When I was a junior at Boston University in 1996, I got the first extra hole in my head at a hemp fest held in the commons. Twenty-one years later, I got the second at a tattoo place, completely sober and all by myself. I’m celebrating my live like you were dying year and, quite possibly, going though a mid-life crisis. Either way, re-piercing my nose after 21 years seemed like the right thing to do.
Let’s see what other crazy things I was up to last week, shall we?
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
RUNNING
I continued with my Monday speed session and this week it was a mix of 800s and 400s which seemed a lot easier than last week’s 8 x 800s. My body is adapting to the speed but so much of the success of my workouts has to do with how I feel going into them. If, on paper (really, on my phone) my workout looks do-able, it always goes better.
I’m working on knowing that every workout my coach gives me is do-able but, when I see paces like sub 7:00 min/miles, my brain goes to it’s hiding place!
Running in circles at the indoor track.
My long run this week was the shorter version of my favorite marathon workout with 11 total miles broken into 3 at marathon pace (7:40), 4 at half marathon pace (7:15) and 3 at 7:00 flat, with a one mile cool down. Obviously this was a tough one. I didn’t exactly hit my pace for the first three miles (it was more like 7:54) but I chipped away at it and, by the time I reached the final 3, I nailed the 7:00 min pace and felt strong! And I really, really, really enjoyed the mile cool down. Plus is was a stunning, crisp fall day.
Monday – speed with 3 x (400, 800, 400) | 6 miles
Tuesday – easy run before swim | 5.84 miles
Friday – long run | 11 miles
Total = 22.84
CYCLING
Once again I had only two days of cycling this week but both were fantastic!
I had the rare chance to ride with, not one, but two other women and we did a long, easy ride all over the state and back. The weather was gorgeous and the scenery was stunning! One of the best things about living way out here in the country are the miles and miles of back roads to ride on. We were able to ride three across the road for a good portion of the ride. It was like being on a closed course in the great outdoors.
I didn’t even take any pictures. #sorrynotsorry
Wednesday – long ride | 35 miles
Sunday – “pleasure ride” | 20 miles
Total = 55 miles
SWIMMING
More form swimming in the pool for me! < – – that exclamation point is pure sarcasm since it’s boring as hell!
My coach thew me a bone on Thursday when I was able to do 3 x 400 (16 laps) as part of my drills and swim free most of the time.
So of course, after I decided to pierce my nose I thought about how soon I would be able to essentially submerge an open wound in a public pool. According to the instructions I was sent home with, it’s three weeks. Yeah, so that’s not happening. Stay tuned for my raging nostril infection in next week’s edition…
Tuesday – form swim | 2,600 yards
Thursday – 400s and form | 2,100 yards
Total = 4,700 yards
GEAR
I have a new pair of Brooks and I absolutely love them! I think they have “retired” the Launch line and introduced a similar shoe in the Revel.
I love the knit upper because it’s super comfy and allows for breathability which means less funk when you take them off. They were perfect for me right out of the box and I actually love the color, or really lack of color, because I am sick to death of these obnoxiously loud running shoe colors.
I need to buy another pair before Vegas, where black and white running shoes are probably frowned upon.
THINGS I LOVE
So this is kind of old news because it now happened almost two weeks ago but I saw Katy Perry in concert with my bestie and her twin daughters and it was kind of amazing.
Waiting for the show to start!
The show was visually stunning, the dancers were amazing and Ms. Perry is gorgeous and has a serious set of pipes! It’s truly an incredible show and I would recommend it highly, especially if you have girls of a certain age, of which there were tons at the show.
Yes, the now famous “left shark” made an appearance.
However, all her music is pretty sugary and a tad on the hokey side and so too was the show. My favorites were Roar, Dark Horse and Thinking of You, which she did while sitting on Saturn and flying around the arena amongst giant planets hanging from the ceiling so…
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
The runner/cyclist war.
Maybe it’s not even a thing but I’ll be the first to admit runners are far friendlier on any given path or trail but why add fuel to the fire?
In the latest edition of Runner’s World the cover story is about the popularity of so-called running crews and how they are everything the traditional, preppy, matching outfit wearing harriers of yesteryear are not. That is all fantastic but, what I take issue with is this quote from the NYC running crew called Resident Runners:
“To run in New York is to run through chaos—to time the lights, to hurdle fetid puddles, to piss off cyclists.”
