Tara at Running N Reading hosts a Weekend Update Link-Up where people can share their weekend fun and successes with each other, as well as introduce each other to new things: races, workouts, books, food, gear, etc.
Since running and reading are my two favorite “try to retain some semblance of myself” while being a stay-at-home Mom activities, I was excited to recently come across Tara’s blog and to participate in this link-up!
Current Reading
I’m currently reading Monday, Monday by Elizabeth Crook, a novel tracing the post-shooting lives of three fictional survivors of the real-life 1966 massacre at the University of Texas (the first “campus shooting” in the United States). The first chapter was one of the most emotionally intense first chapters I’ve ever read and the book has turned out to be a story of the ripple effects of fate.
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I recently started training for a half marathon, so I decided to use my running time to listen to audiobooks. I’m a visual person, so listening to books is a bit hard for me (I find myself zoning out occasionally and don’t retain as much as I do reading), but I do enjoy it more than listening to music…especially on the longer runs. I’m almost finished with my first audiobook, Delicious, by famed restaurant critic Ruth Reichl (yes, I’m listening to a food centric book while running…I’m weird). It’s been OK, but it hasn’t lived up to my expectations. I’m not sure if that’s because I’m listening to it rather than reading it or if I think the actual book is just OK. I’ll have to get a few more audiobooks under my belt for comparison.
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“On Deck” Reading
Once I finish Monday, Monday, I plan to start reading We Are Not Ourselves, a debut multi-generational saga by Matthew Thomas. It’s been talked about as the “debut of the year”, so I have high hopes! We Are Not Ourselves is set for an August 19 release.
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My next audiobook will be Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight, another debut novel…this time a thriller about high school angst. I hope sticking to light, fast moving books with lots of action will keep me from zoning out!
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Running
As I mentioned earlier, I recently started training for my first half marathon – I’ve run numerous 5K races and two 10K trail runs, but the half marathon is a new distance for me. This weekend, I finished Week 2 of Hal Higdon’s Intermediate Training Plan.
My long run this week was 6 miles and next week I’ll move up to 7, which is uncharted territory for me! This weekend was easy on the training front (I like to do my hard training during the week)…a rest day and a 3M Race Pace run.
What have I learned from training so far?
- That I go out too fast on the long runs! I’m a sprinter by nature and I need to pay closer attention to my Garmin watch! I use the Garmin Forerunner 910XT, which is more gadget than you need for running. But, I have visions of giving triathlons a shot once both my kids are in school, so I sprung for the triathlon watch.
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- I need to start carrying fluids with me on the long runs, so my marathoner friend recommended the Fuelbelt Sprint 10 oz. Palm Holder handheld water bottle, which I just ordered.
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What did you get up to this weekend?
good luck with your training!
Sarah, I am very excited to hear about your training for your FIRST half marathon! I remember that time in my life well, and it was both scary and fun at the same time; you are doing great! I am looking at some of Higdon’s training plans as well, since I will be attempting (again) my first marathon in December. I love your book choices, and thank you for reminding me about audio books; much like you, I find myself distracted at times, but they are a great resource for long runs. You might also check out a couple of podcasts – The Long Run Lifestyle and Running On Om – I enjoy both of those. I really want to read We Are Not Ourselves!! 🙂 Great post, Sarah! Thanks for linking up!
Good luck with your first marathon – I commend you…not an easy undertaking! I’ll let you know how the Higdon plan works out. My friend who has run numerous marathons used one of his plans for her first one and she liked it.
I might have to look into that water bottle! I have a belt that has two 8 oz hydration bottles and I always use that for runs of an hour or longer. But during the hot, humid summer I’ve been wanting some fluids even on my short runs and don’t always want to pack a belt. I’ve been thinking of a handheld, this one definitely looks worth considering! Thanks for sharing!
Let me know what you think of it if you end up ordering it! I’m still waiting for mine to arrive…
Great post! And good job on making it through two weeks of your training plan. I used a Higdon plan for my first marathon and it worked out well. What half are you planning to run?
I have listened to only a couple of audiobooks while running. Personally, I would have a difficult time tracking a complicated plot while also avoiding being hit by cars, so I have listened to humor–specifically, Bossy Pants by Tina Fey and Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Laughing through a long run makes the miles pass faster and helps distract me from the pain.
I’m running the White Plains Half in October…nothing fancy, just convenient! Humor is a good idea for audiobooks! I read Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and didn’t love it, but I can see how that would be a good audio book to listen to while running.
Thanks for stopping by!
I’m glad to find another runner/reader! Are you on goodreads? I’d love to follow you… I’m currently reading Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian. I’m about halfway through…it’s not an upper. I’m curious how it will turn out.
And good luck on your training for the half. Next thing, you’ll be training for a full!
Yes – I am. Look under Sarah Dickinson (Sarah’s Book Shelves)! Loved Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands – but, yes, it’s definitely not an upper!
Not sure I’ll ever make it to a full…more likely to attempt a triathlon before a marathon, but we’ll see how the half goes!
I’ve read positive comments about We Are Not Ourselves. Good luck with your training. (I get distracted listening to books and prefer to read them.)
I’m also finding it hard to keep from getting distracted when listening to books, so I read all the ones I’m really excited about! I only listen to lighter, fast paced books on audio to use my running time more efficiently 🙂 But, I’m definitely a more visual person.