The offseason can be a tricky thing. At first, I did’t want to take any time off because after a hard training cycle and successful race, I felt great! My body and mind were in a euphoric state of sweat, hurt, recover, grow, repeat. When my coach (very strongly) suggested I take at least a week completely off, I freaked out. Addicted much? But then a funny thing happened. I enjoyed the rest. I started to love all the extra time in my day. My body felt good, not as good as when I’m training of course but decent and certainly not bad, so I actually toyed with the idea of taking 2019 off from any hard training and racing.
Imagine that?
My coach and I had decided on Monday, December 3 being my “back to training” date and as the date approached, I thought more and more about not having a hard training year. In fact, I don’t know what I was thinking when I set that date because the day before I went to see Dave Matthews at Mohegan Sun and stayed up until midnight (which is basically all night in my world) and didn’t get home until noon that Monday. If there was ever a deterrent to training, that would be it.
But, at 1pm on that gloomy Monday I found myself on the bike trainer with an hour and half workout, harder than anything I had done in two weeks. After about 20 minutes, I was back in heaven. That’s all it took — one.single.workout — and now everything is back, full steam ahead!
Back in the high life again.
You can take the girl off the bike…no wait, that doesn’t work. You can’t change your stripes? Whatever the appropriate analogy is, please insert it here, and keep reading for last week’s workout update. I’m back bitches!
WEEK OF DECEMBER 3, 2018
RUNNING
The weather has yet to be so ugly here that I’ve dreaded running outside. I’m thankful for that because I know its coming very soon. The few runs I had last week were downright pleasant, although hard, but that’s what happens when your body is actually rested. #bonus
Wednesday – run off the bike | 20 minutes at 10k effort | 2.65 miles | 7:35 pace
Thursday – 3/4 mile repeats before swim | 5.88 miles | 8:17 average pace
Friday – 20 minute warm up before strength training | 2.50 miles | 7:40 pace
Total = 11.03 miles < – – lowest total mileage in a long time!
CYCLING
Pretty soon I’m going to need a new show to watch on the bike with like 100 seasons, so give me some ideas people! I’m almost done with Shameless and Ray Donovan and I just don’t think I can ride to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel so…
Monday – FTP intervals | 1:26:46 | 24.5 miles
Wednesday – 1 hour with 10 minute time trial before run | 16.24
Sunday – base building strength endurance | 1:25:50 | 23.8 miles
Total = 64.54 miles
SWIMMING
Although my first race of the season is a duathlon (run/bike/run) I’m also training for another half Ironman in June so I have to keep my swimming up!
Tuesday – 12×50, 12x 25 | 2,000 yards
Thursday – swim after run | form and 25’s/100’s | 2,300 yards
Total = 4,300 yards
THINGS I LOVE
A funny thing happened at the end of one of my non-training weeks — Vermont got 20 inches of fresh new snow and my kids had half-days. It was a perfect storm! We headed up to Okemo on a Wednesday night and Claire (my SUV from hell) handled the snowy mountains like a pro so she’s back in my good graces, and we had three fabulous days of skiing and snowboarding.
I think they’re smiling because we’re skiing but it could just be that they’re anywhere but in school.
It was literally a dream come true for me to be snowboarding alongside my boys. After so many years of going by myself, having my whole family there or just me and the boys was amazing! I’m so excited to do it over and over again this winter.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
A funny thing happened in the elevator at Mohegan Sun after the Dave Matthews concert. Actually, it wasn’t funny at all. It was racist. What is it with me and elevators lately?
I’m heading back to my room when I see a woman holding onto the hands of a hotel worker and crying. It’s past midnight so I figure she’s drunk and I’m just hoping she doesn’t throw up where I can see it. She catches my eye not only because of the small scene she’s causing but what she’s wearing. She has on red khaki pants (where does one buy these?), a blue and white polka dot sweater with a chunky necklace and eighties style mom glasses. She looks like some sort of retro school teacher who hit the sauce a little too hard.
So I make it to the elevator bank and lo and behold, who is behind me but drunk, crying teacher woman. There is also a man visibly swaying with a woman who I assume is his wife. Against my better judgement I get into the elevator with all these characters. I should mention that I’m sober.
Drunk woman: *immediately looks everyone up and down and braces herself against the wall of the elevator and utters something incoherent
Drunk guy: We’re all in the same boat!
Drunk woman: Oh yeah? Cause I feel like an asshole!
Drunk guy: *laughs hysterically like it’s the funniest thing he’s heard all night
Luckily, drunk guy and his wife get off the elevator leaving me with one more floor before I can be alone. I’m looking straight ahead as drunk woman aggressively looks me up and down, trying not to fall over because she’s moving her entire head as she does this. Inexplicably she then turns to me and says:
“Como estas?”
