- Monday = Up before dawn, make lunches, find dress clothes that fit my skinnier body, bust a move to drive the hour to Osage Beach for conference breakfast (who thought 7 AM on a Mon was a good idea), spend all day at conference, bust move back to town to pick up daughter and take her to first volleyball "game" (no score was kept), then grab late dinner and pick up son from judo lesson and then home to regroup for the next crazy day.
- Tuesday = Up just slightly before dawn, make lunches, decide to wear same suit different blouse to deal with lack of business clothes, back to the lake, all day at conference (including presentation and panel discussion being one of four panelists), drinks with colleagues, grab Arbys on way back, back home to regroup for next day.
- Wednesday = Slept in until 6:10 AM, make lunches, back home to shower, up to Columbia to finish proposal on big street job and make copies, deliver proposal in Centralia, back to Jeff City by about 1:30, run around to shop for birthday gifts for daughter, pick up produce box from Stacy, home to wrap said bday gifts, out to dinner (pizza - ugh) for daughter's bday where she opened gifts, then to volleyball practice, then out to ice cream with daughter's friend whose parents were meeting with the guy they are buying a house from, then back home for girls to play until friend picked up and I shoved everyone towards bed.
- Thursday = Slept in until 6:20 AM, make lunches, back home to clean up and find another "business" outfit (repeated one blouse since different people), catch up on blogs instead of prepping for meeting, fly by seat of pants at meeting with client at 11 (only 11 miles out of town - not bad), back home to continue procrastinating and then pick up children and get through homework, etc. Ate a light dinner and drug myself out the door for a run (hallelujah - thank God for small miracles). Took the bank deposit by foot again - 5k better than nothing. Wasn't feeling it! Crashed into bed.
- Friday = Up at crack of dawn again, make lunches, find yet another business outfit (really need to go shopping to fit my new size 12 frame), drop kids at school at 7:08 and bust a move to St. Louis (Chesterfield) for all day seminar on various stormwater/erosion control products (did win a $25 gift card door prize at least), deliver 3 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to friend in St. Charles (which I didn't realize wasn't really on the way), sat on I-70 for 20-30 min trying to leave town, roll in at 6:55 PM and change and throw my stuff together to leave (after discussing a school incident with my son and one of the science baby chickens with my husband) and head out to the Girl Scout lock in (stopping by Walmart on the way to get a new air mattress because of course the 10 year old one has a slow leak). Spend night (notice this doesn't equal "sleep") at kids' school with a plethora of giggly girls.
- Saturday = After minimal sleep due to snoring mom (not me) and noisy air mattresses on tile floors, we got up at 6:10 and ate breakfast (or not as the case may be) and packed up to leave by about 8:00. Caught up on blogs while my phone charged and then ran out to get goodie bags stuff, craft stuff and groceries for a birthday party we are hosting at 3:30 PM. It is now 1:15 and the cakes/cupcakes are baked. The watermelon that she said she wanted with dinner is cut up. She got all the crafty stuff set out. Thinking it is time for nap. Too bad the weather is perfect for a bike ride. I'm not sure my patience will last on the minimal sleep though. Better bag the bike for tomorrow. Oh, except that tomorrow we'll have 15 people for lunch (family birthday gathering). Ugh - will have to shop for that after church tomorrow as I didn't have my act together to get it done today.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Crazy Busy Week/Weekend
I may or may not be an overachiever:
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Duathlon Practice
After a crazy week at work and a couple of seriously lazy (read "no workout" though lots of "work") nights/days, the beautiful weather told me it was time to kick some ass this afternoon. I put on sunscreen, sunglasses, my tri top and tri shorts (haven't worn them since last summer and was curious how they would fit with about 25 lbs less of me), my new Asics (with new speed laces) and decided to try out the idea of run, bike, run.
On April 7th, I'm going to do my first duathlon. Of course I figured if I was going to pay the money I might as well do the "long course" which really isn't that long in the scheme of things - 1.5 mi run, 15 mi bike and 3 mi run. They serve pizza from my favorite college hangout at the end so all should be good.
I haven't done a brick in close to six months (maybe longer?) and figured I should see how sucky it might be now that I'm a little more of a "runner" (ok, "jogger"). I set up a bit of a transition while my husband was preparing to mow. Then he hopped on the tractor and I turned on my music and went for a short run. Came back in 13:15. When I mapped it later, turned out it was 1.23 miles. Wahoo - that is a solid pace for me - under 11 min/mile. Even though I had gone to the bathroom right before I changed clothes, I felt like I had to pee the entire time I was running. So I did a super quick pee stop, shoe change and helmet fastening to head out on the bike (T1 = 1:45!).
