On Friday night I drove home from my middle school track meet in tears. I was ready to be done. I just had dinner with Stewart and told him I was getting my money back from ironman and calling the season done After a long day at work with sports fest and then a long track meet, I was hurting so bad I could barely sit through dinner. I just wanted to go home and lay on the heating pad and sleep. In fact since March 21, that has been my main goal. Get to bed, lay on heat and try to sleep. Hence the word try to sleep. I was in so much pain at night, I would wake up every 30 minutes it seems. Let's just say I have not been a real fun person to be around. I can not imagine how people out there live with chronic pain. I know there are plenty out there that have more pain than I and it is everyday and I can not imagine it. The pain that I felt pretty much clouded everything I did. From being a good mom, wife, athlete, employee, etc. It was also so frustrating because I wanted to do more and physically couldn't or was just too worn out. Stewart has picked up major slack on household duties for me these past few weeks. Doing my job has just been awful. The other day one of the coaches, yelled run! I had to yell back, I can't. I need to be able to be physical at work. My job is not one that is fun to do when you are hurting. I am always up, moving, motivating kids, etc. It's hard when in the back of your mind you just want to lie down.
I can almost remember the good ole days of no pain. It was March 21, I had been running great. Feeling on top of the world. Hitting every work out. I just had an awesome bike where I was so pleased with my paces and was ready and thinking my season was going to be great if I kept this up. Maybe even feeling a little cocky. Karma anyone? Then everything fell apart. A groin injury from this bike ride which then led to IT band issues, butt, hip, lower back and then laughingly shoulder issues has made the last 6 weeks hell. And for fun I got to run a marathon in the middle of this in cold windy rain. Looking back on this race I thought I was mentally weak because I felt like I just gave up. Now I think it maybe was one of the most mentally strong moments I have had in a while. I have lots of mental strength to move forward and forge ahead. This is something that has been an asset my whole life and one that served me well in my first marriage. Pick yourself up after every blow and just keep marching. I am proud to say it is something that I have tried to instill in my kids because I believe it is a very strong character trait to have and one that will serve you well in life. It has also served me well in training and racing. I may not have the time to train ideally or the physical strength of a superb athlete but I do have my mind. But lately I could really feel my mentality waning. There is nothing I do not like more than a quitter and I was about to become one. My overall daily satisfaction was at all time low. I felt it was just too much , had reached the end and I was going to allow myself to quit.
So after the marathon I really did nothing for 10 days but swim and bike easy. Hence the incredibly painful shoulder issue on the side with my metal plate. After 10 days I ran for the first time. I was really nervous about this run because I knew it was not going to be pretty. My legs still were somewhat tired. I still am in awe of how much recovery I needed after that marathon. I guess when you run 18 miles on legs that are done, they get tore up pretty bad. As I predicted the run was a joke! Slow, painful and all those issues were back times ten. I really just wanted to throw a temper tantrum in the middle of the street. I have been known to do. Ok, maybe more than once especially in ironman training. I also have ran a whole hour run on the trails in tears. Not out of physical pain but out of mental exhaustion. So I am no stronger to some bad training days. This time I went straight to Marty our PT as school and we examined everything. I am so lucky to have the resources I have at work and those guys went to town.
So back to being ready to throw in the towel... Friday night I went to bed and prayed for a sign, a sign I should continue or quit. Saturday I woke up and had a great - ok good but in my mind it was great 65 mile bike and a pretty decent run. Today I ran 40 minutes and it was the hardest 40 I have ran in awhile. I CANNOT BELIEVE I RAN A MARATHON 15 days ago. It was so much work to get the leg to do the running motion and do it correctly. I never concentrated so much on a run. I had sweat pouring down my head and I was slow but I was running and almost running normal! Plus I Was so happy to be back on the trails. They are my happy place and something I had abandoned too much during marathon training. Although the leg was tight and not right I had no pain and none after. I swam and had minimal pain after the swim. Was this my sign?? Saying don't give up yet, you got this. I really think it was. I think it was the answer I needed. Yes, you are not perfect but you are improving. It will be work but you can do this. We can beat this injury and I am sure the others that may come. It is going to be some work to get to the finish line but once again I feel ready to put it in. PT, yoga, strength exercise, etc but I need to get through this season. I am still in awe that I made it through 2 days of training and felt ok. I am hoping this was not a fluke because I really do feel it was my sign that said we are going forward, not backward Leslie Crais. Put on your big girl pants and get moving! Now about that race I have in two weeks, that is another story. I am not sure what will happen but hey I have two weeks and in just 24 hours I feel like I made leaps and bounds.
The day was great, It was filled with church, kids activities, soccer games, hanging out on the patio with family and the whole time I kept thinking to myself - nothing hurts... you don't hurt. I am calling this weekend a victory!!
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Boston....
****Please excuse all typos and grammatical errors
Boston....
What can I say about this day. I have so many thoughts whirling in my head that I may just need to do talking points or a list.
I guess I can start with the disclaimer that I really do not like a marathon. And I can't figure out why? I can run a 50k and think it is the best thing ever but a marathon not so much. Maybe it is all those miles on the pavement and I just really need the trails to enjoy the long. Boston was my 4th open marathon to run and will probably be my last. After running the Ironman marathon this Sept then I most likely will never do the 26.2 distance again. Who am I kidding? I may never race again. I really am having trouble with feeling any kind of race mojo this season. I joke of retiring but that joke may be coming more of a reality. So back to my feelings on the marathon. My first ever was St. Jude back when Morgan was about 3 and I was new to running. I just had to try it out. Riley's good friend had just died of cancer and I thought why not?? Well.. I ran it with no nutrition and no idea what I was doing and HATED it... I even yelled at my family when they cheered for me on the course. I said I would never do another and didn't for quite some while.
I ran the Indiana Marathon many years later because Jennie Vee and others were training for it and I thought it would be fun! I qualified for Boston and as I came across the finish line I was miserable. JV yells you qualified!! Be happy and I yelled I will never run another marathon again. And I did not run Boston that year. Fast forward to 2014, once again I thought I wanted to do another Marathon. Signed up for Baton Rouge and hoped to qualify. I was running some but not a lot. Stewart and I had just gotten engaged and we were traveling and busying just enjoying each other so I missed a lot of long runs but did lots of shorter faster stuff. Marathon day dawned and It was beautiful weather and a great course and I "faked " it and ran 6 mins faster than my qualifying time. I again qualified for Boston and thought this is your third chance to go, you are not getting any younger, you need to go. So I went...