Really?
They also added this tidbit about their “nemesis:”
BTW – Runner’s World profiled five other crews from Los Angles to Cleveland to Brazil, none of which had a nemesis and all of whom used positive phrases and talked instead about how they rise, causes they run for and how “giving it your all” is their focus.
There’s enough hate already so why not focus on love since that’s what running is all about?
READING
Slim pickings this week since I was actually doing a lot of work. Whomp whomp.
I started reading My Husband’s Wife by Jane Corry, because it kept popping up in my reading lists, insisting that I buy it and read it immediately! I felt like I was giving into one of the boys whiny requests simply because I couldn’t stand the nagging.
It wasn’t a bad book per se, it was just kind of meh. The writing and story line were enough to keep me interested but afterward I felt like I wasted a ton of time reading and listening to it. I also kind of wished all the characters died in the end. I kind of got my wish so that was semi-satisfying.
Why Isn’t Your Toddler Paying the Mortgage? | by Katherine Rosman for the New York Times
I love this article about tiny little social media stars and how they’re making exhorbonent amounts of money by doing nothing. It’s mind boggling and I wish my kids would hurry up and become Instagram or YouTube stars. Sheesh.
RANDOM PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Say you have had a really long day and you have to pick up your dog at “camp” with your kids in tow. The kids stay outside because they want to play in the dog pee infested grass while you go claim back your wild animal. While you are getting said beast, you hear a scream from outside so you run out and see this…
That’s right. My kids somehow managed to get that weird zombie looking plushie of theirs attached to the 10 foot high window by a suction cup the size of a dime. How the hell do they do this ridiculousness and why can’t they capture it on film so it can go viral and they can pay the mortgage?
[Tweet “The Rundown finally has another hole in her head! Plus pictures from @katyperry, new shoes and twin antics. #train4life”]
How was your week?
Have you ever pierced anything? Ever have it re-pierced?
But did you get the zombie thing down?!?! Lol. I’d hear a never ending sob story if I didn’t. I had the same thought about the nemesis thing in RW. Did they really need to fan the fire? And congrats on another hole in your head! It’s super cute!
Hahaha – YES! With the help of a very long squeegee they use to clean the windows. Insanity.
Thanks Angela!
I love the new not-new hole in your head! I had my belly button pierced after college but I don’t think that I’m ready for that to make a reappearance. The social media kids story is nuts but maybe that’s my ticket! My kids keep asking to post videos on YouTube
Your kids could definitely be the next big thing! I say – go for it 🙂
OMG hysterical with the nerf zombie!
Such a great show and the sugary sweet songs are perfect for little ones!!
Thanks again for a memorable birthday!
Your nose ring is awesome! I’ve been wanting to pierce mine for a while but then AJ reminds me that a) I hate my nose, so why would I want to draw attention to it and b) I am not cool. He’s right on both accounts.
LOL! I seriously have never noticed anything bad about your nose!? What the what??
So much going on in your week! The cyclist-runner thing is alive and well here… neither seem to like the other, although I will admit I occasionally pass some friendly cyclists who say hello. Lots of triathletes here so I always assume it’s someone who “gets” runners.
That is a killer long run- you nailed it!!
I guess there just are not a lot of cyclists on the paths here but really? Do we need to fuel the fire?
Thanks for the encouragement. I have another long one this week…
I pierced my belly button more than 20 years ago, but after a few months, kept getting annoyed with it and removed it. I’m sorry to add fuel to the fire, but I do think that in LA cyclists are mean to runners, particularly on weekend mornings in Santa Monica…. and do not get me started on people who make their little kids social media “stars”…. especially kids who aren’t old enough to actually be wanting to do it themselves…. Not that I’m judging them, but yes actually, in this case, I am. Please don’t get your nose infected… cartilage infections are no bueno.
Hahaha – judge away! This is the place for it 🙂
I will do my best to NOT get it infected. I’m swimming for the first time with it tomorrow and it has been almost a week. Fingers crossed…and saline solution in hand.
