Good, Bad & Yummy 6/28-6/30 & June Favs

Business as usual here in my life: going a million miles an hour. This week is going to be super busy but it will be a good one for sure with lots of positive things happening.

Going to do a little mix here and some usual Good, Bad, and Yummy moments from the weekend as well as some highlights from the month of June (seriously, did this past month fly as fast for everyone else as it did for me?)

As for the weekend....
The Good:
John's sister had her baby Thursday night, adorable little Charlie John! Yay for another nephew!

Saturday I got my longest ride to date in...61 miles, I was really happy with it especially considering the elements were not in my favor for most of it!

I'm feeling really comfortable clipping in now, and am starting to utilize the power of it more (when clipped in you get power on the upstroke as well, which can make you more efficient of a rider). I do have to remind myself not to pull up too hard though, it can create lower back pain and tightness in the hip.

I managed to take off my shoes while still riding (thank goodness for fabulous Bontrager Triathlon Cycling Shoes). If I can practice this more, it will make me more efficient in T2 on race day, and get my running shoes on me quicker. BUT I won't do it race day unless I feel 100% ready (it could turn bad quickly).

Dress rehearsal run yesterday went great! I wore my +Saucony Triathlon top and shorts, as well as my Kinvara's (these are the only things that might NOT be with me on race day, I ordered Saucony Flats, but they are not in yet). I even started the run after 11 AM in the heat of the day because that is when I will be running on race day, gotta practice these things!

I was so hot after said long run in the heat, that I didn't even have to be forced into the ice bath. I jumped in without even thinking, and remained there for 25 minutes! My legs feel great today!

Got to spend a little time with John, his sister and her man and the baby last night:)

The Bad:
It was torrential downpour the first half of my long ride Saturday, but in all honesty it really wasn't all bad because it was good prep in case it rains on race day.

The new baby had some respiratory issues over the weekend and had to stay a few extra days giving us a worry(but all is good now, as I said they left hospital yesterday happy and healthy).

Friday night I was worked up about doing my long ride on Saturday. I was tired and cranky and letting the anxiousness of upcoming 70.3 get to me. A good long chat with my man definitely made me feel better.

My Garmin is definitely fading, and quickly. Battery power is lasting less and less and the strap (which partially broke last weekend) is getting even more worn now that it has added strain on one side. I really need to decide what I want to do. Looking at the Garmin 310XT, 910XT and the Timex run trainer 1.0 GPS watch....any thoughts?

The Yummy
After my long ride on Saturday I treated myself to my 2 favorite things from Panera.

All day Sunday John was cooking up a storm in the kitchen. We wanted to make food for his sister since she just had the baby and also has a 4 year old (she's gonna have her hands full!). He made a ton of super yummy (and healthy) recipes, the majority of which were vegan from Scott Jurek's Book Eat & Run. I wish I had taken photos of all of it, it was seriously fabulous and I couldn't even tell that most of them were Vegan!

My contribution was definitely NOT vegan, but it was what his sister wanted: my homemade baked raspberry cheesecake....I love making it, super yummy!

5 Things about the month of June
1. 413 miles between running/biking/swimming! Should actually be a little more but I am really happy with this. I've been consistently training smarter and that has made me able to do more.

2. I tackled my first triathlon this month, and feel really good about that!

3. Although I definitely had my days where it was a struggle to get out the door, I feel like my confidence and motivation is getting back to where I want and NEED it to be.

4. Favorite fitness related moment of the month: there are a few that stick out, but honestly I think it was 2 weeks ago I had a really good long swim where things just "clicked" and it seriously just gave me a big confidence booster.

5. Least favorite fitness related moment of the month: my 40 mile ride where I had a million meltdowns and just mentally felt down and defeated (this made this past weekends 60 miler that much sweeter though).

How was your weekend?

Have you read Eat & Run by Scott Jurek?

Garmin vs. Timex GPS watch thoughts?

What were your favorite/least favorite moments from June?

Mental Skills & Training

I have been reading a ton lately on training and am overwhelmed by the different training principles, theories and general mass of information that is out there. Each author thinks they have the "key" or the right way to go about something. One author wrote that you shouldn't even try to do a Half Iron (70.3) until you have had 3+ years triathlon experience (Well screw you, I am doing it anyways) [*Slams book shut and throws across the room*].

Thank goodness most of the other books said that because I am already an endurance athlete with marathons, that transitioning into doing a Half-Iron this summer with little Tri-Experience won't be as bad as some experts say. They say it's going to take time, hard work, patience, and mental toughness. Guess what, I have all of those and I am already working my ass of, there is no way in hell I am going to be at that start line July 14th and feel unprepared. No, I may not be following the most normal progression of things to get from Runner to Long Distance Triathlete, but I've never claimed to be normal. [not in the least].

