I loved every minute of this week. Ok, that’s a total lie. I absolutely hated my 30 minute bike endurance threshold test and the amount of time outs I had to give the boys rivaled the total in the NFL all season, but besides ALL of that, I had an amazing week of sweat. Here’s how it went down:
WEEK OF JANUARY 20, 2014
RUNNING: A triumphant return to running, glorious running. I felt like freakin’ Maria Von Trapp out there but instead of sining “The Hills Are Alive” I was listening to Pit Bull and Eminem. Same difference. My total milage this week was 26.85. Yes I’m going to be that anal about it. You know I have a rocket scientist for a coach now, right? I have to keep my math very serious. My favorite run this week was all of them but I did get to run twice with friends which is almost unheard of. Thanks Denise and Chrissie!
My Yasso 800s I did on Thursday. Basically running 1/2 mile as fast as you can, recovery for a .25 mile and repeat. Six times.
BIKING: I hate when people mis-use, over-use or just plain use the word “epic” but if I didn’t, I would use it here. I had my very painful bike test with Coach Rocket Scientist (which we already discussed HERE) but I finally got on my real bike! The fact that I rode it indoors on a trainer is besides the point. I actually have it now set up on my very own trainer in the basement so I can ride until my heart’s content in the comfort of the indoors since we’ve reentered the Polar Vortex in my ‘hood. Running outside in the PV? Yes. Cycling? Hell no. Cycling total for the week: 76.8 Is this exactness annoying yet? Sorry.
SWIMMING: I’m thinking of changing swimming to sleeping. I want to nap. I’ve had bouts of tiredness that rival what I felt when I was pregnant with the twins. This is how I know I’m training hard. I’m ravenous and exhausted. I know it will even out soon but – wow. The short answer (after this very long excuse) is no, I haven’t been in the pool yet. Last time I checked it was a DUathlon so why should I even be swimming? I have an indoor TRI at the Y where I teach so…
CROSS-TRAINING: Another great week of Power Sculpt! My legs felt like two tree trunks since I taught this the same day as my bike endurance test but the show must go on! I’m thinking of turning this one into a video but for now, I present to you, a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) 45-Min cardio workout. Enjoy!
Click on the picture to make it bigger…
RACING: I’m getting very excited about the NYC Half on March 16th! My hotel is booked, the hubs, my dad and stepmom are all coming and I get to celebrate my birthday while we’re there. Hooray 39! Wait….um there’s no possible way I’m turning 39. Clearly we need to discuss this later.
FUEL: I hope you’re sitting down because not only have I pinned a recipe from Pinterest but I actually made it! It’s a delicious little egg number with tons of protein and bacon. That’s right – bacon. Come to mama. After my 12.6 miler with the girls on Saturday I came home and whipped these up. And then promptly ate three.
SPEAKING SPANISH: Does going to dinner at an amazing Mexican restaurant count? I was greeted with an “Hola!” and had to order in Spanish. Sort of. Is “mojito” Spanish for something? Anyway, it was a fabulous night out, the food was delicious and the drinks weren’t bad either.
Besito in West Hartford for you locals…
THINGS I LOVE: Running with friends! I’m always running alone so whenever I get the opportunity to run with friends, I jump at it! It truly makes the miles fly by and you go farther, faster and, somehow, you freeze less.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Hand warmers. I thought these would be saviors for me but they are like holding two rocks in your hands while running. There’s also the little issue of once your hands warm up, you can either A. start hand sweating profusely or B. take them out and have frozen icicle hands because they’re wet from sweat.
MUSIC: I made three music discoveries this week: “Team” by Lorde, “My Body” by Young the Giant and “How I Feel” by Flo Rida that samples Nina Samone’s “Feeling Good.” It’s awesome. If these aren’t new to you, I apologize but if you refer to my notes in “Racing” you will see that it’s because I’m old.
TV: The hubs was out Thursday night so I had a massive TV/wine drinking party of one planned! I drank one and half glasses of wine and watched one episode of Ray Donovan. That was not the party I had planned but #1. I’m old and #2. I’m tired.
