Running to the beat of my own drum

...or the foot strike of my own Brooks, or something...


Hello, hello, whomever is still there! Time for a blog update! It's been a while, but when you have a running blog and you are taking a break from racing, it is a bit hard to find topics to blog about. At least for me it is. And since I deleted a post I had already written and I want to duck out for a short run before picking up my darling boy from after school, a bullet point update it is:

* Things are good! This is the first summer in many when I am not training for anything. I usually spend my summers scrambling to find time to fit in long runs (in preparation for a fall marathon) in addition to family activities. This summer, I decided I wanted a break from all the scrambling. It hasn't been easy, I've had thoughts of being lost without a training plan, and considered training for shorter distances. But after a few weeks, I kind of like it:)

* I am still running. In fact, I needed a goal so I decided to work toward a 100 day running streak. Just for fun! I am at day 69, averaging about 9 miles/day. My longest streak before was two winters ago, 85 days, 9.2 miles/day. So yes, I am running some 60-65 miles per week*. But the thing is, I run them how I want to and when I want to, if I want to. I do a lot of trail running, a lot of listening to podcasts and a lot of talking with Chris. I run without a watch and pretty easy unless someone passes me and then I have to catch them back:). While my fast twitch muscle fibers are atrophying, I enjoy being  fully immersed into family fun this summer, without being overly tired or concerned about fitting my runs in. Coming Fall, things will change. Maybe. Potentially. Too far along to think about. But that's for another blog post.

* I am also vicariously training through a dear friend, who decided to put herself in my training hands. I think she had no idea what she'd get herself into, ha! Writing workouts and watching Jenn commit to them even when they seemed overwhelming on paper has been so wonderful for me. I love running, writing workouts, trying to figure out the progression that can lead to great things...I truly believe that pushing the body hard is the only way to get faster. No shortcuts, no 7 minute abs, no BS. Jenn has been inspirational in how she managed to run some super hard workouts while working full time, mothering 3 busy kids and nourishing one of the strongest marriages I have ever heard off. It's been interesting balancing the friend and the coach and had to make myself move away from the computer at times when I would read about her days and think how in this world would she be able to complete hard tempos at 7pm after being up since 5 or so for work and kids. But she has always completed them. She might have swore at me a little (or a lot) during those runs, but she got the work done, ha! And no matter what will happen on race day, she is PRing every workout so far!

* I have a lot of adventures planned for the summer: hikes in the White Mountains, long bike rides with Petru, a white water rafting trip (an old favorite of mine) with Petru (his first), camping trips, visits to my MIL's house on the beach, lots of barbecues,  a fun girls' trip, and a birthday celebration in Paris in early fall, just me and Chris (and mom for a few days).

* I am still reading blogs, mostly on my phone on the way to and from work. I know what you are ALL up to (those who posts, I often wonder about this fastie and what she is up to...) and am so excited for all the races you have planned.

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* I don't recommend a running streak. I would not keep one up if I were training. Since my runs are easy and very easy these days, I can get away with the streak.