It’s weird to think about triathletes cross training since we’re already training for three different disciples in one race. I mean, isn’t that enough?
Well, if you know anything about me at all, the answer to that question is “Of course not!” Bring on the cross training!
WEEK OF JANUARY 25, 2016
RUNNING
Guess what? I ran outside – twice! I also went snowboarding so, after being in hibernation on the treadmill and bike trainer pretty much all week last week, I busted out and had a blast!
THIS is how good it felt to be outside…and to be done with Tuesdays workout – OMG!
Sunday: 7 miles easy after 2,400 yard swim
Tuesday: 8 miles with 3 x 1 @MP (7:30) / 3 x 1 @5k (6:20) < – – this was a very hard effort but felt great afterward
Wednesday: 5 miles easy before Barre class
Friday: 10 miles with 5 x (400m hill/400m sprint) = 1:21:21 8:00/pace
I wish I could have done Friday’s run outside but I had yet another day home with a sick kid. All I can say is how thankful I am to have a treadmill this year because if it’s not snow, it’s sickness and, with the treadmill I can still get it all done!
Total mileage = 30 miles
CYCLING
I *missed* a bike day this week because I went snowboarding instead. It was 100 percent worth it and I wish I could do this every week…
Raring to go and use my new snowboard for the first time!!
I did, however, get in plenty of bike trainer miles…
Monday: 55 minutes of bike strength before IronStrength – because it’s all about getting strong on Monday!
Thursday: Riding the snow…
Saturday: 45 minutes of drills and leg loosening…
Total BIKE ride time: 1 hour 40 minutes
SWIMMING
Although I only had two swim days, spaced very far apart this week, they were hour long endurance tests that had me crawling out of the pool like a sea lion. Sorry I don’t have any pictures of that…
That sea lion actually looks a lot peppier then I did. Maybe it’s the penguin?
Sunday: 2400 yards using all the tools in my bag!
Saturday: 2400 yards muscular endurance
Total yards = 4800 or 2.7 miles
CROSS TRAINING
This was by far the most fun I had all week. Not only did I get a great video of my Barre class ab workout, I went snowboarding with a good friend on Thursday. Best.day.off.ever.
First things first. Work your body, work those hips!
I have heard many people describe their Barre class as “boring” or with “lots of counting” and even “wimpy.” As you will see, the Barre class my friend teaches is none of those things…and this is only one, four minute section:
[For the locals, new classes are beginning the week of 2/8. Wednesdays at 9:30am and Thursdays at 7pm. Sign-up HERE]
Coincidentally, after Barre class a friend mentioned to me that she was going skiing the following day at a local mountain. So, I very rudely invited myself, cleared my very very very busy schedule and off we went the following day.
It was like having our own private resort.
We declared it “better then a spa day” and loved most that there was zero cell service on the mountain. Ok so that part freaked me out a little bit, and I had 57 messages by 2pm but it was great while it lasted.
FUEL
I absolutely love birthdays, even when they aren’t mine. I was excited to celebrate the birthday of one of my oldest and dearest friends this past week. I have known her since high school and have celebrated every birthday with her since 1993. #WeAreOld
And there were cupcakes involved. Surprisingly enough, I baked these without incident.
GEAR
So I jumped on the Stitch Fix band wagon and received my first “fix.” Does anyone else see an issue with calling these “fixes?” No? Ok then…moving on.
Since my closet mostly contains workout stuff and then sequin shorts with furry vests, I was in need of something appropriate to wear to say the boys school when I risk my well-being and immune system, to go there.
Enter Stitch Fix.
- I absolutely love this jacket and I would have never picked it out myself. KEEP!
- I wasn’t thrilled with this shirt and it’s kind of too big but, my husband loved it and he was taking these pictures so… KEEP!
- I have 300,000 scarves and although this one was adorable and added a “pop of color” which seems to be of the utmost importance to stylists, I sent it back. RETURNED
- This shirt is adorable and fit me perfectly but it’s a short sleeved t-shirt and it’s winter so I couldn’t really justify it. RETURNED
- I know there’s no actual #5 in the pictures but it’s the JEANS. I also have 300,000 pair of skinny jeans but these are so soft and stretchy plus they come off like butter. KEEP!
