I have to admit I kinda feel like I should have been in mental recovery this past week as well as physical. I was in a definite funk after the high of running the Colchester Half Marathon and I nearly crashed and burned mid-week. My one son came down with a stomach bug and I had the pleasure of cleaning every nook and cranny of the entire house, all the clothes, sheets, towels, doorknobs until my hands were chaffed from constant washing. The only saving grace was that miraculously no one else got it.
But, thanks to drinking though Book Club and a pre-birthday dinner with my surrogate moms (my aunts) to cap off the week, I made it with my sanity and physicality in tact.
WEEK OF MARCH 1, 2016
RUNNING
There was very little of my favorite activity so perhaps that contributed to my sour mood but, I was recovering from the half marathon effort and, toward the end of the week began focusing more on the bike and swim, as I should. The thing was, the runs I did have, just plain sucked.
This is how I felt about my “easy” 4 miler on Thursday. Suck it!
Monday: Optional (yeah right!) recover run after 2800 yard swim. It was set for 20 minutes and I swear I could not have taken one more step. I should have definitely opted out of this one.
Thursday: Please see picture above. This was another easy 4 miler after a swim and the wind was killing me, I was listening to Spring Moves via my phone, and my phone just died mid-run. I dragged my sorry self though the rest of it and tried to say things like “I GET to run today” but my body wasn’t falling for it.
Saturday: You would think I would learn to opt out of these optional runs but I’m not that smart. After a tough bike on Friday and early morning soccer game for the boys on Saturday, I laced up and tried my luck again for an easy 5 miler. Success! Best run of the week by far. I guess it pays to be stupid stubborn.
Total miles = 12 (mostly) sad miles. whomp whomp
CYCLING
I was so thankful for my bike last week! I was able to ride outside the day after the half marathon as well as yesterday! The rides I did though out the week got progressively more intense and I was ready.
Getting my sweat on in the living room after spending the morning cleaning puke. Don’t get jealous of my glamorous life.
Tuesday: 1 hour cadence drills between Z2-Z3 heart rate
Friday: 1 hour build pyramid < – – crazy hard!
Sunday: 30 mile outdoor ride
Total ride time: 3 hours and 50 minutes
SWIMMING
Unfortunately my time in the pool only added to my funk. I had my monthly swim test on Wednesday and failed miserably. I didn’t want to look at my previous times, in an effort to not psyche myself out, and just swim and see what the numbers reveal. Well, they revealed that I’m getting slower. Great.
Jan 3, 2016: 300 x 3 times – 5:28, 5:30, 5:21 and 100 time – 1:38
March 3, 2016: 300 x 3 times – 5:40, 5:44, 5:35 and 100 time – 1:43
My coach said she’s not worried and I shouldn’t be either. She also reminded me that this week was “rest AND recovery week, and it’s not a “rest so I should be able to be Superwoman” week.
I hate it when she makes so much sense.
Total swim – 4,550 yards or 2.5 miles
FUEL
After reading about RX Bars on NYCRunningMama’s blog, I decided to give them a try. I absolutely love that all of the ingredients are on the wrapper so there is zero label reading and it’s all real food. I ordered the variety box from Amazon and have tried almost all the flavors. The winner is Chocolate Sea Salt and boy can you taste the salt! I love it and so good post hard run, bike, swim or all three.
There are more flavors under there including Blueberry, Chocolate Sea Salt, Pumpkin Spice and Coffee Chocolate.
The best part is my husband is not a fan so I don’t have to hide share them!
THINGS I LOVE
This tricked out school bus! I was stunned when I saw the interior…
From A Colorado Gal’s blog | Alyssa Pelletier’s Story
First I saw this:
And then this:
Since I was just kind of “skimming” the story, I couldn’t even put it together. I mean how in the…? What the…? Is THAT the inside of the school bus??? Yep, it sure as hell is. This thing is nicer then a lot of people’s homes! I seriously want to live in it, all by myself. Just for a few weeks…
You need to go back (like I did) and read the whole story. It’s inspiring!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
This is the sole racing photo I got from the Colchester Half Marathon. I mean, it’s funny because I have way worse ones but this one is also pretty bad! I look like a blind woman who is lost in the woods and about to say something…”help!” maybe?
