Pandemic Running week 13

Last week was the final week before Eric and I begin the Baxter to Baxter to Baxter Challenge.

The good news is that it was a pretty decent week of running. I ran the same 6.5 mile route for every run, and (amusingly!) my aged watch measured it drastically differently every time. On the final day, it gifted me an entire extra MILE and showed me running through an extra mile of dense forest, a swamp, over the stream, and then (aggressively!) through the properties of several people, before returning to my actual route. YIKES!!! I must admit that the entertainment that this provided gave me all the entertainment that I needed to enjoy my week of running. Despite what my watch led us to believe, I finished up with a 26 mile week.
(and in other fun news, Eric has a SWEET Garmin connection, and has acquired a much newer watch for me which will arrive soon. So fun!!)

We also fit in an aggressive 8.5 mile hike up Mount Adams. This was Ellie's first time in the Northern Presidentials, and she did a great job in the boulder field. We are fortunate to have these mountains so close by, and we can easily spend time in the outdoors without having to stop for any reason (although from what I'm hearing, the business in the area would actually appreciate some safe/respectful customers....)

A SOLID day on Adams

On to this week and the B2B2B challenge. This is going to be great fun, and slightly crazy. We are "counting" both running and hiking miles. The only way I will count walking mileage is if I end up injured (and I had better not!)

In a perfect world, I will finish the weekly "required" mileage all as runs, and use hiking as "extra." But let's be real. I can't remember the last time that I managed to run 3 summer months of (almost) 30 mile weeks without some sort of chaos interrupting me.

I'm pretty excited about this!
Anddddd if we are going to be honest, the weather we are about to have makes me *kinda* happy that I don't have a long run this weekend. Or speedwork. UGH f**k summer marathon training!!

So! Next week will be my first recap of B2B2B and I am looking forward to it!

Mileage: 26
Hiking: 8.5
Hottest day: Not very....

Pandemic week 12

Another week of pandemic running is behind us, and even though the pandemic continues to rage right along, some things are beginning to return to "normal" (will that ever be a thing again?)

My business has opened back up and we are seeing good things in that department. I did lose a major summer account- one I have had for 22 years. This is honestly one of those curse/blessing situations. The curse, of course, is income loss. The blessing.... It would have been hard to manage the riders for this program (all very young, no way to keep safe space, coming from areas where there is a much higher infection rate.) I was pretty concerned about keeping my staff safe, and I no longer have that concern. Aside from that client, all systems are go. 

On the running front, as I mentioned last week, the remote possibility of a September Boston Marathon is no longer. Again, blessing/curse. Any  disappointment I may have experienced was short lived. I simply can not imagine the impossibilities of orchestrating such a huge event during this time. Plus, we are getting a refund, we can use our existing qualifying times to try again for next year, and they have a completely optional virtual race. I felt really good about all these options. 

So for now, running along. I managed around 21 miles last week, and a 10 mile hike. 

Wow

Starting next week Eric and I signed up for a challenge "virtual" race. Basically this event will ask us to run the mileage from Baxter Brewery (in lewiston) to Baxter State Park (in Millenockett) and BACK AGAIN. This will actually require some effort, hence the word "challenge". This should be fun! We have from June 15-September 15 to complete, and it's a good thing we have that much time. Recreationally, I'm really not a high mileage runner. Apparently, I'm lazy. But I really do want to finish this thing- so the summer blogs are going to be a weekly countdown to the end, and the subsequent medal and free beer :-) 

Week 1 of theoretical Boston training 2.0/Pandemic running week 10

Last week was basically exactly what I expected.

It got hot, summer arrived!
(and will be MUCH worse this week.....)

Seriously

Running was fine this week. I had to cram quite a few days in a row to free up days when I was busy. I did end up feeling a tiny bit overcooked, but nothing major at all. I basically just ran. No real hills. No real workouts. Junk miles? Perhaps.

We took another tiny, local hike on Sunday to enjoy the beautiful weather. It really is nice living somewhere when a short drive brings you to a lovely place.

