Today I went for a run with guys on a muggy Friday. We arrived at the park around 5:15am and Shawn opened the door and began stretching. But then came a sound…. like howling, but not from dogs. There have been reports of coyotes in the area and I can say that sounds about right. I was super hesitant to run the loop around the park, but I figured the guys are probably tastier than I am. Once we got done with our run, I quickly changed and the kids and I headed down to DC to go to the National Zoo.
It was a pretty hot day, but the kiddos were great and we moved through the zoo like experts. Visiting the zoo has become one of our favorite family adventures. Whether it’s in the rainy spring, during the winter for Zoo Lights or in the hot muggy summer – we love the zoo. The most exciting part of this trip was seeing the sloth actually moving around. Well, he moved out of his box to let a monkey through, but still he moved!!! After we got back I debated whether or not to go to Barre and finally gave in and went. I knew the regret of not going would weigh on me later. At the end of the day I had a great morning run, a fun family trip and a great barre class to end the day.
Today I went for a run with the guys before heading to work. Due to our traveling if feels like we haven’t had a run with Paul in what feels like ages! We met up at 5:30am and did an easy six miles, despite the thick humidity. Fun details about summer vacation, upcoming sports seasons and usual aches and pains dominated conversation. The summer has brought on many solo runs and this run provided me a moment of gratitude – it was nice to have a husband and friends who enjoy the same heathly habits and madness to wake up early and run. Now bring on my rest day!!!!
Today I went for a run on a steamy Tuesday morning around Honeygo. I slept in a little and after Shawn left for baseball I headed out for a comfortable run, which turned out to be super steamy and uncomfortable. I had downloaded a few new tunes and luckily Santana got me through the run! Later that day I met my friend for barre where we were destined to lunge the entire hour. 😭 Overall I was pretty happy to get three days of barre in and not feel worn down. Although, I’m still a little sore due to being out of a barre routine for the last month. I really think barre has helped to keep my hips looser and piriformis from acting up.
Today I went for a run in Maryland for 6 easy recovery miles. I slept in and laced up at eight o’clock in hopes of getting my recovery miles done before heading to barre. Hills, humidity and heat is what Maryland should be known for!!! I jammed out to Queen and got moving up and down the rolling hills where I live. It was muggy, but I took it easy and got done with my run with time to clean up before barre. As I ran I listened to Radio Ga Ga twice because a lyric caught my attention.
That was exactly my week in running!!! I get this song is not about running, but it made me laugh and finish my recovery run no longer defeated by my tough long run the previous day. Now, off to barre!! (Time to get back into a barre routine!!!)
Today I went for a run for my last summer long run down at the Jersey shore. It is amazing how quickly summer months fly and just like that we are in August gearing up for back to school shopping. Today I planned a 15-18 mile run. I started at 5am and took to the boardwalk to catch the sun beginning to rise over the ocean.
What a sight!!! The blue, pink and purple hues flooded the horizon to the northeast. When you turned south the untouched sky blurred into the ocean making it difficult to see where the ocean began and the sky ended. I moved to the bay and looped towards the inlet where the swans were still out in the bay, but the sunrise colors reflected off the water in their place.
At this point I was only at mile five and I was beat partly due to humidity and partly because I was just not motivated. I took my gel and pumped myself up to complete five more miles and then I would call it quits. How often do we give up when we lack interest or when we start to feel uncomfortable. My legs felt like lead as I plugged away between a 9:40 – 9:10 pace through Seaside Heights. I made it to the end of the Seaside Boardwalk and paused to take in the foggy haze that had settled on the pier.
I turned around and made my way back on the 35 bike lane to my parents house. I had completed ten miles and stopped at the house ready to throw in the towel. I was greeted by a quiet house where everyone was still asleep, no hot breakfast or coffee was ready, and I could easily devour an entire Bavarian creme crumb cake without a witness. I refilled my water and settled on four more miles. I rationalized I could make it two miles on the flat northbound road, knowing I would miss this next weekend in the swampy, hilly Maryland terrain. I took my gel and was off to finish my run. I made it two miles and instead of turning around I went one more mile and then another. I turned around after four miles and paused to take a quick break. I made it! The next four miles I kept thinking, “never give up” and “earn it.” I made it back happy to see the my family was up, breakfast was cooking and I was greeted by Shawn happy to see me return at an early hour.
Every run you start at zero with nothing except optimism and will. I really became comfortable only training for half marathons in the spring! I’m glad I carry two reminders that are more than just running mantras – they are great reminders that life is tough, but you keep going.
Today I went for a run with Shawn and the heat won in the end. After enjoying breakfast with the family we got a late start thinking the cooler temperatures that blew in after the previous thunderstorms would hold… it did not. We did our regular six mile loop along the bay and up to the boardwalk. The shore has stunning views, a light breeze and absolutely no shade. We enjoyed our last run at the beach before heading back to Maryland. This has been a fun, restful summer and it always seems to amaze me how quickly the time drifts away.
