Morning workouts rock

We swore up and down we'd never, ever, ever,  get up early willingly again in college on the way to practice. But somehow the internal alarm always goes off. And lets face it, time is a commidity, and sometimes you can only find it at 5 am. But there are tons a benefits to getting it done early. And sometimes, your only option.

I would love to say I have this glorious life where I work my 40-hour week job and get off with infinity time to train while my husband takes care of my kids. However that is far from my reality. As much as I am thankful, unfortunately, my husband works evening shift as a nurse so I am essentially a single mom Monday through Friday evening. And the reality is I NEVER work a 40 hour week, sometimes up to 50, balancing two suplemental jobs. So, I have no other option some days. And if you're a triathlete like me, doubles are pretty much nonnegotiable.

As a result, I learned to love and accept the morning workout as a reality. Yes, the 425 alarm sucks sometimes, especially when you know you are going nonstop till 930 that night, but the end result is worth it. It's a great feeling to know you got that your workout is done, and you feel great all day. And working out is proprioceptive input (which releases serotonin – your feel-good neurotransmitter), so you feel great all day. So it's pretty much win-win.

The big debate is the home workout versus gym. I do both-heavily favoring one depending on the time of year and situation. During triathlon season/summer months, it's always best to beat the heat and get on the road before it gets warm and busy. I'm also blessed to have a treadmill and bike trainer just in case the hubby is  working over or going in early.

But I am a HUGE fan of the gym in the morning. So many pros...

• Drive time is pretty much cut in half 
• Drive time also provides ample coffee time
• Regulars. They got your back. They spot you lifting, they chat minimally, (because they know you don't talk in the morning), and they inform non-regulars you are the farthest thing from single when they ask
• No line at Dunkin for the occasional post workout coffee

Ultimately, morning workouts give you more kid time, (if it's not a doubles day). Even though I know sometimes you have no choice, But knowing my kids at daycare all day, I try to avoid putting them in gym daycare. Let's be honest, gym daycare is a crap shoot. Once they came and got me after 11 minutes for Jude. Seriously. Did you even try to engage her?!

Try it. Once, twice a week. Never tell yourself you are getting up Monday-Friday. That's just setting yourself up for failure. It takes three weeks to create a habit...and what a great habit to create. And if you hit snooze once in a while. It's ok. Sometimes we need that extra hour and snuggle time : )

Go Girl Tri

There is no better way to end the tri season with all girls triathalon. Not the race I wanted timewise, in fact, I can't even fathom how slow I went?! But it was low stress and I actually had fun for once : )

HUGE pros of an only girl race. The swim is a million times easier with no guys out there. Pretty much zero chances of mallcious take downs, (and its the one time my big arms help me out). And with no guys out there, the water is WAY smoother. However, with the water temp being 76 and me not being a wetsuit swimmer, my arms tightened up pretty fast. There went some time.

And the bike is so much nicer-no clusters, and girls actually call out when they pass. The weather was perfect with practially no wind. But with spending pretty much the last two weeks soley on the trainer, my mph average tanked as the hills proved a little more difficult then usual. It happens.

The run actually felt pretty good. Girls are such great support along the way, and as always, loved to see my family along the way, (especially Si yelling out he saw a deer as I ran.) My run average was fair, but so nice to actually run without it being blazing hot for once.

Overall a 5th place finish and an age group win, despite my not so stellar time. But again, I actually had FUN out there, first time in a while, which is way better than an PR. 

And like that...fast laces out, fuel belts in...marathon season is here! And there goes a toe nail or two. #runnerproblems

Good bye old friend...

Yesterday  I did my last brick run of the season, (a bike followed by a run), which is always bittersweet. With my last Triathalon of this season Saturday, I will transition to marathon mode and most likely my bike will gather dust till spring. However after this summer, biking just isn't what it used to be. Several bikes accident hit close to home this summer. People have been clipped, hit, and sustained lifelong injuries. Just because people were doing what they loved and staying physically fit.

Not. Fair. At. All.

All these things shook me significantly which put me on my trainer alot this summer, and got me thinking a lot. Even though I bike during low traffic and choose country roads that are scarcely traveled, this plan is still not a fail safe. People zip through the country roads. People talk on the phone. People text. People put make up on. People get drunk to drive...sometimes in the middle of the day. These things really do happen, and good people get hurt. I swore I was done and my husband and I were trading triathalons for Crossfit.

I started to tell myself I was selfish everytime I got on the road. What if I got hit? What would that do to my family? Then my anxiety got so bad I would only ride if my husband was home. So I got on my trainer for 2 of my 3 rides of my week. But honestly it wasn't that bad. And if my family was home, they would hang and chat, sometimes the kids would dance and ride their bikes around the garage, (and ask to drink out of my water bottle off my bike : ) Often my son and I would chat about his day while he chowed on cheese-its, (and offered me some as I rode). And you know what? It turned out ok. I was safe, my anxiety down, and my biking average even got a little faster.  And I loved it because  I could truly be 'the mom that tri's.'

