PFTW #6 / #SummerTrailRun, Mt Rainier, and the most beautiful place I've ever seen

June 28-July 4

Monday: Day 1 of some Fitness Blender Challenge I found - HIIT and lower body strength. 

Tuesday: Day 2 - Upper body and cardio

Wednesday: Day 3 - HIIT and abs

Thursday: Day 4 - This was a kickboxing video, but kickboxing confuses me (I spend so much time trying to keep the moves straight, I basically stop moving), so I did an upper body and cardio video instead

Friday: I worked, then PACKED FOR VACATION! (All of the pictures in the universe down below).

Saturday: 2 miles-ish hiking

Sunday: 7-8ish miles, hiking

July 5-11

Monday: nothing 

Tuesday: walked ALL OVER Seattle.

Wednesday: nothing (flight home followed by an all-day communications training class for me, because I'm the luckiest).

Thursday: Hold on to your hats. For the first time in almost 7 months, I pinned on a bib and RAN A RACE. 

The Renegade Summer Trail Run Race #2 was a great time, as always. It's super hard coming out of retirement (ahem not running in 10 days on top of that...), and this race was certainly challenging. 

But I've really really missed racing!! Super psyched that I made it out for this one, even if I was grossly under-hydrated and unprepared. Renegade Races are just so great. 

Friday: Nothing

Saturday: 6.5ish miles on trails while #1 was at XC hill practice - luckily, I ran into another mom who was kind enough to join me and my slow pace.

Sunday: 4 miles with ex-neighbor Will

I am working a wacky schedule for the next several weeks while I have some new hires working at night, so hoping I can fit some runs in after work (even if it's a little late). Before work is tricky, because Gab can't be left home alone, and the other kids are in XC camp until 10am. I keep making excuses in my brain about not having time, but I really just need to make the time.

I know, this is revolutionary. Don't steal my idea. 

This week!

Monday: Lower Body, HIIT 

Tuesday: Upper body, 4 miles

Wednesday: HIIT and abs

Thursday: Upper body, 4 miles

Friday: Lower Body, HIIT

Saturday: rest

Sunday: 6 miles

***VACATION!!!***

Saturday: In an effort to convince #1 that the PNW is obvs where she should spend her college years, we spent a long weekend in Seattle. #2 was dressed the part. 

We got into SEA at 11:30am, and spent the day wandering in the Carbon River area. 

Me, all weekend: Man, that is a Big Mountain. 

We trekked up a giant hill in search of a waterfall that was apparently all dried up. It was kind of pretty. 

Sunday: We headed around the north side of the mountain, stopping a gajillion times for coffee and pretty views, before landing at the Sunrise Visitor Center and doing the Frozen Lake trail. 

Aside from a bathroom incident with Gab and #2 trying to fling herself off the mountain to avoid flies, it was a lovely hike. 

After lunch in Sunrise, we headed to Tipsoo Lake, where the wildflower game was strong...

After my family was sick of hearing me exclaim, "LOOK! So many flowers!", we headed south to the Stevens Canyon entrance, and hiked Silver Falls and Grove of the Patriarchs. 

Monday: Drove up to Bellingham via Chuckanut Dr and Larrabee State Park.

We wandered around the Fairhaven district for awhile and ate delicious, delicious pizza (for real, Fat Pie Pizza in Bellingham, you should go there). We took a walking tour of Western Washington U, which #1 did not LOVE, but I kind of did, and then ate all the food in the universe at Boundary Bay Brewery, which came recommended by internet friend Alma.

The beer was great, the food was great, the desserts were great, the service was great, it was all great. 

Tuesday: So many hours of walking and drinking coffee, and farmers marketing, and monrailing. 

After a super quick coffee with Alma at the craziest library I ever have seen, we took the ferry over to Bainbridge Island, which was fun for a couple hours (and so peaceful, besides the part when #1 lost her mind because she thought we might miss the ferry back, and didn't accept that there were later ferries to be had). 

Wednesday: 3:30 wake up for a 6am flight that was delayed to almost 7am when the co-pilot's chair broke. No, really.

What I've really been up to (nothing) and PFTW

This will come as a shock, but kid sports are still destroying any free time we ever had on the weekends. I promise that isn't a complaint; it's just the facts.

#1 had a bit of a break between cross country ending at Thanksgiving, and track starting in mid-January, so that was swell. Her season started out a little slow, with just some voluntary all-comer meets and a trip to Fresno for state indoor champs - this was kind of a big deal, because she had to qualify for it (and she DID!, so that was exciting), but the event ended up being kind of a fiasco and not really anything we would go out of our way to repeat again, unless she reallllllly wanted to.

