As I mentioned last week, we just got back from a trip to Grand Rapids, MI for a week. We had a lovely week and one of the things that made it lovelier was renting a house through AirBNB. This was our first time using AirBNB for a whole house, but I've stayed at another AirBNB before and we've rented 10 or so houses, including two in Ireland, through VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). I love my kids, but I love them more when I have separate rooms from them. Even a suite in a hotel gets old after a night or two. Not every house has been amazing, but thanks to the tips I'm sharing below, every house has been as expected and had only minor disappointments. And some of the houses? Nicer and better locations than my own house. Get … [Read more...]
TOTR: Goals for 2016
Here we are again at the beginning of a new year. I've been mulling over my goals for 2016 for a while. Last year, Shoo threw a wild card into my life by making a travel soccer team. This has made racing a lot more difficult and travel out of the area complicated. I'd like to say I've figured out how to balance it with my running, but I've already booked a race on a tournament weekend for 2016. Ugh. So, without further whining, I'm joining Marcia and Patty and sharing my goals. … [Read more...]
Five Dream Race Vacations
Traveling is my jam. Before we had kids, Beer Geek and I traveled to a fair number of foreign countries: Germany, Belgium (multiple times), Iceland, Scotland, Australia, the Netherlands, and the Azores (Portuguese Islands) in our first 6 years of marriage. Since kids, most of our vacations have been in the US (often in less traveled areas) although we did manage a family vacation to Ireland and we took Jones to Belgium once. So, the hardest part of creating this Friday Five for me was limiting it to five. Because really? I want to see all the things and travel to all the places. Check out Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia's blogs for more cool places to go. Here are the top five places on my current list, including the race I want to do … [Read more...]
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon Day #5 – Nebraska
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon - Nebraska September 18, 2015 2:43:32 Temp: low 40s, rainy, and windy What I wore: hat, tank top, Brooks jacket, Skirt Sports Happy Girl Skirt(this is an affiliate link), compression socks, and Altra Running One 2 (affiliate link). Sometimes you go into a race expecting the worst and end up having an awesome time. Sometimes the time on the clock bears no relation to how good the run was. This was that run. It was chilly and threatening rain and my stomach was feeling off, so I did not have high expectations for this run. When the race started and I realized that much of the course was on a trail, I dropped all time goals and just ran for fun. I ran the first lap with Beer Geek and … [Read more...]
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon Day #4 – Wyoming
Today is Tuesdays on the Run, but due to crazy busy lives (or just plain lack of cell service for an entire week), April, Patty, and I decided to go with a "free topic" week. Feel free to link up any running related post! Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon - Wyoming September 17, 2015 2:33:32 Temp: Low 40s and windy What I wore: hat, short sleeve top, arm warmers, Brooks jacket, Skirt Sports Happy Girl Skirt(this is an affiliate link), compression socks, and Altra Running One 2.5 (affiliate link). This was my least favorite course of the race. I woke up feeling beaten down, the temps had dropped, it was windy, and much of the course was not very pretty. While I won't say that I mentally defeated myself on this one, I … [Read more...]
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon Day #3 – South Dakota
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon - South Dakota September 16, 2015 2:21:20 Temp: Low 50s-low 60s and sunny What I wore: hat, tank top, Skirt Sports Happy Girl Skirt(this is an affiliate link), PROCompression socks, and Altra Running One^2 (affiliate link). There was a lot to love about this day's course. It was only 6 laps, but it had a long out and back and a short out and back. For some reason, the short out and back seemed really easy, so it felt like I'd barely begun running and I was halfway. It was a lovely day out and I finished before the wind picked up. The course had a only one real hill on it and it was actually a nice break for my legs. But the course was all concrete! While I had my fastest race of the … [Read more...]
Center of the Nation photos
We have awful internet connection tonight (but my phone did regain 4G literally as we crossed the border into Nebraska!), so I'm just sharing a few of my favorite photos from our trip. Thursday's race was not my favorite, but I have 4 done! Here are my recaps for Montana and North Dakota. I hope to have South Dakota up soon (spoiler: my favorite race so far). As per usual, I'm linking up with Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for Friday Five. 1 - Race #4 - yes, I am actually running here. 2 - Center of the Nation - I love this photo! 3 - My favorite store. 4 - Close Encounters with Devil's Tower... 5 - Sometimes running is fun. Fingers crossed that I'll feel better on Friday than I did on … [Read more...]
Center of the Nation Series Day 2 – North Dakota
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon - North Dakota September 15, 2015 2:22:05 Temp: 57+ at the start, warm (82*) and sunny at the end What I wore: hat, tank top, Skirt Sports Gym Girl Ultra(this is an affiliate link), PROCompression socks, and Altra Running One^2 (affiliate link). This course was much better than the previous day's course! It was all on pavement with rolling hills. We did an out and back with half marathoners needing to complete 6 loops. I ran the first two loops with a new friend from the previous night's group dinner. Those two laps FLEW by and then I kept going when she needed to take a pit stop. I quickly hooked up with another runner and continued chatting. Next thing I knew, I was halfway done … [Read more...]
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon – Montana
Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon - Montana September 14, 2015 2:27:30 Temp: 57+ at the start, not much warmer, super windy, and cloudy at the end What I wore: hat, tank top, Skirt Sports Happy Girl skirt(this is an affiliate link), PROCompression socks, and Altra Running One^2 (affiliate link). I was really excited to get to this race. I've sung my praises for Mainly Marathons for a long time and was so happy to see everyone again. It's really like one big family out on the course. We were in the small town of Baker, Montana on their lake front. The course was an out and back on a mix of concrete, pavement, and gravel, with half marathoners doing 7 loops. I started the race with long sleeves, but ditched it after … [Read more...]
TOTR: Phoning it in
Or would if I actually had any cell coverage out here. I'm pretty sure I'm going through withdrawal, since the only time I have internet access is before a race at 5am or in the evening, by which point I'm pretty much too tired to think. In fact, it's 8:15 pm as I write this and honestly I'd rather be asleep. So, the topic that April, Patty, and I chose today is "Fitness Trackers/Running Watches." I don't currently have a fitness tracker, so I've got nothin' for that. In fact, I'd love to hear from you all about yours. When it comes to running watches, I'm a Garmin girl. I love my Garmin 220 like it's a member of the family. It catches the satellite super fast (seriously, it took it like 30 seconds this morning even though I'm … [Read more...]
Ultimate Coffee Date – Labor Day edition
Happy Saturday! Hope you have some fun plans this Labor Day weekend! We are busy busy getting ready for school (finally)! I'm joining up with my friends Deborah, Coco, and Lynda for a virtual coffee date. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you I hardly ran at all last week. We had a huge return to summer weather, Beer Geek was traveling for work, and my allergies were kicking my butt. All those added up to me not only NOT running much, but also not caring that I ran much. It's supposed to be cooler starting today, so hopefully that will help my bad attitude. … [Read more...]
52.4 miles and one heck of a weekend
Short story: I did successfully complete 2 full marathons this weekend. Just in case you are wondering, I have no desire to run two in a weekend ever again. … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 5
- Next Page »
