When you choose to do all your halfs as racecations, it’s always a busy week before your race. I’m typing this at the beginning of the week, before most of what I’m writing about even happened, but if there’s one thing I know for sure this week, it’s gonna be busy.
I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Tricia @ Misssipppiddlin so we can all inspire each other to stay active.
Workouts update
- Monday: JY Power Your Pushoff, Dogwalk, 6 miles easy
- Tuesday: Walking to drop off and pick up the car for service (took the dogs with me for pick up), Pilates Total Body & Stretch
- Wednesday: Dogwalk, 6 miles easy
- Thursday: Dogwalk, Iron Strength Abbreviated
- Friday: Travel to WA
- Saturday: 2 miles easy, Salt Room, lots of yoga
- Sunday: Mud & Chocolate Half Marathon
Mileage: 25.1 (-1.1)
JY = Jasyoga
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*
*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links
Running updates
Monday
This was just what the doctor ordered. Not the run so much — there was nothing terribly remarkable about this run, good or bad. It was a bit on the slow side, but the last time I ran at this unpaved path I had a lot of frustration fueling my run.
No, it was the weather. It was just so darn beautiful. And I sat on a picnic bench by the river afterwards eating my snack. And vowed to my self I need to do that more often. It’s just a shame that this particular path is quite short; not even a couple of miles.
So yes, I looped three times.
Wednesday
For some reason Bandit was dragging today, although he never stopped so I assumed he wanted to run. I’m guessing it was the fact that it was still wet out and his belly was getting wet.
I dropped Bandit off after 2 miles and finished a non-remarkable 4 miles on my own.
Saturday
I felt up to my shakeout run, unlike NOLA. Some of those trails were really steep so a lot of walking. Perfect running weather. Hoping for more of the same for the next day.
Sunday
The Mud & Chocolate Half lived up to its name. It was hilly, rainy & muddy but I met my simple goals of finishing within the time limit within falling.
Favorites of the week
A wonderful hot stone massage. They had a special going, so I treated myself to a 90 minute massage. It felt wonderful.
The sundae I shared with Mr. Judy & my SIL post race.
And a few photos from my half.
And that’s a wrap
This week I am also linking up with the Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup brought to you by Ilka @ Ilka’s Blog and Angela @ Marathons & Motivation.
Let’s get the conversation started:
If you raced this week, how’d it go?
If you haven’t raced, are you gearing up for a race?
Ever used a race as a training run?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Congratulations! A well deserved sundae and massage.
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Thanks, Natalie! The sundae was really good but I’m glad we did a threesome.
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Both those trails look lovely! Glad you didn’t get too muddy – or fall!
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It’s a nice trail, although nothing spectacular. I was very happy not to fall. Some people did. Some did drop out. Course I took it “easy”.
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Well I see you got a little mud and a little chocolate. I call that a great day. The trail looks very shady and inviting too. Congrats on meeting your goals. Do you think you’ll do another trail race? That hot stone massage sounds heavenly. It’s been ages since I’ve had one. Thanks for linking, Judy!
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Other than the rain it was great running weather. It doesn’t usually get hot here.
I would do another, but would definitely depend on the course.
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I’d love to do a trail 13.1 sometime! The mud would be a buzz kill, but the views would make up for that.
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They’re not all muddy. 🙂 Here it’s a pretty good bet!
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Wow. You did have some mud to get through, didn’t you. But I hope you enjoyed it regardless! Congratulations on a race well run! 😁
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Yeah, here I was afraid of Lake Sammamish because of mud. 😊 it was tough, for sure, but mostly I enjoyed it. Still digesting it. Hope your races went well!
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The altitude here killed us. I was gassed after the first mile, James after mile 2 (and James runs quick 10-milers after work no problem). We just couldn’t get enough oxygen so we had a hard time. But it’s all good! I’m not sure how one is supposed to train for altitude when you live at sea level. 😐
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Oh no, UT starts at about 6500 ft or thereabouts. But then at least it’s net downhill.
