Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Mid-week randomness

Thank you for all the encouraging comments on my last post. That was a race experience that I won't soon forget. I keep replaying it in my mind and it still makes me smile.

This week is recovery week. For example I did hills on the treadmill today....2.5 miles total, but at a *very easy* recovery jog pace. I think I'm going to come out of this stronger as a result of giving my body some time to heal, but mentally, it's been a challenge.

I am looking to further ramp up the swimming and put cycling back in the fold starting next week. I roughed out a schedule that doesn't have me doing any triathlons until Aug/Sep, so I'm not under huge time pressure, but I can't put this off indefinately.

I am soooo proud of Son. We went to the top 10 awards banquet last night. It was a lovely dinner event. He's currently in the top 10 of his class of over 800 studends and received some impressive academic bling.

Daughter's piano recital is on May 4th. She has declared this to be her last year playing, so I'll probably cry. She really plays beautifully. I hope she continues playing even after she stops taking lessons. She also plays flute and is competing at state this Friday. Once again, this is her last year playing, so it's special and sad at the same time.

Last year I tried several different distances and did two events each: 5K, 10K, HM, sprint tri, oly tri. I liked HM the best. I liked 5K and sprint tri the least. 10K and oly tri are in the middle somewhere. This year I want to spend more time on what I like best, and less time on what I don't care for as much. This year, I plan to focus on what puts the sparkle in my eye and the spring in my step.

And with that, I am NOT participating in the Jay Benson sprint tri this year. It's one of my least favorite distances, it's on Mother's Day, and I dont' care for the reverse tri format.

We're probably going to San Diego at the end of May, flying out the day of the RnR marathon there. I was very excited at first because I thought we could do the half while we were there, but there is no half. Bummer. I really would have loved a shot at a HM at sea level.

Stopped at the insurance agency today to take care of some business and also inquire about insuring Son assuming he gets his provisional license in the next month. Yikes. On the way home we also stopped at a few places for him to pick up job applications. Enough said.

It's been very warm the past few days. Might be about time to hook up the swamp cooler. This may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but in our house, we have to choose between having the option to use heat or the option to have cooling. Can't have both. So the switching decision needs to be made carefully.

I'm running sixes for the next three weekends: 6-7 mile training run this weekend, Run for the Zoo 10K the following Sunday, Virtual 10K on the 10th the Saturday after that. I'm kinda hoping there might be a 10K PR in there for me, but it's okay if it doesn't happen.

Enjoy the remainder of your week, everyone!!

20 comments:

  1. Eric and I are doing the RNR Marathon in San Diego. Maybe you can come and cheer him on?

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  2. Now you've tried everything you don't have to keep doing everything.
    I think that's the way to keep the joy in it - do the things you really like :)

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  3. Great idea deciding on what's most enjoyable and focusing on that...

    Your son is growing up f-a-s-t isn't he - job applications and insurance.. ek!

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  4. My son's insurance is more than my car note and insurance combined when I was his age. Every thing has its risk reward...

    I think that's a good strategy, focusing on what you love. I love them all :-) Next year, I'm definitely taking it easy though :-D

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  5. Congrats to Son on his academic achievements. That should help out (somewhat) with car insurance.

    Best of luck to Daughter with her recital!

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  6. Wow! CONGRATS to the son, Lisa :-) You must be so proud ;D I know I would be! ;-)

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  7. That is awesome that Son is in the top 10!! Wish we could have been there, too...sigh.

    I bet your daughter will be so glad she plays piano as she gets older. I always wished I could. Our older son taught me to play guitar ("somewhat"), and it is such a relaxing thing to do.

    I think it's awesome that you are doing the races you want this year. I thought about the Jay Benson on Mother's Day, but I like to do other things on that day. I'm like you...sprints and 5K's are my least favorites and HM run is the most fun of all :)

    Good luck with the Zoo Run!! I'm not doing that one either...I need to ramp of the bike mileage.

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  8. Congrats on your son being so smart! Your kids sound great..and about the driving thing..hmmmm..more worries but more freedom!

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  9. Gret post!
    I wish my Mom had made me take piano for a while. As an adult I am jealous of the folks who can just sit and play!Congrats to your son too!
    Glad you are focusing on what you love!
    Take Care

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  10. Congrats to your Son and your daughter's piano recital. Make sure you tape it since it will be her last one... that way you can always see it.

    That's a lot of 10K's in your area. We don't seem to get that many, and I think I like that distance and the Half the best, better than the 5K too, cause I'm not a speedy runner by any means.

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  11. Sounds like a great plan. pick the race distances you will most enjoy and really train for it. Have a good recovery week

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  12. good thing that your narrowing things down....

    less is more... sometimes we triathletes don't realize that

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  13. I like your randomness. Re: your daughter's piano playing, piano seems to be something many people rediscover in adulthood. I stopped playing at some point during high school and then picked it up again when I borrowed a piano several years ago.

    And what's a swamp cooler?

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  14. Always choose the events that best suit your strength. :-)

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  15. Some week off, already on the treadmill! Sounds like you have some talented and nice children.

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  16. It's interesting that you put that the sprint distance is your least favorite. I think that I am going to agree (I have to do the Olympic first). The whole thing felt so "frantic". I like the idea of taking 5 min to transition and not really worrying about it. I think I spent about 3 minutes in T1 and was so super slow!

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  17. Wonderful kids must have a great mom!!

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  18. Belated congrats on the Personal Best!

    And also for having such great kids.

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  19. Wow!

    What year is your daughter? I played the flute all the way through highschool and took part in piano from 2nd grade through 12th. I remember backing off from piano my senior year (too busy, yadiyada) and only did my senior concerto, passing on my two recital songs.

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  20. Sounds like you have some busy weekends coming up! I agree that you should only focus on the distances that you enjoy. Life's too short to spend time training for those you don't.

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