It's All About Compromise

When I woke up to go bike, dang - my legs were not having it, again. Through out the day, I was feeling the knee, and it was not happy. Since I can't have a glass of wine at work, I kept taking ibuprofen and icing. When the day was over, I knew I still had to do my bike. I really REALLY didn't want to go. I mean 99.99999% of me did not want to go.

So I came up with a compromise - the trainer. It's sad on my part that it is so amazingly beautiful out and I decided to go on the trainer, but I just couldn't pack up Blain and head for more laps at Hains Point - and biking around this city just doesn't work for me. Also, this allowed me to do 5 loads of laundry at the same time.

W00-Hoo!! Rockn' Friday night!

AND, I have 5 am wake up calls on Saturday AND Sunday, so that leads to more of the most exciting Friday night EVER!

Yup, need to fold my clean towels, change my bed sheets and go to bed.

Still Didn't Get Up...

But I did get my workout in.

First of all, yesterday I did get in my long run, 10 miles!! It actually felt okay with very little knee pain. My legs felt tired about an hour and a half into it, but otherwise I just kept shuffling forward. Not quickly, but kept moving. Then went back to work. Can you say productive afternoon! HA!

This morning I convinced my self that doing my brick after work would give my legs more time to rest, and I didn't let my boss know I would be late - so this all lead to an extra 2 hours of sleep. So I rushed home, changed, grabbed Blain and headed out to do some laps at Hains Point. Now there was a very dark cloud in the sky and I checked with Roxanne that biking in the rain was a good idea. Of course she said go and to stay off the paint. I got started with a bit of rain, but nothing too bad. The ride was uneventful until the last 30 or so minutes. All the sudden, my left knee really REALLY started to hurt. On the outside, really painful. The knees haven't that bad since March-ish when I went to the dr. Now it's usually the right knee that hurts biking, so I am thinking that when I start my run, it's really going to hurt.

But here's the thing, the brick was actually good! I had 0, yes ZERO, knee pain during the run. And it felt great!! So that is a 90 minute ride and 45 minute run, the day after a 10 mile run.

Yup... I think this training thing is working.

AND, I saw the most B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L sunset tonight. The biggest, red/orange sun setting over the Potomac. So pretty!

What is my problem?!?!

This is the second day I have woken up for a ride and gone back to sleep. I have been going to bed early, not that early - but early, however I still can not get out of bed. I was getting better a few weeks back about getting up for workouts, but for some reason, not this week. I am concentrating on running and biking this week, however if I can't get out of bed! I even tell my self I won't be an Ironman if I don't get out of bed, but it doesn't work.

And the weather is perfect right now.

Blah... really mad at my self.

And I am still tired

I Love When There is NO Humidity

What a perfect running day!! 75, low humidity, partly cloudy. Perfect! I didn't go much faster, but it felt great and really easy to keep my HR down. No bachelor sighting, but it was a great run anyway.

Not much else is going on. It is Coach's birthday. I sent him a little something, a DC water bottle. Small, but useful. He doesn't know about the blog so I can ruin the 'surprise'.

Oh, and I was having a conversation today with someone about something. It lead to me saying I will be spending 4-8 hours on my bike at a time, plus 3-5, 60-2 hour rides as well. She just looked me square in the eye and said "where are you going??" I laughed very hard and explained what I was training for.

Good times.

The Best Reason EVER to Run on the Mall

I was having the debate before about treadmill vs. outside running at lunch. Sometimes the heat is just a bit too much. Well, today, my decision was made.

I was attempting to do a tempo/interval run in the heat/humidity. It was pretty easy to get my HR up, am nice and red faced, and easily distracted by all the shirtless men running on the mall. 9 times out of 10, it's a good thing. So I'm going, in my own little world and I see (another) really cute guy coming. I send him mental notes of "take off your shirt" and as he gets closer, I notice the boob glance (sorry family, but it's an important note in the story) and realize he looks familiar. Then I have the "Oh My Gosh" moment... it is ABC's The Bachelor Officer and a Gentleman!!!

Now please know that I am not a regular watcher of the show. I only paid attention because Kristin had a friend of a friend's old co-worker person was on the show. Also, he is a triathlete so that peeked my interest.

