July

I had a personal best in terms of mileage this month!  I ran 167 miles!!  Considering that the week of July 5 – 11 I only ran sixteen miles (I was on vacation), I am pretty happy with myself.

The month started out with my three-races-in-two-days the first weekend.  I did a 5K, a 10K and a 15K all within 24 hours.  I PR’d in two out of three of those races.  Woo hoo!

Then we packed up the kids (and a BUNCH of stuff) and drove up to Mammoth Lakes to go camping.  I had never been to Mammoth and fell in LOVE with it.  It was a perfect first camping trip for the kids.  We camped with another family and kept busy with bike rides, hiking and enjoying the area.

There were cool geologic features as well as gorgeous and powerful waterfalls.

  
I even was able to show off my Jamba Juice “super powers.” *
On our second to last night, I checked Facebook from my phone and saw that Alissa (one of my blogger, facebook, dailymile buddies) posted something about being on her way to Mammoth Lakes.  I sent her a message that we should get together for a run.  We were able to meet up the next morning for a nice run around a bike path.  Alissa and I had met once before at a race, but this was our first chance to run together.  The altitude was kicking my @ss, but it was a great run.  We decided to run again the next morning.

  It was a great run with fabulous company in an unbelievable setting.The next day we decided to explore some of the trails near our campground.  I had run briefly here earlier in the week, but felt much better going deeper into the woods with a friend.  It was GREAT.

We ran a little more than nine miles.  Unfortunately, I forgot to bring Gu.  Normally, I can muscle through a nine mile run without fuel.  However, at over 7000 feet on the last day of sleeping (or not sleeping) five nights in a tent and not having breakfast that morning….I bonked around mile 7.  I haven’t felt that weak during a run in a long time.  And I have never felt that weak that early.  Luckily, Alissa had  Gu with her that she generously offered me.  It made all the difference in the world.  I don’t know if it was mental or physical, but I was able to finish the run.

When we returned from vacation, I jumped right back into my runs.  It was time to kick my long runs into gear.  I ran 16.28, 17.72  and 18.69 miles on successive Saturdays.  This past Saturday was the easiest for me of all of them.  Ironically, the Huntington Beach 16-miler was the flattest yet most difficult of my recent long runs.
 
The weather for most of the month has been perfect for running.  We have had overcast mornings followed by somewhat mild afternoons.  We had some normal hot days, but nothing like years past.  I hope that August continues like this…but I’m not optimistic.

If July was my best mileage month ever, I’m excited to see how August shapes up.  My training calls for increased mileage, including several 20+ mile runs.  This is good, since lately, my mood is more and more dependent on my running.  There are some days where I am cranky all day except when I am running.  My poor family….  But more on that in another post.

Happy Running….
  
*I posed for the picture for a Team Jamba photo contest.  The funny thing is… I climbed out onto a cliff that was 100 feet or so over the rocks and rapids, much to the worrying of my family.  The picture doesn’t show my precarious location at all.

Staying strong has benefits that result in FUN

I have been MIA the past week or so. We went on vacation with some close friends whose family has a lake house not far from here. We had a wonderful time. Our friends, Jen and Greg, have kids the same age as ours and enjoy the same things we do (water sports, playing board games at night, laughing, and relaxing). Jen even went out with me for a run. It was nice running with her again*.

I did run twice while on vacation. That is a feat in itself (especially if you have ever tried Jen's mojitos!) I did a five miler with Jen and then seven a couple days later. The seven miler was brutal because we left for early morning skiing as soon as I finished. Later that afternoon, I swam out to a buoy and back in my first ever open water swim (a triathlete I am NOT). I suppose my run, ski, swim combo is my own version of a triathlon! :-)

We went to this lake last year and had a great time then, as well. When it came to water skiing, I felt much better this year. I am the strongest I have been in a long time... maybe ever. The stronger I am, the better I can enjoy the things I love to do most. I water skied last week on multiple days. While I was a bit sore in my shoulders and arms, I felt great in my legs (other than a bit of tightness in my left quad). I am not nearly as sore as I was last time. I know all the running and cross-training I have done in the past months really paid off by allowing me to make better turns and stay out there longer. A week like that makes me want to continue to stay fit to enjoy fun outdoor activities for years to come.

Here are some pictures of our great time. Yup... that's me.




My husband, Kenny, got up on the wake board for the second time in his life. I think he enjoyed it more this year. Last year he was having major hip pain. This year, with his new hip, he is able to try more things pain free!




The handsome devil looks like he is enjoying himself!


Our friend, Greg, had some good wake boarding moments himself**.


I usually don't post a lot about my kids here, but I just can't help sharing a few pictures of them this time. They are so darn cute!


Having fun floating around in the water***




She is a daddy's girl at heart!



Finally.... there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Naps ARE a good idea, especially for three-year-olds.



*Jen was one of my running partners in 2008 for the marathon. We ran a hilly, but fun, fourteen mile run last year while staying at the lake. It still is one of my favorite runs of the training. Last week's run with Jen brought a lot of the memories of training back. Good times.
**Jen, I know you are reading this.... I would post some cool shots of you on skis, but I know you'd kill me :-)
***My five-year-old swims perfectly well. In the lake, for some reason, he gets nervous about the depth. He is convinced that it is harder to swim in forty feet than it is in five feet. On the other hand, his little sister is fearless, which is much more nerve-wracking for a mom! I was constantly calling her name to make sure she wasn't under the boat or something.