It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic this week’s is: What do you love/hate about summer running?

All apply even we weren’t in the midst of a pandemic.

Love:

1.Less Layers

I can get changed in minutes. Tank. Skirt. Cap. Go!

so easy to squeeze in a run during lunchtime

2. Sunshine

I love the SUN!! It motivates me to get outside and get my dose of Vitamin D!!

blues skies, sunny days = ❤

3. Longer Days.

As a working runner, this is especially important to me.  It is no fun running in the dark after work.  When it is dark, it limits the places where I can run.

after work runs are my favorite because I can drive to favorite routes

4. Nature is prettier.

I love trees and flowers.  So much to look at during this season.  And different flowers and trees are blooming each week.

flowers and more flowers

5. No Training Runs.

Even during a normal year, I run my big races in the winter, fall and spring.  So summer is just for running. No plans. No stress.

just for fun and connecting with friends

Hate:

1.Mosquitos/Ticks/Black Flies

I am very susceptible to insect bites so I need to always apply insect repellent.  Sometimes I am lax and I pay the price with lots of itchy bites.

2.Humidity

Dry heat is great but when it is humid, it is tough to get the miles in and the speed.  I have to do a lot of walking…

too humid to run!!!

3.More Laundry

Less layers but they are sweaty.  That means that I can’t wear items more than once like I do in the other seasons.

4.Competing Activities

In the summer, there’s hiking, tennis, boating, BBQs, etc. It’s hard to fit it all in and sometimes, I may have to just skip the run in favor of a summer-only activity.

just suffering on the lake lol

5.Lack of Races to Motivate You.

Many more races to sign up for in the spring and fall.  Not many even during a normal summer.  So it may be hard to motivate yourself to get out the door or do those weekend long runs.

luckily for friends or these runs may not happen or be shortened

So I think I LOVE summer running more than I hate it. 

Maybe I should move to a warmer, sunnier climate?

Happy Running! What do you love and/or hate about summer?  Do you love or hate it more. Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic today is: Gardening and Running

When I was a teacher, I had the summers off and I had a big perennial garden.  (I was not a runner back then).

Then I changed careers and started working during the summers.  So I let this garden die grow wild. I eventually also started running.

This summer with working from home and taking down a huge pine tree, I decided to create a new perennial garden.

Here are 5 reasons why both running and gardening are very similar:

1.Start small.

It is not recommended to start off by running a marathon.  You start with one mile and continue onto a 5k.  Maybe at some point even a half marathon or longer distances.

back in 2008…I didn’t start running 13.1 until 2011.

Your plants will not be full and tall right away.  If you plant too many at first, you will have to split them or your garden will be too crowded.  So buy a few the first year and add more each year, as necessary.

2.Progress happens slowly.

Remember how slow your first 5k or half marathon time was?  Everyone progresses differently.  And some runners progress faster than others. And of course, there will be setbacks (injuries or illnesses.) Patience!

2015 – finally a HM age group award

Some of your plants may die, get diseases or eaten by predators.  Others may take a few years before they bloom.  Patience!

3. Hydration and fueling are complicated.

Of course, we need to hydrate when we run.  But when and how often?  Do we carry water?  Is it different for different weather conditions or distances? And what and when do you eat?  How often do you eat during a race or run?

This was my favorite handheld.

And yes, plants need water to grow. How much? When is the best time to water your garden? How often do you water?  And fertilizer…what kind, how often, etc?

4. Consistency is important.

We all know that to move forward with your running, you cannot skip a lot of runs. You need to get out there several times a week.  If you take time off from running, it is definitely harder when you do get back into running.

obviously a hard half marathon – my first one after my broken ankle

With my garden, it’s weeding.  Not a pleasant job, but if you let it go, OMG, it is so much worse. I have to do it EVERYDAY.

5. Set and Re-adjust goals.

It’s great to have a running goal…maybe even something like a BQ.  It gives us something to work towards. But as we know, injuries happen, life happens (hello, pandemic), we have to re-adjust. Hey, I thought that I was going to run one half marathon each month in 2020.