So yes, that was my brush with The Bachelor. I heard through the tri club forum that he was in DC and as you all know, it's a pretty small community. It's now only a matter of time until our relationship is on the cover of People magazine and we are the next Bachelor married couple.

Okay, not really... his teeth are too white and I don't want to be chased by the paparazzi! But he totally did the boob check. So Andy, if you are reading, I was the one in the sleeveless green Nike top today on The Mall around noon :-)

Happy Father's Day!!!

Just finished a slow 60 minute ride. But, more importantly, it's FATHER'S DAY!!

Sorry I can't be there to help celebrate. I hope you have a wonderful day!
To the best DADDY in the world! Love you!!

So Close to a Half

Once again, I just had my longest ride, 55 miles!! I was hoping to get 56 miles in, but 55 is good enough. It took just about 4 hours, which is what I had to do today. It was okay, not great again. Where are those endorphins!?!?!

I have been really really lucky with the heat. I went up to Columbia early and it was pretty hazy when I started. Only the last hour the sun came out. With this heat, I know I have to be careful.

That's about it. It was a typical ride. A few good snot rockets, some on my shoulder. Good nutrition and fluid intake, certain parts hurt after sitting for 4 hours.

Happy Saturday!!

Change of Plans

Today was supposed to be a run, swim and session with a personal trainer. After the trainer cancelled, I decided dying my hair was more important - I will get to the swim on Sunday. I don't know if I admitted this or not, but I made a bad decision at the beginning of April in picking a hair color (well, that decision was helped by someone who I promised I would not blame if it went bad, so I will not blame her, or use her name, but I do blame her, not really ;-). It didn't turn out the best, mainly because I did a poor job. So instead of having purple hair for Therese's wedding, I dyed it again with the help of Jess. Well, it is now mid-June and the purple has come back, along with the grays I was original trying hide.

This all means a low key night with my 4 hour bike planned for tomorrow.

Oh, today's workout, yes, I did run. It was on the mall and little warm. I didn't go out early enough so it wasn't great. There is that debate between outside, hot, and shorter distance to keep the HR down vs. treadmill with lower HR and further distance - but on a treadmill. (Remember, I do all my training based on time and heart rate (HR)). So, it's the great debate that happens when I don't get up in the morning to do a run.

Okay, off to the bathroom to work on the hair. Jess promises to "stay within the lines" but she just had a beer and has just as much tolerance as I do when it comes to alcohol.

There is 1 I Like

The pictures from the Bay Swim came out today. I am usually very annoyed at my pictures always thinking "do I really look like that??" and "I look fat!!" and "my feet are never off the ground in the running pictures!!!" and "stupid stomach on the bike, I am leaning over!!!" and "I never look cute!" For some reason, a few of my Bay swim pictures I actually like - which I wouldn't expect as I am in a wet suit. My current picture on the blog is from my first Bay swim and personally, I love it. Something about the bad a$$, really dazed and confused look I think I have. But I really like this one too. I had no idea my arms went back that far. There is something about this one...

Looking at some of the other ones made me realize that I should get back into the pool. So, I did my 3000M. It felt okay, nothing too exciting. Expect for the stupid girl doing breaststroke who didn't let me go so when I did my flip turn. So, I wound up under her and she said "Oh, sorry" in that sarcastic way. I kicked/splashed really hard as I passed. I am very mature. But really, SWIM ETIQUETTE!! Let the faster swimmer go! I do!!

That's about all I have for the day. I did manage to get up this morning and bike. Tomorrow is a run, swim, and personal training session. I know, I know, I live the most exciting life for a Friday!!

Ummm... Burger

It's a light week so I figured I get a treat, or a few. Today it was a specialty fruity drink, burger and fries. Jess was happy to oblige and join me after a very long day at work. It's so nice that when I don't have 13 workouts to do in 7 days, I can adjust - okay, procrastinate.

Here's the thing, the tolerance I worked so hard to build - GONE! About a third of the way through the drink, I was just rambling about who knows what... Poor Jess....

I did manage to get my run in at lunch outside as the humidity was lower and it was before it got too hot out. It was okay, but my stride felt off, as did my breathing. Hopefully tomorrow I can get up and go biking.
But, I do have to watch the final of Top Chef.