This is my resting brick face. If you haven’t a clue what I’m talking about, let me explain. In triathlon a “brick” session is when you perform two disciplines back to back in a workout like a run/swim or bike/run or swim/bike. You get the idea. I have been told on more than one occasion that I have a resting bitch face and I take that as a compliment.

So, when some clever company decided to merge the two and put it on a sleeveless shirt, my friend Paria took notice and sent it my way. I was only to happy to buy it and wear it proudly even if most people have no idea what it means, it makes me smile.

Since this was a cut back week, I had a major health scare with my dog and I accidentally pulled my nose ring out, I figured it was the perfect week to use the face my mother gave me – – that of a bitch.

WEEK OF OCTOBER 16, 2017

RUNNING

First things first. I had a great week of running with my long run being only 8 miles, followed by a two hour hike! I was so happy to not get lost in the woods or attacked by a bear, that the time flew by! I found my speed last week too with two runs that boosted my confidence.

Sunday – easy 5 miler with Star | 8:15 average pace

Monday – speed ladder by RPE done as 20 min warm up then 3 x (5 min @7 RPE, 3 min @8 RPE, 1 min @9 RPE,1 min easy) | 7.50 miles | 7:53 average pace

Thursday – 6 miles with 2 @HMP (7:15) and 1 @10K pace (6:40) | 7:40 average pace

Friday – 8 mile long run before hike (yes, I went hiking as per my coach’s instructions. See “reading” below) | 4 miles easy, 3 @HMP (7:15) 1 cool down | 7:40 average pace

Total = 26.5 miles

After Monday’s run on my super scary porch the boys created. How did this even happen?

CYCLING

It seems fall has finally arrived and I have no clue how to dress for it on the bike! I was meeting a friend for a ride on a 45 degree morning and we were both totally overdressed! I had three layers on top, winter long pants and gloves. It was a little much but the ride was gorgeous!

Wednesday – hilly ride | 24 miles

SWIMMING

Since this was a cut back week I had two pool session but neither was very long or very taxing. Obviously I enjoyed both immensely!

I’ve bee reading Chrissie Wellington’s new book To The Finish (full review coming!) and have tried some of her tricks in the pool. One is to hold tennis balls in your hands so you have a high elbow when entering the water. Yes, it’s absurd but it works! Plus, at this point, everyone at the YMCA pool is used to me doing stupid things like this. I’m basically a circus act in water.

I should charge money.

 

THINGS I LOVE

Celebrating my husband’s birthday and having the boys (or really just Miles) finally show in interest in baking with me.

My husband requested death by chocolate as his birthday “cake” and I was overjoyed to make it for him. I wasn’t thinking of picking up a Carvel cake from the grocery store or anything. I truly wanted to bake something that required buying an appropriate dish, baking brownies, making pudding, smashing Heath bars and adding Cool Whip topping.

It was super easy.

Until I mixed up the amounts of water vs oil for the brownies. They were a little hard but since I was crushing them anyway, I forged ahead! I don’t let a little thing like accurate measurement stop me when I’m baking. Pffff.

Then I had a stroke of genius and had Miles do the crushing of the Heath bars.

 

#BeastMode

My SIL later told me they sell them already crushed. Seriously. WTF? Why am I allowed in the kitchen and why didn’t the Pinterest recipe tell me about the pre-smashed bars? Just another reason to hate Pinterest.

Luckily it all turned out perfectly and my husband was happy on his birthday, which is all that really matters, right?

THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH

StarFire, my 9 month old Weimaraner, eating a poisonous mushroom and staying in a veterinarian hospital for three days!

It was horrible and it happened on my watch.

This dog eats everything when we go walking. Most of the time she scoops something into her mouth and then spits it out 5 seconds later. This time, I saw her eat what looked like a wad of dirt and I commanded “No Star! No!” thinking she would drop it as per usual, instead she swallowed it whole.

Twenty minutes later she was vomiting and drooling like there was a hose in her mouth.

I took her to the vet and there she remained, having the toxins flushed out of her, until her liver enzymes returned to normal.

It was a very long three days without her and we all missed her like crazy. From now on, I’m going to watch her like a hawk and go Chuck Norris on her ass if she even attempts to eat anything that is not in a dog bowl!

Taking a long, gorgeous, fall walk, two days before the “incident.”

READING

So much reading this week but I have to lead with this amazing recap of the Kona Ironman World Championships by Jesse Thomas, husband of Lauren Fleshman:

That Was Hard | Triathlete.com

Understatment of the year there Jesse but I got you. Read it to watch his impassioned, raw video, taken hours after a disappointing finish which included watching a friend of his get hit by a van during the ride portion. Truly just unbelievable.

I think my coach read this next article because suddenly she was asking if I had time for a hike this past week. My response? I don’t have time for anything but I will make it! And I did, also because I could bring my Star baby girl.

Most Underrated Endurance Workout? Hiking. | Outsideonline.com | Brad Stulberg

Research showed that “going hard while hiking in nature feels easier than going hard indoors.” I would have to agree since I’m not afraid of being eaten by a bear when I’m on the treadmill.

Star was in her element as we hiked a local mountain. She absolutely loved being off leash and blended in quite nicely. #CamoDog

My bitch also has a resting bitch face. HA!

Can you see her?

RANDOM EXCHANGE OF THE WEEK

In the car with my kids…

Me: So what are you guys going to give daddy for his birthday?

Miles: Advice. 

Vaughn: The new iPhone X and then I’m going to smash his old one.

And that, in a nutshell, sums up their personalities.

 

[Tweet “The Rundown has resting #brick face, a dog health scare and bad baking but good reading!”]

 

How was your week?

Do you have resting anything face?

What was your last pet health scare?

%d bloggers like this: