This Week in Runblogging: July 14 to July 20 2014

As this roundup is posted, I’ll be heading up to Vermont for two weeks of coaching at the Craftsbury Running Camps. I may try and do a few posts that provide a bit of an overview of what goes on up there (if you’ve never been, I highly recommend it!). It’s basically runner heaven: good food, good drink, good friends, and lots of running (and biking, swimming, hiking…).

Prepping for the trip has stressed me a bit, and that came out in a few of the blog posts listed below, but I know that once I get there my worries about two weeks away from my wife and kids will melt away (I’m a big-time homebody). Hope you have a great week!

Shoes I Ran in This Week

Skechers GoMeb Strada Prototype (19 miles), adidas Adios Boost 2 (8 miles), Newton Kismet (5 miles)

Runblogger Posts From Last Week

Parenting and Running: Finding the Balance
July 18, 2014 – A post on how I’m trying to better balance training for an ultra with work and time for the family. It’s a constant struggle, but I think I’m making progress.

Running From Stress on the Track
July 16, 2014 – Had a bit of an acute stress meltdown and had to vent. Running fast helped.

New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review: Firm, Responsive, and A Bit Pointy
July 15, 2014 – Shoe with a ton of potential. Responsive, smooth ride, but a bit too pointy in the front of the toebox. An insole swap helped.

Running During Pregnancy–An Interview With Sarah Canney of Run Far Girl
July 14, 2014 – Guest post by Sarah Canney on running during pregnancy. Lots of great info here!

Sage Canady in the White Mountains of New Hampshire
July 13, 2014 – A peek at the world about an hour north of where I live.

Recommended Posts From Around the Web

1. Seems that the topic of balancing life, family, work, and running was a popular one this last week. Must be summer craziness taking it’s toll on all of us. Thought I’d share a few that I enjoyed. First, Sarah Canney of Run Far Girl writes about how to balance running with family life. Sarah wrote a guest post for me this week on running during pregnancy, and it was entirely coincidental that we both posted on parenting and running on Friday.

Second, Scott Dunlap on A Trail Runner’s Blog discusses why he opted to pass on running the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 miler. His story is quite similar to my own last year when I decided to back out of the VT50K – juggling a busy summer travel schedule, work commitments, and family commitments can sometimes require putting the sport we love on the back burner for a bit, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

2. Far North Endurance posted a Loon Mountain Race recap by Emily Meehan. Sounds like delightful torture – may need to do this one next year! Far North also put up a cool post about two rookie runners at the Vermont 100 – they should be out on the course as I write this!

3. Steven Peterson writes about how the loss of a close friend sent him on his running journey. “Running is not straightforward for me. It is not always enjoyable. Occasionally I find a moment of success. Every so often I run into an epiphany (though I’m not really fond of the term), but rarely does it come easy. In the act of running I find that I am continually searching. Rarely do I discover anything. When I do happen to stumble upon something of meaning in the run, I can usually point to the moment and say “there was where I discovered something about myself”… but I probably couldn’t tell you any more than that. So I go back out again. It is a cycling, never ending exploration.”

4. Hampton Runner reviews the Garmin Vivofit.

5. Some great post-race videos from iRunFar. First, Larisa Dannis after finishing second at Western States – love her approach to running. Second, Kilian Jornet after winning the Hardrock 100. Looking at the photos in the race recap for Hardrock posted by iRunFar I really question why I spend so much time running roads!