Training has started...finally

What is new with training and life in the Andres house….

back yard bonfires

Monday May 5^th was the start of my marathon training…week 1 was just adjusting to a new schedule and seeing what works or what needs to be shifted.  Also, nutrition was my number one focus.  I really need to start getting real with myself and put as much energy into healthy choices like I do my training sessions.  

Mother's Day pic with my boys

Sunday, May 11^th, Mother’s day, marked the official start of my run training to Chicago.  I kicked it off with a nice long 20 mile run averaging a 7:30 pace.  I’m planning to work off a 5 week cycle which I repeat 4x and then take a 2 week taper.  I love trying to new training methods and tweaking them to make them my own.  Over the winter I read several different books on marathon training - Daniels’ Running Formula, Hanson’s Marathon Method, Run Faster from the 5k to Marathon, and Running for Women.  They are all great books which I learned something from each one.  The 5 week cycle is something I’m trying for the Daniels’ book.  The reason I like this one is I get to pick the workouts I do and the weekly structure stays pretty much the same. 

Run for the Lakes marathon was my 20^th marathon I’ve ran.  It really doesn’t feel like I have run 20 already.  There are so many more on my Bucket List I want to do.  The reason I picked the Run for the Lakes marathon was to give myself a wakeup call as to what it takes to run an open marathon and then to realize what it will take for me to run a 2:39 marathon.  In my opinion, an open marathon is harder than the marathon after a 112 mile bike ride during an IM.  

The race itself went better than I anticipated.  Probably because I had Lee and all 5 boys cruising by and handing me anything I may need every few miles.  Wyatt even ran mile 23 with me and I don’t think he will realize how important that mile was to me.  I was struggling and he just kept saying…”You got this Mom…You’re doing great Mom…You’re almost done and you’re going to win”.  

Riley and Wyatt running to the finish line with me at the end of the marathon.

The only thing I took in on a regular basis during the marathon was MAP (master amino pattern) and water.  The second loop the boys had coke for me and I had a few drinks, but otherwise that was it.  No GI issues anymore since I’ve changed my race day nutrition.  

I use Extreme Endurance which really helps with recovery time.  On Monday I felt great and was able to start easy jogging on Monday.  After I crossed the finished line I made a conscious effort to start recovery.  My training hadn’t been what I had wanted and the running mileage wasn’t where I wanted it to be so taking care of me was one of the keys in getting back to running as soon as possible.  I’ve learned what I do in those 24 hours after a race makes a big difference in how I feel the week after the race.  My recovery protocol works for me….it starts before the race starts with upping my extreme endurance, and then making sure I spend time walking throughout the day once the race is over.  I send my legs up the wall, do Epsom salt soaks, wear compression, put on magnesium lotion, and take MAP, roll, and stay active walking. Good nutrition and hydration are part of it too. 

Yep...legs up the wall.  This has to be the best recovery.

Yikes!  It was a scary moment when I pulled my race belt out of the box containing all my racing gear from Kona.  Too many cookies!  Right then and there negative thoughts crept in and I started thinking how I am going to run 26.2 miles with all this extra weight.  I’ve said this in previous blog posts about finding balance with training and all the other parts of life can be hard to do.  When I was training for Kona I wasn’t balanced at all.  In my opinion, to race where I wanted to race I needed to be towards the pointy end of training.  Lee and the boys made sacrifices for me to get in my training and I made lots of sacrifices for myself.  Once Kona was done I needed to swing the pendulum of life in the other direction and take care of them for a while.  I guess I like to bake cookies when I take care of people. 

Seriously...cookie problems

So as I stood there adjusting my race belt bigger and bigger I said to myself –
I’m still strong…anything is possible…the last 6 miles are all mental anyway. 

I went on to win the women’s’ race in 3:05 setting a new CR by almost 10 minutes.  

Speaking at Riverside Elementary… I had the honor to speak to all the students at Riverside Elementary on Work Ethic.  It was a short 10 minute little talk, but I so loved talking to all those little kids.  One thing all kids need to hear more is…Dream Big dreams and be a hard worker.  Anything is possible.  As adults we are sometimes so quick to think about all the obstacles and tell other people, kids, and ourselves the reasons why something won’t work.  This drives me crazy!  If someone tells me it’s not possible I will literally go out and do whatever it is just to prove them wrong.  I’m more about thinking of the ways to make it work rather than discussing all the possible obstacles which may make it harder.  I love those challenges and when they are conquered the finish line is that much sweeter.  

