Last week started out horribly and ended magically. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and let life play itself out. After my heart attack scare a week ago, I never thought I would be riding the high horse of a little something we call training effect, by Friday.
I’m now six short weeks from the Columbia Olympic distance Triathlon in Maryland and I feel like a caged animal. Let me out!
WEEK OF MARCH 28, 2016
RUNNING
I started out the week feeling like garbage so my coach had me do pool running on Monday since I was already in there for a swim. Made sense but brought back some horrible memories of when I was exclusively running in there! I also got some very weird looks.
Just another run directly into the wind, but I’m not complaining!
My favorite run of the week was on Friday after my 30 mile ride. That’s right, the same training block that terrified me three weeks ago was now my favorite of the week. I love it when a plan comes together.
On the run, I was supposed to start slow and then build. I felt like I was flying by the end and my legs felt great. This was a huge difference from three weeks ago. Huge! I was also able to run in shorts so that helped.
Monday – 20 minute pool run with 10 x 1 min hard/1 min recovery, after swim
Wednesday – 8 miles with 8 x 4 minutes @6:30-6:50 pace after Barre class
Friday – 30 minute run, building speed – 7:30 pace avg
Total miles = 15
CYCLING
It was a fantastic week of riding! Again, Friday was my magic day but the conditions left a lot to be desired. It seems like every long, outdoor ride I have planned for the past three weeks has been moved inside because of the weather or sickness. Friday was my chance to get out there and I took it. It rained. There was wind. And I smiled the entire time because it felt fantastic. #TrainingEffect
You can’t tell from this photo but I’m soaked! If you look closely you can see all the water beading up on my sunglasses.
Tuesday – 25 mile base build on trainer
Friday – 30 miles outside
Sunday – 20 miles on bike trainer with intervals
Total = 75 miles
SWIMMING
Guess what? I loved the pool too! I know…I’m annoying myself but hey, after all the shit I have been though, I totally deserve a week like this. I mean, why do I train so hard – – it’s for this week right here – – great sessions all around and my body and mind adapting to the training.
I would never get though pool running or 3 x 500s without my WaterFi waterproof iPod shuffle. Rock on, even when wet.
Monday – 2,600 yards endurance with speed
Thursday – 4,100 endurance with form drills and 3 x 500 descending
Total yards = 6,700 yards or 3.8 miles
BARRE
Barre is always amazing so no big shocker here. But, I had been away from it for one reason or another for the past several weeks and it was so good to be back! One of the things I love most about the class is how we do so many different variations and tons of standing ab work. My body is always sore in the best ways possible the next day. I seriously think of this class as my secret weapon. #GetStrongInSecret
FUEL
After eating my way though so many delicious celebratory dinners, with amazing desserts, I’m back to my regular boring old diet. It consists of mostly fresh fruits and veggies and they are a huge pain to keep organized and fresh! My kids also eat a ton of fruit so I’m basically buying, washing, repacking and dishing out fruit like it’s a buffet!
Conveniently enough, while shopping at Target for the boys’ upcoming Minecraft birthday (more on that nightmare later) I found these:
They are ceramic, come in three different colors, keep the fruit fresh and look so much nicer than my tupperware. It’s the little things.
GEAR
I have so much gear to talk about…but most of it I have yet to try so I’ll have to wait. What I can tell you is how much I love these foxy shoes:
Hey Foxy mama
They have received mixed reviews both on Instagram and real life. My one friend, after stumbling a bit, finally just said “I like your, um…slippers? What are those?” Well, I’ll tell you. I first laid eyes on them in Women’s Running Magazine as a recovery shoe. I thought the knit fox was adorable and, when I can’t wear my OOFOS, I need something that is truly good for all my aching muscles. I found them – – Zhenzee Official – – and they come in a bunch of different styles, just in case you’re not down with the fox. Although I cannot imagine it.
THINGS I LOVE
I mentioned the fox right? Ok, moving on.
I also love giving back and honestly, I only like doing it for people and a cause I truly believe in. Such is the case with Jen and her campaign for Miles for Miracles. And yes, it helps that it’s “Miles” for Miracles because it’s all about children. Jen is raising money for the Boston Children’s Hospital, to run the NYC marathon, in part because of the journey she took with her son when he suffered though multiple surgeries to his nose, after what was first diagnosed as a simple cyst.
Jen and her son Tucker
I had the pleasure of meeting and running and laughing and eating and drinking with Jen when we both attended the Rise.Run.Retreat in Maine last fall. I cannot tell you how lucky I feel for having attended that retreat because of women like Jen and how they continually give back.
I’m literally begging you to donate to Jen’s campaign and do something you can feel good about. Think about how much you have to be thankful for simply because you are healthy and then CLICK HERE AND DONATE. Thank you.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Pinterest and planning a Minecraft birthday party. Apparently the a-holes at Minecraft will not “release their pattern” which means no plates, banners, gift bags or nary a balloon out there already emblazoned with the Minecraft jagged edged blocks my boys so know and love. Which in turn means I have to get creative (ugh!) and actually go on Pinterest (sigh) and try and make the best Minecraft pin-able party ever. #NotHappening
As an added bonus, the boys are now in separate classrooms, so we had to make 35 gift bags to hand out to their friends. It seriously took hours on Sunday.
