Salvaging summer vacation is really all we can do at this point. While we were away, reports of increasing COVID-19 cases reached us in our remote location. Things that had been open before we left started closing back down. Every day is an emotional roller coaster and I feel the urge to start hermiting again.
Sunday – 2.02 miles, walking
A rest day was just the thing my sore hips needed. My walk was much better after that.
The weather was off and on, so we hung out in the cabin for most of the day. None of us were super comfortable going out to eat, so we made our way over to the mostly deserted Great Lawn with takeout from our favorite BBQ joint for lunch. Those views are unbeatable.
Monday – 1.88 miles, walking
Today was the first day for Teams for the Best Damn Race Florida Challenge. I really wanted to throw down bigger numbers, but there was just no way. (PS: there’s still time to register if you want to join the fun! affiliate link)
We spent the rest of the day packing and tidying, and then stayed up late with our friends. A blazing fire, funny movies and lots of wine made for the perfect end to our trip.
Tuesday – rest
All good things must come to an end. As much as we hated to go, it was time to say goodbye. We packed up the car, gave the cabin a final once-over, and hit the road. Eight hours later, vacation officially ended as we pulled into our driveway.
On the plus side, it was so good to see all the puggies!
Wednesday – 4.02 miles, walking
Even though I wasn’t thrilled at getting up with the alarm again, it felt fantastic to get out for a walk on flat ground! I sped through my four miles and felt fabulous! Nothing like a good stretching of the legs, right?
Thursday – Couch to 5K Week 8 Day 2 (3.74 miles, total)
After a week of no walking and far shorter walks, I had a lot of concerns about Week 8 Day 2. The cooler weather helped me immensely, and I was able to side right back into the program. Yay for small victories!
Luna had her third vaccine appointment. She gained a whole pound while we were away! (We also got great news that Delilah is fine – the meds cleared up any concerning numbers in her urinalysis and she is back to her normal, judgy self)
Obviously, the reward was another Starbucks Pup Cup. Yes, she shared with the others.
For dinner? Food trucks and Mr. Softee! I love supporting our local food trucks and few things make me happier than Mr. Softee cones.
Friday – 4 miles, walking
Mr PugRunner joined me for the four mile walk, which was nice.
While out, he complained of some pain from his shoes, and we decided to treat ourselves to new Brooks. I know I wanted to get back in for a fitting, but the Adrenalines continue to feel fabulous, so I am confident ordering a pair without double checking. Even more exciting is they are Miami Hurricanes colors!
Saturday – Couch to 5K Week 8 Day 3 (4.36 miles, total)
I was the first one up and raring to go to complete my final day of Week 8. Another 28 minutes done and dusted. The humidity made it a bit challenging, but I sucked it up and got it done.
After a shower and quick bite to eat, we loaded up the car to take little man to his summer Scouts camp. Long story short, his official camp was not canceled, but was heavily restricted for obvious reasons. Rather than travel eight hours, the Troop leaders created an epic plan for an alternate camping trip, including lots of fun and socially distant activities. I am so grateful to them for helping to make something happen for the kids.
Saturday night was date night. We ordered this grazing board from a local company, and it was absolutely divine.
We watched Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, which was fantastic, and enjoyed some downtime.
Goal-getting
Salvaging summer vacation has been the name of our game. It’s been hard to figure out what’s safe and advisable in our new normal, and it’s a challenge.
We have determined that outdoor activities with lots of space are way more in line with our comfort levels. To that end, we will still avoid unnecessary shopping and indoor restaurants. I am ok with takeout and pickup, but not so much eating inside an establishment, especially when PPE is not required for staff.
Additionally, we are looking at school options for 7th grade. Ideally, we would all love for little man and the rest of the students to return to school as normal, but that may not be the way things go. We continue to weigh the pros and cons of regular school (in whatever iteration it takes), homeschool, and virtual school. Fortunately, these are all options available to us, but we want to make sure we make the best decision for our family, especially little man.
Oh, and in just one week, I will be a second-time graduate of Couch To 5K! Who would have believed it???
I am linking up with the Weekly Rundown, with Confessions of A Mother Runner and Running on the Fly! Check them out!
How was your week in training?
How are you salvaging summer vacation?
Yeah, there is just no way to tell how things are going virus wise, not much to do but go on and live our lives (with precautions). I’m glad that you were able to get away for vacation. Good luck on your 5k!
I’m glad, too. It’s just hard to know what’s the right decision. I guess we will find out.
That cheese board looks so good! You have made so much progress with your 5K program! We are currently trying to figure out what to do about our summer vacation. I keep changing my mind
I am sure you will come up with something soon!
The grazing board was phenomenal.
It sounds like a fantastic week! We continue to do deliveries (some yummy Indian food today). Definitely difficult to know the right thing to do.
I’ll bet the elevation and the rest from running actually did you good!
I bet it did as well! For sure, the mountain air was a nice change.
We don’t have too many places delivering out by me. That’s what we get for living in the boonies LOL.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the time at the cabin — and that your son got to go camping. I feel for parents who have to try to figure out school. I understand why schools aren’t making final decisions yet, but I’d be out of my mind with the uncertainty!
Yay on almost finishing C25K!
Our state has five scenarios. None of them make me super happy, but there are some that are better than others. Fortunately, I’m the kind of person who has Plans A=Z ready to go, so we will figure it out. I just hate that the kids have to deal with this.
I really love the Brooks Adrenalines. I’ve been running in them for about 1.5 years and they are great!
When I saw that the cases were starting to go up again in Florida I just shook my head. I really hope that things level out there soon. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be to keep going back and forth with things being open and closed.
