I got in my runs, despite it being a real steambath on Saturday. And I got the family out for a short hike at one of the major battlefields of the American Revolution — just half an hour or so from our home. It seemed like the thing to do this holiday weekend.
The title, by the way, refers to the fact that some historians believe the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. But I’m getting ahead of myself!
I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Tricia @ Misssipppiddlin and a guest host for the Weekly Wrap to share how I’m staying active this summer — won’t you share how you get moving through the summer months?
Workouts update
- Monday: Dogwalk, Pahla B Upper Body Resistance, 3 miles easy
- Tuesday: Dogwalk, 4 miles easy
- Wednesday: 3 miles easy with hill sprints (5), Dogwalk, Pahla B Stability Ball
- Thursday: Dogwalk
- Friday: Dogwalk, Pahla B Balance
- Saturday: 6 mile LSD, Dogwalk
- Sunday: 3 mile hike: Wilkinson Trail @ Saratoga Historical Park
Mileage: 16 (NC)
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
I decided to hit up the trails on a lovely Monday morning. What I didn’t know was how overgrown those particular trails are at this time of year (especially since we’ve had a lot of rain). Not fun.
I caught my toe on a root and almost face planted but managed to stay upright. I think the perimeter might be a bit better, so I might hit that up again next week to find out. I’m eyeing a possible (short) trail race at the end of August.
Another beautiful low humidity day and I took Bandit out for his first run in quite some time. You can almost always tell when I drop Bandit off — even with the hands free leash (buy it here — Amazon Affiliate link) — it just feels harder with him on “board”. My pace automatically picks up (usually) once I drop him off.
Yet another gorgeous day. I don’t normally run three days in a row, but I couldn’t pass up such a beautiful morning! And my resting heart rate (read about that here) told me it would be okay to run. Plus . . . just three miles.
I took Bandit out for a bit again. Dropped him off, and then added on some hill sprints at the end because my race on the fourth is hilly.
This run started out pretty good. No organized run for my group, and even though several of my friends were meeting up, I invited Darlene to run with me a little later because a) I could relax a bit more in the morning and b) we haven’t run together in a long time.
So of course we started out speedy for me, easy for Darlene. And we began to slow down after the first couple of miles. No biggie. Around mile 4 the heat & super high humidity sucked the life out of me and I seriously considered walking the last 2 miles, although of course I didn’t — I just slowed way down.
It was still a pretty speedy 6 miles for me, because it is almost always is when I run with Darlene. The good news is that although my race on the fourth doesn’t start until 9 am, it’s also only 4 miles and looks like it might be nice weather.
Favorites of the week
It was a quiet week that somehow felt super busy. I skipped my swim on Wednesday in favor of running on a glorious day. Catching up with Darlene is always good. And good speed training for me.
This humongous breakfast cookie. I tweaked a recipe I found on Pinterest, but it needs more tweaking. I tweaked it this morning but it still needs work. It’s very satisfying but also very crumbly.
And then I did it again: dragged Mr. Judy and the dogs out relatively early this morning for an easy hike. We were debating between a more scenic hike and one that would probably be less scenic, but less busy on a holiday weekend. We went with the less busy one, Saratoga National Historical Park.
Unfortunately after a lot of rain this week it was also quite muddy and had large puddles (or little lakes, if you’re a little dog) a lot. So the dogs got quite wet and we didn’t go too far down the trail. It always amazes me how peaceful former battlefields are.
Saratoga is actually considered one of the turning points in the American Revolution, although I was never taught about it, despite growing up just a few hours south of there.
By the time we left at about 11 am the parking lot was rapidly filling up. We headed home, refueled, and gave the dogs baths.
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:
Did your parents take you to battlefields?
Were you educated about local battles growing up?
Running around a battlefield — disrespectful or not?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
That question about battlefields is kind of loaded…our home was a battlefield and i’ll leave it at that.
You’re lucky to live where there is so much history!
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Sorry, didn’t mean to upset anyone about the battlefields question. We’ve visited a few in recent years, so it’s something I’ve thought about.
I would think that there’s plenty of history in Chicago, too!
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Great job on your workouts this week! Saturday was definitely a steamboat – if this humidity could just go away that would be great!
Loving your huge breakfast cookie! 🙂
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Gotta love a huge breakfast cookie. 🙂
Well, Sunday was much nicer. It’s summer, though, and it is what it is — just makes us stronger runners, right?
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No battlefield trips for me. Oooohhh…breakfast cookie 🍪:-)
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I don’t think I’d ever visited a battlefield until several years ago. Funny the places running takes you!
