Does an 8 mile week even count? PFTW and Harding Hustle Volunteering

Hilariously, Friday's Five post was post number 555 on this blog. I didn't even realize it. I love alliteration!

Last week....
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Barre
Wednesday: 3.5 miles, tempo
Thursday: Yoga, Core, 4.5 miles easy
Friday: Barre
Saturday: Volunteering
Sunday: Nothing

This week...
Monday: 4-5 miles
Tuesday: Cross training
Wednesday: 3-4 miles
Thursday: Cross training, 7-8 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Cross training
Sunday: 3-4/rest

I really intended to do a long run this weekend, but - don't mock me - volunteering Saturday was exhausting. And, it was really hot. I know that's kind of lame, but... oh well. I don't really have anything coming up that I need to be training for, so I guess it's not a crisis.

The cross training is still happening, so at least there's that?

Since Thursday is a holiday, I'm planning on doing my "long" run then, but we'll see? I'm practicing "flexibility".

Or lazy. Whaterver.

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Saturday, I woke up bright and early at 3:56am to make it up to the race site to volunteer at the start line of Harding Hustle, a local 50k/30k/15k.

It was warm already when I got there and started working in the dark at 4:45am, so these people that showed up to run 31+ miles on exposed trail in the mountains? Impressive.

The race is held in Modjeska Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains - probably less than 10 miles from me as the crow flies, but 18 driving miles - and this was all the wildlife I spotted.

On my 2nd of three trips to the closest (not close at all) grocery store for the RD...

The runners seemed to really enjoy the race, despite the temps at the peak reaching 100*. The RD had cash prizes for first overall male and female in each race, plus customized coffee mugs for each AG winner.

I don't come up to the mountains here very often (as in, ever), but it wasn't a bad spot to spend some time Saturday morning.

I love volunteering.

On Sunday, I spent hours and hours and hours trying on things to wear. I almost bought this just because it was the cutest dress I ever did see.

But common sense prevailed when I realized I have no afternoon tea plans coming up...

Friday Five

1. I've been doing this video that Kim proposed as a challenge....

It's 39 minutes long, and so so so so hard. The first day, I wasn't sure I would complete both rounds. My arms, back, and core were EXHAUSTED all day, and then sore the next 2 days. My triceps, specifically. WHAT ARE THOSE MUSCLES EVEN USED FOR, except exercising and being sore?

Awful.

I did it again yesterday, and... still awful, but maybe a little LESS awful? Hard to say.

I'll try again to confirm.


2. I've been waking up early to exercise all week. I know, I'm not sure what's gotten into me.

Okay, that's kind of a lie. I've gotten up at my normal time, but with summer here, I have freeeeeee time in the morning to work out, instead of getting kids ready for school/walking Gabby to school. And for some wacky reason, summer in SoCal means less freeway traffic, so I've been breezing into work in 25 minutes, instead of my normal 45.

I kind of like getting the work out of the way early, so I can do a short run after work... or do nothing at all. That would be my favorite choice.


3. It is hot hot hot in SoCal this week. I'm lucky that I live in OC, where it's only expected to be around 90 this weekend, so I guess for a lot of people, that's just called Summer.

I hope it's not a repeat of last summer when it was hot for, like, weeks. Whatever. It's hard being me. I guess it means I'll just have to do my long run by the cool, breezy ocean. The suffering.

Tiny A and Tiny Gabby! Becka, remember when?!

4. I'm volunteering at the start line at Harding Hustle tomorrow! I don't know if I actually know anyone running, but I am really excited. I love volunteering, and since I am planning on a long trail race this fall, I'm really interested to see what goes on.

If you'll be there, let me know! It's supposed to be approximately a BILLION HUNDRED DEGREES, so stay hydrated!!


5. I met Gabby on my way in the other night, where she was busy picking all the flowers off some hedges by our apartment. "Mom, wait, stay with me!". Um. Okay. What are you doing? "Building a bouquet." Oh, fun. Can I help? "No.". Oh. Can I go? "No." Oh. Who is it for? "Someone very special."

And then she gave it to me. "Beacause you're very special to me."

I die.