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

THE RUNDOWN-2

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9, 2014

RUNNING: ย It’s hard to change your running form. ย 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. ย I now have a pre-run warm-up, post run exercises and boat load of form to think about while running. ย 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! ย I’ve never thought so much about my form and movement and, it’s paying off! ย I’m getting stronger, faster and having less aches and pains. ย CRS is an angel sent straight from running heaven. ย Ok, sorry that’s the last time I make you throw-up in your mouth – I promise!

I did someย hardย workouts this week, including 13 miles on a treadmill, for a total of 28 miles. ย I woke-up sick to my stomach Wednesday morning and I have no clue why. ย I mean, I couldn’t get out of bed and my husband had to bring the kids to school! ย I slept until 11am and then, miraculously, I felt a lot better. ย Very weird. ย I was supposed to run a 7 miler with 3 miles at half-marathon pace in the morning. ย 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. ย When I lamented this lack of a workout to CRS this exchange took place:

ME: ย A little update on my training: ย I woke up sick to my stomach yesterday morning. ย Not sure what it was but luckily it passed by noon. ย Unfortunately that was when the kids were at school so I wasn’t able to get my full run in. ย 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!! ย 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. ย You’re not going to be adversely affected by it, so just let it go.ย 
ME:ย It’s my Type A that wants to get in every workout “as planned!” ย I will follow your advice and let it go! ย Thank you.
CRS:ย I’d say double-A, or maybe even triple-A! ย Energizer comes to mind ๐Ÿ™‚
She’s a funny one! ย Point taken – let it go!

BIKING: ย I’m really getting comfortable on my bike and I’m loving it! ย 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. ย I also logged additional miles on Tuesday and Sunday. ย I dare say I’m starting to feel like aย realย cyclist! ย 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: ย I knew I would get in the pool this week! ย Swimming around with the boys for an hour on a Monday afternoon totally counts, right? ย Plus, getting everyone dressed, in the pool and thenย outย of the pool, toweled off, showered and dressed for freezing outdoor temperatures, totally counts as cross-training!

CROSS-TRAINING: ย Speaking ofโ€ฆin 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!!!โ€ฆand keep my back feeling good. ย It’s working.

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

FUEL: ย Iย mayย have gone to Mohegan Sun casino for a concert over the weekend and Iย mayย have gone to Dylan’s Candy Bar and filled up a little bucket with dark chocolate and almonds. ย 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: ย It’s become a family affair. ย 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! ย 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?” ย Si hijo, mio eres. (yes my son, you are)

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

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

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

TV: ย I’m all over the Olympics. ย I’ve been watchingย a lotย since my last post and I’m overwhelmed by the losers. ย That’s right. ย The defeated. ย The fourth place finisherโ€ฆor worse. ย The skaters who are wearing the fastest slowest uniforms ever made. ย Why? ย Because they have been training their whole lives for this moment. ย 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. ย I think I’m so intrigued by them because I’m puttingย soย much pressure on myself for my Duathlon in Spain. ย My Olympics. ย I’m learning from theseย trueย Olympians what it means to be an athlete. ย 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. ย Onward fourth place finishers!

READING: ย Despite my best effort to avoid it, I started readingย Glitter and Glueย by Kelly Corrigan. ย 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. ย However, the book isย soย well written and so compelling that after I read my downloaded “sample,” I bought it immediately.

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

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

What was the worst concert you ever saw?

Did you cross-train this week?

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