Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 6 Trail miles
Wednesday: 5 miles
Thursday: Strength + Swim
Friday: Run 10 miles
Saturday: Strength/core
Sunday: Rest
Could the landscape be more grey?
It was another one of those super gray, foggy, but mild weeks that seems to be this season’s theme. Kids went back to school. It was time. Although it’s still so dark in the morning, I’m driving Thing 1. It’s a pain, but safety first. I find myself fighting the urge to rush through this bleak season and look toward spring.
I’m getting more accustomed to my strength workouts. I’m squatting heavier with less DOMS. And my legs don’t feel dead on my runs the next day. Knock wood.
I was up putting the dog out (as usual) at 3:30 Friday morning when I noticed our neighbor across the street had an ambulance, fire truck, etc out in front. Nothing good comes of that. We heard the next day, our neighbor passed away suddenly. Life is precious. I’d seen him just the day before as he did his usual 200-yd drive to the mailbox. Kind of creepy to think back and realize that was his last day here on Earth.
Lots of the week was spent single parenting. Not my fave but we had fun and made the best of it. We went to a niece’s 9th birthday party. And drove home in driving snow and howling winds. Winter arrived with a vengeance.
Sunday I was grateful for a rest day complete with early morning coffee by the fire, as well as the return of the Caveman. The day was low-key, complete with groceries, laundry, meal planning and even some food prep. What? This seat-of-the-pants non-planner prepped food?? More on that to come.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t contemplate the Starwars half for a minute. I’m too cheap to spend $70 on a B-list half but I’ll spend $$$$ on an A-lister.
Stalking the Disney runners made me itch for a race. I’d planned to sign up for a spring half marathon, alas when I went to do so, the price for the one I’d been eyeing had increased, putting it over $70 once the signup fees were added in. I’d be fine if this were an A-list race, but it’s not. Plus it’s not ’til mid-May. I’d hoped to run a half in April. Back to the drawing board.
One last WONDERFUL thing. My heart breaks every time someone qualifies for Boston then is shut out because it sells out before everyone who qualified can register. My friend Terzah has qualified twice. And shut out twice. This weekend she ended up winning a spot, courtesy of Clif Bar so she’ll be toeing the line in Hopkinton this April after all and I couldn’t be happier for her!
Congrats to everyone who raced this weekend! Did you? How much will you spend on a half marathon?
This week’s Tuesdays on the Run Linkup topic is weird running/racing dreams. Have you had one? I have! Stop by and tell us about it. Remember any running-related post is fair game too. Join us!
I think I’ve spent $70 on a half before. But then, I’ve also paid $25. It just depends on the race (and if anyone I know is running), fortunately I usually register really early so I get the early bird price 🙂
With a holiday discount, I paid $42 for the Earth Day Half in St Cloud in April. Much easier to swallow than the $100 I paid for the Madison half because I decided to run two weeks before the race . . .
Our races here are not that expensive at all. A small race can be around 10 dollars, a bigger race up to 20 dollars… and very big races are 20 to 40 dollars. I paid 100 for the Paris marathon. I would think twice about shelling out 70 dollars for a race too.
Disney is having their first European race next September. Registration (non hotel package) opens mid Feb. However, I have a wedding that weekend, else I would have loved to do it.
I think it depends on the race. I’ve committed to races too soon to save some money and then had to back out, so now I am more ok with waiting and paying the higher price if it means I will run the race. I’ve only done local spring marathons here in Maryland and DC (Rock n Roll USA in March, Frederick in May, Maryland half in May).
hmmmm can VALENTINES DAY BE SPRING?? 🙂
if so then AUSTIN!!
I think $75 is about my cut-off for a 10 miler, and I will try to register early to get a discount. When you see how many races sell out, it’s hard to say they are too expensive based on the law of supply and demand, but it is frustrating.
wow your races are very expensive! the most i have ever paid for a race is equivalent to $10! I run a race almost every 2nd weekend because they are affordable here. I am planning on running my first 42km in nov, and i will need to travel to this race.
I’m kinda crazy with race entries. I spent $600 to race Ironman Mont-Tremblant 70.3 last year because it was sold out but it was the course and timing I wanted so I purchased a charity entry. In that case I knew I was supporting a good cause so it justified the additional cost in my head. For half marathons I know what you mean. If it were a destination EVENT, I wouldn’t mind spending more because it would be part of an overall experience. If it were a local small event I tend to think of those more as supported long runs and not as inclined to pay as much.
For me it depends on the race…if it’s something I really want to do, then I’ll just suck it up and run. I ran Zooma Chicago 2 years ago, and I had a really hard time paying for that one. It was the most expensive half I’ve ever run (even more than WDW), but a group of friends were running it. The things we do to be with our friends…
I think I’ve spent upwards of $120 on a race before but it was Rock’n’Roll, I believe so it seemed worth it 😛
Yay for your friend!!! I get so sad too when people work their asses off and then don’t make it in. 🙁 She is going to have a wonderful time.
I’m the same way with B list/A list races. I’m willing to pay Disney prices for their races, then pay airfare, cab fare, hotel money, and meals. Go figure. We’ve got some really good 10k’s in the area, but I’m spending $$$$ on the Tink 10k.
Beautiful winter shots! Have a great week ahead 🙂
Glad I’m not the only one. I was drooling at all those Disney posts this weekend. Instead I stayed in and watched the rain 🙁
$70 actually seems inexpensive to me for a Disney race. I’ve spent that on small, less high profile races (though I admit I wouldn’t do that again).
Wow those races are expensive! I wonder why they have to coast so much?
Sorry for the loos of your neighbor!
I am embarrassed to admit that I paid $175 for the Nike half a few years ago when they came to DC. We did get a tiffany necklace but not really worth it in retrospect. I am looking at the Hershey half this fall.
