It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? & Weekend Update (4/27/15)

I spent last week having serious Readathon FOMO! Congratulations to everyone who participated…it was so fun to read all your posts! I’ve never joined in because the thought of trying to participate in any meaningful way with two young children around is daunting. But, after reading a couple great “this is supposed to be fun, no pressure, just do what you can” type posts, I think I’m going to dip my toe in this Fall. Has anyone with young children at home participated before? Do you have any tips for me?

I’m going to be linking up with Tara at Running N Reading’s Weekend Update on Mondays for the next few months. I did this last summer while I was training for my half marathon, but I stopped joining in after my race. Well, I’ve started training again…this time for a 10K trail run, so it’s also high time I jumped back into Weekend Update!

I finished reading…

The Bullet, The Dinner


The Bullet
 by Mary Louise Kelly (March 17, 2015)
I flew through this one, but when I looked back at my notes, I realized most of my observations were negative. But, I’m still considering things after a thoughtful Twitter discussion with Tara at Running N Reading. Mini review to come.

The Dinner by Herman Koch (February 12, 2013)
I’m so excited to join the lovely ladies at Socratic Salon to discuss this one on May 20. It’d been on my TBR for years and I hadn’t jumped on it because I didn’t love Koch’s 2014 novel, Summer House with Swimming Pool. BIG mistake. I loved this one. I’ll be posting a mini review soon and, of course, discussing all the details in May.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I tried, but wasn’t feeling…

Lavina, Mary Marcus


Lavina
 by Mary Marcus (April 28, 2015)
I usually love me some Southern fiction, but I had trouble getting into this one. The storytelling was a bit jumpy, I had trouble following along, and I wasn’t connecting with the writing style. This could be a hangover from The Dinner, so I’m going to put it aside for now and possibly come back to it if I see some glowing reviews.

I’m currently reading…

Girl in the Moonlight

Girl in the Moonlight by Charles Dubow (May 12, 2015)
Dubow’s 2013 novel, Indiscretion, was strangely addictive (and a great summer read!), so I’m excited about his new novel about a man’s unhealthy obsession with his friend’s sister. I’ve only read 10 pages so far, so I don’t have any coherent thoughts yet.

Weekend Update

Running N Reading Weekend Update Link-Up


And…on to the running. I’m training for the Rockwood Scramble 10K Trail Run in early June. I ran this race last year without a formal training plan, so I’ll be interested to see if I can do better this year with a plan! I’m in Week 2 of a modified version of Hal Higdon’s Intemediate 10K Training Program. Here’s how my week shook out…

Monday: Cross-Training (Renee Diamond‘s Diamond Cuts class at Equinox, this lady is seriously awesome)

Tuesday: Long Run (6.2 miles), little sluggish, lots of allergies

Wednesday: Stretch & Strength (Inside/Out Barre at Equinox)

Thursday: 45 min tempo run (I felt great, best run of the week)

Friday: 8×400 at 5K pace (I did this on the treadmill at [8:06]-[7:53] pace) with 200 slow recoveries in between, I also added a quick hills set on the tail end since my race will be on the trail.

Saturday: 4 mile recovery run (again, a little sluggish, [9:15]-[9:45] pace)

Sunday: Gorgeous rest day! Outdoor lunch with my family, nap and reading, and an afternoon park play date. 

I don’t have my detailed splits because my Garmin has been acting up lately. The watch works fine during my runs, but it won’t download my data to my computer through the USB plug. I’ve gotten a couple alerts to update my Garmin Express software and have done that each time. Has this happened to anyone else? Any advice?

How was your running week?


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21 Comments

  1. Shelleyrae wrote:

    An impressive training schedule , good luck with it!

    Read on,
    Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  2. Kay wrote:

    I think I had forgotten about The Dinner and the fact that I meant to read it. Heard mixed reviews, but I still feel it might be a good one for me. Putting it on my list to check out at the library. Good luck with your 10K training.

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I heard it was a love it/hate it kind of book. My MIL didn’t love it like I did. Koch has a really distinct style and I think it can probably rub some people the wrong way. Parts of Summer House definitely rubbed me the wrong way, but not so much The Dinner.

      Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  3. I thought The Dinner was great, but never got around to reading Summer House. Maybe I’ll pop over to Socratic Salon for the discussion. Hope I can remember enough to participate!

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  4. YAY!!! You’re making me want to go back and read The Dinner again before the discussion begins at The Socratic Salon; shame on you, Sarah – hahaha! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! The Bullet certainly includes some artistic license, if you will; I think you have to be totally “in” to take it all as the author intends…or maybe not, and that’s the point?!? Who knows! Open for interpretation! Thanks so much for linking up today; I KNEW you had a race coming up soon! You’re going to do great!! Love Higdon’s plans; they always seem to work well for those who utilize them, and you’re being very smart with your cross training. Hope you have a great start to the week!

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Thank you! I have to work some cross training in there…4 days a week running is about my max! And – I’m STILL pondering The Bullet…I wrote a draft of my mini review, but am reluctant to post it yet since I’m still turning things over in my head.

      Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  5. Impressive running schedule. I’m just getting back to running after injuring my back and now training for a 5k for my daughter’s Girls on the Run event in June. I hear Hal Higdon’s are great but I’m using the Ease into 5k app. So far so good. I’ve wanted to read The Dinner for some time, so maybe I’ll get to it sooner since you’re all discussing it on Socratic Salon. Have a great week!

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  6. Ooh, I didn’t realize TSS will be discussing The Dinner! I have a copy on my shelf, but I haven’t read it. Maybe now’s the time!

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Do it! It had been on my TBR list for years…was glad to finally have a reason to pick it up.

      Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  7. I am curious about The Dinner. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with your training and run.

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  8. Sharlene wrote:

    I’ve taken part in the last three readathons and I’ve got two littles who’ve just turned 4 and 2. The first time I was stressed out! How was I to read, update, check out other blogs and Twitter and Instagram and all that?? The second time it was still a bit stressful, mostly because my husband was working that day. But I had decided to just do whatever I could and it worked! It was still fun. So that’s how I readathon these days. I just read when I can, update when I can (not often) and say hi to other participants when I can too! Hope you join in next readathon!!

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  9. Sharlene wrote:

    Huh. So my comment disappeared. In case it went through please ignore this one. But I wanted to say that I’ve done the last three readathons and I’ve got two kids who have just turned 4 and 2. The first time round I was stressed out. How do I manage to read, update, check blogs/twitter/instagram etc while managing the two kids? The second time I was still a bit stressed out, partly because the husband had to work. But I figured I would do what I could and I did have fun. And that’s how I readathon now. Just read what I can, see what people are up to when I can, update when I can (as in not often at all). It was just fun being part of this wonderful bookish event!

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I got your comments – have approved them both and you should see them now. Sorry about that – I’m thinking of moving to Disqus b/c this has been happening way too much! And, thank you so much for your Readathon advice…I tend to put pressure on myself, so going into something knowing full well I can’t make the most of it is hard for me! I think I’m just going to have to let that go for this event!

      Posted 4.28.15 Reply
  10. Belle Wong wrote:

    Very impressive training schedule! I’m thinking about getting back into running but for me that means a 20 minute jog every other day 🙂 As for the fall Readathon, I say go for it! I never participated as a reader before either, because I didn’t have a full day to commit to it. I did it this year even though I had to go see my mom and then take my son to dance classes, and it was a lot of fun. I didn’t read as much as other people but the community feeling was just wonderful!

    Posted 4.27.15 Reply
  11. I love how you have this post set up! Perfect for running and reading! I ready both of Koch’s books and I wasn’t a fan. Well, The Dinner was interesting perspective on an ethical issue. But Summer House with Swimming Pool was just bad for me. I run using Hal Higdon’s plans too! It helps to have some kind of a schedule for me. Good luck with your 10K!

    Posted 4.28.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Thank you! And, I think Koch is a love him or hate him kind of writer. Though, I much preferred The Dinner to Summer House…I feel like he just took Summer House way past the point that I could handle. I liked Higdon for my half marathon, so went back for more and I definitely work better with a plan!

      Posted 4.28.15 Reply
  12. I’ve done the 24 hour readathon a few times with young kids. I just focus on reading more than usual. That’s always my goal. In the past, I’ve managed 3-6 hours. This year, we had no plans and it was a rainy day, so I spent about 8-9 hours reading. I did go to lunch and dinner with the family and did some shopping. I could never actually devote the whole 24 hours to it.

    Good luck with the training! I’m doing a 5K on Saturday so have been doing a much less organized training, basically running whenever I have time!

    Posted 4.28.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      That’s a good plan – I just need to avoid putting pressure on myself and do what I can! Thanks for the tips! And, good luck in your 5K!

      Posted 4.28.15 Reply
  13. susan wrote:

    Glad luck on the 10K trail run. I’m signed up for a bike event so I’m training as well, but feel sore currently! Good idea to make a plan. I just finished a Southern novel (called Apron Strings) so I’m still curious a bit about Lavina. I’m feeling southern lit all of a sudden. Cheers.

    Posted 4.29.15 Reply
  14. I’m glad you’re thinking of trying Readathon next time! I did it while I was at work and the college students I need to constantly help FEEL like children, if that makes you feel any better haha.
    Also very impressed by your upcoming 10k! I’ve been kind of curious about running, but I also am a very lazy person and haven’t left my couch in basically 10 years. So maybe it’s not in the cards for me. I have been doing push ups, though! I’ll use my legs for forward motion eventually.

    Posted 4.29.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Oh god – college kids can be SO needy! I’m sure I was when I was in college. I feel like, if I can’t give something a legitimate shot, then I shouldn’t do it at all, which is why I’ve always shied away from the Readathon. But, I’ve read so many great posts recently about not putting pressure on yourself and just doing what you can. So…we shall see!
      Running can totally happen for you if you’re interested in it! Just start gradually…go out for a walk and tell yourself you’re going to run for 2 min at 5 min intervals. Then gradually increase your running/decrease you walking. And – I didn’t get nearly as into running as I am now until well after college. College is just not conducive to that kind of thing – at least it wasn’t for me!

      Posted 4.29.15 Reply

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