Training week #3 started off pretty good for me. But a little too much fun at the casino on Friday night left me with a gnarly day-long hangover on Saturday, which meant that there was no way I was getting in my weekly long run. I fared only a little better by Sunday – able to get in 6.4 miles at Center Trails before calling it a day (I still had maybe only 200 calories in my system at that time).
It’s not the end of the world — though at times during my hangover I thought it might be. Running after puking for 24 hours is a skill good for Ultras, no? In any event, Sunday’s run was SLOW for me, and I fell behind my pack for most of the run, working on a lot of power hiking. Though I sometimes need the reminder Run Your Own Race — even on training days. And that came by way of an oncoming mountain biker. I apologized for being slow to move out of the way, and he — ever a gracious human being on this early Sunday morning — remarked: The trails are for everybody!
I let out some kind of awkward, shrill-yelling “YEASSSS!” as we passed one another. And I stopped feeling sorry for myself (and instead started profusely apologizing to my liver).
I was such a mess on Sunday, that I apparently couldn’t even wear my hat correctly!
WHAT’S FUN?
This upcoming week I’ve got my first meet-up with a work-organized running group and a HOKA demo & pub run with Fleet Feet.
AUGUST MILEAGE UPDATE: 36.9 miles WEEKLY MILEAGE: 14.4 miles MILEAGE FOR THE YEAR: 577.31 miles UP NEXT:Rockin’ Chocolate Half Marathon in Madison, WI and NewBo Half in Cedar Rapids, IA — both part of my Labor Day back-to-back half challenge with Pittsburgh City Girl
the week:
I finally moved back into my office building this week, since being displaced by a fire back in February. I’m on my second week back to running, too, and it’s nice being back on something of a regular schedule (trying to get in at least 3 runs a week). A return to usual habits and familiar surroundings brings with it a certain kind of peace…
Day and Night…
…but also opens itself up to some fun.
weekend:
Last night, I danced my ass off to STANTON WARRIORS at Lime downtown (still kind of shitting myself that these guys were in Des Moines). Today: my ears are still ringing and I am feeling the effects of a bit too much vodka, though hopefully I find my second wind this afternoon to get some miles on the roads. Sunday Funday: I’ll be enjoying the outdoors and doing a bit of trail running in the AM, possibly biking or skating, and maybe some kayaking (and probably brunching). I opted not to use a PTO day for Monday, but look forward to having the upcoming July 4th to catch up on my hammock time.
seven things, seven days:
1. Somehow I made the list of Top 100 Running Blogs {via Feedpost} at #74. Neat, but… is this a real thing?
2. I joined a Brooks test run/social run from Fitness Sports Ltd. in Clive this week, followed by drinks at 515 Brewery. What a fun night (but holy moly, will I ever remember to use Glide this summer?).
3. There was not one – but THREE – Great Horned Owls in my backyard this week. With the owls and hawks in our area — and our house cats — I don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about field mice.
4. Three ways running changes after 40 {via Runners World}
5. And here’s 5 exercises you’ll want to do every week if you’re over 40 {via Prevention}
6. What makes us happy?, asks The Atlantic in 2009. Wonder how this would be written today, with a society so entrenched in digital communities.
7. To wit: The psychology of social media and Stoic truths for a digital world {both via Psychology Today}
Disclaimer: I received a pair of LEGEND Compression Performance Socks to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!
These LEGEND Compression Performance socks came at the right time — it’s trail running season for me AND I don’t have any time goals right now, so I can play around with my training gear, nutrition and race day plan a bit.
I picked out the blue (since they matched my favorite running shoes AND my favorite running shorts) and ordered a size Medium. I tend to experience a lot of muscle tightness and soreness in my calves — including some spasms in some of my longer mileage (and last year’s marathon). It’s brutal having to foam roll or do trigger point every day — not even my massage therapist has been able to help. But I also have difficulty with most compression wear (socks, sleeves, pants, almost every kind of skinny jean) being WAY too tight on my calves.
LEGEND® Compression Performance Socks provide support and comfort to improve performance for runners and all athletes. The sports compression socks are designed for all sporting activities to enhance power and endurance while supporting the shin, ankle, Achilles, calf and arch of the foot. Made in the USA, and with a unique Graduated Compression Technology, they improve blood flow & oxygen levels to run stronger, train harder and recover faster.
First impression: The letter that we received with the product from LEGEND was REALLY thoughtful, and I appreciated their taking the time to introduce the brand to the BibRave Pros. Out-of-the-package, you can tell it’s a quality sock and constructed well. On my foot, it’s super comfortable! Right away I could tell these were different — it wasn’t a struggle to pull them up or off.
