Usually my training is the only thing I have to battle my way though in any given week. However, this summer has proven to be challenging in almost every aspect of my life! It’s all “good stress” but stress nonetheless.
Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxation, recharging and refocusing…isn’t it? I don’t know about all of you but, around here, I’m literally and figuratively just trying to keep my head above water. Which is also why you are getting a rundown post on a Wednesday. #sorrynotsorry
You may have also noticed I’ve classed things up on the blog. Thanks to my brilliant web designer Lorraine Cintron, I was able to give VITA a face lift.
WEEK OF JULY 27, 2016
RUNNING
My running is pretty much the only thing remaining consistent over this past week (plus a few days) and I feel strong and confident while doing it. I could definitely do without the heat and humidity but I know it will pay off when I’m sweating it out in Omaha in just six short weeks!
Monday: 30 minutes easy after open water swim | 3.68 miles
Wednesday: 8 x 1 minute 10K race effort | 46 minutes | 5.88 miles
Saturday: 6.58 miles nice and easy
Sunday: 5-4-3-2-1 10k pace ladder | 46 minutes | 6.02 miles
Total = 22.16 miles
CYCLING
Oddly, I’ve been doing quite a few sessions on the bike trainer. See, in order to cram in everything I was doing over the extended 4th of July weekend (mine started on Thursday, June 30!) I woke up at the crack of dawn and just got it done.
Up early and at it on the bike! And watching OITNB of course.
I also woke up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, July 2, got my workout done and then drove two hours to Peabody, MA to check out some triathlon bikes and have a fitting at Fit Werx bike shop. The place and people were recommended by my coach and the experience was incredible! Much more on that later but let’s just say I will be sporting some new wheels in a few weeks…
Because I love parking lot selfies…
Tuesday: 4 x 10′ ramps | 54 minutes | 16 miles
Thursday: Z1-Z2 aerobic with 15″ bursts | 40 minutes | 8.74 miles
Friday: Tempo 75′ | 2 hours | 32.8 miles
Sunday: Hills @ low rpm | 46 minutes | 10.7 miles
Total = 68.24 miles
SWIMMING
I have incorporated so much swimming into my training, I should probably be swimming right now. I’m pretty damn proud of myself for swimming solo in my lake, something you could not have paid me to do just last year. When I can, I swim with a faster friend, I’m constantly working on my sighting and also trying to just not drown. All in all, the first week of five days of swimming was not as bad as I thought it would be.
Another solo swim in the lake done and done well…and by “well” I mean I survived.
Monday: open water 1’s | 42 minutes
Tuesday: 2,000 yards in the pool | 47 minutes
Wednesday: Endurance speed 6 mod | 2,800 yards | 1 hour and 02 minutes
Thursday: 2,000 yards open water | 50 minutes
Friday: open water intervals | 35 minutes
Sunday:Â short and sweet sighting drills | 30 minutes
Total: 11,800 yards (roughly)
RACING
So far this year I have competed in two Olympic distance triathlons with pretty good results. I have a sprint triathlon (1/2 mile swim, 13 mile bike, 3 mile run) tonight and another sprint scheduled for July 24 before the BIG ONE in Omaha.
I have a love/hate relationship with racing. It’s a great way to train for a goal race but there is so much prep work involved and I feel like I’m constantly getting race ready. I have never done so many triathlons in such a short time and, although I love racing (especially when it’s over), it has taken a toll both mentally and physically.
You may recall the race I have tonight, whooped my ass last year. I’m really looking forward to see how I can smash some of my times from last year and, if not, to wallow in self pity and whine all over this blog. Either way, it should be good reading.
GEAR
TrailHeads is at it again with another great accessory that I immediately loved, and pretty much wear on a daily basis, to tame the crazy on top of my head.
The best thing about the TrailHeads Sandy Hook Multi-Band is that with each purchase, TrailHeads donates $10 to to the Collaborative Recovery Fund administered by the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation, which pays the out-of-pocket mental health expenses for those eligible who have been most impacted by the 12-14-12 tragedy.
