So, I did around 3,500 miles this month!….
In my car.
I haven’t been active here lately, partly due to my roadtrip! On July 31st, I packed up my trusty 2009 Pontiac Vibe and hit the road. Along with the essential clothing, toiletries and podcasts to entertain, I also packed my 9 year old beagle, Snoopy. Where were we heading? We were going across the border south east to my hometown of Franklin, Wisconsin. We had stopovers planned in Longville, Minnesota (my aunt and uncle live there). Snoopy is an excellent travel companion; I honestly cannot say that enough. He just curls up and sleeps the whole time, does not fuss, and is excited to arrive to any destination. So I kept myself occupied by listening to a variety of podcasts and when I really started losing it I would talk to Snoopy.
All packed and ready to hit the road!
We made it to my mom’s on August 4th, and we stayed until August 22nd. During that time, I was able to see all of my family that lives in the area, attend a closing day of Badgerette Pom Pon camp (I worked for Badgerette for 5 summers), watch the State Distinguished Young Woman show with my friend Maureen (I won 2nd alternate back in it’s Junior Miss hey day), go to two travelling beer gardens, see a bunch of my friends back home, eat and drink my way through both Wisconsin State Fair & Zoo Ala Carte, go to my favourite Mexican restaurant 3 times, play in a bag toss tournament, and so much more.
“Swimming” with Snoopy in Lake Wabedo in Northern Minnesota
When you are in Longville, MN, you go to the Meat Raffle at the bar….and win!
The main reason I drove was so I would be able to bring back the remains of my childhood that was still housed at my moms. It wasn’t that she was forcing me to take it, but I have been gone since 2008, so I figured it was time. Yearbooks, photos, games, puzzles, Barbies, Littlest Pet Shop, etc, etc, etc….It is now all back in Alberta. I also packed up some New Glarus Beer, a ton of Wisconsin cheese, 32 bottles of Sprecher soda, and who knows what else. Snoopy and I arrived back in Lethbridge on August 24th. Wow, it felt good to get back! We both missed his daddy Dan and his brothers Woodstock and Faron.
That’s for DAMN sure!
During that trip, I also started running. I had done my first 5km run prior to the trip in a numbing time of 33:43. I had walked and jogged a bunch during it. That was on July 28th. Remember, my foot surgery was on June 10th. I had been given the clear I could start running after my 6 week post op on July 21st. I did my first humid (SO HUMID AND HOT) Wisconsin run on August 7th. It was a little 20 minute jaunt that average 9:40 per mile. Oww. On August 11th, I went out to try and beat my July 28th 5km time. I did so handedly, running a 30:02! So close to that sub 30! I did a couple other 1-2 mile runs during my time in Wisconsin, but I wanted to try and get under 30 minutes. On August 16th, I set out to do that. I ran that 5km in 28:20! These gains I have made in less than a month since coming back into running are huge. I was going nuts not running for over 6 weeks, and taking this time to get my newly fixed foot used to running (and running properly) has been great.
5km well under 30 minutes!
Since returning to Lethbridge, I am happy that the humidity is gone. I have ran on August 25th, 26th and 27th, and the weather has been glorious. The biggest highlight was yesterday, the 27th. I went out to run a sole mile with the goal of getting between 8:00-8:15, a pace I was always easily able to obtain on my runs, and my sweet spot for my Boston qualifying pace. I finished that mile in 8:14! Guess what world…LAMMERS IS BACK!
And guess what today is? Today marks the start of WEEK 1 of my GOOFY CHALLENGE training plan. I have put together a very non-aggressive 19 week training plan with the goal of “comfortable completion” of the 2017 Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge, which is a half marathon on Saturday, January 7th followed by a full marathon on Sunday, January 8th. The even more special thing about this race is that I will be running my 2nd WDW full marathon alongside my best friend Ali. It will be her very first full marathon! I will be there to support her through those dark moments (especially between miles 15-23!!!) She has run half marathons before, and I have set her up with a training plan to coincides with her Spartan Race and Crossfit schedule. It will be a weekend to remember!
The original “Pottage Pose” from the marathon portion of the 2014 Dopey Challenge in WDW
19 weeks is a LONG training plan. When I ran the Vancouver Marathon in 2015 and Boston in 2016, I had an intense 16 week plan. This plan does not include speedwork. It just has two easy runs a week plus a long run on the Saturday. Then, in late October, I add another mid distance run on Friday, which will help prepare me for the two day challenge that Goofy presents. I am not going for any speed records at this race; I want to get my body back into running shape so I can begin to push myself again come the new year!
I have updated my 2016 race schedule, as I have a few local events in October and November. I will be recapping those after they occur, and I will definitely be keeping you posted on how my Goofy training goes. Until then, I need to get ready for my first day back at work tomorrow….Teachers start this week, with students coming in the day after Labour Day. For teachers, this is our “New Year”. Happy New Year to all the teachers, students and parents out there!
Je Me Souviens-To Infinity & Beyond! 