Why is it that no matter how far out I plan my first race of the season, it always comes up more quickly than expected? I think this is especially true in triathlon since I always want more time for the water to warm up! Ready or not, my first triathlon of the season is just 11 days away and I’m feeling somewhere in between excited and terrified. You know, the usual.
WEEK OF MAY 15, 2017
RUNNING
As per usual in these parts I went from running in a cold rain on a Monday to sweating like a farm animal on my run on Wednesday and Thursday. I prefer the cold rain but, either way, I’m going to complain. I’m proud of the running I did this past week because none of it came easy and I was constantly in my head, talking myself though the pain. If only I could get to this place in my swimming! Maybe after I do that for 15+ years…
Color coordinated – shoes (Brooks) and shorts (New Balance). More about them in the gear section…
Monday – 6 miles done as 2 mile warm-up, 3 miles at 6:15-6:30 pace, 1 mile cool down | actual paces for the 3 miles 6:44, 6:40, 6:33 | oh yeah, and this was after swimming 2,200 yards
Tuesday – preview ride on the race course and then 2.26 mile run off the bike
Wednesday – Ladder 5-4-3-2-1 minutes hard (8k effort) with half the time rest in between so 5 min hard and 2:30 recovery | paces — 6:40, 6:46, 6:38, 6:49, 6:20 | in 82 degrees!
Thursday – 15 min run off the bike | 2 miles | 7:22 pace
Total = 17.56
CYCLING
The triathlon race I’m doing for the first time (Rev3 Triathlon at Quassy) is called “The Beast of the East” since there are some serious hills on the bike course. In fact, when I rode it with some friends last week, my Garmin congratulated me for a new elevation goal (2,198 feet!) upon completion. You know what I’m dreading most? The downhill! Holy moses there is a downhill section that scared the crap out of me and I was actually hitting the brakes. My high speed was 38 mph. Lawd help me!
See my blonde friend? She bombs down hills like she’s in a roller derby. Her max speed was 48 mph! A new record for her. I need to channel some of that in a few weeks.
Tuesday – Quassy race course ride, run off the bike | 1:38:57 | 25.6 miles | 2,198 feet of elevation gain!
Thursday – 1 hour ride with strength sessions outside, run off the bike | 17.2 miles
Friday – 40 minutes of 10 x 30 strength before swim | 12.8 miles
Total = 55.6 miles
SWIMMING
I only had two days in the pool this past week and, I have to say, I kinda loved it. Although I will try (but not too hard) to do one open water swim before the race, it’s not looking good. What I do need to do is try on an outfit with my wetsuit over it. Good times.
Monday – strength and speed sessions before run | 2,200 yards
Friday – 4 x 400 after bike | 2,200 yards
Total = 4,400 yards
GEAR
Like a child, when something colorful pops into my inbox, I get distracted and want the shiny colorful thing for myself. Such was the case when I received an email from New Balance with some of their new summer shorts and tanks.
I’m always in need of a nearly sheer tank for the heat of summer and who can’t use another pair of shorts? Honestly I bought these for the colors but once I tried them out on a run, I fell in love. They are honestly one of the best pairs I have had in a while. They don’t ride up, they are true to size and I’ve had zero chafing issues. What else could a runner ask for?
Accelerate Printed Hot Short
I promise they look better on a human body and not floating in space looking like men’s underwear. Really.
Here are the mesh tanks…simple, breathable and great colors.
THINGS I LOVE
I don’t think I properly covered my Mother’s Day weekend and I know you’re all just dying to know the details. I will say that although it’s always hard to celebrate a day dedicated to a person you no longer have, being with my kids and the gratitude I have for them just existing makes it really hard to feel anything but happy. The Bloody Mary’s also helped and watching a Mother’s Day movie classic:
And worship me, they did:
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Having a fire drill at the Y when I was in my bathing suit. I mean, really? How long do we all have the stand on the lawn baking in the sun before given the all clear? Answer: way too damn long! The good news was I was more than happy to jump into the cool water. And also that there was no actual fire.
READING
I thought this was one of the best things I read all week, courtesy of Mark Remy and Dumb Runner.
I also realized the author and I share a last name so I basically wrote it…
Why Swearing Makes You Stronger | Alan Burdick | The New Yorker
And just when you thought Trump couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you see this:
Hey moron! Your body’s energy is not finite.
Is someone making a list of the things Trump is uneducated about? I certainly hope so and I also hope Apple makes a device that can handle a list of that magnitude.
RANDOM PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Everyone needs a little StarFire in their day. Here’s your dose for the week:
Don’t let those eyes fool you. If you dare leave your running shoes out, she will chew them to oblivion and love every second of it.
[Tweet “The Rundown is thinking ahead to the first #triathlon of the season, sporting new #gear and laughing…a lot. “]
How was your week?
Do you have any New Balance gear?
Read anything good lately?
YOU KNOW I LOVED THE SWEARING MAKES YOU STRONGER PIECE!
Ive also done so much reading on the positive power of taboo language in life in general. I think we are too quick to say OOH THATS A BAD THING and judge when perhaps if used by choice and not in the heat of anything it’s OK OK.
