We have a saying in the northeast, if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute and it will change. The same has been true for my mood lately. One minute things seem hopeless and the next, I feel invincible. My motto has always been “this too shall pass” because it’s true for everything, including our weather.
WEEK OF JANUARY 29, 2018
RUNNING
Thank the running gods this past week was a run block! I also curse them because I had to do two long, hard runs on the treadmill due to snow and the resulting snow days. I tried really hard to just be grateful I had a treadmill and could still do the runs, while gazing longingly outside like a puppy in a pet store window.
Courage and Heart is Coeur! If I wear it on my shorts, I have it on my mind.
Tuesday – aerobic build | 9.43 miles on the treadmill! < – – this was supposed to be a gorgeous outdoor run but school was cancelled for no apparent reason other then the weathermen have no clue how to predict the weather.
Wednesday – easy run before strength | 6.76 miles | 8:30 pace
Thursday – 30 minute run after bike as part of brick | 3.68 miles | 8:21 pace
Friday – hell run! 8 x 800s during long run | 1:20:18 | 10.1 miles | 7:55 pace < – – also done on the treadmill because of a 2 hour delay!
Total = 29.97 <- – if I knew how close I was to 30 miles, I would have run more! Grrrrr
CYCLING
I actually ordered my first real cold-weather cycling gear. With an early race (June 3) I have to suck it up this spring and get out on the bike as soon as possible. I know from years of running that having the right gear for the weather is essential and, when Pactimo had a 70% off sale well, I had to jump on it. And no, I have never heard of Pactimo but I read about them in Bicyling.com so they have to be good. Right?
It’s a whole new world of gear here folks and I may or may not be wearing this…
Obviously I will look like this in them though so…
I mean, honestly? Who does this kind of marketing and who is the audience? Have they not heard of #MeToo? Sheesh. The very last thing I will be thinking about while wearing these ridiculous things is how sexy I may look. In fact, this outfit may define the words “turn off.” I’ll ask my husband…
Anyway, this is what my bike week looked like and it was all indoors in perfectly acceptable clothing.
Monday – base building | 1:31:02 | 22 miles
Thursday – cadence work before run | 1:00:00 | 14.4 miles
Sunday – big gear + tempo | 1:05:00 | 16.5 miles
Total = 52.9 miles
SWIMMING
I.had.no.swims
My coach was serious as the flu about this run block and I had zero time in the pool. I actually missed being in the water and thought about sneaking in a quick session…and then decided to just dip my toes in via pedicure. #winning
STRENGTH
I’m keeping up with my twice weekly strength regimen and even tried to do a pull up the other day. I did exactly one. The weird thing is my coach keeps scheduling my strength after long runs and I keep thinking how awful it will be to strength train on tired legs but it ends up being energetic. Try it.
I also had a functional workout by way of shoveling. Our plow guy usually doesn’t come until late morning but my cleaning lady was coming at 8:30am so I was shoveling! #motivation
I will do anything to avoid cleaning my own house.
Plus, it was absolutely gorgeous outside…
THINGS I LOVE
This Instagram Live from Will Smith about taking responsibility for yourself. It seems so simple but “fault” vs “responsibility” have clear definitions and Smith puts them in perfect perspective:
In case you can’t or don’t want to listen, here are best parts:
“It really doesn’t matter whose fault it is that something is broken. It’s your responsibility to fix it.”
“It’s not your fault if your partner cheated and ruined your marriage. But it is for damn sure your responsibility to figure out how to take that pain and how to overcome that and build a happy life for yourself.”
“Fault and Responsibility do not go together as socks.”
“When something is somebody’s fault we want them to suffer. We want them punished. We want them to pay. We want it to be their responsibility to fix it. But that’s not how it works, especially when it’s your heart.”
“As long as we’re pointing the finger and stuck in whose fault something is, we’re jammed and trapped into victim mode. And when you’re in victim mode, you’re stuck and suffering.”
“The road to power is in taking responsibility. Your heart, your life, and your happiness are your responsibility and your responsibility alone.”
“Taking Responsibility is taking your power back.”
I also wish I could teach my kids this because it’s never their fault and they also take zero responsibility.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
So the super bowl was yesterday which was fine. I would have preferred Aaron Rodgers didn’t get hurt and ruin any chance of the Packers being in it this year but, whatever. And no, I’m not a Patriots fan. Anyway, my beef is not with football or the super bowl but with grown men wearing other grown men’s jerseys.
It just struck me as odd all of sudden since a ton of grown men have been parading around in football jerseys with the name of another guy on the back of it…usually a much younger guy and well, it’s weird. Is it just me?