Breathe through your mouth much?
READING
Since I’ve been using Training Peaks for all my tracking and training (and even finding my coaching!) needs for the past few years, I decided to hit them up for some writing exposure. This was my first piece and I have to thank Anna Mattoon and Anna Lucy Photography, once again for making me look so good…her and the Spandits tights of course…
Runners know damn well how good planking is for our running stability and injury prevention, but I get sick to death of these things, which is why I came up with my Top 10 Favorites and shared them. Have fun!
MUSIC
Don’t forget about your 30-day free trial of Spring Moves that is just waiting to rock your world…and runs…or walks…or trips to the grocery store. Unlike Donald Trump, it doesn’t discriminate. #sorrynotsorry
Street cred.
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“F**K YOU WIND!!!!!!” – me, while riding my bike outside on Sunday
How was you week? Are you recovering from anything?
What is your favorite protein/food bar these days?
Plank variation you do most often?
Have you seen the school bus that was transformed into a tiny house? It even had a space for yoga. My husband is obsessed with Tiny House Nation haha
I have not! That sounds amazing. I’ve seen some of the tiny house stuff but I don’t think I would last very long in one…maybe without the boys but… 🙂 Thanks Jill!
It’s good to hear another themes up for those bars. And if you really can taste the salt than in all in! And I think I might have yelled F$ck you wind! few times this past week as well. March is always ridiculously windy.
So, so yummy and filing. Perfection.
I seriously would rather run in 10 degree temps then the wind. It is THE WORST! Can we just skip right to summer please?
I need to try those bars!! Although it mightcould be Im just a sucker for the packaging?
Lots of odd obsessing with tiny houses this week here as I just discovered (!!!) how many are on Air BnB and now wanna travel the country in tinystyle 🙂 and write all about it.
The packing IS genius but the taste is even better.
That sounds like a plan!! Let me know when you come to CT!
Sorry to hear your son got sick. That sounds awful.
I can imagine how stressful it was, plus minimal running is never that fun. I hope you are able to get some in this week. I kind of feel like that after a big PR…the next week I just feel meh. I’m tired, my runs aren’t normally the greatest and I just want to be lazy.
I’m so glad you said that and can relate. That makes me feel better!!…and, I’m also just feeling better and so are the kids. Let’s hope this lasts 🙂
The bars look so great, isn’t it so nice when you don’t have to share with your Hubby? Mine will eat allof my snacks for no good reason lol smh.
Glad you got to spend time with your aunt moms!! I know how much you love them so it must have been a blast!
That school bus?! Whoa. Just give me a couple of child free work free hubby free hours in there to relax!!
That quote is so you. Lol!!
I actually tell mine which ones are ok for him to eat because I EARN those bars!!! I’m like “you cannot just wake up and eat my VEGA bar! You need to exercise for at least 90 minutes!!” 🙂
I can picture that bus parked outside your house in Brooklyn as your little hideaway! LOL!
Were you in my head on MY bike ride yesterday? I uttered those very same words multiple times. And even on the way home, with the wind at my back, I was still saying it because I couldn’t feel my feet or my hands. Still it was nice to get outside for a change!
I”m sure this week will be much better..your body did what it needed to last week. Made you take it easy!
I feel you Wendy!! Except I seriously had the wind BOTH ways! How does that happen??? It was definitely better to be outside but it took my feet a full 10 minutes in hot water to unthaw!
I know you’re right about last week and I’m feeling better (and stronger) already.
Here’s to warmer outdoor rides!!
OMG I am so with you on the wind lately. It sucks the life out of me. Isn’t it funny how we keep going back to run again and again after crappy ones because we KNOW a good one has just GOT to happen? Haha! I am enjoying your articles in Triathlete magazine! 😀
Yes! We runner’s just don’t give up until we get the good one that we just know is coming 🙂
Thanks Marcia!
