Hitting the reset button was a success! I had an awesome weekend of workouts. Nothing was just checked off, it was all done with a purpose - to get faster, stronger, better. Here's what I rocked:
Saturday Morning: Got a babysitter and Sam and I headed to our team ride. 2 hours and 15 minutes. I figured that was going to do a number on the lady parts so I made sure I had some chamois butter and got to it. We did hill climbs today. It was painful. It was hard. My quads were on fire. I was actually afraid to get off the bike because I didn't know if I could walk. I went hard. The hardest I've pushed in a ride so far. I didn't hold back because "I have 2 hours more to do". I just stayed in the moment and pushed. Coach Rob was not there, and I wanted to make sure if anyone reported back they would be able to say "Ann and Sam brought it today".
Saturday Afternoon: We were so beat from the ride, but wanted to get our swim in to. It's about a 35 minute workout. Not too hard and we figured it would feel great on our legs. We couldn't find a sitter right away so I went first and Sam stayed with the boys. I don't normally feel a difference between the warm up and the main set with the swim. BUT.....today I did! Yeah me! I even did flip turns - I know, I know...pretty bad ass :)
The rest of the day was playing with the boys, stretching, laying around, and watching some TV. Pretty nice day.
Sunday Morning: My brother and his fiance came and watched the boys so Sam and I could do a team run. They were meeting at Burke Lake at 9am to run. I needed to do a tempo run, Sam needed to do 4 miles, and most of the rest of the team was doing at least 18 miles. Yeah. That's right. 18 miles. Speedy people that run an easy pace at 9:07. That's faster than my race pace! It was a little chilly to start, but warmed up. It was a great run. My legs burned and I was tired, but I got it done and my race pace was pretty steady around 9:30. I like that. Especially for a trail run, the day after a bike and swim.
Let me tell you about Sam. He has never run burke lake. He hasn't run more than 3 miles before. He rocked it! He finished the loop (4.5 miles) with just a tiny walk. His legs were tired, but he got through the mental toughness of the distance increase. Sometimes it's just plain scary to increase mileage.
Coach Rob was there. We saw the group a few times - in between their loops of death - most of them ran a 9:ish pace and Coach Rob said he did 19 miles. Ugh. That's alot. I ended with 7.22 miles and Sam had his amazing 4.5! What a great day.
Sam hung with the boys for the afternoon and I went with Alyson to Uno's for a Brain Tumor Fundraiser. It was great girl time and we took our time to catch up and relax. Today is my day off and I have really EARNED it. It's supposed to be in the 70's today too!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Where's the reset button?
The last 2 weeks have been filled with craziness and have wrecked my scheduling genius. I've been out of my routine just long enough to not want to get back into it. Of course, it's pouring rain today - that makes it even harder.
What did I miss this week? So far......I've missed a EZ 4 miler, speed work, a bike trainer ride......ugh. Just seems to be piling on top of me. I know I just need to get back into it. Hopefully I can run today and maybe get that ride in and feel like I'm more on top of it.
Tomorrow am is the group trainer ride. Coach Rob wont be there (in-laws in town) but we will be there because there is no chance I can get a 2 1/2 hour ride done by myself. That's a lot of sitting in the saddle (gonna have to lather on the chamois butter). I need to swim and run on Sunday too. All of this I CAN do. I WILL do. My reward? Going to a fundraiser with my best friend and having some girl time to relax at Uno's.
Here's to a rainy Friday of pulling my head out of my ass and getting it done.
As Coach Rob would say "HTFU"
What did I miss this week? So far......I've missed a EZ 4 miler, speed work, a bike trainer ride......ugh. Just seems to be piling on top of me. I know I just need to get back into it. Hopefully I can run today and maybe get that ride in and feel like I'm more on top of it.
Tomorrow am is the group trainer ride. Coach Rob wont be there (in-laws in town) but we will be there because there is no chance I can get a 2 1/2 hour ride done by myself. That's a lot of sitting in the saddle (gonna have to lather on the chamois butter). I need to swim and run on Sunday too. All of this I CAN do. I WILL do. My reward? Going to a fundraiser with my best friend and having some girl time to relax at Uno's.
Here's to a rainy Friday of pulling my head out of my ass and getting it done.
As Coach Rob would say "HTFU"
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Why I got a coach this season
The last 2 weeks have been tough for scheduling, family, work, etc. Everything hasn't gone completely crazy - but it's been tough. After driving to and from Alabama I'm exhausted, we've had some daycare drama that left me emotionally exhausted, and Sam has been in Ca for work (but gets home tonight!).