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That’s about 2000 higher than Reno. I wish you much luck with it, I really do, but I know you’ll be fine. I don’t know what we’re going to do come Colorado, lol!! Probably walk, 🤣
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I ran at about 4000 in AZ & it was slow, but I wasn’t coming downhill much either. I don’t remember exactly the elevation it starts out at, but 6500 sticks in my mind. The good news is we’ll be vacationing there ahead of time & I hope that’ll allow some acclimation.
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Yes, that always helps! 🙂
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It starts a bit over 5000 ft.
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Some lovely places to run, even if you did have to loop!
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By the third loop I was definitely desperate for new scenery!
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Those walking/running trails look lovely! Well done on completing that very muddy trail race! Yesterday I actually did a race as a training run for next week’s goal race.
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This was definitely done as a training run for next month’s half. Probably a good thing it was a trail run; otherwise I would have been tempted to race it!
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I wish we had more trails to run around here–I’d definitely enjoy the kinder, gentler surface, and the scenery would be a plus!
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With the mud & rocks & hills — not so much kinder & gentler. One of these days I’ll find me an easy trail!
There are lots of trails nearish to home, but all are at least 30 minutes away (cept the ones I trained on, which were only 15 minutes away).
I do plan to keep a little trail running in my training. At least until winter hits. Good thing that’s a long way away!
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Glad that you enjoyed the race.
Yes, many of my halfs are training races. The one I did yesterday was supposed to be. I didn’t race it. How could you with all the hills…they were endless. But the weekend was lots of fun with some new running friends.
And I have another on May 21. Hope my legs recover by then.
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We’ll have to compare elevation charts. 😉
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at least you trained on hills. I run on the bike paths…. not prepared and may other things interfered with having a good race. Still we both finished standing!!
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Finishing = winning. Which is funny since neither one of us will win a race! 😊
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That massage sounds wonderful. I need to ask my chiro if there are any therapists she recommends, because I do want to treat my legs after my race. I’m now in the same month as my 10k!
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I can’t wait to hear about Bolder Boulder!
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Congrats on your race! It sounds like using the race as a training run was the right move!
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Some day I’d be curious to do a trail race that wasn’t super muddy. 😊
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When you find a trail you like you should enjoy it, even if it means making multiple loops! 🙂
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Well, I’ll write more about that when I do my recap, but let’s just say that third loop was mentally tough.
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Sounds like a fun half marathon–congrats on meeting your goals! I’ve used a couple of races in the past as training runs, but always fail to keep them at training pace due to the race day adrenaline.
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It wasn’t hard on muddy trails. 😊
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hot stone massage, what’s that like? I’m so used to the heavy duty deep ouch that hurts sports massage that I don’t tend to do anything else…
no race for me last week, BUT hubby used the Rietvelt Nature Marathon as a training marathon for his upcoming marathon… yes. he’s nuts. This is a special marathon through a nature reserve and you can either run as a solo runner with bike support or you can do two as a team and run-bike-run. I biked the full marathon. Not hard to do at an easy pace. just a bit painful on the lady bits after a few hours haha!
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Those trails look so lush with greenery! The massage sounds wonderful… as does that sundae 🙂
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Well, it was outside of Seattle after all. Yeah, it was green — and brown (with mud).
The sundae was great, too. 🙂
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Wow, you really got the full trail run experience with all of that mud, didn’t you?!? I’m so glad you enjoyed it and finished without any falls or trip ups! 🙂 Can’t wait to read all about the details!!
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It definitely lived up to its name!
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Believe me, those photos don’t even begin to show just how muddy it was. I was too busy getting through the really muddy spots to actually think about taking a photo (although now I wish I had!).
I really was worried about that time limit until about mile 10 or so when I knew it wouldn’t be a problem.
Which obviously didn’t stop me from taking some photos. 🙂
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Have you been bitten by the trail running bug? Do you see another in your future?
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I don’t think I’ve really been bitten by the trail running bug — it’s too hard! Maybe if I found a really beautiful trail.
But . . . I’d be more likely to do one if it really called to me like this one did. And some of the vacationraces I’ve been eyeing for a while include some trail running.
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