Me: What in the actual fuck? < – – I said this with my eyes and then NO.
Drunk girl: Do you speak English?
Me: At this point I’m having kind of an out of body experience. I feel sorry for her that she’s drunk AND racist but I want to say “No, I don’t speak English” in perfect English. Instead I motion that the doors have now opened and she can get out.
Drunk girl: You look like you speak Spanish because of your demeanor. < – – this makes zero sense and also somehow makes her more racist, and she adds “I speak six languages.”
Me: Good for you.
And the doors mercifully shut.
READING
Oddly enough, all the books I’ve been reading are in English. As I do every Christmas, I’m reading my worn copy of A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I’ve also been reading an extremely helpful book about anxiety titled Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic and Worry by Catherine Pittman, PhD and Elizabeth Karle, MLIS. It is hands down the best book I have read about controlling my panic attacks on a plane.
Apparently I have been going about my flight anxiety all wrong. I now know my fear is amygdala based and not cortex based meaning when I’m trying to tell myself I’m safe and recite statistics, my brain is not listening because the fight, flight or freeze amygdala has already taken over. Thanks to the book I’m learning techniques that deal with my emotional brain (the amygdala) and not my “thinking” brain or the cortex. It’s fascinating stuff! I’ve also realized why this same brain process makes me a great triathlete.
It’s the perfect gift for the overly anxious, panicked or worried loved one in your life. We all have at least one.
TELEVISION
Last week my husband and I saw an amazing documentary about one of our favorite bands. The band is like running — you either love it or hate it. Whatever camp you are in regarding Coldplay, I would still recommend seeing A Head Full of Dreams because it will motivate and inspire you.
The documentary is a musicians version of watching the New York City Marathon or the Ironman World Championships in Kona. After seeing it you are compelled to say “I wanna do that!” and actually believe you can.
The filmmaker gets huge points for originality with the tremendous amount of film they use of the band before they were famous. It’s touching and innocent and spectacular to see how the members evolved and to witness the genius of Chris Martin despite his misstep of marrying Goop monster.
If you need me I will be on the piano learning The Scientist. < – – yes, I’m still diligently taking my lessons and loving it!
RANDOM PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Here’s a little preview of this years Christmas card.
Photo Credit: Ana Lucy Photography
Yep.
May your days be filled with funny things, may you have a head full of dreams and may you never end up in an elevator with a racist. This is my Christmas wish for you.
[Tweet “The Rundown is having some fun, rewiring an anxious brain, gearing up to #race and has an elevator story you have to hear! #train4life”]
How was your week?
Anything funny happen?
Want to share a racist encounter? This is a safe space…
What the what?!?! The woman in the elevator…wow. And can we talk about your air time in the last photo? Those legs have got some serious power!!! Happy to see you back!
LOL! I jumped off the bench behind me so I can’t take the credit for all the air I got. It was super fun!!
Nice air!
I don’t think that woman meant any harm when she asked you, in Spanish, how you were–ignorant, yes. But her comment when she walked out–OMG! I speak Spanish but I am always hesitant to use it these days, for this exact reason that you shared. I sure don’t want to offend anyone. We can never assume anything. Even with my patients. I’ll speak it if they tell me they don’t speak English.
I definitely know she was just drunk and, I get it, but if I looked like Taylor Swift with a pale complexion and blonde hair there is no way she’s jumping into Spanish! People just amaze me. And it’s the second time in like three months something like that has happened. Grrrr. Anyway, you are absolutely right to never assume but that because you’re intelligent!!
I think most of us don’t realize how much we tend to over do exercise at times and how much our bodies might appreciate a little more rest. I look forward to taking some rest on our upcoming vacation myself. Kind of recharges me for the year ahead. Have a great week!
Yes absolutely! Enjoy your restful vacation 🙂
You have the craziest experiences!
I know exactly what you mean about enjoying rest more than you thought, and then with the first workout back, feeling ready to dive back in. It’s a good sign to see that motivation come back!
Yes I do. Geez!!
I was SO happy I felt like that on the bike because it was totally unexpected and definitely a good sign…
Thanks Laura!
I don’t even know where to start with the racist experiences… most commonly it is when I answer the door bell at my own home.. I open the door when someone is campaigning for something or selling something or whatever, and they think I’m the maid and ask if the lady of the house is home….
I can’t wait to see your full holiday card.
I can’t even fathom what must happen in your world! They probably have no clue what nationality you even are 🙂 Gotta love when they think you’re the maid. I got “that must be a service elevator” when I was taking a private elevator to my suite at a hotel once. Unreal.
