Phew, we made it to the end of May. It was a CRAZY month, starting with two weeks of non-stop school activities, and ending with a week of laid-back vibes. Oh, and there was a little race thrown in there as well! Thanks as always to Marcia for opening up her Runfessional. Let’s get started!
The first thing I would runfess is, I’ve been walking all week and enjoying it immensely! So much easier to get out the door (compared to running.) No elaborate warmup, or needing the right clothes, or accessories (oh, my flip belt isn’t clean? That’s okay, I’ll just hold my phone in my hand!)
Every time I think “you know, I feel like I could run a little” some little niggle reminds me that no, I just ran a 50K. I’ll stick to walking this week.
On the subject of races… I’ll runfess that yes, I’m already lurking on Ultrasignup to find the next one. There are a couple in October in central Florida, put on by the same race directors as the one I just did. I’m VERY tempted. But… that means I would be doing long runs in the intense summer heat. I’m still debating.
My last runfession is definitely more of a “confession.” My son and husband are out of town this week (in LA for a trumpet convention) and… I’m really enjoying it. I know! I’m always ranting and raving about how much I love having my son home, but it’s actually really nice with just my daughter and me.
It’s so quiet! There’s hardly any laundry, or dishes, and only half the mess. And, dinners have been extremely simple (living the dream!)
Also… for whatever reason, my daughter and I have been getting along GREAT. It seems like she’s somehow less agitated when fewer people are here. Now that it’s just the two of us, we’re laughing together, she’s telling me stories from school, and it’s reminding me of the days when she was younger, before the pre-teen and teen drama started.
How is the month of May ending for you?
Do you train in the heat of summer for a fall race?
Top photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
32 Responses
Oh what a cute throwback kid pic!!!!
Thank you Sarah! It’s funny to see my son with long hair and braces.
Aw, enjoy the one-on-one time with your daughter! I wonder if she’s more relaxed with school out too?
With just my husband and my tendency to work too late, I’ve almost stopped fixing dinner. I made spaghetti this week and just about had to dust off the pots.
What do you eat when you’re working late? I’m just curious (or, nosy.)
My daughter actually likes being is school, weirdly. Now we’re starting summer and she’s worried she’ll be bored.
I runfess that I used to enjoy the few days that I would take off after big races and just walk. Casual walking is the bomb. I would never want it to be my only form of exercise, but I love it in addition to everything else that I do.
And I’m right there in the confessional with you that I love the break when the fam is away or when some of the fam is away. I wouldn’t trade my crazy family for anything, but I do enjoy the brief breaks.
Yes, I would be sad if my husband and son moved to CA forever! It will be nice to have them back- but a break was great too.
I am really glad to read that you are taking proper rest and recovery after your race. Enjoy that time with your daughter. That age is so weird with girls. I felt like my daughter took so much out on me perhaps about her anxiety about going to college. Now, we are besties. You will both make it through
Yes, that’s a good way to describe it- my daughter takes a lot out on me. I try not to take it personally though. And I like the fact that you and your daughter are now besties. There’s hope!
I’m so glad you’re having a good time with your daughter! That sounds really special. And good for you for taking the time to recover! 50 k is a lot of k!
I’m laughing a little, Nicole.. “special” is one word to describe her.
I totally understand your dilemma about signing up for a fall race! After training through the past two summers for races, I told myself I wouldn’t do that again this year…and then I signed up for a trail marathon on my birthday in late July and got into the lottery for an ultra in October! So I’ll be struggling through long runs again all summer long, but at least where I live I have the option to go up to the mountains where it’s at least 20 degrees cooler.
I’m glad you and your daughter are having a good time together!
Okay, reading your comment has almost convinced me to sign up for an October race! If you can do it, I can do it. I hope. What is your October race?
It’s the Canyon de Chelly Ultra, which is held on sacred Navajo land in northern Arizona. Usually non-Navajo people have to have a tour guide to be able to access this land so this race holds a lottery and I got in on my first try! So I figured that’s a sign that I have to do it, even though originally I was looking forward to a break after my July race, but now I’m excited about this bonus race!
That race sounds amazing! How far is it?
It’s a 55K, so about 34 miles and apparently a lot of sand, which I’m actually excited about haha!
What does your gut say about October? I’d go with your gut!
And I love when the home dynamic changes. One person being away (if it’s NOT my husband because we do that all the time) changes EVERYTHING! This weekend, our daughter is away for almost 48 hours and while it feels odd, it is also pretty awesome to have a change of pace/dynamics!
Yes, it really is nice to change up the dynamic. Maybe we should all take turns going away this summer, ha ha…
It’s going to be just me and my kid and the puppies for the weekend and it does feel quieter already. Not sure if I like it or not yet… But it’s certainly different!
I’ve heard that daughters tend to be tough on their moms while they’re in their teens because they trust we’ll still love them. I’ve heard that they understand their moms better in their twenties and can become best friends then… I don’t know if these statements are true, but I’m holding on to them 🙂 .
