Despite waking up sick to my stomach on Wednesday morning and dropping my laptop on a bathroom floor, Β this has been a great week. Β I’m at the point where I’m starting to see some payoff in my training. Β I also won a fabulous pair of Reebok ZQUICK sneaks from Jess at Blonde Ponytail so there’s that. Β Free, amazing running gear makes me smile…and I won it on Valentine’s Day which is appropriate since running is one of my true loves. Β Did that make you throw-up in your mouth a little? Β Try to keep it down people, I promise it gets better…

THE RUNDOWN-2

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9, 2014

RUNNING: Β It’s hard to change your running form. Β I know this is shocking but truly, once I did the video analysis with CRS (Coach Rocket Scientist) she broke down my form and showed me how to build it back up. Β I now have a pre-run warm-up, post run exercises and boat load of form to think about while running. Β When CRS asked me to do a 30 minute, all out effort around an indoor track without music I didn’t even care because I have enough in my head to occupy that time and more! Β I’ve never thought so much about my form and movement and, it’s paying off! Β I’m getting stronger, faster and having less aches and pains. Β CRS is an angel sent straight from running heaven. Β Ok, sorry that’s the last time I make you throw-up in your mouth – I promise!

I did someΒ hardΒ workouts this week, including 13 miles on a treadmill, for a total of 28 miles. Β I woke-up sick to my stomach Wednesday morning and I have no clue why. Β I mean, I couldn’t get out of bed and my husband had to bring the kids to school! Β I slept until 11am and then, miraculously, I felt a lot better. Β Very weird. Β I was supposed to run a 7 miler with 3 miles at half-marathon pace in the morning. Β When that didn’t happen, I got to the gym as early as I could with the kids in tow so I could run for 30 minutes on the tread before my Power Sculpt class. Β When I lamented this lack of a workout to CRS this exchange took place:

ME: Β A little update on my training: Β I woke up sick to my stomach yesterday morning. Β Not sure what it was but luckily it passed by noon. Β Unfortunately that was when the kids were at school so I wasn’t able to get my full run in. Β I tried to get to the gym a little early before I had to teach my evening class but again, I had the kids in tow and can only keep them in daycare for so long!! Β I’ll try to make up the 7 miler tomorrow.

CRS:

Just a quick note…
Don’t try to make up yesterday’s workouts. It happens. Β You’re not going to be adversely affected by it, so just let it go.Β 
ME:Β It’s my Type A that wants to get in every workout “as planned!” Β I will follow your advice and let it go! Β Thank you.
CRS:Β I’d say double-A, or maybe even triple-A! Β Energizer comes to mind πŸ™‚
She’s a funny one! Β Point taken – let it go!

BIKING: Β I’m really getting comfortable on my bike and I’m loving it! Β Snow crashed one of my spin classes for the week but I took to my trainer in the basement with the boys and had a great workout. Β I also logged additional miles on Tuesday and Sunday. Β I dare say I’m starting to feel like aΒ realΒ cyclist! Β Who am I?

One boy IN the picture and the other TAKING it.  My loves!

One boy IN the picture and the other TAKING it. My loves!

SWIMMING: Β I knew I would get in the pool this week! Β Swimming around with the boys for an hour on a Monday afternoon totally counts, right? Β Plus, getting everyone dressed, in the pool and thenΒ outΒ of the pool, toweled off, showered and dressed for freezing outdoor temperatures, totally counts as cross-training!

CROSS-TRAINING: Β Speaking of…in addition to my endurance training with the boys at the pool, I taught Power Sculpt as planned and I’ve added some clam shells, single leg dead lifts, single leg squats and monster walks to my routine as much as I can to strengthen those glutes!!!…and keep my back feeling good. Β It’s working.

RACING: Β I’m getting involved with the March of Dimes to promote a local 5K race. Β I’m beyond excited to be a part of this amazing organization that helps so many families when they need it most! Β More on this to come but the race is slated for April 27 in Hartford, CT. Β Local peeps – mark your calendars!

FUEL: Β IΒ mayΒ have gone to Mohegan Sun casino for a concert over the weekend and IΒ mayΒ have gone to Dylan’s Candy Bar and filled up a little bucket with dark chocolate and almonds. Β Maybe.

I know this doesn't look like my normal hang-out but I'm a sucker for dark chocolate!

I know this doesn’t look like my normal hang-out but I’m a sucker for dark chocolate!

SPEAKING SPANISH: Β It’s become a family affair. Β I now put my Rosetta Stone app though my car phone speakers and the boys join in with me in repeating all the Spanish words and phrases! Β I think they’re learning more then I am. Occasionally, they break out into a Spanish word, followed by gibberish, and ask “Mom, am I speaking Spanish?” Β Si hijo, mio eres. (yes my son, you are)

THINGS I LOVE: Β An overnight at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino with my husband and some great friends! Β Food, drinks, concert, gambling, shopping, dropping. Β Good times.

THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Β Dropping my freakin MacBook Pro on a bathroom floor so hard I dented it! Β What the *&^%!!!!! Β It was in a computer bag and I went to hang it on a hook on the back of the stall door. Β It somehow slipped off and smacked the floorΒ hard. Β I immediately opened it up, praying the screen wan’t smashed since it’s only seven months old! Β Imagine dropping your seven month-old on a dirty bathroom floor?! Β I had a total meltdown once I got home and realized it was dented and, when I turned it on, was making a weird clicking noise. Β I had to back up all my files and my anxiety went through the roof! Β I wonder how many caloriesΒ thatΒ burned! Β Too bad I wasn’t wearing my HR monitor.

MUSIC: Β I saw the Kings of Leon in concert at Mohegan Sun. Β I’m going to leave it at that since my mama told me “If you don’t have anything nice to say…” Β I usually pay zero attention to this rule and instead, I’m more a fan of what Olympia Dukakis’ character said inΒ Steel MagnoliasΒ “If you can’t say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me!”

TV: Β I’m all over the Olympics. Β I’ve been watchingΒ a lotΒ since my last post and I’m overwhelmed by the losers. Β That’s right. Β The defeated. Β The fourth place finisher…or worse. Β The skaters who are wearing the fastest slowest uniforms ever made. Β Why? Β Because they have been training their whole lives for this moment. Β Some are so close to gold they can literally see it being snatched away by either seconds or a total disaster – I’m not sure which is worse. Β I think I’m so intrigued by them because I’m puttingΒ soΒ much pressure on myself for my Duathlon in Spain. Β My Olympics. Β I’m learning from theseΒ trueΒ Olympians what it means to be an athlete. Β That it all comes down to one day, one hour, one minute and sometimes it’s just not your day but it doesn’t make you less of an athlete. Β Onward fourth place finishers!

READING: Β Despite my best effort to avoid it, I started readingΒ Glitter and GlueΒ by Kelly Corrigan. Β I was trying to avoid it since it’s centered around mother/daughter relationships and, since I lost my mom at a young age, it’s usually too much for me. Β However, the book isΒ soΒ well written and so compelling that after I read my downloaded “sample,” I bought it immediately.

RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Β Treadmills should come with applause buttons especially when you have to do a long run on them. Β Who couldn’t use that kind of encouragement?

Have you ever experienced major computer problems? Β What was the outcome?

What was the worst concert you ever saw?

Did you cross-train this week?

%d bloggers like this: