I’m kind of loving the spin cycle my weeks are on right now. I’m racing on the weekend, taking a few active recovery days (which means swimming!), running long and then resting like a boss. The downside of this magical mystery marathon ride is my compromised immune system. Luckily, family time in the green mountain state came just in time.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 5, 2015
RUNNING
Last week was a blur of activity and this week will be more of the same. Ready, set, go!
Monday: Since I raced the Maine Half Marathon last Sunday, Monday was one of those “active recovery” days which meant swimming. This should have been easy. It wasn’t. See below.
Tuesday: Spin class and strength training. Just a few more classes to go!
Wednesday: 4 x 1 mile on the elliptical. I have to say, the elliptical has become my go-to for speed work since I’ve been racing on the weekends and have long runs on Fridays. It works. It really does.
1.5 mile warm-up at 8:20-8:30 pace
4 x 1 mile at 6:30 pace with 800 easy in between
1 mile easy cool down
The worst part is whoever is next to me has to listen to my breathing. It’s panting really. Ok, I’m gasping for air and this is my public apology.
Thursday: 7 miles easy – this felt so great and the scenery this time of year makes you feel like you’re running in a magazine.
Friday: 21 long slow distance miles with two great friends. The weather was odd – windy, somewhat humid, but overcast and much better then my long run last week! I also felt much better then last week and managed just sub 9:00 min pace, finishing the last three miles a little faster. It’s always scary to have that last long run before the main event. This was it and I’m as ready as I will ever be.
Post 21 mile run stretch…before getting in a car and driving 5 hours north. Ugh.
Saturday: Resting in Vermont.
Sunday: Treadmill run with hill repeats: Hill repeats in the green mountain state!
Since I was literally staying on a mountain in Vermont (Smuggler’s Notch), I needed only to put on my running shoes and step outside. It was one of the most gorgeous runs I have ever had! It even made the climb seem slightly less brutal.
Total mileage: 46
SWIMMING
My first swim of the week was a complete disaster. I showed up to the Y and the lap pool was closed. I had no other clothing or shoes with me so the warm water pool was my only option. The warm water pool is as gross as it sounds but, since I was “only” pool running, and it’s only about 3 feet deep, it worked out perfectly…or so I thought.
I put on my Waterfi music and set off to run for about 40 minutes. Around the 20 minute mark I noticed the bottom of the pool surface and my bare feet was a bad combo. Around the 30 minute mark I thought I was probably bleeding. Around 35 minutes I finally succumbed to the pain in my right big toe, pulled it out of the water, and it poured blood. It was pretty disgusting. I wish I had a photo for you.
So, because of that moronic move, I had to wrap my toe with Neosporin and a band-aid for the rest of the week. #Fail
Luckily, my second “swim” of the week was with the kids at the indoor pool and hot tub in Vermont. This took place, miraculously, without incident.
There was no blood shedding in this pool.
RACING
Here we go again! In just a few short days I will be leaving for Pennslyvannia for the Runner’s World Half and Festival. I will be running in all four races – 3.8 mile trail race on Friday, 5k and 10k on Saturday and yes, another half-marathon on Sunday. I’m planning to only really race the 5k on Saturday. It will be a very interesting weekend so stay tuned to Instagram and Facebook…
FUEL
I don’t usually drink beer but, when I do, I make sure it’s with my brother, at a gorgeous brewery in Vermont, and wearing a funny hat.
THINGS I LOVE
Seeing more blog friends IRL (in real life)! If you missed it on social media (because that’s what we do!) I met up with recently transplanted New Yorker and Fine, Fit, Day friend – – > Carly!
The best part? Meeting baby Tanner and having all our boys meet one another, run around, yell, scream, throw stuff and generally carry on as boys do. It’s pretty funny that the boys acted as though they had also known each other for years. I think they’re reading our blogs and perhaps corresponding in ways we have yet to discover.
No, I could not stop smushing his cheeks!
Let’s pretend our kids weren’t yelling, screaming or otherwise being little terrors as we were smiling and taking this. Ok? Ok.
Yes, that’s Miles trying to tackle Roman, Vaughn is eating his coat and another random girl decided to get in the mix. #Normal
It was a truly fantastic time and I only wish we could have ditched the kids (except Tanner) and sat down to a proper meal together. Next time!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
My son becoming a street performer. Kidding! Miles was actually chosen to participate in a ridiculous live show at a local arts and crafts festival in Stowe, Vermont. The “performer” was truly hilarious (I mean look at his shorts) and Miles was thrilled to be a part of the show. Of course I did what any blogger mom would do and I immediately started Periscoping the whole thing.
It was as weird as it looks but Miles earned five bucks for his “performance.”
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Since I was utterly confused about the use of the hashtag BAE (#bae), I Googled it:
“Bae,” Urban Dictionary says, is an acronym that stands for “before anyone else,” or a shortened version of baby or babe, another word for sweetie, and, mostly unrelated, poop in Danish.
