You have heard the phase “Just Do It” ad nauseam but my phrase of the week was “Just Stop It.” Every time I felt the smallest tinge of self pity? Just stop it. Whining about getting a mammogram? Just stop it. Upset because I’m not a teenaged Olympian? Just stop it. You get the idea. Let’s see how this new mantra worked out, shall we?
Wah…my 12 mile run was awful. Cry me a river.
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12, 2018
RUNNING
The week started out awful but had a great finish so I’ll take it. The weather was absolutely amazing which is to say there was no freezing rain or snow. I was motivated by the Olympics and having Valentine’s Day fall on hump day wasn’t too shabby either, plus I bought myself a new pair of running shoes which always makes things better.
Finishing my hill repeats with a smile…a smile buried under several layers but it’s there.
Does this picture make me look tall? Bonus!
Tuesday – Dave Scott’s hill repeats | 6×20 seconds, 8×20 seconds, 8×40 seconds with equal rest time then 1.5 mile shakeout and cool down | 8.13 miles | 8:19 average pace
Friday – “long run” one week before the half marathon/recovery swim | miles 5 and 6 are fast (7:23 pace) | 7.85 miles total | 8.14 average pace
Total = 15.98 miles
CYCLING
I really missed the time away from my bike last week and was only able to get in two rides. However, after my first ride of the week and the soul sucking VO2 max intervals, I was good. #JustStopIt
Thursday – VO2 3 – 3 min intervals at VO2 Max | 17.7 miles | 1:10:14
Sunday – 2×20 min intervals + cadence work before strength| 21.4 miles | 1:13:09
Total = 39.1 miles
SWIMMING
The pool was brutal last week, especially at the start when my energy and enthusiasm were waning. As I was gasping for air in between sets of 100 yards on 2 minute intervals, I saw a poster on the wall from a meet the previous night that read: Swim Now, Breathe Later! So I did.
Monday – 100s and 25s | 2,200 yards
Wednesday – Drills and 100s before strength | 2,000 yards
Friday – Recovery swim after run | 1,000 yards
Total = 5,200 yards
STRENGTH
The most interesting thing about my strength sessions this week was trying to get a photo. I already feel like a massive tool trying to secretly take a picture in a crowded YMCA gym…crowded with seniors because it’s like 10:30am. Anyway, as I was trying to sneak a pic and this happened:
I mean, this dude could not have timed this better. It was hysterical and I was actually questioning whether or not he was messing with me because the timing was ridiculous.
Also noteworthy, if you can see around his New Balances, is how deceptively difficult the strength move I’m doing is. Balance on one foot and then do a reverse fly with the opposite arm. I laughed at myself the first time through because I totally lost my balance.
THINGS I LOVE
This could be the best thing I have ever seen.
Caution: expletives and excessive truth
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Having four days of massive fatigue.
It started after my horrible long run on Friday. It made sense I would be really tired Friday night and the next morning but, after taking a nap on Saturday (unheard of!) and sleeping until…wait for it…8:50am on Sunday (the last time I did that I was 20), I assumed I was going to die of the flu within the week.
My husband suggested that maybe I was just tired. What? Tired? It made zero sense to me but must have been the case because my mojo was restored by mid-week and I never even got the sniffles. #JustStopIt
READING
I have to say my peace here regarding another horrific shooting, this time at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. I don’t think it’s about being political, it’s about being human. Yes, there are several factors at play where school shootings are concerned but no civilian should own an AR-15 assault rifle. It’s shockingly horrifying I even have to write that.
After joining Moms Demand Action, I started doing more research and really identified with these articles:
17 Things Harder to Get Than A Gun | Wendy Wisner | Scary Mommy
In case you’re not up for reading the whole thing, the list includes extremely dangerous items like Sudafed, kittens, birth control (which should be raining from the sky!) and Hamilton tickets. How is this possible?
4 Pro Gun Arguments We’re Sick of Hearing | Amanda Marcotte | Rolling Stone
My favorite one is the second amendment argument. Marcotte brilliantly addresses this nonsense:
“Here’s a good time to remind everyone that the Second Amendment was written by slaveholders before we had electricity, much less the kind of weaponry that would-be murderers can buy today. But sure, if you think it’s that precious, we can compromise: If you love the Second Amendment that much, feel free to live in a powdered wig and shit in a chamberpot while trying to survive off what you can kill with an 18th century musket. In exchange, let those of us living in this century pass some laws so we can feel safe going to class, or the movies, or anywhere without worrying that some maladjusted man will try to get his revenge by raining death on random strangers.”
The saddest thing about the Rolling Stone article is a version of it was originally written in October 2015. We can now simply update and re-publish articles on gun violence and school shootings because that is how often they occur.
Just Stop It.
RANDOM EXCHANGE OF THE WEEK
To drastically shift gears, let’s review another chat I had with my boys this past week:
Miles: Mom, [my male friend at school] has a coochie.
Me: A what?
Miles: He has a coochie. He brought it to school.
Me: That cannot be right. What…um,…did it (afraid to ask the rest of the question) look like?
Miles: A coat.
Me: Oh! A GUCCI?
Miles: Yeah, a Gucci.
Me: That still can’t be right. I don’t think Gucci makes coats for third grade boys, but if they do, you should spend more time with this kid.
Make it rain!
Here’s to a week of “just stop it” moments…
[Tweet “The Rundown is saying “just stop it!” to a week of whining, me too and ignorance. #train4life”]
How was your week?
