Of course by “back to work” I’m speaking only of running, biking and swimming like it’s my job! And Brittany? I have been working bitch! Let’s do this…
WEEK OF JANUARY 4, 2016
RUNNING
CRS (Coach Rocket Science) wasted no time in getting me back in the game. This past week was kind of a “test” to see where my mind and body are and how much I can handle. It was a super tough week but I cannot tell you how much I’m loving being back to two hour workouts and running on all cylinders. I feel fresh and raring to go!…until 9:30pm.
I’m in there somewhere! Running outside in 18 degrees is nasty business.
As you know, I’m training for my first ever Olympic distance triathlon in May. Since I’m competing in Nationals at that distance in August I figured I should try it out before then. I qualified racing a sprint distance which is significantly shorter then the Olympic.
All bundled up and ready to run!
Sunday –Â 15 x 1 minute “strong” (either speed or hill) followed by 1 min easy/6 miles/8:34 pace
Tuesday – 6 mile tempo run done as 2 mile warm-up, 1 mile at half-marathon pace (6:48), 1 mile 15-30 seconds faster then HMP, 1 mile 30-45 seconds faster then HMP, 1 mile warm down
Friday – 9 mile long run with 3 miles at half marathon pace (6:48) overall pace 7:50
Total mileage = 21 miles
CYCLING
For some odd reason I am loving my bike trainer. I’m hoping this feeling lasts and lasts. I also purchased a speed and cadence kit so I can now see those elements on my Garmin vivoactive watch, which makes following my workout speeds a lot easier. I’m also back to wearing my heart rate monitor so basically I feel like Ivan Drago…
Luckily I don’t have to wear all those sensors to get all the data I need.
Monday – Endurance ride 1 hour and 20 minutes of various speed and resistance that I won’t bore you with.
Thursday – 1 hour ride in “big gears” with 15 x 1 minute hill climb
Saturday – 30 minute form and focus ride
Cycling total = 2 hours and 30 minutes, approximately 63
SWIMMING
The pool was HARD this week! I’ve ramped up my strength training and have been doing quite a bit of back and shoulder work, which resulted in sore shoulders for my second pool workout of the week, which also happened to be my longest. I swear I willed myself though the last 15 minutes and just tried not to drown.
Getting it done with bands while trying to take this shot so no one will notice! #ResolutionersCrowd
Sunday – 1,750 yards with 3 x 300 “as fast as you can”
Tuesday – 2,800 yards with 3 x 300 at race pace
Sunday – 1,900 yards with negative split times mixed in
Total = 6,450 yards or 3.6 miles
STRENGTH TRAINING
I’m getting better at not dreading my strength workouts so much. I still cannot do all the required reps and times for IronStrength so at least that keeps my head in the game. CRS has also given me quite a few new things to do which has made it more interesting and challenging. Plus, I know it’s really helping me stay injury free and adding power to all my triathlon disciplines.
I also kind of love burpees. #SorryNotSorry
That’s my husband casually walking in the background of pic #3. He is NOT an Instagram husband. He also passed on doing the IronStrength workout with me. #Scared
RACING
I had no clue this book was coming in the mail. Â I was alone when I got it so it was one of those moments like “Yeah me!!” followed by utter silence.
I will pass this down to the boys, who will probably use it to make a fire.
I cannot tell how special I feel coming in 4,228th. Total badass.
FUEL
I made donuts!
I went to Williams Sonoma to get a gift and, while I was there I remembered that a few friends had recently demanded I get a bundt pan. Somehow I lived for 40 years without one. I also picked up an adorable mini donut pan because you know, I just love donuts.
Whatever.
They were fun to make with the boys and I thought they were delicious. Miles thought they were “kinda ok” and Vaughn ate just the cinnamon sugar topping and left the rest. So I ate it.
GEAR
I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed working with KUHL and getting to try out all their high-end gear is a dream come true.
My latest love is the Lena Insulated Jacket. I will be doing a full review but here’s a sneak peak:
I’m smiling because I’m KUHL.