With that being said, I'm more then ready to rock this last Tri. I haven't done The Go Girl Tri in a few years-look forward to seeing many new and old faces on the course Best of all, weather looks perfect!

Third times a charm

Three times. That's how many times I've tried to have a blog. But this time is a little different. I've joked, I talked about it, but I've never followed through. But after being chosen as the 2016 500 Festival Mini Marathon Ambassador, I thought maybe this might be my time.

So why the world am I adding something else to my plate? Because why not share what it takes to be  the mom that "runs and tri's." Because I run, I swim, I bike, I lift, and I truly "try" to be the best mom and wife I can be in the process. It's definitely not easy, it takes effort and sacrifice, but it's so worth the example that I set for my children and the strong family we have. 

So why the heck should you follow my blog: 

• Because I'm going to talk about a lot of cool stuff. (Obviously?!) Seriously...I'm going to talk about creative ways to fit in your workouts when you work full time (plus side gigs), have multiple little people running around your house, all while your husband works an evening shift. I'm going to talk about how life happens, you miss a workout, and life goes on. I want to talk about how you survive not eating meat and dairy and still find the energy to get things done. Basically, I want to talk about whatever topic comes to mind that I think is worth blogging about and people will want to read :-)

• I want to talk about racing.  I'm going to promote races I think are pretty freaking fabulous and let you know the races that might not be that great.  If you're like me, time is money and money is time. In addition, there are so MANY free (or close to it) racing opportunities for ALL ages in the great Indianapolis area that I would love to share.

• I want to help inspire. Whether it's getting off the couch and running a mile or getting PR's, I want to help you believe it can happen. I told myself (and my husband) on NYE this would be the year of PR's...and we've done it. Every. Single. Race. (Did I mention we are 36 and 37?!) There are so many other amazing athletes that have inspired me-check them out on my page on my page and follow them too! (Sorry...still a work in progress.)

• I want to talk about balance. It's tough. Jobs, family, reality. Training and working out is tough to build around everything. Many "fitness experts" say build your day around your workout. But seriously, family is first, that is priority.  When you have family and a job, 5 am workouts and sight words with your kindergartner during a treadmill run are sometimes the way you need roll. And after you put in a 20 miles bike followed by a 4 mile run, you still have to jump on the trampoline with your kids...non-negotiable.    

So if thing I'm worth following...do it. Share it with your friends, comment, or just read it. If you aren't interested, no hard feelings. 

And total side bar...268 days till the Mini...registration re-opens September 15th...expect nothing less then to ring the PR bell : ) Especially if its your first-you ring it regardless!

Tri Indy

After making the decision that racing at Nationals was not the best decision of the family, I decided to make Tri Indy (Oly distance) my big race for the summer. First full week back at work and working my extra Saturday at Riley...in retrospect, maybe not the best decision. But I persevered. and somehow, someway, PR'ed this course. With an awesome swim, even a more awesome bike, but a run that was harder then childbirth. Here's the breakdown:

The swim: 1500 meters in the canal  Pros: its smooth, not that wide, so pretty easy to swim straight, with the only outliers being to avoid the anchored gondolas and water fountains. The cons: the thick seaweed or whatever you drudge through. Regardless, it was a strong swim, no collisions with structures, (because this has happened). And my genius husband dressed my kids in brightly colored clothes, so I saw them literally every stroke of the way : ) Finished the swim in 24 minutes, 18th overall-and even though I swam for most of my life competitively,  being a butterflier, I have no idea if that time is even solid.

The bike: Two flat loops to the Velodrome and back. Pretty easy peasey really. The pros are is the course is pretty flat, and pretty fast (at times). The cops and race volunteers were phenomenal with traffic control. Pros: Mayor Ballard has not road this course, so road repairs in spots are in dire need. The race did the best job then could with railroad tracks and curbs, which was safe haven for water bottles to drop. Regardless, average a 20.8...I'll take it.

The run: I knew for me it would be struggle. Ever since my ridiculous Mini Marathon run in May, I fizzled. Parts of the run felt strong, parts were comparable to childbirth. Pros: Flat, predictable loops, with great fan base throughout the zoo/IUPUI campus. Cons: Other runners/walkers not part of the race along part of the path. I had low expectation for the run and was hoping to hold 7:45's, but ended up with 7:58's. Sadness, but my swim and bike made up for it.

Overall, great race. A PR of over a minute, 2nd overall female with a time of 2.28.4, and at 36 and my goat rodeo life, not terribly shappy. I have never been so physically and emotionally exhausted after a race ever...and when I finished, I cried. I cried because I was so happy I went that fast. I cried I was so happy it was the first race my kids came to in over a year. I cried because I was so happy my husband was there and so incredible. And finally...I cried because I hurt so bad and I couldn't feel my left leg.

But if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you.