You crushed that long run! I don’t get that group’s purpose – whyyyyy make the animosity between runners and cyclists worst? I run on multi-use paths and encounter a lot of cyclists. There are some real a-hole ones, but there are also some real a-hole runners – just like there are some really friendly and conscientious cyclists.
Your nose ring looks adorable! I have six holes in my head, but they’re all on my ear lobes and I am not even sure if 4 of those holes are still open. I was practically the only person at my (all-girls) high school without a navel or nose ring, but that’s because I moved on to tattoos once I legally could.
Exactly!!! Why make it any worse? In fact, why not try to make it better??? Ugh.
Love all the piercings…and tatts. I have one tattoo I got at age 39…maybe 40. I was a late bloomer on that front.
I’m so jazzed about the nose ring!! Heck to the yeah!!
Katy Perry is like bubble gum and cotton candy. Fun for a little while. I love her but can’t listen all the time. She’s perfect for our evening dance parties though!
I just bought some books and can’t decide if I just wanna read brainless romantic comdeies or heavy non fiction or thrillers. Preferably something that’ll let me sleep at night.
Every now and then I’ll get yelled at by a cyclist when I run but I don’t mind. I remember how irritated I was by pedestrians when I was cycling on bike trails. Get outta my way! I don’t run on bike trails but sometimes have to run on a shared path. My attitude is that you and your bike can get on the road. I will run on the path and you can kiss my butt.
That’s definitely how I feel about cyclists on bike paths. I wouldn’t DREAM of riding my bike anywhere but the roads, however, I live in the middle of nowhere so not sure how much choice the city cyclists have. Regardless, we can all get along!!!
Good luck with the book decisions. It’s always a battle when starting a new one because it can effect your mood for weeks!
I’ve had a lot of body parts pierced, most of them are out now though. Your nose piercing looks really pretty! There’s nothing that can distract anyone from your smile though–you have the best smile in the world.
You are the sweetest. Ever. Thank you mama!
Your description of “My Husband’s Wife” made me laugh – I think I’ll pass on that one. Wishing everyone dies at the end is not a good thing, I think.
I love your nose piercing – a little bling as you whiz by ordinary runners. I have two piercings in each ear, and that’s it. Got the second holes with my daughter when she was 16 I think? She has since added a third hole in each ear, and a fourth high up in one ear. Once she turned 18 she went a little nuts…
LOL! I would definitely skip it…unless you’re in the mood for death 🙂
Thank you and I think most girls go a little nuts with piercings. It’s an “easy” way to rebel!
I LOVE the nose ring!!! (Knock on wood about the infection.) I had mine pierced my freshman year of college, but took it out when my dad threatened to inflict bodily harm. LOL! I’ve always wanted to re-do it, but Vegas thinks the idea is horrifying. I have a total of 11 holes in my ears. 9 of them I pierced myself in high school. My poor parents. There was a navel ring, but I let that grow up at 30… the same year I gave up on the having abs to show it off. LOL!
OMG my dad hated mine when I first got it pierced. He was BEYOND upset – it was crazy. Now, he says he loves it but I can tell he’s lying :-)))
11 holes??? DAYYYYMMMNNNN!
For whatever reason, I just assumed that you had one. Like, I knew that you didn’t, but maybe your personality just required one in my mind, lol.
Brooks discontinued the Launch years ago and then brought it back, and now they are taking it away again?? MAKE UP YOUR MINDS FOOLS.
I am rogue shark. That is all.
I feel like most people probably did. It just belongs there!
And seriously Brooks!!!! Grrrrrr
I love cyclists and most them are really cool, but if I run in Venice there is only the bike path to run on, because who really wants to run on the Venice walk path? Anyway, I’ve had a few cyclists say something to me about running on the path – they are usually cyclists that are just cruising along and I’m running faster than they are. Crazy.
That said, we should all be able to exist in harmony – its just exercise…
I got a second ear piercing in college that has since closed up! 🙂
I think my girls would love Katy Perry – so fun!
xoxo
Why aren’t the cyclists on the road??? Is it too busy of a highway? I don’t get it. I would NEVER willingly ride on a bike path. But yes, can’t we just all get along?
Your girls are the perfect age for Ms. Perry! If she comes to LA you should go with them and your mom 🙂