Wyatt and I kayaking in LaJolla

San Diego with Wyatt…We had so much fun!  San Diego was beautiful and we had sunshine each day. I’m so glad I took the time to take these trips with each of my boys.  They are moments I will never forget and memories I will always have with me.  Westin already has his planned for next year.  He picked Boston and going to a Red Sox game and a Bruins game.   

One of my favorite things to do in a new city is find a local farmers market.  We found one on our first day.  My other favorite thing to do in a new city is run. 

Our last day we found time to take out the Segway.

Break from masters classes….I have a 5 week break from when spring semester ended until summer starts.  I have 4 classes this summer.  My summer classes are short…4 weeks, but still a semesters worth of work in those 4 weeks.  So when June 9^th rolls around it will be a crazy 4 weeks.  Then three more semesters and I’ll be done.  I’m not spending more than 5 semesters getting this done.  I would rather have a bigger workload for a short period of time rather than a lighter load for a longer period of time.  Plus, I have so many other things I want to get back to…. like another Ironman right after the Olympic Trials and an epic bike ride in the Colorado Mountains.  The boys want to go back to Kona when they are old enough to all rent mopeds.  That will be 2016 so I better re-think my races these next couple years so I can be in Kona racing in 2016.  

The training room….my new room.  I love my little corner of space in our house.  I love being in there on my bike and on my treadmill.  It’s my space to just listen to my body and train my mind to push past limits and create new ones. 

Over the winter I ordered myself a ring with the words…No Regrets.  It’s the same two words I have on my bike and two words I try to live by.  To me, No Regrets means taking that one more step when it just doesn’t seem possible, it means when every piece of me wants to quit and walk…I take one more step.  It means when something scares the crap out of me I need to at least give it a try it.  I never want to look back on my life when I’m old and gray and say…I wish I would have…

My new favorite crazy eating thing is making a wrap out of Nori Sheet.  I’ve made them with scrambled eggs and veggies or sardines and tomatoes with avocado. YUM!  Seriously give it a try.  It’s super healthy and good. 

Next race is Grandmas half marathon.  This race will be a good gauge for me to check-in with my training and see how things are going.  It’s crazy to think it’s only about a month away. 

Looking forward to summer ….  We are doing a family backpack/camping trip up by the boundary waters after school is out.  Then I’m looking forward to Grandma’s half and the Voyager 50 miler in July. 

New favorite book…  It’s Never Too Late by Dallas Clayton.  It’s a kid’s book for adults.  I found it when Wyatt and I were in San Diego and I just love the message…It’s never too late to tell someone you care, to start something new, to appreciate life.

 

I just had to post this picture....this is what pizza and movie night looks like at the Andres house.  I believe it was 5 pizzas 3 boxes of wings, and a box of bread.  Do you notice the strawberries in the corner.  I try;)

Getting Sick...

It’s no fun being sick and it never seems like getting sick comes at a convenient time.  I’m not surprised…when a person doesn’t eat healthy nutritious foods and get plenty of sleep and then attempts to do more things than is humanly possible…well…sooner or later sickness will arrive knocking at the door.  Yep, I’m talking about myself.  Since the start of the year I have been telling myself I’ll start my “real” training this week which has turned into the next week and then the next week and now I’m 2 weeks out from a marathon and haven’t had more than 2 good weeks of training.  I’m pretty sure I have consumed more sugar and junk in the last few months than I did in the entire year training for Kona. 

To tell you the truth I’m not too upset.  I have had some of the best times with the boys and Lee over the last months since Kona.  Before I know it they will all be graduated and off doing their own thing.  Except Lee of course; he is kind of stuck with me forever.   Lee and I will only be 43 and all five of our boys will be off at college (or at least I hope they are doing something productive).  There will be so many hours in the day which will be open for running, bike rides, swimming, and yoga.  Now many of those hours are consumed with driving them to school and picking them up which I totally love!  Those are some of my favorite times of the day…right up there with family dinners.  Also, this going back to school is cutting into my training time.  One more year and I will be done.  My plan is still to find enough time to get enough quality running in before the trials so I can run a qualifying marathon time.

Back in the day...5 little boys....this pic of the 7 of us just about sums it up.

So my plan going forward…I’m running Run for the lakes Marathon on April 26^th no matter what.  Am I in the shape I want to be?  No, but who cares.  It will be a good slap in the face to wake me up to do the work I really need to do to reach the goals I have for myself.  It’s easy to dream big dreams.  The hard part is putting the work in each day to really make those dreams a reality.  It’s the moments when no one is watching or no one is pushing you to run one more mile or to run a little faster that really makes those dreams a reality.  