This is fine

I have been moving towards reopening my business, and (to be entirely honest) it has been a little stressful. Of course, I am very happy to be returning to work after a LENGTHY hiatus (I have referred to my current situation as "volunteering" at the stable, as I can still manage to put in a 50 hour week for free.....) It's just the details and the concerns making things complex. I have a lot of responsibility to my clients and staff, and have never been in a situation like this before. My strategy is to take things slow, and cautiously (and maintain insane levels of sanitation) and plan on things being fine. (like.... next year....)

So, what's on the books for this week other than it being hot AF.
I am hoping to chug out about 30 miles again. I have some misgivings about the 90 degree days, but hope to be able to work around them. I should have gone for a run today, but I allowed a work situation to get in the way. (I mean... volunteer situation.... let's be real. nobody paying me for this extra time hahah!) (and I just looked at this forecast again and thing I might just run 3 miles instead of 30.)

So week one of imaginary training:
Miles: 31
Long run: Not long . Like 6.8
Hottest day: 77 at run time on Thursday (which was after 6PM)

Pandemic running week 9

Winter is over. The 10 day forecast has 3 days well into the 80's!!
There is no doubt about it, while I may be in better running shape at the moment than I have been at this point during the past couple years, the heat is going to slow me down.

Hello Summer

Last week went exactly as planned, logging 25 miles. My leg feels good, and I feel pretty fit (although it could have been the chilly, windy days talking....)
The snow from the previous week melted immediately and spring arrived. Yay! So did the bugs. BOO.

Spring

Eric and Ellie and I went on a tiny local hike over the weekend. The whole pandemic mess has completely disrupted our big hiking plans, but we are lucky to have local trails that have zero people on them. We plan to make the best of it!

Decent view for a tiny hill 

Evidently this week is the beginning of *theoretical training for Boston 2.0*

I plan to run 30 miles this week.

After that...

I'm just going to put in the work until the race gets cancelled for good, and then I am going to keep running.
I think I learned something important last year. Apparently, at 40, it takes a lot longer to get back into shape after a break than it does at 35. UGH OLD AGE!!!! Kidding though, I imagine in 10 years I will wish for the *fitness, speed, and excellent skin* that I have a 40 (because DAYUM, I sure look back 8/10 years ago and wonder WHAT the devil I was complaining about!!)

Here is what will be easy about Theoretical Boston 2.0 Training:
-I want to keep running.
-I am reasonably fit so it won't be, like, totally awful. Maybe?
-I do feel motivation not to fall off the running wagon. Because, as discussed, OLD.
-Not much else to do at the moment
-HEALTH....??? So much health plus many fitness goals. Pshhhh.

What will be hard:
-Well. Running.
-The fact that I don't believe I'm really race training. So, I'm going to have to trick myself into doing shit bag things like speed work and 18 mile long runs when it is 85, humid, and thunder.....
-Heat and humidity and all the dry heaving that causes.
-Possibly one million pandemic related things that I don't know exist.

BECAUSE WHO THE FUCK WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LIVING THIS????

I mean, seriously.

Anyway. I am healthy, my family is healthy, my business is about to reopen (although my summer side hustle is in serious jeopardy...) So... so far so good? ISH?

So next week. I will give a glorious report on how my majestic marathon training is going. Eric keeps saying we are going to run a beer mile, so maybe that will spice things up a bit (plus, more barf related posts, I imagine!)

Pandemic Running Week 8

I'm pleased to say that after a week of easy peasey running that my hamstring has settled right down. I have felt no twinges at all in the past few days, which is reassuring! 

Weird week though. After last weekend when we saw temps hit 70, we managed to get an actual snow storm this week, plus a couple of really chilly days. Gross! I'm not sure if I can actually remember real snow this late, but there are no rules at the moment. Pandemic. Murder Hornets. People just doing whatever TF they want. Snow. The usual!

Hello

"Things" are slowly reopening over the next couple weeks. (some things anyway.) I suppose that the time of social isolation did help to slow the virus, and to keep from overwhelming the health care system. Unless we wish for complete economic collapse, things are going to have to begin to move in the direction of "normal." That being said.... It's hardly going to be normal. 

My business will carefully embark on a multi-phase reopening process beginning on the 18th. I am fortunate not to have a "high risk" job, and while I am thankful to be allowed to reopen my feeling of responsibility to my family, and staff, make me feel like I am handling a ticking time bomb. I plan to use all precautions, and can only hope that is enough. 