Another thing(s) I’m in love with these days is Bright Planet bath and body products. I shower more then porn stars with all my workouts, swimming and getting dirty with the boys, so I know from good body products, and these are GOOD!
I was sent a little care package of inspiration shampoo, conditioner, orange blossom facial cleanser and sour cherry body scrub. The thing I love most, other then the products are 100% natural, is that the scents are not overwhelming. I love a good scent but I don’t want to be knocked over by it and these fit the bill.
Another thing I love about the company? Bright Planet founder Diana (who is awesome BTW) has partnered with KUTOA, a company dedicated to helping kids in need and, for every one product we buy, Bright Planet donates the amount of one KUTOA bar to feed a hungry kid. Now, I don’t know about you but I happen to love KUTOA bars and think every kid should have an opportunity to eat one. This a no brainer. Learn more about this January campaign here and do your body, mind and soul some good.
[Tweet “Smell great and help feed hungry kids this January! @KUTOABars @thisBP”]
THINGS I LOVE
Seeing my name in lights!…or print. When you’re a freelance writer, having your name in a printed magazine is kind of a big deal, even if the magazine it’s in has a very, very, very small circulation. Like just to triathletes. Or just to triathletes who are USAT members. And also have not opted out of getting the magazine. Am I making my point here? It’s small.
Check me out, writing as a newbie, in USA Triathlon magazine:
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
This New Balance ad. I consider myself pretty snobbish when it comes to running and racing and, I didn’t totally hate those old Pearl Izumi ads, but this? This is on another planet. The planet of ego.
I have to wonder what elites think about this. And, as I commented on FB when NYCRunningMama posted this – – > The tagline of my business (this site) is “find your inner athlete” because everyone has one. Period.
I also hope they didn’t create this just so everyone would be in an uproar about it, and then bitch about it on their smug mom blogs, and therefore bring free marketing to their business. If so, well played New Balance.
RANDOM QUOTEÂ TWEETS OF THE WEEK
Sorry guys but I couldn’t pick just one. I seriously laughed until I cried…
Please tell me which is your favorite. I’m not sure I can choose!
How was your week?
What do you think of the New Balance ad? Honestly.
What do you use for shower products? Does 100% natural matter to you?
That last one is the best!! I mean, really?! Lol!! Congrats on your KUHL pro deal!!!!!! So excited to read more about the gear!! Glad you had such a great training week! I missed hearing about CRS around these parts. The New Balance thing was so annoying and I almost shared on my FB page but then I realized there’s no way they are stupid enough to make such a blunder. So I didn’t share. I simply rolled my eyes instead!
That was probably the best response to the NB ad! Serious eye roll, side eye, etc. You are a pro at both 🙂
And that last tweet I think especially hits home to all of us writers – just NO!
AHHH THAT NEW BALANCE AD IS TERRIBLE (she shouts).
It goes back to the simple notion of “we can feel great about ourselves and what we do and how we rock what we do without having to denigrate others!”
I cannot imagine how it/the concept ever passed through their marketing team!
I mean for real!!!! You put it so well. Just do your thing and forget the rest. Sheesh!
Per usual I want to comment on everything but the showering as many times as a porn star has me laughing still. And new balance? I guess they don’t realize that they are idiots. Really? And the raccoon and the kitty. Too funny!!
I’m glad someone found that funny Angela 🙂 Thank you!! And I was DYING over the raccoon. I actually thought about it on the bike trainer this morning and started laughing all over again. It kills me.
It sounds like it was an awesome week of training for you. Plus I cannot wait to see how you like the gear!
The New Balance Ad was interesting to me. Over the 66% of the US is overweight and it’s really putting off to people who are just starting a workout routine. I feel like it’s elitist. There will always be professionals in every sport but it sounds more as if they are putting people down. I think it was poorly written.
That is an excellent perspective on the ad. The ad and the timing is so horrible for so many reasons and you pointed out a great one. People are having a hard enough time getting the gym or getting outside for a walk. We should be applauding that!! Thanks Hollie! You’re just so sensible!
I’m such a stickler for good grammar and punctuation; I also enjoy bad edition. Amphibious pitcher? Does that mean he pitches underwater too?
