Lucky for me, life (and running) has a learning curve.

So this past weekend's race was my last time to run for a little while.  I've been dealing with injury after injury (left hip, right hamstring, and now right hip), being sick, and probably all thanks to inconsistent training.  I've addressed the fact that I'm a tunnel-vision priority type person -- I seem to only focus on the biggest thing I'm dealing with at the moment.  Since last summer, my biggest worry has been passing tests and finishing my Illinois teaching license.  I have lost sleep and worried non-stop about this.  This anxiousness has also, for some reason, kept me from focusing on any sort of training.  It even kept me from relaxing or enjoying the little things.  I couldn't even focus during Yerrrgah.

Thanks to Micki for this gem.:)

Will I blame this for a DNF in the 70.3 that I had signed up for last October?  Yes.  There was no reason to take on so much anxiousness over this, but I suppose that's how I work sometimes.

The good news is that I'm all done.  I feel like I've lost so many months of real training, but that's okay.  I need to re-build from this rubble, and that's why I'm taking a few weeks off from running.

So here's how training is going to go for the next two to three weeks.  My favorite spin instructor here teaches Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 5:45am, so I'll be attending those for the next few weeks.  Swimming will happen Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with some strength conditioning and Yoga.  I'll hop on Lola on Saturdays for an hour or so spin at home.  My "Take Vitamins" alarm is just one extra part of my life you get to see -- not a training thing.:D

Yesterday's spin was just fine; however, I found out that my instructor had the day off and a sub didn't show up.  SOLO SPIN TIME!  Jumps, sprints, climbs -- done.:)

My fave song to start my day with/cool down to during a spin.  Go play it -- it'll make you smile something pretty!

Super happy that I made it there on time and whatnot.  It's always a great way to start a Monday.

Some DEEEELISH lunch.

And Harry and I prepared a beautiful dinner (he'll try to take all of the credit -- don't listen to him).

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I have some seriously fun things to do this year, so I want to be healthy as can be.  Now that I feel like I can focus on my fitness and wellness again, I'm 100% in.  What will keep me motivated over the next three weeks?  My fave bling.:)

Now these aren't all mine.  As a matter of fact, they're 90% Harry's.  But we have matching medals, so I'm counting some of these.

My first Half Marathon in Chicago!  It was 20*F at the start, and 14*F by the time I finished.  I don't even care that it took me forever and a day to finish; this is a gorgeous medal and a fun event.
Check it out here!

From the Cleve, OH -- My favorite Christmas story race!  We ran it the first year (2013), and it was so much fun.  If you like themed races, and you <3 this movie, then you gotta check this one out (HERE)!

My first, my PR, and my hometown Half Marathon bling.  I was welcomed to my home with a ton...like a TON...of hills and rollers.  I was super happy to reach what was Harry's prediction time (1:49:19...Harry had predicted 1:49:15 -- CRAY) and to rock out a tough half for my very first.  The medal was pretty, too!
Check out the race here!

We loved it so much, we went back in 2014.  It was a slower race, but still a gorgeous medal.  Here is my race report from this event!

Just a couple more left -- bear with me!  This one is from my very first triathlon, the CAPTEXTRI (when it was a local race, not a Lifetime event).

Last, but certainly not least, my third Chicago Marathon medal, which was given to me moments after crossing the finish line at 3:59:56  Of course, it'd be my fave, signifying such a wonderful feat.  Also, it's purdy.  You can read my race report from this event HERE.



Thanks for the LINKUP, ladies!

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Have you ever let something overwhelm you to the point of you putting your training on the back-burner?



Do you have a favorite medal from a race or event?  Which one?


Raise your hand high if you get to wear comfy clothes to work!
_________UP WAY HIGH_________



What was YOUR WORKOUT today?