It has taken longer than usual for me to relax into the feeling of contentment, after racing the USA Triathlon National Championship, over a week ago. After luxuriating in an active recovery week of training and weekend getaway to Maine, I’m looking forward to making the most of the very last week of summer before school begins.
Right now, let’s take a look back on the aftermath of the BIG race!
WEEK OF AUGUST 15, 2016
RUNNING
It’s always so weird to come off of a huge training cycle and then see only “run for 45 minutes” on my schedule. But, I’m happy to have more free time and to give my body the rest it needs. In fact, when I went out for an easy 45 on a soft trail, I thought I was cruising along at a too fast pace. When I finished and saw that my pace was actually 8:30, I knew I needed the rest!
The best run of the week by far was down a long stretch of beach in Wells Maine! It was absolutely gorgeous, I loved every step, and all the pictures are in my mind.
SWIMMING
My swim workouts were even better! My direction for a Saturday swim in Maine? Have fun. Check and check!
Feet up! Tide is coming in!
I have to say that I’m really looking forward to working on my swim and taking it to the next level in 2017. I’m sure I will be sick to death of the pool all winter long but, if I keep picturing Carter Lake in Omaha in my mind for nationals in 2017, it will push me though!
CYCLING
I was out on Friday enjoying a beautiful easy ride and thinking about my triathlon bike. Imagine my surprise when I rode up my hill to find it sitting on my front porch! It wasn’t scheduled to arrive until Monday and I’m so happy to have it back! Now there’s just the small detail of putting it back together…
Welcome home!
FUEL
I usually allow myself a week of total indulgence after a big race. This one is kind of spilling into two but I’m going with it!
After dining like a queen in Omaha, I came back to party like a 20 year-old on a Wednesday (gasp!) night with some family and friends. We drank rose, chilled and bubbly, (my first!) and ate some light appetizers at a swanky french place, then decided we should have Ben and Jerry’s for dessert. It was fantastically fun and delicious!
Oui oui look at me! I’m out on a Wednesday. What?
THINGS I LOVE
Enjoying the last few weeks of summer! It’s so fleeting in the northeast and, as it comes to a close, I try desperately to hang onto it.
I spent a gorgeous and much needed weekend in Maine with my aunts, aka my surrogate moms, and one of my cousins. It was so good for our souls! I can literally feel my mom when I’m surrounded by them and I know it makes her so happy to see how well loved and cared for I am by them. Plus, my cousin and I have an absolute blast together!
I also spent a lot of alone time with my boys, even one on one, which is really hard to come by. I’m bracing myself for second grade and really just ready for anything. Right now, I’m basking in age seven. Which means laser tag and bowling.
I suggested roller skating but was out voted. Every damn time!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Packing. Traffic. Laundry.
Unfortunately they are all necessary evils of having a great vacation and long weekend trips. But still, it’s exhausting!
READING
First, read this:
My SIL posted it to my Facebook page because this is every conversation we have. I love it!
Second, I have a book update! I believe I said Orphan Train was only meh. I was wrong! It was amazing and morphed into quite a page turner and tear jerker by the end. It was not what I expected and truly a great read.
I have since moved on to Truly, Madly, Guilty by one my favorite authors, Liane Moriarty. You have to be really patient with this one! If anyone else is currently reading this, have you ever screamed “what the f*** happened at the barbecue already????” or is it just me? I absolutely love it but, please just tell me what happened!
Read it before Reese Witherspoon makes it into a movie.
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Watching the Olympics with the boys…
Me: So are you guys going to be in the Olympics someday so I can sit in the stands and cheer like crazy?
Miles: No
Vaughn: Yay! (at the same time)
Miles: Vaughn, she will be dead by then! (ignoring the fact that I’m sitting right there)
Me: What? Those athletes are only like 20 years old.
Miles: Yeah, you’ll be dead by the time we’re 20.
The scary part is that he’s probably right because these two are killing me right now!
How was your week?
What are you doing for active recovery?
So glad you are soaking up the post race recovery! You earned it and now live it up with your wild and crazy Wednesday nights out (that is SO crazy!!!) and weekends away. Did you see me waving from my house when you were in Maine? 🙂
It’s a great place to be, let me tell you!! And yes, I thought I saw you 🙂 I actually ran right by the house we stayed in for the retreat last year (I couldn’t hook up with Sarah unfortunately) so it brought back a lot of memories!!
