Whenever I need to give my email address, which includes “train4life” I’m almost always asked about it. Last week when one such exchange took place, the guy on the other end of the phone turned out to be a two-time Ironman, so we talked about my upcoming half. “You will suffer, that’s for sure,” is what he said after I told him about the elevation gain on both the bike and the run. But, he added “you will love it!”

“Loving it” remains to be seen however, I have been kinda loving the sufferfest that is my training. And, let’s face it, anyone who tackles marathons, triathlons, ultras or any other endurance test of the mind and body secretly loves to suffer.

WEEK OF MAY 7, 2018

RUNNING

At least the weather is finally cooperating! I had another week of great running and even my solo long run (13 miles!) was glorious. My runs off the bike are getting better as my legs are coming around to the idea that I will have to run, and run a lot, off the bike.

Tuesday – speed work before strength | 10 x 1 min fast (6:30) | 6 miles overall

Thursday – long run with pick ups before swim | 12.7 miles

Friday – long ride with coach then 20 min run | 2.23 miles

Total = 20.93

CYCLING

Some people have the luxury (yes, that’s what it is) of commuting to work or running errands via bike. Well, I live in the middle of nowhere and work from home but I refuse to let that stop me! Last Wednesday was absolutely gorgeous, I had a two hour ride scheduled and I needed new running shoes, so I decided to bike to Fleet Feet and back. After all, it was only 32 miles roundtrip, involving two states. Why not?

I also had a great long ride with my coach to end the week. Since the elevation gain and distance was considerably less than my race route, I felt like a super woman after 36 miles and even better on my run immediately afterward. It also helped that it wasn’t anywhere near 97 degrees like last week.

Wednesday – 2 hour ride to get shoes! | 31.1 miles

Friday – long ride with coach | 36.2 miles

Sunday – indoor ride (because of rain) for mother’s day | 16.9 miles

Total = 84.2 miles

SWIMMING

Life in the pool continues to be good but I’m a little worried I haven’t had a chance to get in the lake. I’m used to open water swims by now but I don’t want my first one to be at the race! I’m going to have to suck it up this week and just dive in.

Monday – endurance swim | 1 hour 13 min | 4,000 yards

Thursday – swim after long run | 1,000 yards

Total = 5,000 yards

THINGS I LOVE

Being celebrated for the amazing mother I am.

Seriously though, my boys are the best thing in my life and make me laugh out loud and cry with gratitude (and frustration) all the time. So you can share that joy, I’ve asked them a few questions (separately) about my parenting:

What is my most important job as your mom?

Miles: Being very kind and loving.

Vaughn: Feeding us.

What is the worst thing I have ever done?

M: Not letting us have our iPads during the week.

V: Nothing.

The best?

M: Everything.

V: Everything.

What do you think I do all day?

M: Run and work on your thingys.

V: Work doing blogs and stuff.

What should I do?

M: Write comics with us.

V: Play with us!

What would be the perfect day with me?

M: Going to Jump Off (a trampoline park).

V: Going to Papa T’s (a local pizza place) and getting toys.

It was pretty funny how hard they needed to think about the “worst” thing I’ve ever done since they tell me what a tyrant I am everyday. It was also surprising how hard they each had to think about what I do all day and they didn’t immediately mention “going to the gym” or biking? My favorite was Vaughn’s answer about my most important job as a mom. He’s a boy after my own stomach…

THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH

Suffering.

Obviously no one likes to suffer, yet when I think about my own suffering and how much of it I inflict on myself, I started wondering where it all comes from.

The ultimate suffering for me was when my mom died when I was 17. I had no control over it and the pain was beyond anything I had felt before and have felt since. It was unbearable and, although I think about my mom everyday the suffering is considerably less with time.

Suffering and parenting go hand in hand. The moment your child (or children) are born, it begins. They truly are your heart walking outside your body and I definitely try to control the suffering as much as possible. That said, parent suffering is something I would choose all over again since the payoff of happiness and joy is a million times greater than any suffering I have encountered so far.

I miss my stroller runs…kind of, since they were ridiculously hard!

All bundled up and ready to run with mom in 2009. (Miles on the left, Vaughn on the right)

READING

So I started reading The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See for book club.  I don’t want to ruin it for anyone but let’s just say the tea girl’s tribe has very interesting thoughts on twins and parents of twins…and when I say” interesting” I mean horrifying. Lots of suffering.

Anyway…back to happy thoughts and articles…

21 Women Share Their Mother’s Day Memories | Christine Yu | Women’s Health online

I love this article for so many reasons! First of all, I’m #13. Second, one of my favorite people, Christine Yu, wrote it and lastly, more of my favorite people are included it like Natalie, Carly, Paria, Angela, Kara and Amanda. It’s a beautiful gallery of moms remembering the best moments of being one, which is something we can all use!

My first mother’s day was just weeks after the twins were born. I don’t look tired or bloated at all, do I? The Half Ironman has nothing on this…

Notice the boys were already doing exactly the same thing! And yes, I had long hair pulled back into a ponytail. What?

RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

So far, I have found much meaning in my suffering, so here’s to surviving a 6+ hour race!

[Tweet “The Rundown is suffering through another week of Half IM training and getting some truth from the mouths of babes #motherhood”]

How was your week?

Did you celebrate mother’s day?

How have you suffered lately?

 

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