Lately my life as a triathlete has had a lot of ups and downs. As I have mentioned before, I am suffering from on again / off again IT band stuff that I made worse in the marathon a month ago. UGH! Last week I really felt like I broke through the wall and was doing better. I’ve been very careful to keep my runs short, stretch, rest when needed, etc. I just want to be BETTER! Of course, all of this must be balanced with a busy life of working and mommying and wifeing.
This week has been a typically up and down week. Here is a short summary of my workout/training/triathlete drama.
Monday:
Workout: Hooray! Monday I had a good morning spin class and another afternoon spin class followed by weights. It was a great way to get in my bike time, which I am really trying to increase right now since it is my weakness and doesn’t bother the hip. My baby has decided he LOVES kids care, which made taking him there after work seem like a treat instead of a “bad mommy” action.
Tuesday:
I rode a long time on the trainer. Again, HOORAY!
Wednesday:
This is my “BOO HISS” day. I had my usual Wednesday night group run Wednesday night. It’s only five miles, which has been my max lately, so I was fairly certain it would go well. The plan was to swim after. The run was fun and social for the first few miles, but I quickly realized I was running too fast. We were keeping an 8 min/mile pace, but I didn’t realize it because I was having fun. Heading up a hill, I started to feel some pain. I stuck in my ear buds and slowed down, leaving my group. I finished the run, but I was hurting a lot by the end. I went home and iced and took ibuprophen, but it hurt a lot by around midnight. GRRRRRR!
Thursday:
Due to Wednesday night, I took Thursday off. I was thinking all day, “please, please, please, feel better!” I also cancelled the 13 mile run I had scheduled for Friday morning. **SIGH**
Friday:
NO WORK!!!! WOOT! WOOT! I went to the gym for a slow treadmill run and a swim. Both went well, but I could feel the hip and knee throughout the SLOW run. I finished my run, but it was only 3 miles, and I am now pretty nervous.
Tomorrow I am scheduled for a cold and dark early morning bike ride with a group. That will be tough and fun. I really hope to get in a long swim as well. At this point, I am nervously singularly focused. I want to make it to Florida 70.3 without being in pain. I want to be able to do my best. I’m frustrated.
Aside from this stuff, I feel good about things. I’ve discovered some delicious new smoothie recipes that are keeping my breakfasts yummy and healthy. My new favorite lunch is a quinoa thing that makes me feel super healthy (recipe below). Most importantly, my kids are AWESOME! Now that it is SUPPOSED TO START warming up, I hope to get them out on the bikes much more often. This cold weather has kept us all indoors. They are ready to train more, despite the crazy soccer schedule, so I just need for Mother Nature to agree with us all.
SO….here is the quinoa recipe. I’ve made it for the last two weeks and had it for lunch every day. It’s very cheap (important) and YUMMY!
In a pot, cook 1 cup of quinoa in 2 cups of vegetable broth.
In another pot, combine one bag of mixed vegetables containing broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini (or whatever you want), 1 small can of finely diced tomatoes, 1 sliced onion, ½ cup of edamame, 1 cup water or broth, and 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp curry powder, and any other herbs you want to drop in (I used dill this week…yummy!). Bring to a boil and then simmer together while the quinoa cooks in the other pan.
When the quinoa is ALMOST done but not 100%, stir it into the vegetable mixture and let the whole thing simmer for 10 -20 minutes. Salt, pepper, and serve. THAT IS IT!
DELICIOUS!
So, I hope that all of you have had a week that has been more up than down. If it hasn’t’ been, just pick up and do it again. Second time is a charm! (or third, or fourth, or fifth).