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.

 

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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!

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...

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.

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: 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.

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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.

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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…

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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:

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At a friend’s amazing outdoor pool where my brother-in-law played human cannon launcher for all the boys. They hated it…

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And finally, we headed to the ocean for some much needed sea breeze…

Happy Fourth!

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 Another 

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.

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RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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How was your week?

What podcasts are you listening to?

Is summer stressing you out too?

 

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