I think I’ll go with the “poop” version since the last place I saw it was on an ad for McDonald’s all day breakfast.
How was your week?
Is there beautiful scenery where you are?
Did anyone race this past weekend?
I SMILED SO BIG at the photo of you & carly when I saw it on facebook too.
And the street performer? his bottoms? makes me think of my FAVVVVVVE WORD JORTS!
Jeansshorts.
JORTS.
Please use that 3 times today:)
I have already used “Jorts” twice so thank you for that 🙂
Hope to have a picture of me and YOU someday!!!
You sound a lot like me. I’m really enjoying my training schedule right now. I’m racing on the weekend and just enjoying myself. I’m running the fastest I have in a while but on such a flexible schedule, it feels awesome. Ha, that is too funny about your son. Who knows…maybe he will become an actor and buy you a mansion! 😉
I know you have been! You are a machine. I hope you can break 19 this weekend. I saw you came *this close* how exciting! As for Miles, I don’t care what he does but I hope it involves buying me a mansion 🙂
Ive never done specified speed workout on the elliptical. It makes complete sense! I’ll definitely be using that trick when I get back into running and need to mix it up. I’m so glad you got to hangout with Carly. I need to make a trip to VT soon!
OMG it so works Angela! All you need is an elliptical that shows pace and, after you figure out what you’re resistance should be, it’s just like you’re on the track but without all the pounding to your joints!
I didn’t know what bae is either….I suppose I could have asked one of my kids….. Have so much fun at the Runner’s World Festival…looking forward to seeing all your pics from there…. Your brother is cute;)
HAHAHA – thanks Paria! The kids always know those things, don’t they?
Thank you and yes, I will have so much fun.
Since my brother and I don’t really look alike people used to always assume we were dating. SO gross!!!! LOL 🙂
Vermont looks so beautiful! I had no idea what bae meant either and now I’m going to laugh every time I season it because of the Danish translation.
It was breathtaking!!!
I’m laughing too. I can’t wait to see that commercial again 🙂
At first I didn’t know what you meant about the funny hat, but then I realized that what I thought was an animal was actually the top of the hat. You still looked adorable, and you were drinking beer. So that’s a win.
Now this is totally unrelated, but I saw this on FB and thought of you: http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-10-12/serial-update-we-need-to-talk-about-haes-boyfriend-don/
OMG this is making me laugh so hard! I cannot believe you thought that about my hat!!!
Now, to check out the link as I love stuff that is completely off topic 🙂
Wow your runs and scenery are just so breathtaking, i’m a sucker for running in nice looking parts. where we live, we have this urban bayou park and trails that span over 20 miles, and I just love it. i have been rehabbing my leg but still enjoy the scenery when i hobble with the dogs to the parks 🙂 hey just cuz i’m taking a break from running doesn’t mean my fur babies need to!
Fall leaf and sweater envy…..
It’s truly an amazing time of year to be in New England! I love it 🙂
How fun that you got to meet up with Carly!!! Your weekend looks gorgeous! I’m with you that I only drink beer with my brother. 🙂
LOL so true about your brother!!
I loved seeing the picture of you and Carly! So fun that you two got to meet up. And baby Tanner. ohmygoodness isn’t he the cutest?? Those cheeks! You do have a busy week my friend but you’re going to have so much fun at Runner’s World.
It was so, so great! I had not seen Carly in a long time and I really wanted our families to meet.
I’m getting psyched for the RW weekend…but not so psyched for yet another long drive with race legs!! I should do some yoga 🙂
I’ve never considered doing speed work on the eliptical. I don’t even think I considered going that fast on it. Very interesting. I’ve been using the eliptical as I heal up from my right foot trouble, and I just did probably an 8:30-8:40 easy pace while reading my kindle and using the arm things on the eliptical. I will have to try this. Might be a good way for me to keep up some of my speed (whatever may actually be left) without pounding the pavement. And “ugh” on the pool! Wow!
Try it!! It really works and you feel so much better about being on the elliptical 🙂
Ok, this is so crazy, but I grew up in NH and I’ve NEVER been to Vermont. How is that possible? Love the funny hat, and who better to get silly with than your brother! I watched the periscope of Miles at the festival, lol. I hope you have a fantastic time at the RW festival!! Can’t wait to hear about it!
OMG that is so crazy and I love that you watched the periscope!!! So funny!!!
At RW now and it’s really freakin amazing!!!
Oh my goodness! You were so close to me again when you were in Stowe. Only about an hour away. Sometime you and your adorable family need to come and visit us in New Hampshire! Looks like your downtime was lovely. Can’t wait to read about your adventures at the RW Half!
We would love too!!! I’m sure my boys would have a blast. We’re up in VT all the time so I will warn you before our next trip 🙂