It’s Fall, y’all. We are just a little bit past peak here in our neck of the woods, but this post will be a bit more photo heavy since it’s just so pretty out there (when it isn’t raining, like today).
I traded in an easy run for a hike this week. I continued to run on trails occasionally, but when there was a forecast for a Noreaster and 100% chance of rain today, when the trail race was, I got together with runner friends for a long run on Saturday.
They’re not usually wrong when they make that kind of forecast (and they weren’t). I’m bummed — I really wanted my second pair of trail race socks and it’s a Halloween-themed race with people in costume popping up and/or chasing you — or so I read, as I haven’t done it yet. Maybe next year . . .
I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Tricia @ Misssipppiddlin to show off our Fall Foliage and how it keeps me active.
Workouts update
- Monday: Dogwalk, 4 easy trail miles
- Tuesday: Dogwalk, 5 miles easy treadmill miles
- Wednesday: YFR Hamstrings, Dogwalk, Swim 20 minutes
- Thursday: 10 Min Yoga Stretch, Dogwalk, DM Booty
- Friday: DM Abs, Dogwalk, Hike Vromans’ Nose
- Saturday: YFR Foundation & Hamstrings, 7 Mile LSD, DM ST, Dogwalk
- Sunday: Rainy rest day
Mileage: 16 (-3)
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
I continue to train as if I’m going to run the trail race this weekend, even though the weather looks kind of sucky. Really hoping it clears up by the weekend!
So I got back out for 4 miles on the trails. And it still feels way harder than on the road. I went a different direction than last week — flatter — and my time was 2 minutes faster, despite the little detour I took on what looks like they’re breaking ground for a new trail? It was taller, more unkempt grass on that short portion and hard to run on.
Tuesday
You know my rants against weather apps/radar; they struck again. I could’ve run in the morning but it didn’t look that way on the radar. In the end I obviously ended up on the treadmill (and the skies did open up). It was also really humid in the house — I actually should have gotten the AC going!
I always figure that the treadmill is kind to my joints, and allows me to control my pace better. I run on the road about 90% of the time, maybe more.
Saturday
Many of the Wineglass girls got back together for our long run. One lucky woman is in Australia (much rather be there!), a few are injured unfortunately.
We did different mileage, different paces, some solo, some together; then met up for breakfast afterwards (including one of our injured friends).
Favorites of the week
I talked running buddy J into come with me and the dogs to hike Vromans’ Nose. We had a beautiful day, Bandit tried to mark every tree he saw, we picked up lunch-to-go at Under the Nose (where we also got to sample delicious fudge). A good time was had by all.
I also told Mr. Judy last week that I’d really like an Amazon Echo Dot (affiliate link). I’d been thinking about it forever, but wasn’t exactly sure what the various Echos do and don’t do. We did some reading, and I said, yes, I really want one. Mr. Judy, of course, found a deal for that and Logitech Harmony Hub (to control smart home stuff, which we don’t really have much of at the moment). There’s a learning curve, of course, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to love her.
So far I’ve:
- Gotten the temperature
- Added items to my grocery shopping list
- Played music
- Set timers while doing lots of baking today
- Added blog stuff to a to-do list
Alexa will be earning her keep, I’m sure!
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:
What fun, active Fall activity have you done?
Do you mind trail racing in the rain?
Are you intrigued by Alexa or something like her?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
I’m thinking that I need to branch off into trail running! I so enjoyed my hiking in California. Now to find some midwestern trails.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The one thing about trail running is that you will be slower than your normal road pace. I can’t say I’m in love with trail running like some people, but I just enjoy the change in scenery.
LikeLike
I wish there were more options for trail running in my area. I have a great small trail at my favorite lake (but that involves numerous laps around and around the lake). There’s another preserve just south-west of town, but it’s a lot more technical and I’m a bit paranoid about face-planting (or, worse…knee-planting), so I’ve been avoiding that one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There aren’t really a lot of options where I live either, at least not close by. I don’t really like the place I run trails (maybe because they’re sandy, hilly, and pretty technical), but all the other places that I know of are about 45 minutes away. So 1.5 hours driving just to run . . . that’s not happening very often (if at all).
I can understand avoiding someplace more technical until your knee has a lot more miles under it!
LikeLike
I love hiking trails.
Did a corn maze and it was loads of fun.
No interest in Alexa. Esp I’m not home.
Too bad about today’s weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You don’t have Prime so it wouldn’t make sense, and you have Siri, which I don’t have (I guess I do on my ipod, but i never use it & Alexa doesn’t need to be charged).
There were plenty of people who did the race. And the weather wasn’t terrible, but still, just not what I wanted out of that experience. Can only hope for better weather next year because I still really want to try it!
LikeLike
I rarely use Siri and esp not in my house.
Yes I saw the pics and had friends that did it. Looked like a lot of fun. I love dressing up for Halloween.
Just too competitive (& thrifty) to pay to do that. But never say never.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As you know I don’t dress up. But It still looked like fun — just not in the mud & on slippery wet grass (because quite a bit of it is run on the grass, too).