Training was going great and I felt great. I wasn't running tons of miles but I felt fit. I expected a pretty good race and I thought the day would be great. Then I got hurt and it would not heal so I quit running and then I quit biking and then I quit swimming. I ran for the first time the day before the race to see how it would feel. It wasn't painful but it wasn't right. I ran 6 minutes but I felt exhausted and I asked Stewart what is our pace?? The 8:30 felt like a 6:30. I hurt the rest of the day after that run and that night at dinner, JV says you look like you are limping.
So before I get to the race, I keep pondering what went wrong? Why did my legs completely fail me? Yes, the conditions were not great but I do not believe they were a factor. Maybe they were some and I just did not realize it. Was it because I had done no significant running in over 3 1/2 weeks and no running at all for 10 + days? Was it because I was running slightly different due to my left leg? Was it because I had been on a steroid leading up to the race and my nutrition sucked. I had lost about 4 lbs because with a steroid I just don't want to eat and my eating leading into the race was certainly not fueling my body. Sure I had a nice pre race carb dinner but can that make up for a week of not fueling properly?? Did I go out too fast? Based on what my paces were in training and what I ran with ease, I feel no. I would run in the low 8's easily on my long runs and finish up in the high 7's. I truly felt like an 8:20-8:30 pace was in the conservative zone. Was it because my legs had no activity whatsoever for days leading into the race and then it was just too much? Was it because I really do not like a marathon and mentally I was not present. Who Knows?
I do know this.. Boston is a beautiful city. The people take great pride in their city and their race and I was super impressed how they were out in the cold rain supporting us. I loved how whole families would be out there giving us water, cookies, oranges, etc . It was a great atmosphere in a wonderful race full of tradition but like I told Stewart no matter how much you dress it up it still is a marathon.
So.. race day dawned and it was predicted to be pretty crappy. Yes, I was not thrilled about it but I was fine with it. I have raced and trained in bad conditions so it was what it was. We got on the bus later so we would not have to sit out in the field too long in the cold and wet. Our plan worked pretty well because we were dropped off, stood in the potty line and then it was time to walk to our corral. A man was saying to each of us as we walked by.. Be proud of yourself. This is an accomplishment. You should be proud and I got a little teary because this was something that I kept reminding myself. This was just not any other marathon but I was still having trouble feeling it. People around me were so pumped up and were saying I can't believe I am here? I can't stop smiling! etc... and I just wasn't feeling any of it. Maybe it goes back to having no race mojo as stated above or maybe it was because I was super worried about the left leg and how it would perform on this day. The race started and I tried to get caught up in the excitement. I cheered, I sang to the music, I hit hands as I ran by but not sure if my heart was really into it. I was thrilled to notice I had no shooting pain going into my groin even though I did feel like I was favoring my right side quite a bit. The 10k went by really fast. I was glad my family and friends were receiving text messages of my splits because I had told them if you see 8's all is good, if you see 9's or higher something is not right.
About mile 7 I noticed my right more than my left quad was burning, really burning and I pretended not to notice. Both legs felt really fatigued. I pushed it out of my mind because really there was no way at mile 7 I should be feeling this type of fatigue and pain. Ignoring it I kept running and I have to say I loved the crowds but was really disappointed that no one around me was talking. I would have loved to have found a group to chat with. I would hear bits and pieces here and there of chatter but that was it. It seemed everyone was focused on the task at hand. So I hit my first dark spot about mile 9 to mile 12. Really? This was way too early but my legs were tired and hurting and the miles were taking forever! I really just wanted to be done already. I was so looking forward to the half point because then I felt like I could just begin the countdown. We did enter Welsey College around mile 12 and this was fun and I think it did do something to help brighten my mood. I felt in a happier place and came around for a bit. We started to hit the hills around mile 16 and my legs just felt like they had nothing in them and the downhills by this point were so painful. By mile 18, I was once again in the dark place and my main thought was to get finished. I was so envious thinking of Jv who I knew because of little bit was going to cut the race short. I would have given anything to quit at that point. And I am not going to lie.. many times the thought of screw this went through my head. I felt close to tears and I was not having much fun. Stewart had said he would be at mile 21 and I was praying that he was. I needed to be able to tell someone how bad I felt, how this sucked, and how I wanted to quit. I felt like if I could voice this it may be all better. Well he was not there but I did seem to hit a rally point around here for a bit. I noticed we had lots of downhill and was so disappointed I could not take advantage of them. The legs would not allow it. I began to repeat the mantra shuffle your feet in my head because if I tried to really pick them up, they just hurt. At this point, I was just on major countdown. I spent the remainder of the race this way. Counting the miles or half miles, trying to pull my head into the game and enjoy where I was , feeling pain and fatigue in my legs, and wanting to be done. Stewart was at mile 24 and somehow we missed each other. I would have loved to see him at this point. As I rounded the corner and saw the finish line, I told myself to get it together, you were doing something that people dreamed of, to enjoy it, to realize where you were, to take in the moment because I felt like I would not be back.
People around me were crying, hugging, celebrating and I did a forced victory sign as I held my hands up in the air. I was just so happy to be able to stop moving. Unfortunately I still had quite a trek back to the hotel. I struggled to move forward, numbly grabbed a bottle of water, had my finisher's medal put around my neck, had a sweet volunteer dress me in my finishing warming blanket as I was like dressing a two year old and now just as my focus had been to reach the finish line, my focus was now laser beamed to reach the Sheraton hotel. It seemed as soon as I quit running the rain and wind picked up but maybe I was just now noticing. I was cold, shaking, and barely walking. I knew we had to loop around to Stuart street but played dumb and tried to cut down other streets but this was a no go. It was crowded as hell and I was bumping into people everywhere because I wanted to get to the hotel as quickly as possible. I was so jealous as I walked by the family meeting area and saw family members helping others walk and I had no one to drag or carry me. A man jumped out in front of me and said can I please get your picture I am from Competitive Magazine. Not today sir. Nothing was keeping me from moving forward. Finally entered the Prudential center which connected our hotel so it was now warm and dry but unfortunately I had to keep moving. A man stopped me and asked was I able to get on any warm clothes? I guess I looked as hellacious as I felt. I mumbled something about trying to get there. I bumped into Stewart in the lobby who was in a highly celebratory mood and wanted to bring me outside for pictures etc and said JV and the group are meeting at 5 napkins. My response was get me to the room. No pictures, no food, I just needed a hot bath.
This run really did me in. I came off the finish line from an Ironman ready to eat, drink, celebrate. Hell I played putt putt with Noah the next day. This is no lie, my legs hurt so badly I would have accepted a wheelchair for the rest of my trip in Boston. I also was so disappointed as I felt like we didn't get to enjoy the city as much as planned after the race. It was rainy, cold, and I was moving like a 100 year old woman. I love traveling with Stewart and checking out new places and I did feel a little depressed that this did not happen post race. Even though we did have a great visit to Newport the day before the race.
