Things have been going one of two ways around here – great and horrible. Ever have a week like that? Welcome to my world. In the spirit of all that is honest around here, I present to you all the highs and lows, and nothing in between.
WEEK OF JUNE 22, 2015
RUNNING: My best run was also the worst. If you’ve run for any amount of time you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. I headed to the local track for what I knew would be a grueling workout, only to find the infield swarming with pre-teen boys at football camp. Ugh. Since I had no time to change my plan (because when dear sweet baby Jesus do I ever have time?) I grabbed my bag, hopped out of the car and prayed they wouldn’t be running laps as part of practice. They did not.
It was hot, I did the workout I posted last Friday, and it was hard. Really hard. I battled and willed myself though the last two miles of the nine-mile speed session, cursing my coach (sorry CRS I really do love you!) and everything else. But, when it was finally and mercifully over? I felt like a total rockstar because I finished and I finished strong!
This looks like the running route of a lunatic. Hmmmm.
800 (two laps): 3:10
1 mile: 6:30
2 miles: 7:00 avg pace
3 miles: 7:30 avg pace
Total for the week: 20 (almost all outside!)
SWIMMING: The best part of my swim week was doing what was labeled a “threshold power set” in my training plan. Ignorance is bliss. I had no clue I would be swimming 2500 yards with 10 x 50 “hard best effort” on 15 seconds rest. It’s the closest I’ve come to puking in the pool and I loved it. #Sick
The worst part of the week was not being able to get in an OWS (open water swim). They say it’s dangerous to go alone and since I don’t think my kids could save me if something went wrong, I was unable to find a suitable swim mate this week. Just two months ago I would have considered this fantastic luck.
This crazy storm rolled in making very few good OWS and outdoor cycling days.
CYCLING: Staying properly fueled on my long and brick rides made me very happy and kept me conscious. Having to do most of my rides this week inside, either due to weather or children, made me insane.
RACING: I’m very excited about my sprint triathlon in two weeks! I feel prepared and ready to go. I can’t hardly wait to see what I can do in the water and how my hamstring and peroneal tendon holds up.
I get nervous stomach when I start looking up the results from last year, scared that I don’t know the course (and trying to find time to get out to the venue and at least drive it!) and slightly worried about the 6pm start time. Other then that, I’m sure everything will be just peachy.
I also haven’t a clue who Pat Griskus is and, it just dawned on me that it’s probably a man. In my mind it has been an amazing, strong woman. I think I need to find out. #RaceKarma
FUEL: I last reported that my stomach seemed to be revolting against me. It seems as though the war is over. I’ve been adding some extra hydration and also tried to eat a little less fiber. Although all of that was completely abandoned at the Saratoga Jazz Fest this past weekend where I basically ate and drank like it was my job.
Of course we need to start here…
These fish tacos were amazing, even though the picture is awful. #NotAFoodBlogger
I did not eat this roasted pig, and my kids were shouting “Don’t kill animals!” in front of it, but my husband, brother and father loved it. #graphic
I was very thirsty in a very patriotic way.
I’m getting a promotion.
THINGS I LOVE: #LoveWins It’s about damn time!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: My name. Not my real name but the name I worked so desperately to earn – Mom. As in, mom, mommy, mama, mom, mommy, mama, mom, moooooooommmmmmm. All.day.long.
TV: The best these eyes have seen this week is definitely Women’s World Cup Soccer. I know every man on the planet is rolling his eyes right now, but these women are fierce! I also know our country as a whole doesn’t care about soccer but trust me, turn it on and I dare you to not be amazed by Abby Wambach, and frightened yet so very interested in all that is Hope Solo. The girl has crazy eyes.
Don’t poke the hornet’s nest.
The low is how little attention and recognition these games get. I could barely find it in the 1,000 channels on my TV yet every other channel seemed to be a mind-numbingly stupid reality show. Is this the best we can do America? Come on! You know the Kardashians will only crawl back into the hole from whence they came when you STOP WATCHING. You know this, right?
READING: I could spend all day and night reading articles and still never get caught up on all the ones I want to read. Some of the best of the week:
Is It Ok to Run In A Sports Bra? Is this a serious f**king question? Apparently, and Amanda wrote about it so well.
My Favorite Photo A blog post at Hit The Ground Running, hit me hard as I read it. If you want to see actual reality with a side of serious courage? Click the link.
Some other things I read left me wishing I had 10 minutes of my time back:
I Can’t Even With the Latest Social Media Trend because I hate when people bring more attention to something they’re saying they don’t want to pay attention to…kind of exactly like what I’m doing here. I also hate when people start I social media post with “I don’t usually post stuff like this…” Please don’t start now!
MUSIC: I think I mentioned the Saratoga Jazz Festival, right? Everything else kind of pales in comparison and makes me a little ashamed of my playlists. #NoCulture
One of the amazing artists at the festival putting on a show of his own.
RANDOM QUOTE TWEET OF THE WEEK:
How was your week? Give me your highs and lows!
Ever been to a music festival?
That is exactly how my week went last week. It was filled with a ton of highs and lows and nothing in between. That I can’t even post is 100% accurate. Thank you for that.
At least we’re not alone!! 🙂
Sooooo much I want to comment about! Firstly, yep, I hear you about the workout days, I feel like that often, especially with the heat, it really plays tricks with your mind! But glad you got it in, and exciting that your sprint tri is in 2 weeks, I have a post coming out today on Runners Connect that I think you might find helpful 🙂 As for Love Wins! YES! It is about time 🙂
It DOES play tricks on you! I haven’t had that kind of a mental battle in a long time.
I’m beyond excited to check out your Runners Connect post!!!
