just keep on keepin' on

I'd love to tell you I'm 100% back in the game. Workout-wise, I'm close, for sure. We had another miserable bike ride last weekend, one of those rides that makes you question all your life choices and whether or not you even like riding a bicycle. I know when I get mentally THERE that I am really, really pushed to my max. We had started late, it was HOT, and because of that, the wind and the hills, it took us nearly forty-five minutes to complete the first nine miles. We had another sixteen (with more wind and still many more hills) to go before we could turn and head back towards the start point, which would hopefully give us some relief. Somehow I managed to slog through the seven levels of whatever late-hot-windy-hilly-afternoon bicycle hell we were in, and get myself to that turnaround point. Thank goodness for a very supportive spouse, bike food, caffeine, and a cute little coffee shop in Longmont that was still open so late in the afternoon. 

I know that kind of later-in-the-day training should make the actual race seem like a piece of cake, but training doesn't need to be that hard all the time! This week, I started most of my big workouts IN THE MORNING. A lot more enjoyable, and less chance of crazy storms. And DH joined me for a glorious bonus evening ride on Wednesday night with the tri club. Ah, bicycling was fun again. :) Today was supposed to be my big brick, but due to work and the chance for early storms, I pushed it to Sunday. Believe me, I'll be out there early to finish before noon. And that'll be my last brick, then next week is my last hard week of training, before taper. THIS IS HAPPENING, PEOPLE!

The thing that isn't 100% back on track is my eating. I track what I eat in MyFitnessPal, so I can see my patterns. I can see I am not eating enough earlier in the day, and for me, getting too hungry leads to overeating later. I can also see that on the days I have sugar early, I generally consume more calories. Interesting. So I am not sure if it's training volume, or being so far off routine earlier this month when my grandma died, or residual grief... but nutrition is currently a challenge for me. To overcome this, I am re-reading some of my nutrition books and notes, which has definitely helped. I'm no longer waiting until the end of the day to track my food, I'm tracking as I eat or even pre-tracking the night before or in the morning, this is also helpful. I'm not so good at stopping myself from another handful of pretzels, or a bite of ice cream, or a half a glass of wine... these things add up! But, I can acknowledge that this week I'm doing that a lot less, and I've made a serious effort to get my nutrition on better ground. I'm not 100% there but I am feeling better, that's for sure. 

So here in the last two big weeks of training, the weather has sort of blown up my plans. So far, I've been able to adapt, thanks to the help from my awesome coach! But ADAPTING can be a challenge, too. When I looked at the weather last night, it was pretty apparent it would be stormy right after work, just as I'd be starting the workout. I really wanted to get my big brick done, I want to follow the plan, these are key training weeks! HOWEVER. Making it to the start line is the first goal, which means riding and running around in hail and tornadic thunderstorms today really wouldn't be the smartest option to meet that goal. So instead, we woke up super early this morning to do a Trainer Road ride (glad we did that, and another athlete joined us to make it even more fun!) before I left for work. It was a good workout, and amending my workout schedule was definitely the right call, as the storms rolled in while I was at work. My brick is now set for Sunday. I'll start it early, I'll enjoy it, and training continues.  

I'm enough in the game where I can see that the race should go well for me - as in, I'll finish, I'll feel strong, it will be a fun experience for my first half IronMan. And then I'll get to keep swimming and riding and rollerblading and trail running and having a great time playing outside with my friends, WHICH IS THE POINT. The only other notable thing to mention about doing all the hard race training is that I knew how the training plan would go, and that I would be very tired these two weeks, but I am more tired than I expected. It's one of those things where you can plan and anticipate, but until you're in the situation, you have no idea how it really is. Well. I am IN IT, now, and I. Am. TIRED. But it's temporary. I have just over one more week of this - I am taking extra care to go to bed on time, take naps when I feel like I need them, and let everything else go (you should SEE the state of my house, OH MY GOODNESS!) But I'm letting it go. It can wait until I'm tapering, or after the race. Other than being tired, I do feel great, physically, and I know this fatigue won't last forever. The feeling of crossing that finish line strong - THAT will last forever, so that's why I just keep on keepin' on. 