To say the trip home was an adventure to say the least. An airport personnel actually asked me if I was going to be able to make it after watching me walk down some stairs. Stewart either caught a bug or food poisoning and spent the whole flight home throwing up. Both of us have never been so happy to see Memphis.
So in short.. It was a great experience. It is a great race. I had an awful day but feel truly blessed that I was able to experience it. Will I ever go back, highly unlikely but I have learned to never say never. As I always tell my kids you have to try things more than once because you should never make an opionion off your first try. And I am more than thankful that I have a body that can do what it can do. As I boarded the plane, the man behind me said Oh Boston.... that is my life long dream to get there and I have not been able to do it. I am still trying. Yeah... I jut did that.
Now.. time to recover. Yesterday work was painful. The kids were so sweet but I left track practice and went straight to bed. The act of walking and moving just wore me out. Today my legs feel better and feel marathon sore. They feel like what they should feel like after a marathon not the shreaded mess they were... ready for some Ironman training... I think :)
Please excuse all typos and grammatical errors.
Boston....
What can I say about this day. I have so many thoughts whirling in my head that I may just need to do talking points or a list.
I guess I can start with the disclaimer that I really do not like a marathon. And I can't figure out why? I can run a 50k and think it is the best thing ever but a marathon not so much. Maybe it is all those miles on the pavement and I just really need the trails to enjoy the long. Boston was my 4th open marathon to run and will probably be my last. After running the Ironman marathon this Sept then I most likely will never do the 26.2 distance again. Who am I kidding? I may never race again. I really am having trouble with feeling any kind of race mojo this season. I joke of retiring but that joke may be coming more of a reality. So back to my feelings on the marathon. My first ever was St. Jude back when Morgan was about 3 and I was new to running. I just had to try it out. Riley's good friend had just died of cancer and I thought why not?? Well.. I ran it with no nutrition and no idea what I was doing and HATED it... I even yelled at my family when they cheered for me on the course. I said I would never do another and didn't for quite some while.
I ran the Indiana Marathon many years later because Jennie Vee and others were training for it and I thought it would be fun! I qualified for Boston and as I came across the finish line I was miserable. JV yells you qualified!! Be happy and I yelled I will never run another marathon again. And I did not run Boston that year. Fast forward to 2014, once again I thought I wanted to do another Marathon. Signed up for Baton Rouge and hoped to qualify. I was running some but not a lot. Stewart and I had just gotten engaged and we were traveling and busying just enjoying each other so I missed a lot of long runs but did lots of shorter faster stuff. Marathon day dawned and It was beautiful weather and a great course and I "faked " it and ran 6 mins faster than my qualifying time. I again qualified for Boston and thought this is your third chance to go, you are not getting any younger, you need to go. So I went...
Training was going great and I felt great. I wasn't running tons of miles but I felt fit. I expected a pretty good race and I thought the day would be great. Then I got hurt and it would not heal so I quit running and then I quit biking and then I quit swimming. I ran for the first time the day before the race to see how it would feel. It wasn't painful but it wasn't right. I ran 6 minutes but I felt exhausted and I asked Stewart what is our pace?? The 8:30 felt like a 6:30. I hurt the rest of the day after that run and that night at dinner, JV says you look like you are limping.
So before I get to the race, I keep pondering what went wrong? Why did my legs completely fail me? Yes, the conditions were not great but I do not believe they were a factor. Maybe they were some and I just did not realize it. Was it because I had done no significant running in over 3 1/2 weeks and no running at all for 10 + days? Was it because I was running slightly different due to my left leg? Was it because I had been on a steroid leading up to the race and my nutrition sucked. I had lost about 4 lbs because with a steroid I just don't want to eat and my eating leading into the race was certainly not fueling my body. Sure I had a nice pre race carb dinner but can that make up for a week of not fueling properly?? Did I go out too fast? Based on what my paces were in training and what I ran with ease, I feel no. I would run in the low 8's easily on my long runs and finish up in the high 7's. I truly felt like an 8:20-8:30 pace was in the conservative zone. Was it because my legs had no activity whatsoever for days leading into the race and then it was just too much? Was it because I really do not like a marathon and mentally I was not present. Who Knows?
I do know this.. Boston is a beautiful city. The people take great pride in their city and their race and I was super impressed how they were out in the cold rain supporting us. I loved how whole families would be out there giving us water, cookies, oranges, etc . It was a great atmosphere in a wonderful race full of tradition but like I told Stewart no matter how much you dress it up it still is a marathon.
So.. race day dawned and it was predicted to be pretty crappy. Yes, I was not thrilled about it but I was fine with it. I have raced and trained in bad conditions so it was what it was. We got on the bus later so we would not have to sit out in the field too long in the cold and wet. Our plan worked pretty well because we were dropped off, stood in the potty line and then it was time to walk to our corral. A man was saying to each of us as we walked by.. Be proud of yourself. This is an accomplishment. You should be proud and I got a little teary because this was something that I kept reminding myself. This was just not any other marathon but I was still having trouble feeling it. People around me were so pumped up and were saying I can't believe I am here? I can't stop smiling! etc... and I just wasn't feeling any of it. Maybe it goes back to having no race mojo as stated above or maybe it was because I was super worried about the left leg and how it would perform on this day. The race started and I tried to get caught up in the excitement. I cheered, I sang to the music, I hit hands as I ran by but not sure if my heart was really into it. I was thrilled to notice I had no shooting pain going into my groin even though I did feel like I was favoring my right side quite a bit. The 10k went by really fast. I was glad my family and friends were receiving text messages of my splits because I had told them if you see 8's all is good, if you see 9's or higher something is not right.