I’m going to try those bars… I need a new go to something quick. I don’t really have a favorite bar, but I really hate Larabar, as in I can’t even swallow it. I bought a box, took a couple of bites of one, and the rest is in my pantry.
I am so with you on Larabar! It seems like they were all the rage a little while back but – ugh – I could NOT eat them. I hope you will love the RX Bars as much as I do!!
Congrats on the Training Peaks article! You’re killing it with freelance writing lately!
Oh those recovery weeks always seem to be worse than anticipated. I get so excited to have time off from training and then by the end I’m just like, omg body please recover already. I’m sorry to hear you had to deal with a sick child as well! Hopefully this week will be better and you’ll have good runs!
Thanks so much Laura! With freelancing it’s usually either feast or famine so…
So glad you can relate to recovery week – it was a long, slow slog and yes, finally feeling more recovered and no sick kids is helping a ton too!
That is a great race picture!! If I could show you this one picture my fiancé has of me at a finish line… mouth open, eyes all crazy looking, hair flying … and he posted it on Social Media!!
Sorry to hear your little one is sick! It really sucks when they get sick! but I’m glad nobody else there caught what he had!
I was remembering the list of songs to be ashamed of having in your music, and one of mine (Welcome to Atlanta) has been popping in my random songs for every long run in the last month! I’ve been cursed by it! now I have to either admit that I like it, and move on, OR delete it from the MP3!
OMG that is too funny!!! I definitely have much worse pictures but that one is not great either!!
That is too funny about that song. Yep – something needs to be done – it’s decision time 🙂
I’ve been curious about those bars too- they look awesome! I’m glad you had a recovery week, although you still rocked a lot of biking and swimming! Slow blah runs are a good sign that you ran that half exactly as you should have. This week the legs should be feeling better!
You are absolutely right but they are so tough while you’re in it – which I know you understand!
I would be curious to see how you like those bars and how you feel about the ingredients 🙂
Ha! Love your quote from the week! I had a recovery week last week with a 4 miler race thrown in. My favorite protein bar is actually a cookie from Lenny & Larry’s. It’s a vegan protein cookie with all natural ingredients I can pronounce. Tasty. But my hubby likes them. So I hide them. 😉
OMG I love Lenny and Larry’s but they are hard to come by here. However, you have just inspired me to do an Amazon search!
Oh man, that doesn’t sound like a fun week at all! I’m sorry about all the sickness. You’ve got to figure that this is building their immune system and at some point they will just never get sick anymore! At least that’s what I tell myself. I didn’t have a stellar week either and was oddly sore from doing things like sitting on an airplane. Awesome.
Oh if only that were true!! I would be happy with a two week stretch in which both of them were well. It’s craziness.
It’s not that odd to be sore from airplane sitting. And, I hope you were at least going somewhere amazing that you will be sharing soon…:-)
haha unfortunately no. I was in Chicago for working, sitting in a conference room all day which probably also contributed to my sitting-induced soreness!
I’m recovering from a Rknee issue which has kept me runless since Feb20. Swimming a shit load though and loving it. Dare I say it, I’ll be taking a spin class in the next few days as the knee is healed enough for that, I want to test if b4 I commit to the road!
I’m starting preparation for the ocean swim circuit this summer in our wondrous Pacific, so the injury ties in perfectly (Gotta love Triathlons!!!!!!!) I’m steadfastly and eagerly awaiting the debauchery following all these swims, which seem to take place in ‘party towns’; but then we party a lot in the Sun and Surf in SoCal.
Hermosa beach and Redondo beach in southern LA, Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Capistrano in SanDiego, Malibu, Ventura harbor and SantaBarbara to the north, it all=Mexican food and Margaritas!!
Been working on my Hams, Quads, Gluets, and Gastroc with a tennis ball. After 2hrs this am and right leg all loosened up, the ‘Pes Anserine’ problem is momentarily history. I can flex and extend the knee so I have full ROM with no pain:) I’ve blown up my hamstrings, gastrocs, and achilles so many times I’m mesmerized they still function:(.
Now, I discovered what I need to do for all these muscular adhesions and fascial contractures, so yes, by reason of all the above I’m having a grand epiphanous week:)!