One more hard week. I can do it. And I really will do everything I can between now and July 23rd to make race day as much fun as possible! 

--

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

training through grief

So it took me a little bit to get back into the groove since returning from my grandma's funeral. And, workouts have felt very difficult. Partly because THEY ARE, at this point in the training, but also because sitting in a car for 25 hours turns out to be pretty darned rough on my body. Noted.

Last week I just jumped back into the workouts. I felt like lead in the pool. My head was in a fog on runs. Weather impeded my workouts and I didn't do great at finding - or asking my coach - for adequate indoor alternatives, I just made up what I thought I could do. And some days were a real struggle to do the workout - I'd procrastinate as long as possible, then rush, and still feel badly. But I did the workouts. I even did the Manitou Incline with RMTC on Thursday last week (that one needs a separate post!) But having other people for workouts makes the workout go better for me, at this phase. I need people. I don't need to talk to them, and hard workouts facilitate that, but I do need to see them. People help me get through the suck, for sure. 

The other thing that helped, this week I made out a "chore sheet" that I can check off daily. It includes:

- Complete planned training

- Brush teeth at 8PM

- Get 7+ hours of sleep

- Keep 500-800 calorie deficit - Note for this, sometimes on big workout days it is hard for me to eat back all the calories to get to only a 500 calorie deficit. And some days I can eat right through all the workout calories and then some! Since I'm trying to shed a few pounds before the race, I want to stick to ~500 deficit daily, if my body feels good there. This is really just to track how often I'm there, as I'm training. And to be mindful, because, cookies.

- Alcohol drinks tracking - Note for this, I didn't drink the week before my last tri. I had thought I didn't feel noticeably different, however I was very rested come race day, from getting great sleep all that week, and also, I ended up on the podium. So that's not nothing! I've noticed that some days I feel sluggish training... generally, the days after I have an adult beverage. Therefore, I'm tracking the when and how many. 

Incidentally, just making the chore sheet helped me start doing these things a lot more automatically. Since making that list, training and treating my body right hasn't been the fight that it has been upon  my return from the east coast. I still get sad about my grandma. I still get brain fog in the middle of workouts. But I'm better at just doing them anyways. I'm making good food choices. I'm getting enough rest. I'm better, day by day...

It also helps to have a supportive spouse, and to see people I like. Yesterday after my big brick workout*, Mr. Scandinavian Mullet brought me a big glass of ice water in my Colorado Triathlon Champion glass. Then we had a nice dinner at our friends' house - seeing people I like really does improve the quality of your life. I'm grateful every day, even if it's hard, especially if it's hard. And so, I carry on, with my sad and grateful heart. I'll be excited again by the time my taper comes up, I'm sure!

--

* Yesterday's brick was miserable. 50-mile ride, then a six-mile run with first four miles at "race intensity." We started the ride WAY too late, it was hot and the wind had picked up. Part of the trail was closed for construction and we had to detour a few miles, backtracking and then riding on gravel - not my favorite on a road bike! And of course I forgot how difficult the C-470 trail is heading east from Chatfield - by the time we crossed I-25, I was crying, I didn't want to go uphill anymore and we had to ride out to Jordan Rd! But I got it together. Drank more water, had a caffeine gel, mood greatly improved. It was a sunny day, and I was riding with my love, after all... things looked a lot better (literally, mountain views!) as we rode through Cherry Creek park. We ended up riding almost 55 miles. Then I had to run in the heat. I chose this... but I was mad. And of course I ran "race intensity" like it was a SHORT race, not like I'd be doing for my half IM! So I blew myself up on miles 1-4, and had a hard time with those last 2 miles... but, I got it done and now I know more, and it is unlikely my race will be as tough as yesterday was! That glass of ice water from Patrick was the best thing ever, for a million reasons. 

some days are diamonds...

