You’ve seen the “fitspiration” memes. Maybe you have even been motivated by them. Well, in the words of Emma Gonzalez, I’m calling BS on “fitspiration” and talking about the reality of training day after day to reach a big goal vs. a virtual motivational poster.
WEEK OF APRIL 2, 2018
RUNNING
Training for a half marathon is one thing, but training for one that will be after a 1.2 mile swim and 56 mile bike is quite another. But, according to fitspiration…
Wrong.
When I was at mile 6 of a 10 mile run on a Friday, and still had an hour of swimming after the 10 miler, this did not immediately come to mind. I’ve been battling some hamstring issues on my right side and sometimes I have to opt for “no run at all” which is definitely better than going out and ignoring my injury cues. Also, what is this woman wearing? It looks like some sort of belted poncho that is giving her added resistance training. #fail
Monday – 2.5 mile run off the bike | 8:20 average pace
Tuesday – tempo run before swim | 5.87 miles | 8:13 average pace
Friday – long run build before swim | 10 miles
Sunday – 2.5 mile run off the bike | 8:15 average pace
Total = 20.87 miles
CYCLING
Yep, this one always works, and by “always” I mean never. Sure you can tell your legs to shut up but what about your butt, back and shoulders? Shouldn’t we be yelling at every body part that is screaming for the ride to be over already? Also, this photo appears to have the cyclists riding downhill. Weird.
Monday – sweet spot and FTP intervals before run | 18.1 miles
Thursday – long ride (was supposed to be outside but you know, the weather) | 35. 6 miles
Sunday – VO2 3+ max intervals before run | 18.7
Total = 72.4 miles
SWIMMING
Do you know how far a mile of swimming is? It’s 60 laps. Sixty. Six. Zero. And you want me to swim and extra mile? It’s not crowded because everyone drowned. Thanks for the great advice.
Luckily, I did not drown last week and even had a little one on one time with my Vaughn. He jumped in the pool with me for my 8×25 fast intervals and tried to race me. It was awesome.
Tuesday – 2,400 yards after run
Wednesday – 2,600 yards before strength
Friday – 2,800 yards after run
Total = 7,800 yards or 4.4 miles
STRENGTH
If only Trump had read this one…
Also there is possibly no one on the planet who could use squats more than him.
I, on the other hand, nailed it.
I was actually doing box jumps at the end of my strength workout. I love doing them but I do get scared that I’m so tired, I may face plant. Luckily that didn’t happen in my one strength day last week.
Wednesday – ECFit strength workout after swim | 45 minutes
FUEL
You know I love a good Pinterest recipe, especially since there is usually an epic fail on my part even when only choosing dinners with “easy” or “quick” in the title. When I saw this one for “loaded” sweet potatoes, I knew at least my husband and I could eat it and, I foolishly thought I could win this one.
I didn’t dare take a picture of what mine ended up looking like, but if you picture what vomit looks like after eating tacos, that will be close.
I cooked the sweet potatoes for over an hour (the recipe called for 45 minutes) and still couldn’t easily scoop out the contents so I gave up and scooped out the semi-soft insides, leaving the remaining shreds of outside skin. After that I whipped up the black beans, greek yogurt, tomato, red pepper and mozzarella cheese with the remains of my potatoes and called it. It was ugly but delicious, kind of like pot pie.
READING
The Benefits of Pain | Malcolm Gladwell and Alex Hutchinson | Quartz at Work
I can’t remember how I came across this article but it’s amazing. Gladwell and Hutchinson are two of my favorite authors and I love how they talk about endurance here. I’m searching for anything I can read to help me wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to race for six hours straight in less than two months.
If you don’t want to read it, you can watch it…you’re welcome.
PODCAST
Just when you think you cannot possibly love Meb Keflezighi any more, you listen to another podcast with him, this time on The Morning Shakeout with Mario Fraioli. I swear my splits for my tempo run were faster just listening to Meb’s gratitude and love for the sport and every single runner he has ever come into contact with. The man is a class act and I hate to see him retire yet I know he will continue to be an amazing ambassador for running.
I highly recommend listening to this on the run.
RANDOM PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Nothing says “Easter” like four boys with giant black eyebrows and mustaches, but somehow this happened the day before Easter.
No fitspiration required. #MarioandLuigi
Here’s to a week of finding your inspiration from the inside out!…or from a bottle or whatever else you need to do for self care. I don’t judge.
[Tweet “The Rundown is looking at #fitspiration vs reality, another @pinterest fail, new reads and podcasts! #train4life”]
How was your week?
Have you ever actually been inspired by a fitspiration meme?
