Camp Fun

We picked Sam up at camp on Saturday morning. She was exhausted but filled with many stories and sounds like she and her friends had an amazing two weeks. And the weather was pretty great too, even if it was a bit toasty, so that certainly helps!

Here are are few camp photos to start off the post:

4th of July fun

End of the session dance

This second week while Sam was away was pretty quiet on the homefront.

Monday, we took a walk around the block after dinner. (1.7 miles walked)

Tuesday morning, I headed out and did a short run. The hamstring was feeling ok and it was nice to be running, although I am trying not to get my hopes up. Looped out on the powerlines and back via the roads. First wood lily sighting of the year, but too far off in the brush to get a photo. Milkweed in bloom and blueberries ripening. (3.0 miles)

Wednesday, I went out for a walk before work. So heavy. (2.0 miles walked)

Thursday, we went out to dinner at Nomad, which was fun and delish!

Friday, I headed over to Pennelville to run/walk/whatever felt good. It was a nice morning, and my hamstring felt good on the way out to Simpson's Point so I decided to keep running. Then by mile 2.5, I was feeling it twinge and decided to stop and walk the rest of the way back. I really do love it out here among the fields. Bobolinks, red winged blackbirds and goldfinch flitting about and many wildflowers. 2.5 miles run + 1.5 miles walked)

Definitely feeling the hamstring after that, so it was probably a bad idea. Sigh.

Saturday, I drove over to Foreside to walk out onto the powerlines and enjoy the wood lilies and blueberries. I wish I was running, but obviously that is just not happening right now. One deer, three blueberries, a whole lot of spider webs, and wood lilies and blueberries galore. (2.4 miles walked)

One of my woodland favorites 💗

And then it was off to pick Sam up at camp! So glad she gets to enjoy these fun few weeks in the woods with friends, but we missed her and it was good to have her home!

After a bit of relaxation (and laundry! 😂), we headed down to my aunt Theresa's for a few hours in the later afternoon, as cousin Sean and his boys were in town visiting for the weekend. We had fun catching up with everyone and enjoying an early dinner but Sam was definitely pooped so we headed home around 5:30. Of coruse, we hit the crazy rains that came through on our way home. So.much.water!

Sunday, I headed out early for a bit of movement before we headed to Bradbury to volunteer at the finish line of the Scuffle. (1.7 miles walked)

It's a bit rough to be around runners when you yourself are not running and are on the DL. But it was good to be there and to see friends and cheer on everyone finishing the race. Then Mom and Dad came over for a taco dinner. Such a social day!

While Sam was away, the kitties enjoyed her bed 😻

Gigi is looking very displeased that I interupted her nap!

Awww 

 

Skunks, Dismay and a Change of Plans

OK, let's get the dismay and the change of plans out of the way.

I was feeling pretty down this week with a definitely meltdown and a lot of frustration. I am sad without my running. Walking and hiking are all well and good, of course, and get me outside, but they are just not the same. Anyway, I cried it out for a bit and have moved on to acceptance. I've deferred my entry to Twisted Branch to 2025, and we'll cancel our airbnbs and shift it all to next year. And we'll come up with something else to do for a trip at the end of August. Honestly, this is the best for everyone and I know I'll be fine, just need a bit of time to sort this hamstring/glute thing out.

So, onto the skunks! I know, I know, a lot of people don't like skunks, or groundhogs, or raccoons, or fox, all of which I love seeing out back. It's their world too, and I am happy to share it with them. Especially when momma skunk brings her FIVE babies for a visit on Monday evening! OMG, so cute 😍😍

Had hoped to do a run on Tuesday morning but the hamstring was still irritated. I did throw in a few slow running bursts but it was obvious I needed to keep it chill for a bit here. Frustrated and annoyed and trying to have patience, which is truly not a strength of mine. 😫🤪😬(2.6 miles walked)

Walked on Wednesday again after work. Warm and breezy. Hamstring still feeling cranky, but glad to be out moving. (2.0 miles walked)

A day off on Thursday for 4th of July. Dad and Ryan played golf in the morning, and after doing the grocery shopping (truly 7:00 am on a holiday is the best time to shop. So quiet!) and a few things around the house, I went out for another walk. Walked on the powerlines for the first mile, then a mix of run/walk for the rest. The interesting thing is that it is not really pain but more like the left glute/hamstring is tight and not to full strength. Working on exercises, and have made an appointment to see a sports doctor, which is not happening soon enough but at least it is on the calendar. Meadowsweet is in bloom along the powerlines. (3.0 miles walked)

Then mid-afternoon, we headed down to Harpswell with Mom and Dad for an early dinner at Erica's. It was a beautiful afternoon, cooler along the coast, with pretty views out onto the water and the food was delish! Topped off the fried food with ice cream at Fielder's Choice. Yum! 

Did a mix of work, errands and chores around the house before lunch on Friday, and then headed out in the hottest part of the day for a walk around 2:00 😆😜Toasty but at least there was a breeze. (2.0 miles walked)

Saturday, Ryan and I headed down to the Bowdoin Coastal Studies Center for a walk mid-morning. Foggy and muggy, but nice to get out in the woods with Ryan. Definitely a cool piece of property. One deer, one cool slug, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers and one polyphemus moth seen, along with some black ducks out on the water. Hamstring felt good. (3.0 miles walked)

Then we headed into town for lunch at Maiz. YUM! So good. 

