Summertime Fun!

• On: 08/17/2009 15:24:10

Today I wanted to take my watch and stop the time.  Have you ever wanted to do that?  And, then I realized I was being silly.  The reason I needed my watch to stop was because I was doing a very hard tempo descending mile run and finishing on the track and I wanted my watch to stop so I could accomplish my goal on that run!  I was pretty darn close.  But, it is pathetic when you look at your watch and you think:  JUST STOP!  I mean, WHO does that on the track?  Yes, me.

Speaking of time stopping, we are in the best part of the summer- the temps are finally warm here!  Yay!  I must say that the kids start school in 2 weeks on the 31^st!  And, of course, that means FALL. BOO HOO.  I would be a bad mother if I said I was excited that the kids are going back to school.  But, I will not lie – I am excited.  While I am sad summer days are coming to an end, I need these lovelies back into their routine.  I am so grateful that my job affords me to be able to work here at home – but I think my athletes are wondering “IS IT EVER QUIET in that house?”  Um, no.  It is always a magical balance….and sometimes….

The Triathlon season is coming to an end here in the Midwest…once the weather shifts, it goes down pretty damn quickly.  However, we are in the thrust of IRONMAN here.  There is a buzz all over about Ironman Canada, Kona, Wisconsin, KY, etc…It is a tough time of the year for most athletes.  Most are SO tired from trying to schedule everything with their lives to fit in their workouts.  They are all OUT of favors and their legs and moreso their heads HURT.  We are almost there!  Oh, so close.  If you are going to be spectating or racing IM WI, I will be there cheering, so look for me!  Hang in there IM Athletes, we are sooo very close!!!! 

At this time of the year I find myself wanting to be with OTHERS and train with others.  I am not like this all year.  But, at the end of the summer, I am starting to crave people and I find myself that I need it – regardless of what they are doing.  Last weekend I wanted to go to Madison so bad and ride with some athletes like Ben, Mary, Patrick, but Jerome was out of town doing a 90 mile bike race up in Wisconsin (Ick!?), so I was mom.  That is OK…but instead I got up and rode 60 miles and did 12 hill repeats that killed me (got a flat tire too, ick!) + Transition run before Jerome left on Saturday AM.  But, I had taken the kids to a HUGE water park all day Friday about 1hour+ from here and walked up and down waterslides, wave pools and lazy rivers all day.  I was SO tired. OMG!  We had a blast though, but on Saturday afternoon I was contemplating which event was harder! 

It was nice to see Cat, Elizabeth and meet Andrea and Danni at LITH this past Wednesday night.  Elizabeth is threatening me that she WILL beat me in the water very soon.  Love it!  And, of course, swimming and then eating Noodles with them was so much fun.  Great group of gals.  I wish I could have done more with them while they were here.  I always just invite myself over to Elizabeth’s parties.  J

I still have two ½ Ironmans to go this year!  So, my year is far from over.  Actually, it is just heating up.  As I have said before, I took some time off – mid-season break – and starting 8/1 I was back at it..I raced an Oly last weekend on no speed work (duh, ya think?) but that is ok…I started the speed work last week and then more this week.   AH!  I always keep the speed in the water and my bike seems to be fine…but the run…ouch ouch ouch.  I am focusing on that now and it hurts badly.  Today my workout was a 7 mile tempo run – so I ran 1^st mile easy then brought down (tried to) each mile 10-15” and then mile #5 is @ 10kpace or faster and then ended up on the track for the last mile!  And, the goal well, is max effort.  Damn that hurt.  But, it is one of my staple runs that I do very frequently.  I love the intensity, so I am glad I have it back.  And, to have that FIRE and motivation and feel good in late August is priceless!

Also, I have cut my swimming back a little bit.  GASP!  I just needed a little break (yes, I said it, haha) from the pool.  I think I may have said this before, but I cut it back just for this past cycle in my training.  I will put it back in starting in September and in plenty of time to build into Clearwater, so it is all just dandy.  And, I have enjoyed the break and have had MUCH more time to run.  And, running I have done, that is for sure.   Masters starts back up in later September and I am SO excited to swim with my swim friends again! 

Can I just say this?  Being a MOM is so hard.  I really really have days where I think I may go nuts.  For example, my 7 year old son is sitting right next to me.  He just walked in, sat down and in 3 minutes already announced he was bored.  THIS is after 7 hours today outside skateboarding with his buddies.    Me making lunches, desserts, painting, coloring, reading….Now he wants to go outside and play soccer.  Ok, I can do this…(nevermind I have to make dinner now) but do  they every stop? I think we all know the answer to this.  By 4pm each day I am TRASHED and just want peace and quiet…but that just leads to me having to make dinner every night and cleaning up my house, finishing the laundry. I know, I know, cry me a friggin river.  But, this is my blog, so I get to talk about it all….and I know the moms reading this feel the same way.  Tough to balance it all and feel like you are being a good mom.  Having them in some activity or school keeps everyone balanced out a bit!  13 days and counting….

Well, speaking of dinner, I am off to grill up some salmon and enjoy the summer evening with Jerome and the kiddies – if I can find them!