READING: I finally finished the January issue of Runner’s World. There was a really great article in there by Marc Parent who writes The Newbie Chronicles about how one night, when he couldn’t sleep, he did a “moon run” at like 4am. If we were not in a polar vortex I would have done that last week when I was in the grips of prednisone! Damn you New England weather!
RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Shoveling the driveway is really not that bad when the sun is out.
What are the highlights from your week? Do you ever get to nap? What’s that like?
You are a total rock star! What an awesome week! I’m right with ya. There are very few weather conditions that force me onto the treadmill, but cycling is a three-season sport. I have no interest in freezing my hands, feet, face, and ass off for hours on end. Besides, long trainer sessions are great for catching up on TV and movies!
You said it! I love that I can ride the trainer and watch TV – not something I can do on the treadmill for fear of flying off the back. I’m starting to like this indoor cycling thing 🙂
Yay to an awesome week and sounds like you are getting back to full strength after not feeling well. So happy to hear this, but shoveling and I will never be friends even if the sun is out. Cannot wait for spring right now (my random thought of the last few week actually!) 🙂
I hear ya on spring but #1 there was only like 3 inches of snow and #2 I was all alone! It’s amazing the things you can enjoy when it’s just quiet and you only have to worry about yourself 🙂
I am going to take a nap now, because holy cow! You are making it happen! Good for you and I cannot wait to hear that you crushed NYC-first step to Spain!
Thanks Shannon! Can I come and nap at your house?
It’s like when I come here I feel so inspired, because you are AH-MAZING!! I don’t care if it is over used…what you do, every single day, is EPIC! So there. I have heard Ray Donovan is good…I need to check it out!!-Ashley
Thanks Ashley!! I will always allow you to use it when talking about me – ha ha ha !!!
Ray Donovan is pretty awesome. Some of it is tough to watch but I’m really liking it now that I have no Breaking Bad or Dexter.
Came across your blog when I was looking for some motivation! Have loved all the posts I’ve read so far! The highlight of my week was turning an uneventful week into 13.1 miles this weekend; not great but better than nothing! Naps? Once in a blue mood! 🙂
moon … but mood works oddly well in that sentence, too!
That is GREAT! Much better then nothing 🙂 and yes “mood” works oddly well in that sentence.
Can’t get that picture of Maria Von Trapp on a run in the freezing cold out of my mind, but I know running is your love and I’m so happy for you that you got back to it.
And now I have to go find that egg dish. Looks delicious.
It is delicious and one of the best parts is pulling out the leftovers from the fridge and popping them in the toaster oven the next morning for a fast, protein filled breakfast! The recipe called for chicken too but I left it out. Hope you make them and love them as much as I do 🙂
You are definitely training hard! I would love to try you HIIT workout in a video. I did 10 minutes of one of your other vids and almost barfed…so yeah, I’m being sarcastic about the HIIT. lol..sorry.
Kudos to you for actually trying a recipe from Pinterest. Looks delish too 🙂
Come on Hope!! You can do it. Just take it 10 minutes at a time 🙂
The recipe from Pinterest is SO good. I’m still enjoying the leftovers…
You had a pretty amazing week! I love reading these because you really inspire me to do my best! I have not gone outside for a run in weeks. The treadmill and I have become quite close! My highlight was doing 9 miles yesterday.
BTW, no link up today?
Darn it! I forgot to do it…
I’ll get it by days end and let you know.
I’m so glad Kris! 9 miles is awesome!! That’s your longest yet!!! Good for you – keep going 🙂
welcome back to running! 🙂 I am also dong a half the same weekend as NYC to celebrate my birthday to!
That is so great!! Running minds think alike I guess 🙂
I wish I could nap!
I agree with you on the no cycling during the winter. That would just be insane! Also, you pretty much just described the recent downloads onto my iPhone! Haha.
My highlights: two new healthy restaurants tried this past weekend plus a new cocktail bar! Working on a potential short vacation to escape the polar vortex which is sucking the life out of me.
I hope you get to book that vacation. This weather is starting to wear me out. I actually ran in the rain today. Cold rain. Booooooo!!!!
I hope you’ll be posting about the two new restaurants you tried!
I think you hold the record for the quickest time to join pinterest and actually make a recipe from it 🙂 Most of the time I just use it for ideas. I’m allergic to eggs, but the recipe sounds like it would be an easy one so I’ll have to find it and make a bunch up for my parents for the week!
