« More Germany Pictures | Main | Top Ten List »
September 13, 2007
Good Life
I had today off work so I got to sleep in a little. Still, when my alarm went off at 6:15 and I ventured downstairs for a drink I realized it was both (1) still dark and (2) COLD! It was 45 degrees outside. Chilly! Perfect for jumping back into bed with Roxy until it was light and the sun was out to warm things up. I resisted the urge though for one reason and one reason only - I wanted to get my track workout done before the middle/high school gym classes started venturing over to the track. There is something about running in front of 14-18 year olds that is so NOT enticing. :)
So out I went and WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING?!?! It was chilly but that chill felt SO GOOD. I think I had a huge smile on my face the whole warmup over to the track.
AM track workout: 15 min warmup, 2 laps of hard on the straights/easy on the curves, 400 jog easy, 4x400 w/~40 sec rest (84, 83, 82, 82), 2x800 w/~1:25 rest (2:57, 2:53), 4x400 w/~40 sec rest (83, 81, 82, 79), 15 min cooldown.
My legs are definitely feeling the re-introduction of speed work back into the schedule as well as just heavier volume in general but I felt pretty good for this workout. Although not fast, those paces are definitely challenging for me now simply because...well, I never run that fast anymore! And guess what - I won't be running under 6 minute pace for my 1/2 marathon in Clearwater! But I love track workouts and pushing myself and the challenge of picking a pace that is hard but maintainable for the entire workout. And my foot behaved itself relatively well. Good deal.
While I was running the last set of 400s, when the hurt was starting to set in, I started to think of how much I really love running or cycling or swimming, triathlons and racing in general. And that no matter what I do in life, NOTHING makes me feel more alive than doing hard 400s on the track, or a 20 min TT on the bike or hard 100s on a tight interval in the pool. Nothing even comes close.
The other day while I was driving to work Hines Ward, the Steelers wide receiver known for his signature smile, called into the local radio station. Among other topics the radio people asked him which CD he bought first, 50 Cent or Kanye West. I don't even remember his answer but he went on to talk about Kanye West's song Good Life. Hines said he really likes the song because he feels like he lives the Good Life. He loves his job, he loves playing for the city of Pittsburgh, he has a great family, he is healthy. He went on and on and then said that the reason he is always smiling is because he is living the Good Life.
So while I'm sprinting around the track this morning I'm thinking that I'm just like Hines - living the Good Life. I am so lucky to have wonderful friends and family, my health, a job I like (usually :), a husband that I love sharing life with, a God that loves me no matter what, and this - a sport that challenges me daily to do what I didn't think I was capable of doing; a sport that makes me a better person; a sport that can bring me to the very depths of fatigue but at the same exact time make me feel so alive. Maybe I'm being narrow minded by saying this, but I truly believe life long sport is the only way to live your life. I can't imagine going a day without it.
So wow - not sure what got me going there...
Regardless, after my track workout I headed home for a morning/afternoon of odds and ends until around 2 pm when I headed out for my 2 hour ride. The ride was fine - lots of traffic but I managed to get home in one piece. :)
Tomorrow is a hard swim in the AM and lifting in the pm. I like tomorrow's swim workout - 150s and some pull also.
Have a great night everyone!
Posted by beth at September 13, 2007 6:52 PM
Comments
Don't forget about our plans for Friday night at Olive Garden and the NEVER ENDING PASTA BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: O at September 13, 2007 8:38 PM
Hey nice photos, especially team USA group. What an honor for an athlete to represent their nation. Makes me wish the greatest values of Sport were remembered more often.
On the funny side, I have always thought pictures of people in their bathing suits with shoes on are most hilarious... you sort of imagine them going for a dive right after the pic is taken and while they're in midair shouting "YO! Beth you forgot your shoes on!! Your shoooooes, SPLASH!!!"... I know, hadda be there, hadda be there...
nice 400s, not to mention the time of day you do them...
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at September 14, 2007 4:03 AM