Burpees challenge, a peek in my room, and some running.

I don’t like burpees.  Who does?

Still, my nephew and I decided to do a burpees challenge.  I like the fact that he is enjoying doing something with me.  He will be 15 years old in a few weeks and I cherish whatever moment he wants to spend with me.  Today, Sunday, will be day 7 which means 25 burpees.  I can do 5 in a row and then I start to get tired.  It does get easier, right?

Burpees Challenge

On Thursday and Friday mornings I went to my school to check out my room.  Thursday was the first day that the teachers could start setting up their room.  I went for about 45 minutes because I had to leave.  I am part of another committee and was meeting that week from 8:30 am-3:00 pm.  I didn’t go on Monday but did go Tuesday-Friday. Exhausting work but also rewarding.

I will be going back on Monday to start and finish setting up my room.  My goal is to have it ready by Monday, August 21, but if I don’t have it done then for sure by Wednesday, August 23.  <<First day of school for the kids.

It feels overwhelming because I have so many boxes.

Classroom 3

As mentioned last week, I am no longer training for a marathon so I haven’t been running much.  

On Saturday I went running but with no specific goal.  I just wanted to run as fast and as slow as I could.  I ran 2 miles then saw some friends heading back to Fleet Feet and ended up running back with them.  Total 4.02 miles.

Garmin 8.12.17

I did the same thing on Sunday.  Total 5.02 miles.  Total for the week is 9.02 miles.

Thanks to Facebook for reminding me of my love for the Brooks Launch (from 2015).

Brooks Launch 2

And another reminder of my first half marathon in 2006.  

Distance Classic Half Marathon

The Lion King is my favorite Disney movie.  I’ve watched it various time and have also seen the musical version, maybe 3 times?  I saw that the movie was again at the theater so yesterday I went with my nephews and niece.  Actually it was a sing-a-long so my niece and I were singing some of the songs.  Love it!

 What is your favorite Disney movie?  Want to do the burpees challenge too?

I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap.  This week’s host is Michelle @ Running With Attitude.  Please stop by her blog and show her some love!

Hoping everyone had a good week!

WWGuest

The Great Alaskan Running Cruise: Vancouver, Canada

You can read about my last day at sea HERE.

We woke up in Vancouver.  Our last stop.  We got our last cup of coffee using our coffee card.  <<If you like coffee as much as I do, I suggest you get this card.  The coffee on the ship is NOT good.  With this card you get 15 different coffees (americano, latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate) throughout the week.  Definitely best purchase ever!

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I’ve never been to Vancouver so I was excited about being there.  We were able to get off the ship around 8:30am.  Then we took a cab to the hotel.  Our room wasn’t ready so we left our luggage and went out to explore.  

First we went to Stanley Park.  

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Then we took a ferry to Granville Island.  We did more sightseeing and got something to eat.  So many choices to eat at The Public Market but we ended up at a brewery.  🙂

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We walked on the Granville Island Bridge to get back to our hotel.  We got tired.  Once in our room we took a nap.

Have you heard of the Happy Pace Program?  If I would have stayed longer in Vancouver, for sure I would have shown up at 7:30 am.

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After our nap we went to Gastown.  It is Vancouver’s most historic neighborhood with cobblestone walkways.

The following morning I flew back to Chicago.  But first another bear picture.  I posted this in our private Facebook page and everyone got a kick out of it.  Anybody home?

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Remember my snafu on my flight from Seattle to Anchorage regarding the app to watch TV shows?  Same thing happened.  I had access to free movies and TV shows but I needed the United app in order to watch them.  And I needed wifi to download the app.  

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why

The Great Alaskan Running Cruise: Last Day at Sea

You can read about my day in Ketchikan HERE.

The next day was a Rise and Shine Run/Walk with Coach Jenny (we skipped it) followed by a Flexibility Session and Ask Coach Jenny Q&A.

The rest of the day we just relaxed on the boat.  More gorgeous views!  We also packed. Somewhere around 2:30 pm we made it into Canada.  