About mile 7 I noticed my right more than my left quad was burning, really burning and I pretended not to notice. Both legs felt really fatigued. I pushed it out of my mind because really there was no way at mile 7 I should be feeling this type of fatigue and pain. Ignoring it I kept running and I have to say I loved the crowds but was really disappointed that no one around me was talking. I would have loved to have found a group to chat with. I would hear bits and pieces here and there of chatter but that was it. It seemed everyone was focused on the task at hand. So I hit my first dark spot about mile 9 to mile 12. Really? This was way too early but my legs were tired and hurting and the miles were taking forever! I really just wanted to be done already. I was so looking forward to the half point because then I felt like I could just begin the countdown. We did enter Welsey College around mile 12 and this was fun and I think it did do something to help brighten my mood. I felt in a happier place and came around for a bit. We started to hit the hills around mile 16 and my legs just felt like they had nothing in them and the downhills by this point were so painful. By mile 18, I was once again in the dark place and my main thought was to get finished. I was so envious thinking of Jv who I knew because of little bit was going to cut the race short. I would have given anything to quit at that point. And I am not going to lie.. many times the thought of screw this went through my head. I felt close to tears and I was not having much fun. Stewart had said he would be at mile 21 and I was praying that he was. I needed to be able to tell someone how bad I felt, how this sucked, and how I wanted to quit. I felt like if I could voice this it may be all better. Well he was not there but I did seem to hit a rally point around here for a bit. I noticed we had lots of downhill and was so disappointed I could not take advantage of them. The legs would not allow it. I began to repeat the mantra shuffle your feet in my head because if I tried to really pick them up, they just hurt. At this point, I was just on major countdown. I spent the remainder of the race this way. Counting the miles or half miles, trying to pull my head into the game and enjoy where I was , feeling pain and fatigue in my legs, and wanting to be done. Stewart was at mile 24 and somehow we missed each other. I would have loved to see him at this point. As I rounded the corner and saw the finish line, I told myself to get it together, you were doing something that people dreamed of, to enjoy it, to realize where you were, to take in the moment because I felt like I would not be back.
People around me were crying, hugging, celebrating and I did a forced victory sign as I held my hands up in the air. I was just so happy to be able to stop moving. Unfortunately I still had quite a trek back to the hotel. I struggled to move forward, numbly grabbed a bottle of water, had my finisher's medal put around my neck, had a sweet volunteer dress me in my finishing warming blanket as I was like dressing a two year old and now just as my focus had been to reach the finish line, my focus was now laser beamed to reach the Sheraton hotel. It seemed as soon as I quit running the rain and wind picked up but maybe I was just now noticing. I was cold, shaking, and barely walking. I knew we had to loop around to Stuart street but played dumb and tried to cut down other streets but this was a no go. It was crowded as hell and I was bumping into people everywhere because I wanted to get to the hotel as quickly as possible. I was so jealous as I walked by the family meeting area and saw family members helping others walk and I had no one to drag or carry me. A man jumped out in front of me and said can I please get your picture I am from Competitive Magazine. Not today sir. Nothing was keeping me from moving forward. Finally entered the Prudential center which connected our hotel so it was now warm and dry but unfortunately I had to keep moving. A man stopped me and asked was I able to get on any warm clothes? I guess I looked as hellacious as I felt. I mumbled something about trying to get there. I bumped into Stewart in the lobby who was in a highly celebratory mood and wanted to bring me outside for pictures etc and said JV and the group are meeting at 5 napkins. My response was get me to the room. No pictures, no food, I just needed a hot bath.
This run really did me in. I came off the finish line from an Ironman ready to eat, drink, celebrate. Hell I played putt putt with Noah the next day. This is no lie, my legs hurt so badly I would have accepted a wheelchair for the rest of my trip in Boston. I also was so disappointed as I felt like we didn't get to enjoy the city as much as planned after the race. It was rainy, cold, and I was moving like a 100 year old woman. I love traveling with Stewart and checking out new places and I did feel a little depressed that this did not happen post race. Even though we did have a great visit to Newport the day before the race.
To say the trip home was an adventure to say the least. An airport personnel actually asked me if I was going to be able to make it after watching me walk down some stairs. Stewart either caught a bug or food poisoning and spent the whole flight home throwing up. Both of us have never been so happy to see Memphis.
So in short.. It was a great experience. It is a great race. I had an awful day but feel truly blessed that I was able to experience it. Will I ever go back, highly unlikely but I have learned to never say never. As I always tell my kids you have to try things more than once because you should never make an opionion off your first try. And I am more than thankful that I have a body that can do what it can do. As I boarded the plane, the man behind me said Oh Boston.... that is my life long dream to get there and I have not been able to do it. I am still trying. Yeah... I jut did that.
Now.. time to recover. Yesterday work was painful. The kids were so sweet but I left track practice and went straight to bed. The act of walking and moving just wore me out. Today my legs feel better and feel marathon sore. They feel like what they should feel like after a marathon not the shreaded mess they were... ready for some Ironman training... I think :)
Please excuse all typos and grammatical errors.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Gaining Fitness...
I love blogging, not sure why because most of it is meaningless drivel but just fun to get thoughts on the paper or screen. I have written several posts that did not get published but still liked expressing my thoughts. Most with no rhyme or reason. One post was on the everyone's a winner and the finisher medal but due to being blasted, just kept those feelings to myself. I also thought about doing a post to my trip to Miami which was incredible by the way but this started years ago as a training blog so I seem to have trouble using it for anything else. On a side note, I believe I would move to South Beach in a heartbeat. The city is always up and going! The food was incredible and after training in crappy weather, running, biking, and swimming outdoors was a dream come true.
Training is moving along and I have to say after 2 years of just mucking around, I am loving working with a coach. I love that my thinking part has been taking out of the process and I can just do. Lately most of the do has been going well. I keep waiting for the week where I can't hit the workouts and the paces but for the most part I just keep feeling more fit and stronger. I had an amazing first day on the bike outside the other day. I have been doing mostly stuff on the trainer with some outside rides here and there but was really impressed with my average on Saturday for a 40 mile ride so early in the season. I hope it was not just beginner luck or the fear of being left out in the middle of not knowing where I was but a trend that will continue. My run fitness is feeling great! As I was running a progression run the other day I was thinking how much of a genius my coach is - as I am training for this marathon, I have found that I just love it. If I was training myself I would just be slogging the long miles every weekend, I get so many weekends off where I run by time and higher intensity and it has kept me fresh and healthy. We also go by heartrate so it is so fun to see the paces I can hold at certain hr's. It also takes the stress out of having to run a specific pace for tempo or progression runs as I just stay in a certain zone and my fitness indicates the pace. As the marathon gets closer, I am returning to the track and the work outs she sends have been fun! The other day I could not wait to get to the track and do the work out and it did not disappoint, I guess anytime you can look forward to hitting the track and thinking this is going to be fun - you must be doing something right.
Swimming is going, I feel great but am not fast. I just don't even look at the clock and just swim. I get those days when I feel awesome because all the 60 and above are swimming next to me and then I get those days when I feel slow when the 10 year old is schooling me in the next lane. But I just don't care, It is what it is. This new attitude also has me loving the pool for the first time ever. Some days I prefer to swim over running. This Wednesday I do have a swim test scheduled which I will not lie scares the shit out of me. I just want to be my zen self in the water - not stressing on going all out but not blowing up .. etc... but it will nice to get some feedback and see where I am on swim times.
