weekly wrap: 8.5.18 – 8.11.18

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and Taking The Long Way Home!

If you do a weekly recap post, this is a great way to check in with other active bloggers for extra support, sharing and accountability.

Here’s the week in numbers:

Sunday – 4.91 miles, city walking
Monday – arm challenge (5 pushups + tricep dips, 10 curls + punches)
Tuesday – 8 miles, running + arm challenge (8 pushups + tricep dips, 15 curls + punches)
Wednesday – arm challenge (10 pushups + tricep dips, 20 curls + punches)
Thursday – 6 miles, running
Friday – arm challenge (12 pushups, 15 tricep dips, 30 curls, 25 punches)
Saturday – arm challenges (15 pushups, 20 tricep dips, 40 curls, 30 punches)

I am writing this blog post from the comfort of my big armchair. Little man is at school. Mr PugRunner is at work. I have a few pieces to write and social media graphics to design, and I would like to check out my new community gym. But that’s about it.

A blogger could get used to this.

Sunday – 4.91 miles, city walking

And we bring it back to DC. A is an unapologetic breakfast lover, so we had epic brunch plans. Even with call ahead, we ended up waiting almost three hours for our meal (which was good, but not three hours good). I had snagged half a bagel at the house, but was feeling terrible and nauseous by the time we got food in front of us. Ugh.

Before we had to go to the airport with two of our group, we parked near the National Mall and did a few hours exploring the Smithsonian Museums.

They all offer free admission, so it was really a no-brainer. We wanted to try the Museum of Natural History, but the line was around the block, so we opted for the National Art Gallery instead.

Can you guess why this was my favorite painting?

We also walked through the National Art Gallery Sculpture Garden and even took a moment to visit the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in the National Archives.

The whole day was just breathtaking and overwhelming. To be in the presence of so much beauty and history is nothing short of a privilege. I cannot wait to return with the family.

Monday – arm challenge

We had an early morning flight, and made it home right around lunchtime. It was so good to see my boys again.

Of course, we got home and resumed normal operation again: karate, helping out neighbors and the like. I also got in my arm challenge of five pushups, five tricep dips, ten bicep curls and ten seconds of punches. I always think these challenges start really easily, and consider skipping ahead to the bigger numbers, but figured I would try to start at the beginning and make it through 30 days.

Tuesday – 8 miles, running + arm challenge

It felt so amazing to run that I just went for the eight. M tagged along for the last two miles, and while we complained, we were both glad we did it.

For the arm challenge, I moved up to 8 pushups and tricep dips, 15 bicep curls and 15 seconds of punches.

Little man and I went to the school for “Helping Hands” – it’s a service our PTA provides to teachers to help with things like laminating, cutting, collating, and doing small projects. We do it weekly, but we also offer it before schools starts to help with their classroom setup. It took us a few hours, but we got it all done.

That evening was kind of a big deal. Little man and one of his denmates had been asked to give a speech at an awards dinner hosted by the BSA.

It was a last minute request, but they rose to the challenge. It was a long night since they had to be at the venue early to practice and then be a part of the evening’s festivities. I may be biased, but they did an amazing job at something that was way out of both their comfort zones. Not to mention, it was great public speaking practice.

Wednesday – arm challenge

Before heading out, I hit my obligation of 10 pushups and tricep dips, 20 bicep curls and 20 seconds of punches.

We had a date with a friend and her daughter to go to a sea turtle lecture at one of our local state park. The park offers these talks fairly regularly, included with your admission/parking fee.

It was very educational, and we ended the morning with some time on the beach, enjoying the sun and the tide pools.

Afterwards, it was time to get school on the mind. I had helped drive boxes of tshirts and swag over to the school to get set up for orientation the next morning. It was going to be a long and busy morning, but we got as much of the prep done on Wednesday night so we would be ready.

Thursday – 6 miles, running 

S and I got up extra early to fit in our run before Orientation. We were at the school at 7:00 AM to get the final details handled, and by the time the doors opened at 8:00, we were ready. The PTA staffed tables signing people up for memberships, as well as selling field trip shirts, spirit shirts and things like car magnets, bows and other kinds of swag.

In the meantime, little man would take over the Cub Scouts recruitment table with a couple of the other leaders in another part of the hall. I am so proud of how much he has matured over the summer and how he is so reliable stepping up to help where needed.

Before that, however, Mr PugRunner and he took the school supplies up to his new classroom to meet his teacher. We are so excited for this year, and know that he will have a great one.

When Orientation was over, little man had a Safety Patrol meeting to check in and get his post for the first month of school. We then had to go on a whirlwind trip around town: we had to pick up cake pops, grab some last minute outfits for school, have lunch, and treat ourselves to one last summer dessert.

Friday – arm challenge

It had arrived: the last first day of elementary school for my son. Nope. I didn’t cry. Not at all.

I got to the school early to set up the welcome committee and Mr PugRunner followed with little man to get him to his post on time. He was also tapped to bring out and hoist the American flag with another patrol, which was so amazing to watch.

Once the kids got in position, the ladies and I took up our spots near the exit of the parking lot: we had gotten a generous donation from Dunkin and were handing out donuts to the parents leaving after drop off. It was a huge surprise for them, and mostly everyone loved it!

I wanted nothing more than to go home and nap, but I had to do my arm challenge (12 pushups, 15 tricep dips, 30 curls, and 25 seconds of punches). I was glad when it was over. When little man got home, the boys wanted to go to the pool, so I agreed to join them for tacos at Food Truck Friday and then get home to finish up some work. I was grateful for that little bit of family time, but even more grateful for bed.

Saturday – arm challenge

S and I had planned to run, but when the alarm rang, we both agreed to postpone to Sunday. I couldn’t get over how tired we were! The arm challenge had to go on, though, so 15 pushups, 20 tricep dips, 40 curls, and 30 seconds of punches. Done.

We had our Cub Scouts end of summer pool party, and while I was still tired, we ended up having a blast. The pack provided pizza and drinks and parents brought desserts, and we splashed and chatted and hit up the water slide and generally had a great time.

That evening, we rented Ready Player One and snacked on leftover pizza on the couch. Perfection.

 

Guys, this has been a crazy summer. I’ve loved every second of it, but I am really in need of some of the routine that the school year brings. It’s bittersweet that little man is a fifth grader now and ruling the school, but we are so proud of how he has grown and of the young man he has become. I definitely feel like we might be doing something right.

Workouts were good. I didn’t get in as many running miles as I would have liked, but the addition of the arm challenge was a good move for cross training, and I think I am still tracking well for the 1000 in 2018 challenge I have set for myself.

I also need to get a race on the books for August. We were hoping to run the Stadium Challenge this past Saturday but time got away from us and I just didn’t want to squeeze in one more thing. I have another race in mind, but it would be out of the comfort zone. That being said, it’s one I haven’t done before, so what the heck?

How was your week in training?

Do you prefer races that are familiar, or that test your limits?