Duly Noted

Monday, 2/17: 6 miles on treadmill w/4 miles @ 8:00 min pace Tuesday: 2/18: 5 miles easy, abs Wednesday, 2/19: off, abs Thursday, 2/20: off, abs Friday, 2/21: long run on treadmill, 12 miles! abs Saturday, 2/22: run in the cold but sunny outdoors with Rose, 7 miles, abs. Sunday, 2/23: masters swim team, 3350 yards Total mileage: 30 miles

Monday 2/10: 6 mile run (felt awful but finished...), abs Tuesday 2/11: off, abs. Wednesday 2/12: 7.5 miles outside!  abs. Thursday 2/13: 6 miles w/4x400 (treadmill), abs. Friday 2/14: 4 miles easy, outside!, abs. Saturday 2/15: 6 miles w/ 3x400, 3x800, 3x200 (between 8:00-7:00 pace) Sunday 2/16: 4 miles easy Total mileage: 33.5miles Skipped long run and swim team this week due to a visit from my family.  That said, I ran almost every day even if it was just a nice refresher run.

Monday 2/3- 6.25 miles w/6x800 @ 8:00-7:30 pace, abs. Tuesday 2/4- 1.5 miles easy (I planned to go longer but Misha wasn't into childcare that evening!), abs. Wednesday 2/5- off, abs Thursday 2/6- off, abs Friday 2/7- 6.5 miles easy with Rachel The Dog, Rose and Lida, abs. Saturday 2/8- 10 miles on treadmill Sunday 2/9- 3150 yards, swim team total mileage (running): appx. 24 Reflections: This week had some good moments- Monday's treadmill workout, getting outside on Friday, and then of course, swim practice on Sunday morning.  I made some excellent meals this week too if I do say so myself (and I do!) including a kale salad with beets, sweet potatoes, and apples, a parsnip "rice" with flavored with coconut and ginger, a chicken bean bowl, and a beef chili loaded with vegetables for Saturday night with friends.  I also have been drinking at least a mug of mate everyday- a nice substitute for coffee and full of antioxidants. The week's low point was the lack of runn...

Monday, 1/27: 5 miles with some hills (treadmill), abs Tuesday 1/28: 8 miles w/ intervals: 2x1600 (3 min. recov), 3x600 (2 min recov), 3x300 (1-2 min recov), (treadmill), abs. Wednesday 1/29: off, abs. Thursday 1/30: 5 miles easy in the snow with Rebecca.  Lovely. Abs. Friday 1/31: off, abs Saturday 2/1: 10 mile long run, outside! with Callie and Rachel the dog!  Amazing! abs Sunday 2/2: swim team, total yards: 3250 Total mileage: 28 miles

1/12 Sunday- Swim team: 2950 yards total w/IM set and 5x200 free (3 min pace, I think) 1/13 Monday- rest, abs 1/14 Tuesday- 7 miles with 6x800 (treadmill), abs 1/15 Wednesday- rest, abs 1/16 Thursday- 6 miles with 3 miles @ 8-7:30 pace (treadmill), abs 1/17 Friday- 7 miles w/6x1 min. fast (treadmill), abs 1/18 Saturday- easy walk in the snow 1/19 Sunday- long easy run, 10 miles Total running: mileage: 30 miles

Swim team set the foundation for me in terms of embracing fitness as a lifelong pursuit.  At age six, my parents enrolled me in Elm Grove Swim Team.  Every summer (until about age 14), I competed in individual events and relays.  I approached practices with an open mind, eager to be part of a team and please my coach (and dad).  During my middle school years, I joined a local winter team.  I was never the fastest, but I had a decent breaststroke time and I made it through every set.   The challenges of swim team practice are different than a running workout.  With swimming, I have to remember to breathe!  The whole body is involved and there is a complex rhythm to every stroke.  A fast swimmer relies on technique.  This isn't to say that breathing, rhythm, and technique aren't important in running, only to point out that someone can be really fit and athletic but the slowest swimmer ever.  This is not usually the case with running. ...

Preface: I wanted to write this race report while it was all still fresh, but with a four month old and my return to work, this post quickly dropped its priority status.  Luckily, I jotted down some key memories immediately after the race to stimulate my writing later.  Those anecdotes are included here! *** Almost two weeks ago, I crossed the YWCA Women's Sprint Triathlon finish line for third year in a row.  As I raised my hands in the air, the announcer cheered me on, "Molly of Minneapolis- This is her first triathlon post baby Misha!  She just had a baby and triathlon!" This shot truly captures the thrill of the finish line.   Last year, Misha completed the race with me and my mom in the "buddy heat."  Only a few weeks pregnant, I kept my mom company as she worked her way through her first 500 yard open water swim, 15 mile bike ride, and 5k run.  This year, we signed up as a "mother-daughter team" with each of us competing in our own age g...

July somersaulted into August as Mike, Misha, and I headed from our cabin weekend to joining Mike's family in the northeast.  There, our days were colored with gray fog rising off the water in the morning and jewel toned sunsets.  Early morning coffee with the baby and rounds of game playing in the evening.  Trips to the local corner store for soft serve coffee ice creams.  Long runs along hilly roads with views of shingled farm houses and adirondack chairs.  Postcard perfect views from mountain trails and steep, careful downhill climbs with precious cargo strapped to my frame.  A cold swim for a little babe in a evergreen shaded lake.  There was a not so satisfying crab cake, and, fortunately, a very glorious oh-so-savory crab cake later on.  With lots of eager arms and quick smiles about, Misha savored the loving attention from his family while Mike and I set off to complete as many crosswords as humanly possible.  :) Preparing to set o...

As a teacher, I have the luxury of ten empty weeks. Somehow, I manage to fill up seven of them pretty quickly with camping, coaching, traveling, paneling, and painting. Today, however, I spent Monday morning exactly the way I wish I could spend every Monday morning for the rest of my life. Dramatic? Yes. Sincere? Very. I baked a batch of millet muffins and drank some coffee. I opened all the windows and let the cool morning air drift through our home. Then, Anna, one of my favorite tri/run buddies biked over and we headed to Lake Nokomis to try out some open water swimming before my sprint tri in a few weeks. Despite the cloudy water and the ill spread buoys, I felt strong and fast. I really had nothing to measure my speed against, but I imagined coming out of the swim in first place (this will not happen but it was fun to imagine!). The sun was beaming down on the waves and I felt absolutely alive and grateful. Thank you parents for signing me up for swim team at age 6. Hi...