I decided to take a little break from the tour of Italy on Mondays and have returned to regularly scheduled programming. I’m waiting to get all my money back from the Sorrento hotel before I start calling out their bullshit and, I also intend to do full recaps on the Island of Capri and Pompeii so stay tuned.
Today, I’m getting back to the grind as I sweat and curse my way through seven more weeks of training on my road to triathlon nationals!
SKY IS THE LIMIT!
WEEK OF JUNE 20, 2016
RUNNING
What can I say? Running is great, the sunny days have been amazing and, when I GET to run, I love it. Unfortunately for me, I will be focusing very little of my training on this since it’s my strongest discipline by far. WAH!
Coming home from another bike/run with nothing but smiles!
Since I raced last Saturday, this past week was a rest week for me and I needed every single day of it!
Monday: 30 minute walk (I called my coach to ask if this was a joke. It was not. I walked.)
Wednesday: 45 min run with a friend on the trails! 6.14 miles/8:02 pace
Friday: 8 miles nice and easy before OWS (open water swim) with coach
Saturday: 30 min run off the bike
Total = 22 miles
CYCLING
My cycling has come a long way but, I can still improve a lot on the bike. I have also been loving my time out on the roads, either with a friend or solo. The weather has been picture perfect for weeks and, it’s a lot less hot when you’re generating so much wind!
Getting my miles in and practicing the art of the riding selfie.
Tuesday: 1 hour ride/16 miles
Thursday: 1 hour 30 minute ride/base building/26 miles
Saturday: 1 hour easy with some accelerations before run/16 miles
Total = 58 miles
SWIMMING
This is where I suck. I really thought I was a faster swimmer but the open water is cruel and humbling. After a long talk with my coach we decided that I need to focus the majority of my time here and swim five days a week. Yep. Five.
I’m happy to report that I did two successful open water swims this past week and I’m getting really comfy out there. I also bought a swim buoy (more on that below) so I don’t drown or get run over by a boat. Good idea, right?
Getting ready to swim the lake with CRS. She was on a paddle board. How nice for her.
FUEL
The weekends continue to provide ample opportunity for celebrations and travel. I toasted my husband with this baby at our Father’s Day brunch, about 20 minutes prior to spilling my breakfast all over my brand new dress. Coincidence? Luckily we were at an outdoor shopping center so I was able to buy another one! #DressEmergency
Then spent this past weekend in Saratoga, NY at the Jazz Fest which is basically a food fest…
GEAR
Since I realized I will not always have company or the watchful eye of a lifeguard while out swimming the lake, I took to Amazon and had this delivered by boat:
You basically strap it around your waist and it floats out behind you so boaters, kayakers and other swimmers can see you. It also doubles as a flotation device so, say you have a panic attack in the middle of the lake, you can hang on for dear life until you either calm down or get rescued. The one I got also has a place to carry your stuff (snacks, car keys, etc.) but I don’t trust it with my phone.
THINGS I LOVE
SUMMER!
The boys and I have been enjoying weeks of pool time, SUP-ing, relaxation on the back deck and ice cream!
Ever see an SUP in an SUV? I love this thing!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Being yelled at by another mom at McDonald’s. Yes, this really happened and it was ridculous.
Before making the 2+ hour drive to NY alone with the boys I bribed them with McDonald’s for lunch. Big mistake. Huge. Naturally we went though the drive-thru and due to incompetence, a shortage of disgusting food or a combination of both, it took a full 10 minutes for me to get to the first window to pay. You can imagine how myself and everyone else in line, with at least two hungry kids in the car, was feeling.
There was, of course, a mini van in front of me with at least three kids and a mom in it. My window was open so when she pulled up ahead of me to the food window, I heard the employee ask her to please pull forward and wait (longer!) for the rest of her order. I’m sure she was thrilled.
So, she pulled up but only about 10 feet. And, on the right side of our cars was a concrete curb so, after I received my order I didn’t think I had room to pull around her plus, there were two empty parking spaces directly in front of her.