We decided to get a Tri coach this year. Not so much to get on the podium - but to make sure we can do the races we want to, do them well, and have fun doing it. Our coach is awesome! I sent him an email yesterday telling him I feel guilty about missing a few runs here and there and that I promised I'm trying. Having a coach that checks in on you and tells you what to do is great. I really didn't know what I was doing all last year - I had fun but ended up over training and that was NOT fun. I'm doing more now than ever and I feel great.
Well, Coach R got my email and promptly called me. He talked me off the ledge and now I feel better. He said he was proud of my work, this is base mileage, and it will all be ok. Phew!
My first race is the Nation's 1/2 Marathon March 26th. It's not my A race. I need to remember that. I want to make Sam and Coach R proud - but it's not my A race. I've never thought that way before. I ran every race last year as a possible PR. That's one way to burn out and over train.
NOT THIS YEAR!
I've got my sights set on a 1/2 mary PR in June and a 1/2 Ironman in Oct.
We decided to get a Tri coach this year. Not so much to get on the podium - but to make sure we can do the races we want to, do them well, and have fun doing it. Our coach is awesome! I sent him an email yesterday telling him I feel guilty about missing a few runs here and there and that I promised I'm trying. Having a coach that checks in on you and tells you what to do is great. I really didn't know what I was doing all last year - I had fun but ended up over training and that was NOT fun. I'm doing more now than ever and I feel great.
Well, Coach R got my email and promptly called me. He talked me off the ledge and now I feel better. He said he was proud of my work, this is base mileage, and it will all be ok. Phew!
My first race is the Nation's 1/2 Marathon March 26th. It's not my A race. I need to remember that. I want to make Sam and Coach R proud - but it's not my A race. I've never thought that way before. I ran every race last year as a possible PR. That's one way to burn out and over train.
NOT THIS YEAR!
I've got my sights set on a 1/2 mary PR in June and a 1/2 Ironman in Oct.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Britney, The Biebs, Eminem, Dr. Dre
This last week was a crazy one. We drove to Alabama Friday at 5pm for Sam's grandpas funeral. He was super old, had a few strokes - we saw it coming. We went to see family, support his parents, and say goodbye to Pappy. Sam got us there in 19 1/2 hours.....straight! He did this with the help of 2 red bulls, coffee with a shot of caffiene (warning: no more than 2 in a day), Mt. Dew, Coke, and 3 5 hour energy shots.
We got there Saturday at 11:30am, stopped for lunch at Sonic (yum) and went to his uncle's house. Pop Pop took the boys to the park (they were rested since the slept the WHOLE NIGHT) and we napped. The weekend was beautiful. It was great to see family.
I'm not going to lie. I got a chillie cheese dog, tater tots, and a Cherry Limeade. Yum. I did feel sick after I ate it, but totally worth it at first. Mason did not finish that hotdog, I mean look at it. HUGE. I think he laughed more than ate.
The boys had so much fun with all their cousins. They hadn't met before so it was tons of excitement. We played as much as we could since we were only there a few days.
So, no hills in Fair Hope Alabama. None. Not even many turns. I didn't have an ipod, Garmin (WHAT!?), watch - nothing. I just ran. I started and just went. I kept thinking I'll turn around at the next hill - doesn't exists. I'll turn around at the next fork in the road - nope.....just kept going. I ended up doing 8.3. Felt UH-MAZING. I saw many runners, walkers, and a few Tri Bikers.
Mason was super worn out. He slept on the couch for a long time. He ended up getting a stomach bug and throwing up the first day we drove home (took 2 days). That was great. Puke. Car. Car seat. Yuck. They were good, but you can only drive so long on red alert. We stopped in a hotel and stayed the night. Mason woke up a new man. We made it home and Mason walked in and threw up. Yuck. But we were home!
The rest of the week flew by (thursday and friday). Emotionally and physically I was just drained. I did a 4.5 mile run on Friday (supposed to be 5 miles), Saturday I was supposed to do 14 miles. That didn't happen.
I wanted to check 14 miles off the plan, but mentally I did not want to do it. I was tired but knew I needed to get back into it. My mom came to watch the boys and out I went.
I was pretty bitter during the run. I had water and tunes. I just downloaded Glee (Bieber) and Dr Dre/Eminem's new song (LOVE IT!). I wanted to stop at 5 miles, I kept going. I hated every hill, I forgot my chapstick, the wind was unbelievable! and I hated the number 14. I just had to get to 7 miles, then I could turn around. Easy Peasy. Nope. At 5.25 I turned around. I couldn't run into the wind anymore. At one point I actually walked and when I couldn't walk against it I just turned around and ran the other way. Kinda silly. Stupid wind.
