I already saw everyone posting stuff about pumpkin spice pop-tarts and fall wishery out there in Instaland and shame-on-you local Starbucks for advertising cinnamon drinks to push out summer. I’m not done with summer yet okay! Maybe growing up in Indiana where I had to lay my clothes on the radiator before school, just so i’d feel warmth before trudging down the street… or as an young stupid adult would go to a tanning bed in the middle of January to defrost for 20 minutes…or when I had to literally warm up in the sauna before hitting the treadmill at the gym because the ice, snow and cold said NOPE to outdoor running. Are you really still excited for fall and winter? Just let me pout for a few seconds okay…

Hi. I’m Cori. I’m a solar powered runner. I actually kinda crave the sun and sweaty humid runs. They remind me fondly of ultra training last summer. Every run I spent in the hard-to-breathe, sweat mess was one in the bank for a faster fall race. As of now, I don’t have any fall races on the schedule. I will not be doing another marathon until Boston 2018. My fall goals rest entirely on being strong and healthy leading into spring training. This is partially due to a full fall social/weddings/things to do calendar and partially because I needed a break.

I’ve been training and racing for a decade.

A decade. Entering a fall season with no major “A” race feels… nice. I figured if a race pops up that I can enter last minute and either run for fun or use as a hard effort training day, i’ll do it. But for now i’m not putting anything on the calendar that requires 18 weeks of dedication. I’m saving that drive, that commitment, that motivation and time requirement for Boston. Trust me, i’m already antsy and ready to train. I have the running bug bad. Consider me a caged dog for a few months. Working the mental side of training until I can be released.

In the meantime, i’ve been soaking up summer with friends and family, old and new and it’s been fantastic! Here’s to the last few months, and a birthday summed up in pictures…

East side of NC…

Sam and me at the beach, but cooling off in the kiddie pool 🙂

West Side of NC. (Asheville Trip)

Corepower Yoga, Bethesda, MD

Emmeline in town for chili fries, milkshakes, booze and crepes…

Smores’ milkshake… i’d kill for another one.

the 4th

Erin, me and Sam

Andrea and me in Annapolis for a day of fun…

and an afternoon of gin & bourbon…

Already hit up a couple Orioles games on beautiful days.

And an all you can eat Crab Fest at a local brewery! 

Birthday party with my girls! Yomery and Brooke

Dog days of summer, even for the cats.Cake and my age.

I guess fall will be good for fires… Wait did someone say smores?

Ok okay… I may or may not have acquired a bib for the Marine Corps Marathon. Oops.

What was your favorite part of summer?

What races are on your schedule for the rest of 2017?