mid-year check-in

Farm Report: 7.4.19

- Mel

Hello. It’s me. Is the first post back after a hiatus always the hardest? It’s not you, it’s me blah blah blah. It was never my intention to fizzle out for 3+ months, but I’m now in the internship phase of my graduate school adventures and I needed to finish out my coursework with a bang. I also went to California two weekends ago to celebrate with my cohorts in commencement. Ooooooh. Ahhhhhhh.

My grad school adventures could probably command an entire post – and I’m really working this year on holding two truths at once – but it was both an eye-opening, life-changing experience and also kind of a disappointment. Too soon? Too deep? Here, have a bomb pop.

bomb pop popsicle july 4 independence day cold sweets
TAKE THE POPSICLE.

Yinz, the internet just showed me bomb pop-flavored vape juice and my disappointment was put rightly in its place.

knee high

The weird weather this year has caused a shortage of sweet corn this Independence Day – but if you hold your shorts (yes, it is FINALLY shorts weather!) the sweet, sweet corn prize is only a couple weeks away.

midwest independence day shenanigans

I live in a municipality that doesn’t allow personal fireworks AND YET I am forced awake until after 11pm because people are inconsiderate and they suck. Iowa Nice (except when I need to celebrate America with fireworks)*

Don’t suck, here is a list of PROFESSIONAL and LEGAL displays in the Des Moines metro.

*Don’t steal my tagline, Raygun.

My Race Calendar for 2nd Half of 2017 + Mid-Year Check-in

- Mel

Today seemed like the perfect day to reflect a bit on the first half of the year (thanks, Holiday PTO!). I’ve got my tracking spreadsheet updated from January-June, and my training plan set for my first Ultra race (more on that in another post).

30 something miles iowa runner blogger
I like running and chocolate milk. I estimate that I’ve probably had at least 65 chocolate milks since the beginning of the year.

Here’s what I’ve accomplished so far:
I participated in my first Ragnar relay.
I ran my first race as a BibRave Ambassador.
I colored in 3 more states on my U.S. Race map.
I also took 2 DNS (Did Not Start) on registered races.
I added 2 more half marathons and another full marathon — bringing the totals to 11 and 2, respectively.
And I’ve run 456.2 total miles as of the end of June.

I also took THREE GLORIOUS WEEKS off running in June.

What’s Next:
July: Earlham 5k; Clive Running Festival (10k); Minnesota Nut House Challenge — Totally Nuts! (5K, 10K, half marathon); BTN Big 10k (Chicago)
August: Not registered for anything; and if Iowa is anything like last summer, I probably won’t!
September: Rockin’ Chocolate Half Marathon (Madison, WI); NewBo half (IA); Pleasant Creek trail run; Capital Pursuit (10-miler); Heartland Half (Omaha, NE)
October: Chicago Marathon; GOATz 50k (Omaha, NE)
November: Hillbilly Hike half marathon (Indianaola, IA), Route 66 Marathon (Tulsa, OK)
December: Hitchcock Experience 50 Miler (Honey Creek, IA)

I’ll also color in 3 more states (all road trips!), finish 2 more marathons — and a 50k AND a 50-Miler, and add another 800+ miles to my yearly total by the end of the year. NEAT!

30 something miles blog iowa running goals
A mix of old and new… I retired a couple old pairs of running shoes this year.

I’ll likely add in a couple of the fall trail races that I did in 2016 to this year’s calendar (Sycamore 8, To Grandmother’s House).

What’s on your schedule for the second half of 2017? Looking to add any races to your list? Check out my Race Discounts page!