Race-cation Over. Now What? A runner’s week of travel, races, and coming back to routine

# What happened on the race-cation The author and a group of running friends drove to the Boston area for a race-cation centered on the Run to the Rock races in Marshfield. They stayed in a rental in Plymouth, a house noted as built in 1766, and mixed racing with local sightseeing: Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and dinners on the water. The weekend included a half marathon, a 10K, and a 5K across the group.

# Race day realities The half marathon course was hillier than expected and was later found to be half a mile short. Despite that, the author placed 2nd in her age group. Several friends ran the 10K and 5K while others cheered. The race logistics included a bib and shirt pickup that was delayed by Friday traffic through Boston and toward the Cape.

# Travel and weather issues

# Recovery, routines, and volunteer work After the race weekend the author eased back into training and routines rather than pushing for a long hard session. She's mentoring a STEM running program on Wednesday evenings and recorded a busy first session: a 60-minute run paired with a 90-minute walk format for participants. Other weekly activities included gym visits, mall and neighborhood walks, tennis, Mah Jongg night, and getting flu and COVID shots.

# A few incidents during training On a scheduled long run with a friend, the friend fell, hit her head, and cut her face. The author ran one mile to fetch ice and a towel, helped arrange urgent care transport, then continued with planned social activities like brunch. These interruptions show the balance of social support and getting miles done.

# What's next on the calendar The author lists near-term race and blog plans: a November 5K for the STEM runners she mentors and a Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K coming up on Saturday. The blog will publish a Run to the Rock half marathon race recap and a Runfessions post.

# Practical points for other runners

• Expect travel delays when race-cations pass through major metro areas on peak travel days. Build in extra time for pickups and check-ins.

• Volunteering or mentoring after a big race can fit into recovery weeks if mileage and intensity are reduced.

# Questions raised How long do you taper or back off after a race-cation? How do you balance travel, celebration, and recovery without losing training consistency? The author invites readers to share their approaches to post-trip recovery.