Some days are rocks. Two weeks ago, my grandma died. Then that Saturday, four days later, I had my first tri of the season, the Colorado Triathlon (I raced the Olympic distance). I did not want to race. I did not want to figure out how to start living in a world my grandma no longer occupied, but I knew if I wanted to get to Oregon, I needed to do this race, even if it was maybe going to rain on race day. And Mr. Scandinavian Mullet was volunteering, so we couldn't have him bail on that. So we got up early, we had extra coffee, and did the best we could to get out of the house to arrive in Boulder as close to site opening as possible. 

June 3, 2023 - Colorado Triathlon in Boulder, CO
Women 45-49, Olympic distance

So, my goal for the race was to not finish last in my age group. Well... that pic, that's me in the yellow. i finished 2nd in my age group, with my first podium finish for triathlon, 20 years in to doing them! So obviously, mission accomplished. Incidentally, I almost missed participating in this Kodak moment. I knew I had caught one woman in my age group on the run and finished ahead of her. Individual race times weren't posted beyond the first 100 finishers (of both the sprint and Olympic) as I was walking out of the venue, heading back to the car. But I happened to notice they had video monitors which were scrolling through the lead finishers, so I paused to check for club friends who may have won their age group. When my age group came up, with my name next to #2, I yelled out "OH MY GOD!" and nearly blew out the eardrums of the woman next to me. I apologized and said "That's MY NAME! Next to number 2! OH MY GOD!" She started laughing at me and said "Well, you better get over there to the podium area!" So I did, but not before I borrowed her phone to text Mr. Scandinavian Mullet that I had PLACED and to come meet me at the podium. 

At the awards area, I saw some tri club friends and acquaintances. I felt very weird being there, walking my old road bike and my Trader Joe's bags full of race items, with my wetsuit hanging over my arm. Someone said hi and asked if I got an award, and it was very, very hard for me to say "I think I did... my name was next to the number two, for my age group in the Olympic." They were all so excited and congratulatory! I told them I could NOT believe this, and that I honestly thought it was a mistake. They laughed, but I was dead serious, I wasn't sure I should be there. I mean, ME???? One guy said, "I saw your husband earlier, where is he now?" I burst out laughing. "I sent him to the car! I had NO IDEA I'd place! And I don't have a phone or anything to text him, I borrowed someone else's phone a minute ago, but he's volunteering, and I have no idea where he is or if he saw my text. Is this for real?" He laughed, then he offered to be my stand-in husband and take my podium photos. [Thank you very much, David Rhodes, for capturing this moment. You can be my stand-in husband anytime!]

It turns out there were six women in my age group - coming in second out of six is top 30% and I will take it! I had a very fun race, despite being very sad about my Grandma, it was wonderful to see so many friends, have perfect cloudy and cool race weather, and have FUN swimming, biking and running like a madwoman around Boulder. (Me, having fun RUNNING, I cannot believe THAT one, either!) The whole morning was an incredibly bright spot during this very dark and somber period of my life, and capping it off with a spot on the podium was just the best kind of icing. I will never forget the shock, joy and glee I felt while standing on that black plywood box with the 2 on it, holding a glass that had "Colorado Triathlon Champion" etched onto it. All three of us up there, we were so happy. I will hold on to that memory forever. Definitely a diamond day. 

And now, we're back to the rocks. My grandma's funeral was last week, which was hard, but good. I drove the dogs out to Philadelphia, Mr. Scandinavian Mullet flew out for it, then we all drove back home together. I was so far out of a routine that week, but I wasn't stressed about it. I mean, a 3800-mile road trip, burying a beloved relative, I can certainly give myself grace for just doing the best I can to get through all that. But now that I've been home for almost a week, I haven't fully settled back into a healthy routine, and I'm getting mad at myself for that. I want to find a way to extend the grace I give myself, here. I can't expect to just snap back into life as usual. 

Specifically, I'm having a hard time taking care of ME and making healthy food and alcohol choices while I am grieving. I have been back on track with my workouts, and each day I aim for good nutrition, but as the day goes on, I get sad, and the food part is hard for me to handle well. [Honestly it is the food, I've had only two drinks since I returned home.] I know I want to feel as strong in Oregon next month as I did in Boulder two weeks ago, and how I fuel this body is a big part of that. I know that every day, I'm getting a little bit better, but... I think it's important to acknowledge that it is difficult for me not to use food as a coping mechanism. Today is the first day I really planned out all my meals, so there's a little more intention, a little more progress - evidence that I'm still mining for diamonds. 