I truly believe anything is possible.  Would it be easier to reach my goal of running in the trials if I wasn’t getting my master’s right now?  Yes, but more than likely I would fill my plate with another crazy thing.  That is just who I am.  So I need to suck it up butter cup and start eating to run a 2:39 marathon in a little over a year from now and be more diligent with my training.  

The shoe dilemma…I loved my old Nike frees until they changed the style.  I have been trying to find the shoes that I slip them on and I have no other choice but to run.  Do you know what I mean?  There are some shoes that when I slip them on I just want to head out for a run.  I have narrowed it down to a few different ones…the adidas boosts are great for training (not the ones pictured), the Nike road racer is great for speed, and my shoes I wore at Kona for the marathon seem like good race day shoes.

 

Riley and I in Florida

The 13^th birthday trips…gosh I love my boys. They are so kind to me.  I believe they have a very good role model in their father.  For each of their 13^th birthdays we take a trip of their choice just the two of us.  They can pick anywhere in the US.   We originally planned them for last year.  The triplets turned 13 in September.  I was very focused on Kona and training at this time last year so we decided to push them back to 2014.  Riley and I spent 4 days in Florida having a great time on the beach jet skiing, kayaking, and para-sailing.  We spent a day at Busch Gardens and even found time to do some shopping.  Gavin and I headed to New York to watch a Yankees game and Rangers game plus took in all the typical New York tourist sights.  Soon, Wyatt and I will be heading off to San Diego.  It’s one place I have never been, but always wanted to visit.  I feel very fortunate to be going there with Wyatt.  He is a happy go lucky kid and will find joy in anything we do. 

Gavin and I at Yankee Stadium eating sushi.  He loves sushi as much as I and Yankee Stadium has great sushi!

 

Mitch turkey hunting last year.

Spring sports are in action…  Four boys are in tennis and one is in track, but two are wishing they would have joined baseball.  I love spring and fall sports.  The boys spend most of the year focusing on hockey and this time of year gives them an opportunity to try something different.  Turkey season starts next week and they are SO excited.  They think they need to miss school or at least go in after a morning hunt.  I think not.  We do have a rule if you are getting all A’s them you can miss school for hunting.  However, we have received the official school letter our boys have missed too many days of school.  They all get good grades, but we tend to travel a bit and they tend to miss quite a few days for hunting especially in the fall.  So, they are planning to hunt and still make it to school by the first bell.

Training…Finding the time to get those quality sessions in…well…I haven’t been getting in those quality sessions.  I have them wrote down on my training plan, but they haven’t been my #1 priority.  This will need to change real quickly here if I’m going to make it to the 2016 trials.  I have some work to do.  Serious work.  

But for now I’m enjoying -

Slowing down…listening to the boys stories and looking at them while they talk.  These moments will not be here forever and I don’t want to miss any.  Being a mom, a wife, having a full time job, going to school, and running down my own dreams takes balance each day.  I have learned to let the small things go and spend more time enjoying the important things.  Life is about the journey not the destination.    

Time for Running

Has it really been that long?

I can’t believe it’s been this long since I updated my blog.  Life just gets going and before we know it days turns to weeks and weeks turns into months!  I’ve really been enjoying my off season and maybe took a too long of break because getting back to training seeing how high that mountain is which I have committed to climb is a bit overwhelming.  I have decided that steps, even baby steps, are steps in the right direction and progress, no matter how small, is definitely still progress.  I didn’t realize the adjustment it would be going from training for Kona and then coming down from the high of the race followed by getting into a new routine.  Change can be hard, but I’ve tried to embrace it and know change is good.  

   

Master’s program…  Going back to school is so much more work than I anticipated?  YIKES!! The stress of school is way more taxing on me than the physical stress of training.  I would take the training stress any day over the school work.  I am learning a lot and enjoying my classes so I shouldn’t be complaining.  My goal is to be completed by summer 2015.  

Training…PRP

The PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injection was wonderful.  I had the injection done the beginning of November in my hamstring.  I followed the doctor’s orders to a T and the physical therapy exercises to a T.  I’m so happy with my results.  No hamstring issues at all! I have changed my warm-up since the injection for my run with added run drills and exercises to my warm-up.  

