Running in Arkansas

We're on our last summer vacay...visiting the in laws in Arkansas and trying to get my running in. Running the suburbs isn't quite as interesting as running NYC, but it does afford a different experience. It's always fun to not quite know what's around the corner. Like a view like this....



Got in 4 miles this morning. The temp is going up to 101 today.

View from a Run

I try to run a different route each time I head out to make things interesting.
Last week's view was just about perfect for a couch potato. A friend I'm thankful for offered her fancy like new treadmill to me because she was moving. Instead of letting her give it to me, I said I'd "borrow" it for marathon training. I'll only run once a week on it, so I can keep my legs road worthy, but it sure is awesome to wake up before the fam and get a 10K in without having to worry about childcare or pushing the jogger.

Thus, the view from a 10K last week....


...a living room well lived in.

And where does one put a treadmill in one's NYC apartment (even when our apt is a bit bigger than the local average)?


Behind the chair crammed into the bookshelf alcove. Let's hope I don't fall and fling into the bookshelf at some point!

Off Schedule

(Team for Kids group run on a rainy Monday night in Central Park)

While in Thailand I missed my team's 11 mile Saturday long run. They started at the Winter Garden near the World Trade Center and ran part of the way up the West Side Hwy...something I've yet to do. Thus, am a bit off schedule and a bit bummed, so I've dropped down to the beginner's group to play catch up. Since home, I've enjoyed a few runs with some new folks who make nice running companions....had a great 8 mile run and 6 mile run with a gal who lives near me. We've agreed to meet on Thursday mornings at 6 to get our run in. I find it really hard to do ALL of my runs during the week and this will help me. Plus, running with others has given me several new fundraising ideas...more to come!

Running Thailand?

We've been back from Thailand for a bit, but overcome by to-do lists, jet lag and playing catch up.


Thailand was amazing: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, The Golden Triangle with a brief border crossing into Laos, Phuket and Bangkok once more.


Waiting on a delayed plane in Bangkok. The most important question related to my marathon training: Did I run while in Thailand? Although I tried to find a local running club and weekend races in a couple different cities and although I went to Bangkok's "central park" and my hotel had a treadmill, sadly I did not run while on my two week exotic vacation. The jet lag was killer as was the humidity. The very few runners I saw we running at a shuffling 16 min per mile pace. For a second I thought, wow, if I ran a race here, I just might win! And then I remembered I took would be suffering from the oppressive humidity. No way.

I'd read recently that one's fitness level can be sustained for 1 week even without working out. At the end of my first week in Thailand, having not run for 1 week, I had the acute sensation that my muscles were beginning to atrophy. It may have been in my mind, but I just felt icky and like I could jump out of my skin. By the end of 2 weeks I felt like I'd never been training at all. Any ability felt lost, as did my motivation.

We got home on a Sunday night and I joined my running group on the following Wednesday night for the most brutal and embarrassing 4.5 miler I'd ever run. Well, it was a speed workout...we were supposed to run 1 to 1.5 mins faster than our regular pace for the duration. Sadly, I couldn't keep it up and had to walk. Brutal. But hey, I guess I got back out there! Counts for something! Onward!

Running, as seen on Etsy + Thailand

We are heading to Thailand tonight. Excited! Nervous! It's a trip that's been on my short list for some years. And my running shoes are packed. Somehow I hope to figure out where to run in Bangkok & Chiang Mai. I've googled some running groups, but who knows if I can figure out how to meet up with them. In the two weeks we're gone I need to log 58 miles. I shall keep calm. And do the best I can.

Found some inspiration on Etsy last night. You can find the above here.



Love the colors in this one. Can I get a pair of Asics Gels like these?


Because I'm a therapist, I love this one...




If only I could find compression socks in this striped colorway!

See you in Thailand! If we survive a 17 hour flight with a 2 year old!