In two weeks I will be racing at the Triathlon National Championships in Omaha, Nebraska. I have been racing and training well and definitely feel like I’m in a groove with my workouts (well, except for one of them) and can feel the endorphin rush in every aspect of my life right now.
Seeing Bad Moms with my bestie and going to a Coldplay concert also helped.
It was all things USA last week with the DNC, last minute preps for triathlon nationals and my star spangled shoes from Brooks.
WEEK OF JULY 25, 2016
RUNNING
I have not been doing much running and instead have been focusing on the bike and swim almost every single day. I had only two runs this past week, one of which was speed work. Since I can’t get out early in the morning because of my kids, I had to wait until about 8am for the run start. By 8am it was 80 degrees and humid. I reasoned that the conditions for the run in Omaha will be hot and I need to push myself though the training.
Speed training. In 80 degree heat.
So off I went to do a 10k, repeating 2 minutes on, 1 min off, 1 min on, 30 seconds off, 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off where “on” was 5k pace or 6:40ish. I tried to pick a shady route but it didn’t really matter. By the time I got to the turnaround I felt like I was cooking from the inside out, my lungs were breathing fire and my entire body was begging for water.
My final mile was straight up hill with zero shade.
Because I’m not completely insane, I ditched the last mile of speed and just crawled my way back up the hill.
Sweating like a maniac. Me and my fenix made it back alive. And that is a visor, not a hat. I have to protect my face but my hair needs to be free!
I ended up having pretty consistent splits and my average was 7:37 with a warm-up and cool down mile. I survived and I pushed myself. Two things I will remember during my 10K in Omaha.
I took a freezing cold shower and immediately drank lots of water and G2 to replenish. I also ate pretty much non-stop the rest of the day.
Here is a visual of the hill to and from my gym, as well as the temps during the run…
Total running miles for the week = 11
CYCLING
I had to ship my bike off to Omaha this Sunday and I seriously almost cried. I feel like we were just getting to know one another and now we have to spend nearly two weeks apart. It’s going to suck getting back on my road bike. #SorryNotSorry
Just riding around the cornfields.
Tuesday: 1 hour easy ride | 18 miles
Wednesday: 1:15:14 | 5 x 4 big gears | 22 miles
Saturday: 2 hours working hills | 40 miles
Total = 80 miles
SWIMMING
I have been in a body of water almost every single day. Between swimming and sweating everyday, it’s kinda weird when I’m dry.
My very own outdoor pool!
Monday: 30 minutes active recovery | 1640 yards
Tuesday: 500s to work on form | 35 min | 1789 yards
Wednesday: 8 x 100 | 32 min | 1,969 yards
Friday: open water pyramid | 45 min | 2,625 yards
Saturday: 45 min open water | 2,589 yards
Total = 10,612 yards or 6 miles
FUEL
I read this article on Women’s Running and decided to try out the Enduro Bites bars because the Fig & Dark Chocolate flavor sounds way too good to pass up!
I’ll let you know how I like them!
THINGS I LOVE
Coldplay.
I have been to a lot of concerts and live music events. Coldplay is in my top five shows of all time. Twice.
Sky full of stars!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Spam. Well, not spam in and of itself but actually the lack of attention to my spam issue that my host, Go Daddy showed. Suddenly, last week this very site was inundated with about 40 spam comments per hour. Do you know how long it takes to mark 40 spam comments as spam? About 40 minutes. I know because I literally spent all day last Monday doing just that.
My issue is I called Go Daddy immediately and was told I needed $362 worth of encryption. They also said what was happening was not their issue but one with WordPress. Wrong!
I called a total of five times on Monday before I finally figured out the issue myself and got a tech (Aaron!) to finally listen to me and help me. That was around 6pm after I had to cancel dinner with my friend because of it. Frustrated does not begin to explain how I felt by that time.
