For the first time in forever I have no training plan to follow. In the past I have had time off to recover and a few days or maybe a week with nothing on my TrainingPeaks calendar, but I cannot remember the last time I literally had (almost) nothing to train for. It’s like a mom with no kids – – amazingly wonderful and fantastically freeing…until you start missing your kids.
WEEK OF AUGUST 7, 2017
RUNNING
I feel a bit like I was heeding the advice of Michael Pollan, when he gave the most perfect directions for eating, in his book In Defense of Food:
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
I changed it a tad to:
Keep training. Not too much. Mostly for fun.
And I followed that advice well, running only 17 miles for the week but they were quality, enjoyable, easy paced miles. It makes all the difference.
Because I’m happy…
I’m still committed (and very excited) to run the Las Vegas Rock and Roll half marathon in November so I will definitely start a loose training plan for it in September. For now, I’m running for fun.
CYCLING
I continue to enjoy being on the road in the summer of course, and maybe more so without a plan. I rode frequently and even did a long ride of 30 miles. I want to keep a certain level of fitness in all three disciplines until I figure out what’s next for me.
Wearing my Orleans Cycle shirt and wishing I was looking out onto the ocean again instead of corn and tobacco fields. *sigh*
SWIM SUP AND STRENGTH
Look at that – – a new category! Now that I’m able to pick and choose what I want to do, I’ve been doing it all. It started with when my college roommate was visiting and forced me to go to yoga. You know how they say everything happens for a reason? Well, it does.
Going to one power yoga class led to two which also led to discovering the instructor teaches a SUP and sip (as in drink wine!) yoga class on a local lake. You need only a good friend and a SUP. Check and check!
Me and my friend Barb enjoying our sip after the SUP.
The class was super hard and I burned more calories from fear of falling into the water on a chilly night then from actual yoga. It was incredible how unstable I felt on the water and my vertigo did not help! I will definitely be back for another class.
I rounded out the week with Orangetheory and swam laps in the pool twice. Not too shabby for winging it!
GEAR
I finally have something for the men who read this blog – – underwear! That’s right gentlemen, this is the post you have been waiting for. I was recently included in this graphic from Tommy John and, since my husband is a huge fan of all things Tommy John, including their boxer briefs, I was so happy to be a part of it!
Truth be told, I never wear underwear when I workout but obviously guys don’t have that luxury. If you can’t seem to find the right fit for your workouts guys, look no further…
I mean they advertise on Howard Stern and their tag line is “no adjustment necessary.” Ladies you need to buy these for your husband, boyfriend, significant other, friend…you get the idea.
THINGS I LOVE
Going to see Kenny Chesney while I otherwise would have been sleeping in a hotel in Omaha, tossing and turning the night before nationals. Instead, I was celebrating my sister-in-law’s birthday, drinking, eating fantastic food and staying up way too late.
I also love that after one session of physical therapy my vertigo has been greatly reduced! I seriously cannot believe that by simply manipulating my head and neck, inducing the vertigo symptoms and then hanging my head upside-down for a while, I’m practically cured. The human body is insane! #voodooscience
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
My dog.
The saga continues with her being aggressive toward strangers. We’re working on it with a trainer and doing what we can at home but she almost bit the vet in the face when I went to have a growth on her shoulder checked out. Luckily the vet had super woman like reflexes and smacked her open jaws away, but seriously WTF?
Hi. My name is StarFire and if I don’t know you, I will bite your face off.
And yes, I’ve looked at Cesar Millan’s stuff but the guy gives nothing away for free. Do I seriously need to buy a DVD of how Susie overcame her stranger aggression? Suck it Cesar. And who even has a DVD player anymore? Ok, fine, we do but there’s like 10 inches of dust on it and it’s next to our land line phone….and my walkman…and headphones with wires. #yougettheidea
Luckily, she loves me best and we had a great 3.5 mile run on Sunday. She absolutely loves running and, having her pull me up the hills was pretty awesome too. Since she’s only 7 months old, three miles is about her limit for at least another month, but this dog was definitely born to run…just like her owner.
READING
So.much.reading.