But her season started up for real in the last few weeks, so we're transporting her for track practices on Tuesday's at another school (her's has a dirt track), dual meets on Thursday's, and invitationals on Saturday's.

On top of #1, Gab has joined a run club through her school, thankfully that's only Friday afternoons, and #2 is training for the Irvine Junior Games, so we try to spend Sunday evenings at the track with her.

All of this to say, we are pretty much living and breathing kid running. Ironic, since I've barely been running at all.

Thanks, Daily Mile. HAHAHAHAHA.

In my defense, I got super gung-ho about running again a few weeks ago, and then I came down with some sort of zombie plague two Saturday's ago, and kind of recovered all of last week.

I haven't been a total sloth, though! Since Kim introduced me to FitnessBlender.com videos, I have her to thank for my addiction. I've been doing videos a TON (until the last week when I was barely able to even EXIST (I get extra dramatic when I'm sick)), with a legs video once or twice a week, arms 2-3 times, and core 3-5 times. Some of my favorite videos so far...
Butt and Thigh with Cardio Intervals
30 Minute Lower Body Sculpting
Mass Workout for Legs
Upper Body Superset
Abs and Upper Body
10 Minute Abs
Total Body Strength

I've been trying a ton of random videos, these are the ones I tend to come back to consistently. I love that I can mix things up, pair up videos when I want to create a longer workout, and I really love the set up of the AB/AB format that they do frequently.

There are a bunch of HIIT videos, too, but I pretty much decided I hate HIIT and would not list it as a favorite because HIIT IS THE WORST.

There is even a video for kids, that Gab LOVES. And it's HARD, you guys, for real.

Anyway, part of my running problem, I'm sure, is the lack of races on the horizon.

Lucky for meeeeee, with my partnership with Renegade Race Series, I am running a few events coming up....

The Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon will be held May 26th - there's also a 10k, 5k, and kids run. If you are also running the Reaching for the Cure half coming up this weekend, you can snag a snazzy March 2 May medal, too, limited to the first 250 rsvps!

I always want to make a race a PR, but I'm not sure what kind of running shape I'm actually in, so I'll evaluate in a few weeks and decide. The race is only 8 weeks away, so I guess I should get cracking at that....

Plan for the week!!

I'm base building a bit, obviously, since I've been laaaazy. I randomly did a 10 mile run a few weeks ago, while watching the LA Marathon, and it was really great - so it's nice to know that fitness level is still there, but I don't want to do anything dumb to anger Jerk Shin, or anything else. Holy run on sentence.

Monday: Arms/Core (I will likely do this video, this video, and this one - I've started making #1 do core with me - it can only help her, right?!).
Tuesday - Legs (this video in the am, probably?), then run club!! No idea on the mileage.
Wednesday - Arms/Core (maybe this one, plus my favorite), easy run, miles will depend on Tuesday's run
Thursday - Total body (maybe a new to me video?)
Friday - Long run! 6-8ish, easy; core
Saturday - off, #1 is racing!
Sunday - easy run, 2-3

To keep me motivated, I am also running a few for-fun events this summer...

The Summer Trail Run series (remember I ran these last year, and they were SO FUN)

...and iTRY take 2! I'd like to beat last year's time on this course... which means I'll eventually have to bike and swim again? I really loved the event last year, and can't wait to repeat it.

Beyond the summer, I've got a Halloween half marathon in my sights, and.... dun dun DUN. A fall marathon. I really, REALLY wanted a spring marathon this year, but it just didn't happen - I wanted to run a few, but they were sold out by the time I made up my mind. I threw myself on the waiting list for Mountains 2 Beach, but by the time I needed to start actually training, there was no movement on the waiting list, so I scratched it. Of course, the very next week, I got the email that my number was up. WTF.

I'm leaning towards Santa Clarita Marathon Nov. 2nd - it's cheap, on a Sunday so it won't interfere with XC, and not something I'd really need to travel for, which are three of my requirements. Santa Barbara and Surfer's Point are also on my short list; but I think I'd prefer Santa Clarita. I don't know why. That really makes no sense, who would rather run in Santa Clarita? I've also tossed around the idea of Long Beach, but then I remember the logistics were TERRIBLE and the weather is always sketchy.

Interested in a track update?