Out to the Militia interchange, loop Scholastic, back to interchange, another Scholastic loop, back to intersection and back home via Wakoda - 58 minutes for what was later mapped as 13.67 miles! Another solid pace for me!! Yay! Got back as my husband was closing up the garage from putting away the lawn equipment and was thinking about my watch, him closing the door, whether or not I wanted to get some water - yeah, everything except the fact that my feet were clipped in. And tired legs aren't as interested in the little twist it takes to clip out! But just before I face-planted, I got my foot out. Doh! With the excitement, I forgot to look at my watch after changing back to running shoes and taking off down the street. T2 time = ??
Because the du run course is uphill in the back half, I thought heading down to Wavco and back would give me the hill experience on tired legs. I was hurting and hot at this point though and found my new speed laces were really too tight. Oops. Will have to adjust for some swelling. I was NOT having a good time. I walked some and ran some and even stopped to try to adjust the shoes a little. Finally decided to just power through and get home. I wasn't going that far. Got back in about 20 minutes for what was later mapped at 1.67 mi (with a long hill on the back half). I was actually pretty ecstatic to see a pace around 12 min/mi considering that used to be about my top speed and I knew I had not had a great 2nd run.
Things I learned today:
On April 7th, I'm going to do my first duathlon. Of course I figured if I was going to pay the money I might as well do the "long course" which really isn't that long in the scheme of things - 1.5 mi run, 15 mi bike and 3 mi run. They serve pizza from my favorite college hangout at the end so all should be good.
I haven't done a brick in close to six months (maybe longer?) and figured I should see how sucky it might be now that I'm a little more of a "runner" (ok, "jogger"). I set up a bit of a transition while my husband was preparing to mow. Then he hopped on the tractor and I turned on my music and went for a short run. Came back in 13:15. When I mapped it later, turned out it was 1.23 miles. Wahoo - that is a solid pace for me - under 11 min/mile. Even though I had gone to the bathroom right before I changed clothes, I felt like I had to pee the entire time I was running. So I did a super quick pee stop, shoe change and helmet fastening to head out on the bike (T1 = 1:45!).
Out to the Militia interchange, loop Scholastic, back to interchange, another Scholastic loop, back to intersection and back home via Wakoda - 58 minutes for what was later mapped as 13.67 miles! Another solid pace for me!! Yay! Got back as my husband was closing up the garage from putting away the lawn equipment and was thinking about my watch, him closing the door, whether or not I wanted to get some water - yeah, everything except the fact that my feet were clipped in. And tired legs aren't as interested in the little twist it takes to clip out! But just before I face-planted, I got my foot out. Doh! With the excitement, I forgot to look at my watch after changing back to running shoes and taking off down the street. T2 time = ??
Because the du run course is uphill in the back half, I thought heading down to Wavco and back would give me the hill experience on tired legs. I was hurting and hot at this point though and found my new speed laces were really too tight. Oops. Will have to adjust for some swelling. I was NOT having a good time. I walked some and ran some and even stopped to try to adjust the shoes a little. Finally decided to just power through and get home. I wasn't going that far. Got back in about 20 minutes for what was later mapped at 1.67 mi (with a long hill on the back half). I was actually pretty ecstatic to see a pace around 12 min/mi considering that used to be about my top speed and I knew I had not had a great 2nd run.
Things I learned today:
- It is a good idea to try out gear before race day. - speed laces need adjustment and tri shorts fit differently on my 166 lb body than they did on my 190 lb body and the tri top rides up a little.
- Had no chafing with my tri shorts last year, but I need some glide on my inner thighs now (this may be due to the change of body size or the change of saddle).
- I'm stronger and faster than I think I am.
- Bricks are less sucky when you don't go too far.
- I'm going to do just fine at the duathlon - Shakespeares Pizza here I come!!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Bank Run + More on Canoodling
First of all, I was apparently really tired when I wrote that post the other morning. I didn't remember even typing about my extra-curricular activities with my husband. I didn't realize I had put "canoodling" until I started getting comments about it. I had to go back and re-read what I had posted. And then, I totally laughed that no one managed to zing me for calling the post "Another Quickie" with talk of canoodling. Geez - totally missed opportunity. Oh, and I have no idea, but am guessing it doesn't have significant calorie burn to count as a workout. And, no, there are no canoes involved.