My favorite bar is Snickers, though it’s only because Costco has no MilkyWays. It worked perfectly on my hilly 45Mile bike ride along with my homemade ‘gel’ concoction.
Yes, planks are extremely boring which is why I say screw it and just do 60 seconds of push ups, I like the extra dynamic and functional element; the static planks are murder on my elbows.
The ‘blind woman in the woods’ looks pretty fantastic to me. She’s all business, great form, running erect and not slouched, smartly dressed for the weather, etc., that’s what I see:). Then again, I’m all about form and function, I don’t give a R.ass about aesthetics!
You’re not getting slower swimming, you’re supposed to be resting this week! Your coach is spot on; I would have gone further and said nothing longer than 15 minutes EZ for the 1st 4days post Colchester. Personally, I think it would have been the perfect time for relaxing hikes, massages, maybe even some snowboarding fun:)
You were entirely ‘Funked’, physically and mentally by your own admission, read the 1st line of your post! Have you ever heard ‘Obsessive Compulsive’ in reference to you? I used to be that way, it’s really rough in the long run.
Alyssa is the RAD.to.the.MAX! This is the way I’ve always imagined the ultimate skiing adventure- Hike with skis up to the mountain and ski down, no trails, make your own! I’m subscribed!
Crap, this is so long!
Pretty amazing bus, huh?! 🙂
Ugh, sorry you had a sucky week. Recovery weeks are kind of as awful as tapering. Have you tried GoMacro bars? I LOVE them. They’re hella expensive but they’re so, so good. That his looks amazing, but I just don’t understand how anyone can live for an extended period of time in a tiny house. It makes me supremely uncomfortable just thinking about it (which probably means I need to scale back my life and stuff, ha!)
I bet next week you have some amazing workouts. 🙂
I feel like ALL the good bars with real food in them are hella expensive!! When are the chicken nuggets going to cost 5 bucks a piece and the protein bars will be on the dollar menu??
I agree about the tiny house/bus. I would love it as a retreat but I need wide open space to live in day after day…so obviously I have the same “stuff” issues as you 🙂
I actually love that picture because you’re wearing the best vest ever. But lol at your caption. Okay you are now the 30th person to rave about those bars. I may have to try them!! Hope this week is better than last — but I’m agreeing with your coach 🙂
You know it!! I absolutely LOVE that vest and it helped push me to the finish for sure 🙂
The RX Bars are seriously amazing. You have to take 30 bloggers word for it!
This week is so much better already. Thanks Courtney!
One lazy weekend this winter, Matt and I watched a marathon of Tiny Houses on one of the cable channels – it was fascinating!
Those bars look awesome – my only issue is that I really don’t work out hard enough to justify eating one post workout.
It’s so funny how many people watch or have watched that show! I’m clearly missing out over here…
And, I’m sure after reading for hours and hours you need to refuel with a bar like RX 🙂
My book club is in the middle of the day so no wine. I’m jealous of yours, haha!! I’m so sorry one of your sons was sick. I have a legit fear of kid stomach bugs and how majorly infectious they are. I’m scared! That bus is amazing! So so cool. I’m with you, I want to go live there by myself…for awhile. I keep telling Pete that for my bday/xmas/anniversary whatever that all I want is a retreat to somewhere nice all by myself. He thinks I’m joking.
My husband thinks I’m joking when I tell him that too!! Boy will they be surprised when we’re just GONE on day, right?
And you should fear the kid stomach bug. It’s that bad.
You need to change that book club and have it at night. Wine is a must when chatting about literature 🙂
I am totally in love with G2G bars. They are nut butter based but made with only natural ingredients…..coconut oil, flax, almond butter, etc. And no preservatives so only good for a month out of the fridge. I was send some boxes and promptly bough 4 more boxes on my own…they were THAT good.
Whoa!!! Sounds like a must try! Thanks mama!!
I don’t think you would be disappointed. My hubby LOVES them and he hates bars. They gave me a discount code too….THIS MAMA for 20% off!
Thanks for the code!!