Out of five pieces, I kept three. I would say that is a win, even though I don’t love the green shirt. I also heard having a Pinterest board of your “style favorites” or something like that, is important for your stylist to help select pieces you like. Even though I felt extremely awkward doing it, I created a Pinterest board called When I’m Not in Workout Clothes:
Follow VITA Train for Life’s board When I’m Not in Workout Clothes on Pinterest.
THINGS I LOVE
This mild winter! It was 50 degrees on Sunday and about 35 the day I went snowboarding. If this continues, I will be deliriously happy.
After yet another mild, outdoor run this past week. Look ma, only one layer!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
The seemingly never ending cycle of sickness that is having two first graders. I swear my boys have both been sick ever since going back to school after winter break.
I was in their school last week and OMG every kid (and some teachers) in there have either barking coughs or runny noses – it’s insane!
Vaughn was home sick yet again this week and I just wanted to cry. I think I did cry. I may cry now just thinking about it.
Yes, I would love to spend three more hours doing Minecraft Legos!
Make it stop!!!
READING
You know when you read something and it immediately resonates with you…and also makes you laugh out loud? That is exactly what happened when I read this post from Danielle at T-Rex Runner.
What I Tell Myself About the Past : My favorite part is she learned this lesson from watching #BlackLove. And, as Danielle points out, “Yes, the hashtag is part of the name.” Danielle is also the queen of animated gif use so you really need to read the article on her site to get the full effect.
“You have to be careful about what you tell yourself about your past,” she said. Dude. Whoa. What you tell yourself about the past. Not “what happened in the past,” but what you tell yourself about what happened in the past. Mind blown.
I personally learned this lesson after I went to my 20 year high school reunion and was finally able to forgive my teenage self, a girl who was just doing the best she could, after the unbelievable loss she suffered.
Be careful the stories you tell yourself. They matter.
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Checking out at CVS and my husband picks up a bottle of hand sanitizer:
Cashier: Oh yeah, I love alcohol.
…I mean, the alcohol hand sanitizers…I also love regular alcohol, but that’s not what I meant.
Husband and I assure her we also love alcohol.
How was your week?
What is your favorite way to cross train?
first YAYAYAYAYAY for busting out!!!
And for snow boarding!!
and THANK YOU.
My sister loves the stitch fix box and really thinks they’ve saved her career but helping her figure out what the hell to wear. BUT BUTBUT she also thinks Im nuts for hating the name and always responding with: I dont need no stinking fix!!
Ah, great minds Carla, great minds!!! xoxo
Thursday was the day to bust out last week! Ron and I went snowboarding and it was absolutely perfect. Except that I forgot what it’s like to snowboard just with Ron. I had some serious bruises from major wipeouts. And I’m still laughing about the. Alcohol thing. Wonder if she uses hand sanitizer when no other alcohol is around?
Very cool!!!…except for the wipeouts but you have to just laugh at yourself. I spun out coming off the lift, as I do once nearly every single time!
She kind of looked like she snuck some “sanitizer” behind the counter every once and a while if you know what I mean 🙂
Ha, that sounds like the greatest cross training class ever.
You should create your own snowboarding TRI and just sub it in for cycling. That would be fun right?
I know a lot of people like Stitch Fix but I enjoy picking out my own clothing.
I would sub it for the swim and YES that would be fantastic!!
I used to like picking out my own clothes and now I just want everything delivered. I think it’s called Amazon syndrome.
I love that you were able to get out! I was so pleasantly surprised by yesterday’s warm temps!! This winter has been so bearable despite the fact that this is all due to global warming but we won’t think about that k?
The cupcakes were perfect!! I was getting a bit worried there for a sec.
My 1st grader has had a cough on again and off again for the entire winter 🙁 not fun! Germs simply get recycled in classrooms!
I know!! It’s 55 today but I keep thinking “this is not right!!!”
I knew you would be proud of my cupcakes. I have sort of redeemed myself – HA!!
Hoping everyone is feeling better very soon. I think these warm temps are only breeding more germs. Yuk.
-Would love to try Barre!! But I need a Tuesday/Thursday morning class !!
-And no referral for stitch fix? I hope someone else at least got the referral credit!
-where did you ski? That looks awesome.
Sorry Barb!! Yes, I went through another friend – oops!!