Idiots! LOL.
That NB ad is horrible. It took me forever to consider myself an athlete. Thank you for sending me back 25 years…I’m sure that will sell a ton of shoes.
I think it does and they really should have showed a picture of his underwater pitching abilities if that was going to be the headline 🙂
For real with that NB ad!! It took me forever to convince my clients they had an inner athlete, let alone to bring her out!! Shame on NB.
Amateur question here….. what are the distances in each segment of an Olympic triathlon?? Print ad is huge!!! And you showering more than a porn star is one of my favorite things you’ve written …I think I do, too. (I don’t really care about all the all natural stuff….it’s nice if it smells good and has interesting combos, but I drink unfiltered tap water…I like to live life on the edge)
I’m so glad you enjoyed that comment. It had me thinking “I certainly HOPE they shower a lot!” Ewwww.
Olympic distance is 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6 mile run. Good times.
I too drink water straight from the tap. We are rebels.
The NB ad is dumb. I feel like that’s not something an elite would ever say. They know that they are athletes and don’t need to put other people down to prove it. That sounds like it was written by someone who doesn’t like the fact that other people have the same hobbies and get the same medals as them. Who cares??
Who cares is right! Are they bothering you by calling themselves athletes? They certainly are vying for any elite prize money or shoe deals so get over it. Why a she giant like NB would feel compelled to do anything but promote the sport and raise people UP is so far beyond me.
Notify his mom for sure. Hilarious!
Congrats on the Triathlon Magazine. You are such a star! 🙂
That ad is ridiculous. Also, I think their definition truly excludes people who you would consider athletes like dancers for instance. They are some of the most athletic people out there but they don’t compete. What are they trying to prove? How exclusionary!
I love that one too and truly wish it existed!!…especially for if and when my boys start tweeting 🙂
Thanks Britt and you make an excellent point at dancers. They are some of the hardest working athletes out there but don’t get a ton of recognition.
I LOVE seeing your name in print!! Congrats. It really it a big deal and you should be proud of it. And all your amazing training last week. I was so so disappointed by the NB ad. I had to read it twice to make sure I was reading it correctly. And you’re going to rock your Olympic distance tri. It’s a really fun distance to race…in kind of a painful way 🙂
Thank you so much Christine! I know you know the feeling 🙂
Was that NB ad written by someone from a Let’s Run forum or a college XC team? It just screams that attitude of “if you can’t easily run Xx:xx fast time, you’re not actually a runner.” Ugh. For some people the contest is making the change and finding their inner athlete, so why do big companies have to diminish that? I can’t see how NB even thinks the ad is good marketing, as it’s more like “how to lose customers and alienate people.”
Congrats on your article in print! Also, awesome week of workouts, especially those runs!
It is totally a lesson in losing customers and just making people angry and annoyed. Total fail. It will be interesting to see what happens next…
A.M.P.H.I.B.I.O.U.S pitcher????????????? Are you joking? Is there no shame anymore? No wonder our children have no clue! To, two, there, their, effect, affect, then, than, its, it’s, who, whom. It seems people these days take pride in their ignorance, almost like a badge of cluelessness to be proudly displayed.
Whoever published that headline should be made to take remedial English before they get their job back, although the mistake is more sinister than that- conceptual understanding and the most basic awareness of elemental morphology.
This person needs a lot of help as he is an adult I presume, who didn’t do this homework at the appropriate age, so he’ll just go on infecting all the young minds reading such abominations. Print and Tv have an obligation to the formation of its public. It’s really a tragedy and national disease.
It’s no laughing matter, the success of your children (the Nation’s future) are at stake here! Regardless of equal opportunity or any such concept, they WILL be judged by their peers in that final interview for the position of their dreams. How they manipulate thought, express themselves clearly and succintly, and use basic grammar to do so will set them up for a career, or just a succession of jobs.
Is it any wonder kids can’t read by 9th grade and form the most basic of thoughts expressed as complete and meaningful sentences? English is not my 1st language; but how about some proofreading at the least? There’s a dictionary app on all computers!