I tapped on my horn (yes, I really did just tap) and that is when things went nutty. She got out of her car and, the following exchange happened:
Her: (yelling) “What? I’m waiting for the rest of my food!”
Me: I know but can you move up so I can get around you?
Her: No, I can’t! Learn how to drive your giant SUV!
Say what? I actually just starting laughing because I seriously could not believe she was being that bitchy and crazy. I realize how moms can loose it in a car full of kids but I’m also a mom you asshole. We are supposed to be in this together!
After I stopped laughing, and she got back in her car, I narrowly drove around her so of course she was motioning inside her car like “See, you did it and I didn’t have to move,” to which I yelled out my window:
“Have a nice day!” (with two thumbs, and not fingers, up) and also complimented her on her parenting skills and what a great example she was giving her kids.
I wanted to say and do so much more. It may have possibly been the most restraint I have ever shown.
The best part was after all this drama, and when I was driving away, Vaughn said “Wow, she was really nice.”
He has not yet grasped the beauty of sarcasm. Bless his heart.
TELEVISION
I almost lost my mind when I realized Orange is the New Black season four was being released in its entirety! Sadly, I have only seen three episodes so far but they have been as good as I anticipated. Cannot wait to see what happens next!
This is how a bike workout happens when solo parenting. I’m watching OITNB on my iPad mini and the boys are happy with Minecraft. BOOM!
READING
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
I didn’t even know this book existed until it was chosen for book club. I was a little skeptical (because that’s who I am) but I absolutely loved it! Did you have any clue that flowers have meaning? I mean besides giving someone red roses as opposed to dandelions. I’m talking about defined meanings, given in the Victorian era in order to send the receiver just the right message. Here is a snippet:
The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.
There is so much more to the story which is incredibly written. It was one of those books I was reading in the car when I had 5 or 6 minutes to “spare.” Read it, start buying flowers like an insider, and see if the receiver gets the message.
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Walking into a sushi restaurant to pick up take-out last week…
Miles: “Oh mom! It looks just like Kung Fu Panda in here!”
I had no response.
[Tweet “The Rundown retruns to #training updates, 7 weeks out from @usat #nationals!”]
How was your week?
How are you spending your summer so far?
How would you have responded the woman in the drive-thru?
OH HOW I ADORE YER BOYS!!!
From the KUNG FU PANDA to the McD’s to every and all of it.
You’re such a great mom.
Me? Im oddly obsessed with that NEW WAVE.
I dont need it and yet? THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY I NEED IT.
#want
LOL – thank you so much Carla!! And I’m sure you can justify it somehow! I took it out for the first time today and LOVE!
That buoy is genius! The boy’s goggles – want! And that lady at the drive thru – WTF?!?! I love your Rundown of the week. 🙂
I think you hit all the important points 🙂 Thanks Angela!
It looks like you guys are having a great time. I always enjoy reading your Rundown posts!
Your boy’s comments always crack me up.
They crack me up to! Thanks so much Hollie 🙂
Omg to all of that swimming, but I trust CRS because she knows what she is doing!! That floatation device is so cool and so smart!! Especially in open water!!
I am SO proud of your restraint with that woman! Like there was one time I went apeshit in front of my kids because a women refused to put her aggressive dog on a leash when it was required in the park…not my finest moment lol but if you poke a mama bear………
HAHAHA!!! Oh I am telling you I was so proud of myself because I wanted to say so many things!!!! Honestly though I was just so shocked that she said that, my first response was laughter. People are so crazy!
haha >> “Oh mom! It looks just like Kung Fu Panda in here!” That’s the best!! And I totally panic and freak out with open water swims. I LOVE the idea of that buoy, especially since I can hang on to it for dear life! And that mom? Craziness. I too admire your restraint because hmmmm, I’m not sure I would have had as much! And 7 weeks!! Can’t believe it’s coming up so soon!
I’m sure you have heard the funniest things from your kids like that too. It was just so unexpected! And ugh the McDonald’s incident was ridiculous. People are nuts!!
I can’t believe the race is so soon either. Hold me.