Even thought my training hours are not huge right now, I have begin to feel some of the effects of training for an ironman... random hungriness at certain times. The other day Stewart said you are always eating. Oh Baby you have seen nothing yet. Wait until you find me at 3:00 am cooking in the kitchen. The random grouchiness has set in. I can be laying there fine and the next minute ready to bite someone's head off. The house cleaning laziness has set in. Last week I peaked on Thursday and went down hill. Stewart had to pick up the slack because if I wasn't interacting with the kids, I was tired and just wanted to read. I am also blaming the awesome book I am reading right now as part of this laziness. The it is 8:00 and I am going to bed now tiredeness. And I have started to feel the real effects in my legs, just feeling tired - so tired sometimes. Thankfully I am on rest week this week as this weekend kind of got me. I was pretty much the walking dead from about 4:00 on yesterday but had my parents over for dinner so life had to go on.
I do have some random Ironman goals going on in my head... I have always done ironman just to finish but this year being that it may be my last has me thinking otherwise... not sure what they are yet but they are in debate and thought of often. The other day at the pool, Suzy says I think you could go to Kona if you really wanted to. That my friends I can tell you is not a goal, there is no really want to in that area.
Boston goal is to relax, run , and enjoy the day. I am run fit and am hoping this fitness will carry me along. I do not want to be a slave to the garmin and miss out on this great running experience. That is easier said than done because it will be very hard to shut my mind off. I thought of just running with no garmin but am afraid that if I do that, I will go out like a banshee and the latter part of the race will be miserable. I noticed on my progression run yesterday that I can run a 7:00 minute pace down hill in low zone 3. I do not need to go out at a 7:00 minute pace at the start of a marathon so a garmin will be worn to protect me from myself. My goal this day is run and have fun and hopefully I can get caught up in the atmosphere that I will forget that I even have a garmin on my arm. I do it easily in Ironman so hope the same can be done here.
Loving these warm temps right now and so looking forward to more. I love the heat, I love the feeling of leaving a work out looking like I just stepped out of the shower. I am more than ready for the summer and seeing what it has to offer on the training front.
Happy Training!
Training is moving along and I have to say after 2 years of just mucking around, I am loving working with a coach. I love that my thinking part has been taking out of the process and I can just do. Lately most of the do has been going well. I keep waiting for the week where I can't hit the workouts and the paces but for the most part I just keep feeling more fit and stronger. I had an amazing first day on the bike outside the other day. I have been doing mostly stuff on the trainer with some outside rides here and there but was really impressed with my average on Saturday for a 40 mile ride so early in the season. I hope it was not just beginner luck or the fear of being left out in the middle of not knowing where I was but a trend that will continue. My run fitness is feeling great! As I was running a progression run the other day I was thinking how much of a genius my coach is - as I am training for this marathon, I have found that I just love it. If I was training myself I would just be slogging the long miles every weekend, I get so many weekends off where I run by time and higher intensity and it has kept me fresh and healthy. We also go by heartrate so it is so fun to see the paces I can hold at certain hr's. It also takes the stress out of having to run a specific pace for tempo or progression runs as I just stay in a certain zone and my fitness indicates the pace. As the marathon gets closer, I am returning to the track and the work outs she sends have been fun! The other day I could not wait to get to the track and do the work out and it did not disappoint, I guess anytime you can look forward to hitting the track and thinking this is going to be fun - you must be doing something right.
Swimming is going, I feel great but am not fast. I just don't even look at the clock and just swim. I get those days when I feel awesome because all the 60 and above are swimming next to me and then I get those days when I feel slow when the 10 year old is schooling me in the next lane. But I just don't care, It is what it is. This new attitude also has me loving the pool for the first time ever. Some days I prefer to swim over running. This Wednesday I do have a swim test scheduled which I will not lie scares the shit out of me. I just want to be my zen self in the water - not stressing on going all out but not blowing up .. etc... but it will nice to get some feedback and see where I am on swim times.
Even thought my training hours are not huge right now, I have begin to feel some of the effects of training for an ironman... random hungriness at certain times. The other day Stewart said you are always eating. Oh Baby you have seen nothing yet. Wait until you find me at 3:00 am cooking in the kitchen. The random grouchiness has set in. I can be laying there fine and the next minute ready to bite someone's head off. The house cleaning laziness has set in. Last week I peaked on Thursday and went down hill. Stewart had to pick up the slack because if I wasn't interacting with the kids, I was tired and just wanted to read. I am also blaming the awesome book I am reading right now as part of this laziness. The it is 8:00 and I am going to bed now tiredeness. And I have started to feel the real effects in my legs, just feeling tired - so tired sometimes. Thankfully I am on rest week this week as this weekend kind of got me. I was pretty much the walking dead from about 4:00 on yesterday but had my parents over for dinner so life had to go on.
I do have some random Ironman goals going on in my head... I have always done ironman just to finish but this year being that it may be my last has me thinking otherwise... not sure what they are yet but they are in debate and thought of often. The other day at the pool, Suzy says I think you could go to Kona if you really wanted to. That my friends I can tell you is not a goal, there is no really want to in that area.
Boston goal is to relax, run , and enjoy the day. I am run fit and am hoping this fitness will carry me along. I do not want to be a slave to the garmin and miss out on this great running experience. That is easier said than done because it will be very hard to shut my mind off. I thought of just running with no garmin but am afraid that if I do that, I will go out like a banshee and the latter part of the race will be miserable. I noticed on my progression run yesterday that I can run a 7:00 minute pace down hill in low zone 3. I do not need to go out at a 7:00 minute pace at the start of a marathon so a garmin will be worn to protect me from myself. My goal this day is run and have fun and hopefully I can get caught up in the atmosphere that I will forget that I even have a garmin on my arm. I do it easily in Ironman so hope the same can be done here.
Loving these warm temps right now and so looking forward to more. I love the heat, I love the feeling of leaving a work out looking like I just stepped out of the shower. I am more than ready for the summer and seeing what it has to offer on the training front.
Happy Training!
Monday, February 9, 2015
FYI.... this training is kicking my ass.....
I interrupt this life to throw in some training and that training is kicking my ass!! Training for tri season and Boston has started. I am back with my coach. She knows no mercy. She has me doing two a days most days and I had forgotten what that was like. She doesn't care that I am in a middle of the cross country series and I want to do well and I would really like to go into a race rested. Below are some random thoughts that have gone through my head since starting back with Liz on Jan. 1st
* You are getting too old for this...
