I feel funny having the theme of this post be “race week” since it was really just a 13.1 training run that happened to be during a half-marathon race. I was out there running my best for sure, but it certainly was not a goal race and I was not in PR shape for his hilly, cold, hilly, crazy, hilly, friendly course. Did I mention the hills?
I was much more excited to take off to Vermont for more snowboarding immediately after the race!
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19, 2018
RUNNING
Obviously this was a taper week as I prepared to tackle a challenging 13.1 at the Colchester Half Marathon. I have done this race at least half a dozen times and it never gets easier. Although I PR’ed the last time I ran it in 2016, I had also run two marathons in 2015 leading up to it so, my goal this time was to feel strong throughout and finish feeling like I ran a smart race. Mission accomplished.
I’ll have a full race recap later this week so stay tuned…
Tuesday – 45 minute easy run outside | I had strict orders not to wear a watch so I listened!
Thursday – easy 30 minutes on treadmill with 3 x 1 min @hmp before strength work | 3.91 miles | 7:43 average pace
Saturday – race day! 13.1 miles | 7:56 average pace | 1:44:46
Total = 23.51 miles
CYCLING
I had only one scheduled ride this week and I was supposed to do outside! It reached 70 degrees here on Wednesday, then proceeded to snow on Thursday, then drop some freezing rain on Friday before becoming sunny and 55 on Saturday. Truly unbelievable.
I so badly wanted to take my bike on the road but there was no way I was passing up an opportunity to snowboard in this weather either.
There was zero cycling last week but a whole lotta this…
SWIMMING
The pool is so great for hard training when you’re in a taper week. I pushed hard in my water workouts which took the edge off not being able to bike or run for endurance or speed. #addict
Monday – 100s and 25s | 2,200 yards
Friday – 200s pull/swim | 2,400 yards
Total = 4,600 yards
STRENGTH
Besides the snowboarding, I did one other day of strength work. I continue to work the ECFit program but I’m seriously getting bored with doing a lot of the same moves. I know it’s working but why does it have to be so boring? < – – I’m sure this is what most people think about running
THINGS I LOVE
As I’ve confessed here before, I’m not a big fan of Amy Schumer. When she first came onto the scene she was so relevant and funny but then I feel like she morphed into something else, and that something was much less relevant and funny. I was thinking this very thing when she came on Ellen a few weeks ago…dressed as a baby.
What the…?
But then they showed the preview to her new movie, I Feel Pretty and, although I’m still not a huge fan, this movie has the best message for women, especially right now. And, messages delivered with humor are always better.
And I still have no idea why she was dressed as a baby on Ellen.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
People losing their damn minds because L.L. Bean decided not to replace the indoor slippers they wore outside every day in Antartica to get their mail for the better part of the last 25 years. Better yet, some were seeking to replace stuff they bought at yard sales! #whoraisedyou?
Come on people! How do you sleep at night? As a New Englander I take a personal offense to anyone messing with L.L. Bean or Dunkin Donuts. Those things are sacred and are not to be judged, sued or otherwise negatively impacted. Hasn’t L.L. Bean done enough for you heathens? Call off your dogs and go replace your own damn boots!
READING
Two things that have really declined since we re-homed our dog Star are my my total steps for the day and reading. I used to walk her every day (unless it was raining) and listen to my Audible audiobooks. Ever since, I’m behind in my reading and I’m lucky to get 8k steps in a non-running day.
I’m just starting Kristen Hannah’s The Great Alone, until we chose a new book club book, otherwise, here’s some stuff I enjoyed on the web, including one of my own:
Brooks CEO Discusses His “Real Runner” Comments | Allie Burdick | Women’s Running
Thanks to Jesica at rUnladylike who is a Brooks Ambassador and friend, I was able to connect with Brooks CEO Jim Weber himself and talk about runners, real and otherwise. I was beyond excited for this opportunity since I’ve worn Brooks for most of my almost 20 year career, and Weber was such an intelligent, funny and laidback guy.
11 Terrible Jokes for Runners | Mark Remy | Dumb Runner
A rabbi, a priest, and an atheist walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What’ll it be, fellas?” All three of them reply, “Just water. We have a marathon tomorrow.”