Yes, everyone tells me we’ll be close someday. I’m not sure if I believe it… but this week has given me some hope.
I love the flashback photos!! So cute! And I have found that 1:1 time with Taco is far more enjoyable than my 2:2 or 1:2! So I can see how it’s nice to have a quieter house and to have more time to connect w/ Angie!
Our summers aren’t NEARLY as hot as yours are! It gets hot and humid here but it’s not terrible and late spring/summer is definitely peak training season here. Back when I ran marathons, I would NEVER sign up for a spring or even June marathon because you’d have to train through our dangerously cold winters and I just absolutely LOATHED running in subzero temps. It requires so much equipment/specialized clothing and even with great clothing it’s still going to be pretty miserable out there. So I run consistently from Mar/April until it snows in Nov/Dec and then I shift my focus to strength training and HIIT workouts and I stopped running. I did try to run through the winter 2 winters ago but I fell 3 times so I had a sort of “come to Jesus” talk with myself and decided not to run when there is snow/ice on the ground because the risk of a fall is too high and I do NOT NEED a broken bone right now! Ha. Not that there is ever a good time for that but it would be horrific with young children.
All that said, I’d follow your gut but be very realistic with yourself about whether you really want to train through the hottest season of the year. It might be a good time to focus on cross training and other activities and then start to train in the late summer/early fall whenever it’s not so wickedly hot/humid!
May is ending on a nice note for me. I haven’t traveled the last 2 weeks and I don’t travel next week so I feel like I have all of this extra time. And it’s good for the family for me to be around more after my heavy travel in late April/early May. That cadence of travel was NOT GOOD.
Yay- glad you’re feeling more relaxed these days. And, when I lived up north I ran outside all winter long and didn’t think twice about it. I don’t remember ever falling, but if I did I probably just jumped right back up and continued on. Now that my bones are older, I would be MUCH more cautious. But luckily I don’t have to worry about that.
I think I’ll wait a little before signing up for the next race- but I’m seriously considering an October one!
Enjoy all that walking! As you know, I do a fair share of walking & love it! I’m looking forward to short/mid-distance running after this weekend. I do have a half in October, but that won’t require much for long mileage until late August/September. But, I love the summer heat, so the long-distance running wasn’t much of an issue for me. That’s awesome you have a week with just your daughter. Those teen years are tough (on the kids and their parents). I’m
Yes, I’ve actually thought about you this week on my walks. You would definitely like our weather (or WOULD you- I wonder if there’s a limit to your love of heat?!)
Our heat is not your heat but yes I have 2 fall halfs and a full… but now I feel like I’m on break.
I go to trail runs on Thursday but I walk… it is so enjoyable!!! I’m not tempted to run at all.
I do enjoy when I’m all alone at home.
A break is good! By mid-July (I think that’s when you said you start marathon training) you should be ready for those long runs again.
So glad you are listening to your instincts!
Is there a December ultra you could do, and then focus on shorter stuff over the summer? Summer of speed & strength is going to be my theme 🙂 That said if the ultra is just irresistible – I know you can do it! I don’t think the heat would be any worse than what you just went through!!
Also love the throwback pic and YES somehow 1:1 my kids are so easy!!
Yes, there are some great races in December- the problem is, it’s such a busy month here, it would be hard to get away for a weekend. I also wnt a summer of speed and strength… and long runs. Ha, I can’t resist, I just want to do it all. Maybe that’s why I’m not getting stronger or faster… hmmm.
May is always hard.
I’m sure it’s nice to have some quieter time and some one-on-one time. A has been at his girlfriend’s the last few days helping her move, and it’s been nice to have the house almost to myself. Almost. But I am a person who really craves alone time, so it only makes sense.
I can’t wait to see what race you choose next!
I have to train through the summer heat for fall/winter races because otherwise I’d have to race in the summer and that would be worse LOL
I am glad you’re taking a proper break after your 50k. It’s wise to not jump back into training again right away. How’s your calf feeling?
So nice you get to enjoy the house with just your daughter. I know you love having your husband and son there, but sometimes it’s still nice to have the house a bit more empty 🙂
I can totally understand why the “heat of the summer” thing makes you hesitate. I’ve trained through many summers for fall marathons, but not in FL and not for 50ks. Glad you are enjoying some time with just your daughter and that she seems to be enjoying it as well! You know how fast it all goes!
I try not to go outside during the day in the summer. It’s just that our summer is a lot shorter than yours!
Do you and your daughter have fun mother/daughter plans for your time alone or are you just enjoying the lack of testosterone?!
Yay for walks – sometimes it’s nice to meander without a specific pace or miles to hit! I’m glad you’re allowing your body to recover.
And hooray for having an easier time with your daughter while the boys are away. My nephew is the same age as your daughter and I can tell you, they are having just as much “fun” with him, haha. Teenage years are ROUGH.