I mean fucken ok 🙂
Totally fucken ok! LOL – we walk a fine line when trying to teach the boys “bad” language because it seems so silly to tell an eight year old that certain words are “bad.” Kids make you change the way you think about so many things. Most days I wish I had the perspective of my boys!!
I always find it interesting on people’s perspective on swear words. How did they come out? What makes a word bad versus good?
I also am also in the same boat with races. I don’t have anything currently planned but I know once I do, it will come up quickly.
That is exactly the thing we are struggling with teaching the boys. It seems ridiculous to say certain words are bad and then not be able to explain why. So fucken stupid 🙂
I fully support that swearing makes you strong. Lol! And I would be hitting the breaks too at 38 mph….damn!
So scary!! I just pray a squirrel doesn’t run out in front of me 🙂
I had an aha! moment the last time I took a ride on my bike. I was flying down a hill and I applied the brakes because I’m not fearless and I value my bones. But my brakes really suck and I realized that maybe there’s a reason for that. Like, I’m NOT SUPPOSED TO USE THEM. Good thing it’s mostly flat around here. If I was going 48 mph, I think I would sh** myself. I don’t have a bike computer for that reason…
I only look at my “top speed” after the ride b/c I’m always in danger of pooping myself on an extra crazy downhill!!
Well, what about using up electricity and the ozone layer? The earth actually DOES have finite energy, unless you figure out a way to regenerate it…. We all know he has finite intelligence. What a moron.
Love those shorts. I got my tight pants on…
He has finite intelligence for sure!! LOL – good one!!
Your posts are keeping me motivated! Love the new gear! I need something to keep me going through this 95 degree heat…gotta love Tampa in the summer (well, almost summer).
Please let me know when that Apple app is available…hahaha. I’d be terrified to check it out, though. Ugh.
I’m so glad! I was just saying to a friend who lives in Florida that I have no clue how she runs in the heat and humidity everyday. Keep your head up and try to stay cool 🙂
Oh my gosh I did such an Anderson Cooper eye roll when I read about Trump’s view of exercise. The Earth has limited resources, yes. But the human body does not have limited energy! Argh.
I can’t imagine riding downhill that fast! You’re amazing. I want a road bike but then I think about the hills near me…probably similar to yours and 48 mph is so fast!
I love the AC eye roll!!! It’s appropriate in so many situations.
I don’t feel amazing when going that fast – I feel like I’m just waiting to survive it 🙂
I need more New Balance in my life!!! I’m going to get some NB stuff, thanks for the monday motivation 🙂
I wonder if he feels his women should not exercise either? haha! as if!
I’m about to read The Invisible Girls after hearing Sarah Thebarge speak yesterday. I have not cried or seen so many grown men cry like that in a long time, to say she moved me is the understatement of the century. I was in the pool at Lifetime during a fire drill once and literally said no way!!!! It was like 4AM and there was nobody there. gimme a break people.
Everyone does!! You are so welcome. And here’s to never being subjected to a gym fire drill again. *eye roll*
Vegas was just telling me about the time she was flying down a path on a bike, training for a tri, and some dumb asses in the opposing lane weren’t watching their small child on her trike. The child has drifted into the middle of the oncoming lane, Vegas swerved to miss her, and ended up in the dirt. injured, bike not ridable, AND she had to walk 10 miles back to her car in cycling shoes. I’d have lost my shit on those parents.
Anyway… that’s my fun bike story for today.
Also, Trump is one dumb mother effer.
SO MANY THINGS. I love that rug that Starfire is standing on. I can’t even get over the speeds you guys were doing on your bikes! That’s frigging INSANE! I could never do a triathlon, never never never. I suck at swimming and I’m WAY too wimpy on the bike. And lastly, your Monday workout just has my mouth hanging open. I worship you.
It’s an outdoor rug and I love it more than the ones inside 🙂 We spend as much time as possible out there during the few summer months we have!
And you could do any speed at any time and at any stage of pregnancy but you saying you’re impressed with my running speed just made my whole year!! xoxxooo
11 Days! I’m excited for you to get this race season going! You know I approve of the NB gear 🙂 And I totally believe that swearing makes you stronger! Trying to convince my husband of that. He just yells at me when I swear in front of the kids. Oops.
Ah yes, I do know how much you love your NB, especially in neon 🙂
My husband and I both try very, very hard not to swear in front of the kids but, as you know, some days that is an impossibility!!
You nailed the paces on that 3 miler! Awesome! And Starlight looks so innocent and sweet… I can totally see myself trusting her around my running shoes. 🙂
That’s how she gets you!!! 🙂
And that run was SO HARD but I felt great afterward. I know you know that feeling…
I’m a New Balance shoe fan, but I’ve never tried their clothing. And since I’m so late to this post, I realize you only have a few days left until your triathlon! Good luck, Allie – you’re going to rock it.
Here I am, catching up on all of your blog posts…be warned 😉 Love those New Balance shorts and WISH I could wear them. You SAY they don’t ride up, but I guarantee this chub rub over here would cause them to ride, lol.