Only 30 to go…
Remember the days when your mom could just bring in 40 cupcakes and be done with it? Why does it seem like we have over-complicated everything when it comes to parenting?
Luckily, it was snowing with 40 mph winds so, it was actually a great activity. Yes, on April 3rd. New England has lost it’s mind…
READING
First off, you can now pre-order your copies of Multiples Illuminated! I have a story in the book about how fun it was to share my “news of the century” aka I’m pregnant with twins! Those were crazy fun times and some people’s reactions still make me laugh.
I also read this interesting piece on NY Times Well Blog about the struggle of how much to give or not give our kids:
How Much Money Is Enough? | Ron Lieber
“Whether a family is affluent or struggling, however, every question about children and money and values eventually boils down to this: How much is enough? And how much is too much?”
The struggle is real, but mostly I just want my boys to stop fighting with each other. I would pay any amount of money for that.
RANDOM EXCHANGE OF THE WEEK
Me: Hey Miles I think we need to get rid of those pants you’re wearing.
Miles: Why? I love these pants.
Me: There’s a huge rip in the knee and it looks awful.
Miles: You wear pants with tons of rips in them all the time and you keep those!
Dying laughing because, I have no less than four pair of ripped jeans. Damn him!
How was your week?
Are you loving or hating your workouts lately?
So much to say right now….YES! To awesome training weeks. I need that little fruit container – so cute! What’s up with the weather?!?! And I had the same conversation with my son AND Ron was standing behind him backing him up by saying at least his holey pants were not $90 and bought with holes!!! Touché.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who pays ridiculous amounts of money for ripped jeans!! 🙂
And this weather is killing me. We have another 6-7 inches today. I seriously just want to get on a plane for the south and come back in June.
I so admire people like Jen as well.
I may NOT always agree with my parents 🙂 but they have walked the walk and given back their entire lives.
And still now.
AND YES I NEED THAT CERAMIC CONTAINER!
but wait
will my berries stain it red??
It will not! I have had strawberries, raspberries and blackberries and it all wipes clean 🙂
It sounds like you had a great week of training despite not feeling the best.
That’s a really interesting article about “how much to give to kids”. I think a lot of parents struggle with that. I don’t have kids but I can see how it affected my family. As children, we had to work for our money and I think it was a good thing that way.
Agreed! I always had part-time jobs though out high school and I was pretty much the only one of my friends. But, I feel like I needed to do that and it helped teach me a lot about responsibility. My kids will absolutely be working! 🙂
Lol!! Did you make that barre meme ?! It’s so perfect!!
Oh man, you are sooooo brave for doig a mine craft party on your own. Wayyy more braver than I. 35 goodie bags?! What kind of insane torture is this?!!
Those shoes look delightful. You (forced) gently nudged me to get a pair of oofoos last year and I didn’t regret it so I SUPPOSE I could listen to your recommendation here lol!
I did not make that meme but I may as well have, right? So perfect!
Brave or just stupid. OMG, it’s so overwhelming, but I am chipping away at it.
It was a gentle nudge but you love them right?? OOFOS are my go-to for sure!!
Yes! So glad you had a great week. And if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have embraced the pool running. Altho, like you said, if it was all I was doing, it would be a different story. I kind of like adding it to the mix. And yes, I do get some weird looks as I’m cruising around the diving well. I feel the need to explain myself to every lifeguard. They’re all teenagers, so I get the nod and I just keep moving. Oh to be so cool again…
Don’t even get me started on the parenting game…the bar just keeps getting raised higher…
I have definitely gotten the teenager nod. They couldn’t care less. Just one more thing to make me feel old!! 🙂
The parenting thing is just beyond. I do most of it for my kids because they HELP and they love it but honestly, I just want to make two dozen cookies and be done with it.
So exciting about Multiples illuminated!
I love when a week comes together at the end. I’m finally having some solid training weeks where I don’t feel wiped out by the time the long run rolls around and it’s so nice to feel strong out there.
The fruit buffet…totally our house too. We found a 1/2 bushel of PA apples which was perfect. Some days my 6yo eats 2-3 apples herself!
Thanks so much Laura!
So glad to hear you are reaping the rewards of your training miles as well. It’s a sweet spot for sure!
I hear you with the apples. Vaughn eats at least three a day. Obviously we cannot get the two of them together 🙂
Congrats on the chapter in the book…… I like the fox….I may have to check out what else is available, I do love the fox….. and yes to ripped jeans:)
LOL – I can so picture you wearing those foxy shoes 🙂
Thank you Paria!! xo
Oh my goodness, what????!! Heart attack scare? Now I need to read that post! Glad you are ok! Love your foxy slippers and oh the madness of planning kid birthday parties. Her’s to surviving it all. Hugs friend!
It really wasn’t that bad…as you read…but I needed to make sure the kids were safe!
I’m not sure which is crazier – having multiple birthday parties a year for different age kids or one party for your multiples!!!
