Accountability Tuesday: 10/17/17

Hello there!

It's been quite a few weeks since I've posted here; work has been pretty hectic over the last few months so lots of stuff in my life has been neglected, including this space.

But! All the "big" stuff at work is done, Matthew and I just returned from a relaxing three-night vacation in Cape May, and the Runner's World Half and Festival is this weekend! Online registration closes on Wednesday- use the code "SPARKLYRUNNER" at checkout to save 10% on any race. I can't wait for 26.2 miles of trail and road races!

Training
Saturday: 3.04 ocean-front miles, 36:45, 12:06 pace per mile
Sunday: 3.55 mile walk with Matthew and my Mother-in-Law, 5 mile round-trip bike ride to Beach Plum Farm

Two things learned from this year's fall Cape May trip: 1. Running along the beach will never get old. 2. Beach Plum Farm is a must if you ever find yourself in the area. It's a 62-acre, 300-year-old working farm complete with self-guided tours of the kitchen gardens, a beautiful barn and market, and no shortage of instagram-worthy scenery. Matthew and I had such a good time there- we can't wait to go back next summer!

Fall at the farm is gorgeous- I can't imagine how beautiful it is in full, summer bloom!

There were a TON of monarchs on the remaining flowers in the gardens and fields. 

We also found some sunflowers- and bees!

Beach running is always better in a pair of Altras.

Best Run
Obviously, this week's best run is this week's only run, lol. It actually rained on Saturday morning but it was still pretty magical running by the beach and in the sand. And by magical, I mean really, freaking hard- have you ever tried running in sand?! It's insanely difficult! I only ran on the sand for a bit before returning to the promenade- way easier and less crap gets in your socks. 😜

Bravo Moment
I ate and drank what I wanted this weekend (including wings, beer, and pizza!), tracked it all, and stayed within my daily and weekly Smart Points- on vacation. This is a huge bravo for me. It's always been a challenge for me to stay on track during a weekend or week away from home. Less control over what I'm eating, the mindset of indulging and relaxing during time "off," and lots of meals out usually leads to me eating and drinking more than I should or more than I planned. However, I packed snacks for this trip, tracked my food diligently, and chose meals that fit within my daily points budget. I won't say that I'm excited to weigh-in this week, but I'm not totally dreading it. That's a win in my book.

Carefully reading about the beer choices I made for a flight at Cape May Brewing Co.

Breakfast at George's Place, highly recommend for breakfast in Cape May.

Margherita Pizza at Louie's Pizza, highly recommend for any meal in Cape May.

Quote of the Week
Because we just got back from the beach, this seemed appropriate:

Have a great week, friends! 

Race Recap & Review: Wildwoods Beach n' Boardwalk 5k

During our vacation in Cape May last month, Matthew and I ran the Wildwoods Beach n' Boardwalk 5k. We had been looking for a race to complete while we were on vacation and this one was just a few miles north from where we were staying.

Sunday morning, July 4th, we arrived at the Wildwoods Convention Center and paid the $15 required to park. We could have tried to find free parking, but it was just easier to park right at the start and not have to worry about searching for a parking spot.

We signed up for this race ahead of time online so the packet pick up process was fairly easy. It was an overcast and humid morning- not the best kind of weather for running.

Before the race, the organizers had us gather for a group photo. We had a moment of silence to honor all of our service men and women and then the race started. After a quick little jaunt on the boardwalk, we headed out onto the beach.

Photo credit: Wildwoods Wall

Now, this race was advertised as running on the boardwalk AND on the beach. However, almost 100% pf the course was on the packed sand on the beach. If you've ever run on sand before, then you know that it's not the easiest thing in the world. Couple that with some crazy headwind and you've got the recipe for a slower than usual pace. But Matthew and I plugged away at the miles, reaching the turn around point, and then heading back towards the finish line.

The looooooooong stretch out to the beach.

Windy and overcast.

I swear, there is an organized race happening here... not just random people on the beach!

Matthew and I crossed the finish line somewhere around 37 minutes. I don't know the official time and it hasn't been posted so we'll go with 37ish minutes. After the race, we hung around because they were giving out awards to the best dressed/most patriotic family, child, and adult. There were only a few adults dressed up so I figured I might have a shot at an award. But, it wasn't my day. The guy that won best dressed in the adult category wore an American flag shirt, a pair of American flag shorts, and a pair of American flag socks. I felt like at least my cape should have gotten me a few extra points ;-)

Sad day for Wonder Woman.

Overall, this was a fun start to our fourth of July holiday. Running on the beach during a race is a unique and challenging experience and you should definitely try it out the next time you visit the shore. And if you happen to be racing on July 4th, make sure to pack your patriotic wear. Even if you don't win the costume contest, it's still fun to dress up. :-)

Have you ever raced/ran on the beach before? Do you like running in the sand?