The title pretty much covers my trip to Asheville last week. It was an amazing trip, but it did not do any amazing things to my marathon training. (Didn’t quite derail it, but close…)
We drove down to Asheville via Chapel Hill. I went there for grad school, so wanted to take the kids there and show them the campus. Unfortunately, we hit awful traffic leaving at DC (note to self: on a summer Friday, always leave as early as possible), so it was close to dinner time by the time we arrived. I’d splurged and gotten us a suite at the gorgeous Franklin Inn (because we couldn’t afford it when I was a student. Oh, and I had an apartment LOL). They upgraded us to the Presidential Suite. It was amazing!
Saturday we drove the rest of the way to Asheville, with a short stop for lunch in Winston-Salem at the Foothills Brewing brewpub. I LOVE their Sexual Chocolate beer, but sadly they did not have it on tap.
The rest of the trip was uneventful and we got to the house we were renting. Yet another VRBO win!
The week was a crazy busy week.
We hiked to the highpoint of North Carolina.
We checked out a cave.
We hiked to the highpoint of Tennessee.
We enjoyed a Cherokee museum. We went white water rafting.
We climbed a crazy number of steps to get to Chimney Rock.
We hit 12 brewpubs in Asheville plus Oskar Blues in nearby Brevard. (Most of these were about a mile of hills away from our house, so I walked a lot of miles!)
In addition to all of the activities, I managed to run four decent length runs (6, 8, 6, and 7 miles) and one short run in the hills near the university. I had to take an extra rest day because my quads and calves were so sore from constantly being on hills, both when we were running and walking!
Saturday we began our trip home with a 6 hour drive through the mountains between Asheville and Roanoke. The ridiculously long curvy drive + carsick kid meant Saturday night margarita instead of Saturday night date with the hotel treadmill. Oh well.
We got home mid-day and I did all the usual unpacking and grocery shopping. I finally managed a run around 7:30pm. I forced myself out the door saying “you don’t have to go fast or far, you just have to go.” Thankfully, within a half mile I was happy to be out there and I did 3 x 1200 at a 9 minute pace for a total mileage of 4.5 miles. I did not want to run, but I’m so glad I did.
The week ahead is crazy with catching up on work, working at the library, and starting to get ready for the trip to Wisconsin that the boys and I are taking. It’s also time to get serious about running – jumping up to a 12 mile long run this week! This summer is just flying by!
How is your summer going? Have you gone on vacation someplace fun yet?
I’m linking up with Tara at Running ‘n’ Reading and Erin at Her Heartland Soul.
I like white water rafting and hiking but don’t have the chance to do either very often. Sounds like a fun weekend!
Deborah Brooks @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Spicy Sesame Hoisin Corn & Skinny Mexican Corn
We usually manage one rafting trip a year, now that the kids are older. I used to love the crazy hard rapids before we had kids. Now I like things a little calmer LOL.
Looks like a great trip! My in-laws live in Chapel Hill and they’re complaining about how hot it is there now. Yay for rafting!
Marcia recently posted…My Big Fat European Vacation
It was sticky hot in Chapel Hill. Thankfully Asheville was nicer.
wow, that looks like quite an amazing trip!!! you certainly enjoyed your beers 🙂 love it!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Beach to Beacon 10K Training Week 6
My husband dragged me to all the brewpubs. Ok, maybe I didn’t protest…
This looks like a great time. Rafting looks like so much fun.
Ivanna recently posted…3 Important Tips for Staying Motivated to Workout
It was a lovely vacation. It was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the DC area.
Looks like an amazing trip! I’ve yet to go white water rafting and it’s slowly creeping on to my bucket list.
Lesley recently posted…Monday Musings 7/27
I love white water rafting. I wish I could do it more than once a year.
I went to Door County in June. We were supposed to go this week, but my dad had back surgery. I’m having a staycation and am really enjoying just being home and seeing friends! What can I say? My house still is a mess…
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Chicago marathon training: Week One
I haven’t done a staycation in a while. I need to do one, but I’m sure I’d do less than half of what I plan to do…
When I finished my 16 miles this Saturday, I thought about how on your Hansons plan, that’s the furthest you run. I was a bit jealous 🙂
Trust me – running a minimum of 6 miles 6 days a week is hard. And 16 preceeded by 8 and followed by 10 is going to be rough.
oh, I don’t doubt it!
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC recently posted…Blogger Tip Tuesday: Creating a Reader Friendly Blog
I am jealous of your trip – looks awesome. I want to do the bike ride “Assault on Mt Mitchell” at some point. Good luck with post-vacation re-entry back to work. Ugh!
Kelli recently posted…Skate Parks, MTB, TT State Championships
I’m kind of hating being back to normal life… I can’t even imagine biking up that mountain!
