Bring on the Taper!

Monday was a scheduled rest day, with Ryan away for a work trip and work on the bathroom continuing.

Tuesday, I really did plan to run, but it just didn't work out that way... I have strong feelings of anxiety about going out in the early mornings to run and leaving Sam sleeping at the house while Ryan is away. I know the likelihood of anything happening is slim, but it really sort of freaks me out. So I did not get out for a morning run. I had hoped I would be able to get out in the afternoon/early evening after I got home from work, but we needed to make a trip out to pick up additional bathroom materials and then the guys stayed until 6:30 working on the bathroom, and by then I was starved and there was no way I was going for a run. Are all of the above excuses or choices or just life? I don't know, but sometimes running just has to shift down the priority list a bit for one reason or another. We did make a stop at DQ for ice cream while were out, so maybe it all evens out. I mean, ice cream is the same as running, right?! 😂😋 

Wednesday morning, you can just read the line about anxiety and just say deja vu. But thankfully I was working at home, and so after meeting 1 of 3 for the day, I snuck out into the sunshine for a run! Nothing like starting the running week on Wednesday, especially when you are attempting to get in one final big week before the taper starts 😐😏😆 Ran out and back on Highland Green Road to make it as quick and easy as possible. (8.0 miles)

Ryan got back Wednesday night. It was nice to have him home, and meant that Thursday morning's run was a run on the cart paths in the murky, sticky darkness followed by a weird yellowish lightening of the sky through the thick clouds as the sun rose and finally a loud crack of thunder and lightning followed by pouring rain for the final mile. (7.0 miles)

Asters in the yellow morning light before the rain started

Friday was a run out through the Commons to Coleman Farm to take in the glorious later summer asters blooming along the field edges and the always beautiful salt marsh views. Cool, crisp and bright morning but very blustery. Nothing says fall like a run in long sleeves followed up by a pumpkin glazed donut from Frosty's! 😋🍩(10.0 miles)

Love the late summer wildflowers

Garter snake

Yum!

We had originally planned to head up to Keri and Tyler's on Friday afternoon to stay over before Saturday's HVNC Race Through the Woods, but life got a bit nuts on their end and it didn't work out to stay over, so we ended up just driving up on Saturday morning. It meant no early morning run to do a course check for me, so instead I got up and out early for another run on Highland Green Road before we headed north. Cool, still blustery and very dark. (8.0 miles)

Pretty sundog over the Woolwich marsh

We arrived in time to help with registration and then Ryan headed off with the rest of the runners to do the 5.5 mile race, while Sam, Elise and I took a walk on the trails out to the bog. A beautifully bright and crisp morning, and so many pitcher plants in the bog amongst the reddening cranberry leaves. So pretty! (1.0 miles walked)

So many pitcher plants!

💗

Enjoyed catching up with friends, cheering on the runners, volunteering and just enjoying a beautiful day outside. After the race finished and things got cleaned up, we headed over to Tin Top Cider with Keri, Tyler, Elise, Val, Rick and Mindy to sit outside in the sunshine, grilling sausages and drinking cider for a few hours before heading home. A full and fun day!

Definitely tired out from all the fresh air and activity of Saturday, so I did not get out until around 8:00 am on Sunday for my long run. Another beautiful morning, perfect for arm sleeves at the start and warming up nicely for the final few hours of the run. Put together a nice loop around town linking up eight of the trail sections in town that I can reach on foot from home - trail along Granite Hill; trail along the Androscoggin River along Elm Street; Highlands trail; Foreside Field trails; powerlines; Gone Fishing; Cathance; and trails behind Mt. Ararat. Fun! Two deer, one downy and one hairy woodpecker seen. Last long run of the training cycle done. Now bring on the taper! Although slightly anxious about No Business (only 3 weeks away!!), also grateful to be able to get out and enjoy these long runs to appreciate the beauty of where we live and the fact that my legs allow me to explore, and am looking forward to continuing to test myself and explore new places through this crazy sport of ultra running! (22.0 miles)

Partridge berry along the Highlands trail

And in home news, the bathoom is finished, and really looks great!!! Now if only I had a pot of money hidden away somewhere so we could immediately move on to renovating the rest of the house 😂 The rest might have to wait, but for now we are definitely enjoying the new bathroom 😊