Half #2 of 2020

My new goal is just 3 shorts run during the week and 10 miles on the weekend with a new focus on nature walks. The 12 half marathon goal will have to wait.

My initial goal for my garden was to have a beautiful flowers, mostly pink and purple perennials.  Obviously a long-term goal. Some of the plants were eaten by deer, some died, others were not flowering well or yet.

This year’s goal is now to fill up the space with other pretty objects such as a bird bath, annual flowers, solar fountain, sun catchers, ornaments, etc.

A work in progress (like my running)

Happy Running! Are you into gardening? Or do you have another hobby that has similarities to running? Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic today is: Run/Walk Across a State Challenge.

When there aren’t any races, there are so many reasons to run a virtual race or sign up for a virtual challenge.  One of the popular ones is running or walking across a state.  I’m not sure if every state has this challenge but I know that the larger ones such as IL, NY and TN do.

What’s neat is that you do not have to live in the state to sign up for the challenge.

It started on May 15 and lasts until August 31. There are different distances that you can sign up for depending on how many miles or kms you want to complete.

Don’t worry if you haven’t sign up yet.  You have until July 5!! And you can enter your miles retroactively.

Originally I signed up for the Across NYS 500K (Thruway Challenge).

Then I realized that if I added my walking miles, I would be finished too soon so I changed to the 1000k option.  That’s 6 miles a day!! Yikes 🙂

But here are my five reasons to sign up for this challenge (before July 5):

1.It’s Virtual

In other words, you can do your miles at any time and any place. You can fit your miles into your work schedule.  You can run or walk when the weather conditions are more favorable.

hot morning run

2.Keeps You Motivated.

You enter your miles onto the website.  You track them.  You see your progress and you can see how others are doing, as well (for those competitive people).

as of 6/9 – I’ve got a lot of work to do!!

Also when we pay for something, we are more likely to participate, right?

3. You Can be Part of a Team.

When you sign up you can choose a team.  Then you can track the team’s progress and ranking.

I’m on a team of 11 (SoleSisters).

there are 853 teams!!!!!!!! (as of 6/10)

4.You Can Walk.

Not everyone wants the pressure of running a lot of miles especially in the summertime.  Or you may even be recovering from an injury.

This challenge allows you record walking miles.  You don’t have to link up to a tracking device.  It’s on the honor system.

In fact, more of my miles are walking/hiking miles than running ones.

just a walk on a trail

5.Support an Important Charity

The donations and a portion of the proceeds of the challenge benefit Covid-19 Relief in Your State:

Direct Relief works in the U.S. and internationally to equip doctors and nurses with life-saving medical resources to care for the world’s most vulnerable people.

One more:

6.Swag

One of a kind shirts and gaiters (face coverings) will be sent to ALL participants. Medals will be awarded to those that cross the VIRTUAL FINISH LINE!

Happy Running! Have you signed up for this or any other virtual challenge? Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic today is: The Racing Void.

I have been know to run as many as 40 races in a year.  Usually at least 30. Well, not this year.

Of course, I miss all the people involved in a race: my friends, the other runners, the volunteers, the crowd but here are some other little things that I also miss:

1.FlatMes

You know, planning your race outfit the night before and posting a pic.

Of course, I always plan my outfit but it’s not the same if you are not going to a race.

2.Pinning on a Bib.

It’s one of the things that makes a race different than a run or a virtual race.

3.Pre-Race Jitters.

No matter how many races I have run, I always feel nervous waiting at the start line.

4.Swag and Awards.

There’s something special about someone putting a medal over your head or handing you an age group award.

5.Post Race Refreshments

Free Ice Cream,

Chocolate Milk or even a Dark n Stormy.

They just taste better when you’ve earned them in a race.

Happy Running! Do you miss any of the above? Are there some other things that you miss when you are not racing? Please share.