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I’m not sure that I’ve ever been to a battlefield, other than the one in Tombstone, the shootout at O K Corral. But because of that, they’ve preserved Tombstone into a wild west town, so it’s kind of special. I don’t believe it to be disrespectful to run around one. I think it’s actually great to be able to do that.
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I’ve never actually run in a battlefield (and hadn’t been to any that I remember until a few years ago), but I could see, maybe, if I were training for another trail race someday doing some training there (although it’s quite hilly).
All the ones I’ve been to so far were quite scenic and very peaceful, which is just weird.
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Honestly, I don’t think I had ever seen an actual battlefield until we moved our daughter out to Pennsylvania last summer. Gettysburg is an amazing historical place!
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I hadn’t gone to any battlefields growing up, but all the ones we’ve visited in the last few years were due to running.
It started with stopping overnight in Valley Forge on the way back from ZOOMA Annapolis, although that’s not actually a battlefield. I did a half in Gettysburg (not in the actual battlefield) a few years ago.
And of course this one; this was our second time there, we went with Lola & Chester, too.
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I haven’t been to an actual battlefield. That’s cool there’s so much history near you. Those pics do look peaceful and I love the greenery. That breakfast cookie looks delicious!
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The breakfast cookie is tasty — but it still needs soemthing. 🙂
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Lou doesn’t like to hike but he does love history and anything related to a war.
I did the Turning Point 5k a few years ago – it was trail race (my first and last) but haven’t visited any battlefields except in Russia and France. (I have run in cemetaries though)
Sorry about the humidity. I didn’t realize that it was bothering you. It was very slow for me so I felt fine but I don’t mind the pace. I’m not training for anything and I enjoyed chatting.
My donut was amazing but not healthy.
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Well, you can’t control the humidity. It always bothers me.
Have you ever been to the historical park? It’s very nice. Not super exciting, but scenic. This was our second visit. Some day I definitely want to get further down that trail — it’s 4 1/2 miles & we only went 1 1/2 & then turned around (the dogs were already soaked from wading through the puddles).
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No. I haven’t. Is it flat or is there a lot of climbing?
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You can just drive around it; there’s a one way loop. That’s what we did the first time. You can get out at the various stops and walk around a bit.
The trail is flat in parts, a little bit steep in parts, but definitely a lot easier than the hiking you’ve tackled! Of course, because it’s easier the payoff with the views aren’t as great. And of course we only did 3 miles but my guess is it’s the same throughout.
But there’s lots of puddles & mud after a lot of rain. It doesn’t cost anything anymore. So maybe you could get Lou interested in checking it out. Maybe.
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Doubtful but thanks for the info. He likes that stuff on TV.
I’m not into war stuff and prefer the views so if I were solo, I think I’d choose a more scenic hike.
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I wouldn’t really even call it a hike . . . a hilly walk. I wore old running shoes. So unfortunately my feet got soaked!
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At least you didn’t ruin good shoes.
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They’re not even ruined. Might be dry by now.
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It’s always a fun day when the dogs get muddy. Were they tired after the hike?
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They always look tired after anything . . . until treats or another walk materializes.
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I run right through a battlefield when i run the Petersburg Half here and there are a few around here I can run at…I don’t feel disrespectful. I hope no one feels that way. I was taught the maryland version of history so I have read about VA’s since i moved here lol it always interesting to me how hard it was on people compared to how things are now, as far as traveling and conditions of camp…but people are so much more lethal now.
That is fun Bandit does some running with you 🙂
It is nice Darlene is a speed work session for you! Meet up a few times over summer and you can be ready for Fall races lol
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Unfortunately I run with a different group during the summer, so usually I’m not available on the weekend. This holiday weekend there was no official group run though.
I think it definitely helps me . . . probably doesn’t really do Darlene as much good!
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You’re still getting quite a bit of miles in this summer …I’m impressed! Battlefields? Yes! I grew up in Vicksburg Ms which is considered one of the major turning points of the Civil War and my parents used to take us to the battlefield park all the time. I don’t think it’s disrespectful to run them at all. We have a 10k run that is run every year inside the park and I love it! Like you, I find them so peaceful!
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Our summers are not like yours. In fact, it’s *almost* prime running weather. We do get hot & humid, but only for a few days here & there . . . I have another half in 3 months. 🙂
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You are on a roll with those half marathons lady!!💪👊
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Thanks; hard work + luck!
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Visited Gettysburg when I was young but I am not a particular fan of battlefields….. have never visited any in France(well except DDay beaches)… despite there being several. BORING.
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Gettysburg was fascinating (but we did take a tour). Somehow there’s something about battlefields. Some kind of aura.
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