* If only there was about 5 more hours in a day....
* I would pay to have someone come run long with me. I have done every long run alone because I am going at crazy hours. One day starting a 16 mile run at 4:00 pm on a Saturday
* You are strong, this is only making you mentally stronger... getting you ready for Ironman
* I am not sure if you are going to be able to do this...
* Of course you are going to do it, you are not a quitter, you committed to this and you will see it through.
* I joked about becoming a better swimmer by osmosis but it is true!!! After watching swimmers day after day and studying their stroke and form - I think after 8 long years, I am finally swimming correctly!! It is sweet, I can feel the difference in my stroke and when I revert to my old ways
* I am too old for this
* At least I get to eat and eat a lot.
* I can't believe I picked this time to give up diet coke but finding one in the trunk this morning was like finding gold. I haven't drank it yet but knowing it is in my office fridge is oh so sweet!! Just sitting there for my taking
* I may not feel like I am racing well but you are beating men that you normally don't beat even though you can't seem to catch that elusive girl in front of you
* You are giving up way too easy, you need to remember how to make it hurt and how to race, you almost have her, but I am so tired....
* I am too old for this
* Maybe I should retire but I think I would miss it
* I want a new bike
* Thank God for the Biggest loser, American Idol, and the Bachelor on Hulu - they have made the trainer rides great. And for Morgan giving me a complete DVD season of the Brady Bunch
* I need 5 more hours in a day or a way to do on less sleep.
* Thank God Noah can drive and can help out. He can drive little bits to school so we can be at the pool, running, or on the trainer at 5:30 am
* How much coffee do I need to seem awake
* I just really want to lay in bed and watch daytime tv and read my book
* I wonder how many things I can fit in one day
* I am down two toenails already... will I have any by ironman???
*Monday is here! OFF Day which has now become our Date day as well... we need to celebrate Mondays because one off day is really not enough
So - I have been in a bad place in training and really relying on Stewart to pull me along. Between work and coaching swim and the girls gymnastic and Noah's basketball and the house and trying to spend quality time with family and Stewart and cooking and shopping and everyday stuff I have been exhausted and doubting myself. Plus I have been training so much alone. The other morning I had a hill work out to do and it was cold and I just couldn't drag myself outside. I went to the gym and loved having people around me and music and coffee... it did my heart good. I also am praying that one day Stewart and I will get on the same training schedule. We are using the same coach and have the same A race. Surely our training will match up soon. All I know is I will be mentally ready for those long lonely miles in Ironman. I have spent so much time alone. But it also gives me time to think and I remind myself that I can handle anything on this journey and I will. So once that realization sunk in, my attitude changed. I knew I was in for the long haul taking one day at a time, the good, the bad and celebrating the fitness that I am gaining. Yesterday after running 18 miles ALONE with the 8k thrown in into what I am sure was the hilliest and windy 18 ever... :) I just wanted to go into bed but I went home showered, got dressed, devoured the bread basket multiple times at Coletta;s and had a great dinner with my family and parents ... I can do this. I will do this.
* You are getting too old for this...
* If only there was about 5 more hours in a day....
* I would pay to have someone come run long with me. I have done every long run alone because I am going at crazy hours. One day starting a 16 mile run at 4:00 pm on a Saturday
* You are strong, this is only making you mentally stronger... getting you ready for Ironman
* I am not sure if you are going to be able to do this...
* Of course you are going to do it, you are not a quitter, you committed to this and you will see it through.
* I joked about becoming a better swimmer by osmosis but it is true!!! After watching swimmers day after day and studying their stroke and form - I think after 8 long years, I am finally swimming correctly!! It is sweet, I can feel the difference in my stroke and when I revert to my old ways
* I am too old for this
* At least I get to eat and eat a lot.
* I can't believe I picked this time to give up diet coke but finding one in the trunk this morning was like finding gold. I haven't drank it yet but knowing it is in my office fridge is oh so sweet!! Just sitting there for my taking
* I may not feel like I am racing well but you are beating men that you normally don't beat even though you can't seem to catch that elusive girl in front of you
* You are giving up way too easy, you need to remember how to make it hurt and how to race, you almost have her, but I am so tired....
* I am too old for this
* Maybe I should retire but I think I would miss it
* I want a new bike
* Thank God for the Biggest loser, American Idol, and the Bachelor on Hulu - they have made the trainer rides great. And for Morgan giving me a complete DVD season of the Brady Bunch
* I need 5 more hours in a day or a way to do on less sleep.
* Thank God Noah can drive and can help out. He can drive little bits to school so we can be at the pool, running, or on the trainer at 5:30 am
* How much coffee do I need to seem awake
* I just really want to lay in bed and watch daytime tv and read my book
* I wonder how many things I can fit in one day
* I am down two toenails already... will I have any by ironman???
*Monday is here! OFF Day which has now become our Date day as well... we need to celebrate Mondays because one off day is really not enough
So - I have been in a bad place in training and really relying on Stewart to pull me along. Between work and coaching swim and the girls gymnastic and Noah's basketball and the house and trying to spend quality time with family and Stewart and cooking and shopping and everyday stuff I have been exhausted and doubting myself. Plus I have been training so much alone. The other morning I had a hill work out to do and it was cold and I just couldn't drag myself outside. I went to the gym and loved having people around me and music and coffee... it did my heart good. I also am praying that one day Stewart and I will get on the same training schedule. We are using the same coach and have the same A race. Surely our training will match up soon. All I know is I will be mentally ready for those long lonely miles in Ironman. I have spent so much time alone. But it also gives me time to think and I remind myself that I can handle anything on this journey and I will. So once that realization sunk in, my attitude changed. I knew I was in for the long haul taking one day at a time, the good, the bad and celebrating the fitness that I am gaining. Yesterday after running 18 miles ALONE with the 8k thrown in into what I am sure was the hilliest and windy 18 ever... :) I just wanted to go into bed but I went home showered, got dressed, devoured the bread basket multiple times at Coletta;s and had a great dinner with my family and parents ... I can do this. I will do this.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Love a little race report.... the 3k
This past weekend after about a four year hiatus I decided to do the cross country series. I really think the hiatus lasted so long because I really do not enjoy the first race the 3k. It is awful, miserable and I just really dread it. This year was no different. I started back with Liz on Dec. 31st with a bike test which almost had me puking on the compu trainer and for pitiful results. I then went from doing about 4 work outs a week to doing 6 days a week training with most days containing two work outs. I was tired and my legs were tired. I knew I would hate the 3k but felt like it would be a great work out so lets go with it. The day before my calves were extremely sore from the bike test, running long, and tons of jumping at 9 rounds so I went to my favorite Chinese Foot Massage and received an hour of their glorious magic. The next day when I showed up to the race and begin to warm up, my legs felt light and good! At least I had that going for me!!