Minecraft!!! My boys used to love that game!! Totally forgot about that. Now they’re teenagers. Let’s just say I miss the Minecraft days. :/
Great job at all your training last week. I have never done pool running in my life! And I had no idea iPod shuffles could come waterproof! That is AMAZING.
I’m sure I too will miss these days and it does make me happy to see them SO excited about the party so, there’s that 🙂
The waterproof shuffle saves me on so many long swims!! Glad I could introduce you to it. And, I’ll be giving one away soon so stay tuned…
I know this is completely unrelated to your post, but When did kids parties become so elaborate ? I feel old by saying this, but I don’t care… but back in my day, if my mom *Remembered* my birthday, that itself was a victory! She had 6 children, it’s hard to keep track. She managed to forget my younger sister’s Birthday once! True Story! And she now hates her birthday… the scars of childhood!
How do you do it all? kicking butt at this hard work outs, AND looking great! that pedicure looks perfect, I am afraid to take off my socks my toes are so gross right now… maybe after the marathon… and organizing a party for TWINS! Way to go !! you are the best!
It’s not THAT unrelated and its a favorite topic of mine because I have no idea how it got this out of control. That is crazy about your sister but I seriously would prefer that to what it has become. I wish my kids felt a little luckier for just getting a cake and a gift…I mean, really?
Thank you for saying that but some days I feel like I’m getting nothing accomplished. On those days, I just say screw it and schedule a nail appointment 🙂
Yes! So happy for you that you had such an awesome kick-butt training week! Training is coming together so well for you and look how strong and fast you’re getting! And in six weeks you’re only going to be even stronger and faster!!
I can’t believe you got snow in early April. For real? It’s 60 and sunny(ish) here (and I’m totally already blocking out memories of snow in April from 26 years of living in the Midwest). I remember when I was a kid parties were so simple – cake, balloons, and decorations for whatever the most recent Disney movie was. But then again Pinterest didn’t exist back then!
I cannot tell you how depressing this snow is. It snowed again on Monday. A lot. Luckily I had such a good week last week and this is a pull back week but, it’s just not right!!
I so want to go back to a world where Pinterest does not exist! 🙂
Miles is a smart one! There is no hope for you Allie! Haha.
Barre is the BEST!
I love those berry boxes! It is actually better to store berries that way (or so I read).
I don’t envy you with the boys birthday. But to make you feel better, things get out of control in Brazil. I went to a 1 year old’s bday that had a petting zoo, several large ride on toys, a puppet show, pop corn stands and more stuff that I’ve probably blocked from my mind. We had a bbq.
OMG to the Brazil birthdays!? That is insanity!…and makes me feel a lot better so thank you 🙂
First, can we take a minute and talk about your calve muscles. HA! Um, yes….
Secondly, pool running sounds like death…
Third, I look like the biggest jackass when I do barre classes, which is why I do not do them anymore.
Four, Minecraft is NOT what it was way back when…… Some little youngin’ was TRYING to talk to me about it and I looked at her like she was a zoo animal speaking Japanese
The calves are crazy from all the cycling! I know it’s getting out of control when I have trouble shaving my legs. #triathleproblems
I cannot imagine you look like a jackass doing anything!
I had no idea Minecraft evolved to this point, but I too have no clue how it works and only that there is a very annoying Minecraft YouTube star that my kids possibly love more than me. *sigh*
I took my first barre class today and I loved it! I’m going to be feeling it in muscles I didn’t even know I had. The instructor had to keep correcting me – I was doing squats when I was supposed to be dipping straight down – I guess there is a learning curve for me. For pretty much everything.
That is GREAT! And, there is a learning curve for everyone so don’t feel badly. It’s very good that you’re getting the corrections now so you don’t develop bad habits or, worse, an injury!
Awesome week of training! I’m glad it ended magically and not horribly! I’ve recently gotten back into barre and love it. Found a really great local studio that I’m digging. Now, if I could just find a way to get excited about the bike and pool! LOL xo
One step at a time my friend. So glad you found a good Barre studio as I hear they are few and far between!
Congrats on your chapter lady!!! That is so awesome. 🙂 And the school birthday party thing, ugh. When I was in primary (elementary) school, there was no birthday celebration. In fact I don’t think they do it now, even. Maybe it’s more of a US thing. That said, it’s going to become my life soon and Roman’s pre-K is a health and fitness oriented school (of course, I’m so predictable) so for bday celebrations you can’t do cake/cookies/candy. It has to be healthy.
I like that they celebrate and recognize it but I just wish there was an easier/simpler way!!! You are actually lucky you can do food at all! I cannot even bring lettuce to share…and wouldn’t that make my kids so many friends? LOL!!!
So glad you finally had an awesome training week!!! It’s been a tough winter, that’s for sure, but I have a feeling it’s on the upswing! Can’t wait to FINALLY get together next month!! As for the Minecraft, OMG, it’s an obsession here as well. I don’t understand why we can’t just bring cupcakes anymore either. Why do they need to make it so tough on us?!
I can’t wait either!! It’s getting very close!
Total Minecraft obsession and the birthday thing was out of control this year but mostly because I let it get that way!! Arrrggghhhh.