this is what I live with...

Two boys who cannot keep their hands off of each other. BTW this picture was taken in a restaurant...a public place...they really are pretty good, most of the time, but boy oh boy it is alot of effort to keep them busy and out of trouble.

So we took them skiing yesterday. And they both caught onto that pretty darn fast! They LOVED it! And it was a perfect day for skiing. When it comes to skiing, I could take it or leave it but we have a fantastic little set up at Table Mountain near Battleford...chair lifts and two great bunny hills...signed them up for some lessons and away they went! Someday we will have to take them to the mountains but for now we will likely be regulars at Table. And it was cheap. Perfect! On the way there, we popped in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective"...omg, we laughed and they giggled the whole ride there as Shaun can quote the entire movie on his own and did so with "Watch this part! This is really funny!" And then he would say the line at the same time as Jim Carey....was fun.

Yesterday was a hard run not so much do to the workout but more due to the conditions. The roads are crazy uneven and it was like running on a trail, trying to find footing and concentrating on where you put your foot, every single time. Managed well over an hour but I was a bit dissappointed the intervals were done kind of crappy as Coach Justin had said this was one of the important workouts for the week. I even sent him a whiney e-mail but of course he analysed all the data and came back with that my HR was in the range it should have been so even though the run was *slow* my fitness was still improving. Sigh.

Today was a swim. Had a terrific swim. The swim clinic that wasn't due to a snow storm last week, was rescheduled for today. Got lots and lots of tips on my stroke and it really helped. I know I throw haymakers when I get tired so it was alot of practice just keeping it together when I am tired. High elbows, underwater pull, right to the end, small tight kick...I enjoyed the tune up!! I have yet to do another hour run today...it is f-ing cold and I am trying to get motivated to get my ass out the door and do yet, another run...

my week...

...started out Sunday getting my truck stuck out at the Shaw Center. Nice. I hit some ice under the snow and wham...went into the snow bank. Me and about 4 other vehicles tied traffic up on that road for about 30 minutes. Shovelled my way out, in my fashionable lululemon gloves that are SHIT for cold weather, went for my swim, helped Shaun shovel us out of our house and then laid on the couch and watched football ALL day. Was so lazy that I had my kids bring me snacks...finally, they are old enough to get asked to do something and they (occasionally) do it...still young enough to be super excited about bringing me the bag of carrots...but have not laid around like that for a very long time...the ole HR got up a few times watching the games and had to yell at the tv once or twice, but was a good day. GO SAINT'S!!!!!

Monday came and I could not move. My back and my arms and my sides were screaming. Shoveling snow does that!! I asked Justin to tell Training Peaks I want shoveling snow on their workout selections and he said he would get on asking them. I think he was lying.

Early work meeting on Tuesday so no workouts for me. However, I did a ton of stretching at the taekwondo class. Flexibility is not my thing. But working on it and it feels good to take the time and sssssttttrrrrretchhhhhh those muscles!! Wednesday was a swim. A pretty good swim. Some kick, some pull some more kick and some more pull. Swim coach had me breathing every 5 and every 7 as the pace times were a little slow and that gives the lungs and legs a workout.

Today was a run. On the treadmill at the little gym in my office building. Was a super run! Felt good and ran some good intervals watching tennis and hockey highlights. Have you noticed I am a sports nut?? And I have a serious crush on Iginla. Kind of boring in there all by myself so I have to daydream about something and the auto lights keep going off on me so I have to wave my arms while running to turn the lights on again!! Next up is another run on Saturday and then we are taking the offspring for some ski lessons to Table Mountain! They are SO EXCITED! Not sure they know exactly what this means (the word *mountain* is used very loosely as we ARE IN SK....) but should be fun!!

10 Things that make me happy

Looked like a fun idea...so here they are!
1. My boys
2. Sunshine
3. Running
4. Catching up with an old friend
5. Finding new stuff to do
6. Listening to M and L giggle
7. Two bite brownies
8. A good song on the radio
9. Watching M and L get excited about things
10. Getting ALL my laundry done...this is a miracle and does not happen very often but still makes me happy!

shitty run

Yeah.

You know those runs where the birds are singing and the sun is shining and you feel light and it is easy and you are going fast and everything is clicking?

This WAS NOT one of those runs.

Up and at it early. Out the door in good time. Had 4 x 8 minutes to do. No problem. Started the warm up and knew right away my legs were not happy to be out of bed. Heavy. Slow. Slippery. Breathing was labored...in the warm up!

Drat!

But I had to get this workout done so lets see what they think for the first 8 minutes. The legs were okay. They picked up their mood and the first 8 minutes were good. The second 8 minutes were also pretty good....maybe I will just run my way out of these heavy legs!! Then I turned onto a side street that I have ran a million times and it had snowed a bit yesterday and the footing was kind of crappy. It was that snow that is like running in sand. It has not been super cold that makes the snow really hard, it was soft and just enough to really slow you down. Normally I would just run in the middle of the road but there was quite a bit of traffic today!! What the hell are all these people doing up so early an interupting MY interval run!!?? So the 3rd and 4th one were not all that fun and Gary Garmin told me I was super slow for those as well. Oh well. Can't have them all be good!! As Coach Justin says "Tough training runs make race day easier..."

Happy Friday!!

tired

I kinda feel bad with that title given that Amber is running 90+ km in a week....and Julie is working her tailbone off running in one spot...and Keith is putting in double digit weeks in training hours...and Jenna is likely jet lagged...and SKW is putting in lots of work time...and Susi is doing "Operation Sexy Arms" with Tony and her P90X...(See? I may not comment lots but I read them all!!)

My biggest training weeks last summer leading up to my half ironman were around 7 hours...Yeah...7 hours!!

This week, in the middle of January, I have EIGHT on my workout schedule. My body has gone into training shock. And its HARD work too!! None of this bike for 3 hours at a comfortable pace or run a couple of hours at your run all day pace....Nope...its intervals and running hard. Puke.

I actually had yet, another run on the schedule today but I just could not make my body get out of bed. No matter what. I need sleep!! So I slept. Will get it in tomorrow.

Yesterday was a swim in the morning and it was a good swim. I love the Wed morning swim coach! He is fun and eggs me on to beat CoryF...nothing like some "friendly" competition at the pool...told me yesterday I was doing the "T-Rex" swim as I was getting tired and my stroke had shortened up considerably from the beginning of the workout. Ha Ha!! He is the guy that has also agreed to coach our Sunday morning group swims. So I am looking forward to those again, now too. This weekend I have put together a tiny swim clinic and the head coach from one of the local competitive swim teams is coming out to share his knowledge with the group. Had coffee with him last week and he is a very bright and smart guy. Has really made a name for himself in the swim coaching world so I am excited he has agreed to come and give us a hand.

Last night I also had a 30 minute bike ride. That I did. On my bike. Have not been in that bike for a few weeks...Justin warned me...this marathon training is going to be at the expense of your biking...oh well...