LEGEND was right when they said “Right, not tight.” Must be that 15-20 mmHg of graduated compression pulled from years of experience working with medical grade compression products.
Is that kid beating me?
I primarily tested mine out for running performance, though I know many use compression socks as recovery wear. In fact, I was shocked recently when I heard that sleeves were NOT good for recovery; that’s what I used in the past immediately after races, and I feel so silly that I didn’t do more research! I did a couple short runs, a trail run, and a half marathon while wearing my LEGEND socks and was really sad when these guys were in the laundry — I definitely need an additional pair or two! The biggest difference I noticed for sure was in my half marathon yesterday. My calves didn’t experience the usual cramping or tightness during the race; and while the rest of me felt pretty beat up a day later, my calves were fresh for a recovery run the following day. I was impressed even by the difference in my post-race foam rolling.
This is probably my favorite product testing so far, and I am definitely a compression convert! Are these magic socks?!
Additional product benefits that make these even more awesome: UV protection, moisture wicking, achilles support, open ventilation and breathable design for comfort, seamless, and arch support that also holds the sock in place and prevents blisters.
Get your own pair at LEGENDS website — and enjoy a great discount! Get 15% off all LEGEND Compression wear with code bibsave15!
Something about this quote hit me in a good spot this week. I’m feeling feisty.
the week:
Was this the longest of the long weeks? Maybe because of the impending time change that made it feel so long? It was long. The end.
weekend:
Half marathon #8 — the Hillbilly Hike in Carlisle, Iowa. I’m ready for a legit Fall run; alas, it’s going to be 70 degrees and I’ll be wearing my #favoriteshorts again.
Perfect bonfire weather at night though, which I have one of those parties waiting for me Saturday night. Sunday, I’m trying out a new brunch place with a friend.
the week:
It felt nice to take a week off from, like, everything. But I got myself some new trail shoes and ready to take on some new adventures this Fall in Iowa.
Sunday, our community celebrates Beggar’s Night (or, Trick-or-Treating) and we’re participating in a friendly neighborhood Boos & Booze for the adults traveling around with their kiddos. We seriously picked the perfect neighborhood.
I pre-purchased tickets for Diplo, who is here in Des Moines on Sunday night, but my attendance there depends on how well I can hang this Halloween.
seven things, seven days:
1. THE INDIANS ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!
2. …so are the Cubs, which I am also SUPER excited about! (But… Go Tribe!)
3. Really sad to read about my former derby league’s practice and game space closing. And always a bummer to lose another skating rink. 🙁
4. I signed up for a 100-mile Challenge in November with the Capital Striders. It’s a great idea to get people post-marathon to keep running, especially at this time of year when we all want to hibernate. 😉
5. Being yourself works {via HBR}
6. Not everyone is trying to lose weight – YES! This is one of the most irritating elements of having a gym membership, all the marketing received for weight-loss challenges. DO BETTER. Though this article focuses on the nutrition element, my feeling on this is the same.
7. Great performers make their personal lives a priority {via HBR}
the week:
This week went by WAY too quickly and my nerves kind of got the better of me. I had many intentions that fell flat to feeling overwhelmed, and I’ll be using my evening to reset (and using some overtime to catch up with work tomorrow). We’re back up into the 80s again for temperatures (alongside its best friend 90% Humidity), so looks like summer is sticking around to make the rest of my long runs sticky and miserable.
Summer: please see the door, I would like to wear my scarves and coats and boots, kthxbai. And I’m kind of tired of the treadmill.
weekend:
I’m doing 108 sun salutations at LifeTime tomorrow morning, followed by my second short run of the week, working some overtime, and then resting for a LONG, LONELY 12-miler on Sunday.
Among all THAT, I’ll be watching MOAR ROLLER DERBY — Team United from Des Moines is playing in this weekend’s WFTDA playoff tournament in Madison.
the week:
LADIES. I went shopping at Target for new underwear because it was time, and I bought 9 pairs — various prints, but staying with the briefs and boy-leg cuts; Target has a new women’s underwear brand (since I shopped last) and bonus: 5 pairs for $20 (don’t remind me that I bought 9 pairs and not 10). NOT ONE SINGLE PAIR fits around my butt cheeks. I spent most of my week picking underwear fabric out of my ass. How is this even my real life right now. NOT ALL SIZE 2s HAVE FLAT BUTTS. #30somethingproblems
But seriously serious: did my butt grow so much after only 6 weeks of half marathon training?
weekend:
THREE DAY WEEKEND — WOOOOOO! Saturday is the Madrid Miler Race (I’m doing the 5-mile distance), Sunday is a recovery day (brunch, probably), and Monday I’m going trail skating with some derby peeps. Super pumped about this weekend!
seven things, seven days:
1. I won a book giveaway on Goodreads! I get so many giveaway notifications from their site that I thought that didn’t happen to real people. FUN!
