Hello Friends!! It’s Friiiiiiday!!! Who’s excited? This girl! Let’s chat about what I’m obsessing over this week! I think I have come to terms with my Runner’s Guilt. It’s a priority. Just because I bought a house, doesn’t mean everything needs to be done right now. There is plenty of time to settle and nest. It’s just the Planner aspect of me that wants everything to look fantastic yesterday.
Here’s the top five things I’m crushing on this week!
1. This song. It has so much meaning for many different reasons. I think it can be personally inspiring and uplifting to let you know that even in the darkest times, you can get through anything. Whether that’s a personal set back or mile 19 of a marathon. I have a tendency to put this song on to remind me to push through eventually things will get better.
2. Clifshot Electrolyte Powder. Anyone else here subscribe to StrideBox? Love. This was a sample in my May or June box. I tried it out and love it. It’s refreshing and tasty without tasting sugary or too artificial. btw… I also love Clif Shot Blocks especially the margarita and strawberry flavor. More on that that in another post, it looks like those are going to be my marathon fuel, but I’m still testing it out.
YUM YUM YUM
3. Reef Flip Flops – I picked up my reefs a few months ago but thought they deserved a mention. If you’re anything like me, you need to get out of your sneakers the minute you finish a workout or race. These shoes are a welcome reprieve. They have a pillowy cushion on the sole that provides much needed support AND they have an arch! I swear by the Reef Dreams model. Although, I have been wearing Reef Flip Flops since middle school and I’ve never had a pair that I didn’t like. And fun fact since it’s summer Marshall’s or TJMaxx sometimes carry them!
It’s a win that I now have all my toenails… but one did grow back different. I will never be the same.
4. The Real Housewives of Anything… I can’t help it I’m addicted to Bravo. I cannot stop watching all of the Real Housewives. I mean LegGATE! I watch these shows in shock and awe. They’re the perfect shows to tune out to.
So that happened and I can’t help but watch every second!
5. Disney Planning – I know that my Disney Race-cation for Wine and Dine is like 3+ months away, but I’ve already planned the entire thing using the My disney experience website. Dining reservations, Airplane, Hotel, and special event tickets have been purchased. Thankfully, my husband and I are traveling with RockyMtnPearls and her husband. The only person I know who is more of a planner than me is Mrs. RockyMtnPearls! We have this entire thing ready to go! Now we’re just working out costumes, cause you know costumes at a RunDisney event are a must!
Yup… that’s what we look like. Hubby has an unnatural obsession with turkey legs too.
Make your own Disney Family here –> Click here
What are you plans this weekend? Do you have a Stridebox Subsription, what’s your fav find? Are you a HUGE RunDisney fan too? What’s your fav reality TV show/what should I be watching and haven’t yet? Do you have a song you use to inspire you? What fuels are you testing out or want to test out for your upcoming races?
Sometimes you go for a run and you feel invigorated, inspired and unstoppable. You know that your goals will be achieved and all of your dreams will come true. (BTW… I love endorphins)
I am invincible and the world is my oyster
Other times you go for a run or exercise and your legs are heavy, your eyes itch, and there seems to be a shifty squirrel who keeps following you around. Days like this you wonder why you even bother.
I am one with this couch.
Training as of recent has been a delightful combination of WTF have I gotten myself into again…. and I feel like unicorns with sparkles are metaphorically running with me. (Wouldn’t it be awesome if they really were?!??) Unfortunately, training took a back seat to dental work, buying a house, moving, and now unpacking. However when I do get in those workouts it’s amazing. It’s just getting those workouts in and not letting all the distractions get in the way of my priorities.
I don’t know about all of you out there, but do you ever have mixed emotions about life getting in the way of training? Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one who gets bummed that their long run on Saturday didn’t happen cause they spent all of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday moving (okay well I know that’s a very specific example). What do you do justify taking more time for yourself to get those added workouts in? Sometimes, I feel like I’m being selfish by requiring this extra time. Am I the only one? Running can be a very solo activity and that’s how I like to train. By requiring this time away from my friends, family, house, and life in general I feel like I’m being selfish.
