In the spirit of celebrating all that is new and fresh in January 2014, and as a way to tame my building anxiety toward my year of the bull, I’ve decided to start a weekly post!
There will obviously be a training review and then some randomness thrown in as well. Feel free to join in and add the list with your answers to your site! My re-cap will be from the previous week as far as running/swimming/biking and x-training totals.
The Rundown will definitely serve as a way to stay accountable but it will also give me (and maybe you!) the mental edge needed at race time. When you can actually see all the weeks and months of training and totals of what you’ve done to get there, it helps to reinforce your mental strategy. That my friends is concrete confidence! Let’s get to it:
Week of December 30, 2013
RUNNING: 30 miles total with a nice mix of long runs and speed. Far too much time on the treadmill because of ridiculous winter weather but I’m not complaining. Really, I’m not.
BIKING: 51 miles on my spin bike split between two classes I taught. Oh how I wish I could ride my bike outside just once!
SWIMMING: zero, none, zilch – I will be starting to lead a group next week on Thursday nights in preparation for the Y’s indoor Triathlon on March 2nd!
CROSS-TRAINING: I actually got in TWO workouts last week due to vacation and not having my usual schedule. My bestie and I hit the gym on Friday for a run and strength session. Why can’t she quit her job and be a SAHM? My second session was with with my other bestie (the hubs!) but consisted of him doing his strength and me doing mine after I did a four mile speed workout on the ‘mill. I guess you could call it a his and hers strength workout. It doesn’t happen often…
RACING: My next race is about 10 weeks out with the half-marathon in NYC on March 15th. Reservations have been made and babysitters have been scheduled. Now I just have to train to kick it’s ass NYC style! Are there really hills in Central Park?
FUELING: I’m staying fueled on long runs with my good ‘ol GU Chomps that I love. I’m also eating my way through my latest Runnerbox and so far, my favs are the Montgomery dried cherries, Snap-pea Crisps and Smarty Pants vitamin gummies. Monday, Jan 6th also begins the detox I’m doing (my very first one ever!) with Laura at Mommy Run Fast. I’m a little worried about excluding wheat and drinking some of my meals. I’m a chewer, but we’ll see how this goes. Laura is providing some amazing recipes so I’m sure I’ll be happy and full! Hop over and join. There’s a few options to follow – one of which is FREE so you have no excuse. Not that you were thinking of one…
SPEAKING SPANISH: I bought Rosetta Stone Spanish (Spain) and downloaded it onto my laptop and phone. It took me about a half-hour just to do this and all the instructions were in English. Lord help me.
THINGS I LOVE: My kids. When they’re sleeping.
Technically he’s not sleeping but just laying down & being still long enough to be photographed in the wild is a freakin miracle.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Green Bay losing to San Fran by a field goal. Rotten cheese stinks people.
MUSIC: The song I’m digging the most right now is Katy Perry’s Dark Horse it sounds like it’s building to a serious chorus but it just flattens out and Juicy J busts a rhyme instead. It kills me every time.
TV: Last week the only thing I truly sat down to watch (besides the ball dropping!) was the Green Bay game. We all know how that went. Booooooo!!!!
Don’t cry Aaron. At least you can start tweeting again since your season is over. Tweet tweet.
READING: I’ve been trying to get through the book I read every Christmas – A Prayer for Own Meany – and I don’t think it’s ever taken me past Christmas to finish it but I’m determined to read until the end. In the meantime, I’ve also started Sisterhood which I downloaded in October. On the upside, the reason I’m so far behind in my book reading is because I’m busy reading so many interesting blogs by you fine people! It’s all good….
RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Being bullied doesn’t feel any better when you’re an adult. Stop it.
REMINDERS: You can still take advantage of super savings at TrailHeads by using the code VTRAIN20 for 20% site wide until January 17th! You can also still enter to WIN the Goodbye Girl Running Top until January 8th by clicking HERE for details.
