My 5 Fave Racing Trips {link up!}

Last year was definitely the year of race-cations. I feel like I was all over the place (because I was!) This week’s DC Trifecta link up topic is 5 Trips so I’ll share (again lol!) some of the places I visited last year (and some places I plan to visit this year 🙂 )

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Thanks for hosting Cynthia, Mar, and Courtney!

1. I still can’t believe I ran a 1/2 marathon in Madrid, Spain. Sometimes, I look at that album and seriously am shocked that that happened. But it did and it was absolutely amazing. I recapped the race here but some memorable things from the race were

-how awesome it was to be half way around the world and be able to speak the language. Both my husband and I are fluent Spanish speakers 🙂

-how plastic water bottles were given at each water station. Bottled water is so expensive in Europe that as soon as I saw a PR was nowhere near possible, I started hoarding water bottles and ran with one in each hand the entire way lol!

-how there were ZERO porta-potties. Men just pulled up to the side and did their thing but the women had to find a restaurant or shop to use the bathroom!

Madrid was our first stop in our Europe tour and we started off with a bang

One of my fave race pics -- having fun doing what I love (and in Spain!)

One of my fave race pics — having fun doing what I love (and in Spain!)

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2. When I got back from Europe, I decided to cross the Grand Canyon twice lol! Doing Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim was such an incredible experience. I had never been to the Grand Canyon and to go and do that was amazing. I recapped the double crossings here and here.

The Grand Canyon is a must see if you’re Arizona and if you’re planning on visit, why not cross the whole thing? 🙂

Day 1: South Kaibab to North Kaibab. Day 2: North Kaibab to Bright Angel.

Day 1: South Kaibab to North Kaibab. Day 2: North Kaibab to Bright Angel.

the edge of glory

the edge of glory

at the finish line of the Canyon :)

at the “finish line” of the Canyon 🙂

3. My bucket list marathon was the Marine Corps Marathon in our nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. I’m a big history buff so running a race there would unite to of my passions: running and history. I wrote about this race and how it met ALL of my high expectations here (and a little more here). The cherry on the top of this race last October was also meeting my BRF Salt ❤ The day couldn’t have been better.

Oh just strolling by the White House--nbd.

Oh just strolling by the White House–nbd.

Best. Medal. Ever.

Best. Medal. Ever.

My BRF and sole sister--Salt <3

My BRF and sole sister–Salt

4. I mentioned just last week how I plan on going to Cincinatti, Ohio to run the Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon.

We'll be running the half! :D

So if anyone had told me my brother would run a 1/2 marathon…I would have snorted and said, “Yeah, when pigs….yeah….”

This race is special because it will by my brother’s first half and I NEVER thought he’d run a half marathon. Ever. I’m so pumped about it, I can’t even explain it lol! Just this past weekend he texted me a pic of his 7 miler. I’m so ridiculously proud of him.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about this race and you bet I’ve checked out the elevation chart–I’m ready for you hills! (well not really, but yeah)

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Helloooo hills!!

5. Finally, my fall marathon this year will be in……CHICAGO!! My run club is organizing a group to run the Chicago Marathon and my husband and I have put our names in the lottery–all our fingers are crossed we get in.

I’m still gunning for a sub 4:30 and I’m hoping, hoping, hoping it happens in Chicago. If not, I plan on maybe trying ONE MORE TIME in Phoenix Spring 2016 and if it still doesn’t happen, I’m putting up my marathon running shoes for a while. Marathon training is no joke and this momma is TIE-ERD.

So, there you have it! Some places I’ve been ridiculously lucky to visit and two that I’m super pumped to check out this year.

–Where have you traveled to run? Do you have a favorite place?

–Where is your dream race-cation?

Good luck to Sue@ThisMamaRunsForCupcakes who is running a marathon in PARIS, FRANCE this weekend!!!

What am I training for?

Last week’s running deets looked like this:

Monday: Core work

Tuesday: 6 miles, 8:38 pace

Wednesday: Circuit Training

Thursday: 5 mile Adventure Run

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: 7 miles, 9:09 pace

Sunday: 10.6 trail miles

Total Miles: 28.6 miles

I feel good with my mileage for last week. It was my first longish run/long hike back to back days Saturday and Sunday but I didn’t feel too exhausted afterward. That’s something that’ll be regular leading up to the Canyon.

I have a few things coming up so I’m in a weird not-sure-what-I’m-training-for place. I have RnR Madrid 1/2 Marathon next month (4/27) and the Grand Canyon Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim mid-May.

I’m not working on PRing in Spain. I want to just enjoy the run and enjoy where I’m at. I do want to make sure I’m prepared for the mileage however. My longest run since my marathon March 1st was Sunday’s 10.6 mile run/hike. With me going out of town on Wednesday and not getting in a long run until about two weeks from now (plus I want to leave a few days for taper), I’m in a tight spot to make sure I can get it all in. But, I know that all the training I did for my marathon has left me with a good base and I’m not starting from scratch.

What I am concerned with is that I get back from Europe May 3 and have my running group’s mandatory Death March 17.8 mile run/hike the next morning. With jet lag and the exhaustion from being gone a week, I think I’ll a good representative of that hike’s title.

The hike includes the one I did on Sunday, looping around and going up the steep part an additional two more times (3x total).

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Sound fun, right? I love challenges so I’m excited about doing it but I’m not excited about doing it sleep deprived. This will be interesting.

–How was your running week last week?

–Have you ever trained for two things at once?