Fitness memes are so corny! The one that says I like to workout in all black because it’s a funeral for my fat. Really?!? So not motivating. Thanks for the laughs as usual!
OMG I have not seen that one. WTH? So un-motivating.
Oh fitspiration memes, they make me laugh. Especially that swimming one in your post-swimming is hard enough, why do I want to go ANOTHER mile–IN THE POOL!!–of course no one is there because who wants to go there?!
In a weird way, I”m glad to be 55 and at the point in life where I know that I can’t compete with those youngsters in the memes. Altho I do find myself looking at IG pics of runners my age to see if they are getting lumpy bumpy thighs. There comes a point in life where it doesn’t matter what you do–the body just starts to let go.
And now you’ve given me an idea for a blog post…
Oh I’m so glad!! Glad I could give you some blog-aspiration 🙂 LOL!!
You’re right the cyclist riding in a downward spiral is like a totally other meme. Lol. I’m really excited for your 70.3. Mostly because I know you will kick serious booty and just freakin rock it! And partially because I really enjoyed doing the 70.3’s like I can actually say I enjoyed a few of them. My first I totally hated but the others I actually dare I say loved?? I’m realizing that the half distance is the longest I’ll go and I actually have had some fun doing it. 6 hours go by hella fast!!! Like it’s crazy fast! And I’m guessing you’ll be wayyyuu before that lol.
I used to make goal boards with IM pics of Miranda and Chrissy racing and all sorts of strong images. The typical fitspo stuff doesn’t jive with me much and I find your posts a hella lot more motivating because you’re a real person lol.
Somehow I don’t believe you when you say “6 hours goes by hella fast!” I certainly hope so and that time is about right for me since it will take me 45 minutes to do the swim :-))) And, this race is ridiculously hilly on the bike and run. Fingers crossed I love it as much as you do!!
I need to confess right here, right now that I hate the following motivational quote : “She believe she could, so she did”. It just irritates me! She believe she could? so She did? It feels like somebody is saying that as a woman, I have no right to believe in myself… but I’m reading way too much into it. Either way, I will not be caught posting that saying.. I’m more of the “She didnt’ care what the world thought she could do” camp.
I could not agree more!!! That one is like a passive aggressive quote about being female. Hate it.
That yellow poncho- hilarious! I never would have even thought about it… and really you nailed all of these. I can’t say there has been any that particularly motivated me. Occasionally I’ll find a meaningful quote or mantra to borrow.
And thanks for sharing the Gladwell/Hutchinson combo- two of my favorites too!
I have to confess that pic made me think of the time you ran the entire Boston Marathon in a yellow poncho!!! But you were a badass so totally different 🙂 Speaking of – less than 6 days now! SO excited for you. I will be in Boston the next three days and will spread good luck on the course for you!!
I’m inspired by the dog with the “Fitness this whole pizza in my mouth”–does that count?
100% YES!!! Happy Birthday to you woman!!!!
ONE meme I actually find inspiring isn’t necessarily fitness related : “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” That’s hung in front of my treadmill from the beginning of my first ultra training plan.
Oh yeah – I love that! I think of that more as a mantra and not a meme. I also think of it daily when I ask myself why I decided to do a half IM because it terrifies me!!!…I guess I’m doing it right 🙂
Hahaha I love your line about the extra mile not being crowded because everyone drowned! Fitspiration memes are ridiculous. I saw one the other day that said “When you miss a workout, Ryan Gosling cries.” Really? That’s your motivation? Preventing man tears?
I need to listen to the Meb interview! I’ve been enjoying the Morning Shakeout podcast a lot because Mario is such a great interviewer.
I hope your hamstring feels better!
The Ryan Gosling ones are usually funny but that’s just dumb.
And yes, Mario is a great interviewer and his podcasts make my miles fly by – most of the time 🙂 Thanks Laura!
OMG that belted poncho is amazing! Where can I get one??? Basically, fitspiration makes me want to gag and after seeing/reading one, my instinct is more like crawl back into bed haha.
I can’t wait to listen to Mario’s podcast with Meb. I mean, seriously, he’s the best. And you! I can’t wait for you to race 70.3!
Yeah no the memes do not inspire me. What IS she wearing?? My sports chiro told be about a buddy of his who always threw up IN the pool during races. Maybe he went the extra mile…
I’m afraid to face plant doing box jumps at the beginning of my workout! Thanks for the description of what your loaded potatoes looked like – blech. Glad they tasted good though!
Sometimes potatoes take wayyyy too long to cook… It’s the worst when I’m hungry just waiting for a damn baked potato to soften up. You know what I do sometimes when I can’t wait any longer? Just pop em in the microwave for a few, then throw them back in the oven to get a little crisp to them.