Welp, it definitely felt like summer this week! It was HOT and HUMID, which made for some sweaty and sticky runs. Most days this week were in the 90s, but “felt like” 100+. We don’t get a lot of that in Cleveland, and honestly, I don’t mind it. I much prefer this weather than sub 20-degree temps, which it feels like we get more of!

I’ve always been a hater of the cold. If I get cold, I feel that with no matter how many layers, I can’t get warm. I’ll wear sweater after sweater and sweatshirt and blanket, and I stay cold. But for me, the second I step into AC, I cool down. I know not everyone is like that, and maybe I’d feel differently if I lived somewhere it was hotter and more regularly 90+ degrees, but I can’t complain about this week! I still managed to get in some runs and walks, just a little slower and sweatier than usual. AND we had swim lessons M-Th, so I spent some time in the pool (mostly holding GM, not actually swimming unfortunately) most evenings so I stayed cool that way!

Here’s how the week looked:

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Happy almost official start of summer! It feels like summer here and I’m loving it. We had some good sunshine this week, some warm days, but all in all, not bad running weather here.

Some highlights for this week –

I got in a long (for me) run on Sunday – 9 miles! I am not training for anything right now, and it felt good to get outside and run. I also felt good the rest of the week – no big soreness after completing the 9 miler.

I did a 5K race with FW! I didn’t get to truly race it (for me) because I wanted to run with FW the full time, but I also wanted to push him to run fast (for him). We haven’t run together in a while (since Christmas!) so it was great to get outside and run with him. He did great – and then after the race went to baseball practice so he was definitely tired!

Here’s how the week looked:

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Happy belated Global Running Day to those who celebrate! 

Cleveland had a fun celebration that included a run along a lakefront path right near downtown and more, but it was at 6 p.m., which conflicted with our existing plans. Now, if only someone would host a 6 AM (or even better, 5 a.m.) running celebration – I’d be in!

That said, I did “celebrate” the day by going for my own run, and internally, celebrating the fact that I run. It’s hard not to take for granted the fact that I can run — I know I’m very lucky that I have the resources to run, including the time to run, a place to run, childcare, job flexibility, access to running paths/routes near me, a supportive spouse, and of course, I’m lucky to have a body that let’s me run.

So this week, I’m celebrating the fact that I get to run, and am so glad that I can do it!

Here’s how the week looked:

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And just like that, MAYhem is over! May is always our craziest month of the year. As if it weren’t crazy enough with kids activities and end of school year, it’s also my busiest month of work with our annual meeting and then I travel out of town. 

May was a pretty good month – here were some highlights, both running and non-running related:

• Great month for work: After months of prep, I had a successful work trip to Orlando!
• Great month for racing: I completed the Cleveland Marathon Challenge Series for the half marathon, finishing the 5K and half marathon with times I haven’t seen in 5+ years
• Lots going on with the family: The month included a ballet recital for LM, GM concluding his first soccer league, FW’s first piano recital, FW’s first communion, plus plenty of other activities like weekly ice skating lessons for LM, baseball games starting for FW, plus wrapping up of soccer for FW (we end in June)
• LM’s birthday: We celebrated LM’s birthday with a fun day of mother-daughter activities, plus a birthday party with friends and then a get-together with family
• Total Miles Run: 140+ miles – despite everything going on, I had many long runs as I got ready for race day and had a great month of miles!

I’m not going to lie, I think it’s all been catching up with me because this week I found myself barely able to get out of bed and I was TIRED! That meant a little less than usual in terms of workouts because I snoozed too long and ran out of time. Also, LM was off school, so that meant not much time for mid-day walks. With that, here’s how the week looked:

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After last week’s Cleveland Marathon 5K and half marathon, I spent this week listening to my body. This meant I did not get in a lot runs unfortunately! 

I woke up Monday feeling pretty sore in my quads, and my left quad/hip area in particular was sore. This is where I had an injury in the beginning of the training cycle, so I didn’t want to take it lightly. I went out for a few short runs, a few short walks, but that was really it this week.

This lack of activity worked with my schedule – I had a busy few days after traveling last week, and a training this week and catching up. My daughter finished school Wednesday, and was home Thursday and Friday. So, I didn’t have any lunch hours open for walks, etc. and also didn’t have time to myself during the day for any breaks. But we’re almost done with our month of MAYhem!