We went to Berkshire East. Very small mountain but fine for the day and only about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
No worries! As long as you went through somebody!!
Let me know if you ever need company on the mountain…when we get some snow that sticks!!
Oh I will!! We MUST go together one of these days…
So that is definitely not what my barre classes look like (although mine are also not the depressing/boring/lots of counting/slow kind) but I think I should maybe try and incorporate some of those moves, because it looked so fun! Your facial expressions were priceless.
I think that green shirt looks awesome on you, for the record.
And thanks for the shout out! I take my wisdom wherever I can find it, even if that is #BlackLove.
I cannot imagine your Barre class would be depressing but imagine what your regulars will think if you bust out something like this?? 🙂
Gotta have the over the top facial expressions too.
Thank you for saying that about the green shirt. I have yet to wear it in public.
I kind of now want to watch #BlackLove.
I did that oblique side crunch move in class yesterday and got tons of compliments on it! Actually, it was probably the facial expressions.
It’s all about the facial expressions. Obvi.
I’d be flying away if I were that penguin being chased by a sea lion! (Side note: I know penguins can’t fly.)
I took a few barre classes last week, and they’re definitely very different than your video! I’ve done Bar Method, Pure Barre, and FlyBarre, and they’re not slow/counting/etc…I actually like them and think they will help with my running. (Tight hips/legs/back…no good for anyone!) Do you find barre helpful in your running? How often do you do it? Are you lifted and toned?? 😉 😉 But seriously, so many questions.
My boyfriend really wants to go skiing this year, but I do more “falling down the mountain” than I do skiing, so we’ll see…
I like the stuff from your Stitch Fix, but I think I’m the only blogger left to not try it. I just can’t get on board with being sent clothes to try every month – it sounds like I would buy things I don’t really need. Personal opinions here, of course.
Thank you for the side note so I don’t need to tell you what you already know.
Barre is super helpful to running which is why I started taking it. I actually usually do a 5-6 mile run before class. It’s perfect for those small leg muscles, tons of squats and butt builders (as I like to call them) and core – oh so much painful core at the end!! I know it has helped with my hamstring tightness, hip and glute strength and boredom. I pretty much hate strength training but I love this class so it is a WIN.
I hear you with Stitch Fix (and I thought I was the last blogger to try it) but I never go shopping for “real” clothes, plus, you can send it all back, skip a month, etc. It’s all what you’re comfortable with obviously. We’ll see how it goes…
I love that you are skiing, snowboarding, etc, but what really caught my eye was that quote about the narratives we tell ourselves about our past!!! So then I clicked and read your high school post, and then I clicked and read the T-Rex post…. I could write an entire dissertation on my thoughts about that sentence, so I won’t. I will just tell you that you have given me much to think about! Thank you.
GREAT!!! And yes, that is exactly what I thought after reading Danielle’s post. There are a lot more things I tell myself that I need to be just as aware of. Hope this sparks some good writing/thinking for you!!
I’m going to read Danielle’s post now. I’m already curious. And I loved the barre workout, I need to find a class nearby.
It’s so good! Hope you get as much out of it as I did.
It’s hard to find a good Barre class but you should be able to too 🙂
Solid week, as usual! This weather has been amazing. And the stitch fix stuff is so cute! I actually really like the green shirt on you. It reminds me I should try another ‘fix’ soon…
Thank you!!
Hope you were able to get out and run today – it was sunny and gorgeous here.
Running outside- Awesome!
Snowboarding- Awesome!
Cup cakes- Awesome!
Penguin and Sea Lion- Priceless:)
Even I was impressed with your Barre class, I’m just not into indoor stuff! It exudes flexibility, agility, muscular chain synergy, proprioception, and all that other fantastic stuff that makes effortless movement a piece of cake! Of course, your strength is apparent! That’s an illuminated teacher there! Were you a dancer or gymnast in the past?
Pardon my ignorance; but what does ‘MP’ stand for?
I was both! Good eye Claude!
MP = marathon pace
No wonder you’re so Awesome with such a background; whether by chance or design, you aced it! Like Tina said (I think in your post), there are more fast miles ahead. Ironman Hawaii, watch out!
