It feels weird (in the best way) having my fall marathon done so early. Twin Cities was the earliest in fall I’ve ever run a marathon. Being blessed with perfect weather was quite a coup. I’ve been laying low this week, not running. I may not run again until next week. Then again maybe I will. Most all of my muscle aches have subsided, no post-marathon blues have set in, but I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t have the urge to “shop” for a new race. What is it with us?
The reason I’ll bust out a marathon with little to no arm twisting? I’m in it for the fun. There’s no better way to channel the carefree joys of childhood than having crazy fun with friends. Running, hiking, riding bikes, kayaking, active pursuits bring out my inner 10 year old.
As soon as we finished Twin Cities, Tara, Jill and I headed out to the Mall of America.
We ate. There was wine. And beer. Ok maybe wine and beer aren’t child-like. But the popcorn and cupcakes were. I didn’t even get pictures of those before we dove in.
Who could resist some quality time on the roller coasters? Gotta keep those marathon muscles moving, right? Best recovery tool ever.
So what’s next? I need to finish out the year:
10/17: Run10Feed10 10k. Register here to join me at Diversey Harbor in Chicago.
10/18: RnR St Louis Half
11/14: RnRLV 5k
11/15: RnRLV Half
My marathon for the year may be over but I’m super excited to be cheering for everyone running Chicago, RnR Brooklyn, NYCM, Marine Corps and all the other great fall races still to come.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
I’m linking up with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.
Oh my gosh, I completely forgot that you have those 2 halfs still to run! When is your “break”?
I don’t know.
I just can’t get past the french fries to read any more.
I bet its a good feeling to have your goal race done and to be able to focus on fun races! I’m hoping to do some no-pressure races this winter (if I can find any).
I have signed up for 6 races during this past week or two! I am on a roll! Time for some fun 5K, 10K kind of races 🙂 I am looking forward to the half I signed up for in January, it will keep me on track during the holidays! You still have some fun runs left! Love the mall pictures!
Still a lot of races for you! I’ve got RNRSTL but that’s it.
I decided to skip RnR Denver because… life. So I will be at Run10Feed10! Can’t wait to see you! I am doing Prairie State Half this weekend, cheering for Chicago, Run10Feed10, NYC and then maybe Schaumburg Half. I would love to run the Holiday Half in San Diego again but not sure it will work with our holiday plans this year. Womp womp.
It was both weird and awesome being finished early last year. I ended up coaching for part of Chicago and then doing Run10 so it wasn’t much time off! This year i have RRCA certification the next weekend then Alex and I go on vacation the next! Winter Warriors starts late November, but no race plans until Feb if I do RNR Nola, which i think i am! Nobody has talked me out of it yet. Then Boston!
You still have some awesome races coming up! I’m hoping to do some RNR races next year!
It sounds like you had a blast! I’ve always wanted to go to the Mall of America!
That does sound like fun and I am with you on being “in it for the fun!” I will be looking forward to what is after my marathon soon, and FUN is #1 on the list!
Yay! I’m just focused on growing a baby now. Nixed my last race for the year so Portland last weekend was the last big hurrah. 😀
We need to talk Vegas!! Where are you staying? When are you getting there? We need to plan to meet up!!
Wow, that burger looks good! Good luck with your halfs.
Vegas is on my bucket list. I really hope to make it happen one year!
You are a beast! Great plans I am also running more no races planned though.,
Wow, you’ve still got quite a year ahead of you! My race season is pretty much over. I’ll do a few more cyclocross races for fun and then I will have a turkey trot that will also serve as a time trial to get updated training paces for my winter focus on running. Glad you had fun at Mall of America!! I lived in Minnesota for a few years – that was always a fun destination.
A roller coaster ride after a marathon? Why not!! Love that photo.
Enjoy your rest! That fun time was well-deserved 😀 I have two more races scheduled – RnR Van 10k on Oct 25 and the half on the 25th. I MIGHT do another half in November, but I haven’t decided yet…;)
I would think that running a marathon before all of those other races would be great so that you can just enjoy them without the monster race taunting you at the end of a packed race schedule. I don’t race nearly as often as I would like because unfortunately (fortunately?) my 3 daughters are talented hockey players so I’m needed to chauffeur them from arena to arena for practices & games on the weekends. It’s not unusual to have them practicing in 3 different arenas all at the same time. If I take a Saturday or Sunday morning off to race we need to coordinate other parents to help out with the chauffeuring. I only have one half marathon on my fall plan this year (compared to 2 years ago when I raced every single weekend for 8 weekends in a row). I have the Scotiabank Toronto Half Marathon on the 18th. After that I’ll have to find the motivation to workout without training for anything specific. I’ve never done that before so it shall be interesting!
Awe, such awesome fun memories at le Mall of America. I felt we walked 8 miles for those cupcakes, but they were worth it. Can’t wait for 2016’s adventure together :).
xo
i’m running des moines half tomorrow, the indy monumental 1/2 on nov 7th and the annapolis 1/2 on the 21st. Girls trips really are the best way to spend race weekends!!!