Does taking time to run make me selfish?
So, how do you deal with runner’s guilt? Do you ever have running mood swings? How do you ensure that training is a priority? Do you ever get upset with life gets in the way of training as much as you’d like?
This is my last week of being walking distance to my favorite trail, the Mt. Vernon Trail. I move into my house this Friday (that’s tomorrow BTW!!). (Ugh packing….) So naturally, I had to squeeze in a few last runs and a bicycling trip with a friend of mine. Said friend is trying to convince me to do a triathlon. I think her peer pressure is working… I want to do a triathlon. You heard it here people. For years, my mother has been urging me to stop running, try something different, let’s do a bike trip. She’s just worried about the crappy knees we have in my family. So…. in an effort to give triathlons a try… (HA!) I went for a bike ride. It was the Mt. Vernon Trail, my trail.
yeah… i guess it’s alright
Look at that sky!
No I”m not having a quarter life crisis because i’m buying a house and my knees are in perpetual pain
My friend, Christine and I met up at 11:30am on Sunday and headed out. It’s roughly 5 miles to Old Town Alexandria via the Mt. Vernon Trail from my apartment. We made it to Starbucks without a hitch. Once at Starbucks, we hung out for hours and caught up. Girls need their girl time! After our catch up session we began to head back to my house for dinner. Well….. all I had to eat that day was applesauce and iced tea. I knew I forgot about something. On the 5 miles back, I wasn’t feeling so hot. We made it to Crystal City then things took a turn for the worse. All of a sudden I didn’t feel like me. I had to get off the bike, I needed to sit down, my vision was fading and I couldn’t really hear. That’s right I couldn’t hear and my vision was fading out. t had felt this before…. i’m about to faint. I took out my emergency GU and downed it. Then I clued my friend in on what was happening. She knew. Christine ran the Seaside Half Marathon with me, where I fainted at the finish line.
Yep, that’s about right.
After sitting, ingesting a GU, and drinking some water I got up to make the journey home (all 5-6 blocks). Once outside my apartment, I was feeling weak again. Christine took out her emergency purse Gu’s (yes, I hang out with runners) and I ingested those in a hurry. In short I was a mess and I was scared. After taking in 3 emergency GU’s in total I was functioning again and wasn’t worried about fainting. Ugh mess…. I think between exercising, work, and pursuing a home the stress got to me and I’ve become quite forgetful. I’m hoping once we move in this weekend, things will become status quo again. I miss the norm. 😦
I’m one moment away from running through the streets
Have you ever felt light-headed after exercising? Do you have a trail that you’d miss if you moved away (even if it’s just 12 miles)? Have you done a triathlon? Do you love them? What’s have you been up to recently?
We’ve officially entered the start of marathon training season. The countdown is on for my personal Everest, the Marine Corps Marathon. That means training becomes the number one priority and I officially become a pain in everyone’s butt. The last 2 weeks of training have been great. I’ve decided to create a program by combining a few different marathon training plans together to work with my personal needs.
Sorry, can’t I have a training run…. story of my life
My weekly breakout is below:
Monday: Rest or Light Cross Training
Tuesday: Maintenance Miles
Wednesday: Cross Training
Thursday: Maintenance Miles
Friday: REST!
Saturday: The Long Run
Sunday: Fun Cross training 🙂
Due to my history of knee issues, I have built ample cross training into my schedule to help build strength and utilize different muscle groups. Marathon training plans that consists strictly of miles, usually do more harm than good for me.
Unfortunately, I have been put on the injury list this weekend. Nothing serious, but this morning I had to have one of my back molars extracted… ew. Thankfully, the surgeon who performed my wisdom teeth removal was available and squeezed me in this morning. Right now, I’m home trying to eat ice cream, swapping out gauze, binge watch Bizarre Foods America, and just relaxing. I should be back to the trails in a few days, but for now I’m just resting.
Oh teeth. Why do you constantly betray me?
Are you training for anything? Do you have a training plan? What’s your favorite kind of cross training? Do your friends or family ever get frustrated during training season? Do you also have major dental issues?
First let me say sorry for being so MIA this month. But I have a good reason!!! My hubby and I are buying a house! Yes we will be homeowners next month! So between house hunting and the whole process, I have had no time for anything not housing research related. So I’ve been googling school districts, safety stats, housing materials, and local running trails (c’mon!) in our neighborhood like it was my job. As soon as we locked our home down, I have spent my spare hours drooling over furniture and paint swatches. I’ve officially become that person. Lowe’s is no longer my least favorite place in the entire world. I mean it’s still not my fav but, I now see it’s merits.
This will be me for the foreseeable future.
So here’s what I have been crushing on:
1. Perfect Fit Protein Powder – I usually hate protein powder. There’s weird additives, it tastes funny, it smells funny, and so on. So when I saw the Tone It Up ladies had their own brand I was curious. Their protein powder is totally awesome. According to them it’s:
- Delicious, Plant-Based Brown Rice Protein Powder
- Certified Organic, Gluten Free, Vegan and Kosher
- Perfect Fit can serve as a flour substitute in many baked goods.
- Mixes easily with water for smoothies!
- We formulated Perfect Fit with you in mind – delivering 15 grams of delicious Organic, Vegan, Raw protein per serving. In addition, Perfect Fit is Fat Free and does not contain cane or beet sugar, gluten, dairy, lactose, soy, corn, any of the 8 major allergens, or GMOs.
Chocolate is my slow jam
I have used it in smoothies, mixed in beverages, and baking! Personally I’m a fan of Perfect Fit, Chocolate Coconut Water, Acai Sambazon, and a hint of water. This hits the spots perfectly after a run or workout.
2. KT Tape – Everyone has their own issues with different ailments. I have used this on my knees in the past however, with the weather heating up I don’t want to wear compression sleeves. Turns out there’s a way to tape your shins to simulate compression sleeves. It’s awesome. I wear the nude color and it practically blends in to my skin. You can’t even see it in photographs unless you’re looking.
Love their instagram account
3. Mama Chia Squeeze Packs – YUM! As a desk jockey, I get that 3pm funk where I’m tired and all my spreadsheets start to blend together. This little snack tastes delicious and helps to fight off hunger until dinner time. Also it’s so good for you! I have tried the Green Magic and Strawberry Banana flavors. Fun Fact: It’s sold at Costco (love me some savings… I’m on a Budget)
4. Sleep – Yeah, I said it sleep. Sleep is my new favorite. I made a stunning discovery. Waking up is so much easier when you’re well rested and not battling the snooze button. I like to stay up late, unfortunately that doesn’t lend itself well to marathon training in the summer while working full-time and buying a house. So for the foreseeable future I am now an early bird.
I support Nap time
I’m having a real #TGIF moment. Btw…. Boy Meets World spin-off Girl Meets World premieres tonight. I don’t know about anyone else, but my 12 year is super excited to see Corey and Topanga again.
Yep. I can’t help but still love them.
How was your week? Training for anything? Do you sleep constantly while training? What’s your favorite recovery drink or protein powder? Are you a KT Tape fan? What’s your take on Chia Seeds?
Part II of the King Crab Challenge was the Baltimore 10-Miler. This is a local race that is well known for their amazing premium. Seriously they wins awards for them. I signed up for this race solely due to it’s status in the King Crab Challenge. Otherwise, I’d heard of it, but it takes a lot to get me to trek out to Baltimore at 5AM. Packet Pick up was held in various areas throughout Maryland the week before the race. Thankfully, the closest pick up (still 45min away) was on my husband’s day off. So he picked up our packets. This only included the bib and some coupons. The premiums for this race are given in the finisher’s area.
I love post race swag. Really makes the item feel earned!
Hubby and I left the house at an ungodly early hour (5:30ish am) and began the trek towards Baltimore. We arrived around 7am. The races wasn’t slated to start till 7:30am so we thought we were in the clear. False. Turns out there was like 1 road to get to our parking and it was packed. This was due to a short traffic light and runners crossing the street about a quarter mile ahead of us. When we finally parked, we quickly tried to collect ourselves and charge across a field to the start. It was already 7:20. Unfortunately, we still had to cross a field, use the restrooms, and get to the start. Thus begins the run to the bathrooms, which took a few minutes to find. Then while in line stalking our watches an announcer comes on with amazing news! The race start was being pushed back 10 minutes due to the traffic entering the park.