The issue was a server at Go Daddy. I know this because my plug-in Akismet, was unable to do it’s job – – block spam. I know that because of someone who actually knows how to do their f****** job at Akismet.
The issue was resolved around noon on Tuesday which was a full 24 hours. In 24 hours I had manually spammed my own site and blocked almost 1,000 comments.
READING
Sometimes Scary Mommy just gets everything right. My girlfriends and I talk about Facebook humble brags and the BS behind the hashtag #blessed pretty much daily. I think the author of this piece read our minds:
Humble Brags, #SoBlessed and other Facebook Sins
Here’s a little tease:
“I looked the other way when you shared a controversial article about affirmative action. Hell, I even pretended I didn’t see that you “liked” stuff posted by the NRA and the Duggars. And when you vaguebooked about “exciting news” and how you “wished you could say more,” I even commented with a “can’t wait to hear more!” even though my eyes rolled so hard in my head I think I strained my cornea.”
TELEVISION
I’m a huge fan of Bear Grylls and I seriously want to be on his show Running Wild.
I watched the episode with guest Zac Effron and it was hilarious, intriguing and suspenseful. I was definitely not expecting that from Effron but he was such a cool guy, very down to earth and really appreciated being out there with Bear.
My favorite part was, just before parachuting from a helicopter, Zac yells “see you in hell Johnny” to Bear, referencing one of the best movies of all time – – Point Break.
Speaking of movies…
MOVIES
If you are a mom, have kids over the age of five and, can admit that raising them can completely suck the life out of you, make you feel like a failure and that you’re doing everything wrong – – go see Bad Moms immediately!
It was hilarious. I mean I was cry-laughing though most of it. My friend and I were worried that the most hilarious parts were in the movie trailer but the most hilarious parts actually did not even make the trailer. I seriously cannot recommend it highly enough. Without giving anything away, my favorite hashtags are:
#IWillFightYouInTraderJoesParkingLot
#MomsDon’tGiveUpThat’sWhatDad’sDo
And the soundtrack is perfection. I cannot wait to see it again.
Also – the super market scene was my favorite and Kathyn Hahn (who plays the stereotypical single mom) stole the movie, the PTA slideshow almost made me pee my pants and there is a slow motion pasta-in-the-face scene that is off the charts.
RANDOM (RE)TWEET OF THE WEEK
I can now die happy. My tweet about the piece in the NY Times on Howard Stern was retweeted by @sternshow and liked by BoBo. I just can’t. Say what you will about Howard Stern, he’s one hell of an interviewer and asks everything we really want to know, not just the fluff about whatever the star is there to promote. The best part is, they tell him…and all of us.
I took this screen shot immediately and squealed. By Friday it was liked 54 times and retweeted 15 times. #Kingofallmedia
[Tweet “Feeling the endorphin rush as I #Train4Life!”]
How was your week?
What is your favorite TV show lately?
Stern fan? Who would you love to be retweeted by?
FIRST? MY FAAAVE line is my hair needs to be free.
🙂 🙂 🙂
and next? Howard is married to a woman I went to high school with and, according to her (and her mama :-)) he really is a kind and sweet guy off the air.
(and now ON so many times as well)
I guess it’s all his stichk.
And I cannot spell STICHIK (?
I believe you spelled it just right 🙂 and YES the “secret” of his real personality is no longer hidden. So cool that you went to high school with Beth and get the inside scoop!! *swoon*
I cringe whenever people use #blessed. I think Jimmy Fallon said it best when the Pope joined Twitter. Now the only person who can really use that hashtag can splatter it over social media. And I fully agree with you on Running Wild and Zac Efron. I couldn’t believe how cool he was too!
I love that you also watched Running Wild! We are soul mates.
I didn’t know that about Jimmy Fallon but that is so great!!!
I’ve actually wanted to see Bad Moms. So now you have motivated me.
It sounds like you’ve had a productive week of training and life. That blogging issue sounds like a nightmare though.
Total nightmare!!
