It’s been a beat since I wrote a rundown and in the time between I have been getting schooled! Not just by starting my first official class of my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, but in so many other ways. Also, my hair is getting grey-er…
WEEK OF MAY 27, 2019
RUNNING
I’ve officially starting upping my speed with the hopes of bringing it back. Mostly I have felt great and I have to admit, it’s always after I take a much needed rest day…or days.
Maybe it was the new Garmin fenix 5S plus watch that I finally put into good use? Maybe it was my highly motivating F*CK CANCER Betty Designs hat? Maybe it was running though a Memorial Day parade on Monday or helping a stranger find her lost dog on that same, oddly eventful, tempo run?
Whatever it was, I was feeling great last week.
Monday – tempo run | 6.41 miles | 2 miles easy, 1 mile 7:35, 1 mile 7:25, 1 mile 7:18, 1 mile cool down
Tuesday – 10×200 on the indoor track | I consistently nailed each 200 in 40 seconds and, consistency was exactly what I was looking for after Monday’s hard effort | 5.13 miles total
Wednesday – 15 minute warm up run before strength and swimming | 1.50 miles
Friday – long run | 9.56 miles | it was supposed to be 10 but it was ridiculously hot and I was not prepared | 8:52 average pace
Sunday – 5311s |5 min @8:40, 3 min @8:00, 1 min @7:30, 1 min @9:30 | repeat 3 times | 6.42 miles
Total = 29.02 miles
CYCLING
I didn’t get a chance to ride much but the one day I had, I made the most of! I also took some time to properly hang my bike in the garage. It took me longer to figure out the drill then to actually hang the bike. #schooled
Thursday – easy ride | 20.1 miles
SWIM + STRENGTH
I’m definitely losing my mind. Remember that time not too long ago when I forgot my pants at the gym? Well, guess what happened last week? Not nearly as bad but I completely forgot my entire swim bag! My excuse is I was solo parenting, starting my first day of school and was running, doing strength training and swimming that day…but still.
Luckily a woman who I’m friendly with at the gym asked me how I was doing, to which I responded “I was doing great until I realized I forgot my entire swim bag!” She graciously offered to lend me her suit, cap and goggles. Amazing…and kinda gross I know but it was way better than going home for my suit! I will now keep a spare suit, cap and goggles in my swim bag. #schooled
Speaking of being schooled. Antwan kills me every week with new and torturous things, that it’s amazing I don’t drown in the pool afterward.
Wednesday – warm-up run 1.50 miles | strength train 1 hour | swim 1,700 yards
THINGS I LOVE
Finally having warm, sunny, gorgeous weather just in time for the three day weekend!
We cleaned off the kayaks and took them out on the lake, went to Mystic and had a few cookouts enjoying the amazingness that is the start of summer!
And then it rained for days but such is New England…
I also finally invested in an inflatable SUP. I have yet to test it out but will report back as soon as this weather cooperates again. Could be a while…
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Although I loved my first graduate class, the topic is counseling diverse populations so the discussion is ripe with emotion. The instructor is also the chair of the department, who has been teaching the class for 20 years and she doesn’t pull her punches. We dove right in which was fantastic and also terrifying.
THE GOOD: I’m not the only elderly person in class. Life experience is huge in this setting. I remembered to bring my laptop to take notes instead of really showing my age and having a pen and paper (side note: only four out of 12 had laptops) and I stayed wide awake for the entire class which doesn’t end until 9:30pm aka my bedtime.
THE BAD: I have not yet felt as old as I did being in that room, even with the two other older students. The youngsters were fascinated with my twin mom status but in a way that was like looking at Donald Trump in white shorts – it’s horrifying but you keep looking. I don’t have my student ID yet and the building was locked so I had to wait for someone to let me in. And it was raining. The instructor told a story that included a reference to a “45” and one lone student guessed “is that a…record?” Kill me.
THE WATCH
After a full week of staring at the box, I opened my shiny new Garmin fenix 5S plus and put it on!
LOVE: The best features are being able to listen to music/podcasts without my phone, built-in heart rate monitor, more apps for more activities like strength and cardio training as well as bricks like swim/run or bike/run, maps and GPS so I can confidently go trail running, a better calendar, Garmin pay and ease of set up!
HATE: I’m still figuring out all the kinks but the distance I can travel away from my phone before it’s disconnected seems to be MUCH smaller than it was with my old one. It’s very annoying to constantly get “disconnected” and “connected” messages when I’m walking around my house!
I had to buy a subscription to Spotify in order to download music. Not horrible but not ideal for me.
