Don’t mind me, just trying to keep my head above water as we enter the third week of January. How is 2016 so overwhelming already?Ā Before you answer that, let’s back up and talk about everything that happened last week.
Hopefully you also have the day off to honor Martin Luther King Jr. We do and I had a very interesting conversation with my son about who Dr. King was and what he did for our country, but we’ll get to that later.
Right now, let’s recap last week…
WEEK OF JANUARY 11, 2016
RUNNING
Big news! I bought a treadmill! I already put it to great and proper use when I had a sick kid last week. Not only was I able to get in a 10 miler, my son was inspired to build his own obstacle course and “train” while I ran. Of course he took frequent and long breaks on the iPad playing Minecraft but he was sick…
Vaughn took this shot on my cool down mile. Can you tell how happy this treadmill is already making me?
Overall I had a great running week but one run almost killed me. I did a 2400 yard/45 minute swim with lots of hard laps, immediately followed by this run:
First 3 miles at HMP (7:20) < – – right out of the gate! I wanted to cry.
3 miles at marathon pace (7:50)
1 mile at 5K pace (6:48)
1 mile at marathon pace (7:50)
Oh.my.God.Becky. I had the puke feeling though out that 1 miler at 5K pace but I felt like a super star when it was over. I also ate and ate and ate afterward.
Total miles = 25.2Ā
CYCLING
I’m staying alive with my love of my bike trainer. I had a strong cycling week with lots of one-leg drills, endurance rides and, of course, speed.
My favorite workout on the bike happened on the spin bike at the gym. It was over an hour of different cadence, speeds, standing and sitting. I was drenched in sweat at the end but didn’t feel totally spent. I’m also getting back in tune with my heart rate zones and how I should feel during each. Needless to say, I have to reel myself in quite a bit!
If I’m sweating, I’m smiling.
Bike duration = 2 hours and 12 minutes
SWIMMING
I felt a lot better about my swims this week and I’m starting to understand my stats more and, therefore, what my ranges should be for speed and SWOLF even! #WhoAmI?
Swim total = 4700 yards or 2.67 miles
STRENGTH TRAINING
I’m being very consistent with my strength training although it is still my least favorite. I was able to spice things up a little this week with a FB ask and photo shoot about proper form. OMG! Hilarious, accurate and I just love how judgey trainers get when it comes to form…myself included:
Overall, I received about 50 comments and the same offenders were repeated: squats, lunges, planks, dead lifts and overhead presses. The full article is coming soon but here’s a sneak peek at the photo shoot with the talented Anna Mattoon:
Please do let me know if you see a mistake in my form here! It will prepare me for what I’m sure will be an onslaught of criticism once the actual articles hits the internet. Why doĀ IĀ do this again? #TakeCover
Strength training duration = 2 hours and 10 minutesĀ
FUEL
I ordered another two meals from Chef’d for the week knowing it was going to be hectic. This time I chose a Women’s Health meal – Halibut Tacos with Grapefruit Salsa and another Runner’s World selection – Portobello and Asparagus Farfalle Pasta.
The tacos were so easy (I’m talking 15 minutes to make) and so good that I ate three and only left my husband with one. I’m sorry but have you seen my workout week? Sheesh.
I promise there is a lot of Halibut hiding under the avocado, cabbage, grapefruit, cilantro and jalapeƱo.
As I’m writing this I have yet to make the RW pasta meal but I’m sure it will not disappoint. Like 100 percent sure.
GEAR
Are you sick of me talking about KUHL yet? No? Good because he we go again! This time it’s all about outerwear. I received the Lena Insulated Jacket which I absolutely love. Christine and Angela also talk about their selections and oops, I bought Angela’s coat as well. She described it as “an adult-sized lovie.”Ā Sold!
This photo screams “douche” but I was alone with my camera phone so my options were limited. It was also about 5 degrees that day so I was in “get it done!” mode.
The thing I love most about the KUHL gear guide is that it’s completely honest. We write equally about the good and bad of the product. I don’t like the pockets on the Lena jacket and I didn’t really like the color when I first got it so I shared that and a few other minor details.
Want to read all the honest opinions about the coats we reviewed? Check it out HERE.
THINGS I LOVE
This…
It’s official. Which is terrifying.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
So, unfortunately for me triathlon races are done in swim, bike, run order which means my coach is trying to mimic that progression in my training. It’s unfortunate because the swim being first means I have to try and get on a sports bra for a bike or run when I’m wet.
It is a friggin’ nightmare! Sometimes I feel so tangled as I pull and twist and wiggle that I think I will be permanentlyĀ stuck in my sports bra and will have to waddle out of the locker room to have someone literally cut me out of it.
I’m so tired from the struggle of changing when wet sometimes that I feel I should add it as part of my workout. I’m positive I burn upwards of 200 calories just getting that damn thing on my wet body.
And yes, I have tried pulling it on from my feet up. It’s better but still horribly, terribly awful.
