I did not feel very well today! Yesterday I kept my daughter home from school as she was not feeling so good. When this happens my schedule has to change. I no longer have my six hour window in which I like to do my training. So I got my long run in but I had to miss a swim workout which I now have to try make up on Sunday. I may have strep throat as my throat really hurts and I have no energy. I forced myself to go swim. I decided as I was swimming solo to do my long swim workout today, as I really did not think I could pull of the hard 100's. I got through half of the workout and was really battling. By 3500 I had to get out. I then made the decision to cancel my bike and go home and sleep. I took a 3 hour nap(which I never do) and woke up feeling slightly better. I got a 40 minute run in while my daughter was at dance. I am hoping I feel much better tomorrow as I have a really hard run day scheduled. They are calling for rain,sleet, and high winds. I wander where I shall run tomorrow???

Treadmill or cold????

Today I had to do a long run....thank goodness only an hour and forty minutes. I was quite excited that in NJ it was meant to be in the low 40's today. I awoke this morning with the sound of the wind howling...I looked outside the flag pole across the street was almost bent in half and the bay had turned into a narly ocean with whitecaps and big waves. Not too encouraging when you know you have to run long. The weather forcast predicted rain/showers and winds 30-40 mph with gusts going up to 50...Great! Well I had to make the decision to put on my ear phones and watch some good mindless tv and be warm and bored or too suck it up and just go run outside. Well, what would you do?

Exhausted!

I swam hard today,biked 3 hours in the woods, then ran on the trails for an hour! I am exhausted! Starting to feel stronger though!

Thank goodness for training partners!

I really try not think about what my next days workout entails as it can be too overwhelming! Somedays you really don't think you are going to recover ..then you feel fine the next day. Well today was a zone 4 tempo run. I love these workouts especially once they are done and executed well. I prefer to do them with people as you are all suffering together and you really have no choice but to perform. I do 90% of my training between the hours of nine and three when my kids are in school. Yet 90% of my training partners work therefore alot of my training during the week is done alone. Well today I got a nice surprise that Don a friend of mine was off work and was looking to do a long run. Being the good guy he is, he agreed to my workout plan and I was really happy as I knew he would be able to really push me. If there was any workout that I could use some company this week,it was this one. It was beautiful and sunny. We chose to run the boardwalk which worked out perfectly with the 15 mile per hour wind that was blasting us from the west. We pushed hard and ran well. We both felt awesome when it was done. I am always extremely thankful to have good company and people who are always eager to do any workout no matter how challenging. So Don, Joe, Patti, Maggie, Ed, Laura, Heather,Bernadette, Chris I am always very grateful to have you guys as training partners.

Mountain Biking! Mirror of Life!

I decided to make a quick change of workout plan this morning and instead of riding my trainer I decided to put my mountain bike in my car. They were calling for light snow so road biking was out. Besides it was chilly! I finished up my swim and headed for the woods. I had not made plans to meet anyone so I just jumped on my very muddy bike and headed out for an awesome ride. I love mountain biking. I really enjoy riding on my own too, much more so than road biking.

Any time you are on your own it gives you time to reflect on who you are and what hand life is dealing you. I find mountain biking to be a great mirror of life.
I never quite know exactly where I am going in the woods, but I find great enjoyment in the process of finding where I'm headed too and reaching a familiar path that will ultimately lead me to where I want to go. (either the porta john or my car) When given a choice of two trails that I'm familiar with I always choose the more difficult trail.
I love the excitement of the switchbacks, the faster the better.( If anyone has seen me drive or mtbike..they'll understand that one)
I like to challenge myself by trying all the jumps at least once. Once bitten twice shy(I think thats how the saying goes!)
I can be reckless at times.
I always see the beauty of the woods!I stopped in awe today as a deer and I stood eyeing each other. We both darted off in different directions.
I love the quiet but am always happy to see people out there.
I know my limits although sometimes I really want to do the North Face projects!(reckless!)
I like to have FUN!
Sometimes I feel like I'm the coolest mountain biker then I hit a tree...reality check!
Well if this didn't totally confuse you then hopefully it gave you to a little insight into me and why I shouldn't mtbike alone. Way too much time to think!

My Racing Slideshow!

Quote of the day!

Victory belongs to the most perservering! Napolean Bonaparte