day

I was traveling back from Vermont with the boys and there was just way too much to catch-up on, unpack, clean and cook, after the epic 4 1/2 hour drive home. I really wanted to get outside and run but, something has to give.

Tuesday: A gorgeous 7 miler with 1 minute at 6:30 followed by 3 minutes easy for the duration. Loved.Every.Minute

Wednesday: Easy 7 miler though rolling hills and magnificent autumn scenery. When it’s this gorgeous outside, you have to call it autumn.

Just gorgeous.

I could run out here all day!

Thursday: Easy 5 miles before getting in the car once again and driving four hours to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the Runner’s World Half and Festival.

Friday: 3.8 mile trail race – you know there will be a full update on all the races from the weekend but, I will say, this was my least favorite. Trail running is super frustrating and the trail we did was very technical. More on that later…

Saturday: 5k followed almost immediately by a 10K – amazeballs! More on that later…

Sunday: Runner’s World Half Marathon – epic! More on that later…are you detecting a trend here?

Total: 45 miles, 26 of which were racing. Stick a fork in me and let me taper. 

DRIVING

Yes, I’m counting this as cross training because it pushes your endurance level to the max! In the past three weeks between driving back and forth to Wells, Maine; Stowe, VT and Bethlehem, PA I have driven 550+ miles for a total of 24 hours behind the wheel. I don’t think I have driven this much since I lived in Los Angeles.

The three most important things to have when you’re on the road this much:

Snacks – I pack food as if I will be spending several days in a ditch because, you never know.

I didn't take this many Garunka bars but close...

I didn’t take this many Garuka bars but close…

Podcasts and/or Sirius Radio – I just cannot stand listening to music for an extended period of time. I need Howard Stern or other people talking to me, telling me stories and making me laugh.

My nubby ball – to stick under my butt cheek after racing and then sitting and sitting and sitting… I actually now have several places where I stick and roll it. #ThinkWhatYouWill

RACING

At some point, when my brain catches up to my body, I’m going to tally up all the races I have done since early September. Or maybe I shouldn’t? Either way, it was a shit ton of races and I will be bringing you all the highlights, lowlights and light lights of the events that transpired over the weekend. Right now, even my fingers are tired.

I will say this – the Runner’s World Half and Festival was one of the most fun, challenging and flat out amazing times I have ever had running. Mark your calendars for next year and read all about it here later this week. I cannot wait to fill you in on every.last.detail.

This is in Bart Yasso's living room. I know this because I WAS IN BART YASSO'S LIVING ROOM! Explanations coming...

This lamp is in Bart Yasso’s living room. I know this because I WAS IN BART YASSO’S LIVING ROOM! Explanations coming…

FUEL

I’ve really been enjoying carbs in the form of beer. Who am I? Racing and beer go hand in hand (or should I say feet and hand?) so there’s been a lot of it.

Because this is how you have to start a weekend of 4 races in 3 days.

Because this is how you have to start a weekend of 4 races in 3 days.

When I’m not drinking a recovery beer, I’ve been drinking Orgain. It’s the perfect protein drink with 16 grams of the stuff and comes in chocolate or vanilla. I’ve been drinking them post run for about two weeks now and I’m hooked!

IMG_7006

GEAR

As I announced on Friday last week, I’m now an official Momentum Jewelry Ambassador and was handing out motivation, in the form of super cool and stylish wraps and foot notes, all over the RW Festival!

Because autumn.

Oh I will!

I also tried Bombas socks for the first time over the weekend. If you don’t know Bombas, here is everything you need to:

1. They are the Toms of socks in that they donate a pair for every pair you buy. My order came with a card that read “socks are the number one requested item at homeless shelters,” and winter is coming.

2. They have a super cool calf length and then hidden/running shoe length. All are incredibly stylish, comfortable and cannot bee missed. Get it?

3. I received a personal email and note from the founder with my purchase. When a business owner takes the time to do that, I’ll go back and buy again and again.

This is just one of the seven pair I bought. Yep, seven.

This is just one of the six pair I bought. Yep, six.

THINGS I LOVE

Meeting new people. If you know me well, you know this is not something I’m inclined to say. I’ve never been a group person, I like my alone time and if I ever have a free night, I will most likely spend it at home by myself with a book and some wine.

But, over the past couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to meet so many new people, bloggers and family friends, and I have genuinely enjoyed all of it!

Some new friends from the RW weekend, plus one I just met from Rise.Run.Retreat and my old pal Laura of Mommy Run Fast.

Some new friends from the RW weekend, plus one I just met from Rise.Run.Retreat and my old pal Laura of Mommy Run Fast. I love it when my blog worlds collide!

From the Rise.Run.Retreat to meeting new extended family in Vermont and then of course, all the new peeps at the Runner’s World weekend, my head is spinning with how much group activity I’ve been involved in and how much fun I’ve been having.

Clearly I now need two weeks of alone time to recover.

THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH

Spending weekends away and not getting to sleep in. Sometimes I think all this racing and waking up early to run is stupid. There, I said it. I mean, when I get away from my kids for the weekend and still have to wake up at 5:00am, I question the life I have chosen for myself. Why can’t I have a hobby where you get up at 10:00, like brunching?

I would really love just two days of sleeping until 7:00am. I’m not greedy, I just want to wake up after the sun.

READING

I don’t have a daughter, but I am one, and I know this much to be true:

How To Succeed In Business? Start Playing Sports, Study Says

Very interesting article from espnW on the direct correlation between women who are active in sports and extremely successful in business. How successful? Do the names Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice ring any bells? Great bedtime story for any girl…or boy.

RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Think like a guy and lead with your fly!”

This was actually very helpful running posture advice from the marketing guru at Altra, the lead sponsor of the Runner’s World Half and Festival weekend. More on that later…

How was your week?

What are your essentials for road trips?

%d bloggers like this: