12 Weeks Until the Patagonia Marathon

Hello hello! I’m a bit behind with my weekly recap; in fact, I missed the link-up that I usually do as part of my recap. But for good reason! We were camping in Madeline Island in Wisconsin with very limited wifi.

First things first, I decided to end my Covid WFH run streak at 97 days.

I started on March 13 and ran every day, at least 3 miles a day and up to 16 miles as my longest run, for 787 miles or an average of 8 miles a day! I almost always had more than 55 miles per week, and sometimes 60.

But it just didn’t feel right anymore. I decided to end the streak.

Why not just push through to 100 days? I was starting to feel pretty tired on runs and a few new aches and pains had popped up. I could tell my body could really benefit from a complete and total rest day. Getting to 100 days wasn’t really that important to me; I had started the streak when I first started working from home, assuming it would only be 30 days or so. So 97 days was already a lot more than I had expected! When I saw the total mileage and average per day, I realized just how hard I had been pushing and decided to give myself a real break.

Just like that. Done. And no one probably even cares, ha! I have acquaintances who are on day 2500 + of run streaks, and I don’t have any desire to do that, so 97 was good and plenty for this runner.

Here’s how the rest of my week went in my pursuit of the right fit!

Monday: 4 miles with Ruth before work, 8:55 min/mile average.

Discover Strength virtual 1:1 after work, followed by a 5.3 mile run with Dustin at an 8:45 min/mile average.

It was HOT with Dustin and I’m not used to running after work, but it felt good. 9.3 miles on the day.

Tuesday: A sleepy 7 miler before work, 9:20 min/mile average

Wednesday: Workout Wednesday! Christie and I met up around 6 am. 20 minute warm-up and then a 3-2-1 ladder workout. 8.5 miles total, 9 min/mile average.

It was actually on the cool-down for this run that I decided the run streak was over. I just felt way too tired.

Discover Strength 1:1 strength training after work.

Thursday: 100% rest day.

Friday: Dustin and I (and Ruth and Matilda) were going camping over the weekend, so I wanted to get my long run out of the way. I started at 5:15, met Christie for a few miles, then our friend Julie joined for a few more, and then I finished out an easy half marathon before work!

I also squeezed in a 1:1 virtual training session with Discover Strength over the lunch hour to get in my 3rd session of the week.

Around 3 pm, we skipped out of work a bit early and hit the road to Duluth (northern Minnesota, about a 3 hour drive). We were going to be camping on Madeline Island, and thought it would be nice to split up the drive a bit by staying in Duluth Friday night. The Suites Hotel at Waterfront Plaza right in Canal Park has dog-friendly rooms available for $15/dog!

When we arrived, we took them for a long walk along the lakeshore, then grabbed a pint at the Canal Park Brewery on the patio (social distanced, masks encouraged), before grabbing some pizza at Pizza Luce to bring back to the hotel room.

It was my first time staying at a hotel since the pandemic; even though they claimed everything had been thoroughly sanitized, I wiped it all down again with Lysol. I was pretty anxious staying in the hotel, but hopefully it was okay. The dogs loved it!

Saturday morning, Ruth and I went for a 5.15 mile run along the lakeshore. It was so beautiful out! Saturday was actually supposed to be Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth. We saw plenty of runners out doing their virtual races.

After a quick shower, we hit the road to Madeline Island. We caught a ferry from Bayfield for the 20 minute ride over to the island. We drove our car onto the ferry, but you could get out of your car once you were on. The dogs weren’t too sure about the whole ferry thing!

We had a campsite at Big Bay Town Park, which was great. Our site was a bit of a walk into the woods away from the car, which made it a bit more secluded and quiet. Dogs were to be leashed at all times, so we hooked up a long rope between two trees and hooked their leashes onto it so they could move around quite a bit more! It worked well.

Madeline Island has lots of great hiking and a nice sandy beach with water activities (canoes, paddleboards, kayaks). The town on the island had a few small restaurants, really only open for takeout due to Covid-19, which was fine with us. We cooked at the campsite once and got takeout in town another night.

Sunday: Sunday morning, I ran 6 miles on the boardwalk along the beach; the actual boardwalk was probably only 1.5 miles, then it turned into a dirt path and then some sand, before I was out on a country road. Lovely run.

(All the Oiselle hanging out to dry!)

After the run, we did a great hike with the pups that was about 2 hours long. We were all ready for lunch after that!

We headed down to the beach to relax a bit, but then a big stormed rolled in. We were stuck in the tent for a few hours (I think the dogs appreciated the nap time!) before it finally let up.

When it first started to sprinkle, Ruth and Matilda were quick to go under the awning on the tent! Vizslas do not like the rain.

Monday: I ran 5 miles with Ruth before we packed everything up and headed home!

Summary: (not counting Monday) about 50 miles, 3 strength training sessions. 1 complete rest day!

I had a really great time camping, despite the mosquitoes and the ticks and the rain. It was so nice to get away and be outside in nature. It was Ruth’s first time camping and she definitely had a great time. Both pups are zonked out now (after they both got post-camping baths!)

Between the drive and time at the campsite, I read this book that my sister gave to me- it was a quick and enjoyable read.

I also read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which was so good! I tore right through that one.

I’m happy to be home tonight to sleep in my own bed. Sad I missed the weekly link-up, but sharing it here nonetheless!

The link-up is hosted by Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner. Check it out!