I really am doing the best I can to get a little better each day. Whatever your goals are, I hope you're doing the same. 

 --

The woman who won my age group, Betsy Mercer, beat me by 20 minutes. I don't know her, but my coach does, and she said she's an incredible cyclist and athlete in general. Of course I wanted to know more about her, so I Googled her, and it turns out she has quite the story. Betsy blew past me on the bike, early on - obviously I didn't know it was her, but I certainly remember being passed by the blazing fast woman wearing a full-length compression sleeve on just her left leg. Very inspiring lady, and very happy to stand on a podium with her!

it's not about the goggles

Last week our tri club had an open water swim clinic at the gravel ponds at Chatfield reservoir, in Chatfield State Park. I have a race coming up and I'm scared of cold water, so I figured I'd better go and get in and prove to myself that I wasn't gonna die. That day, the universe had been conspiring against me as soon as I opened my eyes. Since no one wants to read a litany of bad news [well, maybe you do, if it isn't happening to YOU personally, BUT...] I'll just spare you the list of terrible, awful things that led to me having a terrible, awful day. And then, on the way to the res, traffic was SO BAD, I was over 30 minutes late. (Turns out there was a wreck on the highway, that driver was having a way WORSE day than me, I hope they are OK). 

Anyhow I was sure I'd miss the swim, did I really want to pay to get into the park just to run? FINE I was down there, I could see people I knew, do the run, and likely feel slightly better after a workout. So I drove up to the gate and paid the $10 and went in. 

Good news to my eyes as I pulled down to the swim area parking lot, I could see the club members standing on the shore, not in the water. Alright, Lizzie, you're goin' swimmin'. I ran up in time to catch some stellar swim tips from Mr. Fish, standing there in his Speedos while nearly everyone else was in their wetsuits. He had great insights about how to round buoys, breathing and sighting in open water and handing different swim situations during a race. 

And then we all got in the water. Oh boy. It was COLD. Me and another Floridian were joking about how we were NOT in Florida swim conditions! It definitely helped to be in the water and get acclimated to the chill factor before starting to swim. When we DID start swimming, my heart rate shot up from the cold. This was actually no joke - I was fine, but when I stopped, I certainly noticed my racing heart, and one member had some anxiety and had to be pulled from the water (they were OK). But this is why we do these things, we test and we train and we see what it's like and have our panic attacks now, so we don't panic come race day. Because the race should be fun. 

We even had a wheelchair athlete get in the water with us! Talk about inspiration. This guy had more of an athlete's build than many people standing on the shore. He looked like an IronMan champion - that night, he was the Chatfield Gravel Pond Swim Champion, for sure. 

After the swim, we did a short out-and-back run, heading off into the sunset. On the way back, I was trying to catch this woman just as a marker for myself that I could set my sights on a person and reach them. I ended up getting her on the last half-mile. She and I talked for a while afterward, turns out she is in the middle of passing a kidney stone, so the fact that she was even there doing a workout, well, she's the female athlete champion of the night. I was telling her about my grandma, she knew a lot about Hospice and it was really nice to just talk to someone out loud, and not in my own head, about the shitty and wonderful state of having a loved one going through Hospice and the end of their life. And I got to meet a woman I train with virtually, in real life and she is DELIGHTFUL and I can't wait to see her more. I really felt a million times better than I did when I got to the park. Seems one solution for turning around a bad day is to go for a swim in cold water with strangers, you'll all be friends in the end.

Other takeaways: I need more open water practice. My goggles are terrible, but hey, they're twenty years old, at least and I should probably get a new pair. Of course when I spoke that aloud to my husband, the universe decided to make me grateful for those goggles, by forcing me to do a pool swim WITHOUT THEM, later that week. I accidentally left the goggles in the arm of my wetsuit, so when I got to the pool Thursday, SURPRISE! No goggles. I did the swim workout anyhow. I do NOT recommend ever doing that again, if the pool is chemically treated. My eyes burned for a good 24 hours and I used a LOT of eye drops. Again, I didn't die, but... swimming in a chlorinated pool with no goggles is really no way to live.