It’s funny, I took a more active recovery week last week too. Well…maybe not that active LOL…but I did take a recovery week. It’s hard to believe summer is already winding down.
I know! I hate the change of season but I do love fall…especially the cooler temps. Bring it on!
Welp, now that I know there is a new Liane Moriarty book, life MUST STOP until I read this book. She is SOOOO good at mysteries and it drives me crazy the entire time but the end is usually VERY MUCH worth it! Not many authors I drop everything for but she is one of them!
Look at you partying on a Wednesday night!
So happy you got to spend some much needed time with your surrogate moms, I know how much they mean to you <3
Thanks so much Nellie and YES – stop what you’re doing and start reading it NOW! I finally found out what happened but it’s really only the beginning. Laine is an amazing author!!!…but you already know that 🙂
Those boys must think 20 is a lifetime away! I thought that too, both when I was little and when my boys were little. Today my oldest turns 19, so there you go. And I’m still here…
It always feels great to turn the training down after a big race! What’s next for you? Or do you get a break for a while?
Their perspective is just so great on so many things. It gives me hope that you’re still alive with a 19 year old 🙂
I have one more race on 9/18 but it’s a small one, then two half marathons to round out the year. I’m seriously not even just how to just run anymore???
That sounds like a fun recovery week! And well earned since you’ve been kicking butt and taking names. Ok not taking names but certainly killing the workouts and races. My active recovery is breastfeeding. LOL. I’m serious. Doesn’t that count? It sure feels like a workout! I ran 8 miles on Friday last week sort of accidentally with my running gal, and to recover I just did an easy ride the next day and prepped for Sunday when I rode hard for about 2 hours teaching and having fun. Today who knows, I’m just happy for each day so far. I can’t believe my goal of 1 mile has now gotten me at 6-8 miles. Our bodies are amazing. My baby’s 8 weeks old today so life is good!!! Lots to be thankful for. Like friends that understand the concept of morning workouts 🙂
Happy Monday Ali!
OMG breastfeeding totally counts!!! Pumping and feeding and the whole never ending cycle is a total workout so you GO!
And yes, our bodies are completely amazing and such a privilege to have a baby and then see your body recover, change and grow stronger. This is only the beginning for you!! Happy 8 weeks to your sweet little girl 🙂
I don’t know how you manage to read so many books on top of what you’re doing…. I’m happy to get in one book per month. Just started When Breath Becomes Air after having it on my reading list for months.
LOL – my aunt said the same thing this weekend! I just love books and devour them. I read a lot at night when it’s quiet and the boys go to bed!
Omg the last part about what your boys said had my dying laughing. What little stinkers!!! HA HA HA!!!! You look so beautiful and happy surrounded by those women in that pic. <3
Yes they are!!
Thank you so much for saying that. I love that I have such a big, loving family to spend time with!!
Sounds like a fun recovery week – especially the mid-week wine and ice cream! Those weeks of indulgence are half the reason to race hard, right? Your shirt that night is adorable – I love the pattern and it looks so flattering on you.
Indulging after a hard training cycle and race is definitely one of the reasons I work so hard 🙂
Thanks so much for saying that about the shirt. I realized afterward I’m wearing it in BOTH pictures. Oops!! It’s actually from Stitch Fix. I get a “fix” once every three months now and I loved this last one.
Thanks Laura!
Post training cycle always feels like the post holiday blues at first. Then, I enjoy the extra “free” recovery time. Sometimes active. Sometimes not.
Yes, there is definitely a little depression involved but, mostly I’m just enjoying the downtime. I’m sure I will be jonesing for another race very soon 🙂
We vacationed in Wells years ago – loved it! You are the second person who has commented about how long the mystery of the bbq is dragging out in Moriarty’s book. I haven’t read it yet, but I guess I need some patience when I do.
Second grade…what a great year. Your boys are going to rock it!
SO much patience!!! And then, we you finally find out (worth the wait) there are so many MORE questions. It’s sooooo good. I can’t wait to read your review 🙂
Those recovery weeks are so important!! Glad you’re getting a little time to back off and enjoy these last weeks of summer. That 5am cartoon is hilarious!! I am so not a 5am runner, so I’m with that confused dude.