Pick one of the above and answer it below OR pick all of them and post it on your blog, FB page or refrigerator! I’m especially interested in your random thought of the week and music ideas.
I love this set-up and will keep up with it in one of the 30 notebooks I found as I cleaned yesterday!! Awesome notes and happy new year! PS, wish I could quit as well…as I start back today after two weeks off 🙁
Ha ha – so many notebooks! I know how that goes…
Just quit already. I need a gym partner with kids as crazy as mine!
Sorry about the pack. I am even more sorry about the folks that had to sit out therein -4 degree weather! 30 miles is amazing! I am loving this new series 🙂 I love working out with the bestie but I will admit that I chat her up more than anything haha. There are in fact plenty hills in Central Park. I know this by experience 🙂 it depends on your route too. Good luck with the Rosetta Stone!!
Thanks Nellie! We did our fair share of chatting for sure but it felt good since I never get to do that. I cannot imagine there are hills in the park – I never would have guessed it!
I love, love, LOVE the new weekly post!! The Rundown is just the PERFECT name for it!! Well done!!
Your activity inspires me, Allie. I got a FitBit for Christmas and it has really helped me to get up and moving so much more. Maybe one day I will need paragraphs to describe all of my workout endeavors…maybe! 😀
I’ve always wanted to do Rosetta Stone in Italian, so I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you! I have Sisterhood on my Kindle, but I can’t get to it until I read my next book club book. Let me know how you like it!!
Happy New Year!! –Lisa
I’m so glad – thank you Lisa! I’m curious to see how you like the FitBit and if it’s accurate. That’s usually the biggest issue with those things.
I’m excited to start my language journey today. It seems like a great method so far but I’ll def keep you posted. As for Sisterhood – it was a slow start but I’m really getting into it now. It’s a very different and interesting story with building suspense. I hope the ending doesn’t disappoint!
Love your new weekly feature, Allie! I’ve been spending way too much time on the dreadmill too. Looks like the next few days will be spent inside too. Girls daycare is closed today because of snow and dangerously low temps. I just finished reading a YA book called Wonder. It was a fast read and really good. I’m kinda addicted to YA.
Thanks Nicole! Sorry you’re stuck inside too – it’s awful!
YA can be good (and quick!) I loved The Hunger Games series!
YES, there are some kick arse hills in Central Park…that being said, with your mountain of a home street, you’ll be just fine!!
Seriously, right? I just wouldn’t have been prepared for them! Can’t wait!
This is a great feature! It will keep me motivated and focused as well! I guess I will pick racing. I haven’t done a race since September. My first race of 2014 will be February 2 two days before my 44th birthday. I have never raced in Winter so this should be interesting. I’m sure you will do great in your half in March!
How exciting! My race in NY will also be about a week before my 39th birthday so I totally get it! As for winter running – it’s all about having the right clothes, gloves, socks and hat! Experiment a lot before race day so you know what works. Looking forward to reading all about it!
Great feature, Allie. Looking forward to weekly updates.
Right now we’re expecting a high of 0 degrees here in the Midwest. Finding interesting ways to exercise without leaving the house is a challenge.
Wow 0!? That’s insane. We were “up” to at least 5 here over the weekend and today it’s raining and 50! Gotta love the Northeast. Good luck with your home workout!
Great idea for the rundown! I want to get back on track with listing my workouts from the week, too. Excited that you’re part of the detox! By the way, smoothies or juicing is totally optional- I’m a chewer too, so I don’t think I’ll be drinking any of my meals. 🙂
Thanks Laura! I know it’s optional but I’m thinking it’s a lot easier for some meals and something I’ve been wanting to do anyway…
So far, so good on my first day – except for that sugar in my coffee 🙂
Great idea to hold yourself accountable! I definitely need stuff like this!! Can’t wait to hear how awesome you do in Spain!
Thanks Michelle. I hope it works!
