Amazing things happen when superย strong, fast running and intelligent women get together for a weekend. I have so much to share and show as I slowly come down from the high that was the Rise.Run.Retreat. But, right now, I’m dealing with the side effects that come from being so high for so many days and, I’m left in crash mode as I deal with my retreat hangover.

Bear with me as I shake out my brain and try to connect the dots from last week. And yes, I realize this is a Monday rundown post on a Wednesday. I told you I was hungover…

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

RUNNING

Last week was a taper week as I slowly made my way toward running the Leaf Peeper Half marathon. I absolutely hate taper weeks but, running the half was worth the slow down.

It was deceptively warm last week and I ended up ditching my shirt after the first mile...

It was deceptively warm last week and I ended up ditching my shirt after the first mile…

Tuesday: 6 miles with 3 at half marathon pace | 7:34 average pace

Thursday: 4 easy miles on the treadmill with one sick child looking on | 8:00 average pace

Friday: Shake out run with tons of hills in Waterbury, VT | 5.40 miles | 9:14 pace

Sunday: Leaf Peeper Half Marathon, Waterbury, VT | 1:39:21

Total = 28.5 milesย (including a half marathon race)

CYCLING

Sadly, there was no cycling for the first week in months! I cannot tell you how much I am missing my bike and, I plan to ride for as long as the weather allows. I actually made my very first purchase of long cycling pants! I was browsing EMS and saw a very cool pair of Pearl Izumi cycling pants marked 50% off.ย Obviouslyย I couldn’t be expected to pass up such a bargain. And by “bargain” I mean the half-price was still more than any reasonable person should probably pay for cycling pants. Anyone who shops at Lululemon knows what I’m talking about.

SWIMMING

Although I had only one swim workout last week, it was a doozie! I swear, my coach is seriously trying to drown me. If I end up floating in the YMCA pool, check my training log and you will know why!

Wednesday: 3,000 yards done as:

Warm up: 300 easy

3×100 with 25 fast on 20 seconds rest

6×50: 1 drill, 1 swim, 1 kick. Repeat

Main Set: 20×25 all FAST on 30 seconds with paddles

100 easy swim

20×25 FAST on 30 seconds

100 easy swim

20×25 FAST with pull buoyย on 30 seconds

100 easy

Holy smokes! Those 20×25 on 30 seconds just got harder and harder as the workout progressed. I was breathing like a maniac and getting about 5 seconds of “rest” between sets. It was insanity! But I felt like a superstar when it was over. A very, very tired and hungry superstar.

I save my lucky swim cap just for this kind of workout!

I save my lucky swim cap just for this kind of workout!

RACING

Everything about the Rise.Run.Retreat was amazeballs, as expected, except for the first three miles of the Leaf Peeper Half Marathon. Oh.my.God!

I promised I would run this race with zero time goal and thank God because those first three hills tried to crush me. The last of the three, that are so nicely spread out over the very first three miles of the course, has a 17% incline.

Let me just let that sink in.

I have never in my life seen so many runners at the front of the pack walking up a hill! Never. I wanted so badly to join them but, I didn’t quit, made it to the top and made a mental note to yell expletives have a stern conversation with Sarah (Run Far Girl) who selected this race.

I will share so much more on the race later this week or next but the hills needed to be mentioned!

Happily running a few days prior to the race, not knowing what we were in for! (From right: Sarah, me, Laura and

Happily running along a few days prior to the race, not knowing what we were in for! (From left: Sarah, me, Laura and Angela)

FUEL

There was a ridiculous amount of fantastic food at the retreat (of course) but a few items definitely stuck out in my mind. One in particular was our trip right down the road to the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream world headquarters! Even though we were bundled up in our KUHL coats, it’s never too cold to have ice cream!

I'm taunting Sue and Nat (who were still in line) with my Chocolate Therapy ice cream cone.

I’m taunting Sue and Nat (who were still in line) with my Chocolate Therapy ice cream cone.

Angela was obviously deliriously happy with her choice and Sandra was just laughing at me I think...

Angela was obviously deliriously happy with her choice and Sandra was just laughing at me I think… And yes, we all chose the same flavor – chocolate therapy. Hmmmm.

THINGS I LOVE

Obviously being at the retreat with so many of my long distance blog friends was the highlight, but I also loved how much time my husband and the boys got to spend alone together. Other than just secretly being happy my husband had the tables turned and had to handle the boys alone for four days, I was loving all the pictures and emails of all the little things they were doing together. My husband almost never gets that much alone time with them and it was so good…for all of us!

This was one of the text messages I got from himย after I told him we ate at a place called “The Farm Table” on our way to Vermont.

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In case you cannot tell, they are at McDonald’s. Something they definitely do not do with Mom.

Ok, fine sometimes I take themย through theย drive-thruย but, they know a McDonald’s trip is a guarantee with dad.

THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH

Re-entering real life after so much time away.

As a little “welcome home” Miles woke up from 3am-4am with a fever the first night I was home. It was also the night after running a half marathon. It was also the night before I had to wake up early and do adult things like laundry, grocery shopping, house cleaning, unpacking, writing and…and…and…

It does make you appreciate being away. And then it makes you immediately plan another getaway.

READING

I started reading The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillian. I immediately bought it since she has authored some of my favorite books like What She Knew and Pretty Baby. So far, it’sย another hit with amazingly interesting characters, (whose intertwining historiesย are slowly revealed), along with plot twists and hand-to-mouth “holy sh*t” moments. You know, my kind of reading.

I’m also super excited for my plans to see the movie adaptation of Paula Hawkin’s haunting thriller Girl on the Train in a new-to-me theatre that serves alcohol. This is my idea of the perfect night out. I’m sure I will also be asleep, wherever I am, at 10:05pm.

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PODCAST

As you may know, I’m a huge fan of Diz Runs podcasts. Party because I was a guest but also because he has these 45-50 minute in-depth conversations with runner/bloggers I think I know, until I listen. I swear, I always learn something great with Denny’s interviews and the one he did recently withย Paria of momontherunsanity was no exception.

You should listen if only to hear her definition of a runner. It’s the best one I have ever heard!

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RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Vaughn holding the handheld vacuum…

“Does this thing have a reverse button? I want to play ‘ghostbusters’.”

 

[Tweet “The Rundown is operating in #RiseRunRetreat hangover mode. You don’t want to miss it! #train4life”]

 

How was your week?

What have you recently been “hungover” from?

 

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