Lots of recaps coming….but i’m still digging out from unpacking and laundry and being reunited with the furrkid after 8 days. Just wanted to share the good news that my trip to South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska to run 5 consecutive Half Marathons in 5 States (while my friends ran 5 FULL marathons in 5 states) is COMPLETE! We did it!!!
Most amazing experience ever! A few pics….
running in Montana on a cold and windy day. photo courtesy of Timothy Nohe
the 5 of us visiting Mt Rushmore before the running began
It takes an art to pack for a trip. Add in 5 half marathons during that trip and you’ve got quite a challenge on your hands. Well, I think i did it…
a whole lotta running gear!
dog toys stay home
I packed:
• Sleeping bag
• 2 towels
• 5 ziploc bags with an entire running outfit (alternate long sleeve shirt option per bag as well)
• 4 pairs of running sneakers
• Fuel, Garmin, handheld waterbottle/Body Glide
• 3 hats/3 visors
• Camera, iPad, chargers
• Rainjacket
• street clothes (jeans, sweatshirts, tshirts, undergarments)
• a gazillion toiletries and some liquid detergent
• a cooler bag
All I can say is try and get the air out wherever possible and sitting on your suitcase does really work!
Got any good tips for packing? Please do share!
Now onto my hot mess 6 miler. Seriously I might have been more of a hot mess than Honey Boo Boo. Wait! My blog isn’t even successful and my mom doesn’t even read it. Honey Boo Boo is making money and getting famous with her reality TV show. I guess I’m more of a hot mess! LOL!
watch photo with a doodle photobomb
I planned on running 8 miles. It’s my last run until half marathon #1 in North Dakota on Monday. Well, I ended up only doing 6 and walked a lot of it. It was in the upper 80s and really humid. I’d like to blame it all on the temperature but in reality I never really felt like I was in a groove. It was quite frustrating and I actually cried. Although in hindsight I think the tears flushed out the sweat that was stinging my eyes so bad.I honestly think I spent more time rubbing the sting outta my eyes than anything else. And what crack was I smoking that I opted to wear a black hat?!!!
black hat bad idea
I thought i was going to spontaneously combust. I felt like spaghetti in a pot of boiling water. My hands swelled too.
piggies!
But I guess no matter how much of a hot mess you are you can always redeem yourself by matching your water bottle to your shirt…
matchy matchy
Question? What do you do to prevent sweat and sunscreen from stinging your eyes? My visors and hats just don’t seem to work.
Also, I might not have much internet access over the next week so hang tight and I’ll recap the Center of the Nation series when I return.
What a day! Let me start off by saying this won’t be my usual post. But I think you’ll resonate on some level.
It’s the 12th anniversary of 9/11….a day that really changed my world and pretty much all americans. I had a dentist appointment at 9am. As I watched some morning news coverage and made a quick breakfast I noticed my coveted Keurig coffee maker wasn’t working. It had no power. I fiddled around for a while before declaring it dead. Knowing it was a day that so many were walking around with heavy hearts I couldn’t possibly be upset that the coffee maker died. And so without caffeine I headed to the dentist office. Next thing you know the x-ray machine wasn’t working properly and we had to take about 10 bitewings before it finally registered. Again, no reason to sweat the small stuff on such day of remembrance. Well, after my cleaning the dentist did an exam and discovered a crown had cracked and I’ll need to have it replaced. $1,600? No problem. How could I be upset? It’s 9/11.
So off I go to driving to the bus stop to catch my bus and head into Manhattan for work. (Shh! Don’t tell my boss but I stopped at Bed Bath and Beyond and bought another Keurig on the way to the bus stop=)
I drove past Rescue 5 Firehouse. (This is not my normal route) I saw the beautiful flowers and candles outside the firehouse. Rescue 5 lost 11 of their members on 9/11. By now it was noon and I was feeling such a churning of anxiety and sadness in my stomach.
I got on the bus and then realized I would be taking the exact route I took 12 years ago today. It made me re-live that morning as I watched the second plane hit. My bus never made it into the city that day. And for that I’m blessed.
Eventually my bus traveled along right beside the Trade Center and Memorial. As we were stopped at a light, I noticed a firetruck to the right. I snapped a picture. Then noticed on the window there was a decal that said “Remembering Ruben “Dave” Correa 9-11-01″
I googled his name. He was also a Staten Islander. Someone I never knew who happened to live in the same borough as me. I got off the bus and walked toward my office building where I noticed an american flag all the way at the top. Apparently it’s always been there and I just never noticed it.
I think about how running has helped me process my feelings and anxiety during last October’s Hurricane Sandy and then this past April’s Boston Marathon bombing. I can only think how running would have helped me process my feelings in the aftermath of 9/11. I’ll continue to reflect and remember the event of Sept 11 this month, culminating with my participation in the Tunnel to Towers 5k that I mentioned back in this post.
Question: Where were you and how did you first discover what was happening on 9/11/01?
Hope you’ve enjoyed your weekend. I’m in taper mode this week as I’ll be headed to the Center of the Nation Series in a week and need to start letting the legs rest a bit more. I’ve even been sleeping more! It’s been great.
Yesterday morning started out at 7am with a photoshoot. I took my camera and my doodle and tried to get some calendar worthy shots for a calendar contest that I’ve been participating in for the last 4 years. It’s a calendar of labradoodles and so far Duncan has been selected 4 years running! Here are a few of my favorites:
happy dog
Wanna go walk down this path with me?
I’m gonna hide behind this tree and then you come find me.
After the shoot, I did a quick 3 miles. Nothing special.
there’s that dog drinking water in the background again!
But then I got an invite from a friend to go to IHOP for breakfast. I’ve never turned down a pancake in my life.
I heart pancakes!
So that was that. I actually got the Simple and Fit veggie omelet and then a side of 3 pancakes. It could’ve been much worse. I have a confession. I eat my pancakes dry. I don’t like syrup. Please don’t judge. =)
The rest of the day was freelance work and cleaning and then I met an old college friend for dinner.
Today I got my long run in.
first 4 miles were faster than my normal long run pace. last 4 i slowed it down.
Then I made a stop at the grocery store. It’s getting to be my favorite time of year.
Fall Pumpkins and Mums
I grabbed a bunch of new healthy snack options.
I approve
Let’s just say the Kashi Sea Salt & Olive Oil Hummus Crisps ARE THE BOMB! I loved them. And at 120 calories, 4 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein per serving it really satisfied my salty crunch craving. The Boom Chicka Pop was delish too! Like kettle corn, salty and lightly sweet. And then of course a little hydrating watermelon. I love discovering new snack options. How about you? Any suggestions?
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