Last week was all about numbers:
41 – years I have been on this planet
41 – theme of my workouts per my clever coach
41 – times I yelled at my kids in one day hour
41 – glasses of wine I should have had
Ok, so maybe there was only one number that framed my week but it was an important one.
WEEK OF MARCH 21, 2016
RUNNING
I’m back to running fast and breathing freely (sort of) and it feels amazing! After last week’s oxygen suck, I was running 6:50/min miles like ‘aint no thang chicken wing. Mmmmm chicken wings.
So my coach thought it would be cute to theme my week of workouts with the number of years I have been alive. I’m just so grateful I’m not 51. Holy cow!
Tuesday: 41 minute run with 4 x 4 min at 10K pace (7:00)/ one min walk recovery
Thursday: 41 minute run after swim with increasing speed every 4 minutes after 15 min warm-up
Sunday: 41 minute easy run after 30 mile ride
Total = 20 miles
CYCLING
All I can say is thank God for Homeland or I would be bored out of my mind on the bike trainer! When I’m working though a really hard effort, it’s hard to focus on the show so I have to pause it quickly and then resume during my recovery minutes. It’s tricky to binge watch and cycle. #TheseAreMyProblems
For some reason I woke up with horrible stomach cramps on Easter Sunday. I waited a few hours, tried to eat and drink something and did my 30 mile ride on the trainer. Let’s just say it was one of the longest rides ever! Afterward I showered, went back to bed and stayed there all day. So much for Easter…
Stretching it out after a long ride and one and half episodes of Homeland.
Monday: one-hour bike with 10 x 41 hard effort revolutions in big gear
Tuesday: 41 minute warm-up for run
Wednesday: one hour and 15 minute base build
Sunday: 30 mile ride
Total = 5 hours 30 minutes and 73.4 miles
SWIMMING
I had some looonnnggg swims this past week. In fact, one was so long that the note in Training Peaks from my coach read: “Ok, do not FREAK when you see the distance!” Can you guess? Yep – 4,100 yards.
Thursday: 4,100 yards endurance before run
Friday: 3,600 yards muscular endurance after cycle (this workout included 41 x 50, try keeping track of that!)
I have to say, there is no way I would have made it through these sessions if it were not for my WaterFi waterproof shuffle. I started the 41 x 50 set with no music then decided I shouldn’t torture myself further.
I made this video way back in the summer (in Lake Winni!) but never used it. Since it’s spring and many of you may be hitting the pool or lake more, I feel like you should not enter a water workout without one of these!
CROSS TRAINING
No Barre class this week so off I went with my SIL to Pllates. It was just as awesome as the first time around and, since there are only a few Barre classes left, I need to find a way to work this into my regular schedule!
FUEL
The birthday goodies kept on coming all week long! I got homemade banana chocolate chip cookies in the mail from one (obviously) amazing friend and a house call with these:
Yes they look like an old favorite from when I was eight but they are actually gluten, soy, dairy and nut free but surprisingly have a TON of taste! The gracious friend who delivered them is on the caveman diet, not me but, when she brought similar ones to a birthday last month I basically swallowed one whole. She took note.
GEAR
So all of my bitching about Apple has finally paid off! That and while I was getting my 6Plus the guy asked me what I did when I gave him my email address (that has VITA Train for Life in it) and, when I told him he suggested I team up with the Apple business team.
I sat down with a few of the guys and talked about how we can work together and it was great! I told them the first thing they need to do is get a GPS on the Apple watch since pretty much every runner/Apple watch owner I know thinks that feature is horrible. They’re getting right on it.
I also purchased a tripod and light for my phone so I can fully utilize the video features. Look for some new workout videos in the coming weeks. Try to contain your excitement.
THINGS I LOVE
The Greatist list of healthy ice cream! One of my favorites, Three Twins, made the list. Score.