In other problems that are not problems – my cleaning lady is on maternity leave. *help*
READING
I have downloaded two excellent and highly recommended triathlon training books,Ā The Well Built TriathleteĀ by Matt Dixon andĀ How Bad Do You Want It?Ā by Matt Fitzgerald.
I went to my first book club (loved it!) and have another book assignment before the next one,Ā After YouĀ by Jojo Moyes.
Yet, I’m completely and totally distracted reading Reconstructing Ameila that my training is surely suffering from the lack of knowledge I’m getting and I may not have time to read the book club book. Yet…I can not stop reading it!
MUSIC
Since I’m now spending a ton of time either on the treadmill or bike trainer, I had to seek out some new music. These are some of my recent favorites:
I just have one question misdemeanor – where can I get that glitter lip stick? I could rock that shitĀ while I’m cleaning my house!
This is from the movie Southpaw. Horrible movie. Superior acting by Jake but still…
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
After I talked to Miles about why he has the day off of school today, explaining who Martin Luther King Jr. was andĀ what his dream was all about, he sat and contemplated what I had said. He then asked one question:
“Are we black or white?”
I love that he had no idea. He also proceeded to ask me about both black and white people we know, asking what color each one was. It was truly amazing….and, of course, led to a lot more conversation.
How was your week?
What has you staying alive?
Have you talked to your kids about MLK?
ADULT SIZED LOVIE???
Good lord you know I need this.
PRONTO.
And yes.
Today for us is a day ON (to do unto others) and NOT a day off. It’s so very important.
OMG, those dinners look awesome. thanks for sharing
They are!! Thanks Nicole and I hope you try Chef’d š
That’s my friend’s book! So good right? She’s amazingly talented (and you should read her other book too! And the new ones coming out in May. Just saying…Speaking of just saying, there is so much to say about this post! Except that I’m trying to sneak in this comment before leaving Mont Tremblant my husband is giving me the side eye because I’m supposedly “working”. haha. Great job on the training. Love your Kuhl jacket and I too love that we can share honest reviews of the pieces. xoxoxo
I thought so!! I read “Where They Found Her” a while ago and that’s hers too, right? I think this one was SO much better – more developed, although the other was really good too. Wow – good for her!!
So funny trying to sneak in a few blog reads/comments š I know that side eye all too well from my own husband. Glad you guys had such great trip AND got to visit Carly on the way home!
Your treadmill looks awesome and I’m super excited for you. I agree that January is normally a month I try and just squeeze by with. It’s cold, miserable and I just try and get it over with. Luckily,only about 6 more weeks until the spring weather.
I love that you put it that way Hollie – only 6 more weeks – YES!! Thanks.
I read Reconstructing Amelia a couple years ago….good, fast read!! I can’t last more than 30 minutes on a treadmill, so I’m amazed you did 10 miles…. oh, just realized as I type this that you can cover 10 miles in 30 minutes while I cover only 3, so…..
Love that your son doesn’t know if you guys are black or white….the best…
HAHAHA – not so! It took me about 80 minutes and, I never thought I would be able to run that long on a treadmill either but you gotta do what you gotta do!
I love that you ate three and left one for your husband. Haha! I always am so hungry and Pete gets mad at me for eating too much because he wants it. But I workout and he sits on his butt all day!
Exactly!! He had a basketball game to go to (at 9pm!) so he didn’t really want fish tacos as fuel but, I do that to him all the time regardless. Oh well… š
Treadmill envy! You look ridiculously happy, and for good reason. It is cold out!
I love the honesty and innocence of children some times. How lovely to see the world without bias.
I’ve been wanting a treadmill for so long! Winter is brutal around here and when the kids often don’t have school I’m stuck…until now š
I was shocked when he said that and I’ve been thinking about the innocence of kids ever since and how racism, sexism and basically any other bias is truly learned.
Thanks Gianna!
Your treadmill looks lovely! It truly is a life saver when it comes to getting in a run. Because really, nothing else matters. Enjoy your adult Lovie. And prepare to be petted. A lot.
You get me.
And I could use the lovie today with this windchill! Thanks for the warning on the petting… š
“I just have one question misdemeanor ā where can I get that glitter lip stick? I could rock that shit while Iām cleaning my house!”
You’re hilarious!
Thanks James. I basically have no filter.
Victoria’s Secret makes jogs bras that zip in the front and another that is easier to go over your head as it is then fastened in the back ( much like a reg bra but at least you don’t have to ‘roll the back down’. #realworldproblems:) congrats on the olympic trials!!! Amazing!!! I have treadmill envy now:):):):)
YES! I have seen those and always thought they were for women who had actual boobs š I never thought of that. THANK YOU. I’m going to order some ASAP b/c I cannot take it anymore.
I love that you love your bike trainer. I do too. Who knew? Altho there won’t be a tri in my future since I don’t like to swim!
Congrats on the Nationals! One of my friends here competes almost every year. It’s so exciting to know people who compete at that level!