Oh my gosh–A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of my all time favorite books! Read it to the end, please!! And if it makes you feel any better, I am a Ravens fan. Last year the Super Bowl. This year, nada, zip, zilch. Being a football fan can be hard! ; )
Great week of training for you.
OMG I can’t believe that!? Most people have never even heard of that book and I read it EVERY Christmas so I’m going on my fifth or sixth time around. Psycho I know, but it’s a tradition. I cry at the end every time.
As for football, I know, I know but those losses are so hard, aren’t they?
Ahhh so much Allie! First, I sooooo want to be able to ride outside. The winter kills me. I practically cry when I store my bike for the winter. Second, there is definitely at least one mad hill in Central Park. I bike it and it kills me every time. Third, yay for NYC! We are so having a fit date. Fourth, I have the Rosetta Stone Italian and the most difficult thing is downloading and setting up the program so don’t feel bad. Oh and getting the stupid mic to work each time…
Hey Britt!! So glad to have you “back” and thank you so much for saying that about Rosetta Stone! The mic is also giving me issues – what the heck? I still can’t get over hills in Central Park – I cannot wait to get my feet on them 🙂
I just Googled Smarty Pants vitamins and I’m intrigued! I want them but..money! And six a day? Sigh. Snapea Crisps are my favorite.
My obsessive song of the week isn’t very good for working out – it’s “Clouds” by Zach Sobiech. If you haven’t heard of this, Google it! And then see the video of his family and friends singing the song he wrote before he died, in the Mall of America. It might make you sob.
Again, not workout music. And then there’s “Dare” by Gorillaz.
I love it.
I had no idea they were $$$? That stinks b/c they are soooo yummy and easy to just pop each morning! Snapea Crisps are my new fav snack.
I had better wait to Google “Clouds” until the boys go to sleep. I cry at the drop of a hat and don’t want to scare them. I’ll definitely check out “Dare” too. Thank you!!
Is there a story behind the adult bullying thought? 🙁
Oh yea there is. I was feeling very bullied by someone close to me this past week and they couldn’t really see it. It was frustrating and made me feel very small. Perhaps I can give it it’s own space here once I get over it…
I’ve been toying with a weekly post too – something like “things I’m loving” but with a much more creative name like you have. Clearly I will not be starting it to coincide with the new year…
Anyway, I’m reading Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany. It’s a pre-publication copy, and I’m enjoying it so far. It’s my 3rd book of 2014 – I read Wonder in about 3 hours on Saturday. It’s a middle school book, but it was excellent.
You really should have some kind of recurring LIST Dana! Ha ha ha.
I also downloaded “We Are Water” by Wally Lamb after I saw you read it and he’s one of my most favorite authors. I haven’t made it through the foreword yet but hey, I’m working on it.
Nicole at Work In Sweats Mama also mentioned “Wonder.” Now that you are too, I’m going to have to add it to the list!
NYC is surprisingly hilly which we learned when John raced the NYC Aquaphor Triathlon. I ran outside on Saturday in 20 degrees. I am going to call that my limit. I was uncomfortable. My first race is April 6. The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. Need to make reservations.
That is crazy about the hills. I never would have guessed it.
20 degrees is not for the faint of heart. You can certainly dress for it but, depending on how far you’re running, it gets uncomfortable.
Love that you’re doing the Cherry Blossom 10 miler! Can’t wait to read about it and see the pictures!
Let’s not even talk about the Pack…
I’m reading The Book Thief right now. It’s good but also terribly depressing. I want to stop reading it but it’s for my new book club that’s meeting in a couple of weeks. Maybe I can find the Cliff notes version? 😉
I’d rather not. We’ll pick up the conversation in September.
I heard that about that book and I feel ya. I do not need depressing right now!
Lol @ I’m a chewer. Me too I totally need to feel the food in my mouth. Once I tried the Martha’s Vineyard diet where you only drink juices and stuff. I think I lasted an hour and a half. I’m inspired by your fitness training and I’m looking forward to the weekly feature.