On the running front. Technically 8 days until Boston 2.0 training begins. Weird, to begin training again for a race that will most likely not happen. Either way though, I'm a good bit more fit than when I began training for Boston 1.0, and why not, right? Just going to train along and try to have a good time doing it. 

For next week I think it is reasonable to get back to get back to the mid 20's. I'll say that my goal is between 25-30 miles (but probably closer to 25.... lazyyyy.) No need to go too hard this far out. 

Pandemic Running: Week 6

Even though it feels like Groundhog Day, Spring is clearly arriving. I even saw the first of the black flies today, which is less than stellar!

It's good to see nature continuing in a normal way. spring is a lovely season (even though we are supposed to get SNOW tonight!) and it has been a very productive week for me in the yard work department.
For about 10 year I have been meaning to clean up the woods in front of our home, and to remove quite a few fallen trees, and crappy looking sticks/brush/mess. (and it was quite a mess!) Bottom line-I have NOT had the time. It occurred to me that I simply might not have had the motivation- but I got to it last weekend, and have made huge progress. Evidently, I really just didn't have time!

In the running department I met my 33 (point 7) mile goal, and felt good about the (junk) miles that I completed. Definitely low key running, but miles are miles and they were pretty enjoyable this week. When I am not training, I do tend to go out and cruise around mindlessly (hence- my "junk mile" description.)

Thanks to my new weird virtual teaching job, I also fit in a couple (livestream) workouts- and if you ever want to see someone fall down while leading a workout- join in. OMG. I should stick to running because I tend to do my strength work on the depths of my basement, and NOT on the internet! The whole thing is very hysterical.

So last week was about as even keel as one could ask for during this time. The weather was pretty decent, I was productive at "work" and got some long neglected projects done. I managed to get through my to-do lists daily (AND we are still living on the groceries we bought almost 3 weeks ago- winning!)

This coming week looks pretty hideous in the weather department, and I feel that might take a toll on my motivation and focus (and secretly, I am disappointed in myself for being so fragile! but seriously, I can handle a crisis if the sun is out. if we are getting 6 inches of snow, losing power for days, then getting wholloped with multiple days of pouring rain..... that's just a shitty bummer!!!)

I'm in the process of writing myself this week's to-do list, and I plan to keep it on the easier side.

I hope to run a full 26.2 over the total week. A little cut back, but I really don't feel like dealing with the treadmill for more than a couple runs.

So, there you have it. No end in sight but I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation.

Also, thanks for the comments. I can't seem to leave comments because blogger sucks, but I read and appreciate.

Stay healthy, stay safe, and may the odds be ever in our favor.

Pandemic Running: Week 4

How is it already week 4 of zombie apocalypse training??

I'm sure I'm not the only one who is having a hard time keeping track of what day it is. Not to mention, time seems to be going both in warp speed, and super slow. 

If you asked me when the last time was that I ventured into public, I would confidently say 14 months OR 6 days. Very confusing!!

This particular week should be taking me straight into my 8th Boston Marathon. The weather has been about right for it, fluctuating madly between 55 degrees, 8 inches of snow, 55 degrees, then a huge wind storm with a deluge (pretty sure Mother Nature thought that day was marathon day!!)

Typical

So, yeah. Hanging in there. 

It has been a vastly superior Spring to last year, when we were still buried under massive amounts of snow. We really haven't had ground covering snow in a couple weeks, and the ice went out on the ponds and lakes last week. It's rare. There are also more birds, and robins in particular, then I have ever seen. It's just a bit odd, no real reason for it. We have had early springs before, but the bird activity is something outside the ordinary. 

Despite my good intentions, last weeks mileage was low. About 21 miles. I was working hard creating content for my new channel, and that took up a good bit of my time. 

I did, however, manage to get in a FEW strength workouts which is RARE! 

I'm including workouts in my video series, and when you are suddenly a fitness influencer (HAHAHA) you have to make videos which require about a million takes. SO, lots of extra reps for me. 

Anyway. Here we are. I ran today, on the treadmill as it was pouring. This got the week off to a good start, and I'd love to finish up with close to 30 miles. 

Anyway. Stay safe, stay healthy, and may the odds be ever in our favor.