I got back to my street. I had 1.2 miles left. I can do that. I was going to run the loop around my house that is just about 1.2 miles. Nope. A neighbor stopped me that I needed to talk to and that was that. 12.78 miles. Not bad - but not what I wanted. grrrrrr. My legs and back are still sore from fighting the wing.
Yesterday I swam. It was great. I don't feel fast yet, but I do feel strong and "pretty". I swam 1250 - all freestyle. I even did my last 200 straight, instead of 100/rest/100. I liked that. What I didn't like was the rudiculousness in the locker room. This lady was having a chit chat totally naked. I mean....totally. Of course, she was using the locker RIGHT.NEXT. to mine. ugh. She was lotioning, talking, brushing her hair. Do you really need to do all that naked? When I heard her say "yogurt just doesn't agree with me" I had to leave. I showered - forgot shampoo, conditioner, and soap! - and got dressed.
What a week! I took the boys to see MegaMind. It was hilarious. We had a great day and now it's a new week. I'm pretty sore, really tired....and doing it all again.
We got there Saturday at 11:30am, stopped for lunch at Sonic (yum) and went to his uncle's house. Pop Pop took the boys to the park (they were rested since the slept the WHOLE NIGHT) and we napped. The weekend was beautiful. It was great to see family.
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| Mason's hotdog from Sonic....HUGE |
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| The cousins! |
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| My view for an 8 mile run |
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| Mason was SOOOOO tired |
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| At Bass Pro Shop. TONS of animals...they thought it was the zoo |
The boys had so much fun with all their cousins. They hadn't met before so it was tons of excitement. We played as much as we could since we were only there a few days.
So, no hills in Fair Hope Alabama. None. Not even many turns. I didn't have an ipod, Garmin (WHAT!?), watch - nothing. I just ran. I started and just went. I kept thinking I'll turn around at the next hill - doesn't exists. I'll turn around at the next fork in the road - nope.....just kept going. I ended up doing 8.3. Felt UH-MAZING. I saw many runners, walkers, and a few Tri Bikers.
Mason was super worn out. He slept on the couch for a long time. He ended up getting a stomach bug and throwing up the first day we drove home (took 2 days). That was great. Puke. Car. Car seat. Yuck. They were good, but you can only drive so long on red alert. We stopped in a hotel and stayed the night. Mason woke up a new man. We made it home and Mason walked in and threw up. Yuck. But we were home!
The rest of the week flew by (thursday and friday). Emotionally and physically I was just drained. I did a 4.5 mile run on Friday (supposed to be 5 miles), Saturday I was supposed to do 14 miles. That didn't happen.
I wanted to check 14 miles off the plan, but mentally I did not want to do it. I was tired but knew I needed to get back into it. My mom came to watch the boys and out I went.
I was pretty bitter during the run. I had water and tunes. I just downloaded Glee (Bieber) and Dr Dre/Eminem's new song (LOVE IT!). I wanted to stop at 5 miles, I kept going. I hated every hill, I forgot my chapstick, the wind was unbelievable! and I hated the number 14. I just had to get to 7 miles, then I could turn around. Easy Peasy. Nope. At 5.25 I turned around. I couldn't run into the wind anymore. At one point I actually walked and when I couldn't walk against it I just turned around and ran the other way. Kinda silly. Stupid wind.
I got back to my street. I had 1.2 miles left. I can do that. I was going to run the loop around my house that is just about 1.2 miles. Nope. A neighbor stopped me that I needed to talk to and that was that. 12.78 miles. Not bad - but not what I wanted. grrrrrr. My legs and back are still sore from fighting the wing.
Yesterday I swam. It was great. I don't feel fast yet, but I do feel strong and "pretty". I swam 1250 - all freestyle. I even did my last 200 straight, instead of 100/rest/100. I liked that. What I didn't like was the rudiculousness in the locker room. This lady was having a chit chat totally naked. I mean....totally. Of course, she was using the locker RIGHT.NEXT. to mine. ugh. She was lotioning, talking, brushing her hair. Do you really need to do all that naked? When I heard her say "yogurt just doesn't agree with me" I had to leave. I showered - forgot shampoo, conditioner, and soap! - and got dressed.
What a week! I took the boys to see MegaMind. It was hilarious. We had a great day and now it's a new week. I'm pretty sore, really tired....and doing it all again.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Bring it!