I did find a "Mental Skills Profile" that rather interested me, and I wanted to share because I think this could be used for any athlete not just the cray cray people like marathoners/ultras and triathletes. This is from the Triathletes Training Bible (2nd Edition) by Joe Friel.

( Found this version of it online, unfortunately it isn't numbered, you'll have to number each question for the scoring of this.)

Scoring: Add up each of the numerical answers you gave for each of the following sets of statements:

2,8,17,19,23,30 ---Total:____(Motivation)             

1,6,11,21,26,29---Total:____(Confidence)

3,5,9,24,27,28---Total:____(Thought Habits)

7,13,14,16,22,25---Total:____(Focus)

4,10,12,15,18,20---Total:____(Visualization) 

32-36 Excellent

27-31 Good

21-26 Average

16-20 Fair

6-15 Poor

Then use the scoring chart, to see where you excel, 

and where you may need improvement.

 It's not scientific or proven,

 but I think this can help you gauge where your focus should be.

 We all know running is as much mental as it is physical.

 Don't get upset if you fall short in some places,

 it's a good thing because you know what you should be working on

 to help make yourself mentally stronger.

Look back at specific statements and see what you think you can work on.

No one is perfect, NO ONE.

Find what works for YOU.

I won't share all of my results with you, nor should you, it should be a personal thing. You're the one who has to overcome the mental blocks just like I have to overcome my mental blocks. I will share that I had the best result in Visualization out of the 5 areas. This didn't surprise me at all, I am always trying to picture how race day will go, always trying to imagine the sites and feelings coming across the finish line. I do this in longer/harder training runs and it helps get me through it. I alluded to this in Bust Through Boredom post at the bottom of it. I will visualize to the point where my heart rate goes up, my emotions get high, and I can physically feel the things I am visualizing (Usually crossing finish line of a big race), I have gotten choked up during runs before because I was picturing the moment I BQ'd, or the picture of my friends/families faces as I  accomplished one of my goals. Visualization works great for me, maybe not for everyone but maybe try it sometime. I don't care if I sound like an idiot, but the number of times I have pictured myself throwing my hands up like Rocky crossing a finish line is an astronomical number but it has helped me push through hard workouts and races and got me where I wanted to be.

For the record: I scored least in habits (since I shared my highest score, only fair I tell you where I am lacking)... I really need to work on keeping routine, and keeping positive when things go wrong. I'll be the first to admit I can let a bad race eat away at me.


Last nights workout was long and tiring but I made it through. I know I have plenty of longer workouts ahead of me as I train for another Marathon and train to complete my first Half-Ironman.

I did a backward triathlon last night, yes it is still accomplishing something if you do it backwards. And yes I know that I have to do proper bricks as well, but all of my workouts wont be done in normal progression, but until after the marathon I need to split my focus between running/triathlon. Once the marathon is over, majority of my workouts will be in true triathlon fashion.

<<[Preworkout shot last night, ready to go, notice the gigantic overflowing bag that accompanies me to the gym when I am doing all 3 disciplines...I think the people at the JCC think I bring an overnight bag with me, nope just gonna do a workout longer than a sprint distance triathlon]

3.1 mile run in 25:45 (8:18 pace) [157 avg. HR Zone 2-3]

 90 Minute Endurance Ride
30.1 miles ( 20 mph avg)
[136 Avg. HR, Zone 2]

<<[This is what my face looks like when I look at the screen and realize I am only halfway done with my 90 minute ride. Words cant describe how excited I am for spring so I can ride outside and be so much less bored with long rides!]

<<[ Yay! Run and Bike are done, red and sweaty and ready to jump in the pool!]

900 Yard Swim (Roughly half mile)

19:06

4th discipline of the workout: professional eating competition. I won. Against Myself. Subway Egg-white breakfast flat-bread 6"(I love that they now serve it all day!), juice (fresh squeezed green), berries with Greek yogurt and protein powder, 2 bananas.

If there is anything I have learned throughout all of my training it's that it really is mind over matter. Our sport(s) are very much so a mental game, yes there is a huge physical aspect but mental toughness is just as important.

What do you think is more important, physical or mental aspects?

Have you ever thought about ways you could improve your mental toughness to also improve your performance?

Any tips to share on how I could be better about not letting bad races/workout get the best of me mentally?

I am Trying, I swear

Ever have one of those days where you really doubt yourself, doubt your ability to accomplish things, doubt the way you look and feel? Those days you are focusing on the things you aren't doing, or the things you are doing wrong. Well the truth is, today is one of those days for me.

And we all know that if you say you have never felt that way, that you're full of crap. Just saying.

Well I am going to try something new today, instead of dwelling on those things, I am going to look at all the things I AM doing and ways I am working to make myself a better person, physically and emotionally.