Here is a demo on the many, many ways you can use this LOVE RUNS THOUGH wrap all year long:
FUEL
As you all know by now, I fuel my body to train and perform though all the demands I put on it and I eat a very healthy and somewhat regimented diet. However, I will not restrict dessert or adult beverages in the name of fitness. Another thing I do not really believe in are supplements. Now, I love my Enduropacks and will definitely use “boosters” like BeetBoost and Generation UCAN during my actual training but, as far as supplemental nutrients, I try to get everything my body needs though my diet.
A company called Inside Tracker has been making the rounds in the blog-o-sphere and, after reading NYC Running Mama’s blog post about them, I decided to give it a try. I was given a discount, signed-up and had someone come to the house to take my blood.
The results are in and I have one word: Annoyed
My “inner age” is 46.3? Really? I will be getting to the bottom of this…
Needless to say, I will be dedicating an entire post to Inside Tracker, what my results mean and how it all works. Who knows? Maybe I can get all of you a discount so you can see just how old you really are…
THINGS I LOVE
The extended Fourth of July weekend and a visit from my friend Sue aka This Mama Runs for Cupcakes, and how all our boys had so much fun together while we sunbathed and drank wine..and ate s’mores:
At a friend’s amazing outdoor pool where my brother-in-law played human cannon launcher for all the boys. They hated it…
And finally, we headed to the ocean for some much needed sea breeze…
Happy Fourth!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Waking up every single day at 5:00am, even on the weekends and when I’m not working, so I can get my workouts in. I know I bring this on myself but it is unbelievably hard to drag yourself out of bed on five or six hours of sleep, with aching muscles and a spinning mind and just DO IT. And then plan, pack and achieve an entire fun filled day with the kids all while pretending to not be exhausted.
It’s exhausting.
[Tweet “If #summer has you struggling to keep your head above water then read this and comisserate! #summerstress”]
PODCASTS
I have officially started listening to nothing but podcasts in my car! I drive a fair amount all over town, and have had some extended solo trips lately to races or bike shops, and have really enjoyed listening to:
Lindsey Hein | I’ll Have AnotherÂ
Lindsey has an easy way about her and her podcasts have amazing and interesting guests (like Erica Sara, Michele Gonzalez, Hollie Sick and Caitlyn Pilkington) and keep my mind occupied with “what are they going to say next?” Love it.
Denny Krahe | DizRuns
This is a shameless plug because I was the most recent guest on Denny’s podcast. But, I’m in very good company, with Christine Yu, Jesica D’avanza and the one and only Lindsey Hein.
I also love Denny’s listener Q&A and “quick tips” series which includes: running with allergies (yes), what to eat when you’re not running (please tell me since obviously I need help) and bouncing back from a bad run (half of the time).
I also love how Denny has me “identifying” as a runner (below) but that I rock multi-sport events. In our current state of being obsessed with “identifying” with a gender, I choose to identify as a runner. I hope this will get me my own bathroom at races.
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
How was your week?
What podcasts are you listening to?
Is summer stressing you out too?
WOMAN, BRACE YOURSELF 🙂
Summer is not stressing me out.
For once 🙂
Life is weird and wonky and unscheduled and I feel untethered in a very BIG WAY —-but?
Im oddly just going with it.
and sweating.
and longing for someone to human canon ball ME into a pool.
LOL! Love that so much and wish I could be there with you…and also cannonballed into the pool 🙂
I’m kind of mad at you that you didn’t let me know you were in Peabody – I would have drove down to meet you! But Fit Werk – I have a friend that swears by them. She’s a former pro cyclist so I think she knows what she’s talking about. I do not. And yay for hanging out with blogging friends. I got to meet Sue yesterday. She’s awesome!!
OMG seriously? I had no clue you were that close? I will let you know when I go pick it up and maybe we can do coffee? Lunch? A run? Whatever!
So cool you were able to hang with Sue as well. She is the best!! Too bad we couldn’t have ALL been together…:-)
No stress here! Seriously. I learned my lesson and [finally] stopped over extending and over committing myself. That was more out of necessity than smarts. Yoga teacher training has taken over my life since January.
