I’m taking a break from my posts about running gear and accessories to think out loud with Amanda! If you missed it, you can see the running gear posts from this week here and here.
So what have I been thinking about lately? Well, nothing too different. I’m getting ready to go away again. I feel like I have been going away every other week since the spring- and I sort of have. All good things, though! Next week we’re going to the Wildwood Crest/Cape May area of New Jersey. This will be my first time at the beach this year, except for a couple of hours in Cape Cod but it was cold and we were wearing long sleeves and sweatpants!
We’ve been going to the same place in Wildwood since I was 13. There will be lots of running, relaxing, and wine- just how I like it!
I’ve also been thinking lately about how much time blogging has come to take up. It can be really hard to find the time every day to post, read all the other blogs I love and comment on them, and reply to comments on my blog. I think I need to get into a better system of doing things because right now its all over the place. With a little more time time summer I have managed to do it all but once school starts up again I’ll either need to figure out how to be more efficient or something will have to give. That might just mean I go down to posting a few days a week, or maybe I don’t get to read every single blog every day. It won’t be the end of the world.
I’ll also be starting to train for the Philadelphia Marathon in two weeks, which means I will need to prioritize my time even more. I think I have my plan finished, although I am keeping in mind that it can be adjusted throughout the training. I will probably share it sometime next week.
Otherwise, running lately has been good. I am trying to use this week and next week to work out however I want, and not feel like I am already training. I didn’t want to feel any pressure to get certain runs in while I am on vacation next week.
I went back to Body Pump and CX work this week and unfortunately I don’t think they are going to fit into my schedule while training. CX works would be a good way to keep my core strong while I am training but I don’t think the class times will work once school is in session again. I like to get into work around 8 on school days, and the class doesn’t end until 7:30 (and usually doesn’t start on time so its more like 7:40). I plan to continue to make core strength a priority while I am training!
doing things like this!
Ok and one other random thing. Does anyone have any good ways to wash sweaty clothes? I feel like with all my sweat this summer some of my running clothes have a lingering smell that I can’t get out. It’s sort of embarrassing when I show up to a yoga class already smelling bad.
Does your family have a vacation spot that you’ve been going to forever?
How do you manage to fit blogging into the rest of your life?
What is your favorite way to keep your core strong while you are training for a race?
I’ll be back tomorrow with the last part of “Distance Running Gear and Accessories”!
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Cape may is the best! We don’t have one place we always go but the beach is a favorite. I agree about blogging that if I don’t find a better system 6 posts a week is really not sustainable! I’m thinking 5 will be manageable with one recipe thrown in each week.
I love the beach! I grew up 15 minutes from the beach and was able to go all the time. Now I need to wait for this one week a year when I get to go!
I think that with blogging it can be hard to post every day, but 4-5 seems more reasonable. I think my goal is just to get on a schedule because in the beginning it was really sporadic.
I blog my last hour at work (shhh don’t tell), and fit in my commenting when I first wake up, during lunch, and at the end of the day. But then there are posts that require far more pictures, etc, and so they can take a bit longer. And then, on the weekends, I take a break (mostly). I definitely do PT (as we all know), and I think that it is invaluable to keep those muscles strong and limber, and then to ramp it up during marathon training, even though you might be inclined to slack off.
My family has a lake house, so we always went there, but every spring break for many years, we went to Vail to ski. Meanwhile, I was wishing I was at the beach. The grass is always greener…
I find that alot of people don’t blog on the weekends and it seems like alot less people read blogs as well! If I could figure out a better way to write some of my posts in advance I think I could still handle 4-5 a week. I just don’t want to feel “forced” to sit down and write at the end of the day if I really don’t feel like it.
Both of your family vacations sound amazing!
My core is SO weak. I need to get back into strengthening that training for my next marathon!
I was slacking off for a while so it feels good to get back to it! I wanted to make sure I started the core work before marathon training so I’m not extra sore from that as well as from running more!
I’m struggling with the blogging thing right now too. I love it and don’t want to give it up, but I just don’t have the time I used to anymore. The commenting, responding to comments, coming up with posts, etc. is really time consuming. I have a feeling I will continue to post regularly but become a more “silent” reader. We just can’t do it all. I hope you have an absolute BLAST at the beach! Relaxing vacations are the best kind 🙂
It can definitely be alot to do it all related to blogging. I just don’t want it to become a chore once I’m busier. I still enjoy writing and reading but I think I will just need to cut back a little. I was a silent blog reader for years- it wasn’t until I started my own that I started to comment!
Blogging definitely feels like a part time job sometimes, and I think that coming up with a schedule really helps with time management. I like to get most of my commenting/reading done early in the morning so that I don’t have to worry about it for the rest of the day, and sometimes I’ll go back at the end of the day if I have time. Writing posts is a little more difficult to schedule since I have to be in the mood so that it doesn’t feel forced, but I find it really helps to have a blogging calendar so I kind of know what direction I want to go in. And if I need to take an extra day off, I take it. Better to do that than give people content that feels forced.
I have heard about blogging calendars but I don’t have one and maybe I should consider that. I agree about not forcing it. Some days I have a million ideas so I really need to start making notes about my ideas for days when I can’t think of anything to write!
I wish I had more time to dedicate to the blog, and did more so I could post everyday. I just think ‘studied, did things around the house, and went to bed at 9:00pm’ wouldn’t be very good reading so I usually post when I’ve actually done something exciting haha.