Cue the singing angels
There was a collective sigh of relief among the people we saw. This allowed us to take our time and walk over to the starting area. There were no set corrals but they did offer a waved start. Hubby moved up to start with wave 1 and I hung toward the back to start somewhere around 3. It was a bit crowded but nothing out of the regular.
pre-race closeness.
And we’re off!
Now I don’t know about anyone else but when I think of Baltimore I picture 2 very different things….
and
It’s less than glamorous side
So I really didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprisde by how pretty the first 2 or so miles were. Truly Druid Hill Park is just a lovely oasis in this large city. We ran along a lake. As the miles passed the heat and humidity became palpable. You can feel it. That day the humidity was around 70%. Thankfully, the Baltimore 10 Miler folks were adaptable. They added additional water stops that were very much appreciated. There wwas somewhere between 5-8 along the course (I think). All I know is every time I felt that heat creeping back up I saw another water stop. At each stop I was taking 2-3 cups of water. I was only actually drinking one and throwing the other 2 in my face or over my head to cool me down. It worked very well.
So hot…. direct sunlight…
After the first 3 or so miles we did pass a few blocks that reminded me a little too much of The Wire. However, in the Baltimore 10-miler’s defense there were police officers everywhere! There was one at every intersection and several in the street. I felt very safe the entire time. We ran though this neighborhood for about a mile. Then we were quickly diverted back to cute little row houses that lead us to another lake. The course continued around the lake. Since this is an out and back the lake acted as the turn around point. I bumped into my husband who was just finishing the lake portion as I was heading towards it. It was great timing. I let him know that 2 hours was not going to happen. Between the hills of Baltimore and the heat. I was just trying to make sure I didn’t hurt myself at the start of marathon training.
Exploring Balitmore!
Yes, I’m flushed. I was running on the surface of the sun
points for being pretty
The humidity was really getting to me at this point. My entire body was covered in sweat and the water I had used to cool myself down with… (not cute.) I felt like the last 3 miles went on forever and then I realized that was probably due to all the hills, I had been running. Hills are my Kryptonite…
This is what I get for not looking at the route until the day before the race.
Eventually I made it to mile 9. The large hill wasn’t my favorite part. I slowed my pace and just enjoyed the scenery. The volunteers were amazing and the people cheering was awesome. There was a fantastic presence about this race that made the heat much more bearable. There was this little community garden, mini Baltimore exhibit and historic cemetery all within the last half mile. It was actually really cool. At 9.85 miles I saw my hubby on the sidelines ready to cheer me in. He ran with me for about .1 miles then allowed me to triumphantly go through the finishers area solo. We met again at the exit, traded stories, and sweaty hugs.
We did it!! And I kind of have dreadlocks…. (that took forever to get out)
They provided watermelon, power bars, ice cold towels, water, Gatorade, and a few other items in the chute. We made our way over so I could pick up my premium and it was just as glorious as I’d imagined. Afterward, we headed out. They had a huge set up for after race festivities but I just wanted a cold shower, chipotle and Netflix. (Life’s simple pleasures)
The Baltimore 10-miler was a fun local race that was very well done. I would recommend it to anyone. Despite the heat, I enjoyed myself very much. This race to me acted as my official kickoff to marathon training season, so I took my time and treated it like any long training run with LOTS of hill.
Above everything, I really do think that Corrigan Sports knows how to execute a great race! I’m looking forward to the Baltimore Half Marathon in October.
What do you do to deal with humidity? How do you tackle hills? What do you enjoy doing after a race? Have you ever run a race with lots of police officers? What races have you done recently? Do you have throw the water cups in your face like a boss?