READING
Lots of good stuff from this past week. Read it and weep…with joy:
Why I Skipped Dry January | Amanda Loudin | Another Mother Runner
Full disclosure, the author of this article is a friend but I love her message here. Why deprive yourself of something you enjoy so much? This is true for any kind of abstaining. Maybe it’s because I grew to despise lent so much as a young Catholic girl or maybe it’s because it makes too much sense. Cheers Amanda!
Source: Anothermotherrunner.com
Brooks Needs Runners Who Hate to Run | Claire Suddath | Bloomberg Businessweek
Brooks CEO Jim Weber was quoted as saying the only “real” runners are paid professionals and the rest of us a “self defined runners.” Oh and he added that running isn’t really a sport.
Ok breathe. Then read the full article and then wait for my reactive article coming to Women’s Running this week. In the meantime, I would love your thoughts.
RANDOM EXCHANGE OF THE WEEK
So Miles was trying to tell me that Oreos have nutritional value. As he was stuffing two into his mouth, he read the ingredients:
Miles: Mom, it says here there’s 1 gram of protein in the Oreos. < – – he says it like this is an incredible amount of protein
Me: As I grab the package…Did you look at the serving size? You need to eat THREE cookies to get one measly gram of protein.
Miles: So…can I have one more?
Why not? Eat six. Eat nine! I give up.
He of course comes home everyday now asking if he can have his one gram of protein. #thistooshallpass
Have a great week everyone and, if you’re not, just wait a minute and it will change.
[Tweet “My week was like New England weather – wait a minute and it will change! #thistooshallpass #train4life”]
How was your week?
What are you waiting for to pass right now?
Snow days. Delays. Shall we place bets to see if the kids will go to school a FULL week in February before the end of the month when vacation week starts? Lol. It’s a losing bet! Now you’ve got me thinking about that the jersey thing. It is a little odd, huh?
I would definitely take that bet! I’m sure the answer is NO!!
I honestly just saw a grown man wearing a Brady jersey at my kids ninja warrior class (yes, I know) and it just struck me as so odd. #random
The articles about Brooks rubbed me the wrong way. The overall tone really wasn’t for me and I felt as though it was supposed to be “snarky” but then completely missed the mark and fell short. As someone who works in the industry, I do like our Brooks reps a lot…but their social media is one of my least favorites of any brand.
I hear you. I think he did it on purpose but…
Glad to know the Brooks reps are great because I live in their shoes and have a ton of their gear!
I read both those articles. Thumbs up to Amanda–I didn’t even know that we weren’t supposed to drink in January. Oops. My bad. The Brooks article was clickbait. As someone who is fluent in sarcasm, even I thought the tone was just wrong. A lot of people won’t get it. I’m just tired of the whole “real runner” thing. I loved their Run Happy campaign and maybe they need to revive that.
You totally and completely nailed the article and that is exactly what I wrote about. It was intentional! I mean the article is titled “Brooks need runners who hate running!” And I’m sick to death of the whole “who is a runner?” Since when do we need anyone’s validation? I know you get it!!
Side note: I’m having trouble leaving comments on your blog lately…I’m sure it’s an issue on my end but just know I am reading and loving and TRYING to leave my words..:-)
A few people have told me the same thing, that they have had trouble leaving comments on my blog. I have had to restrict my comments due to a ridiculous amount of spam. Sorry about the inconvenience! Blogger makes it hard on us.
I’m back to being able to comment so… but I hear you on the spam issues, and I cannot even imagine how much YOU get!
If you don’t recreate that picture with the bicycling outfit and post it, I’m just going to have to unfollow this blog….
I had perhaps my worst 8 mile run ever on Saturday… left leg went numb for no reason… cried after… but I’m going to head out in a few minutes and try again because what’s the alternative… #thistooshallpass has been the life moto around here for months now.
LOL!! I think my husband may have an issue with that first request!!
I hope there’s nothing really wrong with your leg!! But, if you need me, I can fly out there ASAP for emotional support 🙂
#thistooshallpass should be on a wine glass…
Here are my random thoughts…
That ad- ridiculous!
Way to go on 30 running miles this week!
And that oreo story- dying. Totally something my daughter would say! She also checks the grams of sugar. 🙂
Love it! Thanks Laura and yes, we then read the sugar content and I googled a picture of HOW MUCH sugar that actually is. Insanity.
