Fall arrived in a big way this week, but not before Summer battled for it and almost finished me off. Seriously, a couple of days with highs in the low 80s, a super humid run, then temps plummeting to the point where you’re trying to figure out how to dress for running outside.
I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to share training, racing, and life. Check out all the bloggers for a little extra dose of inspiration.
Workouts update
- Monday: 5 miles easy
- Tuesday: Dogwalk, 6 x 400s for 5 miles total, PB Tank Arms (25 minutes)
- Wednesday: Dogwalk, PB Low Impact Bodyweight MetCon (35 minutes)
- Thursday: 5 miles easy, PB Beginner Leg & Butt (10 min)
- Friday: Dogwalk, rest day
- Saturday: YFR Hamstrings, Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k, Dogwalk, YFR Foundation & Back
- Sunday: 6 miles easy
Mileage: 26 (+7)
JY = Jasyoga
PB = Killer B
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 tried to do the right thing when I stopped midway through my run because I saw a dog off leash and by himself. He was by a front door, whining, so I watched for a while but no one came to the door. I approached the dog cautiously (you just never know, especially if you’re approaching a dog on its own property), but it was friendly, so I rang the bell.
Turns out they have an invisible fence. A little PSA here: I hate those things. It doesn’t protect the dog — they are still vulnerable to any wildlife in the area (a large coyote has been seen nearby) and if motivated enough, they will get through the fence — in fact, one of our neighbors with an invisible fence had a dog run over by a car (yes, the fence was on).
Oh yeah, the run was okay. I was kind of dragging after a busy week last week, although I was working my way towards negative splits without trying to. I mentally told myself to take it easy, since it was an easy run, and I have a race this weekend. That seemed to work, because I was a bit slower on the last mile.
Tuesday
The first 2 miles were slow. Not as slow as the last two miles in my recent half (read about that here), LOL, but much slower than normal. I was still tired (thank you, shorter days) and so not feeling this run.
I won’t say I totally rocked it, but considering it was humid and 70 by the time I finished, I’m actually quite proud of this run.
Thursday
Where’d fall go? The last couple of days in the 80s, today a very humid 70s — ugh! I just dragged myself through this run, there’s no other way to describe it. And the damn rain actually stopped by the time I started — I had psyched myself up for some nice, warm rain.
Ok, we’ll get plenty of Fall on our race in Saturday.
Saturday
We had quite the group at the Great Pumpkin Challenge. 10kers, 5kers, and an AG award (not me, not even close). A good time was had by all despite the hills and cold rain. Read about it on Tuesday.
Sunday
No long run due to my race, so back to back runs this weekend. Since Running Buddy J and I are doing the same half in two weeks and she also did the 10k yesterday, we met up this morning for the second half of our “long run”. A much nicer day than yesterday’s race.
Favorites of the week
It only took 17 years, but apparently Gizmo is warming up to Mr. Judy. 🙂 It happened again today, while I was out. All three of them with Mr. Judy. Welcome to my world, dear.
And speaking of warming up, first Fall soup was made and it’s yummy.
And someone else is getting cozy on the bed.
Let’s get the conversation started:
Did Fall just suddenly drop in after a return of summer?
Do your furkids play favorites (apparently the males favor me and the lone female favors Mr. Judy, although they all listen better to me. They know which side their bread is buttered on, so to speak)?
Tell me something great from your week!
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Fall? More like winter here. When I went for my run this morning there was a light drizzle but was snowing half way through. It has been snowing most of today. Too dang early but that is Wisconsin.
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Yeah, the S word is actually in our forecast later in the week (more like mixed precip, always the worst). We tend to get your weather a couple of days later.
It’s not unusual for us to get some snow in Oct, although it’s still rare, and the good thing is it usually doesn’t stick!
We skipped both Spring & Fall this year, it seems. 😦
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I made my first fall soup this weekend too-recipe coming tomorrow. We also had summer most of the week until Friday and now it’s fall. I am loving the cooler temps!
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Well, as long as it isn’t raining I’m loving the cooler temps. 🙂
We seemed to have skipped both Spring & Fall this year!
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Okay so weather whiplash is the absolute perfect way to describe this week, lol. I couldn’t believe that it was around 82/84 degrees on Thursday and then dropped 40 degrees on Friday. This weekend it got even colder!
The good thing about the cold weather is that I’m craving warm foods like stews and soups – yummy!
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Yup, gonna make some veggie curry for dinner tonight. For me, not so much my husband. 🙂
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I don’t like those invisible dog fences, either. A dog in our neighborhood has one, and she has broken through it several times and attacked my dog while I was walking him. I talked to the neighbor about it each time, but it wasn’t until I said that I was calling the dog warden the next time that he finally began coming outside when his dog was out with the fence. Ugh!
Looking forward to reading your race report!
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We had a person who used to just let her dog run loose. It was a nice dog, but it was always coming into our yard and trampling stuff.
My husband did call animal control on them (I probably wouldn’t have). Unfortunately I also bore the brunt of that because the woman was enraged, going on and on about how it was her son’s dog (hello, your son is like 5 and therefore cannot be responsible for a dog and therefore it’s your responsibility).
But we didn’t have the dog running into our yard anymore. 🙂
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Ugh! I was bitten one time by a dog while I was running. It was a boxer, and the bite was serious – it tore my shorts and drew blood. He was on a leash, but the little girl who was holding the leash couldn’t handle the dog. Her parents were mad at the little girl, but I spoke up for her. I had a bruise for several weeks.
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We’re lucky that here it’s very rare to see a dog off leash. When I lived in TX it was almost a daily occurrence, but thankfully most were friendly and I’ve never been bitten by a dog — so far, anyway.
