Travel and Training

 Well I have two more weeks of training under my belt.  It is weird, this time around it really doesn't feel like training, rather than just something I am doing?  I wonder, does that mean I am not working hard enough?  I don't think so.  I am following a more intense training program than the past two years, and am pushing myself pace wise.  I could probably   need to improve on my diet a bit.  Still eating healthy but am having a lot more slip ups than I am happy with.  Still haven't figured it out, but I guess it is working so far.

For weeks 5 and 6 of training were good.  During week 6 we were in PA and OH to visit family, meet internet stalkers, ride some rides, oh yeah and Jeff did a 70.3.  I was able to get in both of my weekend runs while we were there.  The grounds of Cedar Point were huge, but I only had about a 2.5 to 3 mile (If I ran the parking lot) loop to get my 6 and 12 miles in.  I could have gone out farther, but the road that I would have had to follow had  no shoulder, and was curvy.  Plus there was a sign posted that clearly stated no pedestrians.  I am a rule follower.  Saturday I got up and got the 6 in while Jeff did his practice swim and Sunday I got up early and got the 12 in before his wave of the race started.  I was really dreading the loop for the 12 miles, but overall it wasn't as horrible as I thought it was going to be.  First off, the weather was awesome, second I was running in a new place, and thirdly I told myself to suck it up because it was the anniversary of 9/11 and worse things could be happening to me.  Plus there was a whole group of people who were going to be racing 140.6 miles that day.  It actually turned out to be an awesome run.  Here are the numbers for the two weeks.

Week 5:
Total Distance: 29.17
Total Time: 5:40
Total workouts:7 (including one cross training day of spinning)
Treadmill runs: 1 (6 miles which had two be broken into two b/c the power kept going out at the gym)

Week 6:
Total Distance: 30.33
Total Time: 4.52
Total workouts: 5 (Including 1 bike ride in PA on the trails)
Treadmill runs: 0

There were a few songs that got me through when I ran this week, but the Foo Fighters stand out again:

Our trip "out of the country" was awesome.  We met some fellow creepy internet stalkers, and everyone was so nice.  I have decided that all of you need to apply for passports and move to the great country of Texas.  I had a blast spectating with Colleen.  It was so awesome and inspiring to watch MattyO and Heather cross the finish line together.  We for sure need to have a few more of these meet ups a year, and I can't wait till IMMT!!  Here are some pictures from the trip:

View from behind our hotel to Lake Erie

Jeff rode this.  I wimped out.

Of course I had to represent

With Tom and Colleen

The family came up to watch the race

Amazing tribute to the anniversary of 9/11/01

Jeff bringing it home

Bike ride


Happy Training!

Just a quickie

Jeff and I have been in in PA and OH for the past five days, and we have had a blast.  We have had the chance to see family as well as meet some great new friends.  Cedar Point was awesome, well watching Jeff and Tom ride the roller coasters was fun.  I am way to much of a wimp for that.  It was so awesome to meet fellow bloggers and cheer everyone on during the half and full triathlon.  But I am ready to get home and I think this song says it all :)

Some training and a rant

Wow, I am already in week 4 of training.  Honestly, there really isn't a lot to report on weeks 2 and 3.  Except that I am training for a marathon in Hawaii!! And yes, I will mention this every chance I get.  This is a big deal, not only because I am going to Hawaii, and I get to see a great friend who I haven’t seen for years, read her blog here, but I get to do all of this in December!!  And why is going in December a big deal? Well my friends, because for the last 6 years I worked in retail.  Talking about, no, even thinking about leaving to go anywhere away from my store (even the bathroom) in August-January was unthinkable. 

Why August you ask?  Well, that is the start of the Holiday season in retail.  First, there is tax free weekend, which is almost worse than Christmas. 

This isn't even really that bad.

Plus, we were already loading up on fall and holiday shipments. Hiring for the holidays, running get rid of summer crap sales, planning holiday floor sets, having lots of meetings, stressing about numbers, and so much more.  It.was.miserable.

Then before you know it Black Friday arrives.  Oh, do I have some stories about black Friday…………Last year I got to my store at 4am and there was already a line of about 50 people outside of my door, and we didn’t even open until 6:00am.  Or the year I got yelled at because of where a customer had to park in the parking lot.  Believe me lady, I parked a lot further away then you did.  Oh yeah, let’s not forget that during this time period there were plenty of days with extended hours, so we could open early and stay open late for people who treated us oh so nice.  It was the season of joy after all.  My favorite thing about this time of year was people who did last minute shopping, and then yelled at us for being out of sizes.  Yeah, it’s my fault you waited till the 23^rd of December to shop.  I’m telling you, I could go on forever about this topic.  I truly believe that everyone should work retail for a short time period of their life, just to see what is like.  But if you aren’t going to do that, then please read this book.

And then, 12/26 arrives.  Worst.Day.Ever.  Returns, returns, and more returns.  All those amazing sales you had the months and week  before Christmas go right down the drain.  And the holiday spirit is long gone by now.  And just when you think it is over along comes inventory.  This is where you get to count every piece of everything that is left in your store.  It is also where you get to see just how ripped off you got by the people you have to give customer service with a smile too.  These events usually take about 3 weeks of prep work, then an overnight shift to complete.  Awesome times I tell you.

Just a portion of what we had to count.

So anyway, yes, I am super excited that I get to go somewhere in December!!!!  And I might even decorate for Christmas this year.  (That stopped about 3-4 years ago at my house).  I can’t freakin wait!!!

So my numbers for weeks 2 and 3 are:

Week 2:

Total Distance: 27.17 Miles

Total Time: 4:34

Total workouts: 5 (Zero treadmill runs!)

Week 3:

Total Distance: 22.17

Total Time: 4:23

Total workouts: 6 (Zero treadmill runs, 1 cross day of spin)

  I didn't have any treadmill runs, but did wear my IPOD a couple of times to get me through the heat.  And weird enough, both weeks the same song pepped me up:

Week 4 is off to a good start so far.  However I am dreading my 11 mile run planned for Sunday.  Not because of the distance, but because of the temps.  But that is another post…..

Happy Training!