I did buy myself a new pair of polarized goggles Friday. And I decided to get more open water practice by going BACK to the res on Sunday. The new goggles? I LOVE THEM. If you swim outside, get yourself a pair of polarized goggles! I feel like they give me a HUGE sighting advantage. I also ran into my new kidney stone friend, and met another woman going to Oregon 70.3, too on that Sunday swim. The radio was full of great songs about living life to the fullest, taking advantage of the good days, etc. OK, Universe, I hear you. 

--

Swim links, also posted at the sidebar at left for future reference:

Chatfield Reservoir information - scroll to the bottom for swimming conditions and water temp info. 

What kind of goggles should I get? This page at yourswimlog.com is a great starting point to answer that question. 

Swim n Things - if you're in the Denver, Colorado, area, they have sample goggles you can try on to see which ones fit you best. And this is a great store for anything swim-related, both competitive and fun. 

I bought a pair of Tyr Special Ops 2.0 Polarized goggles. (Mine are a lot more colorful!)

you will get wet

Two Thursdays ago, I had a nice little hill repeats run on my training calendar. I actually love these types of workouts with short bursts of a lot of intensity and then plenty of recovery between. With hill repeats, I always feel strong - or like I am getting stronger - as I do them, and the park where I go to do them is peaceful during the day, with beautiful views of the mountains. The Thursday forecast showed rain moving in mid-morning, so my plan was to get up early and do the workout before I had to take my car in to the dealership for new tires. I wouldn't mind waiting for the service to be completed while I was sweaty.

Well. I took an allergy med the night before, which did exactly as it warned on the packaging and caused me complete and utter drowsiness. I was awake in time to run, but as I was peeling my eyelids open I could hear many, many raindrops pelting my bedroom window. The storm arrived early. I really don't mind getting wet while running, but I do very much mind sitting around while wet. So, between a very groggy me and a VERY soppy outdoors, running after I took the car in seemed the better option. Then I could follow the run directly with a warm shower. I got dressed in my running clothes, drove through the rain and past several accidents on the way to the dealership, and took advantage of their free latte machine while I waited for my car to get its new shoes. I had a book with me and read that to pass the time - what a gift to be able to read indoors on a rainy day! 

Just before the car was ready, it was still raining steadily and my coach texted to offer up a treadmill option if I preferred - I said no thanks, I'd rather be outside, the rain wouldn't bother me as long as it wasn't freezing or lightning. She agreed, she loves running in the rain. As I was checking out of the service appointment, the agent asked me about my plans for the rest of the day. I told her I was heading straight from here for a run in the rain. She said she used to do that a lot. She ran the Berlin marathon, years ago, while she was stationed there in the Air Force. I certainly didn't expect her to understand the fun in my next task - I had no idea she was a runner, and it was really nice to find out. This woman takes really great care of my car and I am always sorry I don't know more about her, so I really appreciated the share. Yea for human connection. 

The drive from the dealer up to the park was steady rain the whole way. I was very thankful for my new tires, that I got to test them in weather right away, and that I made it to the park without issue (I passed even more accidents). No surprise that the park looked like a ghost town under the gray sky and all the water falling out of it. There were no pretty views. I checked the weather radar on my phone, the rain was going to keep up for about an hour, then get even worse. It was about 52 degrees out - not freezing, but not warm either. My car was very nice and warm. And it was really nice to be dry. Maybe the treadmill would be better, later, after all... hmmmm... and then I saw some guy running up on the ridge. FINE - if he can do it, so can I. 

I left my safe warm cocoon and immediately started my warmup run toward the hill, and of course also immediately got wet. As I approached the base of the hill, a pair of mallard ducks were just off the path. There are a lot of ducks in Oregon, where I'm headed to do my first IronMan 70.3 this July. I called out 'Cheerio, duckies!' to them, and I'm not sure if they or me were more surprised by my chipper greeting. Then I took off up the hill for the first of eight intervals. Easy odds, hard evens, and I got faster, and the rain fell harder, with each repeat. It really was a great day for ducks and that day, for that hour, I was one of them. 

