Challenge Roth Training: Week 2

24 weeks to go.

Week 2 totals:
Swim: 3. 4150m, 2hr 22min
Bike: 4. 3hr 55min, Saturday Ride: 19.6mi, 462elev.
Run: 2. 9mi, 1hr 24min
Strength: 0. 0min
Total time: 7hr 41min

Challenges:
Friday's swim was a comedy of errors. Went to the pool late to beat the morning rush, but apparently there is also a late-morning rush because it was packed. Shared a lane with a surly gentleman for awhile, then finally pounced on another lane when it opened up. Just couldn't get into a good rhythm; it took me a half an hour to get to the main set, which was 2x400, using a buoy and paddles on the second 400 (that adds resistance and makes it harder to swim. To build character. And muscles.) Forgot my swim paddles, and thought LTF would have buoys (they don't), so ended up doing the exact opposite of what was prescribed and swam that second 400 with fins, which took my 400m time down by 1/3. That must be what real swimmers must feel like. Sigh.

Accomplishments:
I wanted to punch my watch in the face on Sunday's long run as it beeped and beeped and beeped and periodically told me I was running a 9:35 and an 8:21 pace within the span of three seconds and generally was just stupid. I think maybe it was the (relative) cold? Anyway, apparently I can pace myself pretty well based on feel because I nailed my progressively faster goal paces, malfunctioning watch and all. Booyah.

Surprises:
There are actually good things to be said about my swim stroke! Coach LO says:
"The nice thing about your stroke as it is now, is it is pretty relaxed- which seriously is a good thing! So many people (myself included) really fight the water and spend too much energy in the swim. Our goal for you is going to be to keep the effort level about where it's at so you can use it all up on the bike and run- we just need to make that stroke more efficient." I'ma try.

Bonus:
JK, Mikey, and I lifted a piano into and out of a moving truck. We are...quite strong. Also: free piano! Jo's lovely sister Alyssa straight up gave me a piano on Sunday. I've wanted one for years and years, and now--just right out of the blue--I have one. The Secret works, you guys. (ha!) Big thanks to Alyssa and Chris for their generosity! (and to the guys for their muscles)

Challenge Roth Training: Week 1

25 weeks to go.

Week 1 totals:
Swim: 1. 1200m, 42min
Bike: 2. 29.7miles, 2hr 10min, Elev. Gain: 462ft
Run: 3. 14.5mi, 2hr 22min
Strength: 3. 30min
Total time: 5hr 44min

Challenges:
My run on Sunday was rough, you guys. I suppose I could blame the half a very strong Vanilla Bean Bourbon Milkshake I had with dinner the night before, but really who's to say? I managed to hit all my intervals for the first four miles, and only missed my goal pace by 3 and 4 seconds respectively on the last two miles, but I felt like I was running through sand and my heart rate was off the charts. Fun.

Accomplishments:
Got in all my workouts even though I had company most of the week. My parents were in town, which was a good motivator to get things done in the a.m. so I could spend time with them after work.

Surprises:
Even though that Sunday run was rough, it's the fastest 6-miler I've ever run, so...

Bonus:
JK's application to Uphill Into the Wind for Bike MS was accepted, and he was fitted on a nice loaner road bike on Saturday. So on Sunday afternoon we went for an easy 10-mile spin around the lake. The weather was 75 and sunny, and the park was filled with people enjoying the beautiful day. And while all that is well and good, even better is watching someone start to find the joy in an activity I love. Le sigh.

Challenge Roth Training: Week 0

26 weeks to go.

Strap yourselves in, y'all, because ironman (note the little "i") is back on the schedule. Challenge Roth (an ironman-distance tri, but not an Ironman Corporation-branded tri) will take place on July 20th. If everything goes according to plan, I will be swimming, biking, and running 140.6-miles through the Bavarian countryside with Kristi, Mike, and 2000 new friends.

I'll be using the same format to document this journey as I did the last time (at least for as long as it makes sense). I know most of you (see how I made it sound like there are still lots of you out there?) don't care about the day-to-day--or week-to-week, I guess--of endurance training, but I like looking back on this stuff, and it's a good prompt for me to actually do some writing on a regular basis.

With that said, here we go again!

Week 0 totals:
Swim: 1. 1100m, 35min
Bike: 1. spin, 35min
Run: 2. 6.25mi, 1hr 26min
Strength: 1. 30min
Total time: 3hr 6min

Challenges:
Getting back into the swing of things is hard, you guys. Regular early morning workouts are back on the schedule, which, combined with my perpetually late bedtimes, means I'm getting very little sleep. My goal for next week is to be in bed by 10 every night. Baby steps.

Accomplishments:
Actually got up for all but one of those early morning workouts. An alarm clock all the way over in my bathroom and a kickass IM Partner in Crime meeting me for said workouts deserve all the credit. And since said Partner in Crime had The Black Lung *tiny cough* and couldn't meet me for the swim, I pushed it back to Saturday afternoon, which makes way more sense than Friday morning at 5:15 anyway. So there.

Surprises:
I knocked out a 3:57 for the all-out half mile during the run field test, followed by an 8:17 mile. #zoomX3 #itsallrelative #ihopeyoureadthatlasthashtaginthevoiceofross

Bonus:
All of this week's workouts were field tests to establish a baseline for upcoming workouts. These will be repeated every other month to gauge progress. Bike and run I feel okay about. My swim (first time in the pool in approximately 6 months) set the bar very low.

