On my very first trip to Holland, it was March and every where I looked tulips were in bloom around the city. I remember exploring the city with my classmate and it quickly became one of my favorite cities to visit (even if the flight hours were rather light for international). When I used to fly to Amsterdam, my dream was to see the Bloemen Route in full bloom, but I always chickened out when it came to trying to navigate the trains solo, so I simply stuck to exploring the city, especially with friends.
Since the pandemic, I’ve enjoyed traveling virtually through researching travel destinations, especially with YouTube. The more travel content I consume, I wax nostalgic from my flying days as well as my running days as those were some of the best years of my thirties. I made so many wonderful memories and new friends while working my way to various destinations, many of which I keep in touch with today.
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Why I Selected Flower Route for Spring 2024
My first trip to Amsterdam was in March 2013, so I always associate the city with the season, especially when all the tulips are in bloom and crowding the flower stalls all over the city. I wanted a short distance race that could realistically complete within a month.
Flower Route Action Plan
Training Window: April 2024 (4.5 weeks)
Frequency: Three times a week (Tues, Fri & Sun)
Training Format: 5K (3.11 mi)
Method: Indoor Treadmill (walk/jog) or at least clear that minimum mileage on assigned days.
Flower Route Virtual Fitness Challenge takes you 41mi (66km) through the scenic landscapes of the Netherlands. The places you will make your way through to Flower Route include Haarlem, Leiden and Naaldwijk.
Destination Running | New England & Canada 2024
Later this year, I am going on my first cruise with my Mom for my 45th birthday. When I used to run, my Mom would travel with me and we’d spend weekends exploring cities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C. It’s been just over ten years since I’ve laced up for a proper race, but I’ve had the itch to start training again. The same with cruising. The last time I went on a cruise it was to the Caribbean with friends on Disney during off season, so I am overdue for some Vitamin Sea.
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Now, given that while its been a while since I’ve both run and cruised, I do remember both having several key things in common: 1) fueling with plenty of food, 2) requiring lots endurance, 3) staying hydrated and 4) needing lightweight clothes for summer temperatures. This requires preparation on various levels, including preparing a training plan and nutrition schedule. I’m great at the planning stage, but often, I fall short when it comes to the execution stage. I tend to obsess over numbers, metrics, and data and when I don’t see change, I get frustrated. Very frustrated.
Often My Inner Perfectionist has trouble reconciling that progress over perfection leads to sustainable, long-term change and results. However, as I look over my old photos, medals, running clothes and my old running and flying content, the more I realize I already have all the tools I need to do it all over again. I just need to make the time to make sense of everything and connecting it all together once more.
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I do not have plans to run any races while I am on this cruise as there is no Castaway Cay 5K on Holland America. However, with the mileage I wish to tackle in the summer months (largely indoors in Florida with the occasional outdoor activities), I thought of a great way to tie everything together. The cruise we are taking will be leaving from New England and making its way the Maritime Provinces, including Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island before terminating in Quebec.
I still haven’t decided if I am going to try and finish not only this challenge but the Cabot Trail one as well before I leave, so I can have it with me on the trip. We’ll see how the summer goes.