The race could be summed up in one word - HARD!! Usually I am a happy racer smiling and acknowledging those around me but during this race I was pretty much blind. I was on the pain train and could hear people shouting my name but no way could I tell you who it was or acknowledge them.
Why was I in such a pain?? If you look at the results I averaged just a little over 7 minute pace. Well... here is the deal. If you have not participated in the 3k - you are missing out on one of the runs little painful secrets. You run the first mile in an open field and then enter the trails. At the horn, everyone bolts like a madman. Even Lane is saying over the meagaphone, this is the race where everyone goes out hard and fights to hang on. That sums it up. I go out at paces that I shouldn't even do a 200 in and then still have to race the rest of the race. I wish I could get everyone around me to agree to start out at a pace we can hold or at least not get caught up in the frenzy. The guy who was running next to me at the start of the race - told me afterwards that we were running a 4:50 pace at the start. So this year after trying to hold on to these crazy fast paces that did begin to slow at each 200 yds but were still too fast - I enter the woods and think Thank God! This is my place. I am a trail runner. But the woods were a muddy messy mess and the effort to run in them was double. I am a trail runner and kept talking to myself to go - go and begin to catch 2nd and 3rd place girl. If we would have just had another few minutes of woods running, I think I would have caught and passed them both. Came out of the woods right on their shoulders and thinking I am going to sprint this last .20 of open field to the finish. Forgetting that I am not a sprinter and they both had the same idea. So I finished 4th with about 6 seconds separating all three of us. My hope is at the 5k and 8k when we are in the woods the whole time that I can catch them. I really would like to be in the top 3 overall in this series.
Never with more joy did I cross the finish line and be so happy that a race is done. Went straight to the car and hit Starbucks - then went home and cleaned house with all my adorable children and ran countless errands before hitting church and having a birthday party for Stewart. And that was that... the race was forgotten. I love that I have now moved to the point to accept my performance for what it is. If you knew me years ago, I would have spent hours beating myself up for not pushing harder or going after those girls more aggressively etc. Now I figure that I did the best I could at that moment and it is a great place to be.
And now I am just counting the days to spring... brr... br.....
The race could be summed up in one word - HARD!! Usually I am a happy racer smiling and acknowledging those around me but during this race I was pretty much blind. I was on the pain train and could hear people shouting my name but no way could I tell you who it was or acknowledge them.
Why was I in such a pain?? If you look at the results I averaged just a little over 7 minute pace. Well... here is the deal. If you have not participated in the 3k - you are missing out on one of the runs little painful secrets. You run the first mile in an open field and then enter the trails. At the horn, everyone bolts like a madman. Even Lane is saying over the meagaphone, this is the race where everyone goes out hard and fights to hang on. That sums it up. I go out at paces that I shouldn't even do a 200 in and then still have to race the rest of the race. I wish I could get everyone around me to agree to start out at a pace we can hold or at least not get caught up in the frenzy. The guy who was running next to me at the start of the race - told me afterwards that we were running a 4:50 pace at the start. So this year after trying to hold on to these crazy fast paces that did begin to slow at each 200 yds but were still too fast - I enter the woods and think Thank God! This is my place. I am a trail runner. But the woods were a muddy messy mess and the effort to run in them was double. I am a trail runner and kept talking to myself to go - go and begin to catch 2nd and 3rd place girl. If we would have just had another few minutes of woods running, I think I would have caught and passed them both. Came out of the woods right on their shoulders and thinking I am going to sprint this last .20 of open field to the finish. Forgetting that I am not a sprinter and they both had the same idea. So I finished 4th with about 6 seconds separating all three of us. My hope is at the 5k and 8k when we are in the woods the whole time that I can catch them. I really would like to be in the top 3 overall in this series.
Never with more joy did I cross the finish line and be so happy that a race is done. Went straight to the car and hit Starbucks - then went home and cleaned house with all my adorable children and ran countless errands before hitting church and having a birthday party for Stewart. And that was that... the race was forgotten. I love that I have now moved to the point to accept my performance for what it is. If you knew me years ago, I would have spent hours beating myself up for not pushing harder or going after those girls more aggressively etc. Now I figure that I did the best I could at that moment and it is a great place to be.
And now I am just counting the days to spring... brr... br.....
Friday, January 2, 2015
ready for 2015!!
2014 was a great year!! I gained a fantastic husband and two great step children. Watching my children thrive in the new environment was great and watching Stewart be such a great step father to them was even more awesome. In the husband and father department he is top notch and so giving - I sometimes just can not really believe it. He also has really learned to push right back at me when I push at him which is great! I love it and he has learned I love a good disagreement! We had very few of those this year and spent most of the time just having a great time from lots of traveling to laying in bed playing cards or yatzee.
What we did not do a lot of was train. I felt like I did the bare minimum to have a decent half marathon and not to just gain a ton of weight because one thing I know if I did not want to change my eating habits. Luckily for me - I can get into somewhat decent shape on the bare minimum and feel like I am starting 2015 with a decent run base. Swim and bike not so much. I did a little of these but mostly just for play and to spend time with Stewart who was recovering from an injury and could not run. My bike test the other day was evident of my total lack of bike fitness. I also took up 9 rounds which is a boxing type interval gym and I totally love!! I am going to be sad when my tri season really begins to build and I have to put it by the wayside. The workouts are fun - quick - always changing and the people in there are great!
2015 brought back Liz as my coach and with her - I realize how little I really was doing on the training front. I look at the schedule she has sent me for the past 3 weeks and am thinking seriously?? Most days have 2 work outs a day. It has been a long time since I have done two a days. BUT I am also really rested and ready for the structure and work toward a goal. Stewart has hired her as well and he is loving it just a few days in. I knew he would because one thing my husband is is super organized and loves structure. He is totally fired up by looking at the schedule, doing what it says, and logging in his comments.
As for new year resolutions - I really have none but to continue to strive to be healthy, be active, a great mom and role model and to be a good role model for the kids at work. I did begin to give up diet coke about a month ago and think this is one goal that I will keep for the 2015 year. I have done so well and can go days without drinking one or just having a half of one on most days. I realized how much of a habit it had become and I was drinking them just because I always had one at 3:00 or always had one when I got home at night. I know how bad it is for you and I feel like that I spend most of my time trying to live a healthy lifestyle and this just does not fit. Wine may not fit either but that is staying around.