Training…I was able to quickly ramp up my run miles after I was given the go ahead to start running again.  At first it was run for 10 minutes which quickly grew to twenty and thirty and before I knew it was able to run an hour.  I’ve had two weeks with 100 miles, but sandwiched with them have been weeks with 30 to 40 miles.  I try to structure my training around the family instead of family around my training.  We have had busy weeks where running was my last priority.  I’m looking forward to getting into a more consistent schedule once summer comes.  I love running…it doesn’t matter if I’m on my treadmill, a road, or a trail.  I just simply love to run and love seeing how my body adapts to new training stressors and what a body can do with the right combination of training and recovery.  I’m looking forward to this next 1-2 years of dedicated run training.  The majority of my miles have been at an easy pace.  My goal has been building a solid foundation so when I add my speed training I’m able to without risk of injury.  

 

My 37th b-day morning!
I came home from a run outside to a chocolate cake, flowers, and cards.
Love these boys!

Races….  My plan for this year is to build my run fitness and build a healthy strong body.  Leading up to Kona I was willing to sacrifice health for performance.  When it comes to nutrition and training/racing I don’t think they are the same thing.  Right now I’m eating (or trying to) eat for health, leading up to Kona it was all about performance.  I did what I needed to do to have my body is the best possible shape to have the best possible race.  Did I need some recovery time to heal after Kona – YES.  Will I do this again…YES!  When that marathon trials race rolls around in 2016 I will have my game face on and will have done everything possible to be in the best shape of my life.  No Regrets. 

So with all that being said…right now this year is more about health for me.  Am I perfect and eat healthy proteins and only veggies with some fruits (mainly berries and citrus fruits), no sugar and no gluten…absolutely not.  I love to cook and bake and have seven sisters whom can more than hold their own in the kitchen along with a mom that raised 12 kids…believe me she can make some pretty amazing things.   I’m constantly working at it and learning more and more about the food industry, growing food, and how our bodies react to different types of food.  All very fascinating to me and I continue to grow and learn. 

I’m heavier than I was in Kona and it was hard at first getting used to the rounder me, but I know that soon I will be working my way toward a very lean mean racing machine.  Life is too short not to enjoy my sister’s chocolate chip cookies or my Mom’s homemade desserts when I visit.  There will come a time in my training where I say…”No, Thanks” .  For me, it’s all about balance and moderation.  Trying to fit my training in with work and going to school is challenging enough.  Lee and I know we only have so many years before our boys are off and we want to spend as much time as possible together as a family.  

Going out for Pizza to our favorite place...Prairie Bay
(notice the smiles...the pizza hasn't came yet...I should have taken the pic after we ate)

My race schedule or event schedule…
Run for the Lakes Marathon April…looking forward to this one since it’s my first open marathon since Twin Cities in 2011.  I’m using this race to check in with my training and see what I need to change or tweak to keep improving.  Not looking to set any records here, but see where my legs are at on race day.

Grandma’s Half Marathon June – I got in!  Grandma’s has a special place in my heart.  It was my very first marathon and when the boys were little I would run it every year until they started playing summer traveling baseball and summer hockey.  I’m very excited for this one!

Voyager 50 mile trail ultra marathon….I ran this one back in 2011 and absolutely loved it.  One of the most fun times I have ever had while running. 

TC 10 miles…I will put in for the lottery and hope I get in through the lottery.  Fingers crossedJ

Chicago Marathon…this will be a big race for me…my goal is to be sub 2:50 by this point.

Then looking into 2015 – I plan to run LA in the spring for sure and then Chicago again in 2015.  I’m not sure of any other races in there, but these are the ones already on my calendar.

Missing my bike….I barely ride Black beauty.  If I do it’s only for a warm-up or recovery ride.  My plan is to fit in one long outside ride this summer each week.  Some of my favorite days last summer were the days when I would leave my house in the morning with only some money and a tire change and be gone all day riding with no set plan on where I’m heading.  Even though I said after Kona I was done with triathlon I don’t think I’ll be able to stay away forever.  I just have a few things to check off the list and then I’ll be back.  2017 I’ll be 40 and in a new AG….IMoo will be calling my name.  Plus, I know I have a 9:15 in me…I just know I can do it.  

The boys…

Teaching those valuable life skills…Many of you know Lee and I parent different than many…We believe in the boys learning through experiences and will learn so much faster and remember what they are learning by figuring it out on their own and letting them make mistakes and even allowing them to fail along the way.  In our opinion, it’s not the mistake or the setbacks, but the choices which follow those mistakes/setbacks. 