Because it can do all these new and wondrous things the battery life kinda blows. I did a 10 mile run (about 1 hour and 20 minutes) while listening to a podcast and it drained 25% of the battery. I guess I have to get faster or go without a podcast. #nothappening
TELEVISION
If have yet to hear about Dead to Me on Netflix, crawl out of the hole or rock from which you have been living and watch it immediately.
I have always loved Christina Applegate but I truly wish I was the one living in her pool house.
The plot is fantastic, the things these women say and do are actually real and relatable and one of them is a runner. #micdrop
RANDOM STORY OF THE WEEK
It’s been almost eight months since I’ve had an issue with Claire. In case you don’t know, Claire is the name of my overpriced SUV that has been nothing but a problem from the day I bought it. Here’s the latest:
A rock hits my windshield at some point and a long crack appears.
My insurance schedules a company to come out and repair it.
I got it in about an hour after the guy left and saw this…
That is a rip right in the center of my dashboard. Whatever tool he used on the windshield tore a hole in my dash and either he didn’t notice or he didn’t tell me.
I know it’s small but this car is leased and it’s RIGHT in the middle of the dashboard!
The glass company is sending someone out to fix it so I’m just hoping they somehow light the whole thing on fire (which is in the realm of possibility given what has happened with this car) and then I can get something that isn’t cursed.
My son even included this very accurate rendering of Claire in his mother’s day card to me. I will treasure it always.
I think he’s the bird trying to fly far away. And clearly he needs to be schooled on his spelling, but you get the idea.
Here’s to a week of knowledge, speed, packing all necessities for the gym and having some perspective on aging!
How was your week?
What have you been schooled in lately?
So you just schooled me on Dead to Me. Must watch! I love Christina Applegate. How come I did not know about this show?!? My fingers are crossed we see
Warmth and sun more this week. It’s freaking June!
OMG yes – you will love it!!!
It’s sunnier here so far this week but not exactly warmer. I’ll take it.
Hooray for a great week of training minus the MIA swimbag of course. Going back to the stone age when I did my undergrad, there was a woman in one of my classes who was well into her 60s. She would’ve been fine, except she was extremely boastful and quick to put down us “inexperienced kids”. Of course that made her fair game. Don’t sweat feeling “old”. You’re going to be great at every age.
I runfess I have the Fenix5S and haven’t used it for any but a tiny fraction of what it can do.
I’m so sorry about your dash. That is so wrong of them to just leave it. How could they not have noticed?? I got a Rover last Labor Dayish and while I love the way it drives, the computer in it is not the most reliable ever. Things just randomly don’t seem to work. It’s frustrating.
OMG I would never put them down. In fact, I’m so open to their perspective and it’s pretty cool to sit back and think “wow, I love where your mind is right now!” Some of them are pretty impressive.
I hope you start using more of the functions of the fenix. It’s pretty cool to run and listen to music or a podcast with just a watch and headphones. So freeing – LOL!
I’m sure we could commiserate more about the Rover. My technology can be messed up too. The worst part is that it was my dream car and it’s had SO many problems that I can’t wait to get something else. *sigh*
We started Dead to Me but couldn’t get into it. I will try it again! It’s hard to find a series that stacks up next to Shameless. The bar is set way high.
LOL on forgetting your swim bag and there is no way I’d wear another person’s swimsuit. You are truly dedicated!
I’m looking new cars–my Jeep turns 10! this year! Of course, I’m getting another Jeep. It’s just a matter of color…
I’m surprised about you not getting into Dead to Me right away? But YES to Shameless. The bar is SO high and I’m so curious to see what happens without Fiona next season!!
I know it was pretty gross but I got over it quickly. Luckily there was no, ahem…consequences to that choice!
Jeeps are fantastic! My brother had one for years and about 300K miles. Those things are built to last!
Some speedy running in there this week- nice work!! And I love the grey.
I am also so impressed with your gym friend- a whole suit, cap and goggles to borrow?! I need gym friends like that!
I was pretty surprised by her offer and then hesitant but also desperate so it worked out 🙂
Thanks for the compliment on the grey. Most days I love it.
And I’m out there thinking about you training hard for your speed too, which is super motivating!! Congrats again on your last race!
I thought you’d like Dead to Me! I’m really hoping they release a season 2, but even if they do, we’ll have to wait almost a year…
You could always just wear your swimsuit under your clothes every day, just in case… 😉
I know! I hate waiting for the next season. We’ve been spoiled by the binge!!
I mean, I should probably just wear everything I need for the day, right? Oy!
Thanks Debbie!
Totally agree with you about Dead to Me. I binged watched it over 2 days and loved it. I have also loved Christina Applegate since Married with Children, lol.
