Challenges

Week Two has proven that maintaining a training schedule is going to be a challenge. I'm doing it, but it's definitely tough finding the time to work out six days a week and finding a way to get in workouts in the midst of travel, other commitments, and the ever-changing schedule-o-baby.

Sunday: Rest Day. Ahh...although it actually felt a little weird not to do ANYTHING all day. Apparently once you're back in the swing of things, it then feels strange to let yourself take a day off. I'd almost forgotten that in my multi-month hiatus from a serious workout schedule.

Monday: I had to travel down to DC that morning. I had an 11 o'clock train, so my plan had been to get in my 30 minutes of cardio before leaving for the station. I needed to leave by approximately 930am, so my plan was to get up around 7, get to the gym, swim, be out of the gym by 830 or so, come back, shower and rush out the door. Of course, as is too frequently the case, this meant that Kayla chose Sunday night to have a tough time getting to sleep and I was wiped the next morning. So, I scrapped the plan to get to the gym and instead spent the morning trying to pack, get ready and, at the same time, feed, change, play with and appease the baby. Not so easy. I finally rushed out the door at a little past 930, getting to the station with just enough time to grab coffee and a bagel and hop on the train. By the time I got to DC it was 2pm and I had to run a couple of errands and then meet a friend for dinner. No time for a workout there. By the time I got back to the hotel from the friend's house, it was 11pm and I had fought my way through an ice storm that had the roads so slick my little rental car basically had to crawl its way home. Needless to say, I wasn't exactly feeling like a workout at that point, especially knowing I had to be up in about six hours if I was going to get in a run before work, so...

FAIL

My first day of not getting in the required workout. I tried to comfort myself by accounting for all of the walking I had done and the carrying of suitcases up and down flights of stairs, but I'm sure I didn't get in enough strenuous cardio to really make up for not getting to the gym. But, Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This, and so I just let myself let go of the guilt and I refocused on the next morning's goal. And I ate some Neuhaus chocolate from the train station because if you're gonna slack, you might as well SLACK.

Tuesday: Tuesday I ran my required four miles and then followed the run with Coach Jay's Back Routine. This was the first time I'd had to run indoors (the ice storm from the night before had the roads and sidewalks looking like one big skating rink, so...pass on running outside). Blech. Blech, blech, double blech. I don't know how people do it. I hate running on the treadmill. Other than the fact that it is easier on my joints, it is the most painful experience. Yes, there was a TV I could watch, yes it was nice and warm in the gym, yes I was able to just wear normal running clothes and didn't have to bundle up like an Eskimo before starting my run, but listen...no matter how many pluses there were, the big minus of running for 30minutes and going NOWHERE far outweighs them. Plus, I don't know why they position treadmills in front of a mirror. I like me and all, but I get pretty darned tired of looking at myself during a four mile run. Oh, so tedious. But, I did it, I survived, and I now complain less about those 15 degree runs outside; at least I don't have to stare at myself while doing them.

Wednesday: Wednesday I got up early and got in a 30 minute swim before work. The last few times I've gone down to DC I've managed to get great deals on the Westin. I love the Westin. Most importantly, they have the most comfortable beds in the history of the world (I want to be buried on Westin sheets with a big old fluffy Westin pillow under my head) and they have a dual headed shower that, good for the environment or not, is so amazing. Ah, the sweet sweet soothing feel of the Heavenly Shower Head - head massage and back massage at the same time - sigh. More in line with this blog though, they also have a pretty good gym and a pool that is actually deep enough for you to be able to swim laps. I used to stay at another hotel down the road and their pool was so shallow at one end that you actually had to switch to a breaststroke if you didn't want to be scraping the bottom of the pool as you completed your laps. The pool at the Westin is a little short, so you have to do twice as many laps as you would normally to get in a good workout, but it's nice, it's quiet and it's usually totally empty in the morning.

Thursday: Got up early with Kayla and then went for a 3 mile run while she was down for her first nap (Chris was working from home, don't worry. I do not just lock the doors and go for a run while she's sleeping, although if I could...no, I can't. But, maybe...But, no. But, so tempting...grumble. Grumble.) Felt dead on my feet. I don't know what it is this week. I think maybe it's just my muscles getting used to being used again. Or maybe I'm not hydrating enough. That is a distinct possibility since I'm always dehydrated, even when I'm not working out and when I am drinking obscene amounts of water. I'm also thinking that drinking wine the night before a run...probably not a good idea. But wine is good and sometimes it just cannot be ignored. Anywho...so I did manage to complete the run, felt lethargic and crappy the entire time, plus it was so cold that my eyes started to water, those tears froze into little glaciers across the fronts of my eyes and I basically ran with a set of ice glasses (in the wrong prescription no less) across my eyeballs. Finished off the workout with The Myrtl Routine, this time unencumbered by Kayla hanging off of one leg. Result? Easier.

Friday: It is now 230pm and I have yet to get in my required 4 mile run, but I will. I will! I'm waiting for Kayla to get up from her nap and then we're either headed to the gym (another 4 inches of snow last night, so no running outside; both the roads and the sidewalks are a mess) or we'll be waiting for Daddy to get home and then Mommy will be doing an evening run at the gym (boo on being there during peak hours). Tomorrow I have to figure out what kind of cardio I'll be doing since it WON'T be swimming (can't face Special Time again...). Then Sunday is rest day. Of course, I'll be getting a good cardio workout on Sunday regardless of my schedule because the Steelers are playing the Jets and God knows my heart will be racing like no spin class has ever made it race before. And then next week we start the 5 mile runs. 5 miles...GULP!

When you run through the storm (or just down the pothole infested roads of Hoboken),
hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark (or the terrible drivers or the roads that randomly crumble to reveal gigantic sinkholes).
At the end of the storm is a golden sky (if you can see it above the skyscrapers...)
And the sweet silver song of a lark (HA! Birds in NYC. HA! I hear the sweet silver songs of ambulances...some drunks late at night...if I'm lucky maybe some poor pigeon...).

Run on through the wind,
Run on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.
Run on, run on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never run alone, (unless your husband's a big wuss who won't run with you)
You'll never run alone (because your baby will be clinging to your leg demanding to be taken along).