2. I stayed up until after midnight last night to register for a race. Hashtag, runner problems? But I’m in for the Hitchcock Half in December!
3. We’re booked for the next Rock Boat, and Sixthman announced Dexter Freebish was coming back to the line-up and AHHHHHHHHH I AM SO EXCITE!
4. I’ve been training with my new Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Pink, and I’m really digging the cord-free run lifestyle, you guys.
5. I should find out soon if I got the job that I interviewed for (my current job, nonetheless) – and these are some annoying reasons why runners make good employees. 😉 {via Women’s Running}
6. I don’t put much stock into into the MBTI (it’s all in good fun though, right?), but this article typed me appropriately: How Each Myers-Briggs Type Reacts to Stress {via Psychology Junkie}
7. You have not expired: What we know about aging athletes. {via Pacific Standard}
the week:
Well, it’s the last week of July — I started training for my Fall half marathon this week, and I just saw my first back-to-school commercial. Which means we can almost put this awful humidity-heavy weather past us in a few more weeks. AND we’re SO CLOSE to Iowa State Fair time! The week felt like it was running repeats of Monday-ish moments, and WHEW am I glad it’s the weekend.
weekend:
We are invited to a dinner party Saturday night and got a last-minute invitation to see Jim Gaffigan on Sunday night. And after having some happy hour fun last night after work, I’m going to feel pretty Monday come Monday.
the week:
WOO-HOO, VACATION! We’ve been hopping (driving) around to a couple cities in the Midwest on a little road trip this week. And I can cross off visiting the state of Nebraska! We drove over the border from Kansas City, MO, so the boyfriend could cross off Kansas, too.
I wish that I could’ve signed up for a race somewhere while traveling, but not much of that happening during the week. There are quite a bit of “new” cities that are only a couple hours drive away from us — so in the next year, I’m going to start looking at races in some of those other cities.
weekend:
Enjoying the last couple days off work. It felt good to finally get caught up on sleep last night IN MY OWN BED. (Surely, the cat still woke me up in the middle of the night, just as though we never left.)
seven things, seven days:
1. The cats seemed to do well with the new sitter; though Big White Cat hasn’t left my side for 15 hours. I also had all three cats in the bed with me when I woke up. <3
2. Speaking of cats and vacation: on one of my job alert emails this week, a position for "two spoiled cats that need extra attention while we are out of town” MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD.
3. There is still a gluten-free Godiva cheesecake in my fridge that we forgot to serve from our 4th of July party. #breakfast
4. On nightshades and inflammation — something that I’ve struggled with for years (including a two-year abstinence diet from); my cravings for tomatoes and spicy foods has never gone away. SIGH.
5. I considered joining the Kansas City November Project workout this week while I was there. And I’m really bummed after reading this article that I didn’t (though I dislike the “cult” reference in the title). I discovered the amazingness of November Project too late after the “pop-up workout” in Pittsburgh last year, and I really wish that there was a tribe in Des Moines! This type of fitness community chatter, though, makes me miss my CrossFit family a lot.
6. Being a go-getter is no fun {via The Atlantic}
7. Appropriately, Easing the pain of returning back to work after vacation {via HBR}
the week:
The last week of the month when you work in the mortgage industry… AMIRITE?! Happy for some of that approved overtime, though this week felt really long.
weekend:
FINALLY, a massage! Man do I miss the monthly splurge. I got a LifeTime Spa gift card for my birthday, which I get to enjoy almost two months later. Sunday morning, LifeTime is having a sunrise yoga poolside, which I’m going to try to make wake up for!
And we made it to the long, holiday weekend! Whatever your plans, I hope there are fireworks. 😉
seven things, seven days:
1. Ahhhh, my MIL sent me A Million Cats coloring book. It’s so fabulous!
2. I met the kitties’ new sitter this week! It’s a big relief to find someone so great, and one more thing to cross off our move list.
3. I also FINALLY made appointments for both my new doctor and new dentist.
4. MarathonFOTO sent me a holiday coupon for 50% off my photos from the Gasparilla half marathon – I had an AWESOME photo from that race (and it’s my current PR), so I’m really pumped about this!
5. This week, I’ve been getting the STRANGEST (and most annoying) missed calls on my cell phone. Including two missed calls from Egypt. WTH?! No messages, of course.
6. Why we like what we like {via Guardian}
7. Why do we still not know how our periods affect our athletic performance? Crazy. {via Pacific Standard}
