If it's important you'll find a way. If it's not, you'll find an excuse.

"If it's important you'll find a way. If it's not, you'll find an excuse." ― Ryan Blair

With one week to go in 2022, it has been a week of solid gains! 14.5+ hours of training!

8,125 yards of swimming | 135.9 miles of cycling | 38.4 miles of running | 5.2 miles of walking Mr. Mico (It was a chilly week for us!)

Swimming

While in Panama City, I swam my first ocean open water swim(s)... the water was in the high 60s, and the air was in the low 60s and 50s. I was thrilled my Roka wetsuit and Roka swim cap kept me toasty. The air was colder than in the water. And thanks to my pre-Panama City pedicure, I didn't tear my wetsuit with my gnarly toenails that were well over due for a pedicure. I did skip the gel polish. No need for my plans.

While downriver swimming is significantly easier than ocean water swimming, I love the ocean and prefer to swim there vs. down a river.

I was even more thrilled that after losing 15 lbs since first purchasing my wetsuit back in June of 2020, I treated myself to a new wetsuit - size MT. While my LT wetsuit fits, it gets very loose in the water and loses its' compression. Despite isolation, job loss, hair cut off, face and body messed with to "age" me, broken elbows, car accidents, and training solo for years now, I keep going.?

During times of stress, I focus on what I can control and let go of what I can't. I also don't worry about the future. I focus solely on today. I embrace nature, sleep, daily exercise, and gratitude for what is going well. Bad hair? I will rock my new hat collection. Broken elbows? Use it to correct my running gait. Isolation? Focus on training hard. Delayed races? Use the time to train for bigger goals.?

After swimming 738,461 yards (419 miles!) since June 2020, I am thrilled with the swimming base I have built. I also recognize that I now need a structured approach to swimming for my goals to become a reality. So I invested in a pair of FORM Goggles which will guide my future swim training sessions with a guided workout, loading the full workout instructions into the goggle(s) lens, which will tell me exactly what to do and when to do it—just like a real coach. Right now, FORM Goggles come with a one-year complimentary membership.

I am also signed up and paid for my advanced scuba diving certification course, which consists of 5 dives (will allow me to dive 100 feet vs. the 60 feet I am currently at) and Nitrox gas certification in Panama City post 70.3. I am diving on Monday, nearly 48 hours between the race and diving. If you are down in Florida, join me!

Running

Despite the unusual circumstances I train in, I am grateful running continues to be rock solid, with 38+ running miles for the week. Fast run of the week was a 10K on a very CHILLY Xmas morning (it was 22 out with a windchill that made it feel like 12) at a pace of 7:58 - it was a PR for me after running this same course 27 x this past year. And I certainly wasn't going to let a chilly morning stop me from training.

For those interested, Lululemon Fast and Free fleece tights and Keep the Heat Thermal Long Sleeve Shirt were perfect with my black down Lululemon vest! My arms and legs were toasty during my very chilly run!?

When I signed up for the Atlanta Publix Marathon, it didn't occur to me I could qualify for Boston. It is a HILLY course with over 1,300 feet of elevation for those unfamiliar with the course. I completed this marathon in 2019 with a sinus infection. About 4% of the field will qualify for Boston. I decided to change the Atlanta Marathon to a half marathon and instead registered for the Tallahassee Marathon on February 5 in Florida. it has 1/2 the elevation of Atlanta, and I need every advantage I can get. Over 13% of the field in Tallahassee will qualify for Boston.?

In addition, I am starting to "peak" again in the running (I peaked last in October), and I am concerned with how long I can stay here, so pushing up the marathon by 3 weeks seems to be the most logical decision. I need to run a sub-3:47 marathon to qualify for Boston. Fingers, eyes, and legs crossed for good measure. I will begin tapering for the marathon on January 22, focusing heavily on swimming and cycling, so my legs are ready to run!

Cycling

My first week with my new direct trainer Wahoo setup with aerobars is kicking my butt. It will take me another few weeks to acclimate.?

Long ride of the week was 50 miles at a pace of 18.7. I am on level 35 in Zwift.

Let's make this last week count!?