When I saw the cover of this month’s USA Triathlon Magazine, it gave me pause. Few things do that because I’m always going 100 miles an hour, 24 hours a day. But when I saw the words DREAMING SEASON emblazoned beneath a picture of a cyclist with a gorgeous stretch of road ahead, I instantly loved the idea and what it represented.

Once I read the articles surrounding what apparently TrainingPeaks originally coined as “The Dreaming Season” I had a complete change of perspective on the months ahead, and not just in racing.
If I think about this time as an opportunity to dream big (Duathlon World Championships), dream differently (setting a PR at the Half IM in my age group at 44) and just dream about what may lie ahead, I’m filled with an excited calm. Excited because this is the beginning of it all and calm because dreams don’t necessarily have to become reality. In fact, some of the best dreams are left in my head. Let’s see what else went on up there this past week…
WEEK OF JANUARY 7, 2018
RUNNING
Unfortunately for my body, I was still battling a cold last week. My mind did not seem to give a shit but luckily my coach knows me way better than I know myself and gave me very manageable workouts. I still also think I can go snowboarding for 8 hours over a weekend and then just pick up where I left off on a Monday. Apparently that’s not how this body works anymore. Damn you 40s! I will fight you every step of the way.

Tuesday – 20 min run off the bike, building to Z4 | 3.08 miles | 8:13 avg pace
Thursday – power hill runs before bike | 4.9 miles | 8:48 avg pace
Friday – long run | 8.2 miles | 8:20 avg pace
Sunday – easy run off the bike | 4.1 miles | 8:40 avg pace
Total = 20.28 miles
CYCLING
I’m dreaming of riding outside in warmer temperatures and I may get that opportunity in February. More on that later. Until then, I’ll be on the trainer in the basement watching Netflix and no, I have not seen Bird Box and I can’t really say I want to.
I had this exchange with a friend of mine about it. My responses are in blue…

And I really do mean that I can’t stand when little kids are involved in horrifying films! Although I did love A Quiet Place, so maybe I’ll give it a chance when I have absolutely nothing else to watch.
Tuesday – ride then run | 48:01 minutes | 13 miles
Thursday – run then ride | 1 hour | 16.3 miles
Sunday – FTP intervals + run off the bike| 1:15:00 | 21.5 miles
Total = 50.8 miles
SWIMMING + STRENGTH
I’m happily back to strength training on Mondays and I have a new a trainer who is a better fit for what I’m working toward. We have a great plan for the next 13 weeks and all the work I’m doing with him will only ensure I make it to the starting line as strong as possible!
…and also so I can do this every weekend and not get injured!

Monday – 45 minutes of strength with Antwan then swim | 1,800 yards
Wednesday – pull buoy work | 2,100 yards
Total = 3,900 yards
THINGS I LOVE
I’m dreaming of flawlessly playing The Scientist on the piano but, until then, I will continue perfecting Ode to Joy!
Did I mention my husband surprised me with a new piano for Christmas? He does stuff like that.
A work in progress, just like the rest of me…
I continue to adore my piano teacher and he’s enthusiastically helping me with my Coldplay dreams.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Interrupting regularly scheduled programs to listen to that buffoon in the white house. I mean honestly. Is there truly a need for this anymore? Who among us lacks the technology to get a live stream or updated news report about what’s happening in the palm of their hand or, at the very least the nearest laptop?

Please, for the love of everything that is sacred, stop interrupting Ellen, with her overflow of hilarity and kindness, for that moronic bully. Thank you.
READING
A Prayer for Owen Meany has finished for another year. I know you were all dying to find out when that was going to happen. I am now down to three books and should be ready for the first Book Club meeting of the month.
I came across one very interesting article to share:
How to Hold A Healthy Grudge by Jolie Kerr for The New York Times
I knew there was a good reason I was holding onto some of this stuff and Sophie Hannah literally wrote the book on it — “How to Hold A Grudge,” and Kerr explains everything in seven steps.
“The crucial difference in the way Ms. Hannah views grudges is that she believes a grudge is not a feeling. Rather, it’s a story that one can learn and benefit from. “When there’s some kind of suboptimal thing that somebody has done to us, the grudge is our story that we remember about that incident, because it benefits you to have that story remembered.”
And yes, some of them are positive like “use your grudge stories to forgive and make you a better person.”
Good luck with that.
TELEVISION
My kids are officially obsessed with everything Marvel. And, I have to say I have a small obsession with Thor and also tiny, little, baby Groot. Make of that what you will.

In the past two weeks I have seen Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 and 2, Thor Ragnarok, Avengers (the first one, I guess?) and Civil War and I’m loving it. These movies are seriously so good! I know, I know, welcome to 2009. I was a little busy having twins that year so give a girl a break.
One thing I definitely did not watch with my boys but was dying to see because of them, was the documentary Three Identical Strangers. It’s one of the most incredible stories I have ever heard and would never believe it was true if the triplets involved did not tell the story themselves.

