Love my Monday's off

Yep, I do. Love not working on Mondays. I spent the morning doing stuff for mom and then really needed to get outside. It was too hot and humid to run, but perfect for paddling. Put in between the bridges and took a nice trip along the edge up the river.

Paddled by the steam plant. I could hear the cyclic hum of the power lines. Saw some beautiful homes along the banks. I was trying to figure out where these houses were, so I took out my phone and looked on google maps. The blue dot is about where I turned around. It took me approximately 35 minutes to paddle there from where I put in between the bridges.

...and this was my view on the way back. It is always neat to go under bridges. Hardly no boats in the water today. I figured all the beautiful lake homes are owned by older folks who can't get out to enjoy them, or younger folks who work during the week. Not many people out enjoying their lake. Glad I was able to.

Good day off celebrating the first day of summer.

 

Humid run

I tried to get out there early this morning for a short three mile run. The temp was 64 with a humidity of 90%. You'd think with that temp it would be pleasant. Nope. Awful.

Split Time Distance Avg Pace Summary 36:43.1 3.01 12:13 1 12:38.6 1.00 12:39 2 12:11.4 1.00 12:12 3 11:50.2 1.00 11:50 4 :02.9 0.01 6:56

At mile 1.5 I changed from 3/1 run/walk intervals to 1/1. Surprisingly I wasn't any slower overall. Actually a bit better. Below are my laps from Saturday when I did the 10k at 3/1 run/walk intervals.

Split Time Distance Avg Pace Summary 1:20:08.0 6.21 12:54 1 13:59.2 1.00 13:59 2 13:32.9 1.00 13:33 3 13:08.7 1.00 13:09 4 12:35.9 1.00 12:36 5 12:22.7 1.00 12:23 6 12:16.3 1.00 12:16 7 2:12.1 0.21 10:16

Saturday it was 79 degrees with 88% humidity. I was drenched afterwards, from head to toe.....embarrassing wet spots.....

You'd think I'd be losing some weight with this hot weather running. No, I seem to be gaining a bit. What is up with that?

After cleaning up and doing some sewing prep work for our Vacation Bible School, I decided to get back out in the heat and go on the paddleboard. The high temp was 97 when I was out. An hour is about all I can do. The water felt like bath water, but I enjoyed it.

I love my little lake side home town. It's very hard to see, but the building on the left side of the photo is the local high school, where I graduated from 38 years ago. The white point is the old courthouse peeking above some businesses downtown, then to the right is the Presbyterian church.

 

Long Run

Today was only the second time for me to run this week. With going back to work part time, I've not had as much time to get everything in. It is going to take some getting used to, even just working 20-30 hrs a week.

But I was determined to get in at least four, preferably five miles today. I took my Nunn water and at mile three I ate a GU salted caramel with caffiene, yummy. That definitely helped me to finish. After some chores then I took the paddle board out. The lake was busy which makes for choppy water but it was still a lot of fun paddling down past the bridge and back.

 

First day to paddleboard!

It was the perfect day for this.....

Just look how calm the water is....

A little workout, a little relaxing....Then who do I meet on the lake??

The fisherman was doing what he loves......

....while I enjoyed being able to paddle in the middle of the lake with hardly no boat traffic...I do practice safety. Have my life jacket, something to drink, water shoes, and a whistle, all tucked inside the handy cargo net.

This little setup only takes about six minutes to put on and load the board.

I am extra cautious with my phone. I have the Lifeproof case, but I also use this little waterproof case with a neck strap. Doesn't make that great of pictures through it and the sound is a little muffled but that is ok. I normally sit down and take it out when I want to shoot some photos or talk on the phone.

I worked really hard yesterday power washing both porches, all the porch furniture, cleaning all the outside lights, and planting flowers, basil, and tomatoes. So today was a lake fun day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A good reward for my labor.

 

Friday long run

I am trying to get back to a weekly long run. I've upgraded my garmin 110 to a 220, but I haven't got it all figured out yet. I thought I had it set to 3/1 intervals but nope, it was set to 5/1, so I just did them. I think I would have done much better at 3/1 in this heat. After getting up at 4:30 and working ten hour days, I have a hard time getting out early enough to beat the heat. It was 9:30 before I made it down to my normal lakeside running trail. Did 4.8 miles but a terribly slow pace of 12:57. Later in the day I did some paddling. Check out this beautiful panoramic shot....

I went to a new lake access park built by TVA, as part of the ash spill cleanup. Loved it. It was deserted, the water was smooth and calm, and it was very peaceful for some great paddling.

 

Happy selfie!

Packed up and ready to go home. I think I am going to have some good strong arm muscles by the end of the summer. That board only weighs 29 pounds but loading it, carrying it to the water, getting it out of the water, carrying it back to the truck...whew, it makes a girl tired. Hopefully it will help with the "bat wings" we older girls get...lol

I am still considering a soft roof rack for my car. I think I'd feel more comfortable hauling it that way.

Still running

Yes, I am still running. Although not quite as obsessed as I was. Enjoyed an easy three mile run last night. This humidity has been pretty bad though. When I finish, the back of my head all the way to my crown is soaked. I am still planning on a fall half marathon. Have a Fourth of July 5k, I am looking forward to sweating that out....not.

Today I did a little of my cross training exercise, that I am crazy about.

...paddle boarding. Great way to get your vitamin D and some core/arms/balance work. Call me crazy but yes, I invested in my own board. Hey, it was cheaper than.....an annual beach vacation, eating dinner out every week, or lots of other things folks spend money on in a year...(nails, hair color, etc., ha) and we live so close to the lake, with my own board I can go whenever I want to.

Was also trying out my panorama view on my phone camera. Did ok, even though it was taking the pictures behind a plastic (waterproof) covering.

 

Ahhhmazing......summertime.

 

 

 

 

 

Paddle boarding

This must be the rage now for water sports, and I can see why. It is easy, peaceful, and a good workout if you want it to be. I've been several times now and love it. The guy in the beard rents and sells boards at our local city park which is by the lake. This morning several of us were on boards in the lake for the swim part of the Storm the Fort triathlon.....

...keeping an eye on the swimmers, making sure they were ok and swam around the buoys. The water was so peaceful, at least until the swimmers started. Amazing the waves all those swimmers made!

 

Cross training

Enjoying my staycation this week. Took to the water again to paddleboard.

This time I rented one from a new local outdoor store. I got to see what it was like loading it in the truck. They give you a pad and straps that are easy to put on and hold it very secure.

This was an 11' board, but it was really wide and heavy. I think it weighed more than 30 pounds.

I really prefer the boards the guy has down at the park. I did paddle all the way to the bridge and back in only an hour and a half with a stop to rest a bit. This board didn't seem to glide as smooth or fast as the other one I've used. It definitely was a workout and I was paddling against the wind just about all the way to the bridge. It was probably only a mile to a mile and a half, and took me 35 minutes to get there. Too bad, I don't have a waterproof phone. There were some great photo ops.

Since I was by myself I wore my life jacket the whole time and stayed fairly close to the shoreline. It was an adventure.