Even the trail race I did in the summer there was muddy — and it hadn’t rained in a while.
LikeLike
Sorry about your trail race. I was a little bummed about our Saturday rain too. I think my husband might like an Alexa type device. I’d like to see one in action before making a purchase. I’ve said it before, there are just no good trails close to home. Oh how I wish there were! Thanks for linking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There aren’t good trails close to home for me, either. But at least there are some that aren’t too hard.
Someday I’ll try out some of the ones that are further away . . . maybe . . . most are at least 45-an hour away.
I still could have raced, but it just wasn’t the experience I wanted.
LikeLike
I have heard many good things about the Amazon Echo. But I also heard that it takes you a lot to their website so you can purchase things. I know people that have Google Home and love that one as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Echo doesn’t take you to the Website at all unless you ask it to. We’re a big Amazon family so it just made sense to go with that over Google.
LikeLike
I don’t think I could ever trail race in the rain. I did a 5k this weekend with 2 minor hills in the rain and I walked down them! When I ran my trail 50k earlier in the year, it was really muddy and same thing… I was pretty cautious on those down hills.
Great job with your workouts this week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My first trail race (a half, no less) WAS in the rain. So I’ve been there, done that & didn’t really care to repeat the experience (although I did enjoy that race).
LikeLike
We’ll never have Alexa (or the like). My husb is way to concerned about privacy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can understand your husband’s concerns, and that was a factor.
However, I’m guessing you both have a smart phone? And of course pretty much everything you do on the Internet is tracked too. Just sayin’.
LikeLike
Your hike does look fun and what amazing views! I hate your race didn’t happen though. I have been seeing all the hype about Echo’s and Dots and all. I wonder how I would utilize one if at all. I mean so far I just use my phone to do all of that stuff. What do you find is different than using your phone?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, the race happened, I just chose not to go, LOL! A lot of people did.
I don’t have an iphone, remember. And I only pay about $10-20/mth for my phone (which is why I don’t have unlimited anything & couldn’t remain in the texting group).
Still, for instance, when I think of a blog post, I just tell Alexa to add that to my blog list. Or if I want to add something to runfessions, I do the same. It’s much easier than typing something or hunting down a pen.
I can get the temp outside just by asking. Can add items to a shopping list (multiple shopping lists) just by telling her to add it to whatever list — and if the list doesn’t exist, she creates it.
I can tell her to play music.
And I’ve just had it one day — I’m sure I’m going to find a lot more uses. Plus it’s a one time fee (although I do have Amazon Prime, which makes it much more useful).
I tend not to have my phone on all the time or even near me often, so for me, it’s incredibly useful. An iphone probably does similar things, but there’s that nasty monthly fee. 🙂
That hike does have a great view & it’s not very long (although it’s an hour’s drive away). It’s the first one I’ve done twice.
LikeLike
I have a couple weather apps, but they never seem to get the forecast right. The weather can be so random, I just look at the radar and test the temp by walking outside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even the radar doesn’t get it right! It drives me nuts.
LikeLike
Ugh, too bad about the rain on race day. I would have stayed home from a rainy trail race too. It’s so cool that you got to get back together with the friends that ran the Wineglass race 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We plan to run together next weekend too. Not sure how long we’ll keep it up, but it’s nice to have a small group!
LikeLike
Those are great photos! I should try trail running again-after falling twice I am kind of afraid. I don’t mind running in the rain unless it’s super cold
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not fond of cold rain, but if it had been a road race I’d wanted to do I’d probably still have done it. Trails are different, though.
Luckily I haven’t fallen on the trails much, but then I take them super slow. 🙂
LikeLike
I always feel trail running is so much harder! The trails near me are very hilly and technical so it is work…I think that is why my pace on road use to be so much faster. I use to go a few times a week to the trails when I was a new runner. I got out of the habit after my injures…fear of falling.
It is nice you got together with your wine glass girls!
Trails and rain do not mix for me LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
The trails I usually end up on are hilly, sandy, and pretty technical. So yes, they feel super hard!
Luckily I haven’t fallen . . . much. 🙂
LikeLike
Sorry the trail race was a no-go but it looks like you had fun anyway. Thing 2 has the Echo Dot and she loves it. Every time I go into her room I tell Alexa to do something. It’s fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it too! There’s already talk of a second — one for upstairs (where I mostly use it) and one for downstairs, too. We’ll see. I’m good with one but I can definitely see more being handy too.
Although I runfess we’ve already talked of 3, because there’s the bedroom, too. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh man, I hate to hear that your trail race got rained out…. I would definitely have skipped it under those conditions! Looks like a fun hike with Bandit and a friend with some beautiful fall views. I am anxious to do some trail running once I’m done with this marathon training.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Despite my trail running, I can’t say I’ve fallen in love with it as many people seem to do. Maybe because I don’t really love the trails closest to me. I need some non hilly non technical trails with a view. 🙂
But I do like the change of scenery.
LikeLike