Running With Perseverance

Making The Most Of Labor Day Weekend

Before summer comes to an end and I head back to work after a week off, I wanted to make the most of Labor Day weekend.

On Saturday, my husband and I went on our longest bike ride ever–51 miles!

We started in Vienna and rode through Leesburg. We had planned to ride 50 miles, but I wanted to find a landmark to mark our stopping/turn-around point. After 25.5 miles, I decided this old barn would do.

I didn’t put much thought into fueling this long ride, but managed OK thanks to some stops along the way. I had an egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast (1 egg, 1 egg white, 1 slice havarti on a whole wheat sandwich thin), and filled my water bottle with Nuun. At about mile 20 we stopped at a gas station and split a Gatorade (I filled my water bottle up with ice and 1/2 of the Gatorade). At our turn-around, I ate a cranberry almond Perfectly Simple Bar (170 cals). At about mile 40, we stopped at a convenience store and I got another Gatorade and my husband got a microwave pocket sandwich and chocolate milk (ugh!). On the way home, we shared a venti skim vanilla bean frappuccino from Starbucks.

It’s the first time I’ve gotten a venti anything at Starbucks, but the grande didn’t look like it was up to the challenge of cooling me off!

Since I was planning to run with a new running group on Sunday morning, I took an ice bath–my first ever without a hot coffee in my hand, but it was worth it.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing–reading and watching TV–and went to bed early because we were both pretty tired!

Sunday I got up at 5:00, fixed a Kashi whole grain waffle for the car, and was out the door by 5:30 for my first group run with Moms Run This Town.

It’s so nice to meet other women who don’t mind getting up early to run!

I started off running with a few women, but my legs wanted to run a bit faster than they were (about a 9:30 pace) since they were running longer, so I broke off and ran on my own for a while. I waited at the 5 mile turn-around and ran back with the group at a 9:45 pace. My legs felt tired on the few hills/overpasses on this route, but otherwise were in surprisingly good shape. I know the science is iffy, but I definitely credit the ice bath!

This time I stopped for a hot coffee to get me through my second ice bath of the weekend!

I signed up for Laura’s Fall 5 and 10 virtual race series, so this 10 mile run with MRTT on September 1 was a great way to kick it off.

My husband and I still have plans to see a movie, go out to dinner, and maybe squeeze in a short bike ride tomorrow.

How did you make the most of Labor Day weekend?