Clearly “slow and steady wins the race” is only a metaphor for life since no one “slow” has ever won a race. Not ever. Come on now! However, I’m trying desperately to learn that slow and steady is the way you build back up to winning the race. It’s the only way. Your body needs certain cycles to become race ready and, as you can probably guess, the slow and steady part of my training cycle is the hardest for me to deal with.
In all honesty it’s been particularly hard since, for the past two weeks of my semi-rest (and even before that) I have felt off. That is the only way I can explain it and I’m not exactly sure what to do about it. I keep getting out there and doing my best, recover smart, and take downtime but my training right now is just off. *sigh*
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 21, 2016
RUNNING
I keep going out and expecting a different result. If I remember correctly, this is the definition of stupid. My paces are good, my endurance is fine but my left hamstring is consistently bothering me, the run feels labored and I never fully get into a groove.
I even tried pool running, which led to the following exchange between me and my coach in my Training Peaks log:
I know this too shall pass and I’m trying to be patient. It’s incredibly difficult.
Slow and steady.
CYCLING
I somehow managed a flat tire on my bike while on the trainer. How the hell this is even possible, I have no clue. It’s my back tire which is definitely the more difficult of the two to change. I’ve figured out that if I pump it up, it lasts for a full hour session and then seems to slowly deflate over the next 24 hours. I used my road bike for the one session I made it outside because this is how I’m managing things right now.
I also showed up to take a spin class but the instructor (my friend) couldn’t get her car to start so I just taught the class. It was super fun but I definitely don’t want to go back to doing it every week.
Slow and steady.
SWIMMING
The pool seems to be my happy place right now but it’s also the hardest to get to. I’ve been making the effort and have been rewarded with some truly great pool sessions. I’m also taking time at the end of each swim to doing some aqua running and, I dare say, those runs are going better than the ones on land!
Slow (extra slow in the water!) and steady.
FUEL
Thanksgiving happened and it was everything it should be! All my food fantasies came true and it was an entire day of relaxation, wine drinking and taking in all the family I could handle.
The food festivals continued into the weekend when we headed up to Vermont and stopped at The Farm Table along the way. I’ve written about this place before when I dined with Sue and Christine on our way to the Rise.Run.Retreat. Let’s just say, eating with my kids, was an entirely different experience but the food was exactly as fabulous as before.
I definitely could have used a half marathon after that meal but no such luck.
Slow and steady.
THINGS I LOVE
Getting more professional pictures of my boys!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Going directly from poolside in sunny, beautiful Las Vegas into immediate cold and windy Christmas in Connecticut.
We always decorate before Thanksgiving, since we have my brother and his family stay with us over the holiday weekend, and we’re super festive like that. Also, I’m just OCD and like to get shit done as soon as possible.
The picture on the left – – slow and steady.
The picture on the right – – my usual “bat out of hell” speed.
READING
I’m still finishing up A Life in Parts and Sarah’s Key. I already have Megyn Kelly’s book Settle For More downloaded as well as Wally Lamb’s latest I’ll Take You There.
And, in my spare time, enjoyed these from around the web:
Out There: Porta-Potty Etiquette for Runners | by Susan Lacke for Competitor
This article is equal parts hilarious and disgusting. Apparently, runners are the absolute worst when it comes to portable potty use. One owner of a local waste management company had this to share, stating that runners are far worse then even music festival goers!
“Oh, man. When it comes to this industry, runners are the worst.”
He then proceeded to tell me he got the majority of the portable toilet business for local races, because some of his competitors simply turned down the contracts because runners are the worst. For one, race directors tend to underestimate and under-budget for the number of facilities needed, leading to, er, capacity issues—their portos runneth over.
8 Ways to Become A Morning Runner | by ME for Runner’s World
I’m actually not currently a morning runner, unless you count 8:30am as morning…which I do not. This article is about the bone cracking hours between 4-5am when no one wants to even get out of bed, let alone run. I mostly love this article because some of my favorite runners helped with the elite tips – – Tina Muir (fuelyourfuturewithtina), Michele Gonzales (nycrunningmama), Dr. Jordan Metzl, Sheri Piers and World Champion Mountain Runner Kim Nadeau.