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That evening after dinner was a GARC Award Ceremony & Farewell Reception.  There were various drinks on hand but we chose champagne.

It a celebration of everyone’s accomplishments!

Then more walking around the boat.  Sad that our cruise was almost over and saying goodbye to our home for the week.

Cute painting but I didn’t want to find out the cost.

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Love these daily reminders on the elevator.  It was easy to forget what day it was.

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Very important card.  We needed this not only to open our room door but to get off the ship and to get back in.  It was like a credit card that anytime you wanted to buy something, you used that card for your purchase.

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The Great Alaskan Running Cruise: Ketchikan

You can read about my day in Icy Strait Point HERE.

Our last race of the running cruise!  We had the option of either the 5K or 10K.  Meghann and I chose the 5K.

Thank goodness it only rained on our last race day.

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Another hot breakfast and pep talk from Jenny.

Amazing views before the race!  Happy it had stopped raining.

Final instructions before heading out.

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Time to run!  The 10k runners went first followed by the 5k runners.

Done!  Isn’t that a beautiful medal?  

At the finish line there was beer and a “salmon bake” with salmon wraps.  I had the beer but no wrap.  This race wasn’t timed so there was no “official” winner.  However, the two winners were those that drew an ace card from a deck of cards.  I did not win.

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We didn’t stay too long because we wanted to be on the first bus heading back to the ship to shower and get ready, eat, and be reading for our excursion (Historic Ketchikan Trolley).

Meghann and I could never understood this.  I mean I understand the whole custom regulations part, but why coffee?
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Anyway, time to explore Ketchikan.  It started to rain toward the end of our tour.

We saw Nathan Jackson working on a totem pole.

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And we saw a few more totem poles at the Saxman Native Village Totem Pole Park.

That evening after dinner I enjoyed a glass of champagne.

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New shorts and shoes, a deer, and a 10k!

I’ve been adding posts about my Alaska trip to my running cruise page.  You can find the posts HERE on the bottom of the page.  

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I didn’t do much running last week.  19.46 miles to be exact.  

Five miles on Monday wearing new Oiselle shorts.  My favorite shorts and I have about 15 pairs.

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On Wednesday I did a speed workout (1M Warm Up; 12×1 min @95% effort w/1 min jog rest; and 1M Cool Down).  It was easier than expected and I was actually smiling throughout the run.

A friend of mine posted on Instagram her mileage for July and mentioned that her race was in 5 weeks.  She is doing the 50k while I do the marathon.  THAT COMPLETELY FREAKED ME OUT!  I don’t feel ready.  I don’t remember feeling like this last year and my training was MORE intense.  

Saturday’s 4 mile run went well.  I saw my former coach and I mentioned how I had been feeling (not motivated, no longer want to do marathon, and how I don’t want to run anymore).  I told her that I had 16 miles on Sunday and was going to see how I did/felt before making a decision on whether or not to run the marathon.  Well, Sunday came and I managed to run 6 miles.  There is no way I would feel ready in 4 weeks.  I was feeling so many emotions but the two that topped the list were FAILURE and EMBARRASSMENT.  I also felt like a fool and a loser.  Here I am going on and on about training for a marathon and hoping to eventually get a BQ, etc, etc., and I am already quitting.  Who does that?

violin

No marathon for me next month.  I still want to run the Boston Marathon but for now will focus on strength training and swimming.  I still plan to run but just for fun.  I signed up to run the Run Mag Mile (10k for me) on September 9 and the Chicago Half Marathon and 5k (5k for me) on September 24. 

I saw this deer on Sunday morning and it made me smile.

RoadtoBQ115

I got these new Brooks Launch 3.

Brooks Launch 3

And two pairs of the Launch 4.  I know, I have a problem, and need an intervention. Help!

Brooks Launch 4
 
Sign up today to run the Run Mag Mile with me on September 9.  Use  code “BibRaveMM17” for a BONUS water bottle!  Check out the hoodie and the 10k medal. I’ve never done this race and am looking forward to it!

Linking up with MarciaPatti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun