My Frantic Fall Begins

I know fall only started on Friday, but last weekend kicked off my frantic fall schedule. As you know from last week’s recap, I was in Colorado visiting my daughter on Saturday and then headed to San Francisco for a conference that began on Sunday. I got back home late Tuesday night, and ran my first fall race on Sunday!

Work was frantic last week too, but I carved out enough time to get my emerging plantar faciitis evaluated and treated. Since I haven’t been running much this summer, I blame the standing desk I’ve been using at work. I need to find a healthy medium between sitting all day and standing all day. 

Weekly Wrap

Monday: 5K Fun Run 
My favorite social event at this conference was the fun run led by members of a local running group. We ran from our hotel down to the Embarcadero and then to the Bay Bridge. 

San Francisco Bay Bridge Run

almost sunrise

I was hoping to run across the Golden Gate Bridge, but that would have been a 14 mile run from my hotel. 

Tuesday: Strength routine from Quick Strength For Runners in the hotel gym.
(^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Amazon affiliate link — check it out! ^ ^ ^ ^ ^)

Wednesday: Rest day
I got home at about 10 pm Tuesday night, but jet lag kept me up past midnight. When my alarm went off at 5 am, I opted for a rest day and went back to sleep.

Thursday: Indoor cycling at CycleBar
It was still hard to get up early, but I didn’t want to miss Francine’s 80s + 90s throwback ride. I love that you can listen to the playlists again through Spotify.

Who knew Betty Davis Eyes could be so motivating? 

Friday: CPY2 at Core Power Yoga

Saturday: 21 mile ride (Conte’s Hill Ride)
I was confused by my Garmin heart rate data–there is no way my heart rate was this low–until I realized that the sunscreen I had put on my arms probably was interfering with the light-based heart rate sensor. D’oh! 

misleading heart rate data

Sunday: Reston Perfect 10
I almost didn’t sign up for this race. Between my focus on cycling and emerging PF, I knew I couldn’t and shouldn’t push myself. But, I also knew I needed a long run to keep in shape for the other fall races on my calendar, so I decided to run it without racing it.

Reston Perfect 10

It was a hot day -84F when I finished at 9:30–but I nailed my hard run goal.

[Tweet “#Running in San Francisco and Not Racing the #RestonPerfect10”]


Weekly Wrap


I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia
for the Weekly Wrap and
excited for Courtney‘s Berlin Marathon finish!


Is your fall off to a frantic start?

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40 Responses to My Frantic Fall Begins

  1. Sara says:

    Great job with your race today. It takes a lot of restraint to run a race without getting caught up in racing it! Beautiful picture of the Bay Bridge!
    Great job with all of your workouts this week!

  2. Kimberly G says:

    You had a great week and great job on your 5K! I have a hard time with going out too fast in races but I am working on it, lol

  3. your easy not run race pace is like my dream pace ha ha. Nice job on your run! It was so hot out there today. Sorry to hear that your PF is back mine kind of comes and goes so I am icing it everyday for a while. I think it helps!

    • Coco says:

      It wasn’t an easy run pace–more of a hard run but not all-out race pace. 😉 Icing my foot now. Also getting tens and other treatments from a chiro.

  4. Great job on that 10 miler! In this heat, anything goes. I think finishing is winning at this point!

  5. Oh no to the PF! Geez, Coco, you’re so fast! It’s amazing. And that’s not even racing!

    I would LOVE to run over the golden gate but what you did looks pretty lovely too.

  6. Great job on your 10 miler – still very speedy 🙂 I hope you’re able to keep PF at bay!

  7. What a busy life you lead 😉 All of that travel (and jet lag), and still you’re not missing a beat. Great job on the 10-miler…I love that distance!

    • Coco says:

      Well, I did take a rest day after getting back from SFO. 🙂 It’s a really crazy time of year with short business trips every other week, plus my fall races on the weekends.

  8. For just running a race without RACING it, you did a great job, especially in those temps!

  9. Lesley says:

    Good luck with the PF treatment. Whenever my feet act up, I get paranoid.

  10. Shathiso says:

    I dream of the day I will be hitting those paces!! Well done Coco! What a great week you’ve had!

  11. Now I’d love the Throwback 80’s and 90’s spin class! Sounds like a great theme! Super job on your 10 miler you did nail that !!! Wow look at that pace for not racing lol!

  12. Darlene says:

    I travel a lot but no place exciting like San Francisco.

    Congrats on your fall race. That was speedy in my book.

  13. Isabel says:

    Wow looks like a great week! Congrats for fitting all that fitness in even whilst being super busy. Also your race time is awesome 🙂

  14. HoHo Runs says:

    What a beautiful run in San Fran. I think that’s an awesome pace for a ten miler you didn’t race. I hope your PF issue is short lived. I’ve got something going on with my ankle/heel that is really ticking me off. LOL. Good luck with the century! (I hope you get the perfect weather. We did NOT. ) Thanks for linking!

  15. Clarinda says:

    How fun to start your conference with a fun run! I’m hoping to squeeze in a run through Golden Gate park next month when we stop there during our road trip.

  16. Teresa says:

    Congratulations on your 10 mile race ..are you sure you weren’t racing??? That’s an impressive time lady!

    I love seeing your mileage for your indoor cycling classes. As a former Spin instructor I always registered about 15 to 18 miles per class depending on the amount of resistance. I always wonder about these folks who claim they ride 25 miles in an indoor cycling class …I’m thinking, ‘did you not have any resistance at all???’

    • Coco says:

      It can depend on the instructor too. At CycleBar they cue resistance and RPMs, and some classes I go farther than others, but still always in the 10-15 mi range! (But I struggle with high cadence, so I’m sure others in these classes go farther)

  17. steena says:

    You always crush those 10 milers! Wish we had more of those around here. You did an amazing job of staying on top of your fitness with a busy travel schedule, always impressive!

  18. Your view of the Golden Gate Bridge was absolutely breathtaking! Nice job on your race and I hope your emerging plantar fasciitis backs off. I agree about the standing/sitting desk balance. I had an adjustable desk at my old job and I struggled to find the right “mix”. A cushioned floor pad was nice for the standing times, though! Saved on the joints a little.

  19. We just moved so this fall has been very frantic! Moving with a toddler is no joke.

    Congrats on that 10 miler!!!

  20. Rachel says:

    Those pics are awesome! Nice job running and not racing. I have no problem doing that but I know a lot of people get too amped up to hold back during races!

  21. Sorry to hear you are dealing with plantar fasciitis. Great job in your race!!! That pace is impressive and in that temperature.

  22. Kudos to you for running but not racing the Perfect 10 on Sunday. I too “raced” on Sunday. It was a brutal day for running.

  23. Toni says:

    San Francisco is soooo beautiful, I loved running there, it is an amazing city!

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