The struggle is real. Each week in my TrainingPeaks log my coach has me fill out an overall fatigue checklist. Last week, everything from my mood to my sleep suffered and my score was considerably lower than it has been in months. Although a lot of my stress is the good kind, it is stress nonetheless. Luckily for me, I had a huge pick me up over the weekend.

 

WEEK OF MARCH 6, 2017

 

RUNNING

I was finally able to run outside and it was horrible both times! My first outdoor experience was in gale force winds and freezing temps. Somehow I had no idea it was about 5 degrees with 30 mph winds. Every time I turned down a new road I thought “now the wind won’t be directly in my face,” but of course, it was. Although it was horribly uncomfortable, I felt like I conquered something when I came home!

The second disaster almost ended with my dead body. I seriously came closer than ever to being hit by a car, and it was my fault. I will never say anything bad about my obnoxious day-glow New Balance vest again because I seriously think it saved my life. Just happy to be alive folks! (dad, if you’re reading this, I’m kidding)

Monday – 7 miles with 5×5 minutes at 5K pace | I changed this to “hills” because the wind was insane!

Wednesday – 45 minutes easy before strength class | avoided being killed | 5.82 miles

Friday – LT run with 3x5min at 10K pace (7:00) | 5.36 miles

Total = 18.18 miles

CYCLING

This week was deemed a “bike heavy rotation” by my coach, who by the way, killed it in the New Zealand Ironman! I felt like I couldn’t complain since she was up against 45mph wind gusts and said the swim was the most challenging of her life. Did I mention she is strongest on the swim? Hearing that made me happy to be in my basement on the trainer and on the spin bike at the gym, with zero chance of wind…unless you count the ceiling fan.

Unfortunately for you, my pictures this week also suffered from my fatigue. I make up for it at the end, I promise!

Look! I’m on a spin bike. *sigh*

Tuesday – 1 hour intensive power ride | 24.8 miles on spin bike before swim

Thursday – 1 hour tempo ride | 13.8 miles

Sunday – 2 hour endurance ride | 30.9 miles

Total = 69.5 miles

SWIMMING

I have to admit, after the vertigo I suffered in Cuba I was a little nervous getting into the pool for my first swim since being home. I had no need to worry. I felt strong and fast and confident, if only for the time I was swimming. I’ll take it.

And I finally got to wear my swim cap from the Havana Triathlon. So sad.

Monday – Endurance form swim | 2800 yards

Tuesday – Down ladder after bike | 1600 yards

I had to skip my Friday swim because school was canceled and Miles had a dentist appointment. It was as fun as it sounds.

Total = 4,400 yards

FUEL

Big news in my little town! We have a sushi place that delivers! You cannot even imagine our excitement. I think we  had it delivered at least three times in two weeks. We’re a tad obsessed.

Since I have no pictures from those dinners (brain fatigue) I offer this gorgeous shot of my deconstructed tuna from a local restaurant. Obviously I’m on sushi overload.

GEAR

So much greatness to share! I have had a plethora of goodness coming though my inbox lately so I have a lot to show and tell in the coming weeks. I’m going to start with a cool Alpine Dam trucker hat (because you can never have too many) made by a very cool guy. I loved the way he approached the sell in his email, his prompt responses and speedy delivery. All these things count big time with me!

Plus, the hat is awesome and adorable all at once which is really hard to pull of. Almost as hard as a 41 year-old wearing a pink trucker hat. Don’t judge.

Wanna win a free one? Of course you do! Enter to win the Alpine Dam hat of your choice:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THINGS I LOVE

My ranking in triathlon! I had no clue what my ranking was until a friend texted me just before I went to Cuba:

Apparently I am ranked 4th in Connecticut in my age group and, as you can read, missed being All American by three points! I still have no clue what this means but trust me, I will find out! She was also racing in Cuba and is actually the reason I found out about the race in the first place! She’s ranked eighth by the way.

THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH

Taking antibiotics! The side effects from being on them are so much worse than the sinus infection I had. I absolutely loathe taking drugs for this exact reason. All last week I was suffering from severe headaches, nausea, dry mouth and insomnia because of them.

READING

This article from Competitor is hilarious. I love perspective about how insane runners are.It’s filled with stats like 17% of respondents would actually prefer walking in on their parents having sex than run a marathon! You really need to read the rest:

What Would Americans Rather Do Than Run A Marathon? | Competitor | by Allison Pattillo

NEWS OF THE CENTURY

Introducing my future running partner and the only girl I ever wanted, STAR FIRE! Yes, the boys named her after a character on TeenTitans Go. Do you think they will regret that in five years? Probably, but they say you need to let kids make their own mistakes.

They also say dogs are like babies so, first of all I should have two of these and, second of all start giving me all of your opinions and tell me everything I’m doing wrong.

No seriously, dog owners, I need your help. Tell me everything you know!

[Tweet “The Rundown is suffering from #fatigue this week but, it’s for a very good reason! #train4life”]

 

Are you as tired as I am?

What can I do as a pick me up? Oh yeah, I got a puppy! YAY!

What would you rather do than run a marathon? 

 

 

 

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