Up at 5, on the trainer for 6am. Rode for a little over 2 hours, out for a quick .5 mile run then to my desk for work. Hit a wall about 2pm, just wanted to sleep (didn’t I just come off a stabilizer?), afternoon coffee jolted me back into life. Headed out about 5:15 to Pmax class rode for another hour and a half, got my intensity in which is so much easier to do during class then alone in the basement by candlelight. Just had a great meal, flank steak (or as I like to refer to it as latissimus dorsi), steamed broccoli, almond rice pilaf and salad with pear, cranberries, garbanzo beans, sesame sticks with balsamic dressing.

9:07 hitting the sack….got my big swim tomorrow morning, I have to rest my flank steaks.

Ahhhh, Sunday….the day of rest.  Although today (as with most Sunday’s) was catch up on Gumkowski life day.  Paid bills, laundry, cleaned the house, BJ set up his new Mac…chores, chores, chores.   But the fun part was that we went on a little shopping spree today.  New trainer, new helmet for me, new pads for BJ’s arrow bars, new handlebar tape and even more fun a trip to Victoria’s Secret, Lucy, Pier One and Petco to get some toys to help tire Weke out.  Ate like royalty - bagel for breakfast, egg burrito for breakfast #2, lunch at Panera and Asiago, Basil, Pesto ravioli’s for dinner with salad and topped the evening off with dark chocolate m&ms.

8:55 and heading to bed.   Back to battle tomorrow.

The dream I had on Friday night was a completely non distorted vision of (what I hope will be) my swim at coeur d’alene. I was there in 2006 when my husband completed his first IM, the race site in my dream was the exact same.

I was at the swim start, I took the inside next to the line of bouys. I started to swim, a bang here and there into one of the other racers but pretty peaceful start. I ended up ducking on the left side of the buoys to get out of the crowd a bit and started in on easeful strokes. It felt effortless, I sighted and saw the far coast line, tall pines topped with a placid blue sky dotted with harmless white pillowy clouds. I took the turn left (halfway through the first loop) and headed to the beach. Reached the shore, saw the specatotors cheering me on and felt the empowerment that the crowds lend to you. Back into the water for the second loop, I was jockeying with the guy on my right and thought ‘when I make the turn to come in, I’m going to lose him’. We hit the turn, I heard him think ‘oh great, you again’ and I popped it into gear. I lost him and came upon the shoreline for the swim finish. I was going for a 1:05, finished with a 1:07. I headed up the carpet to the timing mat where I confirmed my ‘dream’ swim. The end.

I have been known to be clairvoyant so I think I’ll take this dream as motivating foreknowledge for what is to come.

Yeah, its my year…the year of the earth mouse (a much more soothing name than rat). It’s my year, the year that I’m going to train my ass off and finish my first Ironman. After further investigation I simply adore being an earth mouse. Here are some of the highlights that I am most honored by:

• The Eastern rat is revered for its quick wits
• Clever and quick-witted, the Rat of the Chinese Zodiac is utterly disarming to boot.
• Its natural charm and sharp, funny demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone.
• Behind that sweet smile, though, Rats are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas.
• This Sign’s natural powers of charm and persuasion can definitely come in handy!
• Verbal jousting is a great pleasure for the Rat, a Sign that everyone around will quickly learn either to love or to hate.
• This ever-curious Sign also welcomes challenges as a way to stay sharp.
• Rats apply their talents to their everyday lives, making them obliging, generous and compassionate to other people.

Oh how I could go on, and on, and on, and on about how you should celebrate the year of the rat and love me but I know you’re already doing that, so I won’t bore you. There’s nothing worse for a rat, I mean earth mouse, than a bore. You can truly show your love and support for the pisces/rat by wearing you heart on your sleeve (or chest).

Oh and by the way, I’m a double water sign (sorry Kristina).

Signing off, feeling much better back to my ole’earth mouse self. Going for a short run (6mi) in the morning then a big day in my practice to give of myself to others (in really, the only way I know how).

Wednesday came quite quickly as I woke up at 3:30am and never went back to bed.  My cold was still lingering in the most annoying way.  I’ll keep the details to a minimum but let’s just say it was a phlegm pah-tay!  Needless to say I was completely wiped, I had to cancel my clients yesterday which is so painfully hard to do but it was the right decision.  And a little shout out to my clients who are so very understanding when this stuff happens, I’ve only had to do it 2x in almost 2 years but boy I don’t think it will ever be easy to do.

I stayed on the couch all day yesterday and worked for the college.  Soaked in a hot epsom salt bath with an immune support oil blend, took my wellness pills, drank a ton of tea and finished my homeopathic remedy.  Went to bed before 9am and feel almost back to my old self today, I’m about 89%.  After 2 days of not working out I’m jumping out of my skin.  So as not to rush it and fall back into sickness I’m going to do Yoga for Athletes today (now).  Working in my practice today, can’t wait to get my hands on people.  Craving massage, to give and to get.

Spero tu abbia una buona giornata!

Woke up this morning and my throat was surely sore. I immediately called the doctor (a.k.a. me) and sent BJ to Pharmaca for Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat and Echinacea Immune Support teas along with Tea Tree essential oil and a homeopathic remedy suited to my symptoms aconitum napellus. I soaked in a hot epsom salt bath with Tea Tree essential oil and took it easy today. I had a light day in my practice due to some cancellations and was very grateful for that.

It’s 8:15, of course we’re already in bed…and I’m feeling pretty good just really tired overall. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, I feel like I did the right things today. Signing off to watch a Veronica Mars then to sleep (although I know me, I’ll be asleep before the theme song).