So I had the work day from hell yesterday. Super crazy deadline! But I got it done (and can't wait to bill them for it). However, I didn't manage to eat much all day and I was STARVING when I came home. That pear and a few granola nut clusters I had packed for my breakfast (plus an evil Mountain Dew) just didn't cut it for an all day CAD-drafting-fest.
My daughter's religion class homework this week was to do a family dinner where she planned the menu, helped prepare the food and decorated/set the table. So we had chosen Thursday night to complete this because it was the only night we didn't have other obligations this week. She selected "salad and chicken" for the menu - which meant "frozen fried chicken strips". Good enough. She helped me make a couple of really great salads for her parents and then cut up some favorite veggies for her and her brother (they didn't want salad - just carrots, celery and tomatoes). We tossed the chicken in the oven and she got busy "decorating" with little love notes to each of us - so sweet! Given my aforementioned crazy (and hungry) day, I devoured everything (tossing two small strips cut up on my salad which was awesome). I also had a big glass of water to wash it all down.
By the time we cleaned up dinner, it was well after six. Our bank branch (in Walmart) closes at 7 on weeknights and we had three checks to deposit. So I decided to run (literally) this errand. As I've mentioned before, it is about 1.5 miles each way to Walmart. I got to the bank in about 16 minutes and back in about 17. The sucky part was that having just consumed the vast majority of my day's calories only minutes before leaving, I got severe stomach cramps along the way and had to slow and walk it off. I got a drink of water at the bank (as I was sweating profusely) and regretted that immediately when I resumed running. So not crazy fast, but not bad considering. Entire errand took 39 min. Love it when I can take care of more than one thing at a time.
Got everyone tucked in after a nice hot shower with my husband. There may or may not have been more canoodling. Too bad I tossed and turned all night and feel a little like death on a cracker tonight. The boys headed off to Bennett Springs on a camping/fishing/hiking trip with Boy Scouts (my son's first "big" campout since his recent crossover from Cub Scouts). It has been raining all week so I pray it isn't a total disaster. It also turned off a bit cool which might be better than sleeping in the warm temps we've had lately. Me and the girl went to Pizza Slut for cheesey breadsticks and salad tonight (no pizza due to Lent).
Now she is snuggling in on the couch for whatever Disney or Nick show strikes her and I'm catching up here. I have some more work to do so I might try to dig into that. But I might just go to sleep too. Weather should be bikable tomorrow. Will see if the girl wants to hang with grandma while I get that done. I'm kind of sore from pushing my pace a little last night. Should bust out the foam roller before I hit the sack. Need to rest up for a girls night out tomorrow night (daughter going to sleepover)!
So I had the work day from hell yesterday. Super crazy deadline! But I got it done (and can't wait to bill them for it). However, I didn't manage to eat much all day and I was STARVING when I came home. That pear and a few granola nut clusters I had packed for my breakfast (plus an evil Mountain Dew) just didn't cut it for an all day CAD-drafting-fest.
My daughter's religion class homework this week was to do a family dinner where she planned the menu, helped prepare the food and decorated/set the table. So we had chosen Thursday night to complete this because it was the only night we didn't have other obligations this week. She selected "salad and chicken" for the menu - which meant "frozen fried chicken strips". Good enough. She helped me make a couple of really great salads for her parents and then cut up some favorite veggies for her and her brother (they didn't want salad - just carrots, celery and tomatoes). We tossed the chicken in the oven and she got busy "decorating" with little love notes to each of us - so sweet! Given my aforementioned crazy (and hungry) day, I devoured everything (tossing two small strips cut up on my salad which was awesome). I also had a big glass of water to wash it all down.
By the time we cleaned up dinner, it was well after six. Our bank branch (in Walmart) closes at 7 on weeknights and we had three checks to deposit. So I decided to run (literally) this errand. As I've mentioned before, it is about 1.5 miles each way to Walmart. I got to the bank in about 16 minutes and back in about 17. The sucky part was that having just consumed the vast majority of my day's calories only minutes before leaving, I got severe stomach cramps along the way and had to slow and walk it off. I got a drink of water at the bank (as I was sweating profusely) and regretted that immediately when I resumed running. So not crazy fast, but not bad considering. Entire errand took 39 min. Love it when I can take care of more than one thing at a time.