Do you Zooma? I feel like that could be a verb, like google…. (I digress). The Zooma Race Series is something I’ve been hearing about for over a year. Last year, my mom and sister did the 10K in Annapolis. I did not cause I was moving from FL to DC that day. But they were so pumped when they came back. They LOVED this race. Naturally my curiosity got the best of me and when my mom asked me to sign up with her, I jumped at the opportunity.
Ehhh… yeah seems about right.
Originally we registered for the half marathon. However, my mom has Lupus and cannot anticipate when a flair up will happen. So about 10 days before the race her doctor advised that she do the 10K not the half. Zooma made it super easy to drop down and they did not charge us a fee (we just couldn’t get a refund for the lower price 10K). They were so awesome about the whole process it was great!
Packet pickup was a breeze. I stopped by the Clarendon, VA Lulumon to pick up our race packets on Thursday before the race. The packets included the bib, feetures socks, a cute race shirt, and a surprise athletic hat the said rRUN. Afterwards, I swung by Whole Foods and purchased waay to many groceries. (note to self no shopping when hungry).
Show me the Guac!
Friday evening after work I drove up to my parents house in Maryland. It was easier to leave with my mom on Saturday morning for the race. We prepped our outfits and gear the night before. On Saturday AM I woke up at 4:30am to start getting ready. We wanted to leave at 5:30 for the 7am start. Also, I was driving, so we built in a few minutes in case I got us lost. Annapolis is a little less than an hour from my parent’s home so we got there a little before 6:30am. Parking was right near the start! That was amazing! We easily parked, used the restrooms and drank some vitaminwater before we noticed people starting to line up. I was most impressed by the how well it was planned so far. No line for parking and smallest line ever for bathroom.
We’re ready to the show on the road
Start and Finish in front of the Navy Stadium (as an army brat I won’t hold that against them)
The race started promptly at 7am. It was great to see all the different kinds of women who were participating in the event. I was definitely inspired by how so many people could come together for some girly time to run 6.2 or 13.1 miles! There were no corrals so we lined up near the 12 min mile line. Not because we meant to but because we got stuck. So we figured we’d stick to the right and let others pass us.
I did not run this race for speed. I did this race for fun. We power walked the entire thing. This is a first for me. But I thoroughly enjoyed speeding for quality time with my mom. It was actually really awesome to have her undivided attention. (I’m the middle of 3 daughters…. I like attention).
Annapolis is beautiful. Even the homes we passed by were adorable. The entire course was made of gently rolling hill that you don’t even notice. The first 2 miles are winding through the town as you make your way to the harbor area.
Why hello beautiful building. I don’t know you purpose.
Gentle downhill into the marina area. Yes, that’s my pink handheld.
I’ll work on taking pics with my iphone… I see a pattern here.
There were plenty of water stops and the weather was gorgeous. We just took in the sights and had a great time. After the marina we breezed past the Naval Academy then circled through town a bit more. Zooma put out these little race signs that I found hilarious!
I currently have 8 toenails!
We started to head back to the Finish. Things got a little confusing when we saw the cut off for the half marathon and some of the speedy runners returning. But everyone figured it out and made plenty of space for all runners/walkers. My ONLY complaint about the entire experience is this little sidewalk you take to get to the finish. I like the sidewalk. Unfortunately, spectators were a little confused and were just chilling in the middle of it. Otherwise AMAZING race!
I will probably be back to run Zooma next year as a half or 10k. Both races seemed to be a blast. The organization is top notch, the shirt’s are adorable, Annapolis is gorgeous, and who doesn’t love spending some quality time with family (or friends).
They even gave out a 10K medal! How Cute!
Have you ever been to Annapolis? Have you ever done a race with your mom or dad or sister or any other family member? Are you also a middle child who needs attention? What’s your fav part of small town races? Have you ever power walked a race?
When my friend asked my husband and I to fly out to Colorado for Memorial Day Weekend we were thrilled to add the BolderBoulder 10k to the list of our activities. Who doesn’t love running in a new place? I forgot about that whole altitude thing and just said YES! We woke up bright and early on Memorial Day Monday to drive the 1hr plus it takes to get from Denver to Boulder. We hit a bit of traffic on the way and parked on the UC Denver Campus. Our friends are veterans of this race so they knew the layout already.
