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Well, truth be told, I'd probably be drinking something other than coffee (like a chai latte'), but I would be basking in the heavenly aroma of the coffee shop. As much as I love the smell of coffee, the taste of it is not my gig... but with all kinds of options for hot beverages, I'll never pass up a chance for a coffee meet-up.
Even better than the atmosphere of said coffee shop, though, is the company of friends. Whether we are laughing about life, commiserating on recent achievements, sighing over frustrations or planning our next runcation, we'd have a lot of fun simply just chatting with each other.
If we were having coffee...
I would share how much I have been enjoying this post-marathon recovery. Although the DOMS showed up at a weird time (MUCH later than anticipated), they didn't stick around for long. I have been tagging along with the hubby, in the wee hours, as he heads to the gym. He's been doing his workouts inside and I have been outside, either walking with Max or doing short runs around the well-lit Grinnell College campus. No complaints. No regrets. Life is good!
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| Early mornings! |
If we were having coffee...
I could tell you about my October fitness. In prepping for the Cannonball Marathon (and the IMT Des Moines Half Marathon, eight days later), I took a brief sabbatical from strength-training and HIIT workouts and focused on easy-paced running in the final days of taper. I also did a lot of walking. My total mileage for October tallied at 90 for running (and 56 for walking). I have been doing an insane amount of foam rolling and more stretching than usual....maybe that's why the DOMS weren't too much of an issue following the marathon.
If we were having coffee...
I'd praise the magic of dry shampoo. One day, my hair was in dire need (like, it had been a good three days since the last thorough cleaning LOL). Instead, I putzed around on the computer for too long and didn't have time to wash the hair before heading to work. I sprayed my roots, fluffed, scrunched, added a few beachy waves with the flat iron (another magical tool, BTW) and...PRESTO! I was able to get one more day out of my dirty, icky hair.
If we were having coffee...
I would tell you about the "racing hangover" I'm currently entertaining. Have you ever experienced anything similar? After spending the greater part of the summer (and much of the fall) prepping for the marathon (and a few random half marathons as well)...my calendar now feels barren. I need some time off from heavy mileage, obviously, so I came up with some goals for November to focus on instead. Daily planking (5 minutes), daily push-ups (50), daily leg lifts (100, each leg) and daily stretching (as well as foam rolling). Sound good?
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| Max has been my main walking partner |
I'd praise the magic of dry shampoo. One day, my hair was in dire need (like, it had been a good three days since the last thorough cleaning LOL). Instead, I putzed around on the computer for too long and didn't have time to wash the hair before heading to work. I sprayed my roots, fluffed, scrunched, added a few beachy waves with the flat iron (another magical tool, BTW) and...PRESTO! I was able to get one more day out of my dirty, icky hair.
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| My hair had so much dry shampoo in it, it didn't even move in the wind |
I would tell you about the "racing hangover" I'm currently entertaining. Have you ever experienced anything similar? After spending the greater part of the summer (and much of the fall) prepping for the marathon (and a few random half marathons as well)...my calendar now feels barren. I need some time off from heavy mileage, obviously, so I came up with some goals for November to focus on instead. Daily planking (5 minutes), daily push-ups (50), daily leg lifts (100, each leg) and daily stretching (as well as foam rolling). Sound good?
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| new month = new goals |
If we were having coffee...
I'd finally admit to liking a season other than summer. True, hands-down, summer is my favorite. Living in the Midwest, though, we get to experience all four seasons and their individual nuances. Autumn really is beautiful; we just haven't really had any autumn-like weather until recently. It got really cold really soon ...sorry, temps in the below-freezing category are not autumn-like, at least not in September. And all that excess rain (when the temps ventured above 33F) was not enjoyable either.
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| Autumn is simply too beautiful to stay inside |
If we were having coffee...
Finally, I'd admit that my mind has been a whirlwind of all things marathon. Granted, there were several miles on that hilly course in North Carolina where I considered never doing another 26.2 endeavor. Ever. Then, I crossed the finish line. Within minutes (instead of days or weeks), I felt an incredible excitement wash over me. I had battled to the finish line and I'd come out victorious for the fight in getting there. How could I NOT want to experience that ever again? Let's just say that I have chosen a couple of marathons for 2019 (neither of which, though, are open for registration yet). I am over-the-moon, beyond excited! Stay tuned....
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| approaching the finish line of my 8th marathon... |
So, that's probably enough to share with you for now. Besides, I've done all the talking...now it's your turn! How was your month? Does it actually feel like autumn, or are you still entertaining summer? Or have you catapulted into winter-like temps? Any races already registered & paid for on your 2019 calendar?