Got everyone tucked in after a nice hot shower with my husband. There may or may not have been more canoodling. Too bad I tossed and turned all night and feel a little like death on a cracker tonight. The boys headed off to Bennett Springs on a camping/fishing/hiking trip with Boy Scouts (my son's first "big" campout since his recent crossover from Cub Scouts). It has been raining all week so I pray it isn't a total disaster. It also turned off a bit cool which might be better than sleeping in the warm temps we've had lately. Me and the girl went to Pizza Slut for cheesey breadsticks and salad tonight (no pizza due to Lent).
Now she is snuggling in on the couch for whatever Disney or Nick show strikes her and I'm catching up here. I have some more work to do so I might try to dig into that. But I might just go to sleep too. Weather should be bikable tomorrow. Will see if the girl wants to hang with grandma while I get that done. I'm kind of sore from pushing my pace a little last night. Should bust out the foam roller before I hit the sack. Need to rest up for a girls night out tomorrow night (daughter going to sleepover)!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Another Quickie
After a really stressful day, followed by a quick stop at the grocery store while my daughter did her volleyball practice, I really wasn't feeling a workout. But when Stacy showed up, I drug myself off the couch and threw on my workout capris for some KenpoX. I'm glad I got my sweat on, but I never really got "into" it. Took a shower and did some canoodling with my husband before finally getting to sleep. Another crazy day on tap with an insane deadline, so I'd better get the lunches made and get ready to face it.
P.S. I'll try to look into Dailymile or similar for workout tracking, but for now the blog serves this purpose. Thanks for the suggestion.
P.S. I'll try to look into Dailymile or similar for workout tracking, but for now the blog serves this purpose. Thanks for the suggestion.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Just for the record
I like to be able to keep track of all workouts. After a full day of trying to get stuff done (including taxes - gee fun), all I have in me is a quick post. Stacy came over. We "Just Danced" and did AbRipperX. About an hour's worth altogether. Have been kind of bailing on core work lately so it was a good night to git'r done with the rain. Just wanted to get it posted for my own records.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Solid Bike Ride
The weather remains crazy warm, but this afternoon was a little cloudier and breezy (but still warm) so I took off on my bike while my dear husband and son mowed the grass for the first time. As I type this, I think they have now snuck off to the pond to go fishing (I heard our ATV fire up). Crazy weather for St. Pat's weekend for sure.
Just couldn't face more Scholastic loops like I've been doing so I decided to push myself on the new bike and head out towards the next town over. I did my usual up and over the Militia interchange and then headed out Algoa/Hwy J/Hwy M through Taos to the intersection with Y and back. On the way back, I went to make the turn from J to Algoa (short, steep grade) and dropped the chain. I started panicking because I was in the middle of the road (blind curve) and having trouble getting clipped out and due to the steep grade I basically wasn't moving and started to fall. Several curse words later, I was on the side of the road and getting my chain fixed no problem. But it left me a little shaky. But just after this spot is a seriously sweet (read: LONG) downhill. Ahhh....wind in my face felt good!
I'd been out for well over an hour and decided I'd just swing behind Scholastic on the way home and skip my usual loop-de-loop. There was a fair bit of traffic on M, but Algoa was quiet as usual for a Sunday. All in all, it was 18.6 miles according to MapMyRide. I did it in 1:32 - no crazy speed, but hanging in there.
Got back home and my son wanted me to hop off the bike and walk with him back to Wakoda to return a dog that had wandered to our house that we know lives down there. So I switched to tennis shoes and went with him for the mile-ish round trip walk. It reminded me that I need to do some brick workouts the next couple of weeks to prep for the duathlon.
Hope there is a touch of this weather where you are today. How was your weekend workout(s)?
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Luck of the Irish 5K
Got my girl up this morning in time to head out to her 3rd ever 5K. She will be 8 the week after next, but she was pumped to go. We ran into a ton of folks she knew and she was ready to rock this race. I didn't hold any preconceived notions because she tends not to pace well and the course had a few nasty hills. She took off with her cousins (11 next week) and stuck with him for about a half mile (he was going fast). I never lost sight of them, but they were ahead of me a ways.
Sure enough, on the 2nd good hill I saw her grab her side and wave him on looking for me. I caught up to her and she was super upset. Panicky even. Couldn't catch her breath with an awful side stitch. Then we had tears which was followed by complaining about choking on her snot. Lovely. I felt like an awful mom, but I really was just trying to talk her down as I knew she could do it. I was losing patience when finally she managed to shake the negative self talk and run little bits and pieces with me just before the turn around.
