This little piggy went for a run

I am simply implying that I've not been a red sox runner, after all.  Fan or runner.  Back in the day I was running 30 miles a week (thanks to marathon training) and now I'm just barely running ten.
That might shock some of you, but I've enjoyed the time off.  So let me take you back to the start.

Or this morning.

Anyway, I realize I have been a bum all summer and I was debating on blogging about this topic because I was somewhat embarrassed that I went from running like this...

 

Happy Lauren on a treadmill...

to this.

Moreover, I was amazed at who really cared...or actually, why I thought that the blogging community actually cared if I decided to take the summer off from running.  Its really the only group of people that I fear would have judged me.

That was until I read a post about "why blogging could be bad for your health, or at least your sanity" at Health, Happiness, and Skinny Jeans. 

So Samantha basically made me feel better for taking the last couple of months off from not only blogging, but from training and running in general.  Honestly, after that marathon, my tank was full...but full of tiredness.

It was a tough, tough year at school and with all that running, and training, and thinking, and fitness, i felt drained.  Not to mention I was traveling all over and developing relationships, which I found to be much more important to my life than telling you what I ate and how I ran.

Although I secretly enjoyed the five pound weight loss this summer from eating nachos everyday, and only using kayaking and camping as forms of exercise, I realized things had taken a turn for the worst when 1. I became winded when walking up a hill which is something I used to pride myself in...as I NEVER got winded.  And 2. School started again and I need to feel sane.  I also need the energy back from the lack of sleep and the headaches that ensue after a long day of school psychologizing.

So tonight, I was back with a 3.5 mile run and it was glorious.  Well, half glorious as I also noticed that my lung capacity was null and void.

I will say though, I did miss seeing these views on my runs around the Harbor walk.

Boston, you're my home.  And if you've ever been to a win of a Sox game, you get to hear that as you're dancing in the bleachers.

Welcome back to running!

Vacations and running

Now, I'm not going to pretend like I've been super focused on running and exercise as of late, but I'll tell ya, there would be ZERO exercise happening this summer if it weren't for running.  I would like to thank my recent marathon for making me a little burned out about training and keeping a schedule... I certainly am going to be taking a good long look before adding another one to my plate (and in recent news am just about to lose a toenail from that race.  Its taken two months and is holding on for dear life).  I'm going to stick to half marathons for the time being especially because I have been traveling from Massachusetts to Vermont to New York to North Carolina to Maine and back all summer and haven't been home in Boston for more than a few days at a time.  Running is the only thing I'm gettin at in fitness.  Always gettin at nachos, sometimes gettin at running.  Thank you summer for making that ok.

Anyway, let's take a look at some family pics from Vacation shall we?

 

And here we have my lovely sister, Courtney. Anyone see the freshman 15?  Because I don't. Oh and guess what.  She DOESN'T EXERCISE.  Pffft.

 

Courtney and my brother Michael having a beautiful moment.

At 28 I was honestly not tall enough to ride the ride below...

DAD!

Mom, the court and I.

 

Michael and the Lobster Party!!

Nothing like a little fresh lobster and crab cakes to call it summer!

In the meantime, stay hydrated out there!  Some Runner's World tips recently suggested putting salt into a little water before your run! I always tell my wonderful BF that salt and water are a runner's best friend. (I may have mentioned he's training for a marathon in this beautiful summer heat, lucky him).

FYI- He and I went for a nice little three miler this past thursday while staying with his family in Maine (he went on to add two more miles).  Because he's borrowing my Garmin, I've been using this FREAKING AWESOME app called iMapMyRun for the Iphone.  You NEED IT. Even though I messed up the timing a little bit because we stopped to walk and talk, our first 1.36 miles was done at a 6:45 average pace. Our next .97 miles was run at a 7:42 pace, and then I messed up some timing from there so I have no idea what the rest of the run looked like...but I'll take it!

Well my friends, I'm off to my wonderful 10 year high school reunion this weekend!  Catch ya on the flip side!

Tell me loves, what are all ya'll doing this fine summer?