I’ve always wanted to go white water rafting. It looks like so much fun. I love the picture of your family on chimney rock. Worth the climb (I can say that because I did not climb those steps 🙂 ).
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs recently posted…Home Workouts with Grokker. Win a Premium Membership!
Chimney Rock was totally worth it!
And white water rafting is awesome. And there are lots of levels, so you can start off with easier rapids if that makes you more comfortable.
Look at all those great beers! I love how you seek out high points. 😀
Coach Henness recently posted…Organizing a Group Run
High points are one of the things that Beer Geek loves to hit, so I’ve been to a few…
Looks like you had a good balance of family fun, kid fun and adult fun.
Char recently posted…The Weekend In Review
It worked out nicely. Days as a family and then in the evening Beer Geek and I went out. Older kids are awesome LOL.
sounds like my kind of vacation! May have to check it out, although they ARE our rival for Beer City USA (I’m from Grand Rapids, MI). Come check us out sometime!
Wendy @ Wholistic Woman recently posted…Race Recap: Meijer LPGA 5K Run & Walk presented by Kellogg’s
Some of my favorite breweries are in Michigan. My parents live in Wisconsin, so we may have to drop the kids with them some year and go brewery hopping. ;o)
What an amazing trip! I have nothing planned yet but your pictures make me want to run away and go rafting.
Margo recently posted…Brooklyn Fit Chick Playlist: 50-Minute Intervals with Matthew Sweet, Gaga, Taylor Swift & More
Vacation rocks. ;o)
Looks like you had a blast! How soaked were you by whitewater rafting? I’ve always wanted to try!
Carmy recently posted…RACE REPORT: 5 Peaks Run, Albion Hills Sport 6.3k, 2015
This was a pretty calm trip (only up to class III rapids), so I didn’t get very wet from the spray, but I did jump in the water at one point, so I was soaked through.
I just love that area of the country. So much outdoor fun! I’ve never been disappointed using VBRO. My “kids” are so big now, we can’t stay in a tiny hotel room any more.
HoHo Runs recently posted…75 Days
VRBO rocks. We’ve used it so many times, with some really amazing houses.
Sounds like a great active vacation! We haven’t gone anywhere yet. Soon… I hope, lol. I could use it.
Kerri Olkjer recently posted…Jillian Michaels BodyShred Full Review
We always go on vacation at some point in July. It breaks up the summer nicely.
You know now that I think of beer I always think of you. I had some at the pool yesterday in a LONG time and thought of you. LOL Unfortunately I didn’t get to run today so I don’t know if the extra carbs would have given me extra energy but you are not the official BEER RUNNER! I love white water rafting btw.
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…July 2015 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Unboxing
;o)
White water rafting rocks.
I meant to type “now”. You are NOW the official BEER RUNNER. 🙂
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…Featured Fitale Melisa Tate
Sounds like a great vacation! Awesome that you were able to get all those runs in, and yes, totally deserve that margarita after a long drive with a carsick kiddo!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Top 5 Nut Butters + #LJInspired Challenge Week 2
I’d hoped for more runs, but the hills were wicked in Asheville. The worst part of the carsick kid is we had no idea that he had issues with winding hills. Rough way to find out…
Wow, what a cool and busy vacation! You did a ton of hiking!! I can’t wait to take vacations like that with my boys when they are older!!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…MCM Training Recap–Week 3
You are in the rough stage – too big to carry or put in a stroller, but not able to hike big hikes. Soon, though. My kids are forced to hike all over now LOL.
We love white water rafting! We’re actually on vacation now and having a blast.
jill conyers recently posted…Inspirational Quote: Live the Width of Life
I love that my kids are now old enough to do it. We used to white water raft a lot before kids, but stopped for quite a number of years. We still can’t do the big rapids, but soon…
Ahh? Sexual chocolate beer? I don’t even drink beer but the name of this beer is compelling enough to purchase. lol. Looks like you guys had great family fun.
GinaB @ Mirror Watching recently posted…I’m So Tired Of Counting Calories!
I know, and it tastes as good as the name.
What an awesome trip! I would love to go white water rafting. …and LOL @ sexual chocolate beer! reminded me of the scene in “Coming to America”. My hubby is a big (craft) beer lover and I’m slowly getting into it. Glad you had a good time.
Artney @ My Pretty Brown recently posted…2015 Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon Recap!
The sexual chocolate beer is AMAZING. I love it, which is why I was so bummed when they didn’t have it. And I wish we had the time and money to go white water rafting several times every summer.
Your vacation looks awesome! I’ve always wanted to go whitewater rafting and that margarita looks good!
Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…Janji Running Apparel and Top 40 Running Playlist
I love white water rafting. This trip wasn’t very challenging (we had kids and grandparents with us), but it was still fun!
I call BS. We both know you went to Asheville for the beer. Fess up!
Duh! Why do you think we rented a house within walking distance of the beer?