Three Identical Strangers tells the astonishing true story of three men who make the chance discovery, at the age of 19, that they are identical triplets, separated at birth and adopted to different parents. The trio’s joyous reunion in 1980 catapults them to fame but it also sets in motion a chain of events that unearths an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes far beyond their own lives – a secret that goes to very heart of all human behavior.
You can’t imagine where this story will take you. It’s heartbreaking (even if you don’t have multiples), inspiring and fascinating. Even though I obviously knew they find each other, I was on the edge of the couch smiling like an idiot while watching them re-live their reunions.
And, just when you think you know the whole story, there’s more. A lot more.
RANDOM PICTURES OF THE WEEK
So this happened…


They also have pallet expanders. I had a pallet expander when I was in second grade way back in 1983! Thank God they have come a long way because mine was so painful that I would cry every time my mom turned the key to “expand” my jaw. I also tried to rip it out and succeeded in getting it halfway off my mouth before being dragged into the dentist to have it cemented back on.
I’m dreaming that the journey to widening their mouths goes a lot smoother!
What are you dreaming about this season?
Do you have a favorite Marvel hero?W
I could care less about Marvel or Avergers or whatever but Groot just makes Me smile. He’s so cute! And Thor because…yeah. I was sucked into Three Identical Strangers too. Unbelievable! And Bird Box but I liked it ion the weird way that I was jumping out of my skin with anxiety for the duration of the movie.
No need to explain Thor. Let’s just take a moment.
I can’t believe you watched Three Identical Strangers too!! OMG we need to discuss that crazy shit!
Good to know you liked Bird Box. You are the first person I trust who said that 🙂
I do like the phrase “dreaming season”. I’ve never heard of it before reading your post but it really does have a nice ring to it, and what it represents is so positive!
I had to laugh at your Birdbox text exchange – LOL. I actually watched the movie just because there was so much hype around it but I had mixed views on it. It was that good, but wasn’t that bad either.
I think most people felt the way you did about Bird Box which is why I think I’ll skip it. I have enough anxiety in my day already.
And yes – the dreaming season sounds so lovely, doesn’t it?
We all sat here on NYD watching Bird Box. I figured Sandra Bullock’s in it: How bad can it be?? Yeah it’s bad. I kept announcing how stupid it was and turning away to read, then looking again. The rest of the family liked it. I’m not into senseless, unrealistic horror shows. End of story.
Awww love the piano and Ode to Joy!
All the best with the pallet expansion. My 17yo came out the other end of that with movie star teeth. My 13yo is a work in progress. It is amazing what they can do though.
You are so great. I probably would have done the same thing during the movie!! LOL!
Thanks for loving my simple piano 🙂
And THANK YOU for giving me hope about the braces and pallet expander. It was a super rough weekend!!
Yes! I love the idea of the dreaming season. Whether or not those things happen, it’s fun.
I’m also inspired that you’re taking piano lessons. My daughter recently started and it makes me want to pick it up again. I took for four years but feel like I lost a lot.
You should definitely take up piano with your daughter! I bet you remember a lot after you start playing 🙂
Dream big my friend – you are in amazing shape heading into 2019 so I see BIG things for you!
ok, that grudge quote is kind of a-ma-zing!! What I would say about birdbox is that the movie was meh, but what I actually liked was more the discussion around the movie… what do we think the movie was about… mental health, social media, ect… So my discussion with people who watched and the theories on what it symbolizes are ten times better than the actual movie….
Happy dreaming season!!
Isn’t it? As a keeper of grudges, I’m inclined to say it’s one the best I’ve read.
And FINALLY a reason to watch what seems to be an over-hyped movie! Thank you Paria!
I love the Marvel movies also – Thor: Ragnarok might be my absolute favorite movie ever at the current moment. If you love Thor and Groot, you need to see Infinity War. They meet and it’s awesome.
I cannot bring myself to watch Bird Box though. Like you, I enjoyed A Quiet Place, but something about Bird Box just looks less appealing.
Enjoy the dreaming season!
I actually saw Infinity War and now I need to see it again. I mean, I really liked it the first time around but now I’m like OHHHHH!!! And I have to agree about Thor: Ragnarok – it was AMAZING! Obviously we have impeccable taste when it comes to movies so I’m probably skipping Bird Box 🙂
I love that Santa brought you a beautiful piano!!! Luck you….love that you have the Ode to Joy on video. Keep up the good work!❤️
It was a HUGE surprise! Thanks Janey – love you!
I love that you’re learning the piano! I’ve played the piano since I was 4 years old. I got rid of my piano when I moved last fall (only because we unfortunately couldn’t fit it in the UHaul)and I’m missing playing it… but I’ve got my eyes on my childhood piano that still resides at my parents’ house. I just have to do a little convincing with my mom 😉 Although I dream of having a black & white baby grand piano one day!
OMG really? I wish you could teach me some things!! It’s slow going but I’m really enjoying it. Thank you!!
Dreaming season is such a good concept
Love that you’re learning piano as an adult. So awesome
Good luck wiht your son’s dental work. On the whole I think it’s a lot better than it was when we were that age.
Isn’t it? Dream on!
And yes, thank God dental work and apparatuses have come a long was since I was a kid. They still seem to be torturing my boys but now I say what every mom dreams of “when I was a kid it was SO much worse!” Thanks for reading and commenting!
Now I’m pondering how you made your snow running shoe angel…
And our garbage company is named Groot…
Can your husband call mine to talk gifts?
It was fresh snow on the driveway so I just stuck my foot out and made the prints 🙂
That’s hilarious about your garbage company.
And YES I should have my husband do that because he is big on the surprises and it’s kind of amazing…but also gave me massive anxiety!
Agggghhhhh, the pallet stretcher!!!!!!! I had never, ever, heard of such a device until our youngest needed one. It totally creeped me out having to “crank” it every night. She’s 19 now and has an immaculate smile, so I guess it was all worthwhile 😉
I know, right??? And I know how painful it is so it’s breaking my heart. Such torture. But, everyone says how great the results are (my mouth included) so hoping they aren’t too traumatized. Thanks Kimberly.
I’m glad I’m not the only one about Bird Box.
I can’t believe they got braces. Where is time going?!
You are far from the only one but it kinda feels that way, right?
And, I KNOW! I swear they were just getting teeth!! So sad.