Unfortunately, creepy bunny Carvel ice cream cake did not make the list. However, that did not stop me from purchasing it for my birthday celebration. And, the candles, which conveniently look more like 47 than 41 are courtesy of my husband who is MUCH older than I am. #HeIs43
Is it me or is this thing rolling its eyes at me?
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
I knew these days would come but still, I was not prepared. But, really, how does one prepare for this:
Yes, that is shattered glass on a french door. My son Miles was playing with his brother and friend and decided that throwing rocks at the house was a good idea. He missed.
Secretly I’m more upset that my husband literally shoved my bike and trainer out of the way when he opened the door to try and kill my son. Luckily, everyone (and everything) survived.
READING WATCHING
Unfortunately, most of the interesting things I “read” were words on a video screen courtesy of Facebook. I can feel myself getting dumber.
Here are my top two:
I just want my husband to see this one more time. Mothers of the world – – rejoice!
And this gem, just in case you need one more reason to hate Trump…or 1,000:
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Parents should have more control and more choices when it comes to our kids’ foods. When our kids come home and say ‘I don’t like math’, we don’t say ‘it’s okay not to learn math.’ Why would we treat nutrition any differently?” – from Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move speech given to 150 mom bloggers at the White House on March 15, 2016.
I personally would have chosen vegetables any day of the week over math. Just sayin’.
How was your week?
What number keeps popping up in your life these days?
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
I have been waiting for that door thing to happen here as well.
I can’t believe it hasnt yet (KNOCKS ON EVERY DAMN THING) and Im also amazed no one was hurt.
So glad you had a great birthday week.
The forties rock.
Totally amazed no one was hurt and luckily the “shatter proof” glass stayed shattered in place with no messy pieces.
So far, I have to agree – my forties rock!
Oh the door. I know that’s in my future. My brothers were throwing rocks at each other in our garage and shattered the back window of my moms car. Good times. Good times. Glad you survived 41 themed workouts…ouch!
OMG. All of a sudden the door doesn’t seem like the worst thing that could have shattered! And, my brother shot a golf ball though a neighbor’s window when he was a kid so yes, every boy must break a window during adolescence. It’s in their handbook.
I stuck my hand through a door like that shattered it once. I was a kid and don’t really even know how it happened to be honest.
That is really awesome about teaming up with apple. That’s like the bloggers dream right?
Yikes! Your hand? Luckily you weren’t badly injured and obviously you have some kind of super human strength!! But, we already knew that 🙂
Totally a dream come true with Apple. I’m looking forward to the next meeting this week!
OMG that video has me fired up!! Grrrrr
Um, I hope that’s fired up in a good way??
In a way that makes me further despise that guy! Thanks for the shout out btw on the cookies 🙂
Of course it does!!!
And THANK YOU for the cookies. They are heavenly!
I’m pretty sure I didn’t give you the creeping crud but ugh! Sorry it hit you too. I’m about 95% today. It was a bad bug.
Ok, I took your advice and got a waterproof iPod. Not the WiFi one but hey, at least I can rock out while I’m running in the pool. Testing it out manana.
I’m sure you will LOVE it! As long as it is waterproof and plays music, you are good to go!!
And yes, creepy crud is still with me but not nearly as bad. This too shall pass, right?
I just have to say that one time last week I attempted an indoor cardio workout on the elliptical and it was the longest and most boring 30 minutes ever…. maybe if I had homeland or something else to entertain me it would have gone better…. Every time I try an indoor cardio workout on my own, I have new-found respect for everyone that logs miles on treadmills, etc….
Truth!!! Somehow the bike isn’t as bad as the treadmill but mostly you need a really good workout that keeps you changing it up and keeps your mind and body guessing so the time passes. Since I was supposed to do this ride outside, I had to sort of make it up as I went. Not good. Not good at all. But I did it and felt slightly better as I crawled into bed!