Q: Why did the runner cross the road?
A: Because that’s where the less-crowded aid station was.
Most people laugh at runners so we may as well laugh at ourselves right?
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Overhead in the car with the boys:
Miles: Does your teacher push you?
Vaughn: What? NO!
Miles: Even if you’re having a hard time with something?
Vaughn: Um no!? Teachers aren’t allowed to push students!
Miles: *lets out a long drawn out, overly dramatic sigh* Not that kind of push! A mental push!
Vaughn: Well, sometimes I think she’s mental.
And there you have it.
[Tweet “The Rundown #race week had all the seasons, is “feeling pretty” with @amyschumer and laughing with @realdumbrunner”]
How was your week? Did you race?
Know any running jokes?
Do you feel pretty?
I’m off to the mountains today to get my snowboarding fix! Fingers crossed there’s still snow after Mother Nature got hammered again this weekend. Wtf!?! Can’t wait to read your article with Brooks CEO!
OMG that is fantastic! I hope the sun held out and the conditions were as perfect for you as they were for us on Sunday and Monday! Woot woot!!
Oh, those boys crack me up!!! Amy Schumer, not so much. She’s that person who is funny but in an uncomfortable, cringe-worthy kind of way.
Agreed!…but the movie looks really good..
Any time that you can escape the mountains with a beer and a ski/boarding session right after a race? SIGN ME UP
It was pretty darn amazing…except for the part where I was immobile in a car for 2 1/2 hours after running 13.1 but I got over it very quickly 🙂
It was 45 degrees in LA Friday morning on my run and I seriously don’t know how people live and train in cold weather…. I didn’t wear a hat which was a big mistake because I sweat through my head and then that sweat froze and I got vertigo mid-run for the first time ever… lesson learned!
People wear shorts here when it’s 45 degrees. Just wanted to let you know that 🙂 LOL! xoxo
But seriously – vertigo mid-run??? That is horrible! You definitely need your sunshine my friend.
OH you are such a freaking stud muffin-ette!!!! i can’t believe your race is my freakin’ PR ever, but actually i can because you are a rock star. that is amazing!!! your training run is basically my goal one day to get back to… as i currently sit here with a sprained ankle. ugh! it’s ok, it’s ok. i’m ok. mediation and wine and tequila are helping with my pride. haha!
i liked the Amy S. movie but honestly i have not kept up with her at all nor do i watch her stuff, however i did love her wedding pics and love weddings.. because i’m a romantic dork at heart. i would check out her new movie but prob not till i could watch it at home. who knows though, i just heard AMC does $5 movies on tuesday’s so i’m hoping to see a movie at least once a month?!!!
i am super proud and amazing at myself – i got the book Big Little Lies because i had a hard time getting into the series – i remember you said you liked it and i realllllly had to figure out why. so i got the book and read it in 2 days – it was SO good!!!!!! now i can’t wait to see the series but ‘m basically so entranced with the book. i can’t get the characters out of my head. SO good. i love great writing.
the only joke that comes to mind when i think of running jokes is just a lame pick up line:
guy: Are you tired?
girl: no, why?
guy: because you’ve been RUNNING through my mind alllllllll day
girl: ________
happy monday!
First of all, thank you for saying that about your half PR. I need that perspective so THANK YOU!
And I’m so glad you loved Big Little Lies as much as I did. The series is definitely not as good as the book but SOOOO worth watching!!
And omg that pick up line is the worst…:-)
I’m in awe that you continue to run such a challenging course! I shy away from things that hurt that much! Awesome work. And those boys… I love it!!
Trust me, in the last two UPHILL miles I always think “why am I doing this?” but I always feel like I really accomplished something when it’s over.
Thanks so much Laura!
Hooray for snowboarding! I love the view in your first photo. Awesome job on the race – hills are so, so hard and you crushed it. Some time I just want to go into an insanely hilly half and see what happens, because while the uphill sounds awful, the downhill sounds really fun.
I’m not an Amy Schumer fan, she just makes me cringe.
It was so stunning! I wanted to stay all week.
And yes to the downhill!! The race director likes to remind us of the downhill whenever possible 🙂
I know the Amy Schumer thing is tough but the movie does look really good – unlike her last 5 projects!