Here's to a great 2015 and may everyone reach their goals!!
What we did not do a lot of was train. I felt like I did the bare minimum to have a decent half marathon and not to just gain a ton of weight because one thing I know if I did not want to change my eating habits. Luckily for me - I can get into somewhat decent shape on the bare minimum and feel like I am starting 2015 with a decent run base. Swim and bike not so much. I did a little of these but mostly just for play and to spend time with Stewart who was recovering from an injury and could not run. My bike test the other day was evident of my total lack of bike fitness. I also took up 9 rounds which is a boxing type interval gym and I totally love!! I am going to be sad when my tri season really begins to build and I have to put it by the wayside. The workouts are fun - quick - always changing and the people in there are great!
2015 brought back Liz as my coach and with her - I realize how little I really was doing on the training front. I look at the schedule she has sent me for the past 3 weeks and am thinking seriously?? Most days have 2 work outs a day. It has been a long time since I have done two a days. BUT I am also really rested and ready for the structure and work toward a goal. Stewart has hired her as well and he is loving it just a few days in. I knew he would because one thing my husband is is super organized and loves structure. He is totally fired up by looking at the schedule, doing what it says, and logging in his comments.
As for new year resolutions - I really have none but to continue to strive to be healthy, be active, a great mom and role model and to be a good role model for the kids at work. I did begin to give up diet coke about a month ago and think this is one goal that I will keep for the 2015 year. I have done so well and can go days without drinking one or just having a half of one on most days. I realized how much of a habit it had become and I was drinking them just because I always had one at 3:00 or always had one when I got home at night. I know how bad it is for you and I feel like that I spend most of my time trying to live a healthy lifestyle and this just does not fit. Wine may not fit either but that is staying around.
Here's to a great 2015 and may everyone reach their goals!!
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Crazy Busy December and time to settle in.....
December has been nuts! I have been so insanely busy that I was no way ready for Christmas and was a total Grinch. But... after some shopping, Christmas tree and house decorating, and gift wrapping - I am beginning to get in the mood.
I started coaching swim this month unexpectedly and the kids are great. I love them. Swimmers rank up their with cross country runners... just really really sweet kids. I was extremely worried about coaching this team but I do the work outs two days a week and have a helper who comes in once to teach skill work and technique. She went to college on a swim scholarship and is amazing! I try to soak up all her tips as well. The bad thing is practice is from 7:30-8:30 which leaves for a late night. I can't decide if I like it or hate it. It is good that I can do my own work out, get dinner for the kids, etc before practice but then it is bad because it makes for a very long day.
I also finished off my run club with the St. Jude kids marathon. It was a really emotional day for me. The Lausanne kids were so pumped to be running and just being down there for that cause is just an amazing feeling. The kids run ran along the marathoners for a bit and as we rounded the corner and saw the stadium they were so excited. I have not done St. Jude in years but next year I am pretty sure I am going to run the half. I loved being part of the crowd and they did an awesome job with the kids race and after party.
We have celebrated Christmas big time this week as the kids will be with the other parents for the week before Christmas. We all had a secret Santa this week and we hid presents around the house for each other. We ended the week with a reveal party with way too much food and by then everyone had figured out who was who. Noah definitely took the prize for the most creative gifts. It was so fun buying for everyone. At our kids age it is hard to get them in the Christmas spirit. When they were younger, we had santa visits, enchanted forest, alpine village, etc to get them excited. As teenagers it is hard. This year I put a bunch of activities in a bowl. Make cookies, Make snowman ice cream, watch a Christmas movie, play Christmas Pictionary, Christmas Cake eating contest, go look at lights, etc and we picked one every morning to do that night. Lots of fun and all the kids had a great time.
Stewart rewarded ourselves with a quick trip to NOLA leaving the 19th and coming back the 22nd so I have a busy week getting everything ready for Christmas day!
And on the training front... I have hired my old coach Liz starting in January. I have been free wheeling it and doing just enough for a while now. With Boston and Ironman on the horizon figured it was time to get back to work. I do plan on doing the CC winter series which I have not done in forever so excited about that!! I am extremely nervous how I am going to fit IM training in my life so decided it was time to hand that back over to a coach. Liz is great, knows me, believes in undertraining vs overtraining and in the past she produced lots of PR's. January will be back to hitting the training in a more structured way ...
Happy December!!
I started coaching swim this month unexpectedly and the kids are great. I love them. Swimmers rank up their with cross country runners... just really really sweet kids. I was extremely worried about coaching this team but I do the work outs two days a week and have a helper who comes in once to teach skill work and technique. She went to college on a swim scholarship and is amazing! I try to soak up all her tips as well. The bad thing is practice is from 7:30-8:30 which leaves for a late night. I can't decide if I like it or hate it. It is good that I can do my own work out, get dinner for the kids, etc before practice but then it is bad because it makes for a very long day.
I also finished off my run club with the St. Jude kids marathon. It was a really emotional day for me. The Lausanne kids were so pumped to be running and just being down there for that cause is just an amazing feeling. The kids run ran along the marathoners for a bit and as we rounded the corner and saw the stadium they were so excited. I have not done St. Jude in years but next year I am pretty sure I am going to run the half. I loved being part of the crowd and they did an awesome job with the kids race and after party.
We have celebrated Christmas big time this week as the kids will be with the other parents for the week before Christmas. We all had a secret Santa this week and we hid presents around the house for each other. We ended the week with a reveal party with way too much food and by then everyone had figured out who was who. Noah definitely took the prize for the most creative gifts. It was so fun buying for everyone. At our kids age it is hard to get them in the Christmas spirit. When they were younger, we had santa visits, enchanted forest, alpine village, etc to get them excited. As teenagers it is hard. This year I put a bunch of activities in a bowl. Make cookies, Make snowman ice cream, watch a Christmas movie, play Christmas Pictionary, Christmas Cake eating contest, go look at lights, etc and we picked one every morning to do that night. Lots of fun and all the kids had a great time.
Stewart rewarded ourselves with a quick trip to NOLA leaving the 19th and coming back the 22nd so I have a busy week getting everything ready for Christmas day!
And on the training front... I have hired my old coach Liz starting in January. I have been free wheeling it and doing just enough for a while now. With Boston and Ironman on the horizon figured it was time to get back to work. I do plan on doing the CC winter series which I have not done in forever so excited about that!! I am extremely nervous how I am going to fit IM training in my life so decided it was time to hand that back over to a coach. Liz is great, knows me, believes in undertraining vs overtraining and in the past she produced lots of PR's. January will be back to hitting the training in a more structured way ...
Happy December!!
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