And I’m not sure if seeing Bad Moms before having kids is great or horrible? Maybe you should see it now and then again five years after your first kid is born…assuming you have them 🙂
I felt like a bad mom this weekend when I told my son he could eat a cookie and he had an anaphylactic reaction–there were nuts in it and I didn’t know! #badmomhalloffame #mypictureisatthetop My status is intact. #blessed
I need to see that movie!
LOLOLOL!!! Love all your hashtags and no, that is what makes you a MOM! We all screw up and sometimes with serious consequences. As long as you love your kids you remain #blessed.
Go see it ASAP – it will make you feel 1,000 times better about the whole cookie thing.
Also so glad he is ok!
You are going to crush your race! I am so psyched for you!!! So jealous that you got to see Coldplay. Love their new stuff!
Thanks Sandra!! And yes, Coldplay is one of the greatest live bands. If you ever have the opportunity to see them – GO!
I’ve had no desire to see Bad Moms, because I’ve been sure it would be crap…. but with an endorsement from you, I’m going to go see it!! My exercising in the last couple of weeks can be summed up as slow sticky slog fests….. I seriously feel like LA has been more hot than ever… and even a little humid… I suppose the heat training is good for me.
Heat training is “good” but it’s not fun. It sucks the fun right out!!
I truly believe you will absolutely love Bad Moms. Now you have to go!!
That article perfectly sums up the Facebook behavior of one of my best friends from college. I love her dearly, but there have been long stretches of time where I have to completely hide her from my newsfeed because I just literally cannot deal with her. I have a feeling the election is going to be one of those times.
I’m SO excited to hear how Omaha goes! You are going to absolutely rock it.
I love how absolutely everyone can relate to that article. I’m sure there are some of my “friends” out there who want to hide all my race/training stuff too!!
Thanks so much Danielle!
“It’s kinda weird when I’m dry…” Ha ha okay that was funny. 🙂 I am so curious about that movie! I never get to go to movies and I want to see that one and the Bourne one. It’s such a tough choice. OH WHAT A DIFFICULT LIFE.
Seriously woman those are some major problems!!! 🙂 I guess the question is, do you need to laugh or an adrenaline rush? Seriously loved Bad Moms but will wait to see Bourne on my TV!
I have Bad Moms in my list of movies to see! I think the line on the trailer of the Emergency PTO meeting is what got me intrigued… why do PTOs hold meetings smack in the middle of the week? and don’t allow children? agh! Sorry! Rant over.
Nebraska, Watch out! Here comes Allie, and she is going to kick butt!!
I know! I have the flexibility for so many school things but the majority of moms do NOT. I always think “how can a working mom do this?” And, for the record, our PTO allows kids. We usually have one of the older ones in charge and when that stops working, the meeting is adjourned!
You are brave to start a speed workout at 8am on these humid days! It’s been brutal lately to be a runner. Good thing you can focus on swimming and biking too. Two weeks to go- eek! Your training is so solid. It makes me want to get back to swimming and spin… post marathon training.
It’s not so much bravery as having no other option, but thanks for that 🙂
I think you would be amazing in triathlon!!
So I honestly didn’t know that Bear Grylls has a new show! I need to find the back episodes and binge watch it. My husband and I loved his show when it was on Netflix. Your training is going so well – you are so prepared!!
It’s sooooo good!! And you will love it 🙂 Thanks Laura!
I love that Fenix3 interface, I’m sure it has a gazillion> stats too.
Glad to see you’re not spending a lot of time on your strength. The swim is just a warm up, and the bike is where you’ll smoke the field, where you’ll catch all the faster swimmers. The equalizer is the run, and we know how that will go for you:). Please just remember to sprint T1&2.
Bear Grylls clip- Sooooooo many memories! Did you see the guy who jumped from 25,000′ without a chute into a safety net?