Oh, yay for outdoor runs and snowboarding! I think there should be a winter tri that swaps snowboarding or snowshoeing in place of swimming. Maybe then I’d try a tri? I’ll have to go read Danielle’s post! I studied literature in college and history in graduate school, and beyond being the reasons why I’m now self-employed, these made me so interested in how and why we tell our stories.
I could not agree more!! Maybe we should start this trend as I think plenty of people would be into it!!
Hope you read the article and got something out of it. When you really think about it, it’s hard not too.
I’m loving the mild winter! Saturday was a beautiful day. You never would have guessed it was Jan. I need to try Stitch Fix. Love the jacket.
Me too!!
Thank you and I’m surprised you haven’t tried Stitch Fix yet. You should!!
Haha! Yes, cross training for triathletes does seem a little crazy! I love that you escaped for a snowboarding day! So much fun! You will have to teach me how. Now I am about to cave on the whole Stitch Fix thing . . . I have waited so long. I still love that video of you in your Pure Barre Class! You are awesome! Hugs friend!
I was feeling I needed to go back to skiing since the boys are now on skis and it’s impossible to control them on a board!
Just jump on the Stitch Fix band wagon with the rest of us 🙂
Thanks so much Sandra!! xoxoxo
Hooray for running outside AND snowboarding. I have to admit that I was quite jealous when I saw you were headed to the mountains. OK, granted I was in Park City but it pained me that we didn’t have a chance to ski!! I know, I can’t complain. And your barre video? Ah-mazing.
No, you definitely cannot complain but that is a total tease to be there and NOT be able to ski! Don’t they have LUNA skis somewhere?? 🙂
That Barre Class looks HARD! thanks for sharing the video… I mistakenly imagined everybody wore black leotards and black leggings to Barre, I don’t know why I had that crazy idea!
Very low mileage last week, so will be working on making those up in the snow and ice!
I’m sure a lot of people think that about Barre which is why I wanted to share!
Be careful out there and have fun…
LOVE that video! So good!! You look amazing!
I really like Stitch Fix but I definitely think it can be hit or miss. I love the green top that you kept. I think it looks really great on you! I’m already planning my next fix for when I get back to the states….I see what you mean.
Yep – exactly that! LOL!!
So glad you liked the video since you are a Barre expert 🙂
First, I watched one minute of that Barre class and got scared. I’m the person who can’t keep up with any choreography whatsoever. Your friend is likely a powerhouse that would easily kill me but believe it or not, I liked her music.
Second, I want to live closer. Those cupcakes looked so good that I wanted to lick the screen. OMG!
Third, love the StitchFix things you kept. I’ve seriously considered doing it because I rarely shop but I can’t bring myself to do so. This review might bring me a step closer.
Fourth, children are petri dishes and while I’d say it does get better, you have two so it may not. My condolences.
Fifth, I love that Danielle is on your radar and yes, she is the GIF Queen.
Sixth, I’ve missed reading your blog on the regular. I adore you and have missed you!
Done.
First, I love that you got scared watching the Barre class!! She is a total powerhouse but in the sweetest way – if that makes sense??
Second, I only wish we met when you lived in Brooklyn. We could have fig bars and cupcakes whenever we wanted.
Third, seriously just do it. It’s great especially if you don’t shop.
Fourth, I’m sure it will never end with the sickness. All I can do is be thankful I don’t work outside my house and that I now own a treadmill.
Fifth, I’m so grateful to you for introducing me to Danielle. She is amazing, as you already know.
Sixth, welcome back!! I adore and miss you and hope to see you very soon!!
Yay for getting off the treadmill. I have been in desperate need of that lately! When it warmed up after the snowstorm I forced myself to put on the yaktrax and get out there! Ok, I’m not a huge barre fan to be honest, I find it a bit boring, but THAT? That class looks AWESOME! I need to find one like that but all there is around here is Pure Barre or other similar studios….BORING. And you cupcakes look delicious! Great job!
It was so great to break free! I wish I had an opportunity to wear my yaktrax but we have nothing but rain. I know I shouldn’t complain to you about lack of snow but…
I’m so lucky to have this Barre class. At first I had no clue how different it was until other people were so surprised that I liked Barre!! I wish everyone could take this. Maybe she needs to start her own chain!
Thanks for the compliment on the cupcakes. That is huge coming from you!! 🙂