Your bike riding post made me sore just reading it. Haha.
My naps consist of dozing off for 10 second intervals when I am reading my excel textbook between classes. 🙂
Power naps!! If I sit to watch some tv with the kids in the afternoon I usually doze off for a few minutes too.
I really need to get those “pin it” buttons on my pictures so you could have just linked back to the recipe. Of course, I only have like 3 recipes on my Food Is Fuel board so you should be able to find it – ha ha!!
Allie-
I have been following you since you were featured on “Follow This Mother” on Another Mother Runner. I swear we may be related in some way as half the stuff you say I’ve thought and/or said. I typically laugh out loud when reading your posts (whichy sadly is while I’m sitting in traffic going to work after dropping of my 5 year and 14 month old little humans). However, a special thank you for getting me through last week. I live in suburban Philadelphia and have been subjected to the same lovely polar vortex and snow as you. My beloved husband was skiing in Wyoming all last week so I had the pleasure of managing school closings/dismissals/delays, wrangling our snowblower (only took 3 facetime calls with him to get it started, moving, and blowing snow), dealing with the logistics of plan B childcare when the roof at daycare leaked and make it to work. Despite above mentioned loveliness, I managed to still run 14.5 miles including a 10 miler split between the mill and the track. The only reason I made it through that was thinking of your 30 minutes of hell on the bike. So thank you for being a member of my “tribe” who helped get me through last week 🙂
You have just made my whole week! Thank you so much for telling me that my hellish bike ride was inspiring to you. That is THE BEST! I have no idea how you made it though the week solo with two kids and all that snow!!! Sounds to me like you’re a very strong and determined woman. I truly hope you get some downtime now that your husband is back (hopefully) and can get out for some leisurely runs. Thank you again for writing this. I will think of it often this week as MY motivation!
Ohhh yassss. I need that delicious little egg number immediately. Feed me NOW!
I really need the “pin it” button but it’s on my Food Is Fuel Board. Eat up!
Love Ray Donovan! It filled the void that Dexter left for me. I’m hungry and tired all the time too, but I’m not training like you are, so that’s a problem. But I don’t nap because I’m not tired until my kids get home, and then it’s too late!
Isn’t it always the way?? Darn kids!
I feel the same way about the void of Dexter. Luckily there’s no shortage of psycho programming on Showtime!
These rundowns are so epic, lol…that I don’t know what to comment on! Celebrating your birthday with a run and some special people will be epic…ok, I’m done with that! Good to see you are actually making good use of your pins in the recipe dept. I’ve yet to make a darn thing no matter how delicious they look.
I nap a lot the first 2 days of transitioning from my work week to my off week, but in general, I don’t like it and try to veer from it. If I nap for GP, it keeps me up at night.
Oh Joi you are cracking me up! I have to say that I’m very proud of myself for actually making a recipe I pinned.
I can’t wait to read your post about woking out vs livelihood!!
You are pretty amazing. You couldn’t pay me to go out for a run when it’s this cold out. Well…maybe you could pay me…I’d go run in negative temperatures for money. But if there is no incentive involved, I’m staying in. Call me lazy…or warm! Seriously, I am impressed with your dedication. You are going to have a great race in Spain…I feel it!
Thanks Michelle! I almost stayed indoors today when it started raining on my way to drop off the kids but I hate the treadmill so much that I ventured out. Ya know what? It was GREAT. It’s been so cold lately that 35 degrees in the rain felt WARM! I think I’m starting to lose it 🙂
If you are doing all this training, shouldn’t someone else shovel that driveway? 😉 And I want that recipe. Is it on your Pinterest boards?
YES Allison someone (MY HUSBAND!) should absolutely be shoveling. However, he did take the kids out all morning so I could get yet another workout in AND it was only about 3 inches of snow so I let him off the hook 🙂
The recipe is on my Food Is Fuel board! Enjoy!!
This made me laugh because my 11 yr old daughter got the cd from the new musical sound of music for Christmas and while we have been packing it has been playing over and over and I hear it in my sleep!
I can’t nap because I sleep bad at night when I do.