Two weeks later, I'm still in the rainstorm. I am wet. Things were hard when I did this run in the rain - I had just returned to Colorado from my mom's in Florida, where my grandma is dying. She's 98 and has been extremely healthy until now. She has had a great long run of life, always saying 'Don't sit down too long, you'll get old.' Wise words from a great lady who took her own advice, until last month when she physically couldn't. But that trip was likely the last time I will see her alive. Just like the rain on my run that morning, we knew this was coming. All of us are drenched from it a little sooner (and for much longer) than we expected. I'm not sitting down in my sadness. I do my best to just carry it with me on my runs and my rides, and I drown my tears in the pool. I know the workouts provide a little spot of sunshine even if they are hard, or muddy, or the water is freezing cold, so I do them. And during and after, I'm always reminded that every day is a gift, even if you get wet. 

death and taxes

I procrastinate. Always have, and since that habit generally serves me, I keep it up. I haven't done my own taxes since you had to pick up a 1040 at your local post office. I don't even know where to get a 1040 now, if I needed to, but I'm assuming it's all online. When I had my own business, I paid an accountant to do my taxes. After that, I had a wonderful accounting friend who joyfully did them for me. This year, she got in the middle of her dogs fighting, then ended up in the hospital from the resulting infection. She said she'd still do my taxes, but I heard nothing from her after that, which is very, very unlike her. I was afraid she was gravely ill and I should leave her alone to heal, and I'd be fine doing our taxes on my own. Except... I remembered me and DH had done a weird account conversion thingy that had some kind of tax something, and associated paperwork that was who knows where? And I couldn't get into an online system to get my W2 from a former employer printed. So now it was a week before everything is due and I had some of our W2s, random 1099s, a vague sense I'm missing some things and still no 1040.

The only reason I had any tax stuff together prior to April 14th, was because my mom had called me the weekend before, to tell me my grandma was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. My grandma is 98, and when a 98-year old gets pneumonia it's not exactly a good situation. Mom said they went to urgent care where she was instructed to get Grandma to the ER right away because her oxygen levels were so low. Mom told me she went home after they admitted her, and then the ER doc had called her at 2AM because he was looking at the chest scan and Grandma's lungs were really in bad shape - nodules, coming from somewhere else, a mass somewhere. Mom said he was an ER doc so she didn't know if he knew anything, she'd wait to talk to the hospital doctor, but she hadn't heard from them yet so wanted to update me in the meantime. 

My mother almost went to medical school herself, so I knew I didn't need to tell her that an ER doc certainly knows how to interpret a scan, and if they were calling you to discuss results at 2AM, it's likely they have good reason to do so. I can give her the grace that she didn't want to believe the doctor was calling her to deliver very grave news about her mother's health. But after that initial update call from my mom, I started getting my tax docs together so that if I had to hop on a plane, that's one less thing to think about. It's no surprise that within 24 hours, the hospital physician confirmed that the ER doc was right. The hospital could treat the pneumonia, but the rest of the problem is likely a cancer that has metastasized to my grandma's lungs, which is not something anyone can do anything about.

And so, on the way to a track workout* me and DH decided I should indeed hop on a plane. And my dear accounting friend called me that night as I was buying the ticket, to tell me she could get my taxes done, so I was able to cobble everything together for her mostly before I took the trip, and some while I took the trip. And the next day I flew to Florida, and we moved my grandma to my mom's house to start home Hospice. And then it was Hospice case workers and nurses and what do you need for the patient and this patient is imminent and here's how you administer the morphine and where are the antibiotics do we even need them at this point and she said Aunt Margaret came to visit her and did you withhold any taxes on that conversion can you send me the forms how is your grandmother this is the third priest we've seen this week I forgot to tell my friends I was out of town so couldn't meet them. 