I love early morning. Do you think your early workouts will become a habit?
Good for you Jill!!! Someday I may get there but not with this racing schedule and 7 year-old twins!!
So glad you have dedicated your life to something peaceful and mindful like Yoga. I want to be you when I grow up 🙂
I listen to way too many podcasts to list. Way too many. It is my favorite form of content consumption 🙂 I currently have around 15 in weekly rotation lol! I am very curious to see how old I am, as a matter of fact maybe I don’t lol. Summers around here are pretty busy but I think I make them that way on purpose. My sons school regimen is so tough! So we do ALL the things in the summer 🙂
I definitely bring the summer craziness on myself because I want to do all the things!!! But I also get to complain about it 🙂
And yes to podcasts at all times. I can easily see how you have 15 in rotation. I’m slowly getting there myself!!
I really want to know more about that Inside Tracker thingy. How can it tell you how old you are from a blood test? I’m anxiously awaiting your post. I’m a skeptic like that…
Altho I think the amount of stress I’ve experienced that last couple of months has aged me dramatically. Hoping it’s all reversible!
I am also 100% skeptic. The test was pretty in-depth and they are measuring everything from cholesterol to white blood cell count to glucose and list goes on. I have yet to really analyze my results but they lay it all out and explain each and every aspect, what it means and how you can improve. I also had several areas that are not in need of improvement so at least there is that.
We shall see…
Summer is exhausting for parents. It feels like the kids are constantly whining about what WE are supposed to entertain them with. It starts out with them saying, “What are we going to do today?” and I always reply, “Oh I don’t know! What ARE you going to do today?” Ha ha ha. When I was a kid, summer just meant NO SCHOOL. Shouldn’t that be enough? Grrrrrr. Anyway. I really need to run again. I may just return early or someone WILL die.
OMG totally! We woke up and my mom would say “go outside and don’t come home until lunch.” Done!
I think you definitely need to start running again 🙂
Love the new site design! It looks great! I hope you rock the race tonight. It really is so hard to get up early in the mornings to work out, especially as often and as hard as you do, but it will all pay off soon enough in OMAHAAAAAA
I know you understand the agony of the early wake-up and train routine. Thanks for the confidence boost for tonight. I’ll be thinking of you as it will be about 90 degrees. #help
Diz Runs and I’ll Have Another are my favorite podcasts right now, along with Runner’s Connect. I just saw yours pop up in my queue and can’t wait to listen! Love the new look of your site – so beautiful!
AH! That is awesome!! He should interview YOU next!
Thank you for the compliments on the blog. It was time 🙂
He did! 🙂 I interviewed with him for a podcast about a couple months ago. Denny’s a friend and I was actually going to mention to him that he should interview you, but no need to now 🙂
OMG how embarrassing! I’m so sorry I totally missed you in the line-up!! I will definitely have to go and listen. Thanks Laura!
Oh please don’t feel embarrassed! Denny does so many good podcast episodes that it’s easy to miss a few in the line up – like I just found his interview with Lindsey Hein the other day. It’s like an endless treasure of fun runner interviews. I loved your interview by the way – just finished listening to it!
Thanks so much Laura! And yes, he has tons of great interviews so thanks for listening to mine. I was listening to it in the car and it’s very strange to hear yourself…although my kids got a kick out of it.
I’ve been straying away from running podcasts, although I do listen to another mother runner (not every episode)… Dear Sugar with Cheryl Strayed still my favorite podcast…. and sometimes I’ll listen to Rich Roll depending on the guest…
That being said, I did listen to your podcast this morning…. love hearing you talk…. Please post picture of bull tattoo:)
I’m adding Dear Sugar to my list right now.
If you search “tattoo” on my site, I’m sure it will come up 🙂 or I will just DM it to you! xo
Sorry about all the duplicate comments… feel free to remove them…. At work and it seemed like they were not going through!!