This week it has been all about getting packed and moved from IA to MD!!!!!!!
Love the Sound of Music connection!
I have a feeling I would sleep just fine if I could only take a quick nap 🙂
Good luck with your big move!!
Sounds like a great week for you as well!! Nap??? What is that? The ONLY time I get to nap uninterrupted is when I have to work a night shift at the hospital. My hubby hangs with the boys while I get a few hours of Z’s in.
I usually just end up going to be around 9. So sad!
I can’t even wrap my head around all of that. I am struggling with the simplest of half marathon plans 🙂 Love how you gave the twins more time outs than the NFL. Got to love the stuff nobody told you about being a mom!
Yes you do or else you’ll just go insane!
Half-marathons are tough to wrap your head around. I’m sure it will all work out. Just take it one day at a time 🙂
I was all proud of my two miles today and my weight training session then I read your post. Holy Moly! Impressive. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
You should be proud!!! One mile is a long way so double that and then weight training…good for you!
Sorry I had to repost this comment. I hate it when people call me Herc and somehow I was too lazy to type the rest of my name?
I was all proud of my two miles today and my weight training session then I read your post. Holy Moly! Impressive. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
No problem! I completely understand 🙂
Way to go! That is one killer week of training. I’ve been playing ref too much as well. I think we need to call a strike for a new contract.
Can we do that? I’m IN!
I’m laughing at your wild and crazy party of one!!! But, I also know that you are training like a beast so a little wine goes a long way.
I’m not sure that I will ever say shoveling the driveway isn’t too bad – I don’t mind the work aspect – I just hate the cold snowy part of it!!!
I’m a real animal Kim, I tell ya! HA ha – that wine hit me like a ton of bricks. Luckily the kids slept though the night. And the shoveling was only about 3 inches of snow and Mike had taken the boys out so I was alone, the sun was out and it was kinda nice. Ok, maybe I’m losing my mind a little 🙂
I nodded off in the car on the way home from seaworld today. Does that count as a nap? Traveling with kids is hard-core. That’s pretty much my rundown. Nice to feel normal again by reading this!
I feel for you Tamara! When we went to Disney last year I never worked out. Not once. That has never happened on ANY other vacation but, when I had “downtime” I was too tired to hit the gym or go for a run! That place is magically exhausting. Enjoy 🙂
i absolutely love your choice of music for your workouts.. reminds me of me 🙂 Yesterday for the first time in a lonnnnnnnng time, i took a nap. I have a 3 year old and taking a nap is non-existent for me. however, hubby made dinner yesterday and baby happened to be napping so I nodded off for about an hour. I felt like a brand new woman after.
you had an EPIC fitness week! i traveled for work last week so I had a not so epic week but back on track this week.
Ha ha ha!! I love it – so epic!
I truly feel like a new person when I can get a little snooze in during the day. It’s so refreshing. I think we need to adapt some European culture here and have mandatory “siestas!”
Rock on my friend 🙂
Rock on. Your week would eat my week for breakfast, like one of those tasty egg numbers you got from Pinterest. I did get an unexpected nap in. What a treat.
Ha ha – I like it! I also love when you get an “unexpected” nap. So great!
I love when training is just going amazing and I love reading about others training because it gets me all pumped up to keep working hard!!!
I feel exactly the same way – which is why I religiously read your blog 🙂 Thanks Amanda!
OMFG OMFG YOU MADE A RECIPE FROM Pinterest?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! I am shocked only because I have so many delicious recipes PINNED – yet nope, haven’t made any – AWESOME GIGI – AWESOME.
AND I you better believe I am dancing along to Flo Rida right now as I type this. Seriously. I am bopping my head and swaying my body. I should be a back up dancer – hot damn, where are these auditions being held!
You should do a dancing/cooking video! Now THAT would be hot AND I would probably make that too 🙂
Allie! You are KILLING IT! You know, I never heard Flo Rida’s before, but I KNEW I heard that Nina Simone sample before! I was wrecking my brain until I FINALLY figured it out. It was from Jay Z’s and Kanye West’s “Watch The Throne” album, song titled “New Day”. 🙂 Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DStkm9wo2qE
LOVE IT!!!! Thank you so much Britt. You know how I love new tunes to sweat too!