They are my favorites.
In fairness, most of the new cases are coming out of South Florida, but it’s still creeping closer. We are starting to see shutdowns in our counties, now, and that freaks me out. I’m also not sure how I feel about the theme parks reopening. No matter how many precautions they are taking, that’s a lot of people to be coming through.
You always seem to make the best of any situation! Illinois has been so strict with the recovery phases that we’re in a good place right now but I know that could all change. It’s a tough time.
Ehhhh…. I’ve had some pretty negative weeks this year. I just go back to the “same storm, different boat” metaphor, and just try to do what we can with what we have. It’s not the way I’d like things to be, but I can’t change anything, so there’s no point in dwelling too much.
I’m glad you were able to get away for a bit! That must have felt nice. I hate that there are so many unknowns right now. I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything because Grayson can’t wear a mask and is too young to understand that he can’t touch anyone or anything. I can’t believe you are almost done with your couch to 5k program! So exciting!
It’s got to be so hard with a little little one. Little man is ok wearing a mask (he has some cute ones), but he’s still a kid and wants to touch it and adjust it and all that jazz. Heck, I want to do the same with mine. But we are wearing them when we go to the store or will be close to people and that’s just how it goes.
I can’t believe it either!
Yeah, outdoor stuff without a lot of people around is what we’re comfortable with too. That’s great that they came up with an alternate camping option. And that grazing box looks amazing!
The grazing box was sooo good. I could live on that for dinner every day.
I think the smartest thing to do right now is go with the flow AND your own comfort level. And it sounds like you guys are doing just that and trying hard to have a good time for everyone involved. Especially for A – this must be so tough on kids. School and summer are supposed to be about activities and friends. So I’m really glad they still had a camping activity set up!
I really hope that there’s a solution for school but brace yourself – summer seems to go so fast and who knows where Covid will be at that point?
Loving that you are almost a C25K graduate!!
We are definitely trying. Mr PugRunner is having a harder time putting the brakes on, while I am back to lots of cautions but we are compromising and working through it.
I’m braced. My biggest concern is the kids being stuck at school for core classes, in one room, without any arts or electives, and having lunch brought in. While I understand it from a safety standpoint, that’s not how school should be, and it’s not a situation in which he will thrive. I think I’m going to write about our options and what our nonstarters are.
Yay for the get-away. The hubs keeps asking about us taking one, and I’m like “meh.” I’m quite content just laying low until things are even more stable (Iowa really is doing well with re-opening, but I’m in no hurry to just forge on ahead).
I get it. It was hard getting in the car and heading out, even at the same time as being super needed and exciting.
I hope you get to go away, soon, and feel great about it.
That cheese board looks AMAZING!
I’m with you on your comfort levels with doing stuff. I’ll do things outdoors, like ride the horses. I’ve done takeout from one place a few times. And I have a chef friend that delivers tacos to me on Tuesdays. But otherwise, I’m only going out to gas up the car.
Congrats on being nearly done with C25K! Once I started riding again, my running stalled out. Just not enough hours in the day.
Yay for taco delivery! We got tacos to go and took them to the beach. It was so perfect.
That cheese board!!! Wow.
I am partial to that ice cream though.
So nice to able to get away from it all. We just went on our boat for a day and it make the whole pandemic thing bearable.
You have rocked the C25k. So proud of you!!
Upstate NYS is doing better. Hope Fla gets its act together.
I’m so glad you are seeing improvements.
I knew you would love that ice cream 🙂
I’m really sad to see Covid resurging in the open states. I’d so hoped it would not and IL could open, but now that’s doubtful.
Did I ever tell you Thing 1 was this close to being a Cane? They offered her a massive scholarship. But then GaTech, her top pick came though and the rest is history. U Miami would’ve been awesome though. That is one great looking grazing board! Cheers to the final week of C25k!
I didn’t know that! How cool! My top choice was NYU, but Miami came through with the scholarship, so… Go Canes!
Those shoes are beautiful. Love the color.
That is sad to hear about things closing again.
I totally understand about the school options. Who knows exactly how it will be in the Fall. I know there are some guidelines in place (which are obviously unrealistic) but anything change change.
I love them, too, and yes, I am so disappointed in the closings.
We will see. I’m not freaking out about anything yet. It’s not worth the emotional cost right now.
Holy moly that grazing board AND I’m not even an ice cream person but I want a Mr. Softee 🙂
So glad your son got to still do some version of Scout camp! We went camping this past weekend and overall felt pretty safe with everything that it entailed, especially the camping part! We wore masks any time we were around other people, but it was a really nice way to “vacation” a bit while staying safe.
I’m glad you had a nice time at the cabin!
Bummer about the increase in cases around you 🙁 I’m sorry to hear that.
Mr. Softee is LIFE. It’s so good.
I am so grateful is getting this camp. It was just the right thing at the right time. Your camping trip looked amazing, too. I loved your tent.
I love C25k! It was how I got started running and my coach modeled my comeback off of it last summer when I was coming off my injury.
I heard that things in Jacksonville had started closing down again and just shook my head. It’s incredible how fast Florida wanted to reopen. I feel like if we all just wear the dang masks and practice social distancing we can be done with this nightmare. But the way Florida is going I fear this is going to be a lot longer than it should be.
Congrats on completing two go throughs fo C25K. You must be happy with how things are progressing!
Yay for getting away for vacation! It sounds like you had a wonderful time!
What an amazing looking spread in that box! I’m glad they were able to come up with an alternative plan for the scout camp. We have been given some vague details on what school will look like next year, but not much. I really hope they can get back to some variation of “normal” and be together in class around here.