This morning, I met up with Emma for a walk at Brad. We were originally going to meet at Pineland, but Ian was bringing Iona over to run the Scuffle as part of the group run later in the morning, so Bradbury worked best for them. I wasn't really in the mood to see runner friends who I know would ask about running and racing, but I am glad I didn't cancel (which I did ponder briefly). It was so good to catch up with Emma and it is always nice to walk and talk with a good friend 💗Also, it was good to have a chance to chat with Craig and PT, who I saw in the parking lot. And even better, Ryan got in a great long run with the group. It is perhaps apt that he is now dealing with me doing the moaning and groaning over an injury and he is feeling great 😉😜But seriously, while I would like to not be dealing with this, I am incredibly happy that he seems to be on the right track and is feeling good with his running! And hopefully I'll be back there soon too.

End of June

Finished off the month not quite the way I had hoped running-wise. Hamstring really has been feeling OK, but this week it's been a bit off and Saturday's run irritated it enough that the final few miles involved a lot of walking and hurt enough on Sunday that I walked instead. Sigh. Not the first six months of the year I had hoped for, but what can you do? I'm trying my best not to be too frustrated (although Ryan might say otherwise) and know I've been incredibly lucky to have gone so long without suffering a silly injury like this one. Hoping I can get back in the swing of things quickly.

Monday was a rest day, and Tuesday I headed out for an easy road loop. Nice morning - cool, bright and humid. Milkweed is in bloom! (6.0 miles)

Wednesday was an early morning run on the powerlines. Warm and muggy, but the blueberries are ripening! (7.0 miles)

Rose twisted stalk is everywhere

Love the hayscented ferns 

Thursday was a morning walk during the last swim practice of the season. Warm. (2.2 miles walked)

Friday, I headed out early for a road run, looping across the river into Brunswick. Crown vetch everywhere. Nice, bright morning and low humidity too - hurray! (7.0 miles)

Neal came into town for a visit Friday night, and Mom and Dad came over to join us for dinner. So much sushi! Yum!

Saturday morning, I headed out for a run and Ryan and Neal headed off to play golf. I was planning on my first 20 miler of the training cycle. Ran out into the Cathance and enjoyed all the blooming partridge berry on the forest floor.

Then it was out onto the powelines, where the hamstring started to twinge a bit around 13 miles. Not quite sure why, as it really had been feeling decent. It got cranky enough that the final few miles turned into a lot of walking and a little running. Ugh. Not what I had hoped for. Nice, cool, breezy morning to be out though, which was nice, but can't say I was a super happy camper. (16.0 miles)

Sunday, I got up and headed out for a run, which turned after a few steps into a walk. The hamstring was not happy. Realized I was going to have to make some adjustments, and texted with Emily letting her know she should see if Ian was still game for pacing, which he had previously offered. He and Ryan can split the miles and I'll be crew person extraordaire for the weekend. Not what I was hoping for, but it was too stressful thinking I needed to be ready. I have until August 1 to make a decision about Twisted Branch, so we will see what the next month brings on that front. Sigh. (2.0 miles walked)

Then after a bit of final packing and an early lunch, it was off to Y Camp for camp drop-off! Sam, Anne and Rohan are all in the same cabin - these girls are going to have so much fun these next few weeks! 😍😍

And because it is the end of yet another month, here is the June wrap-up:

June Miles:

184.95 run miles 
17.12 walk miles
0.0 XC miles

YTD:
891.5 run miles
101.4 walk miles
0.0 XC miles

Heat & Humidity

I don't mind the heat of summer, but the 90s we had mid-week this week was just too much! I don't want Florida temps here, people! And truly, I could do without the humidity too. Whew! It's been heavy this week!!😉😬

Ran Highland Green on Tuesday morning at 5:45 am. One deer and way too many deer flies seen. (6.0 miles)

Wednesday morning was a warm and humid run on the powerlines. Temps went up about 10 degrees while I was out there, and I started at 6:20 am. Whew! So sweaty. Air smelled so good though - hay scented ferns and blackberry brambles. Oh yes and a lot of deer flies. (7.2 miles)

 

Rose Pogonias are in bloom 😍😍

After dinner, I joined Ryan for a walk around the block. "Cooler" but still insanely humid. (1.7 miles)

Friday, I headed out a few minutes before 7:00 am for a run on the cart paths and into the Cathance. Had planned to run all 9 holes but a couple was playing on hole 5 and the lady was not very nice and basically yelled at me to get off the cart paths, despite the fact that the course didn't officially open until 8:00 and I was running through way prior. Jeez! Otherwise, it was another humid June run, but with a slightly breeze and the first ripe blueberries of the season! (8.0 miles)

After lunch and the regular Friday morning errands, we headed south for a visit with Ryan's parents. It was great to see them, and fun to hear about their recent cruise and catch up. 

On Saturday morning, I headed over to run on the Vineyard Hill and Bradley Palmer trails. No air movement, too many deer flies and too much poison ivy and high grass for my liking, and so insanely humid it was like running through water. At least it wasn’t hot though 🤪 Four cute bunnies, three deer and two killdeer seen. (10.0 miles)

While I was out running, Ryan and Dad got in 9 holes of golf, and then as the weather was on and off rain, we had a relaxing afternoon inside and then went out for a yummy dinner in Newburyport, after which we drove by Neal and Kendra's still under construction house and took the only photo of us from the whole weekend 😂😂

This morning, in among the rain showers, I headed out for a road run around the Georgetown block. Temps were in the 60s but still insanely humid. Definitely a good week for a down week 😜 (7.0 miles)