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I don’t trust the invisible fences! Up in Wisconsin, there is a family who has 2 dobermans. They run to the edge of the lawn, snapping and growling at me when I run by like they haven’t eaten in months. They haven’t broken through yet, but I’m always worried.
Cocoa loves Mike. More than me, apparently. It’s a change from Cleo, who thought the sun rose and set on me. I don’t know how it happened.
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I would never have guessed that Cocoa prefers your husband since she’s always in your photos!
Chester also thought the sun rose & set on me, to the point where he’d barely walk with Mr. Judy if I wasn’t there.
OTOH, in the last few years of his life he would hang out in the office with Mr. Judy when Lola & I went to bed. That was part of what Mr. Judy really missed when he was gone.
The joke was on him, however, because although Bandit isn’t as bad as Chester was, there’s little doubt I’m his person and he comes to bed when I do.
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We’re still summer here and I’m not complaining. Those fall colors are gorgeous though. My dog loves me in a special way but is affectionate to the whole family. My something good is I did my first race in two years this past Saturday!!
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Congrats on your race! Off to read about it.
Both dogs are affectionate with both of us, but Lola tends to follow my husband around and even though Bandit isn’t a very snuggly dog, he’s definitely made his preference for me known.
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A lot of houses in my neighborhood have fantastic Halloween decorations this year! I am so mad at Scooby. I was home alone this weekend and he wouldn’t sleep in my bedroom — where he usually sleeps! I guess he wanted to “wait up” for my husband.
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Oh no! Scooby, how could you abandon your human?
That is definitely one of the nice things about the dogs when Mr. Judy travels (which he hasn’t in a long time). Both dogs come to bed with me.
I bet Scooby was also guarding you!
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Great fall shots, and I love your neighbor’s scarecrow.
I ❤ Fall, perfect running weather.
I'm pretty sure I'm doing Albany Mohawk next year.
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Well, one thing about Mohawk Hudson is it is pretty darn flat. 🙂 Not completely, it’s on a rail trail for a lot so there’s a bit of incline/decline but really, when I want to run fast on a flat surface that’s where I run.
The finish is very nice, but there are some areas that aren’t that exciting — or so I’m told, I’ve never run it & have no plans to.
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Funny how we sometimes miss what’s in our own back yards
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We’re on the verge of winter in Iowa…there was snow on Friday (when I was, thankfully, in NC!). So not ready for winter….I really want my summer back #sigh
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Well, at least you got more summer than is normal this year. 🙂
No snow here yet (although some in the forecast for next week).
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I’ve made soup, chili, and casseroles now. The past 3 Sundays have been perfect for this kind of food, and I’m loving it. I do miss these dishes when it’s summer, and it’s one of my joys in the fall and winter.
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I’ve done a few soups, have chili on the schedule this week — although Mr. Judy claims it’s not really chili if there’s beans in it. Silly man.
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I’m so ready for weather cool enough for soup! Yours looks delicious. You have been “racing” like crazy lately! Maybe my race schedule will pick up now that it’s beginning to cool off a bit.
Yes, I like to think that my Chester boy favors me over Major Hubs but then again I do spoil him more! Lol
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Fall is my happy time to race. 🙂 For obvious reasons not a lot of races in winter for us, unless you snowshoe. 🙂
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That looks like a beautiful race course! Winter just dropped in here this weekend.
Every now and then I wake up to one of our cats sleeping on top of me, but my husband is definitely their favorite. But this is at least partly because they both have a habit of stepping on your stomach when they come to sit in your lap, and I’m ticklish…they don’t appreciate the reaction they get.
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My husband is much more ticklish than me . . . We close the door so Giz can’t get in. He’s awake too early & I already have enough trouble sleeping.
I am the cat person (although I was also the one that wanted dogs — I love both!).
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Uh huh…we went from 90 degrees to frost in under 12 hours. Crazy. I feel the same way about invisible fences. With the wildlife we have here I don’t know how anyone could think they’re a good idea. Ozzy adores the Caveman but only listens to me. I am Carlo’s forever love. 😛
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The Mohawk Hudson looks beautiful! I’ve never run a Fall race with that much color. I need to fix that. The soup looks delicious. I haven’t made any yet but I have eaten Panera’s Autumn Squash soup — which I adore. All three of my dogs follow me around. But, the latest one we adopted (big dog) does go to my husband more than the little ones. Thanks for linking!
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Minneapolis skipped right over fall and had SNOW on my birthday (10/14) though I was in Copenhagen and missed it- there, they are having an unseasonably WARM fall. Crazy.
That story about the dog makes me sad- you’re totally right about invisible fences not protecting the dogs and owners still need to pay attention, especially if their poor little guy wanted to come inside!
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It’s not at all unusual for snow on my birthday, but that’s in Feb. 🙂 Thankfully we haven’t had snow yet. One of my running friends was in Paris this past week; she ran a 20k & it was hot & humid.
The dog with the invisible fence wasn’t a small dog, so at least a coyote wouldn’t consider it a snack like my guys — but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t get into it!
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I love Gizmo, looks so like my Morgan, though he doesn’t have a white tip to his tail. He is equally at home on both of us and often sprawls over both our laps! We’ve had hot windy cold stormy etc etc round and round. I’m tired after our holiday (oh no) and actually considering not running at club this evening.
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Now you must post a photo of Morgan sprawled across both your laps! I’ve never seen a cat do that!
Gizmo has seriously never lain on Mr. Judy before — except a time or two recently when I’ve been gone for a while for like 5 seconds, but now he’s making himself comfortable & staying.
Oddly enough, the holistic vet said that the treatments can make them friendlier. I know Mr. Judy is really enjoying it, especially considering our time with Giz is running out.
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