The latest teaching moment in the Andres household is cooking dinner.  In December we started taking turns cooking dinners.  There is a sign-up sheet and everyone takes a turn cooking.  I will do the grocery shopping, but it is their responsibility to plan what they are making, see what they need for ingredients, if they need something they need to write it down on the list and ask me to stop at the grocery store, and then cook the dinner.  It has been a learning experience for many of them.  I think the planning ahead is important…one night we didn’t have dinner cause Mitchel forgot and then had hockey practice.  Luckily Riley stepped in and grilled some venison brats for everyone.  Westin even decided he wanted to make dessert for everyone and made monster cookies in addition to his meal.  He was shocked at how much sugar went in the recipe.  Wyatt learned that it is hard to time everything to get all the food done at the same time.  If it was up to Gavin we would have salad every night for dinner….so easy he says.  Riley doesn’t need any help in the kitchen.  He has the grill going, stove on with several pans of food going, and making cookies at the same time.  He is usually the “go to” person in the kitchen when his brothers need some guidance.

Riley making pancakes for everyone...from scratch...no box.

With the hockey season wrapping up and spring sports starting the cooking dinner will be put on hold.  Most of the time their hockey practice was late in the evening or early in the morning.  Now, with spring sports they practice right after school.  

Lately when the boys need an appointment for something they call and make their own appointments.  Learning how to talk on the phone is a skill that is being lost with modern technology.  Teaching the boys to say what they mean and mean what they say is very important.

We have some fun times planned for our family coming up over the next year.  I take the boys on a trip anywhere in the US for their 13^th birthdays.  Riley picked Florida coming up in a week, Gavin picked NY and we go in April, and Wyatt picked San Diego and we are going in May.  We are planning to head out west, all of us, at the end of the school year to do some fly fishing, white water rafting, and see Yellow Stone.  In the fall we want to take the boys to Canada for a goose hunting trip.  I can’t believe by September Mitchel will be driving …. It feels like just last year I was taking him to Target and he was spending minutes which seemed like hours debating which matchbox car he should get.  

This was a pic of the boys and I in January of 2002 on vacation in Cozumel. 

 

 

Lee put in a hockey shooting range for them and they are loving it.  My training room is right next to the shooting range and I get to hear the pucks being shot while they get to hear the whoosh of my treadmill.  Dreams have been dreamt, goals have been formed, and the hard work and dedication are happening each day in the Andres house.

Dreams don’t work unless you do.

Happy training friends 

The journey continues...

My blog has been updated to show the next journey I'm on.  The address even had to change since Team Andres arrived and conquered Kona.  An experience I will never forget.  I will always remember the friends and family that helped me on this journey.  But now...an new mountain to climb...The Marathon Olympic Trials for 2016. 

My Mom and I after the race.

The boys just before we headed to our deer stands.

These last two months I have been relaxing and letting my body heal cause my next goal is even more Epic than the last...in terms of where I need to take my body and what I need to train it to be able to do.  Qualifying for the marathon Olympic trails for the 2016 games.  This means I need to run at least a 2:43 marathon to meet the "B" standard set by USA Track and Field or the "A" standard which is a 2:39 marathon.

I've created a long range, two year, plan for myself.  Family is on-board which is the most important piece for me.  Running has been my passion and something I realized I was good at way back in elementary school when I could beat all the girls and boys in gym class when we would run the mile.  Since then running has kept me sane through going to college, raising 5 boys, and enjoying living life.  Its when I'm running that I plan our dinners, figure the best way to handle a parenting situation, contemplate the best training methods, listen to the latest podcast on new research being done on training, and most importantly smile cause I'm able to do something I love.  Not everyone is able to move their bodies the way most of us can.  Some don't have a choice if they can go out for a run or a swim or a bike. 

I've took several weeks off from running and am just now getting back into easy and I mean very easy running while I'm healing my hamstring. A few weeks ago I had a PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injection done on my tendon in my high hamstring.  Slowly, its starting to feel better.  I'm just not 100% convinced this is the issue.  This week I'm heading back down for a run anaysis and a follow up apppointment.

The channel five news came out and did a story on our family and IM.  It was fun and exciting for the boys to see themeselves on TV.  Here is the link to the video...

kstp.com/news/stories/S3224075.shtml?cat=1

Coaching and Training....I've started doing some consulting and/or coaching/training of others.  I'm loving it and will follow up more on that later.

Learning....I love reading, not fiction or books with a story to them, but research...the latest studies being done on athletes and non athletes when it come to nutition and training.  I find the human body so facinating and how we can use different training methods and different types of foods to manipulate the body and achieve amazing results.  Currently, I'm getting my masters in Physical Education and Exercise Science.  The text books are fabulous and I'm loving every minute!  In my spare time I'm taking additional classes in sports nutrition.  

Life is good and remember to take care of yourself over the holiday season. 
Michelle