Dinner plans last night blew up in my face. Sam had to get his car worked on and it took FOREVER, so that left me and the boys to fend for ourselves. I can cook, but not like Sam can. So I fed the boys and decided to eat after they went to bed. I had fiber plus pasta and a small plate of nachos (because anything bigger would just be gross). Well, after that awesomely nutritious dinner I did not feel well - weird.
I woke up this morning with the sniffles. I blame crappy eating. I'm sure I was getting a cold anyway, but eating junk did not help.
So I made up for it ate breakfast. I made my first oats in a jar! I was beyond excited. I layered coconut, dried cherries, honey and some Nutella. I'm going to leave the Nutella out next time - too sweet.
It was so delicious! I brought it in the car with me to eat at work. It did not last long! I finished before I left the neighborhood!
Not sure what I'll mix in tomorrow, but I'm sure it will be yummy!
Now on to the workout for the week:
Monday: Day Off!!!! BUT, I had a swim to make up. So I swam 1200
Tuesday: Bike trainer 70 min
Wednesday: nothing yet
Thursday: Bike trainer 70 min
Friday: nothing yet
Saturday: 2.5 hours on the trainer! yikes!
Hopefully I'll be able to walk after this week!
I woke up this morning with the sniffles. I blame crappy eating. I'm sure I was getting a cold anyway, but eating junk did not help.
So I made up for it ate breakfast. I made my first oats in a jar! I was beyond excited. I layered coconut, dried cherries, honey and some Nutella. I'm going to leave the Nutella out next time - too sweet.
It was so delicious! I brought it in the car with me to eat at work. It did not last long! I finished before I left the neighborhood!
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| coconut, steelcut oats, honey, cherries, nutella |
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| inhaled! |
Not sure what I'll mix in tomorrow, but I'm sure it will be yummy!
Now on to the workout for the week:
Monday: Day Off!!!! BUT, I had a swim to make up. So I swam 1200
Tuesday: Bike trainer 70 min
Wednesday: nothing yet
Thursday: Bike trainer 70 min
Friday: nothing yet
Saturday: 2.5 hours on the trainer! yikes!
Hopefully I'll be able to walk after this week!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Another week done!
Phew! I made it through another week of training. This week was a crazy one - I guess when you have a 2 1/2 and 4 year old most weeks are crazy.
Monday: Core/Strength
Tuesday: Run 5 miles/ Bike 65 minutes
Wednesday: Tempo Run
Thursday: Bike 65 min
Friday: Run 5 miles
Saturday: 2 hour ride
Sunday: Swim 1200/ Run tempo (8ish miles)
Monday: Day off. Some core work
Tuesday: 5 miles 57:09 outside in a hilly neighborhood/ 65 min bike ride
Wednesday: Day off. Sammy home sick - up late at ER night before
Thursday: Tried to get tempo run in, tummy issues/ bike ride 65 min
Friday: 4.02 miles 47:09 (ran out of time to get the boys)
Saturday: Group Fexy ride. Legs felt like jello after 2:15 of riding
Sunday: Mason sick - no swim today/ Tempo Run 8.2 miles. NAILED IT! outside in the hilly neighborhood
Pretty good week. Family stuff came up, but I followed the plan and felt good about it. Nothing that I couldn't handle or put off until the next day. I'm getting much better about being flexible and not freaking out about change. Boy, do I hate change!
The Plan:
Monday: Core/Strength
Tuesday: Run 5 miles/ Bike 65 minutes
Wednesday: Tempo Run
Thursday: Bike 65 min
Friday: Run 5 miles
Saturday: 2 hour ride
Sunday: Swim 1200/ Run tempo (8ish miles)
What really happened:
Monday: Day off. Some core work
Tuesday: 5 miles 57:09 outside in a hilly neighborhood/ 65 min bike ride
Wednesday: Day off. Sammy home sick - up late at ER night before
Thursday: Tried to get tempo run in, tummy issues/ bike ride 65 min
Friday: 4.02 miles 47:09 (ran out of time to get the boys)
Saturday: Group Fexy ride. Legs felt like jello after 2:15 of riding
Sunday: Mason sick - no swim today/ Tempo Run 8.2 miles. NAILED IT! outside in the hilly neighborhood
Pretty good week. Family stuff came up, but I followed the plan and felt good about it. Nothing that I couldn't handle or put off until the next day. I'm getting much better about being flexible and not freaking out about change. Boy, do I hate change!
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| Building my breakfast of Steel cut oats, coconut, cherries, and banana! Yum! |
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| My new inspirational poster. Hopefully I will keep adding to it. |
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| My new obsession. Want to try the coconut milk too. |
Saturday, February 5, 2011
What's your running mantra?