You could do a duathlon…no swim and lots of running which is perfect for us run junkies š
So cool you have a friend who competes every year – wow!!
So many things! First CONGRATS on Nationals!!!
I was biking today too… but in the wussy recliner bike. But yay no crutches! I’m carefully reading all the tri woes. Vegas MAY have convinced me to do a sprint. Apparently the swim isn’t very long (I hate to swim).
Off to ogle the KUHL site…
Thank you!!! And, the recumbent bike is much better then nothing – so glad you’re off the crutches already.
Everyone hates to swim and the sprint is very doable for us non-swimmers. I would love to hear your thoughts about doing a tri. I’m sure they have some great ones in your ‘hood š
I hope you had fun shopping!!
Yaaaayyyy!!! A treadmill!! So happy for you!! LOL. I may be more excited than you are! What kind did you get? It’s great that we can get it done at home with the kids at home and yes, my kids get to play minecraft when I’m on as well. The actually beg me to run because they know I will let them play that or Wii and it’s pretty much the only time they get to š
I think we may be equally excited š
I bought a Landice after asking a lot of runner friends who do 30+ miles on treadmills a week and the resounding response was Landice! Low maintenance – as in none – and speeds up and down quickly for speed work, etc. So far I love it but have only run on it twice!!
The boys have been great so far and even make up obstacle courses or set up races for themselves…in between Minecraft of course.
I want to tell you that I absolutely love the honesty in your writing!
I have talked to my son about MLK, because the school gave him a watered down weird story, but I’m afraid I didn’t do much better. I just told him that MLK wanted everybody to be treated the same… and he did ask me if I was While or Black… and I told him that it didn’t matter, because nobody can treat me different based on the color of my skin, to which he replied “You look like coffee milk anyway!”. So there, we learned nothing. But this year, the Trump has made the MLK talk easier….
Thank you so much for saying that! That is one of the best compliments you can give me as I always try to be completely honest here.
I think it’s so interesting and great that you were also asked if you were white or black. It’s such a silly question when it comes from a child (especially your own) and leaves you realizing just how much it doesn’t matter!
Love the “coffee milk” comment as I probably have the same coloring š
We actually had a long discussion at dinner last night about the presidential election; I feel like I let MLK Day slide, so I’ll have to remedy that. But when your kids start asking intelligent questions, you have to follow their lead!
Congrats on Nationals! You rock. And I loved your FB thread about improper form – can’t wait to read the article. Last week I corrected a women in the class we were in; she had clearly never done a tricep kickback in her life. Watching her swing her entire arm back and forth was driving me crazy!
You absolutely have to have that discussion! I can only image what they are thinking with this election – yikes!!
Thank you and I hope it comes out the way it is intended. So glad you were able to help her out! I wonder if she has any idea you probably saved her from surgery!!
I love how kids are colorblind – it’s pretty cool. When I was little, I was mainly friends with boys because that’s who I got along with better. My first grade teacher called my mom and thought it was inappropriate that my best friend was a boy. (And also that it wasn’t good for him because I could read better than him, hahhahahhaha.)
Fast forward – I went to prom with an Indian guy. His parents wanted nothing to do with me because I wasn’t Indian, excellent.
Hooray for the new treadmill and some not-freezing runs this winter!
I cannot believe your teacher called to say it was inappropriate for you to have a boy as a best friend!? Crazy. And, wouldn’t the fact that you were a better reader HELP him?
Too bad it didn’t work out with the Indian guy š
And yes, hooray for treadmill (indoor) running!
What has me staying alive:
– Salmon Skin
– Chicken Shawarma
– My Pillows
– Making YouTube Videos for my blog!! HA – I friggin’ love doing them!
– And the fact that I am marrying an INSANELY SEXY STUD MUFFIN! And he told me the other day that he doesn’t want me to get a Fake & Bake (even though he loves when I am tan) because he doesn’t want me to get skin cancer and die…. HOW SWEET, right?! LMFAO!!!!
That is one of the sweetest things I have ever heard. You have chosen well little one.
He is my giraffe š
yahoooooo on the triathalon!! Can’t wait to virtually cheer you on (which I am an EXPERT at btw)! I saw you got the treadmill, so happy you are not running with the snowmen out there, I don’t even know how you did it last year. Dude we need to invent a bra that just snaps on and off! goldmine!
I love that kids know no color. I have friends and family of ALL COLORS that that are around them constantly so we haven’t had this discussion yet although we will have to, very very soon.
me and my eldest sing WTF all the time–he mostly mumbles and it actually really cute.
I still love running with the snowmen BUT at least now I have a choice!
I do love your virtual cheering skills š and also really love that you and your son sing WTF together – so great!!!
Awesome week! That run looks brutal!!!! Way to kill it! I read a ton so thanks for the book ideas. I also adore Miles’ question. If only the world could think like that. xo
Thanks Jes!! Happy reading!
Great news really. Hope it will make you heathier than the previous time.