I started reading/listening to Trevor Noah’s book Born A Crime right before my two weeks at the Cape. Since I couldn’t really focus too much on something that serious, I took a break and started reading The Identicals by Elin Hilerbrand. Obviously I’m interested in anything that has to do with twins but the book also takes place on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. It was perfection. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you want something super light you can read for fun but, it was a good story and very well written.
Now, Born A Crime was absolutely incredible! When the least interesting thing about the book is his mom getting shot in the head, you know it’s really, really good. And no, that is not a spoiler – you are told within the first chapter if you didn’t happen to know that tidbit already.
The fascinating thing about the story is Noah (obviously) and how absolutely brilliant he is on so many topics. Throughout the extremely unique journey of his upbringing in South Africa, the reader is treated to unbelievable stories, compelling racial arguments and viewpoints, and a rich history of Apartheid and how it impacted Noah’s very birth.
I would move this book to the top of your reading list and, if you can, listen to it just to hear Noah’s voice. His accent is hypnotizing.
RANDOM PICTURE OF THE WEEK
The summer between my junior and senior year in college, me and one of my lifelong best friends, lived on Cape Cod. It was one of the best summers of my life! While on the Cape a few weeks ago I decided to show my husband and kids where we lived for the entirety of that summer…
Yep. It was in the back parking lot of a t-shirt shop, we slept in bunk beds that my dad built and the shower was smaller than Trump’s mind. #thatshitismall
Being young is amazing.
[Tweet “This athlete’s first week without a plan ended with #SUPsipYoga #OTF and #underwear”]
How was your week?
Do you currently have a training plan?
Where is the worst yet best place you ever lived?
Wow! That is one tiny place. But it’s the Cape and you are in college so who cares, right? Love it! I’m so glad you are loving your non training plan life. It suits you well! 🙂
I have stranger aggression? Well, that help me make sense of so many things and my interactions with people… ;D HA
I know what you mean–Ridley is the sweetest dog EVER and she doesn’t bite people, but she can get really freaked out. And it happens willy nilly. Sometimes she’s totally cool, sometimes not at all.
And we are following the same approach to “training.” Perfect way to say it.
HAHAHA – so did not even realize that but the dog’s name seriously was Susie 🙂 And Star can be the same willy nilly with her nastiness. When my college roommate was here? Instant love. The babysitter? Not so much. Ugh.
Totally understand the lack of a training plan. I’ve been feeling the same since running Boston in April, so I decided to just have an unstructured summer, running when I feel like it and enjoying every day. It also doesn’t help that we’re in our typical Florida summer weather pattern and who knows if I’ll be dodging storms in the afternoon when I typically run (just cannot do the treadmill). However, now that Sam Adams Oktoberfest beer is here, that means fall is on the way and I’m feeling some motivation return…some, not a lot!
Loving your pics from the Cape. We were in Brewster at the end of July for a few weeks (with a stop at Fenway for a game before we left) and the cool weather made for some great runs. I really miss being up there. Ran a nice 5 mile race in Dennis, complete with beer and oysters afterwards. Highly recommend it!
I bow down before anyone who has to train in Florida. I serious do not know how you all do it!!
YES to Oktoberfest!! A sure sign of cool mornings and evenings and for all the hot and humid runs to start paying off with fast times and light feet.
So glad you also enjoyed the Cape for running, eating and drinking 🙂 Good times!
I personally like it when Andrew adjusts his junk. He’s a realtor and always dressed to the nines, with perfect hair, perfect smells, perfect socks, perfect shoes. So when he comes home and gets changed into a pair of soccer shorts and grabs his balls a bit, I’m like YAASSSSS… there’s my big boy! Ahhhrooooooo!!!!!
Is this comment going to get deleted?
I would never dream of deleting anything you write here woman! And, I currently have two boys with their hands attached to their penis day and night so I just cannot handle it right now 🙂
Welcome to world of power yoga and wine….. enjoy this time of free-range training…. and thank you for the Trump dig:)
I had to work it in there somehow – glad you noticed 🙂
I only wish we could sip and yoga together!…someday…
I’m with you on no current training plan- it’s so freeing! Enjoy figuring out what’s next. The yoga SUP is incredible. I’ve only tried SUP once and could hardly do it- I can’t imagine adding yoga to the mix!