Then I'd say things like "How about we run just to that power pole up there?" and she'd get there and say "That wasn't that far, let's go to the next one!" So why in the hell couldn't she get to THIS mental place a mile ago? Ugh! But I took what I could get. I just wished we could have skipped the drama. Once she knew the finish line was close (about 3 blocks away), she took off from me in a full sprint. That girl is FAST! I couldn't catch up to her and she ended up finishing ahead of me.
They were reading off times as we came in, but I didn't catch it exactly. I think they said 39:something which would be a PR for me - LOL. It will only be because I was trying to catch her at the end. They haven't posted the results yet, but I know I could have run more than I did (especially the middle mile). I think I'll find a nice flat race in April to do alone to get a solid feel for what my "non-kid" PR should be. My running has come a long way this winter and I'd like to have a more accurate measure of it. But even with all the drama, I'm glad I shared my run with my daughter today. I was proud of her for sticking it out.
That speedy nephew of mine? He rocked a 28:11!! Took third in the 10 and under age group. AWESOME!! I'm so proud of him, but he didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal. Not sure if he could have placed had his birthday been a week sooner. LOL The 11-15 had some speedsters. My goal is to break 30 min. I know I can do it if I keep working at it. Probably just in time to see my kids get too fast for me.
It was super warm and humid. The rain rolled in and it stormed hard after we got home. Then this evening we headed up to school for the annual chili supper/art show/music program. Sat through 2nd and 5th grade songs and looked at the art projects in between. Dinner would've been much better had we not needed the a/c on in the cafeteria. Got a nice long sleeve t-shirt (cotton) with the 5K - not that you could stand to wear it today. The youth shirts didn't make it in so I have to pick up my daughter's at the Y on Tuesday.
EDIT: Official Results Are In - Daughter finished in 40:04 for 8th out of 13 in the 10 and under girls age group. I came in just behind her at 40:14 for 46/57 in the 30-39 women's runners. A PR by 1 min 35 sec even with my daughter's drama and a course with some hills (previous PR at Pie Run was on a FLAT course).
Sure enough, on the 2nd good hill I saw her grab her side and wave him on looking for me. I caught up to her and she was super upset. Panicky even. Couldn't catch her breath with an awful side stitch. Then we had tears which was followed by complaining about choking on her snot. Lovely. I felt like an awful mom, but I really was just trying to talk her down as I knew she could do it. I was losing patience when finally she managed to shake the negative self talk and run little bits and pieces with me just before the turn around.
Then I'd say things like "How about we run just to that power pole up there?" and she'd get there and say "That wasn't that far, let's go to the next one!" So why in the hell couldn't she get to THIS mental place a mile ago? Ugh! But I took what I could get. I just wished we could have skipped the drama. Once she knew the finish line was close (about 3 blocks away), she took off from me in a full sprint. That girl is FAST! I couldn't catch up to her and she ended up finishing ahead of me.
They were reading off times as we came in, but I didn't catch it exactly. I think they said 39:something which would be a PR for me - LOL. It will only be because I was trying to catch her at the end. They haven't posted the results yet, but I know I could have run more than I did (especially the middle mile). I think I'll find a nice flat race in April to do alone to get a solid feel for what my "non-kid" PR should be. My running has come a long way this winter and I'd like to have a more accurate measure of it. But even with all the drama, I'm glad I shared my run with my daughter today. I was proud of her for sticking it out.
That speedy nephew of mine? He rocked a 28:11!! Took third in the 10 and under age group. AWESOME!! I'm so proud of him, but he didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal. Not sure if he could have placed had his birthday been a week sooner. LOL The 11-15 had some speedsters. My goal is to break 30 min. I know I can do it if I keep working at it. Probably just in time to see my kids get too fast for me.
It was super warm and humid. The rain rolled in and it stormed hard after we got home. Then this evening we headed up to school for the annual chili supper/art show/music program. Sat through 2nd and 5th grade songs and looked at the art projects in between. Dinner would've been much better had we not needed the a/c on in the cafeteria. Got a nice long sleeve t-shirt (cotton) with the 5K - not that you could stand to wear it today. The youth shirts didn't make it in so I have to pick up my daughter's at the Y on Tuesday.
EDIT: Official Results Are In - Daughter finished in 40:04 for 8th out of 13 in the 10 and under girls age group. I came in just behind her at 40:14 for 46/57 in the 30-39 women's runners. A PR by 1 min 35 sec even with my daughter's drama and a course with some hills (previous PR at Pie Run was on a FLAT course).
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