Maybe I totally missed it, but what are you going to school for?
I’m actually not going back to school- I just meant for work because my job is based in an elementary school during the school year! I work a 12 month schedule but the summer is mostly paperwork, meetings, trainings, and I take some time off– the school year gets wayyy busier!
I had the same “smelly” problem with my running clothes after I washed them. I decided to soak them in vinegar and baking soda for a few hours, then washed them how I would normally. So far I think it worked!!
Great idea- Thank you!
I think most bloggers I know struggle with the balance of life/blogging/reading/commenting..it’s tough, there’s no doubt about it!
Sooooo jealous abt the beach…I am a teacher and I haven’t been even ONCE THIS YEAR!!!!!!!! I am sad with myself and I might have to rectify this next week before school starts!!!
Honestly it’s hard for me too to get other workouts in with marathon training-I REALLY have to work on it and it can be very difficult!
Get to the beach!! I am so sad that I haven’t really been yet this year. Growing up I lived 15 mins from the beach and went all the time.
I am trying to figure out now how to schedule “other workouts” into marathon training. I am thinking I will be doing most of them at home rather than trying to get to the gym because that just gets even more time consuming! Now I’ll just need to hold myself accountable to actually do the workouts at home!
Yes that’s my problem too… I have been a HUGE fan of YouTube lately and their workouts that you can find, there are some seriously good ones! I should do a post soon on my faves!!
My family and I always went to Long Island growing up. We spent most of our summers out there, and it was always a wonderful time. I keep blogging to 2-4 days a week because that’s what works for me. I don’t have the time to post daily, and I’m ok with that. And I really only read articles that interest me on other blogs. Just because I love a blog doesn’t mean I feel obligated to read them all. You write something that sounds interesting to me, great! You wrte something that doesn’t, that’s great, too, since it’s your space to do what you want and I respect that. I just may not read it, which is ok too.
I grew up on Long Island! I was about 15 minutes from the beach so I went all the time during the summers.
Your approach to blogging sounds great! I think since I have become so enmeshed in it all I need to take a step back and remember that it is just a hobby. I don’t want to feel forced to post if I don’t want to and I don’t want to feel guilty about skipping a post if it doesn’t interest me. Thanks for helping to put that in perspective:)
Adding a blog to my life this summer has been interesting. I started by trying to post everyday, but I don’t always have anything interesting to say. I keep a running list of topics and a regular post or two, so I’ll have some to pull from, but I’m going to try and make sure that I don’t over do it, 3-4 times a week is enough between home, work, running, etc.
I grew up going to Rehoboth Beach, DE when my grandmother lived there. Then my aunt bought a house in Bethany Beach, DE and me and my family still go there every summer. What has been really great is that I am able to take my daughter to Rehoboth to the boardwalk and watch her ride the same rides I rode as a child. Last year was her first trip to the boardwalk and I almost cried watching her ride around on the little boats (I’m such a nerd).
As for stinky clothes, I’ve heard using baking soda can help. I just don’t know how to incorporate that into a wash.
I really need to start making a list of topics (or writing posts in advance) so I have something to use when I am out of ideas! When I first starting blogging it was only 2-3 times a week but this summer I suddenly started posting almost every day (I guess I just had lots to say!) but I will probably figure out a way to go down to 4-5 times once the fall starts to get really busy!
That is so nice that you are able to bring your daughter to the same place you went on vacation! I have heard that area is really nice- I went to Dewey beach in college but I don’t feel like I got to see much of the area (it was senior week…)
The baking soda is a good idea! Someone else mentioned soaking the clothes in vinegar and baking soda before washing! I guess that’s worth a try!
Believe it or not, my family and I never went on vacations. We owned a business that required all of our summer hours 🙁 Girl, blogging has become life consuming and I’m trying to figure out how to fit it all in and I don’t even work full time. Something definitely has to give somewhere. I want to read everyone’s and comment on everyone’s, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen. My favorite exercise is planks and stability ball tucks. And now that I’ve started Piyo, I’m all about it!
That is too bad that you never went on vacations. It sounds like you can definitely to relate to my feelings about blogging lately! We just can’t do it all forever. I love planks and stability ball tucks, and I need to try out this Piyo that everyone is talking about:)
I love body pump. I used to teach that class awhile back. They didn’t have CX works back then when I was teaching, so I never took that class, but heard it is a great core workout. I just moved to the Philadelphia area and I would sign up for the marathon, but it is the same weekend I am going out to do Vegas. I hope to do the RnR one in Philadelphia in Sept though.
That would be fun to do the Rock n roll Philly! I have heard good things about it- and I think Philly is a great city to run!
CX works is a great core workout! I’ve even been able to pull up some of the classes on Youtube- all you need is a weight and a band:)
I am finding Pure Barre to be terrific for core strength and a great balance to the running routine…As for detergent, I am very happy with Method (free and clear).
Thanks for recommending Method- I will have to check that out!
I really want to try Pure Barre. I saw that there are some ways to take online classes so I may look into that. I used to do ballet when I was growing up but I have a feeling I will be realllllyy sore from a workout like that these days!
(Written as I majorly catch up…) Wouldn’t it be great if we just had all day for blogging and blog-related activities? 🙂