No wheat, sugar, salt, butter, milk, eggs, soy, nuts, sesame, and Gluten free ? What kind of absolutely politically correct crap is that? Another example of trendy, mindless cattle mentality espoused by Bro-science and the lobbyists in Washington. I have to see that movie!
Yes – tons of stats on the fenix which my coach absolutely loves!
I ALWAYS race though transitions so no worries there.
I did not see the jumper into the safety net!!! OMG!
Bad Moms is awesome, hilarious and everything women want to do, say and be. Total package.
1. I eat pretty much non-stop most days. But I do not run. #fail
2. I’ve loved Zac Efron since High School Musical, and I am now ditching the laundry to watch that episode.
3. I really want to see Bad Moms, and I want to be bff’s with all three of them.
4. Torrey Smith (former Ravens player now on the 49ers) once responded to my tweet, and I screenshot it to keep forever.
You are going to kick ass in Omaha, Allie!
1. Eating non-stop is never a fail.
2. I hope you loved it as much as I did. And I love how they needed to come up with some “excuse” to get him shirtless.
3. You will love it. I wish we could see it together.
4. A Torrey Smith response is much better than a Howard Stern RT.
Thanks!!!
Howard retweeted you?! You’re basically famous now. I actually like him too.
Also, this heat is killing me. You’re a better woman than I am running like that! I just gave up on it this week.
LOL!!! < - - to everything 🙂
You squeezed a lot into one post. I don’t watch much TV. Nightly reruns of Modern Family or Big Bang with my family and never to be missed Game of Thrones.
I know, right? SO much happened last week!!
I cannot get into Game of Thrones and, right now I’m just trying to get caught up with Ray Donovan 🙂
I totally read this yesterday and SQUEALED when I saw that a) you saw coldplay (omg so jelly) and b) Howard Stern rt’d you!! amazing! I know you have loved him long time. 🙂 LOL at the FB sins, I feel like I could write an entire book on the topic!
This is why were are sisters!!! You just get me 🙂 xoxoxo
Bad Moms + Coldplay sounds heavenly! I am pumped for you at the Championships! You’re gonna rock!
It was absolute heaven…and I’ll probably be wishing I was there when I’m on the bike leg of the tri at nationals! Thanks Marcia 🙂
Hey you are looking amazing as usual! I’m glad you gave the deets on Bad Moms. I’ve seen the previews (because I live at the movie theater) and had dismissed it. I will check it out. Yes to Coldplay!!! That is frustrating about go daddy, ugh…glad it got fixed. Good luck with the triathlon championship!
I wish I lived at the movies!! Seems like there are so many great ones lately but Bad Moms is right up there…although not sure it will resonate as much if you don’t actually have kids!!
Thanks Joi! Great to hear from you 🙂
Gah! I love too many points in this post!!
Ok first the training, your training always blows my mind and inspires the heck outta me and omg I love the watch!!! Might have to get one… Soon.
I’m all about short intense workouts lately. Once I did one interval workout and realized how awesome I felt to huff and puff again, I was hooked. Plus I just don’t have time to waste. 30 min of intense activity is so much more effective for me now, rather than 60 min of the snail pace stuff I was doing. My motto lately is “step outta the comfort zone, 30 min ain’t nothing!”
I’ve always like Howard Stern, he always made me laugh. I like that sort of raw humor. Plus I like offensive people since I’m not easily offended.
Need to see Bas Moms!
YES – you need those down and dirty quickie workouts with all the mommy-ing you have going on!!
Love that we agree on Stern too. Thanks Danielle.
OMG, everything you said about BadMoms is spot on. Funniest movie I think I have ever seen. The grocery store scene was one of my favorites. I can not wait to go see it again!! And BTW, if I had to run up that hill to your house everytime I went for a run, I may not be running, lol.
Maybe we can try some of those grocery store moves when we’re in VT? 🙂 And, next time you visit, we need to run the hill!
Hahahah, sounds like a plan….as for the hill…..not so sure about that, although it would be a good warmup for those VT hills.