It was insanely difficult but I can’t wait to try again 🙂
Trevor Noah’s book is so good! and you are absolutely right, it’s best to listen to the book, to hear his accent. I have a feeling that it would be awesome to be in a book club with you, since you always have such a great selection of books.
Aw, thanks. My book club is so good and usually picks great ones. I didn’t suggest this one yet, but I definitely will!
I have a training plan (-ish) but nothing to train for right now (too soon to even think about it) so that’s weird. I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things with regular runs. 🙂 Dogs are funny. Maybe it’s just a puppy phase? My 11 year old lab is the sweetest but she likes to growl at the grandbabies if they get too close to her. She’d never hurt them EVER but it’s funny that she’s protective of her spot on the couch. She does NOT do that to adults. It’s weird.
Dogs are funny for sure but it’s kind of fun figuring them out. Star doesn’t act like that to all strangers but most. It’s interesting who she doesn’t chose to bark at…and yes, we’re really hoping it’s a phase!!
Enjoy having no training plan because before you know it, you’ll be back on!
This free series helped us with some of Ollie’s problems: https://www.youtube.com/user/zakgeorge21.
Also, I’m laughing so hard over that Trump dig! That shower must have been really, really small.
I love non-training periods. They are just so fun! It sounds like you really enjoyed this week’s training and SUP yoga sounds so hard!
OMG that guy is awesome!!! THANK YOU so much Laura. You have been so super helpful and I think you need to start another blog just about dog advice 🙂
Glad you enjoyed my Trump dig…had to be done!
I’m glad you’re having fun with the non-training! I basically refuse to do yoga… but I might be convinced if I’m promised wine.
I should send my little sister these undies. Her boyfriend (whom we love) is ALWAYS adjusting himself. I don’t know if he has giant balls or what, but good grief.
Speaking of size… nice job on the Trump slam. Mwhahaha!
It’s weird that I’m back in a yoga phase but, I run at least four miles before class 🙂
Totally send the underwear – he needs it!!
I knew you would like the Trump slam. Had to be done, plus it was truly the smallest thing I could think of…:-)
holy crap that’s tiny! is that like 200 square feet??? wow i’m so impressed. i thought i was hardcore but clearly i’m a mere guppy trying to swim in your shark pool. dang! the smallest place i ever lived was this crappy crack shack garage apartment crackety quack hack shack. it was 300 square feet and the landlord was a slum lord. it was not as cool as your place by far, it was cool for a hot minute, and then it was just effing hot because the a/c didn’t work and everything else fell apart. i left a letter saying i’m leaving because everything broke and i’m not paying rent, and i never heard a peep from him. LONG story lol….
i’m sorry about Starfire, but i really can relate. i am the stepmom to 2 untrained and unsocialized yorkies, and they are my babies but they are seriously outta control. i recorded every Cesar Milan episode and realized that they need doggy school, and that’s not happening any time soon. i love them like my own, that’s what i remind myself every day when they go nuttso in public. they are not the dogs i can take with me shopping… hahaha that’s actually funny to imagine. for tiny pups they have very large personalities. they fit the small yappy dog stereotype 🙂
i’m with you in the same place on the training front, train, not too much, etc. i’m back to running and only because i actuallly like it and it’s easy to do when time is limited. i don’t have the time for ancellory things like stretching or doing anything that requires a gym. not yet. it’s OK. i’m not a professional athlete, but i am a professional joy seeker, mother, and CEO of my damn household. so i’m good with where i’m at. being able to run does bring me some joy though, and if it doesn’t i’m not doing it. simple simple 🙂
I’m glad you can relate on so many levels!! And yes, those small dogs are always barking at Star but she doesn’t pay much attention luckily – my only saving grace while walking her.
Love that you’re running just because you love it. I feel like we’re very lucky to have that and I for one will be embracing it for the foreseeable future!!
What type of apparel do you wear for training?