Part of the reason I won’t ever do a Disney race is because I am not willing to spend over $100 for a Half. I can’t do it. I think the Rock n Roll Tour Pass for $199 for 3 races in a STEAL!
Winter definitely hit HARD this weekend around here 🙁 Hope you’re able to sneak out and see Sisters sometime this week!
Your winter pictures are always so beautiful! We have NO snow up here in VT!! Say what?? It all melted yesterday with a 50 degree day. So weird. I’ve spent a lot on a half before (the NYC one) but that’s because I knew it would be amazing (running through an *empty* Times Square!). $70 is a lot if you’re just kind of looking to run one for the hell of it.
That’s sad about your neighbor. You’re so right to think of living each day fully and enjoying what time we have. Life is a thousand times happier when you try to keep that in mind.
$70 isn’t too bad for a half these days it seems, unless its a tiny local race. I have always wanted to run the Marine Corp marathon, and the Air Force Marathon (der, lol)!
Sorry to hear about your neighbor. Life is definitely precious. $70 does seem steep but for a Disney race reasonable, as I’ve seen Disney races at crazy prices. It does depend on the race though. I would spend more on big races too! Love your winter pics. I hope spring comes early for you!
$70 is pretty standard for a half marathon over here. I’m planning on signing up for one in March that’s only $60 – so cheap! And if I could win my age group there’s $65 prize money so I could actually end up ahead.
Those are some gorgeous photos you took! I’m pretty cheap, so I probably wouldn’t spend very much on a race!
I’m actually good with waiting til May for my first half of the season. It’s probably the wiser move on my part; training in the winter is soooooo hard! In fact, hard enough that I’ve only done it once!
And I welcome the opportunity to focus a bit more on strength training (and maybe even eating a little better). Course I say that every winter . . .
I have yet to register but the plan is to run the Carmel Half Marathon in April (16). The fee is $60 right now, which isn’t too bad. It’s right outside Indianapolis so it will be a quick jaunt down and back.
Beautiful pictures!!! I am totally like you in that I balk at forking over the fees for the b-list races, but won’t hesitate to drop huge change on Disney races. The Star Wars Half would be AMAZING!!! Can you imagine the electric race atmosphere after the recent The Force Awakens release!?!?!? WOW. How awful for BQ-ers who get shut out – but yay for Terzah!!!
I have paid up to 100 dollars for the more half marathon in NYC.
I completely agree, the price I’ll pay for a race 100% depends on how much the race appeals to me and where on my priority list it falls.
All the disney pics made me want to go run a disney race too!
I think I may have paid $70 – 75 for RnR DC during an early registration a couple of years ago, but on average I probably spend $50 – 60 for a half. I tend to register early to get the discounts when possible.
On another note, your winter photos are beautiful!
Races are just getting more and more expensive, it’s really disgusting! I probably won’t have as many races on my list this year just due to cost! I know the single parenting gig all too well, I feel for ya!
Gorgeous winter pictures!!!
I am averaging a runDisney event a year (Glass Slipper Challenge in about 8 weeks). They are typically the most expensive races of my annual calendar, but I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth with the quality of the shirts and medals, the fireworks, the course support and entertainment, etc.
I paid over $50 for the Divas 5K twice, but I might be passing on that this year in lieu of a much less expensive 12K trail race. We shall see.
I am with you, I don’t like spending much money on a race. Last year I ran 3 half marathons in the spring and two of them were under a different name because I go the bibs for cheap from people who were selling them.
The cost of running a half marathon in So Cal is CRAZY. $90 I spent for the one in December and that is normal. It’s just too much money. $60 seems cheap and yet I know it isn’t.
I don’t know how people afford to race tons of races during the year and pay for travel, etc!!
Congrats on your friend getting to run Boston through Cliff Bar!! That is really awesome.
And I am so sorry to hear about your neighbor. I will say a prayer for his family. Yes, life is way too short – we must enjoy every minute. xo
Those shots of winter are gorgeous! I think we might get our first snow tomorrow? I’m not ready! Great job with your runs. I’m picking up my strength training and it’s kicking my butt already, I’m beat!
I drop a stupid amount of money on races every year. I’m always constrained by what’s available when I can be in the location…
Stalking a race always makes me want to race! The energy is contagious.
for me it truly depends on the race. I try to run filler races between goal ones that are low cost or free with my running club. I also weigh if I get a discount. With blogging I’ve gotten free entry races so might offset that with a more costly one. Just depends on what my goals/budget is!
There are no guarantees when we wake up…we should breath deep and smile (I am preaching to myself..lack of running)
You know I don’t mind paying close to $100 if it is a super fun, well supported ( porta pots, and water stops) I do try to get in early and I have a few smaller races I like, that are $55. I love those!
I don’t even want to think about how much money we’ve spent on races and race weekends. I will say though some are worth every single penny! While they are worth it, you still have to have it to enter. Since my racing budget is tighter this year and because I just spent a huge chunk of it on the Disney run, I’m having to pick and choose which ones to do. But hey I did get a notice they just opened the half in my hometown for only $30 bucks, what!!!! That’s a steal any way you look at it! I appreciate you Marcia and all your support!
I dont think I’ve ever paid less than $100 for a half but then again I’ve only done bigger ones…I’m too scared to do a smaller low key race bc I’m afraid of now having spectators lol. In terms of spring halfs, the only one I’ve done is long branch half in NJ and I loved it!
So sad about your neighbor! In answer to your money question, I’ve run two Disney HMs. There you go. I have no race plans but you’d better believe I’m going to start scrambling. There are a lot of local HMs in February and March. Pretty cheap too. Thanks for linking Marcia and for your encouragement and support these last few months!