Totally had highs and lows too last week and have a feeling with the kids being off all summer now there will be more the same here, as well to be honest and just hoping upon hope that it won’t be too crazy, but preparing myself for it just in case.
Totally!! Prepare for the worst but hope for the best right? I feel you!
OMG I love the tweet from Jill Biden! High 5 to a shitty and great week! 😉
Isn’t it great? The only thing better would have been a picture 🙂
Haha Allie! I think we got that same storm that you posted a photo of! Also, I can’t help but laugh at the hashtag #NotaFoodBlogger. Love it! I always feel like my photos are crap compared to what other bloggers post
Your photos look professional compared to mine!! I always think you have great pictures.
The storm was creepy and yes, I’m sure you saw it too.
BTW – I just checked out Davis’ Family Farm from your post today and it’s only an hour away from me. I think I’ll have to take the boys to that water park!! Too bad we couldn’t have met up…
I cringe where there is football practice at our track, too. But way to go on nailing those splits! It’s definitely worth the effort to feel so accomplished afterwards.
It was but it was the hardest workout I have done in a while and it hurt!!…I was also a little distracted by the football camp. It was just kind of weird and I felt like I shouldn’t be there…oh well…
First…just to let you know that “Lose Yourself” is now one of my favorite songs on my run playlist… why I didn’t think to put in on until you mentioned it I don’t know….but I think of you every time it comes on….(hopefully that’s not weird for you)….
I had the best week ever!!! My sister had a baby, I had a little article published (that would normally be the most exciting part of a week), and #lovewins !!!! Gay rights is a topic that is very close to my heart, so that happiness will have me on a high for a long time!!!!
That is not weird at all, in fact, I LOVE it and so glad you told me 🙂
YEAH to a new baby – that is so amazing, and I love your articles and always try to promote and share.
Gay rights mean a lot to me as well and I just love when the government gets it RIGHT!
Thanks Paria.
I have to tell you…first blog I’ve read since returning from my mission trip and how nice that you have a link in there to my article! Thank you. And how nice to see that you are back in fighting shape with running. Yes! Looks to me like you are ready to rock and roll at the tri. So awesome.
I LOVE the women’s world cup and it is on at this household. It totally frustrates me that it doesn’t get the attention that the men’s games do. Boo!
Coming back to the news of the Supreme Court decision was the best!
I am honored 🙂 And of course you love the women’s world cup games because you’re smart!!..same thing for gay marriage. So glad to see you pop up in the comments and on Twitter today. Welcome back!
I hate when you have to make last minute changes to a good workout plan, but it looks like it still went pretty well despite the heat and everything! Anything to compromises the workout, I dread. Do you feel this way too?
Yes I do. I’m very Type A so I always like to follow the plan! It all worked out and I felt great afterward. The trick is to not give up and just do what you can 🙂
What a great tweet I can totally see him doing that!!! That title of mom really never stops even at all times of night. Oy! I’m gonna check out the blog posts. So happy your tummy is cooperating again! The festival looks so great!
Can’t you? Too funny. I only wish there was an actual picture!
Looking forward to your FitBloggin’ reviews!!
wow good luck on your sprint, you’ll rock it!
I LOVE music festivals!!! we love live music, we being my hubs and me. we just LOVE great bands, even bad ones. live music rocks 😀
I was so elated last week when everyone was getting married and celebrating their love freely. we were taking a cooking class on Saturday night, and the instructors were just married that day. what a great night! well more for us, poor them. but they got to celebrate after.
That is too funny about your cooking instructors! I hope they had a BIG celebration afterward.
And YES to live, all day music. It was fantastic!
Thanks for the luck 🙂
way to kick ass at the track!
LOL – it kicked my ass first but I think I won…
Wow, that was quite the week. You got through it and did it well! I really want to go to the Saratoga Jazz Festival next year. There is one in Lewiston, NY that I will be going to this year but I’ve been to Saratoga Springs for weekend trips. A lot of culture in a beautiful town.
You absolutely should go. It’s such a beautiful town and a fun atmosphere, and of course there’s the music 🙂
Those are amazing paces at your track workout! You are going to own that sprint tri. I like any summer festival as long as there’s good food and drink and it’s not too hot outside. Those fish tacos look incredibly delicious.
Thank you!! Fingers crossed for the actual race.
The weather was perfect and even a little chilly which is preferable to heat!
The tacos were so, so yummy.
Thanks Laura!
I love that tweet from Jill Biden!! My week feels very similar. Lots of highs and lots of lows. I used to love doing swim set like that during practice. Sucked at the time but loved it. Looks like you had a great time at the Saratoga Jazz Festival. I’ve always wanted to go!
Isn’t it the best? I wish there was a picture with the tweet 🙂
You absolutely should go to the jazz fest. It was so much fun and the kids just all played together on the lawn – perfect setting and just a great family day.
A nine mile speed run on a track? Oh hell no, you are amazing for getting that done. I’m not sure I could have handled that! Way to go. That storm looks super fierce. I love sitting outside in my garage during a storm. ONe of my favorite summer activities!
LOL!!! It was so super hard but I felt great when I finished it.
So sad we were not able to meet up. 🙁
Have I mentioned how much you make me smile and laugh? Loved reading about your week and sorry to hear about the love/hate relationship with training last week. That speed workout was intense! Way to power through it! I also am not a fan of indoor bike rides on the trainer, but sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do. Can’t wait to see how your sprint tri goes! xo
That makes me so happy 🙂 And yes, we gotta do what we gotta do and this morning I felt like I was running in Florida b/c the humidity was off the charts! Hope you’re having some cooler runs these days…