Awe, I am so glad you had such a great birthday week, minus the broken window. YIKES. I really love that last quote about parents feeding kids healthy food. Whenever my kids whine about anything they don’t want to do, I tell them that not wanting to do something isn’t a good enough reason to not do it. I don’t want to make their lunches or vacuum or grocery shop, etc and I’d rather be effing off to a beach somewhere with an endless supply of Corona. I actually tell them that. Because I really don’t think kids have ANY IDEA. They just think we exist for the sole purpose of serving them. WELL WE DON’T. Ha ha ha. Wow, I sound angry. I should probably start on that 41 glasses of wine thing. Smart idea.
LOL totally but you are 100% right! It doesn’t occur to them just how much we do or how much we would rather be doing something (or anything!) else!!! Who said being young is wasted on the youth? Genius!!
That 41 themed week is intense!! Way to power through. And it sounds like a fabulous birthday week! Other than the creepy bunny and shattered door, I guess. And yeah, Trump on women… I saw a similar comparison video of Obama and Trump dealing with protestors – Trump calling them names and being incredibly immature, Obama being very respectful and saying he wants to hear them out… the contrast!!
Oh so many contrasts!!! And yes, my birthday week was great and the creepy bunny was delicious so I really can’t complain…except about the door.
Happy belated birthday! Only a few more Barre classes left? Like forever or for this session? I can’t wait to see what you try out next! Hope you are feeling better!
Thank you!!
Just for this session. I think it takes a summer hiatus because it’s held in a dance studio so… I want to try and stick with Pilates but you just never know 🙂
Oh no! Sorry you didn’t feel well on Easter! That totally stinks! And, of course, Happy 41st bday! 🙂
I love Homeland so much. We already finished it though. And now we are almost done with House of Cards. Oy! I need a new show.
Ohhhh that window. I feel like everything in my life is broken since Cooper learned to walk. Every day something else is no longer as it once was… we still have the vases though (for now).
It was pretty bad and totally came out of nowhere! Not good, but feeling much better today, thanks Britt!
I hate to finish Homeland but at least I can watch House of Cards after that…must have a new show lined up, right?
You had better move those vases soon unless you want to lose them. Boys are hard-wired to be destructive!!
Happy 41!!! My son is turning 11 so that number is in my head. How did he turn 11 so quickly…this also means I’m 11 years older. Gaaaah. I’ve had a long run that toon forever thanks to GI issues…oh, how lady like we working class athlete women are. 😉 And yes- I’m ALWAYS telling my husband I NEED MORE SLEEP. The man just doesn’t listen. Ha. And teaming up with Apple? You’re like a celebrity now. I’m good to put together a post with some-what coherent grammar… Let alone team up with anything. You are my idol. Have a beautiful week!
LOL – you are too much!! And yes, we runners are not known for our um ladylike qualities – however we get it done, right? Ewwww.
Happy birthday to your son! I cannot imagine 11 with my boys. They are turning 7 in a few weeks and that seems impossible.
Hope you get all the sleep you need and we shall see how this Apple partnership goes…
Thanks Jess!
The 41 themed week sounds so fun and intense! I’m glad you had a good birthday week, minus that door! YIKES. I can’t even bring myself to watch that Trump video. Just can’t.
That’s so awesome about teaming with Apple!
It was definitely intense but I did it – woohooo!!!
The video is actually very good. It just puts him into perspective with a reasonable, respectable, dare I say ‘normal’ man like Obama. But I totally understand that you have been over-Trumped as we all have.
Thanks Laura! Hope you’re having a great week so far.
This is such typical boy behavior. My husband would have likely shoved ME out of the way to get to the boys smh. So sorry. I don’t understand the male brain. I have resigned myself to this fact daily. The amount of times that I ask my kids “seriously?!” is unlimited!!
I’m still giggling at that cake. I bet it was yummy though.
I’d also take veggies over math, every single day.
Oh I know you can understand Nellie! The boy struggle is REAL! And I must say “seriously” more than I yell 🙂
The cake was amazingly delicious.
Thank you and keep fighting the good fight. Someday (a long time from now) they will grow into mature adults. Hopefully.
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