No worries – now it just looks like this post is REALLY popular so thanks 🙂
I haven’t been listening to too many running podcasts recently, although I still listen to most episodes of another mother runner…. Dear Sugar from Cheryl Strayed still my favorite podcast although it has nothing to do with running… I did listen to your podcast because I do enjoy listening to people I “know” talk…. and I loved it… Please post picture of bull tattoo:)
I’ve swayed a little away from running podcasts, although I do listen to most of another mother runner and other ones intermittently…. Still my favorite podcast is Dear Sugar from Cheryl Strayed… But I did listen to yours this morning and thoroughly enjoyed it…. and I want to see a picture of your bull tattoo:)
EXACTLY! Supplements are pretty much useless (except for the unscrupulous marketers making a killing off your insecurities). It’s all in your food, and in much better proportions, bio-availability, synergistic balance, etc. Teach your body to do the right thing the way it was meant to!
Maybe you shouldn’t try to get to the bottom of ‘inside tracker’, maybe you should consider it is just another BS concept designed to part you with your money (marketers [again!]- UGH!). Look at their ‘about’ page, the top 3 experts are scientist spewing their litany of accomplishments in academia, starting with the founder:
18 years of experience in systems biology, computational biology, aging, metabolism, and caloric restriction research. He previously worked at MIT, the Weizmann Institute, and several Systems Biology / Computational Biology companies. WTF does that mean?
Sounds impressive; but means nothing in the real world of the Human Organism, its adaptation to stress, and functional physiology. Allie is not 46, she’s regressing in physiologic ability back into her late 20s. Allie will be able to surpass Allie for the next few decades and beyond.
I doubt any of these erudite gentlemen have even broken a sweat in their cupcake lives, therefore have no concept of what makes a 60 year old (ME), train at the same level as I did 3 decades ago. THEY MAKE ME SO MAD!!!!!!!!!
Since you have so little time in your busy life schedule, maybe you might entertain that all that time you spent researching and complying with this crazy concept site might be better spent quieting your mind or sleeping just a bit longer 2b> refreshed for training?
It takes a lot of time to research and enter all this data on your computer, no? I’d say like a few hours wasted along the way with compliance, not to mention the doubt now instilled in your mind (marketing ploy) designed to worry you!
Glad to see you have a sleeveless wet suit. There is no way to develop a smooth, balanced, and biomechanically optimized stroke, especially with sighting, with the restriction of the closed cell neoprene binding your ROM.
11,800 yards, I’m so proud of your swimming, especially alone in open water. I’m not swimming nearly that much@ all, so I gotta get cracking to keep up with you.
Restrict dessert or adult beverages, NEVER!
I think I have touched a nerve Claude! Although I do agree with you on some points, I know for a fact that several of the partners in the group are athletes and absolutely know what it’s like to be in the trenches. One of them reached out to me and said my scores were actually pretty great and he has seen +8 or +11 in the age categories! I’m having a one-on-one chat with him to get down to the meat of this whole thing and see what the results are really trying to tell me. And I SO wish I could sleep in but when you have a family schedule to maintain on the weekends and a work schedule to maintain during the week, it either happens at 5am or it doesn’t happen!
And yes to all.the.swimming! I had a sprint triathlon last night and took a full minute off my swim time. Still waiting for overall results as I had to leave as soon as I crossed the finish.
Thanks, as always, for all your input Claude! Now get out there and SWIM!! 🙂
I feel like I SHOULD be stressed out…my job officially ends next Friday. I am freelancing at both RNC and DNC but after that am unemployed! I might be booking a trip to Croatia/Italy shortly after but it is kind of amusing that the thought of unemployment doesn’t have me freaked out.
And I 100% get where you are coming from on the early wakeups – that we bring on ourselves – you are on a totally different level than me but sometimes I am just like ugh why am I waking up so early to prep for my workout – like all weekend at home with my fam when my schedule called for back to back 10 milers. sigh.
Preach!! And congrats on the big freelance gigs!! After all that work you are probably looking forward to unemployment 🙂
Oh bummer you’ve been stressed this summer! That alone can explain the higher age… stress = higher cortisol and more inflammation. I haven’t done Inside Tracker but it’s definitely interesting. I do my best to get all I need from food but also fill in the gaps with top quality vitamins as I know our food supply no longer contain the nutrients they did just 50 years ago, and it’s helped me recover faster and feel better.