RANDOMNESS OF THE WEEK
As a daughter of a father who had to escape the home of his childhood in Cuba due to a vicious, evil, tyrant named Castro, this could not be better news for my family.
Thanks to everyone for your kind words on my Facebook post over the weekend where I re-shared my ESPNW article from February 2016, about how my father’s escape from Cuba shaped the woman and athlete I became.
How was your week?
Are you making slow and steady progress with anything?
Are your holiday decorations up yet?
First I LOVED your article about what you learned from your father’s leaving Cuba.
You and about 3 other woman are individuals where I read your words and *know* there are big things in store for your and your writing <3
Next?
MOVE IN WITH ME.
My life is one big super slow and really steady to finish that damn race 🙂
I hated it at first but now it's just who I am….
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate and take to heart your words about my writing. THANK YOU!
I so wish I could move in with you where it’s warm, there are child and doodle entertainment and endless hours of bonding…slowly. 🙂 xoxo
Your article about your dad = loved it the first time, love it even more the second. I might have to High 5 Friday that ish! And crazy morning runners? Hell ya! Although I think I found some morning runners even crazier than me. Single track trail at 5:30 a.m.? Yup, that happened. On a Sunday. Crazy!!!
That would be amazing and would totally RAISE ME UP! #nopressure
That is completely insane during the week, never mind a Sunday!? What????
Haven’t read your article about your dad, so that might just be next up on my list of must dos. I tip my hat off to you for pool running. I just can’t figure out how to enjoy it. At all. Or really figure out the motion of it either. Thus why I sold my pool running belt. Hoping to never wish that I still had it…
I hope you can read it. It’s probably the single most important thing I have ever written.
As for pool running:
step one – get a waterproof iPod like the WaterFi shuffle, otherwise you will go insane with boredom
step two – try to hold and move those pool weights to hold you up instead of the belt. The “weights” work so much better for me and, you get more of an upper body workout. #Boom
Birds of a feather…I am so not good at slowing down! And I get really frustrated when my legs won’t go. Last winter when I was pool running led me to the realization of just how much that really helps my road running! Not only rest for my legs, pool running seemed to reset my stride and corrected the little niggles that were causing so many issues on my left side. I’m no expert but it really was eye opening!
It will be so interesting to see what happens in Cuba now. I can’t help but wonder what the younger generation, who don’t know anything different, will do!
I couldn’t agree more about the pool running and how much it helps! You know I’m always talking it up because it WORKS and, if you have music, it’s not as boring 🙂
The world will certainly be watching to see where Cuba goes from here. I will certainly be doing my part to boost the economy!
whoa nelly (or ali), that’s some pretty incredible stuff right there! you’re pops is amazing!!! stories like his just blow my mind. i could listen to them for days and be in wonderment. i’m so appreciative of these stories and hearing/reading these experiences. that would inspire me as well. my great-grandmother had some amazing stories of her times in china during the Japanese invasion and surviving, and the camps she was in and the heavy, heavy things. i grew up with those stories of bravery and though they were incredibly horrendous, they ended with bravery. she survived what many couldn’t. anyhow, i love reading about your father. what a remarkable role model. i would beg for those stories over and over again, too. when i feel beaten down or in pain, i think about my great grandmother. she had bound feet for crying out loud, they were the size of tiny pears. and she hobbled around for 89 years. every time i think of that, i suck it up a little 😀 or at least try. we are strong humans, and we are truly blessed.
i’m feeling blessed to read your posts, have an AWESOME week!!!
WOW! Your great-grandmom and my dad should get together for some story swapping. I feel like we are so lucky to have their history to benefit from in so many ways!! Thanks Danielle 🙂
First, I LOVE the pics from your boys! so perfect.
Next, those port-o-potties…omg! I’m not sure i’d like everyone to know which number I was doing BUT i do appreciate the idea!!
You already know that I love the ESPN article!
I know!!! I thought the same thing about the potty situation – TMI for sure 🙂
Thanks so much Nellie!! I know you are a super supporter xo
I enjoyed reading about your personal life too. It sounds like it was a good Holiday week for you. That ESPN article is great. I always love reading your articles too.
Thanks Hollie! I loved seeing you and your hubby tackle a race together – so fun and #1 to boot!!!