Great job on all of your workouts this week, especially your running! I love your F*ck Cancer hat – that would have been perfect for the 5K I ran yesterday!
Same! Can’t wait for season 2!
Thanks for the accolades and I absolutely love that hat. My mom died from cancer when I was a teenager and I wear it as motivation on days I need it most. It also makes my kids giggle 🙂
I binge watched dead to me on my flights and loved it although predictable. Check out the imposters it’s really good on amazon prime. Looks like you are having a great week and are excited about your workouts again.
Agreed about the predictability but, since it was so good, I didn’t mind 🙂
Someone else told me to check out the Imposters so I definitely will – thanks!
I loved Dead to Me… now waiting for Big Little Lies season 2….
In my writing classes at UCLA, most of us were in our 40’s… maybe you need to take classes at UCLA:)
Don’t forget about Handmaid’s Tale! This is going to be a good week.
And I would move in a heartbeat!! Obviously, that’s where I belong – LOL!!
Your start to summer sounds wonderful! I really want to get out and kayak right now! We considered buying a kayak for the summer, but apparently, baby stuff is expensive and takes priority over outdoor gear.
Your Claire and my Susan (my 2006 Honda Pilot) would get along well. We have a petname for Susan and it is appropriate for the internet. But devil car would apply to Susan also! I hope you are able to get your dash fixed!
I’m pretty sure I didn’t kayak (or snowboard) for about five years after my kids were born. And yes, baby stuff is absurdly expensive – especially when you need TWO of everything!
I would love to hear Susan’s pet name – LOL!! Good to know I’m not the only one who has a tumultuous relationship with her car!!
I bet you totally crash in bed at night and sleep quite soundly, no? You are SOOOO active! My eyes almost glazed over reading about all the running…then I realized there was also swimming…and other stuff. Dang. Glad the new watch is working for you 😉
HAHAHA – yep, I crash hard at night for sure! Thanks Kimberly 🙂
Loving your hair lady!!! Looking so good! Sucks about the car. That stuff is such a pain in the ass. I love Dead to Me and hope another season comes out soon!
Thanks so much Sandra! And yes, it’s a huge pain but hopefully fixed and done this week…until the next thing happens. And Dead to Me was so surprisingly good!! Also looking forward to Handmaid’s Tale season 2 and Big Little Lies!
You seriously have the BEST stories! Now with your car and your swim bag. Wow! 🙂
I love your new watch. I have a 225 which I love too but the Fenix are so much nicer.
Your class ends at 9:30pm? That is pretty late. Mine would end at 9pm and I would go to bed as soon as I got home.
Thanks so much! And yes, staying up for the 30 min drive home is the most challenging part of class!
I love Dead To Me. Cristina Applegate is great and I love her character.
You’ve had a busy week! There’s no way I would wear a strangers bathing suit but public pools gross me out a little in itself. You rock getting it all done!
Hahaha – I know many people would have that same reaction (and I did hesitate) but I gambled and won 🙂 And I also agree about public pools and showers but if I want to swim in the northeast year round I don’t have a choice!
And they just announced season 2 for Dead to Me but no actual date of when it will be available. Yay!
Man, your miles are awesome! You are speedy! I used to swim before school in the mornings. I can’t tell you the number of times I forgot to pack underwear! Luckily, the rec center where I swam was right behind the school where I taught and I lived 7 minutes away, but having to run home meant I had to eat breakfast during my planning period. I started packing a spare pair of undies and bra in an outside pocket of my gym bag.
Aw, thank you! I live about 10 minutes from the gym but I still didn’t want to take the time to drive home and back!! Lesson learned…and sounds like one you learned a long time ago 🙂
I remember the first day that I started my year-long sport massage course. We had to first get through about 6 weeks of anatomy before we were even introduced to hands-on theory. I felt reallllllly old and I wasn’t even the oldest in the class. On top of that, the course was obviously in Dutch, so I had to read the textbooks in dutch and learn all of the anatomy in dutch and latin. That first class I felt like my head was going to explode, just like in Scanners. I didn’t even mention that, because surely none of the youngsters (including instructor) have even heard of that movie, let alone seen it.
It seems like you had a really good week in fitness though. I don’t understand your watch connecting and disconnecting though. I don’t have any issues with my 735?!
Dead To Me is on the list, but I need to first catch up on The Good Place and Queen of the South.
That just blows my mind! I have no idea how you learned in Dutch!? And I totally get the Scanners reference but my classmates would absolutely not – LOL!
My watch is getting better connection wise. Maybe it just needed time to acclimate?
You’re in for a treat with Dead to Me!