I love Brooks’ shoes, and I just think it’s too bad that they feel as if they have to resort to planting a story like this to get attention. However, I’m an official Brooks sponsored athlete with the $1 check to prove it, so it doesn’t apply to me anyway. 🙂
I have to agree with you there but I also think he’s trying different things to bring new life to the brand. We shall see. He did post an apology/clear up of sorts on the Brooks Running blog so… But I’m still a proud Brooks runner! < -- yes, I'm a runner and so are you 🙂
I’m with you on the football jersey thing. I also don’t understand why people who don’t play a sport will sit around watching other people play it. That would like me wearing a Shalane Flanagan singlet, and watching the NYC marathon but never running. I don’t get it.
OMG right? When I watch sports on TV I’m itching to play, especially when it’s something I usually do like run, swim or bike! Also, perfect analogy with the Flanagan singlet 🙂 LOL!
Awesome week of running! That long run sounds brutal in a totally good way. I like long runs that have a good butt-kick to them!
I don’t think I could ever do dry January. I would totally miss the apres-ski drink! I’m not one for cutting out things completely. I don’t even give up things for Lent anymore (except meat on Fridays) – I try to take on good habits instead. Although I would totally be up for a dry January if it referred to the weather…
Yes to dry January weather!!…or February or March. And I know you love a good self induced butt kicking long run 🙂
The cycling suit… just wow. Please post shots of yourself wearing it like a Victoria’s Secret model.
I could see Vegas telling me that Oreos have a gram of protein to get me to buy them. She loves to reference the Corona Light label… the 0.9 g of protein makes it a “protein shake.” Sorry if this gives you no hope for the future…
I absolutely will not but thanks for the vote of confidence 🙂 And I had no clue about “protein” in Corona Light? I’m sure my kids will be telling me in 10 years or less…
OMG that cycling suit! And that ad! I laughed out loud. Skip the Instagram pic if you decide to go topless k? Ha!
The Brooks article is a good read. The company’s story is pretty amazing and Jim Weber is a great person and leader. I’ve spent time with him on two occasions including lunch at Brooks HQ and he is authentic and inclusive and just happy about running. He is far from elitist when it comes to who is a runner in my brief assessment. I think the tone of this related to how runners are defined was spun a little out of context. I think the real meaning was that they’ve been focusing their products on more competitive runners and needed to expand in both their insights and offerings for the everyday runner … and that to grow, they are going to have to sell shoes and apparel to fitness interested and not just endurance runners. That comes as no surprise, but in the drive to be niche they are likely realizing they have to maintain that focus while also expanding interest. I have to agree that the Levitates are the best pair of shoes I’ve tried in 3 years.
Thanks so much for all of this. You know I’m a Brooks girl at heart and I will research ALL sides! And I love my Levitates too.
you’ve really inspired me to embark on the strength training path, and i’m proud to say that baby steps have resulted in me being able to do some morning squats, push up and core work. i will do this before anything now. i’m on day 3 LOL but before that i did some insanity workouts and realized damn, i need to strengthen my body before i get totally insane 🙂 so march will be my insanity month! maybe dry but why? i was certainly NOT dry in january and it’s just not one of my goals right now. why cut out the joys of life when life is meant to be lived? sure if you feel like crap and it’s effecting your life negatively. do whatever it takes to feel good. that’s my life advice for anyone.
that cycling bottoms ad is just plain ridiculous. i hate it! ewhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Well that is just awesome! The strength training really makes a big difference, even if you do it twice a week like I do. And *massive eye roll* to the cycling unitard thing…but if it keeps me warm…
This too shall pass is always my life motto too! And I love that Will Smith video. Thanks for sharing it! I’m going to send it to my mom, who’s a social worker that deals with clients that have dealt with a lot of trauma in their lives. I think it could a valuable nugget for her to share in her group counseling sessions.
That is fantastic! Thank you for telling me about the share with your mom. That is perfection!!
Oh yes! My kids are very big on “it’s not my fault” and figuring out whose fault it actually is. Must be a kid thing (although come to think of it, my husband is a little like that as well.) I’m going to start using some of those quotes from now on. I’m sure it won’t change anything now but will maybe plant seeds for the future? Sigh.
It’s all about planting those seeds…in big and little kids alike 🙂
Girl you are so right about this weather, this weekend is supposed to be warm! WHAT ON EARTH is that woman trying to sell covering up her boobies like that? What on earth? There are a million ways to style this that doesn’t include posing like a playboy cover! I LOVED the Will Smith IG post, he made me think of some situations and actually really let it go!
I’m pretty sure I saw the Will Smith video on your feed first. Sorry I didn’t give you credit!!
And I have no clue what that woman is trying to sell. Have mercy!!