Apples and a Long Run

Saturday, the day before the Tour de Habitat, I knew I had to get a long run in or else. My next half marathon is in less than two weeks! The past few weeks have been super busy the last time I ran over 10 miles was three weeks ago.

Every summer my pace suffers. I feel slower. And every year I blame myself, when in reality, I need to blame the weather.

Enter 40 degree fall temperatures. Perfect running weather. I went to a local bike path and ran 10 perfect miles and felt great the whole time…I was fast (for me at this time) and I felt like I was at a comfortable pace the whole time.

I even came really close to PRing my 15K time of 1:27:06, but I was about 30 seconds off. Still, it makes me feel really good. I think I even PRed my 10 Mile time. 🙂

Garmin stats
Total distance – 10 miles
Total time – 1:33:31
Average Pace – 9:22/mile

Mile splits:
Mile 1 – 9:18
Mile 2 – 9:25
Mile 3 – 9:27
Mile 4 – 9:50
Mile 5 – 9:22
Mile 6 – 9:46
Mile 7 – 9:04
Mile 8 – 9:17
Mile 9 – 9:22
Mile 10 – 8:34 <—booya!

I had to hurry home because I had plans to go to Indian Ladder Farms for some serious apple picking with my sister, my friend Brendan, and some lovely CDNY bloggers.

But first, lunch! I ordered the scrambled egg flatbread. It was very tasty and hit the spot.

My sister and I also ended up going to the bakery after lunch and split a sugar cookie. It was warm, crumbly and moist in the middle–mmm.

The smell of freshly baked cider donuts is amazing. It brings me back to my childhood because my grandma used to take my sister and I here every fall when we were little. Every time my sister would get a sugar cookie and I would get a blueberry muffin.

I ordered a half dozen of sugary cider donuts so I could bring some over to my parents. 🙂 Of course I also had to get some hot apple cider. It was amazing.

Fall is almost here! Time to get busy picking apples.

The apples were bursting from the trees. They were picking Macs, Cortlands, Galas and Jonagolds.

You cannot live in apple country and not go apple picking once every fall.

Brendan found a HUGE apple.

My sister and I shared a bag ($14 per bag) so we could each take some and give some to our mom. I suggest sharing a bag since one bag a lot of apples, way too much for one person!