Welcome to stabilizer week, Howie style…..tonight at our Power Max class we did a 10K time trial.  I averaged 18.7 mph and finished in 19:50.  That is all I had tonight so I can’t be disappointed.  You see, my run was so pathetic when I started triathlon 4 seasons ago that its all I’ve concentrated on since starting my tri-venture.  The bike, well it’s really purgatory for me, it’s the thing I do between swimming and running.  So yes, I am pleased with my TT results.  Like I said, I used everything I had tonight so how can I be disappointed.

Just being able to ride the bike is something that I am so very grateful for, being able to afford my beautiful bike is something I am so grateful for and getting my ass kicked by my husband (who of course won the TT) is something that I am grateful as well.  His strength pushes me to push harder.  I’m telling you watch out for the beej, he’s a silent competitor and definitely a force that refuses to be beat without one hell of a fight.

Went to acupuncture this morning - treated my knees and right foot, I’ve been having some shooting pains over the last 24 hours between 4th and 5th toes.  Seems to be taken care of from the treatment today, they figured it was a neuroma (irritation, inflammation of nerves).  Feel pretty beat right now and fighting a bit of a sore throat.  Gotta nip that baby in the bud, no time for sickness.

Looking forward to a light workout and light day in my practice tomorrow.   Bonne nuit!

Weekly Totals: 5000 yds swimming, 70 mi cycling, 22 mi running

Week #2 is complete and I’m now on a stabilizer week. My body and mind are grateful, I’m in need of some stabilization. Craig has given us the tools to calculate an overall stress number each day which provides me data behind the way I feel. By Thursday of this week I was at -56 which according to my husband is a lot for week 2. Its the combination of training for an Ironman and being a massage therapist that makes it dip so deep. Although I do pride myself on the self-care I practice, this will help me realize sooner when I need to start taking extra care. My job is one when I get sick, I can’t work and that is a difficult place to be especially when I have to cancel on clients who need the work. It is extremely important for me to stay as healthy as I possibly can. That is why my life is filled with regular epsom salt baths, essential oils galore, a stretching regime, massage, acupuncture, wellness herbs and rest. Without consistent self-care there is no way I could maintain my schedule.

So here’s how the week ended up - Friday 1750 tempo swim. I felt like a grease monkey gliding through silk. The pool felt incredible, my main sets are still very ‘doable’. Friday it was 3×100 at my all out pace plus 20 seconds. I decided to do them on 1:35 - in the past I’ve based them on 1:40. I did them as follows: 1:30, 1:34, 1:32 Felt good to get the lead out but my lungs were feeling the push. Same as last week I hit a wall at about 3:00 - here I am at 3:20 on Friday suited up in my donut pjs with slippers to match, I hope now you can see why I am so smitten with my flannel friends.

Saturday I headed down to Denver (yes, I actually left Boulder and headed east) to meet up with my sis for a 10 mile run. There was much more snow in Denver than in Boulder, we had dry streets and sidewalks and Wash Park had about 2 fresh inches and some sweet icy spots. I had warmed up 3 miles on the bike before I left home but that warmth was far gone and we started out with a sharp bite in the air. ‘Another long run in the freezing cold snow’ I said to my myself, I never quite shook the annoyance I embraced when making this statement. It stuck with me throughout and along with the fact that my body felt like it was weighted down, yesterday’s run was harder than it should have been. We got it done and headed to the pool for a 1000 yard drill swim. Finished the day and felt mentally cooked. After getting home and into warm comfortable clothing (donuts are in the wash), we turned the TV room into a crack den and settled in for the night. I stretched more, massaged my legs with arnica, massaged my golden, ate dinner and crashed hard.

A few pics I found as Harry when he was a puppy - pretty damn cute dog.

Feeling like I need today off but recovering well I feel. Got up early and walked up to Sole for huge coffees and scones. Busy day today around the house and then I’m making Deena Kastor’s Avocado Enchiladas for the Super Bowl. I can’t wait, we’ve been salivating since seeing Spirit of the Marathon. I’ll report if they are as good as they sound but any recipe that calls for 8 avocados and a pound of cheese is a sure thing as far as I’m concerned.

First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate my good friend Tara Anderson for making January’s top 5 list of Most Bangable Blog Babes. Great job Tara, the Gumkowski’s are real proud of you.

So where have I been….well, after my ‘nap’ on Tuesday night (only 5 hours sleep, not good) I felt surprisingly good on Wednesday but had a big day. Up at 5 for my long swim - 2250 yards (felt awesome in the pool, love the long Z3 sets). Worked for the college that day, saw clients in my practice and visited with a friend that evening. By 8:30 I was done, literally I couldn’t move I was so exhausted.  Another night in the donut pjs (photo coming soon).

Rested Wednesday night, up at 4am on Thursday for my brick before work. 27 bike to 6 mile run - had to go to the gym for the run, actually nabbed a treadmill and was able to get the whole 6 in without interruption. Saw clients yesterday and then received a massage last night. Focused on my legs, needed to recharge them for Saturday’s long run.  My upper back and neck are a wreck but I will have to leave that up to self massage and my thera-cane.

Back home for dinner with my most bangable blog babe and hubby - watched Lost, good stuff.  Left me with chills and questions.

Feeling pretty good today - only getting about 7 hours of slept which is really not enough but tonight will be early to bed.  Hitting the pool today for my temp swim, I’ve got it in me just need to do it.

Coffee, coffee, coffee…..it’s like massage for me, I couldn’t do what I do without it.