Wrapping Up a Crazy Week

SO, what's been happening?

Well, I feel fully recovered from my little 12-hour (almost 37-mile) jaunt two weeks ago. I think the 24 hours of lost sleep have been filtered back into my regimen, and I have zero residual fatigue and muscle strain.  Even the wonky heel feels (almost) brand new.

But, that angry hammy/glute/piriformis thing is still not as happy as the rest of me. It's not debilitating, but it certainly is there taunting me every time I've been tempted to "cheat" on my recovery. Rest assured (pun intended), I have been a good girl. In fact, I have logged a whopping (cue the drum roll) 12 miles, post-ultra!

And, I'm completely good with that. I have been running for more than 11 years, and have been a distance runner for the past 8 of those. I will not lose much (if any) of my fitness or endurance by taking a couple weeks easy. I have learned that one needs to do less of that which we love in order to be able to continue doing it long term (say that 3 times, fast!).

Anyways, I have been doing quite a bit of cross-training and walking, though. I did sneak out for a couple miles last Monday (#nevermissaMonday), but that was it for mileage in the running shoes until Sunday morning. Yes, you read that correctly....no mid-week miles (again).

Some post-run stretching....

I also went for a rather fast-paced walk on Tuesday. I have been testing a new pair of compression socks, the SLS3 Butterfly Compression sock...and I love them!  They have been great for my post-ultra recovery (you can read my review HERE).

Aren't they adorable???

This will not become a habit, but there have been some other things happening......like our daughter moving to Pennsylvania. Yes (you read that correctly, too)....Pennsylvania. Like 17-hours away by car (not that we were keeping track or anything).

She's our oldest, and she graduated from college back in early May. She's had several job offers, but this one enticed her the most (and she was eager to spread her wings and get out of Iowa). I took Wednesday afternoon off (as well as Thursday and Friday) from work, we loaded up our SUV, and hit the road around 2:30 in the afternoon to begin our journey out east.

When the vehicle is filled to capacity and you're the shortest passenger, you get the "cargo" area in back...it's a good thing I'm not claustrophobic

We left the other two kids in Iowa (both had to work...and there wasn't any room for them). We thought about renting a truck or a trailer, but the daughter has temporary lodging at a hotel until she's allowed to take possession of the townhouse she bought (yes....you read that correctly as well). We'd have to arrange for storage somewhere and essentially she'd have to move all of her stuff twice....so we elected to bring a lot of her clothing, non-perishables, and basics on this trip and make a return trip Labor Day weekend with all the big stuff when she'll have a more permanent place to put everything.

We spent the night in Dayton, OH and were up bright and early on Thursday (sort of bright, but definitely early) and on the road, Gettysburg, PA bound. She starts her new job on Monday, so we had a very limited time frame to get several details done...including finding a car.

Somehow this landed on my lap....

Once we arrived in Hanover (where she'll actually be living, not too far from Gettysburg...where she'll be working), we scoped out car dealerships. She found a Nisson Altima that she really liked, but we wanted to check out a few more options the next morning (Friday) as well.

We had very limited time while in Gettysburg, but we see a few historic sights (excuse the peeling, sun-burned forehead)

I brought along my running shoes, in hopes of running a few miles on Friday morning, but our hotel was located on a busy highway (with no sidewalks), so I elected to stay inside our room and do some strength work (there wasn't a fitness room or I might have considered treadmilling a few miles). I did five sets of push-ups (20) interspersed with squats, and lunges, and also a 4-minute forearm plank thrown in for good measure.

Squats, push-ups, and planks...Oh My!

We headed to another car dealership, and test drove another option. It was there we learned that she'd have to have a Pennsylvania drivers license in order to register her new car in the state of Pennsylvania. So, we then headed to the PA DMV....where we were told she could not get a Pennsylvania drivers license until she had established residency. Even with paperwork from the townhouse she'd bought, she still needed an actual piece of mail with her name addressed on it. Seriously ????

So, we returned to the Nisson dealership, so see what they would suggest she do, given her unique situation. It turns out our best option (short of the husband and I leaving our car with her and flying back to Iowa) was to register the (Pennsylvania) car in Iowa, so it would match her current Iowa driver license...and after she has moved into her house (after the inspection, closing, etc.) she could then apply for her PA driver license and then transfer the registration of her (still to be purchased) vehicle. Kind of lot of extra leg work on our part, but that's what our situation required (and we had - foolishly- thought it would just be easier to wait to buy a car in PA to avoid having to transfer the title and registration...ha!).

So, after much negotiation, stress, and problem-solving, we arrived at a happy solution (albeit not the most convenient). The daughter will be starting her new job, with a vehicle to drive, and a townhouse to call her own. Not bad for someone who graduated from college less than two months ago.

Her first house and car...welcome to adulthood!

Saturday morning started with a 5:00AM departure for the husband and myself. We said our see-ya-soons (along with several hugs and many tears), and we began our journey back to Iowa.

There was a beautiful sunrise...


There may have been some caffeine involved...

And, as we drove through Indianapolis, I couldn't help but admire the skyline. There were several tall buildings, and I couldn't help but think to myself, "Yep. I could climb those!"

We arrived back in our driveway around 8:30PM Saturday night. I had everything unpacked, did a few things on the computer, and headed to bed.

Sunday, I finally laced up the (dormant) running shoes and headed out for a few miles. After spending the past four days cooped up in a car, my legs felt like lead. The temps were warm and humid, but it felt great to get some running done.

Hills. Heat. Humidity.

In other news:

While in Hanover, we were told the Famous Hot Weiner was THE place to go for lunch....so we checked it out. And it was awesome!

Can you say, "onions?"

I received a hydration vest pack recently, so this is my next item to test out and review. Stay tuned, this is gonna be fun!

So, that's a wrap. Crazy stuff, huh! Let me just say...stress is over-rated (as is sleep).

Have you ever relocated to a new state and had problems with getting a driver's license or registering a vehicle? How old were you when you bought your first home? Ever eaten at The Famous Hot Weiner?

As usual, I'm linking up with the ever-awesome Holly from HoHo Runs and Tricia MissSippiPiddlin for the Weekly Wrap. Do head over and see what everyone's been up to!!