Since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm linking this with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date.
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I'm also linking this with Meranda and Lacey for the Friday with Fairytales and Fitness link-up.
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Let's connect : Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter
I love your November plans, I think they're great. I'm in prehab for my ultra, training starts January, so I'm trying to stretch and/or roll 5 days out of 7 in November.
ReplyDeleteI'm aching to know which marathons you've got your eye on! I need to decide on one in prep for the ultra and I'm vacillating between London (well, I didn't get in on the ballot but I've gone in for our club ballot for two places), Manchester (third time lucky to actually do it??), Edinburgh (hot, so good prep for the ultra in July) and Liverpool (rock'n'roll: opportunity for extra medal if I do the 5k then the marathon). I can't decide until after our club draw in early December.
Have a good November!
You have a lot of fun options for races!! This is the most I have stretched/rolled in a training cycle (and recovery from the training). I really think it made a huge difference for me...now if I can just continue doing so, right?
DeleteLooks like some good plans! I am starting to look ahead to 2019 but as always, I'll just wing it...with my health, I can't plan too far in advance.
ReplyDeletePlanning ahead has its advantages, but that also throws in the stress of what to do if/when obstacles (aka--injuries) enter the scene. Never a dull moment...
DeleteUmmmm yes....I've registered and paid for a couple of marathons....on 2 continents that are not North America. Excited doesn't even begin to cover it.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed! you have an exciting 2019 on tap!!!
DeleteLove the term "racing hangover". Your fitness regimen sounds amazing. I could never hold a plank for 5 minutes! I am up to 3 1/2 minutes (on my forearms), but 5???? Wow! I have 2 cold, snowy (probably) trail races lined up for January, but nothing until then.
ReplyDeleteWell, although I can hold a 5-minute forearm plank, I will not be doing that everyday in November ;-) I'm shooting for 5 cumulative planking minutes each day...but some will have 5-minute planks. I didn't know what else to call this post-racing thing, other than a hangover LOL
DeleteI love your November plans, and yes, I've experience the marathon hangover, lol
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to look ahead to 2019 but my biggest struggle now is if I'm going to do a marathon. I feel like I will plan things around that once that big decision is decided.
That's smart planning...a marathon takes so much time to prepare for. I've always had other races to filter in/around the training plan(s), and that takes some strategy to make it all work. Keep me posted!!
DeleteWe didn't have much spring or fall this year and the rain! Don't even get me started. Several times every single week for MONTHS. I am a fair weather hiker so haven't been able to get my hiking fix.
ReplyDeleteDry shampoo really doesn't do anything for my hair (if only it controlled frizz!).
I'm in for almost-daily foam rolling. I've been good so far, but i know at some point I'll miss a day & that's okay. It's the goal that's important, not so much the execution!
Our spring was a no-show here, too...and it appeared that autumn was following suit. You know I love summer, but even I prefer a transition to it LOL And winter...UGH. It's a given I need a transition period for that as well.
DeleteWow. Another marathon. I can't even pull the trigger on ONE.
ReplyDeleteI only wash my hair once a week. I think it's ok. I have thick curly so....
I don't even own a stick or foam roller. My bad.
Lots of rain here. I don't use the treadmill so I have to skip runs... :(
I have fine hair,but it's bone-straight and I have a lot of it LOL Somehow, the dry shampoo works, though I'm still trying to figure it out
DeleteNo races here so far for 2019. I love dry shampoo too but I can only use if if I go a day without running and dont want to wash it. I could never run and not wash my hair the same day.
ReplyDeleteIt actually works best for me when my hair is gunky from running, believe it or not. I usually have to clip part of it up or back, though, unless I do the beachy wave thing.
DeleteYou had such a great racing season - I admire your consistency and "get it done" attitude! It's been great following along and I can't wait to see which marathon(s) you pick for 2019.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Michelle ;-) I appreciate all the encouragement and support. Stay tuned...there's a lot of exciting stuff coming in 2019 ;-)
DeleteLove your purple nailpolish!
ReplyDeleteDry shampoo and flat iron were my savior when my hair was longer. I'm trying not to murder my hair again so avoiding flatiron when I can
I think part of the reason I'm OK with the treadmill is there are days where I just want to run and if I can't run outdoors I'd be grumpier with no run than I would be with a treadmill run.