I catch a lot of crap for my stance on this; but it’s really a microcosm reflective of the lack of detail and fortitude that will prepare these young adults for corporate jobs in an ever increasing competitive world. How can they have the best chance for their future when the media contradicts the teacher? What drive will they have to attain their goals when they can’t even be bothered to learn how to use their own language properly, or be assisted to do so by those they look up to for guidance?
‘nuf said!
In reply: My week was awesome as I started organized training, it took me the last 539 days to overcome and manage all the deconditioning and injuries from 12 years of falling from grace. I can’t believe I used to do what I did and now am intimidated by a mere sprint Triathlon!
If I may add, I had a great day this morning: 5 pieces of cake with 2 sugar and cream laden coffees at a birthday party for a sprightly 99 year old:) Of course however, I preceeded this sugar rush with a HUGE breakfast of mani-mahi, salmon, sweet potatoes and yams. The salad was great too.
I understand what NB attempted to express, but they totally sucked at it (another expression of confused critical thinking; wait, maybe they didn’t have a brain!).
Soap and H2O, that’s totally natural. I loved the doughnuts and the Raccoon is too cute!
You’re preaching to the choir Claude. I actually used it as a teaching moment with my kids. Having six year-olds gives you a sense of just how nonsensical our grammar and spelling is in the English language BUT it’s a must to learn how to speak, spell and write properly.
I love that you had 5 pieces of cake with sugar and cream coffees for a 99 year old birthday party! What a way to start the day!!
And you hit it on the head with the NB ad – totally sucked.
Have a great day of training!!! And I know you are going to dominate that sprint triathlon!
You’re an admirable and profound Woman over such a wide spectrum, kudos to You:) [and obviously a wonderful and concerned Mother to your boys].
I wasn’t so much preaching as venting my frustration, such things drive me up a wall. That’s good in a way though, I need hill work!
The 99 year old said He did nothing spectacular to get there, He just cheated death 4 times, He was part of the ‘Greatest Generation’ [WWII Veteran].
What cadence/speed sensor did you get that pairs with vivoactive? Do you like it? Please and thanks!
It’s the Garmin bike speed sensor and cadence sensor and comes in one box. It’s two small attachments to your bike which took me all of 5 minutes to install and my watch picked up the sensors immediately. They have it on amazon for 62.99. Worth every penny!
Thanks so much – had been looking at that but wasn’t positive it would pair with the vivoactive. I’m off to shop! 🙂
This is only week one?! Intense and so inspiring! Can’t wait to follow along on this journey to the Olympic Tri!
I KNOW! But I’m seriously loving it and handling the work well. We shall see what happens in 6 weeks… 🙂
Great insight on the NB ad (and I agree, enough with all the judging already, right? Let’s all be happy we can run and move to whatever degree we do) – but the raccoon holding the kitten was my favorite. “Amphibious” – that’s just so, so sad (and by that I mean hilarious).
The raccoon killed me! I don’t know why it’s so funny but I love it.
So true about NB. I think it’s unanimous so not quite sure how it was put out for public consumption. Crazy.
Thanks Diana!
I love love love reading about your training! Always inspiring, lady! Amphibious – I’m dying! And NB – what to say other than ugh ugh and ugh. How stupid. I hate how people try to “define” who is or isn’t this thing or that. Get over yourselves! You are gonna rock that tri. All that swimming = golden!
Thank you SO much Courtney!!! And, you summed up the NB ad perfectly – why are they defining who is an athlete? Totally bunk.
I think the ad is snotty and elitist, but we are talking about it, right? And I do like New Balance shoes; they are a good fit for me.
The raccoon and cat one was my favorite. But my most favorite part of this post was “I shower more than a porn star…” You crack me up.
That’s why I said “well played” since here I am bringing MORE attention to it and, for all we know, that was the idea. Whatever. I don’t wear their shoes but my husband does and, like you, I’m sure he will continue to buy them regardless.
And thank you for noticing that one liner 🙂 I crack myself up…and I certainly HOPE those porn stars are taking a lot of showers!!