I am trying to work towards Marathon number 5: This training cycle is different from my others, because I am also training for other things at the same time and I am not training for a PR. BUT I can't let that distract me, I am focusing on the fact that I know if I put in the effort I will get to the marathon and be prepared and cross the finish line, and then bounce back for the things to come after. I have to keep reminding myself that I can do this, it's not my first time and it wont be my last. So for all of you looking to run your first marathon, know that the anxiety doesn't always go away, even people with experience face the same issues you are going through, you are not alone.

I am trying to knock some books off of my reading list: Reading is incredibly important to me, I am always reeling for more knowledge and inspiration. I need a little boost right now, so I am reading some lighter,less serious and more fun reads. I will let you know how they are as I read along. The skinny Bitchin' is a journal type, so I think I'll use that in my blog posts to prompt some post ideas and reader feedback. The Mindy Kaling book is pretty good so far, talks about her struggles with weight as a kid, and her take on life; comic relief is a good way to describe it.

I am Tri-ing...well literally. For those who don't know, I am tackling my first half-ironman(70.3) this July. I don't claim to know very much about the whole multi-sport world, but I will do everything I can to learn. My training for it is going to be....dysfunctional at best. But to be honest that is how most of my training plans look. I have been floating back and forth between feeling confident and feeling completely terrified. So I am going to focus on the things I have been doing to help get to my goal. I have been biking more than normal, I have been trying to bike before my runs, to get the feeling of running after riding. I have been getting in the pool occasionally, I went today (went yesterday too) because I know this is something I really need to do more of. I need to stop focusing on the fact that I am new to tri's and just dive into this head first, no point in sticking your toe in the water first to see if it's cold. I know tri- training is going to be hard, more challenging than just my running, especially since I am training for running specific races at the same time. I am not going into this with the idea that it is going to be sunshine and daisies, I am ready for the challenge I just need to get my head on straight and get my ass to work.

I am trying to plan a wedding...Dear lord who knew this shin-dig would be such a pain in the ass to plan. I give wedding planners credit, it's bad enough dealing with myself during wedding planning, let alone someone else. Screw that! After we got engaged I was all Gung-ho on planning, then the holidays happened, and my sister baby showers that needed planned, and before I knew it....months had gone by and I hadn't gotten much accomplished on planning. Now that I am trying to get back into planning mode again, I just need to get organized and focus on what I have already done, and what the most important next steps are. For the record I have one BIG thing taken off the list... I HAVE MY DRESS :) [now I just need to make sure I can still fit into it next year for the wedding!]

I am trying not to be a self-conscious girl..but well that isn't going so well. I have been struggling emotionally with my weight lately. Before you get all "OH hell no, little white bitch didn't just say she's fat" on me, let me explain. NO I don't think I am fat, but I do think I can work on my body and trim down in some places, and tone others. There is nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself and as long as you are realistic. I am realistic knowing I really don't have a lot of weight I could lose, and knowing that I shouldn't lose much either. I am a girl though, I worry about how I feel, I worry about how I am seen. Although I may not have a lot to lose, I really want to focus on getting more lean and toning some trouble spots that I have. I just need to keep my eating in check and focus on my training. But I am a girl and there will be days things wont fit like I want and day's I'll feel less than fit, but I've learned to use those days as motivation to work my ass off to get to the days where I can look in the mirror and think "Damn I'm good"

I am trying to better myself... as I have said a million times and will continue to say, I am far from perfect. I haven't always been the person I know I am capable of being. I see a therapist (saw her today, she awesome...just saying), and I don't care what people think about that. I have seen one since I was 14 years old and have been judged for it from the moment I started. Let me say this though, we all have problems, no one is perfect, and I believe there are more people in this world who need therapy more than I do. I have issues, but at least I am willing to get help and work on them, work on making myself into a better version of me. I am not hiding behind things, or pretending everything is okay, I am not trying to control other peoples lives simply because I cannot control my own (A lot of experience with someone doing this...it's not a healthy friendship to be in...hence the reason it's done). I work hard every day, to be a good Fiance, a good friend, a good employee, a good athlete, and a good me. I make mistakes, I have a temper, and I can be the biggest stubborn pain in the ass you'll meet, but I am working on it. That is the best that I can tell you.

So basically what I am saying is...
Today was an off day for me, it happens, sometimes you can't stop it from happening. I had no motivation, my clothes didn't fit the way I wanted, I am over-tired and would love to curl up in a ball. But I have learned to make the most of it. I did what I could today, I got my work done, I pushed through a run that I really didn't want to do, I swam again to build my confidence for Tri's, I spilled my guts at therapy, I cleaned out the rest of my apartment, and now I am sitting here writing this. I also plan on getting on the bike later while I do laundry, nothing turns an off day around like endorphins and productivity.