Monday June 15^th—Another Monday, another rest day. I slept in (well, again sleeping in for me is 7:30-8:00am) and no running. And no biking either. Someone was asking if we took any rest days on twitter and I had replied yes, Monday. So, he said ok so your week starts on Tuesday. And maybe that is true. I do enjoy having 1 day off from running. It’s just so important to help keep me injury free. Back when I was younger, I would run every single day and take NO rest days. I had so much more energy and wasn’t really thinking of ever getting injured. That doesn’t really happen much in your 20’s or even in your 30’s. But get to 40 and look out! Things don’t work the way they used to. I went for my usual walk after work but this week I decided to walk more, 7 miles instead of 5, because it counts for my virtual challenges. When I walked past the track, I noticed that there were people on it but both sides were locked and it was no longer open. I asked the guy walking how the heck they all got in. Did they climb over the huge fence?? He said there was a hole in the fence at the bottom and everyone crawled thru there. OMG! He helped me get in. I felt a little scared at first like man am I am going to get in trouble .. did I just break into the track? I can’t be getting in trouble at age 42.. I have kids. Then later I saw a man who lived across the street come and unlock the one side. I went over and asked him how the heck he did that. He said that he used to coach here and had the key. Man, I really would like a key to the track too!!

Tuesday June 16^th—On the schedule today was to run 6 miles easy.  I went out and ran 7 miles. I secretly wanted to do 10 miles but didn’t have enough time before having to get ready for work and to my office.  I keep setting my alarm to get up and out the door by 6am and it just is not happening.  I am going to take that as a sign that my body needs the extra sleep. In my perfect world I would get up and out the door by 5:30am to run then come back in and get on my bike and get back out there.  I miss riding my bike so much.  Anyway, getting back to my run.  My easy pace was right around the 9:00/mile mark.  Overall this was a good and fun run!!

Wednesday June 17^th—OMG everything hurt today.  Felt beat up and really did not want to go running. I decided that I needed a change of scenery and opted to stay inside and ran on my treadmill.  My scheduled called for 5 easy miles.  I went for 10 easy miles and got it done! Felt so much better once I was done.  I run quite often on my treadmill during the winter when it’s terrible weather out. The summer not so much. I would much rather get outside to run but sometimes running on the streets really beats your legs up and you need a break.

I then got out for a bike ride after work. I was going to get out for a walk so that I could do more miles for my challenges but figured that I was already burnt out a bit and that the bike would help fuel my soul and it sure did. I got out for 15.5 miles and loved every minute of it!

Thursday June 18^th—Speedwork day!  I had ridden my bike over to the track last night to make sure that the track was still in fact open and it was! I think that since it’s owned by Penn State Abington and school is closed that they aren’t really paying attention to it. I was so excited to get there and do a workout because it had been months since I was on there.  It was cooler out and lightly raining so I had the track all to myself.  That is just how I like it! 

My workout was 2 mile warm up, 3×1 mile intervals (7:00-7:15 pace) with 3 min jog in between then cool down to 7.5 miles.  My mile intervals were 6:52, 6:49 and 6:47 BOOM.  For me doing intervals at the track is the best. The are no distractions and I can just light it up!  I was riding on those endorphins for the rest of the day.

Friday June 19^th—And we made it to Friday!  On the schedule was 5 easy miles and I had some time, so I went 7.  Another day here that I would have liked to make it 10 miles but not enough time to do that and get ready to get to the office.  Our company is celebrating Juneteenth so they dismissed us early which was good so that I could get home to let my mother in law get herself home early.

My hubs is out golfing so I don’t think that I will be getting my bike in today. Only one bike ride so far this week. Not feeling so good about that. Anyone else feel like they need more time in the day?

Saturday June 20^th—On the schedule today was 15 miles with the last 3 miles fast finish. My fast for this was 7:45 or better. I did 7:34, 7:34 and 7:32. I was going to stop back home mid run to fill up my water but once I got out there I decided not to. So basically, I had 16oz to ration over 15 miles. I would not recommend this to anyone😳. I was so thirsty from halfway point and on. I was dreaming of water and ice cubes and drinking one of those huge sports jugs that they have at games filled with water. I was just completely drenched in sweat. But my Odlo top was amazing and it never weighed me down. Ever just sweat so much that your top feels like it’s 5lbs? The Odlo shirts do not do this! It felt no heavier than when it was dry. My legs were failing towards the end and so I had to run with my mind. Never ever underestimate the power off a strong mind. It can take you places that you never thought you could go. Other times I try to take things one mile at a time. Or half a mile at a time…whatever it takes. Anyway, I got it done! Then we went to see my brother in law for the afternoon because he had just turned 40 yesterday. They live at the Jersey shore so it takes about 2 hours to get there. It was so nice to get off my street for the day. We haven’t really gone anywhere in the last few months and so this was glorious!!!

Sunday June 21^st—My legs were feeling really tired this morning from all the miles this week! I let my hubs sleep in for Father’s Day and didn’t get out for my run until 10:30am. By then the sun and heat were blazing!! I was only supposed to run 5 easy but knew that I wanted more for my challenges. I stopped back home around mile 6 to fill up my water and headed back out. I was hoping to go 13 but by 10ish I was feeling lethargic and beat from the heat. I took things .25 at a time and only made it 11.25 miles in total. Not bad at all but not what I wanted. I got back home and hydrated and drank my protein shake and then decided to walk to and from the bakery to get my dad’s cake. That was another 2 miles! Every mile counts on foot for these challenges. We went to my parents for dinner and I ended up walking another 2.5 miles with the kids and my mom.

For the week I clocked in 55.75 miles running, 11.50 miles walking and 15.50 miles biking. My legs are ready for a day of rest 🤣🤣