Fall is my favorite, hands down
ha ha ha...I often am grumpier if I run on the treadmill than just stewing about not running at all ;-)
DeleteI love fall running! I hardly have done any this fall, it seems like, much of it has been tapering or recovering from Chicago. I've had a weird niggle in my foot off and on since the marathon so I'm taking the recovery extra easy.
ReplyDeleteI plan on doing the 30k Paris EcoTrail in March but haven't signed up yet. And...I may have signed up for a spring marathon...but like you said, stay tuned!
Ohhhh, those sound exciting!!! I have yet to tackle a spring marathon...I've done Grandma's twice (mid-June), and the spring long-distance runs are NOT my gig because the weather is so iffy in Iowa. I can't imagine doing them in the winter weather, because that weather is crazy, too LOL But, I am always eager to try new things ;-)
DeleteMarathon hangover - CHECK! Totally need / want to make new goals but after speaking to the physio and osteopath that I work with (because I have still a lot of pain after my running fall on Sunday) , apparently I have bruised my ribs and have to adjust my plan before it's even made. Yes, only I can bruise ribs whilst running. I love your plan though. I want to do something similar, like I did in May - something every day to keep active and to strengthen up my core, bum and hips.
ReplyDeleteI would tell you that fall is actually my favorite season, but we had quite warm weather late september/ early october (like record high temps) and then suddenly the temperatures plunged. I've been having a lot of trouble adjusting. Peri-menopause doesn't help :D
I would tell you that I'm already signed up for Liverpool Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon for 2019 and I'm going to go ahead and throw my ballot in the ring for Chicago. I hope I get in - Ron's already in so it'd be nice to run it too. Fingers crossed. I'm not sure what else I'll do. I want to get stronger and leaner the next 6 months and then commit to other things.
your hair turned out great with the dry shampoo! I shampoo mine about 1 - 2 times a week. it's too thick and insane to deal with every day. so at some point it's going up in a ponytail or bun :D
Like I said, summer is my fav, but I like autumn....but not when the temps plummet so quickly LOL Momma N needs to play nice! Best of luck with Chicago!!! That would be awesome for you and Ron to both get to do that. I have to laugh at your comment about the hair...my hair is fine and straight, but I have a lot of it...and I have to have it knotted up in a messy bun AT LEAST one day a week, too. It doesn't need daily washing, but the non-wash days can be tricky.
DeleteYour hair looks pretty great especially for being "dirty".
DeleteI'm probably doing the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half on Mother's Day weekend. It's my favorite.
No Fall here in Southern California. I think it was in the 80's today! Hopefully it will cool off this week like my weather app says. ;-)
I don't have any races on tap until December!
ReplyDeleteI really can't go a day without washing my fine hair. Maybe if it were longer, but it's just Pffflttt after I sleep on it. ;-)
I have a couple of December options, but nothing in November other than our local turkey trot (that I help organize...so it doesn't really feel like a race). I have real fine hair, too...but my hairdresser insists that I have a lot of it LOL, so I guess there's enough there to make up for the wimpy individual strands
DeleteI won't admit to how many extra no-wash days I've eked out with the power of dry shampoo! I confess I probably like my hair better that way than freshly washed.
ReplyDeleteha ha ha...this particular one I mentioned was several days with no real shampoo...and there may have been a sweaty, early morning run involved LOL (It was BAD)
DeleteI feel like PA and the midwest have similar weather. We do experience all four seasons, but often we only get a couple "true" fall days with Summer and winter days sprinkled into fall! For instance, On Tuesday I ran in tights, long sleeves, and my fleece vest. It was a winter one. Then yesterday I ran in shorts and a tank! Total summer! Lets see what today holds...
ReplyDeleteI think Iowa and PA have very similar weather. Our oldest daughter (in Hanover) has told us more than once that she wishes the weather was a little warmer than Iowa LOL
DeleteI don't drink coffee much (I'm usually all for chai lattes too!) but it does smell good!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the DOMS didn't hang around for too long! I'm definitely experiencing that right now after the climbing I did yeseterday!
The DOMS are tricky!
DeleteI'm like you, as much as I LOVE the aroma of coffee, I just don't like its bitter taste. Can't wait to hear which marathons you're focusing on for 2019!
ReplyDeleteYes, I LOVE the aroma of coffee,,,but (unfortunately) it stops there LOL
DeleteDry shampoo is the best kept secret it really does work! The smell of coffee is quite amazing. Glad to hear you are feeling recovered and back to normal. That is a lot of mileage! Thanks for linking up for coffee!
ReplyDelete