2013: A Year In Review

So, to sum up:

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Went skydiving, shot a pistol, tried aerial yoga, coached a marathon team, watched live Flamenco.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year's goals: I'd like to not travel quite so much [success], save a little money [failure], and, you know, finally meet someone [success!]
Next year: I'd like to finish IM #2 injury-free in less than 15-hours (which would be made easier by continuing to lose weight), raise $25,000 for the National MS Society via my Bike MS team, all the while balancing work, training, and a relationship. Totally doable, right? ...right?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Keffy popped out some twins!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, not this year. Yay.
5. What places did you visit?
I went to Chicago and Ft. Wayne in January, Show Low, Coeur d'Alene, and Kearney in June, Salt Lake City in July, Las Vegas in August, Kearney again in September, Denver in November, and Kearney one last time in December. A couple trips to Flagstaff thrown in for good measure. Believe it or not, this is less travel than in previous years.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A TT bike. Normal vision. 
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 18th-19th. The inaugural Team K-Lar takes on Bike MS.
September 7th. Jerilyno's wedding.
December 6th. Reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Knocked out a 2:13 half marathon. Raised more than $15,000 for the National MS Society via Team K-Lar. Also successfully got all my triathlon and marathon team participants across their finish lines.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting enough sleep. Sounds lame, but it's true.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
There's the GDMS, of course, now with bonus visual impairment. Crashed my bike once (I'm on helmet #3 now). Also I rolled my ankle for the first time in YEARS, which caused me to literally fall down a mountain. Luckily my fall was broken by rocks and a cactus.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I guess I should say that new roof. Or termite treatment. Hooray homeownership.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Team K-Lar. They were/are amazing people.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Pretty much everybody involved in all facets of politics, which, admittedly, is a lot of people.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, home repairs, weddings, travel.
15. What did you get really excited about?
Skydiving. Jerilyn's wedding. My man.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) by Arcade Fire
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Hiking. It's fun! And sometimes painful. But fun!
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Mindless internet clicking. I'm looking at you, Pinterest.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
The same way I spend every Christmas, Pinky: at home in Nebraska with my amazing family. I look forward to this all year, every single year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
:)
22. What was your favorite TV program?
This was the year of The West Wing. It was all early 2000s up in this piece.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope.
24. What was the best book you read?
Wildwood by Colin Meloy. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
25. What music did you get excited about?
Lord Huron. Arcade Fire. The Prowling Kind.
26. What did you want and get?
:)
27. What did you want and not get?
A year free of MS symptoms.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Movies I saw in the theater: Despicable Me 2, American Hustle, Catching Fire, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Startrek: Into Darkness, Ironman 3, The Wolverine, Monsters University, This Is The End, Thor: The Dark World, Now You See Me, Gatsby, Don Jon, Identity Thief, Olympus Has Fallen, Jurassic Park 3D, The Heat, The Way Way Back, We're The Millers, Captain Phillips, Ender's Game, The Book Thief, Anchorman 2
The worst: Olympus Has Fallen, hands down. Still haven't forgiven Mike for that one.
The best: The Way Way Back... Also really loved Catching Fire and Despicable Me 2 (no shame).
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I started the day with a hike up Camelback Mountain and breakfast with a few of my favorite people, and then went to dinner with one of my favorite ladies. I turned 31 this year.
30. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
I don't know, 2013 was pretty okay in my book.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
A conglomeration of the clearance sections at J.Crew/Gap/Banana Republic/LOFT
32. What kept you sane?
Running, and long talks with htd and Cassie.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Real person: Joseph Gordon Levitt (Don Jon notwithstanding)
Character: Josh Lyman on The West Wing.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
It's gotta be healthcare, right?
35. Whom did you miss?
My friends and family scattered across the country.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
:)
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness.” ― Brené Brown
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
What good is livin' a life you've been given if all you do is stand in one place?

Wishing you all a happy 2014!

Merry Christmas To Me

Nothing like a little double vision and three days of subsequent hour-long, high-dose IV steroid infusions to kick off the holidays.

Hope they aren't doing drug testing at my 5K tomorrow. #gettingripped #gdms

Everyday Struggles Of A Tall Girl

Amen.



And yes, the weather IS the same up here.

Christmas Carols Unmasked

a Twitter conversation flashback, because we were (and still are) hilarious.

It's very hard for me to take your road rage seriously when your truck is dressed up like a reindeer.
— KrisTEN LordsALeapin (@kristenlarson) December 20, 2012

LRO: They should change the song to "Grandma got run over by a reindeer...decked truck with a pissed off driver"

KL: A less whimsical but more realistic version of the song. Like "Walking in a Winter Wonderland... Forever. Because of climate change."

LRO: Walking in a Nuclear Winter Wonderland

LRO: Baby, there's no ozone layer outside

KL: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Might Have Done A Lot Of Blow

LRO: Frosty the Snowman was a happy, jolly soul (because he was on uppers 90% of the time)

KL: I'll Be Home for Christmas (and every other day of the year because I majored in sculpture)

LRO: we three kings of orient are (apparently, 'cause y'all are racist)

KL: Do You Hear What I Hear? (because I think I might have tinnitus)

LRO: zombie hoard, zombie hoard, it's feeding time in the city

KL: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (arguing in their driveway, just like always. They're having relationship issues.)

LRO: O holy night (we just had a drive-by shooting)

KL: I Wonder as I Wander (whether I'm ever going to find my way out of this effing corn maze)

LRO: (The comet that killed the dinosaurs) came upon a midnight clear

KL: The 12 Days of Christmas (began Susan's downward spiral into human trafficking. So many lords and ladies and pipers and drummers...)

***

Merry December!