Thoughts on school shootings if you dare…
Thoughts on Gucci if you don’t…
So where to start with school shootings. Something, ANYTHING needs to be done rather than sweeping it under the carpet and waiting for the next one. And sadly, there will be more. I don’t think all guns should be taken away but there’s some guns that are meant for mass destruction so why should the public have one? And let’s remember that a lot of these people who have done mass shootings were “responsible” gun owners who bought their guns legally after a background check. The article from Rolling Stone was spot on.
Heck yeah!! And I think the kids at this school are going to make a difference. It may take time but they WILL make changes happen… #HOPE
On Saturday, we drove out to my hometown (it’s Trump country) to have dinner with my parents. No lie, Allie, there is a store there called Second Amendment Sports, in what used to be a grocery store. This frightens me. I know I grew up in a rural area that attracts lunkheads but seeing that stopped me in my tracks. We are living in some bad times.
And then there’s the coochie comment from your boys. Thank goodness for them, right? Perspective…
Agree!! I live in a small farm town where it’s not uncommon to see Confederate Flags! WHAT??? And most of the time it’s young kids. I hope to God they don’t realize exactly what that symbolizes but sadly, they probably do…which is why I’m going to start with my town and hope to make changes happen!!
And yes, thank God for my boys who make me laugh ALL.DAY.LONG!!
It truly breaks my heart that kids have to go through ‘active shooter’ drills in school these days. We’re the adults and yet we can’t protect our children. Meanwhile, the NRA continues to fill the pockets of the asshats in DC and nothing ever changes. A 19-year-old can legally obtain an AR-15??? And I totally agree on the 2nd Amendment statement.
On a different note, I hope you have a better training week. I’m trying to keep myself motivated for the Gasparilla Half this weekend, only to continue my training for Boston 2 Big Sur for another 2 months. Please stay with me body…Ill reward you handsomely if you keep me free from injury…
It’s so frustrating but at least I live in CT where the gun laws are very strict. They could be better but are better than most…
And yes, praise to our bodies to stay strong, right?? Good luck!!!! I have a half this weekend as well so I’ll be thinking of you and sending good vibes to those legs and lungs!
I’ve been tired for “no reason” other than the fact that I’m constantly on the go lately and slept in until 7:30 for 2 Sundays in a row!! No child needs Gucci, not even if their mom is Beyoncé… I can’t even start with the guns… going to a drain the NRA rally with Shayda today on this not my president’s day… I don’t think anything will change for ten years until the younger generation becomes eligible to vote and stops voting for people whose campaigns are funded by the NRA…. and since I didn’t have a chance to comment on Friday’s post, that Johnny Weir meme about the hunger games was everything!!
At least you can attend some rallies and have a “not my president’s day” to feel like you can DO something!! I know if I want change, I need to be that change in my town and it’s hard. THANK YOU for representing a collective mindset and for sharing it with your daughter. LOVE!!!
And OMG I laughed so hard when I came across that meme. So glad you loved it as much as I did!
You can be the change in your community… #ImWithAllie
Agree with all of this post. People in this country make me sad/angry/WTF some times.
Also I always try to take sneaky gym or even running pics (see: me this wknd setting the self timer and waiting for the coast to be clear of other runners for a photo).
Also I didn’t know it until I was hanging out with teens at my clinical rotation this Fall but apparently like Gucci belts are a hot item on these boys’ wishlists ? I’m almost 30 and still can’t afford designer stuff so I was like SAY WHAT?!
I know all about the self timer and waiting for people to clear!! So funny what we will do for Insta and blog pics 🙂
ANd I had no clue Gucci was a thing with teens??? Come on!!
In Indiana, it was literally more difficult to provide alcohol (and only beer and wine, mind you) to our wedding guests that I think it is to purchase a gun. I had to get multiple permits and money orders just to get a license it, and then hire a professional bartender AND a security officer. It was a multi-day, stressful process, and something makes me doubt purchasing a firearm is that difficult. It’s disgusting and wrong. And I start to feel like writing to my congresspeople after each tragedy just accomplishes nothing because the NRA fills the government’s pockets…
Hahah that Gucci conversation! A few girls at my high school had Gucci purses (or really, I hope, faux Gucci purses)… but 3rd grade is ridiculous!
It is truly ridiculous! I cannot believe you had to go though all of that just to provide alcohol!? As if planning a wedding were not stressful enough. *eye roll*
It was a mentally exhausting week- which can definitely affect physical exhaustion too… either way, your body needed some extra rest and you listened! Hope you feel better this week. And yes, I am hopeful that we will see some gun control changes… I feel limited in what I can do but know I need to make my voice heard.
So true! I forget how much mental stress takes a toll. This week is far better already.
And I feel you on the gun control issues since CT has some of the strictest laws (which we can still improve) but I know I need to start locally.
oh man i’m glad you got over ‘being tired!’ that diagnosis would freak me out – it’s almost more mind boggling than anything else. how on earth am i tired/????? that is what i think when my husband suggested this before. i love getting older because i feel more relaxed, but i don’t like feeling tired which seems to happen sometimes. i don’t blame it on age though, i believe i’m tired because i did something to get to that point. whatever i’m babbling.
i can’t imagine a gucci coat, for an adult and certainly not a kid. what do i know?! the other night while my husband was changing to his pj’s, i heard him talking to our daughter. she likes to follow us around wherever, sometimes she will just see what’s up and sometimes she will just run around. this night she did something which made my husband say, “lulu don’t play with that! that is daddy’s and you don’t have one and you don’t get to play with those. ever”. life with kids. gotta love it.