A few weeks have gone by since the craziness at the end of June. And I can't believe that it is July!
There is some relief now that I know what is in store for the next couple of months.
Tremblant has been cancelled.
The boys have camps.
The Tour de France is going on. (It has been an awesome race!!!!)
There is only 2 months left of summer. (Where has the time gone?)
So, what is on the agenda for summer?
Well, I cancelled my hotel in Tremblant today. That was a little sad.
I also signed up for my next race. Another Half Ironman distance race at the beginning of August.
Now, I'm checking into how to get back to Michigan to visit friends and family that I haven't seen for 2-3 years. In fact, I haven't been back to Michigan for a real visit since 2018. Yikes!
But, with Tremblant cancelled, and the pressure taken off about training (whether it will happen, COVID regulations, etc.), I can relax a little and enjoy summer.
I'm still training mind you...I did just sign up for another Half. But I also have other races and adventures on the horizon.
The boys start school on September 1, so need to make sure everyone is ready to go when we get back from Michigan.
A few weeks later, I'm heading into the mountains with my running buddies. We are planning on backpacking for the weekend. I have no idea what this all entails, but they are talking about lightweight sleeping bags, tents and food. I'm not sure what I have gotten myself into, but hey...I was training for an Ironman, so I'm all about a little crazy!
In October, a half marathon is on the books. Now, I haven't registered yet, but it is a deferral from April 2020 (the race has been rescheduled 3 times--April 2020, October 2020, and April 2021) and is scheduled for October. If I don't register, I lose my money, so guess I'd better get that done.
In November, we head up to Stowe to tackle the Vermont 10 Miler again. My running friends and I did the second annual race in 2018. We signed up for the 3 race New England 10 Miler Series in 2019, which we completed, kinda. We ran the Portland, Maine race in April 2019, and the Newport, RI race in June. But a freak rain/wind storm 2 days before the race in Stowe, ended up cancelling the race. We went up to Stowe anyway, and almost summited Mount Mansfield instead of running.
Of course, 2020's race was also cancelled, so now we are back for the (I guess) 5th annual Vermont 10 Miler. All I remember is it is all uphill for the first 4 miles!
So, even though the BHAG is off the calendar (for now?) there is still so much going on. But I must say, there is quite a load off my shoulders.
I've also been thinking a lot about the future.
It is hard to just "let go" of something as huge as an Ironman.
My friends have been great about training with me, encouraging me, cheering me on, crying with me, and just being there. Some even are planning, "epic shit" to do with me (like backpacking!)
There is a lot of fun stuff to do!
One friend said she'd love to explore Michigan! That sounds right up my alley!
Meanwhile, I've discovered a website called, vacationraces.com
They "specialize" in running races primarily in the Western US National Parks, but other places too. They also put on "ultras".
Ultras (also known as ultra marathons), are epic running races. Usually they are by length, like 50km (31 miles) or 100km (62 miles), but sometimes its by time...like a 24 hour race. Sometimes it is a loop course, so every 5-10 miles you come back to the start, where you can get food, water, dry shoes, etc., but not always.
Definitely epic shit.
The one that looks really cool is their "Grand Circle Trailfest". Over the course of 3 days, you will run 3 races: 12.3 miles at Bryce Canyon, 10.4 at Zion, and 10.6 at Horseshoe Bend. These are all trail runs, and beautiful.
This sounds like fun to me.
Silly girl!
But I guess that's what happens when you train for something crazy, hang out with crazy people, and talk about epic shit.
You start looking for it.
Who knows...maybe this will be the next "BHAG"?
But for now, I'll keep swimming, biking, and running...
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