Despite leaving super early and parking efficiently and a crazy quick bathroom break we missed our coral by 5 minutes. But no worries, there’s a million corals at this race! They seem to start at 7am and go every 2-3 minutes until 9:30am. Turns out there are like 50,000 people who run this race. (Who would have known…?)
My hubby and I are on the left and Mrs & Mrs. RockyMtnPearls are on the right.
The race was set up very well and it was pretty easy to walk around. There wasn’t anyone really checking bibs, but everyone was so polite and courteous that it didn’t matter.
Oh Well here we go…
We started a little before 8am. The weather was gorgeous and there was plenty of space. The BolderBoulder had a mile marker and km marker at each point during the race. We saw miles 1-6 and km 1-10. This was amusing the first few and last few. Here’s where it gets real. I don’t run at high altitude. Fun fact: If you’re not use to running at high altitude it’s not easy.
So many bands!
So we took out time and people watched. We checked out costumes, stopped for Doritos and enjoyed the sites all while I struggled to breath. There were tons of great race signs on the course including my favorite race sign ever. 2 people had written 6 mile mark at mile 1. Then they cheered people on by telling them they were winning the race. I found this to be hilarious! I could not stop laughing (which didn’t help breathing). Our running buddies eventually pulled away and my hubby and I ran the rest just the 2 of us.
Who doesn’t love to run at 5,391 ft!
We passed 2 slip n slides, a tutu station, a sausage station, belly dancers, and so many other great race-tertainers! Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. There was plenty of water/Gatorade and lots of stops. This made the race more comfortable for fans of sea level running like myself.
The course was well done but, the finish was definitely my favorite part. You run into the Stadium! I must admit that at that point my hubby and I started sprinting to the finish. Overall, despite the altitude I had a fantastic time. The course support is amazing, the entertainment is top-notch, and it’s so well-organized!
For 90secs I felt like a pro!
Post Race Selfie with the hubby
After the race we met back up with RockyMtnPearls and her husband and headed back to Denver. That afternoon was spent sipping delicious cocktails, dining of Rob’s Fatburgers (Amazing!), and just relaxing. That evening we played Monopoly and I kicked everyone’s butt! Spoiler alert: I am ruthless when it comes to board games.
The next day we ate at Snooze again, and went back home to DC. Unfortunately our 4ish hr flight turned into a 15 hr airport saga! We spent some time at the Columbus, OH airport! In the end Southwest, was kind enough to give us vouchers that paid for most of our flights for the next Race-Cation in Walt Disney World!!
Do you run at High Altitude? When you’re having a tough time do you let the pack breakup? Do you ever people watch at races? What’s your favorite race sign? Are you also horrible when it comes to board games? Do you race-cation?
Over Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I took a few days off to go visit some of our very best friends who live out in Colorado. Let’s talk about our fantastic trip… cool yeah?
Wow. Right? Wow.
We arrived late Thursday evening into Denver. After catching up a few minutes we passed out. I don’t know about you but traveling exhausts me. We woke up early Friday morning to go to my husband’s favorite restaurant, which just so happens to only be located on the West Coast. We hit Snooze AM Eatery hard. I think he ordered 3 meals. I had a Benny Goodman which was a smoked salmon eggs benedict and a Snooze in the City breakfast cocktail. Breakfast cocktails are a thing (I think).
Love me a good Breakfast Cocktail!
After yummy breakfast, Amy and I had a lovely day of shopping. Where I picked up waaaay too much running gear from Run Colorado followed by falling in love with the most amazing pair of sunglasses ever. Then we met with the boys, who were playing golf all day. Afterwards made our way into Denver for drinks at Peaks Lounge followed by dinner at Osteria Marco. I recommend all of these places and things highly. Great Food and Great Drinks.
View from Peaks Lounge
Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to go for a hike. When in Colorado, do what the locals do right? So we headed to Castlewood Canyon State Park to go for a hike. Well about 6.5 miles later and a change in elevation of 435 ft. (according to TomTom) we had hiked. It was beautiful and great for all fitness levels. They had easy to difficult trails. We did the moderate trail followed by moderate/difficult followed by difficult then we went back to moderate.