I think it was in a Runner's World that they did a write up on running mantras. Most of them did not apply to me (they were written by elite runners). I would giggle saying half of them - "i'm the fastest one out here" - blah blah blah.
I do have one though. Can't remember where I got it, but I wrote it down and keep it in my wallet. I don't say it over and over - but I say it to remind myself of how far I've come and that I need to keep going.
I love it. It sums it up perfectly for me. What else is there to say? That's all I need. Or so I thought. :)
My Tri Coach - Coach R - has one too. He even got it tatooed on his leg. I've started using it too, as it really gets me through rough moments.
It makes me laugh, it makes me not take myself so seriously, it makes me push, it makes me through being a weenie out the window.
What's your mantra? What do you say to yourself to get moving?
I do have one though. Can't remember where I got it, but I wrote it down and keep it in my wallet. I don't say it over and over - but I say it to remind myself of how far I've come and that I need to keep going.
"I do not run. I am a runner."
I love it. It sums it up perfectly for me. What else is there to say? That's all I need. Or so I thought. :)
My Tri Coach - Coach R - has one too. He even got it tatooed on his leg. I've started using it too, as it really gets me through rough moments.
"HTFU" (harden the fuck up)
It makes me laugh, it makes me not take myself so seriously, it makes me push, it makes me through being a weenie out the window.
What's your mantra? What do you say to yourself to get moving?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
What hasn't happened this week?
Let's start with the good. I completed another crazy week of Tri training by Coach R. Whew! On paper it looks terrifying:
Monday: Strength
Tuesday: Run 5 miles/ 1 hour on the bike trainer
Wednesday: Run 9 miles (treadmill - gross)
Thursday: 1 hour on the bike trainer
Friday: 5 miles
Saturday: 1 1/2 hour group bike trainer ride
Sunday: 1 hour swim workout/ run 12 miles EZ (got to do this one outside!)
I did the whole thing. Woot woot! I really didn't know if I would be able to. But, apparently my coach knows what he's doing.
Sam is up to running 2 1/2 miles straight - which is HUGE! He's also running at a 9:30 pace, which is my race pace. So naturally I'm jealous and pissed :)
My mom found out she does NOT have breast cancer! She had a scare last week and found out Monday that she does not have it, just a cyst. We brought her flowers, wine, and chocolates. Pretty nice celebration.
Now for the "bad". My 4 year old woke up at 11 pm last night and couldn't breathe! We were terrified. He was puffy, could hardly talk, and was barely breathing. We called 911 - they got here so fast! My husband went with him to the hospital where he got a breathing treatment. They diagnosed him with croup - weird he didn't have ANY symptoms other than a restricted airway.
It was pretty terrifying. I feel hungover from lack of sleep and stress today. We are laying on the couch watching movies. He's doing better and just ate his weight in tater tots. Of course, Mason (2 years old) slept through the whole thing! He woke up this morning with no clue what went on.
Why can't I get these photos to turn? Grrrr!!!!
Monday: Strength
Tuesday: Run 5 miles/ 1 hour on the bike trainer
Wednesday: Run 9 miles (treadmill - gross)
Thursday: 1 hour on the bike trainer
Friday: 5 miles
Saturday: 1 1/2 hour group bike trainer ride
Sunday: 1 hour swim workout/ run 12 miles EZ (got to do this one outside!)
I did the whole thing. Woot woot! I really didn't know if I would be able to. But, apparently my coach knows what he's doing.
Sam is up to running 2 1/2 miles straight - which is HUGE! He's also running at a 9:30 pace, which is my race pace. So naturally I'm jealous and pissed :)
My mom found out she does NOT have breast cancer! She had a scare last week and found out Monday that she does not have it, just a cyst. We brought her flowers, wine, and chocolates. Pretty nice celebration.
Now for the "bad". My 4 year old woke up at 11 pm last night and couldn't breathe! We were terrified. He was puffy, could hardly talk, and was barely breathing. We called 911 - they got here so fast! My husband went with him to the hospital where he got a breathing treatment. They diagnosed him with croup - weird he didn't have ANY symptoms other than a restricted airway.
It was pretty terrifying. I feel hungover from lack of sleep and stress today. We are laying on the couch watching movies. He's doing better and just ate his weight in tater tots. Of course, Mason (2 years old) slept through the whole thing! He woke up this morning with no clue what went on.
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| wearing my new Nathan hydration pack before 12 mile run |
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| Shirt and Medal from Pacers |
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| EVERYONE can see me in this shirt! 9 miles on the dreadmill |
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