Here’s how the week looked:

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Do you ever feel a little bummed after a race? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m GLAD training is over because I can take some time to run whatever I want … but after so many weeks of prep and training, all of a sudden, it’s all done! 

It feels like a blur. Just a few days ago I was in Orlando for a work trip, and now I’ve had a whirlwind of a weekend with Marathon events (plus life! Which also meant we had a piano recital, baseball scrimmage, ballet recital and more).  

Since this is a weekly recap, here’s a quick look at my week before the race weekend happened – it included some short runs but I tried to keep it simple the week before the race. I had a lot of time on my feet between my work trip and some walks, and had a few runs, including:

Sunday: 5.07 miles before my flight out

Monday: 3.6 miles hotel gym

Tuesday: 3.75 miles hotel gym

Wednesday: off

Thursday: 1.7 mi walk and 2.12 mi run

Friday: Off

And then race weekend began! This year, it included:

FRIDAY AFTERNOON — THE RACE EXPO

For the past few years, I have volunteered at the Cleveland Marathon Race Expo with other Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors. I LOVE IT! It is my favorite way to kick off the weekend and get excited for the race weekend to begin. At the expo, I enjoy working at the packet pickup, helping people pick up their packets and get their bib number assigned. I also get to reunite with my fellow race ambassadors! It’s so fun to talk with people, get them checked in, answer their questions about the race, and feel the excitement with all the runners in one place.

FRIDAY NIGHT — VIP RACE BANQUET

Friday night, I was invited once again to attend the VIP banquet with the Cleveland Marathon ambassadors. I feel so fortunate to be invited to this event and to be with those that plan and produce this great event. And, of course I love catching up with my other ambassadors. It is so fun to see my running friends all dressed up! We usually see one another in running clothes, sweaty, etc. But Friday night is our chance to dress up!

SATURDAY MORNING — 5K

Saturday morning: I kicked off the day with the Cleveland Marathon 5K. I met the other ambassadors at the starting line to take a photo and wish everyone a good race.  Despite what my official time was on the race app, my Garmin had me clocking in at 8:15 miles, which is SPEEDY for me! I definitely wanted to take it east because of my Sunday race, but I got too into the race excitement and went out faster than normal.

SUNDAY — HALF MARATHON

Sunday morning: Half marathon time! Again, my goals this year were to just have fun. I started the racing training season with a hip injury, so didn’t start right when I usually start. My feet were sore all day Friday from wearing heels during my work trip and being on my feet. I was still tired after a few days of long work hours and staying out late with coworkers. But after Saturday’s speedy (for me) 5K, I wondered if I could run a little faster? 

I kicked off the race with a pre-start photo with my other ambassadors. It’s so great to see them before the race – it really gives me energy to see them all before we go our different ways.

But then, I had a LONG wait in line for the porta potties, and didn’t start the race 7:05, after my corral had already gone through and started the race, so when I crossed the starting line I was already dodging walkers and when I got to the first mile marker, my watch read 1.3 miles … so I knew my 13.1 would likely be longer.

I had debated wearing a tank top or short sleeved shirt – it was 62 at start, and my “tank top weather” is 67 or higher. But B convinced me to run in the tank top and I’m so glad! It was HUMID and I was hot by mile 2. Luckily, there were plenty of water stations along the course, and I made it a point to stop at each one to drink 1-2 water cups, plus some nuun. I stopped gave tons of kids high fives, grabbed an orange from someone handing out oranges in front of their house, and even ran through a hose and a water gun at different points along the course!

Even with all my stops, I managed to finish FASTER than last year – at 2:02! And my Garmin read 1:59 at 13.1 (I finished at 13:45 mi), so I’m counting it as an almost sub-2 race 🙂

Overall, I’m SO SO happy with how the race went. I had SO MUCH fun running the race again! I loved seeing my husband, his sister, her kids and my kids along the course. The crowd support felt so great and I loved every single person who stood out and gave out high fives, bananas, oranges, and more.

THANK YOU Cleveland Marathon for THE BEST weekend. For letting me be an ambassador AGAIN. I wasn’t sure if I should take on the challenge this year, but I’m SO GLAD I did. I’m so grateful for getting to run around my city once again and represent this wonderful race. I’m so grateful to be part of this great team!

Questions for you:

• What’s your goal half marathon time?
• What’s “too hot” for you to run?

I am linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.