Castlewood Canyon State Park
After our trek, Amy and I went to the pool in her community for a little R & R and the biggest Strawberry Mojitos I’ve ever seen in my life.
Sunday we decided to take on Pike’s Peak. Yep, that Pike’s Peak. But we’re not insane, we took the Cog Train. Before we went to the summit we stopped by Garden of the Gods. It’s this random rock formation/garden. I’m not 100% sure what it is, but it was beautiful.
For scale, look at the tiny people.
Giant boulders/Mars/rock/Thor’s Home?
We made our way to the Cog Train. The rail line is over 100 years old and the top of Pike’s Peak is what inspired the lyrics to America the Beautiful. We had been told a few key pieces of info that came in handy for our expedition. It was snowing at the top. That’s right my light long sleeve with tank was not going to cut it, so we brought jackets with us. At 14,110ft there is less oxygen, so drink water. And lastly, there are amazing donuts so get off the train quickly and get in line then go see the view. Priorities!
Check out these views and the adorable train station!
It’s more formidable than it looks (I hope)
So we made it to the top and with little to no view. However, that’s okay because WE WERE IN A CLOUD. That’s right. A CLOUD! Sorry I’m not sorry but that’s awesome. We were first off the train and went to grab the donuts. Delicious. I don’t know if it was the altitude or the actual donuts but, amazing. Then we went to look outside. Cloud. I stood there awhile and giggled. I’m going to blame the altitude for that. It makes you a little light-headed and well for me kind of loopy.
Ms. RockyMtnPearls and Myself at the summit with Donuts!
While on the peak we took pictures, munched our donuts, drank oodles of water, and shopped in the highest gift shop. We began our descent back down the mountain which was much easier for me than going up (I was a tad nervous). We did notice lots of people falling asleep on the way down (my husband included). Apparently this is due to your body getting less oxygen. It actually puts itself to sleep to preserve resources….
Once back on solid ground, we ran a few errands and headed back to our friends home. We had to go to bed a bit early and prep for the BolderBoulder which we’d be running the following morning.
Have you ever been at an altitude that made you a bit loopy? Can you imagine anything better than baked goods atop a mountain? Have you ever been/live in Colorado? What do you like to do on vacation? What’s your favorite cocktail (I’m always looking to try something new)?
When packing for a vacation it’s usually pretty simple to know what to bring. For a beach vacay bring plenty of swimsuits and cute comfy clothing for warm weather. If you’re going to a foreign city bring fashionable/functional outfits that you can spend the day walking around in. But when packing for a race-cation I’m always end up overpacking. However, for the first time I think I got the hang of it for my trip to Denver.
Hey, I celebrate all victories even epiphanies!
I’m not the kind of person who can carry-on for anything over 2 days. Once I came to terms with this, I was able to actually pack well. The key to a race-cation is to center a vacation you would be actually be interested in taking around a race. In this case, we are running the BolderBoulder while visiting friends in Denver and sightseeing with them. Our agenda includes hiking, shopping, playing golf, visiting Pike’s Peak (weather permitting), some great dinners, lots of drinks, and some pool time!
What do you expect.. I did grow up on the Jersey Shore.
So for Race-cationing, I’ve created a list of the must bring race day items that I like to pack. These are all so important so they go in a carryon. (Everything else you need for the vacation can be packed. Priorities People!)
Race Day Essentials:
Race outfit preferably themed (bottom & top)
Running Sneakers
Socks
Sports Bra/undergarments
Hydration Belt/Handheld (this really depends on you and race length)
Fuel – Gu/Blocks/whatever floats your boat
Glide
Sunglasses
Hat/Visor
Sunscreen
Makeup – Tinted Moisturizer, Stila Liner, Waterproof Mascara, Bronzer & Waterproof Clay Eye Shadow
Okay… off to go for a hike here in Colorado with Ms. RockyMtnPearls!
What do you have to have for race day? Are you capable of always carrying on (I’m so impressed!)? Have you ever taken a race-cation and where?
BikeRunBake 