Thanks Melissa! Although the “juicing” isn’t required, it’s kind of easier when you’re restricting so many food groups. I did ok yesterday but I still had real sugar in my coffee!
Your son is so cute! At least Green Bay made it to the playoffs this year. The Cowboys didn’t and I don’t even think Jerry Jones is going to learn from his mistakes all these years :(. I hope so. I know you’re training for a marathon again right? 81 miles between a bike and running? Wowsers! I’ve never been one to drink my calories either. I’m sure you will be in your world when you get those recipes 🙂
Thank you! I hear ya about the Cowboys. I had Romo on my fantasy team and well, I didn’t make it to the playoffs either. Unfortunately, you’re probably right about Jerry Jones too.
I’m training for a LONG Duathlon which is a run/bike/run. I hope to someday train for another marathon. “Just” running is infinitely easier.
What a great way to recap a week.
Thought of the week: People are blogging faster than I can read. And I take on too much because I want to feel accomplished. Okay, thoughtS for the week.
Amen sister!…especially that brutally honest part about taking on too much. *raises hand* me too, me too!
Lol at the Rosetta stone download! I think your rundown is inspiring and slightly intimidating my friend! You are beasting it for sure and I know there is only more to come with all that you have planned this year. I love this new addition. I agree about the bullying. I don’t have any profound thoughts to share, maybe next week when I haven’t just worked 7 nights in a row 🙂
Thanks so much Joi. Now go get some sleep my friend!
I love the Rundown!!! I’m excited that you are going to share this part of your journey with us!!!
Good luck on the Spanish lessons – I know you can do it – maybe you can listen and practice while you are on the treadmill!!! (or not!)
I’m sorry that you have had to deal with a bully of any sort – I just don’t get it!!! It’s awful when kids bully others but to think that adults are being bullies blows my mind.
Thanks Kim! I thought about doing it on the treadmill to fight boredom. I also think, with all those creative justices flowing, I may be better equipped to absorb all that language. I’ll let you know…
Bullies are horrible no matter your age. It changes when you’re an adult (obviously) but doesn’t feel any better.
I love this! And the name “The Rundown” makes me picture The Rock in that cheesy movie of the same name. This is a good thing. I spend many winter hours on the treadmill simply because I refuse to run in the dark. Maybe you can learn some Spanish while you’re treadmilling. 🙂
OMG I had no idea there was a cheesy The Rock movie of the same name. Must Google it.
A few others suggested that about the treadmill and I think it’s a perfect idea!
Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
I’ve heard the hills are killer in CPK! I was actually thinking of you when I was running in NJ since you did a hill training vlog not long ago. There are no hills where I live now so when I was with mom for the holidays, the hills in her neighborhood were killing me – in a good way.
And whatever the bullying deal is, I am so very sorry. You are so freaking awesome in every way. No one deserves that.
Thanks Ilene. I’ve worked out the bullying scenario as best I can. Now I just learn from it and move on!
Hills can definitely kill when you’ve been running nothing but flats. Your hamstrings and glutes were thanking you I’m sure 🙂
Love the rundown and can’t wait to follow weekly.
Yes, there are significant hills in Central Park (there’s Cat Hill and the upper 100’s hills) and they’re nasty. I have no doubt that you will tackle them with your amazingness!
One last word to end my comment – OWEN!!!!
Of course you know THE VOICE!!!! Just makes me love you that much more. I’m almost done with it and I don’t want to finish and leave him for another year. Happens every time.
I cannot wait to feast my feet and lungs on these CP hills you speak of! So much excitement.
Wait, let’s go back to these mileage…30 miles Allie? Round of applause goes to you! And to think I was once a track runner. Never claimed long distance though. Please do a review on your Rosetta Stone journey!
It wasn’t all at once 🙂 Thanks Andrea and I will definitely do a RS review. So far, so good. I love their method and I have my dad to actually talk to in Spanish and ask questions so I have a little edge.