Grandma making pickled eggplant last May

The good news is, Grandma is stable, she is happy she is NOT IN A FACILITY - because 'if you put me into a facility, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU.' The woman knows what she wants, even it she's got one foot in this world and one in the other. I also feel like I have one foot in two worlds right now, one in Florida and one in Colorado. I flew back to CO on Tuesday last week, and met up with the book club women for dinner that night. Went to East for mentoring Wednesday. Did a wonderful trail run with my coach on Thursday morning, with stunning views of the snowy mountains, but it was absolutely frigid - so cold and windy that I swore I had gotten frostnip on my face and hands (all good). Other than the chills, that run was perfect. I haven't been trail running in years and it was everything I needed and more. And we're getting ready to return to FL next week.

The account conversion thingy did come with a hefty tax hit, which we didn't know how much it would be but it ended up being a lot less than I expected. And, no future taxes on that money, so cheers to future us. Uncertainty, and then certainty. And my Grandma - some days she sleeps and talks gibberish, then she's up asking did Elizabeth make it home and can I have a ham sandwich? Which, she ATE.... after not really eating for days, so... uncertainty. Certainty will come, but for now, it's a little rough. I'm just happy I know my own name, this week. I am doing the best I can to stay as healthy as possible, which does not feel easy, but Friday I went to yoga. And yesterday I swam. And today holds a training ride with DH and others, where I can ponder how to tell the story of this great lady who really had a really great long run. 

--

* This was a glorious track workout with RMTC at Ruby Hill Park, which warrants its own post, someday when I'm feeling like I know more than how to spell my own name. 

wardrobe refresh and choosing YOU

Last month I went through all my work/dress pants, jeans and shorts and removed everything that is too big. Some of this clothing is very nice, and I have great memories attached to almost every article - I've had many items for over ten years! But the clothes don't fit me anymore, and I feel too good at my current size to hold on to the larger sizes "just in case." Back when I first lost 30 pounds on Weight Watchers, I donated all my too-big clothes and got a new wardrobe in my new size. That new wardrobe kept me in check ever since, I never gained that weight back. So now that I've lost a few more pounds and am super happy with how I look and feel, it's time for another wardrobe refresh in my newer size. 

I took some items to my tailor for alterations (cheaper than buying new!) and passed the rest of the best items to friends. I donated anything that was dated but still had plenty of wear left, and of course I tossed the things that were ripped or stained. I resurrected quite a few pair of pants and shorts I was keeping in a bin for "when I lose some weight" - that bin is now empty! Hooray for more storage space. And as my March training present to myself, I bought 2 new pair of shorts and 2 new dresses. A big wardrobe refresh is a process - I will work on the tops and dresses this month and next. But this is really a worthy process because I'm choosing fit and healthy ME. 

I'm currently reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. It has me reflecting on how my systems set me up for successes, for mediocrity, or for failure. Right now I am just making observations on my habits, but it's not lost on me that the title of this blog is Skinny People Take the Stairs... from an observation of mine long ago [described in initial post]. Fit, healthy people generally move as much as they can, including finding and using the stairs to get to different floors - habitually getting more movement. Every time I choose to take the stairs, to do my workout, to eat the healthy option, I'm voting for fit, healthy me. Purging my larger clothes is right in line with that.

Training keeps on keeping on. I ran 12 miles Thursday, swam almost 2 miles Friday and biked 40 miles yesterday. I also feel GREAT! Yesterday was a spectacular spring day, and we were gifted beautiful views of the snowy mountains as we rode through Cherry Creek State Park. I want to paint that scene, following Patrick in his Zia race series jersey under that super blue sky... bike path curving around the distant snow-capped mountains... What a DAY. We had planned to ski up in those mountains today, but we're dog sitting for our neighbors, and I didn't realize they don't get back until Tuesday. I'm not sure their dog would be OK hanging out in the car while we ski, like ours are used to doing... So it looks like my day off will be spent giving them all a great walk, then taking the cruiser bikes down to a brewery. It's another spring day here in Denver so that totally works for me!

I hope you are setting yourself up for a great healthy week ahead. In the words of one of my members, when you make choices, don't forget to choose YOU, Y-O-with-a-heart-for-the-O-U. 💖