Friday Four ...

A lot has been happening around here. With school starting in just 11 days, we are doing our best to continue to make the most of every single second of summer vacation. It's been a blast (moments of attitude aside) and I am really bummed that it's almost over. Well, mostly. I will kind of dig having some more free time while the girls are at school. Anyway, here's a little recap of what's going on in our world.

1. The girls finished up swim lessons yesterday. After numerous hours spent at the Y, they all graduated into higher levels. Dizzle and Doodle actually skipped a level. Not bad considering last summer, everyone was rocking swimmies.

But, the best part might be that Dizzle wants to join swim team. She has one more level of lessons to finish before she can do that, but she's ready to go.

2. Rev3 Cedar Point HalfRev is in 16 days and my training has been going really well. Since figuring out that hypoglycemia was causing/playing into my feeling like crap all the time, I am recovering much better. The goal is still just to have fun out there and cross that finish line, but killing my workouts recently has been building my confidence.

3. When I'm not training and manage to get a second to myself (rare considering how much J has been traveling this summer), I've been hanging out with some pretty epic people. And we're doing things that don't require you to break a sweat. Just last week, we painted some most excellent peacocks.

It was so much fun and I truly feel blessed to have these women in my life.

4. I dyed my hair blue. Eerily similar to the blue peacocks we painted. Since I am growing out the mohawk (for real this time) I wanted something to express my style while dealing with all the awkward hairstyles I'll have in the next few months.

Other than the fact that the dye gets EVERYWHERE. I love it. And the girls are rocking their own color too.

Yup, we're awesomesauce like that.

July Rewind ...

Miles Run: 71.06. The most I've run in a long time.

Bike Miles Rode: 188.9 miles. All on the trainer.

 

Swim Meters Completed: 24100 meters or 14.98 miles. I'm kind of in love with the swim right now. As long as I can drag myself to the pool.

 

Rest Days Taken: 9.

 

Highest Run Mileage Week: 7/22-7/28: 19.7 miles

 

Highest Bike Mileage Week: 7/22-7/28: 58.5 miles

 

Highest Swim Volume Week: 7/15-7/21: 7500 meters or 4.76 miles

 

Long Runs Completed (1 hr+ miles): 3

 

Current Book: Right now, I am reading Beautiful Choas by Garcia and Stohl. But I also finished a few other books in July. (Note: For those of you who have asked, if it's on this or any of my lists, I would recommend the book. If I don't like the story or the book doesn't grasp my attention, I don't bother finishing it, thus it wouldn't be listed here.) 

• The Death Cure by Dashner
• Everfound by Shusterman
• Extras by Westerfeld
• Fallen in Love by Kate
• The Maze Runner by Dashner
• Looking for Alaska by Green
• Peeps by Westerfeld
• Rapture by Kate
• The Scorch Trials by Dashner
• Unwind by Shusterman
• Beautiful Creatures by Garcia and Stohl
• Beautiful Darkness by Garcia and Stohl

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Redecorating and Organizing. For some reason my OCD is in overdrive lately. Last month, it was our office and this month our family room ...

 

Current Colors: Orange and Turquoise.

   

Current Drink: Tea. Hot tea, despite it being a bajillion degrees outside.

 

Current Song: The Other Side - Jason Derulo

 

Current Triumph: Accomplishing all my training while traveling and keeping the kids fully occupied and content. I feel like I've been juggling quite well lately.

 

Current Goal: Be a better me. Each and every day. And tackle my 2013 To Do List head on.

 

Current Blessing: Health, happiness and love. I've got all three.

 

Current Excitement: Rev3 Cedar Point HalfRev is in 38 days! Peak weeks are here!

 

2013 To Do List:

 

Fitness:

• 140.6. That is all. - Yeah, not going to happen this year.
• Make time for strength training. Don't let training loads eliminate strength workouts completely. And stick to strength training in a group, it keeps you accountable. - Getting back to this.
• Switch to time-based/HR training. Despite my knowledge of training paces, I have a hard time sticking to them. I'm hoping this will help me train more effectively. - I'm kind of over the HR aspect of this. Summer temps alone make this suck. 
• Log 4,500 cumulative run, bike and swim miles. Up 485 from 2012. - As of August 1st, 1843.43 miles logged. Not looking good at this point.
• Race a 10K with a finish time much faster than your very dated current PR of 53:17. I never managed to register for a 10K in 2012 and I'm not sure where it will fit in this year, but it's on my radar. - No progress on this one.
• Set a new PR in the Half Marathon, currently 1:57:06. I totally blew this one in 2012 and will likely only have one good shot at it in 2013.- Fail. Epic fail.
• Run a 5K with Dizzle and Doodle, even if that means tricking them into it. - The kids have been running quite a bit recently. Probably going to aim for the fall.

Nutrition:

• Eat like a gluten-free athlete. After struggling with health issues much of 2012, removing the gluten has been key in alleviating the symptoms. Don't be swayed by the lure of wheat. Or cake.- On point, like usual.
• Find the race day (and training) nutrition plan that works for me.- Eventually ...
• Consume no more than 18 desserts from Shyndigz. This number worked well in 2012 and helped me cut back on my serious cake addiction. Plus, their gluten-free menu is limited, so I shouldn't be tempted as often. - As of August 1st, 13 desserts consumed.
• Drink at least 100oz of water per day.- Oh, heck yeah!

Personal:

• Only say yes to the projects you REALLY want to work on. An honest no is much better than a halfhearted yes. - Check.
• Stick to our budget. We've lived credit card (and credit card debt) free for five months. No reason to go back now. - Double Check.
• Ignore your impulses. Take time to process the true value of the things you are filling your space/life with. - Yes and no. Lots of pondering this one recently ...
• Figure out what to do with my hair. Keep the mohawk or grow it out. I'm taking opinions on this one.- I caved and cut my hair. I have no willpower when it comes to growing it out, but I am attempting it again.
• Continue to balance family life, training and now, work.- Check.
• Prioritize and be a good example for the people in your life. - Like quadruple check!
• Help and support J and the kids in reaching their goals. We are a team and that must always be the primary focus of our lives. No one should have to sacrifice so that someone else can reach their goal. If a balance can't be found, it's not worth pursuing.- I would never waiver on this one!