How fun that you got to hang out with Sue!! And the number of swims you got in?! You are a machine! Hope the tri went well last night… going to search instagram now to see if you gave anything away!! 🙂
I’m going to have a one-on-one with one of the Inside Tracker specialists so he can break everything down for me. I feel like I’m always stressed in good and bad ways so yes, I’m sure that has something to do with it. You are also exactly right about the lack of nutrients in our food supply. I’m not opposed to taking a supplement if I can actually see that it’s doing something!! Thanks so much for your valuable feedback Laura! So appreciated.
And I think you know now that I killed the race 🙂 So glad for that confidence boost!!
Yes! I love that last tweet. So funny.
Gosh I’ve always loved podcasts, mainly because I hate the radio and commercials but mainly I just hate the radio. I listen to a variety. Tim Ferris is a regular, I like a few running ones like Tina Muirs. I go through podcast phases. Sometimes I’m just into food and cooking ones, other times just running. And then Tim is any time. Long drives lol. I will DEFINITELY need to check out the ones you mentioned. Always looking for new ones!
Oh gee I don’t know how you wake up early Trish and do kids all day. I remember when I was ironman training I was at the pool at 3:30am and training till 6:30am during the week before work. I’d be in bed by 8 or 9! No kids, can’t even imagine. In the weekends is be up later like 4 LOL. But seriously the weekends were almost harder. Up early and riding all day till afternoon. Ugh kinda not missing it but it was fun. Now that I have my daughter I’m excited to just start running and reaching spin again. Can’t even fathom training for a tri yet but I’m sure after she’s older I’ll change my mind 🙂
Love our posts! I rarely pass on dessert either or my current evening Guinness these days. Gotta live life and enjoy it!
Thanks so much Danielle and, I seriously could not fathom training for an IM – with or without kids – so hats off to YOU!! And, I’m sure as your daughter gets older you will be itching to start training again 🙂
You had a stellar week of training in all three sports! Super impressive and very strong. I totally hear you on treading water. Sometimes that is all we can do. I think it is amazing that you’re making it all happen regardless of the craziness! xoxo
Love your new blog look!! I have had this on my to do list for so long – your designer did a beautiful job! 🙂
Way to crush that tri – I knew you would!!
Love seeing you and Sue hang out with your boys! Isn’t she awesome?!!
Thank you! It’s been on my list for a long time too.
Sue is awesome and I can’t wait until we can all hang together 🙂
I’m so with you: it HAS been a crazy summer so far. But this year I’m not stressed. Mostly because I’m online SO much less. Yes the blog suffers but I rather it be that than miss so much of the other goodness. Love that you and Sue and Co. got together!
Ok those results shock me, and I’m sure you as well. Need to hear more.
Totally let the blog suffer! Summer is where all the good stuff happens – not online – good for you 🙂
I’m having a call with one of the guys from Inside Tracker so full report coming soon!
Thanks Marcia.
Loved loved loved your podcast – I really enjoy how you aren’t afraid to say you don’t love the marathon nor do you necessarily want to run one again, or that an Ironman may not be for you. I feel like they’re such a buzz in the running/tri world, and it’s beyond okay to like the shorter stuff and have no interest in the longer stuff. (Although I like the longer stuff, so there’s that…)
I’m still not sure what I think about Inside Tracker, and I’ll be interested to hear what your in depth reports are. In health care, some of the testing doesn’t necessarily make sense to me. I also don’t understand the value of their product over having testing done at an annual physical, which many insurance pays for. (For example, mine is free! Not even a co-pay! And I have a great primary who really reviews in depth with me.) But always interested to learn more!
Thanks so much for saying that Susan! I seriously really appreciate it!!
And I’m SO interested in your “professional” insight when I post about Inside Tracker. Stay tuned…
Thanks for the podcast love!! I’m so happy you are enjoying it and truly appreciate you listening and sharing with your people!! 🙂
Thanks for commenting Lindsey. I feel like all your hard work is paying off! Keep it up 🙂