Today I went for a run to go crabbing with the family and then back home again. I laced up and took the long route over to the bay where the kids had left about fifteen minutes earlier with my husband. When I ran up to the pier I was greeted with screams and shouts about the huge crabs they had already caught.
We hung around until almost eight when the crabs stopped biting and I took off to finish the rest of my run. I continued along the bay and up to the boardwalk. As I approached I was greeted by a south wind that, for the first time this summer, was cool! I ran the boardwalk then back home and finished my five mile run on a crabby Wednesday.
Today I went for a run and completed my first real Fartlek run. I’ve been using my NYRR plan from last year and my Team Ultra guide from my group page and decided to give a Fartlek run a try. What is Fartlek? In Swedish it means ‘speed play’ and is a mix of fast and slow running. My group said to do 10 repeats, but I bumped up the reps and did 20 of fast/slow intervals. I laced up and took to the boardwalk and once I returned to the main drag I picked up the pace. To tell ya the truth it was not as bad as I thought it would be. My only complaint is that once I picked up the pace, I was already slowing down for the 30 second recovery. Overall it was a fun new technique to try out and way better than busting my butt during 800 repeats!!! I was able to get put at 6:30am today, but it was pretty toasty. Tomorrow we plan on going crabbing, so I’m not sure if I’ll get my run in early.
Today I did not go for a run, but took a bike ride with Shawn in the 90 degree heat. The morning was filled with cleaning, laundry, the library and finally a bike ride with Shawn. I also finished up my recent book, Life is a Marathon, by Matt Fitzgerald. A book Shawn saw at the library and thought I would appreciate. Fitzgerald, an endurance athlete, writer and marathoner, was in search of the magic of the marathon. On his quest to run eight marathons in eight weeks, he interviewed many about what running a marathon means. The book was a good read; however, the one flaw is that it was written by a gifted runner – someone who finished his last eight week quest running a 2:49 marathon. Someone who is as competitive as he is and from the Boston area didn’t quite hit the mark of understanding the marathon magic. In no way can I explain what draws runners to compete in such a long foot race, but I do know that running is good for the soul. (No pun intended) Running alone provides adventure, self confidence and inner dialogue that allows one to take on challenges they might never have thought possible or maybe just heal.
More importantly I’m excited that I plan to run the Pacific Northwest Marathon in Oregon this September. After running NYC and Miami this past fall/winter I wanted to find a race similar to Big Sur. Less fanfare, a good view and a fun journey. The PNW Marathon is an ideal time, new adventure, and the goal is to celebrate every runners success – even if the success is starting the race. It reminded me of #loveyourrun and the feeling that you’re in the run for the joy that it brings and not the competitiveness that comes out in big races. Now I have lots of planning to do, but I’m excited to visit family in Portland, discover adventure and overall positive atmosphere of enjoying the excitement of running!
Today I went for a run and drilled out 18 miles ‘down the shore.’ Running down the shore has become a fun adventure, trying new routes and new scenery to view. Ever since Super Storm Sandy new, repaved roads, homes, stores, and shoreline have changed the area creating new adventures each run. Today; however, I went for a new/retro run based on my cousins – the Tunney’s. The east bound Tunney Bridge was named after my sister’s Godfather’s Dad – J. Stanley Tunney. He moved to Seaside Heights, began developing the boardwalk and eventually became Mayor. Shawn and I laced up at 5am and took to Bay Blvd. on our way to the mile long bridge.
J. Stanley Tunney Bridge
We crest the bridge just as sunlight began to spill over the horizon and made our way to the end of the bridge – one mile long on the nose. We turned and made our way back up the steady incline and paused as the sun began to rise next to the Ortley Water Tower.
View from the bridge looking east. Shawn is coming down the side below.
What a view and a bucket list item to check off my list! We made our way back down the bridge towards Pelican Island where my cousins, Wendy and Joe, still live.
Shawn and I parted ways after six miles and I continued south towards Seaside Heights. I turned on Barnegat Ave and the west on Sherman Ave, passing the church were my cousin’s son was married and towards the new Ferris wheel.
Casino Pier Ferris Wheel
Once on the boardwalk I continued south with little company and the rising sun on the east.
Seaside Heights, NJ was a pretty cool place growing up – before the Jersey Shore Crew turned it into a fist bumping time. My cousin’s family owned several boardwalk stands and visiting them was a kids most exciting part of the night – well besides getting a vanilla/orange swirl soft serve from Kohr’s. Cousin Joe was a friendly, outgoing man who always enjoyed conversation, a good joke and family. As I ran to the end of the boardwalk and looped around I paused to take a a quick photo at the arcade before heading back on the boardwalk and north to Lavallette. All while thinking about great childhood memories, fun toys won and how I was an ace on the watergun target/balloon game. After a quick refill of my water I completed my last eight miles heading north up 35 and looping back – eighteen miles done! The new route was great to run with Shawn, reminisce about fun memories and overall try a new route. The past few weeks I’ve been trying new routes and it has really made this training cycle fun so far!
