This has been a fun summer, but it’s been a challenging one as well. It was the first time in 7 years that I maintained a training plan over the summer and I can’t say that I’ve loved it. It’s had its ups and downs for sure. Today I’m sharing double fives with you today: 5 things I did this summer and 5 runfessions. I’m linking up with Courtney, Mar, Cynthia, and Marcia.
- This summer we went to Asheville for our family vacation. I really enjoyed the hiking and the breweries, but OMG, the hills nearly killed me on the runs!
- As per usual, we spent a good chunk of the summer in Wisconsin as well. I always love seeing my parents, eating all of the home grown produce, and taking a few dips in the backyard pool. I may also have enjoyed the s’mores and the beer while I was there. Perhaps a bit too much LOL.
- For the 6th? year in a row, we attended Great Taste of the Midwest. So far, every.single. year. has been amazing. This year the weather was perfect, we spent a lot of the day with friends, and we surrounded the event with other fun events. What’s not to love?
- While we were in Asheville, we were able to go white water rafting. Pre-kids, we used to do this once or twice every summer. Finally, the kids are getting old enough to join us! This trip was on the mild side because Shoo is only 9, but soon we’ll be hitting some class 4s again!
- I ran a ton of miles. Not every run was awesome, but I managed to stay mostly on plan, despite kids out of school, crazy humidity, and a ridiculously challenging plan. I don’t plan to train for a fall marathon again any time soon.
And now for a few “Runfessions”…
- The other day I went for a run and discovered afterwards that I’d worn my underwear inside out. Know what else I discovered? No chafing! I’m too cheap to buy special sports underwear, so I may implement this solution again the next time my “long run” underwear aren’t clean when I need to run long.
- For the next 3 weeks, I’m ignoring the Hansons plan. For the next 5 days, I’m running back to back long runs. I’m aiming for a minimum of 8 miles for each run and a max of 13 miles (I’m being flexible because we have a lot going on…). This is my peak week for my 6 half marathons in 6 days. After this, I’ll be sort of tapering (I’m not planning to skip my 16 mile run, but I may Galloway it) and then I’ll be running 13.1 for 6 days. I’m feeling sadly undertrained at this point, but we’ll see how it goes.
- I’ve run 161 miles already this month. I’m really really really tempted to run 39 miles in the next four days. The scary part is that’s really not that big of a stretch for me…
- This summer I have hardly worn shorts at all. Instead, I’ve been wearing my Happy Girl skirts most days. In fact, I’ve now got them separated into “skirts that I run in” and “skirts that I hang out in”. And I’m not going to confess how many new skirts I’ve gotten in the last few months.
- I accidentally brewed a pot of decaf coffee on Monday. Since I brew a pot and then keep it in the fridge and drink it for 3 days, I was drinking decaf for 3 days without knowing it. I couldn’t figure out why I was having wicked headaches and my runs weren’t going great and I just wasn’t feeling like myself. I discovered it when I made coffee on Thursday (at which point I found the regular coffee). My Thursday run felt awesome. Coincidence? I think not.
How was your summer? Got any confessions for me?
Go visit Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia to see what everyone else has been up to this summer and Marcia for some more runfessions!
I have been white water rafting before and it was a blast. I was gonna go this summer but my schedule didn’t allow it during the time my friends wanted to go. Wow! That is alot of miles! Keep up the good work!
Thanks. I’m beginning to feel the miles LOL.
Sounds like a good summer! 161 miles!! That is amazing! You ROCK!
It has been a good summer. Lots of fun stuff and too much running LOL.
I can’t even begin to imagine 200 miles in one month.
I love the idea of mainly marathons to up my state ps, but a) I’m pretty sure my body would not like that and b) I’m pretty sure my husband would kill me.
Interested to hear how it goes for you!
Thankfully my husband loves these events and loves to travel, so it’s a win/win for both of us.
We like to travel, but neither one of us likes to drive. So I don’t think 6 states in 6 days would fly.
Still fascinated to hear your report on it, tho!
Wow, the decaf coffee thing! I also get headaches if I go cold turkey on caffeine. White water rafting looks fun. We did this in Maine two years ago and really enjoyed it. Hoping to try it again next summer.
Yeah, I felt awful. I was really glad when I discovered it was just caffeine withdrawal, not some sore of sickness.
LOL on your first runfession! You’ve had a great summer!
Anything to prevent the chafe…
I’ve been so impressed with your mileage this summer. You’re amazing!
Thanks! It’s been kind of crazy.
Sounds like you’ve had a great Summer! Your mileage is so impressive. Also, I just tried out my first skirt sports skirt a couple weeks ago and think I’m hooked. I can definitely see me wearing them for non running purposes too.
Glad you love your Skirt Sports! I live in them.
I find it’s tough to train for big fall races too. I do work through the summer, but there are days I want to do nothing but be lazy. Lazy summer mornings where I can stay in bed (or on the couch).
Yeah, I’m tired of getting up early. We have one week of summer left and I just want to sleep in every day…
Lol at the decaf. I don’t buy it so don’t ever see me doing something like that but know I’d be crushed! White water rafting looks fun!
I like iced coffee in the afternoons in the summer and I don’t need caffeine then, so I keep a bag in the house. Somehow it got put where the REAL coffee goes…
It has been a tough, hot summer for training! The Caveman announced that we’ll be heading to Asheville when we retire. Um, sounds lovely but maybe I should go check it out first??
Hilarious about your decaf! It was probably a good break for you though and now caffeine has renewed powers. Thanks for linking up!
I liked Asheville, but I didn’t love it. I still like Bend better.
You gotta love summers in the Midwest! So much to do and see (coming from a WI girl 😉 ). Looks like you have a great summer and I love that picture of your jumping in the pool! No better way to cool off after a hot run!
Oh my goodness – your runfession #1 had me on the floor laughing!!!
i kinda think you should go for 200. that’s pretty bad ass! and i LOVE that pic of you jumping into the pool!
About to head out for 10 miles or so…
Wooo that white water rafting looks like so much fun!!! 🙂
It was fun!
Sounds like a fun summer! We really want to visit Asheville. Maybe next summer!
We had a really nice visit. Lots to do and lots of good beers.
Sounds like a great summer! I have also been hitting up local breweries and it has been so much fun. Tomorrow we are actually headed to a local beer and wine festival. 🙂
Love festivals! Have fun!
You run so many back to back long runs, amazing! Summer running has been really challenging for me this year, but I think in the end it’ll be worth it. White water rafting looks like a blast! I’ve done it a couple of times but they weren’t very rapid!
This was a pretty tame trip, which was good because we had the boys and their grandparents with us. Beer Geek and I sometimes to the crazy rapids when we don’t have them with us.
Sounds like a great summer! You’re mileage amazes me!
I’m kind of over it LOL.
You had a really nice summer. Thanks for sharing your adventures. This was definitely a hot and humid summer for Marine Corps training.
You’re (gasp) stepping off your training plan? What happened to Trust the Plan? I ran 7 today instead of 5, and I’m waiting to pay with burpees when I see my coach on Tuesday….lol….
The plan is great – but it’s for the marathon. I have 6 races in 2 weeks and I need to make sure I can finish them. So, gonna focus on that for a bit. Luckily, it’s high mileage enough that I don’t think it will cause any issues with my marathon training.