Amazing things happen when super 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…
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 miles (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. Obviously 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 buoy 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!
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 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.
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 him after I told him we ate at a place called “The Farm Table” on our way to Vermont.
In case you cannot tell, they are at McDonald’s. Something they definitely do not do with Mom.
Ok, fine sometimes I take them through the drive-thru 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’s another hit with amazingly interesting characters, (whose intertwining histories 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.
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 with 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!
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?
LOVE LOVE THIS AND LIVING VICARIOUSLY.
When C said she was taking the train and meeting and then you were driving together?!
If I were a jealous Carla Id have been SOOOO jealous.
🙂
xo
We will get our chance someday Carla!! xoxo
If it’s possible to have a three day hangover, I’ve got it. The re-entry has been harsh. I really would like to make believe that I’m still in a cozy cabin in Vermont, drinking wine, eating good food and hanging out with my best running friends. And thank you for confirming that the hill was 17%! That’s a steeper elevation than most of Mount Washington!!!!! Loved hanging out with you all weekend. And I was/am delirious. ALways.
Although that hill felt more like 27% – OMG!
It was such a great weekend and I really think we need to meet up more than once a year.
Looks like the weekend was amazing, as expected! I can’t wait to read everyone’s recaps!
It really was and I’m excited to write a lot more about it! Thanks Jess.
It looked like you guys had such a great time and I’m so jealous. Rentering “real life” always stinks and I’m in agreement there.
Totally. I’m still recovering but now missing my buddies more than ever. So wish I was hanging with you at RW this year! Who will you have coffee with?? LOL.
I think I have finally “awakened” and rubbed the tired, sleepiness out of my eyes from this past weekend of so much fun and travel! Can I just say, that yes, those hills on the half marathon course, were most likely the hilliest hills I have ever run!! By the time I drove straight into teaching Monday morning, from New Jersey, I was already wishing that I was still In Vermont with everyone-amazing food, spectacular views and the best running friends!! On another note-those books you mentioned sound great! Might have to grab a few to read! Have a great rest of the week!
Yes, yes and OMG yes!!!
Hope you get a chance to read the books – they are all excellent.
Thanks Kara 🙂
Hungover is the way to put it! Monday was so weird being in my quiet home office and not running, talking, and eating all that delicious food with you incredible ladies. Now I don’t feel so bad for run-walking that hill! 17% is crazy and I am not surprised at all how you crushed it. Also, I am cracking up over the Farm to Table text. It was so wonderful to get to meet you in person! Charlie says hi!
I seriously need to meet Charlie! Please add some extra pics in this week’s post or just text me directly 🙂
It’s really such a bummer to run and eat all by my lonesome… and, thank you for saying I “crushed” the hills but it was really the other way around! If you could feel my legs right now you would agree!
Hungover describes how I felt after I came home from my sister weekend. Probably not the first couple of days, because I was still floating on a cloud, but a couple days later when the endorphins finally wore off. It’s always like that after a great time away, isn’t it? I wish we could bottle that feeling up–altho there is something in a bottle called wine and that will have to do for now.
HAHAHA!!! Yes, bring me that bottle of happy called wine anytime 🙂
Of course I insta-stalked you all weekend….the pics looked so amazing and fun. It was my son’s bday weekend, so I would not have been able to come anyway, but one year…. maybe next year…. Love the farm to table McDonald’s pic…. My kids like road trips only because that is the only time they get to eat McDonald’s…. You failed to put the picture of your print piece in WR magazine here…. And of course lastly, thanks so much for mentioning the podcast I did…. I’m glad you enjoyed it, since I often feel like I’m a broken record saying the same things over and over about running and wonder if people are saying ok, shut up already, we realize running changed your life…. move on… haha…xoxo
I saw the pictures of you and your son and they were beautiful! Happy birthday to him and YES to next year…
I put the WR article picture up on FB so I figured that was enough. I’m right there with you when it comes to “are these people so sick of me yet?” 🙂 I truly loved listening to your voice on the podcast and, when you described how you NEED to run to feel happy and complete I was actually saying out loud “yes, totally!!!” xo
I know the feeling of that kind of hangover! And re-entry to normal life is always so tough. Especially with 3 am wake ups- ugh!
That course sounds so intense… definitely Sarah’s style! Next year I am so there… assuming it’s a less crazy half? 😉 And that we can get more of that chocolate therapy ice cream. I’d be as deliriously happy as Angela!
You were so missed my friend!! And, I’m pretty sure you would have conquered those hills…and hated every minute like the rest of us.
Here’s to chocolate therapy and running weekends!
I don’t even know what a hill with a 17% grade looks like and, upon reflection, I do not want to know. Everything else sounds amazing! I’m glad you had a blast!
You definitely do not want to know, although I’m pretty sure you hike up them all the time 🙂
omg looks like so much fun! I know all about being awoken in the middle of the night with a huge day ahead. It almost always happens! #momlife
I know you get it for sure!! I seriously have not been able to sleep though the night in about a week. #wahhhhh
The past weekend was seriously the best! I loved seeing you twice on the course looking so strong. I don’t know how you made it up those first three miles without walking. The mental and physical strength is impressive and your overall time on that course was amazing. I’m sorry you re-entered to sick kids. Guess that’s what happens when dad lets them eat Micky D’s. LOL! Wishing we could do it all over again this weekend. xoxo
Thanks so much for saying that Jesica and I absolutely loved having your smiling face (and adorable belly) to look forward to out on the course. Having so many friends out there made a HUGE difference!!
And yes, McDonald’s = sickness. Luckily it was short-lived.
Seriously, I have a major hangover from all the fun we had! And let’s not talk about re-entry like when all I wanted to do was nap and stuff my face and my husband was so done with the kids. But my favorite part was seeing you out on the course looking so relaxed like this was no big deal and you were just out for a easy stroll 🙂 Loved seeing you and spending the weekend together! PS your coach is crazy with all those 20 x 25s!
I truly felt bad for you having to finish the race and be thrown directly into mommy mode and dealing with over-tired daddy. I’m hoping you drowned your sorrows in VT beer and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream 🙂
I seriously loved being out on the course knowing I would get to see all of you!! I was saying to my husband that i really wish all of my races could be like that. I would be PR-ing like crazy.
And thank you for being one of the only readers who understands my swim misery. I mean, really!!
I am so hungover that it seems like you published this days ago and I am really behind the 8 ball, when it fact it is still 10/5 here on the West Coast!!!
Re-entry is SO hard!!! I miss you (my seatmate!!) so much. I miss sitting on that couch next to you and Sue every single day, soaking in all the info.
I miss everyone and so glad we all shared this together!!
LOVED cheering so hard for you out there on that beast of a course. Beautiful, but tough. I think it’ll be a tradition that I cheer for you every fall during a race – ha!!
Next time, we’ll run together.
Hoping we can get together again very soon. Maybe Vegas, but don’t know if I’ll be in shape by then. We’ll see.
Loved this recap. Dying over the McDonald’s!!!
xoxox
I too miss sitting next to you on the couch everyday! Who wouldn’t?
I cannot thank you enough for your little pep talk to me just before the start of the race. You (of course) know exactly what to say and I thought of you out on the course several times because of it.
I would love nothing more then to run a race with you anytime…if not Vegas, then something else. I have BIG plans for us 🙂
Thanks so much Natalie xoxoxo
And the hangover continues! I am so missing you all. I need people like you to train and laugh with! This retreat filled me up so much. I am longing for our next meet up!
I know! I don’t have any great friends to run with right now and it’s so sad 🙁
Me neither. Are schedules never match up! Wishing I could transport you to NH so you could kick my ass and help me get faster!!!