Loved your restraint with the mom at McDonalds. People sure feel brave when they are in their cars, don’t they? I wonder if she would have been so bold face to face, especially if she saw your biceps? Just sayin’. You could just flex them a few times and walk away…
OMG hahaha! I did not even think about that. I totally should have gotten out of my car!! Next time…:-)
5 swims! I’m impressed… Swimming is a huge weakness of mine too.
Oh man, that McDonald’s experience and misinterpreted sarcasm is too funny. Why do moms have to go after other moms? So ridiculous!
I’ll be impressed when I actually do the 5 swims!! So far, one ows all by myself (with lifesaving buoy) down and 4 to go 🙂
It was quite the weekend for incidents and comic relief!! Hope you had a good one too…
Oh My god!! that mom at McDonalds!! What a crazy story! But you kept it so classy and sassy! that is so awesome!
I had no idea what at swim buoy was ! Thanks for the lesson!
I’m looking up that book, you always have great book recommendations! Did you go see Me Before You?
It really was nuts – just so unexpected! She completely overreacted and luckily it kind of struck me as funny.
I hope you love the book as much as I did and NO, I haven’t been able to escape to go and see Me Before You but I’m dying!
I literally just burst out laughing at the quote from Miles….. Just put Language of Flowers on my book list…. thank you!
He’s something else that kid! And I hope you love the book as much as I did. So good and just something very different from what I have been reading 🙂
Oh my gosh Miles’ quote is cracking me up! You are crushing it with those workouts – especially that open water swim! That woman at McD’s is ridiculous, but I can’t stop laughing at that perfect Bear Grylls meme.
LOL! So glad you liked that one 🙂 And yes all the swimming, all the time. I’m getting used to it…sort of. Thanks so much Laura!
Wow!! Love that pink float, what a genius idea. I wouldn’t trust leaving my electronics in it though, that’s a risk I can see going south. Or rock bottom. Haha
I can’t believe that crazy lady, it’s always so tempting to go ape shit mama bear crazy on people like that, but thankfully adulthood has taught me to smile and kill em with kindness. I’d do exactly what you did, but my 16 year old self would have gone ballistic lol.
How precious they don’t know sarcasm!! It’s s fine art, they don’t need it for a while 🙂
Isn’t it the truth? I’m sure they will use their sarcasm against me as soon as they figure it out. And yes, it actually felt good to kill her with kindness 🙂 Plus, I get the added bonus of blogging about it. Maybe out there somewhere is her side of the story….hmmmm.
And um CONGRATULATIONS of the birth of your beautiful daughter!!! Keep the pictures coming, she is adorable!
Oh, Allie – I just finished OITNB this morning. It was a gut wrenching season. If you want/need to talk about it at any point, I’m your gal.
I admire your restraint at McDonald’s – well done!
Now I am extra motivated to finish!! I love how we have the same amazing taste in books and television. We should have been roommates at some point!
Allie–Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Soooo maybe it is just because my Portuguese skills are not that great but it just seems like people in the US are so much bitchier than in Brazil. Like I have never ever had an encounter like your McDonalds one in Sao Paulo but since I’ve been back, I’ve had a few. People are crazy and about the stupidest things. I love your reaction. I literally get so mad and frustrated when stuff like that happen!
LOL! I would have actually thought that Brazilians are more fiery and, therefore, more argumentative. I guess they are just smarter about how they use their passions! It was super frustrating and took all my willpower to not tell her off.
Saratoga Jazz Festival??!!! Used to go there all the time in the 80’s (cringe). Loved it. 12 hrs/day of music, lots of cool crafts vendors, amazing grounds & the mineral bath Spa…. :). Great memories.
OBTW…. The other stuff in your post is hysterical. Also making this old Masters trackie think about doing tri’s.
Good luck in your ‘big’ race. 🙂
That is too funny! We used to go for the whole weekend, prior to kids, now we are lucky if we get one afternoon in:-)
As a masters athlete I cannot recommend triathlon highly enough!!! You and your body are sure to love it:-). Thanks for reading and commenting!