I need to get your address so I can send you the card!! I will message you 🙂
I’m in a forced workout break, but I think it’s a good thing and that I’ll come out the other end raring to go. Hopefully, I’ll feel like you did twenty minutes into your first ride back on your trainer.
I’m sure you will! It’s never fun to be forced into a break but obviously you need it and hopefully you will come back even stronger!
Wow. Elevator woman sure dug herself a nice little hole. Geez. Love your Christmas card pic! That is one of the things that did not happen here this year.
I’m sure none of that would have happened had she been sober and she probably didn’t remember it either!
You have way too much happening for a Christmas card this year 😉
Wow, I don’t even know where to start with that encounter in the elevator. There are some ridiculous people in the world. That book sounds fascinating and something I would read. Will need to check it out.
Yes there are! Crazy town.
So glad you like the book. Hope you read it and find it as helpful as I did!
Remind me never to ride an elevator with you! I’ve heard a few anti-Semitic remarks, and those racist remarks white people make when they assume everyone agrees with their views.
Unfortunately alcohol brings out the worst in people. But your holiday card brings out your best – love it!
No one should ever be in an elevator with me, obviously. And yes, whenever someone blurts out either politics or religion in mixed company and assumes they are correct is never good. *eye roll*
Thanks so much Dana! xo
Wow, I cannot believe the elevator woman! People can be so rude and alcohol only makes that worse.
Now that I’m on the indoor bike and can barely tolerate 30 minutes, I am even more impressed by your training! You are so strong! If you haven’t watched it already, you should watch Daredevil on Netflix – Season 3 had a really good gritty cop drama vibe to it.
Thanks so much Laura! You really don’t get it until you do it, right? I’m sure you would be up to my rides in no time, if you did it as much as I do 🙂
And I heard Daredevil was good so I will definitely check it out. Thanks!!
I have no words for the elevator woman. Here is my stance on racist remarks/behavior these days: The people spewing the remarks are the ignorant ones, the ones who should feel embarrassed and should just hide in their house and never come out. For so long, people that have been at the other end of racism are the ones who feel bad, but they shouldn’t. Yes, it’s hurtful to others but the people who are the bullies – the ones making the comments or engaging in the behavior are the ones who should feel like complete idiots. If you think you are superior, really and truly – then there is no need to put others down, cause you are above that, cause you are the BEST. The people that find the need to put others down (at least they think they are) are the ones that truly don’t believe in themselves and have self esteem issues within. I feel sorry for them.. Oh gosh, sorry for the rant.
And Coldplay! Love them and I cannot wait to see this documenntary! Also, YAY for feeling great to train again – I can’t wait to follow along! xoxox
I can’t even fathom the racism you have faced but you have summed it up quite perfectly here Nat so THANK YOU. You nailed it!! xoxo
That is quite a jump shot!Power UP!!
Ha ha thanks!
People are ignorant with their comments. I’m blonde – I can’t help it. I’m also educated, well spoken and a professional. The dumb blonde assumptions and jokes are not funny after all these years. They weren’t the first time either.
You make me want to get on my bike trainer! And, I don’t plan on doing any triathlons next year. I definitely agree that good TV is the best distraction.
Thanks for linking with us!
Are people STILL telling dumb blonde jokes? Good Lord!
And yes, I look forward to catching up on my binges while on the bike trainer 🙂
I think there is about a .0009% chance that the drunk woman speaks 6 languages! People who speak multiple languages tend to not make snap judgements about whether or not someone speaks English in an elevator haha… but it sounds like you’re back on your endorphin highs with training! Hell, I get like that too and I don’t even train for anything serious like you do. I enjoy rest time, but love the feeling of a great workout too! It’s a funny balance sometimes.
I know, right? You make a very good point!
Here’s hoping you have a lot of training highs over the holidays 🙂
What races are you thinking for 2019? I can’t wait to hear about all of your awesome plans! And what is the deal with that woman in the elevator! So not cool!
Cheers to 2019 xoxo!
Hey woman! Sorry I’m so late in responding to this!! I’m doing Duathlon Nationals in April in SC and then another Half IM in Massachusetts in June! I definitely want to run Killington again so hopefully we can count on that as a meet up!
If you are still looking for tv-shows to watch while cycling, I suggest you check out “The Man in the High Castle” or “The Handmaid’s Tale”. Great for watching while exercising, because they are exciting and intriguing while not being fast-paced or filled with action 😛
It’s funny you’re suggesting these two. I just started watching “The Man in the High Castle” (and I LOVE it) and I’ve seen both seasons of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and loved both as well. Obviously we have the same taste 🙂 Thanks for the recommendations!
You are welcome. They are both great shows!