Do not lie…pool running is not something anyone WANTS to do! I bet your coach sees right through you 🙂 Don’t worry, your training will be back to normal soon, I’m sure.
People were dancing in the streets back home in Florida at the news of Castro’s death. I’m so glad he’s finally gone!!
LOL! I know that no one believes me but don’t forget I have a waterproof iPod and, it was preferable to stay in the pool instead of all the drama of getting my running gear on and freezing my a$$ off outside. Now do you believe me? 🙂
I saw the coverage of “little Havana” in FL and it made me want to hop on a plane!
I just read the article about your dad. SO well-written. I have goosebumps! You definitely do your father proud, that’s for sure.
We put up our decorations this weekend. I hate all the clutter, but the kids are happy. SIGH… bah hum bug,
Thanks so much Suzy! And, yes, the kids LOVE the clutter…I mean, decorations 🙂
It’s so tough when your body doesn’t feel as awesome as you know it can feel! That often happens to me in the middle of a training cycle, when I’m just fatigued and borederline over trained. Hope you snap out of it soon!
Hearing you talk about teaching spin reminded me that I’ve been missing it lately too. I’m on a sub list currently because I didn’t want to commit to a weekly slot but it’s so much fun!
I re-read the article you wrote for ESPNW and it is incredible – you write so vividly that I can visualize their escape. I also love your morning running article! I’m going to send that to my athletes who ask me about running in the morning because there are so many great tips in it!
We haven’t put up decorations yet, mostly because we’re trying to figure out what Ollie WON’T destroy with his crazy tail and fits of puppyhood excitement.
Thank you so much Laura! And, you know I just love when you are able to share something I wrote with your athletes!! I hope they can use all the “pro” tips and be motivated to wake up and get out there!
That is too funny about Ollie. We used to have the same problem with the boys 🙂
I’ll be your slow and steady person lol. I need to get out and I need a push your slow will be my push
LOL! You know I would love that Anne. I need to come and see Barb and get this hammy figured out and then maybe we can go for a slow and steady trail run…:-)
I am so sorry your hamstring is giving you issues. Hopefully the time in the pool will get you back up to running speed. I have been a bit of a lounge lizard since NYC but am enjoying it. Going to revv right back up soon for Boston and all the fun things tri soon! Your boys are just the cutest. I love this age with all of the giant toothy and toothless smiles. xoxo my friend!
There is so much greatness in the lounge period after a marathon effort! So glad you are enjoying yours 🙂
I’m back to all the fun triathlon training and still working on the hammy. Slow and steady I go…
And yes, the tooth fairy has been working overtime here!! It’s all I can handle between remembering the elf AND the tooth fairy. I deserve some sort of award 🙂
I’m not making slow and steady progress on anything – I’m just kinda bopping around without focus. What’s up with me?
Lmk how Wally Lamb’s book is – I have it reserved at the library. And hey – your writer’s webpage looks amazing! I got distracted by the link on your sidebar and had to peek. Impressive!
P.S. I have no holiday decorations, unless you count a paint-your-own snowman I made 8 years ago while my kids painted mugs.
That actually sounds awesome to me right now!
I love Wally but I did not love his last book, so I’m really hoping this one is amazing.
Thanks so much for saying that about my writing web page. I’m glad someone is looking at it 🙂
No Hanukah bush?? LOL!
First of all, your boys are so stinking cute! Those pictures look so great. And I’m jealous that you went back to Farm Table! I’m curious but a little frightened to read the porta-potty story. Yikes. I can’t even imagine. I loved your story about your Dad the first time and it’s so much more poignant reading it now. Also, my body is not feeling it lately. Totally off. Not sure what’s up with that but hoping that it passes soon??! PS I love that you just jumped in to teach the spin class. I’m afraid that will happen to me one day with yoga – go to a class and the teacher doesn’t show up and have to teach! haha. I would hide in the corner.
Thanks so much Christine! I hope you read the article because, although disgusting, it was hilarious.
I get that you’re in a funk since you just PR’d a half marathon. I did not. I’m sure you will be bouncing back in no time.
And I totally feel you on the instructor thing. I was a little nervous but, selfishly, I wanted a good workout and that was the only way to get it!