June Totals and Weekend Update

June totals

Swim: 1.36 miles 

Bike: 70.38 miles

Run: 6.65 miles

Walk: 3.61

Elliptical: 7.32 miles

Yoga: 20 mins

Pilates: 30 mins

Rest days: 15

Yikes on the running numbers in June. I did not do well. But I was also having trouble with my shins and as you can see the walking and elliptical were added and have a few miles on them. Not an amazing number, but at least I was moving!  This month (July) I’m joined a running challenge (again, Yikes!). The challenge is to run 50 miles in the month of July. Of course it’s not going to be 100% running, but I’m going to count my running workouts towards it. Maybe when I can run consistently I’ll re-try the challenge to actually run 50 miles in a month. But for now, I’m doing it this way because it’s the only way I can do it and at least I’m doing something! 

This weekend has been a plethora of training and I loved it. I finally got to get in the lake and swim! I’m so tired of swimming in the pool, it’s boring and annoying to fight for a lane or get pushed into another lane in the middle of my swim because of swimming lessons or they are changing the lap lanes, or something else ridiculous. I might start heading down to Hopkinton State park and swimming there during the week. I don’t know how much more of lap swimming I’ll be able to handle now that I’ve been in the lake this summer!  And as a preview for July’s totals, I’ve already swam more this weekend than I did in all of June. Oh yeah!

I bought bike shorts last week and got to test them out this weekend on the Cotton Valley Trail. I did NOT bike toward SpookyVille, but I did go into town and back on the trail twice, because once just wasn’t enough.

 Although the bike shorts do cut into my legs a little bit, the comfort in the seat area definitely outweighs that issue. Why didn’t I own bike shorts before now? I did 13 miles on Sunday and I felt no discomfort at all.

I almost didn’t get to ride my bike this weekend. I packed the bikes up on Friday night, locked them to the car, and took off. Once I got to my place in NH, I realized that I had thrown the bike lock keys on the back bumper of the car and forgot about them. So I had to find a bike store in town and have them cut off my cable.

I have an extra key at home for the lock so I can use the lock again if I get a new cable, but it wasn’t doing me any good at home. I bought a new cable with a combo lock built in so I don’t have to worry about keys again. Because this isn’t the first time I’ve left something on the bumper of my car and took off. It was the 3rd. And probably won’t be the last. I’m smart, I know.

Although I know I should probably get another run in tonight to up my totals for my 50-mile run challenge, I’m letting myself have a rest day today. I’m exhausted from this weekend. And Bruno Mars just says it best:

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song

I love this song, but this is the first time I've seen this video and I'm torn between being hysterical or horrified. Maybe both.

Three Things Thursday

I’ve seen several of my running/tri-ing/blogging friends do a Three Things Thursday post, and while normally it’s not my thing, today it is. And luckily, it’s Thursday.

1. I cannot believe tomorrow is July 1st. I signed up for a 50 mile running challenge in July via dailymile. I know some of the bloggers that I read regularly average 50 miles in a week, but for me 50 miles in a month is a challenge! Hence the name, I guess. Two people calculated the work it would take. Here are my options: 1.6/miles a day; 16 plus 3 mile runs; 4 miles 3 times a week or 3 miles 4 times a week, plus a little extra. Whichever I choose, I need to make sure I average around 12.5 miles a week to make sure I don’t end up with too many miles to get done during the last week. I also need to remind myself that it’s a challenge, not a life or death situation. I will try, but if I don’t finish the full 50 miles, I will not beat myself up about it. (That was more of a message to me, than to you!) Also, please join me in the challenge if you’re interested!

2. This weekend, I will be doing my first open water swim for my training. I grew up swimming in lakes and oceans and I was even certified as a lifeguard while solely swimming in a lake. So I’m not nervous at all. I’m excited to figure out how much my time differs from lap swimming. I just need to find some poor soul to kayak next to me while I swim in case I get a foot cramp (which happens often) and need to hang onto something to work it out. I seriously cannot wait to get into that lake!

My anticipated training route from one beach to another.
About the same distance as my triathlon.

3. I went to EMS in Marlborough today. I wanted to check out their selection of bike shorts. I also decided to get a new helmet once I spotted a pretty blue one. My bike helmet is over 15 years old and is missing a tabby thing inside. So it wasn’t just an impulse buy. I needed a new one eventually. Why not now? I perused the cycling area looking for a few other things I needed, like a pump that I can take with me on rides, replacement tubes in case I get a flat tire (even though I have no idea how to change one!) and an all in one tool thingy that does fancy stuff. I talked with a very helpful salesman named Stephen who explained how to change a flat tire and how to use all the fancy stuff on my all in one tool thingy. We talked for a long time and he gave me some great tips on biking and eased my mind about a lot of things. I also sought out some cool water shoes/sandals by Keen, which I tried on but didn’t buy because I didn’t like the colors they had in the store (black), but I might buy online.

I discovered this shoe when one of my 3 year olds wore it to school.
I wish they made a lot more "kids" shoes in adult sizes. Thank you Keen!

Then I talked to the manager, Caroline, about the differences between gels and bars and chomps and gummies and all that stuff. She knew a lot about them and was able to help me make an educated guess as to what I might and might not like. I definitely feel more confident about all that energy stuff than I have in the past. As I was checking out, I was mentioning who helped me in the store and realized that I had gotten help from every single clerk in the store. Go me! They were all awesome and if you’re in the area, you should think of EMS for all your sports needs.

I spent 2 hours in the store. I have a weakness for sports items
and office supplies. The day they ever combine a store to
carry both sports gear and office supplies, I'm screwed.

Me and my sassy new helmet. I'm a dork, I know.

I’m so excited for the long weekend! Lots of training mixed with lots of relaxation!