Love the recap. Congrats on NYC, I applied for the lottery but wasn’t as lucky 🙂 Totally loving my Smarty Pants gummy vitamins as well, I even went and bought the big bottle off of amazon. Good luck on the detox, I’m a chewer as well so drinking my meals is not my first choice!!
Thanks for the tip to buy the Smarty Pants on Amazon! Too bad about NYC:-( I’m sure you will have plenty of other races lined up.
The detox is going well so far…only day two!
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We have so much in common it is frightening! I love this weekly run down idea. You should allow people to link up, cause I’d love to join in. I need some more accountability.
I got on the treadmill again last night for the first time in about two months. I plan to run a 15K and a 1/2 marathon in March. So I need to be held accountable.
And I want to let you know that living without wheat is not as difficult as I thought it would be. Kraft makes these AMAZINGLY good rice crackers that make an excellent treat with almond butter or goat cheese spread on them. And after LOTS of experimenting, I found a really great gluten free flour – it’s got everything already needed to make it work without blending flours and adding stuff, and from what I can tell, it works awesome. We made homemade pancakes with it, that I liked better than the normal stuff, and I’ve made oatmeal cookies. I’m gonna test it out on a loaf of homemade bread today! It’s called “Perfect Flour Blend” by Namaste foods and I bought it at the Home Goods store.
I’m definitely going to allow link ups next week (it will be my first one!) so I’d love to have you! You have some great goals and yes, we all need the accountability.
I really appreciate all the tips on the wheat-free ingredients. The great thing is that it’s so easy to get these days. Good luck with the bread! Sounds delish 🙂
Writing a blog certainly is a way to help with accountability!!!!! BOOM! And guess what, I am going to KEEP YOU ACCOUNTABLE TOO!
Random though: Why are Zebras black and white? Why can’t they be purple and orange? And who decided that the zebras should be called zebras?!
You are going to love this GiGi. Since I’m a SAHM and have nothing better to do…ahem…I looked up your random thought on the most trusted source I know: Wikipedia. The answer?
“Zebra originates from the Italian word zebra, which originates from Portuguese “zevra” which means “wild ass.” This in turn is from Vulgar Latin Equiferus, meaning “wild horse.” Let those wild asses run!
I’m not sure about colors. You’re on your own there…
I need me some Rosetta Stone in my life. Between my 2 years of Spanish, my kid’s 4 years of Spanish, and the other kid’s 3 years of Spanish, all we can say to each other is hola. That’s a doggone dirty shame.
Same here – shame, shame, shame! My dad is Cuban and I took YEARS of Spanish to no avail. Hopefully this will do the trick!
“My kids…when they are sleeping”! Allie you are a woman after my own heart because I agree with this statement WHOLEHEARTEDLY! I swear I have unconditional love my children, but the love is just a little more for them when they are fast asleep for nap time and the evening! Sleeping kids are the BEST kids! LOL! I was really pulling for the Packers too, even though you know why. 😉
I think ALL moms can agree on that one!!
I’ll be routing for the Panthers this weekend – I hope they destroy the 9ers 🙂
Thanks Britt.
Oh man. My kids were so upset that Green Bay lost at the last minute! And yes, they are much more endearing when they are sleeping!! Awesome week of workouts lady!
Thanks Christine! My son Miles was routing for the “gold” team just to taunt me. He’s such a sweetheart. I’m glad at least your kids knew which team to route for! 🙂
Packers loss was a tough one. I’m going to join a pool this week and I can’t wait! Swimming is my first love (And Jen’s!). I can’t stand adults who bully/who are passive aggressive to get their way. I finally realized I needed to say what I meant, not sugar coat things, and they STILL didn’t understand. Some people never grow up.
Yes! So true. I’m definitely working on being more straightforward and I thought that would “fix” the problem, unfortunately some people just don’t get it. Thanks Kristin. Happy swimming!