#1's current pr's stand at 5:25 in the 1600 (hand-timed, so I don't know if that's legit?? I'm not track smart yet), and 11:46.83 for the 3200!

Crazy, right??

Three Things Thursday

1. Back in July, I interviewed for a new job that I thought was PERFECT. It was in the endurance sports industry, it seemed to fit my skills perfectly, it sounded great, and I swear I NAILED the interview.

So I was extra sad when I found out last week (on my birthday, so rude) that I was not selected for the position. WOMP.

To continue making July The Best Month Ever (BUT NOT AT ALL), I was laid off earlier this week.

I knew the position was ending eventually - the company I was working for was undergoing some restructuring, and my position no longer made sense there. I was unhappy there, anyway, so I'm sure it is for the best, but being unemployed when you have three kids to supply things for is pretty annoying.

I am lucky that I have a great husband that can go back to work at his great job full time (he left and then went part time when Gab was diagnosed with leukemia), so I can't complain too much. But still... I was hoping to find something new before I became a non-employed person. Oh wells.

When HR told me I was being let go, I was... relieved. It was not a company I loved, not the position I was well-suited for, and my manager and I did not really work well together. I guess when you're relieved at being let go, it means it was really time to go.


2. I swear I'm not copying SarahOUaL, but I celebrated Tuesday evening with my favorite beer, and took an unplanned rest day. Wheee.

I spent my first day of not working doing a 5 mile progression run in the beautiful SoCal summer weather...

Followed by my scheduled hour bike ride. And THEN went out for another short run with my ex-neighbor Will.

I went grocery shopping with Gabby. I watched tv with #1. I gave #2 all my cash so she could go out. All these things I don't normally get to do. I'm sure the novelty will eventually wear off, I really don't do great with down time, but... I guess it means I'll just have to find something to keep busy during the job hunt. Volunteering probably?


3. Tonight is the last race in the Renegade Summer Trail Run series! I'll be there tonight with Striding Mom and Angry Julie, in sparkles this time. I'm excited to try the reverse loop - maybe it's easier????

Will I see any of you there??

Renegade #SummerTrailRun - Recap

Last night, I ran race # 2 in the Renegade Racing Summer Trail Run Series.

Registration was only $30, and included a barbecue afterwards (or a shirt, your choice).

The final race in the series is going to be held August 1st, and registration is still open at $30 for that one (increases to $33 after July 26th).

The course is a challenging loop from Cedar Grove Park in Tustin, and through Peter's Canyon.

The whole day was cloudy and cool, until the race started - and the sun came out just in time for us to climb up to the ridge.

 

 

Once you get to the ridge, it's a series of Hills. With a capital H. The next mile or so was a series of these hills - no flats, just continuous UP, with very little down (this is where we gained all of our elevation).

 

The views were terrible. I don't know why we run here.

At the last hill of the ridge, Kelly from Team Sparkle recruited and manned an otter pop station!

The elevation high point comes around 2.5, then you descend back into the canyon, and it's a slight downhill back to the finish. As soon as we made it off the ridge, the clouds rolled back in and it was cool again. That's cute.

My food and raffle tickets practically disintegrated in my pocket. Sorry to the volunteer that had to take that from me.

After the race, we stopped by the Renegade stage to say hi, and then grabbed some delicious food and hang out on the grass, being all sweaty and gross, watching a pretty sunset.

 

The goodie bags (which I didn't take a picture of because I'm lame) were AMAZING -great samples, including a 3-pack of Starbucks Via Iced Coffee. We're camping this weekend, and I was FOR REAL on my way to the store after the race to buy some of this stuff. What a happy coincidence! And, check out the cute bib!

Renegade consistently puts out GREAT events. I was pretty nervous going in - every time I run a trail race, I'm petrified that I'll be the very last person - but I had a fantastic time, and I'm glad I convinced Julie and Sheila to run with me. This was Julie's first trail race ever, and maaaaaaybe she'll try it again?

Overall, I did better than I anticipated doing. I wore the Pure Grit's again, and they were fantastic- I never felt like I was going to fall or slide around. The course reverses direction next time, and at first I was unsure that I would want to hit all those hills on the second half - but looking at my Garmin data, the reverse actually looks like it might be easier? Or I'm confused and have run-nesia.

me, Julie, Sheila post race, courtesy of Kelly (and stolen from Julie)

TL;DR - it was a great event, I had so much fun, it was a hard course, and I'll be back for the August 1st race. You should do it. You can register HERE.