the post about my butt.

I've got a lot to discuss today, and all of comes right back to one thing: my butt. Let's begin, shall we?

1. Slow running kicks my butt.

I spent another week of zone 2 runs per coach's orders.

Now, let me just say, I am but a meager wanna-be at this point. I am still in school learning the ways of the body. I have only half-ass trained my way through my 4 marathons. When it comes to 5k's I get lucky, but for the most part, I don't know what I'm doing. Coach Jeff on the other hand, has been coaching athletes almost as long as I've been alive. He's an ex elite with more degrees and certifications than I can count. So when Coach tells me to do something, I do it. When he tells me that running slow now will make me run faster later, I believe him. Even if it feels like the most counterproductive thing I've ever done. I believe, deep down, this is gonna work, and make my first triathlon totally kick booty. Heck, even Mark Allen agrees, and he pretty much owns this sport, right?

Today was the most gorgeous day of 2010. Well, the most gorgeous day that I haven't spent trapped in a classroom that is. After a morning at the beach with the boys (yes, go ahead and hate me, I paid my dues spending 21 years in New England, haha), I set out for a 1 hour, zone 2 run. It was BEAUTIFUL. So beautiful, I was nearly skipping to the music on my ipod instead of running. That is, until the Garmin yelled at me. Don't skip, Heather, it gets you too excited. *sigh*.

Every time I started to fall into a zone, my legs tried their darnedest to fall into theirs. And then the Garmin would yell at me again. HEART RATE TOO HIGH it shouted (ok, beeped) at me. The more time that went on, the slower my legs were forced to go to stay in the zone. At one point, I was CRAWLING along at a 10:30 pace, and the stupid Garmin told me I was going to fast. So, as per instructed by coach, if I can't get my heart rate down, walk. Do you know how silly I felt having to stop and walk on a run when i wasn't even tired? I couldn't help but laugh.

Maybe I need to lay off the caffeine.

On these long slow runs I try to picture the Krebs cycle in my body like a bunch of newbie assembly line workers. Completely inefficient, but with all of this zone 2 training they will be kicking butt in no time. Look out, bonus checks! No seriously, I try to imagine that months from now, I will be at my "comfortable" pace of mid 8's to 9's , but in zone 2.

And months from now, I will look back and laugh at how slow running kicked my butt SO much more than regular running ever did.

Alas, this week the training really begins, and I'm sure by the time my next zone 2 run rolls around I'll be very thankful!

2. cycling HURTS my butt

SERIOUSLY you guys, when do you get used to this? I'm sorry but these padded tri-shorts are a joke. Kind of like someone throwing me one of Rowen's arm swimmies if I was drowning in the ocean. Thanks for the well meaning gesture, buuuuttt....I'm still drowning.

Thursday night called for a 90 minute spin. I was super excited as a) I love my new bike, and b) the kids went to bed early, so I could ride my bike and enjoy a little MTV in peace. Well, while my enthusiasm did not waiver, I'm not going to lie that when Rowen came downstairs BEGGING for a sippy cup at the 45 minute mark, I was super excited to get OFF of that darn seat.

When I bought my bike, I tried out a couple different seats. I chose one specifically designed for women, with a groove in the seat that the bike shop guy assured me would prevent my lower extremities from going numb (preventing pinched nerves I'm guessing?) That's nice and all, and I'm sure some day I'll appreciate it, but for now, a numb leg would have been a welcome distraction from the bruises I now have in the nether regions.

Are you noticing a trend here? Patience, Heather, work on your patience. All in good time, you will be faster and have buns of steel, resilient to any amount of time in the saddle!

3. What's a princess to do with her butt?

2 weeks from today is the Disney Princess Half marathon. I am SO excited. But in true princess fashion, I am torn. Whatever shall I wear? Holly and I spent a few hours last weekend picking out supplies and crafting our very own princess tutus. They are AMAZING. Now, I realize that this idea is far from original, and I will surely be one of thousands of tutu-ed runners,but really, when else will I have this opportunity? That's what I thought. Plus my tutu is way better than everyone elses. I'm just saying.

But, as the race day gets closer, and the disappointment from the cancellation of Myrtle Beach half marathon lingers, I'm debating my strategy for race day. I'd like to set a PR. I'd also like to run in a tutu and stop for photo ops with all of the characters. But then again...I'd like to set a PR.

SO, rambling aside, anyone know where I can get a **HOT PINK** running skirt? You know, in case I go for the try and PR option (I'm telling you this tutu ain't gonna cut it if I need to focus, haha). Does anyone have the pink skirt from http://www.runningskirts.com/ ? It says "Haute pink" but really, how "haute" is it? Becuase it's gotta match my shoes.

Quit snickering guys, this is the PRINCESS half marathon. Let me be girly for once.

Happy running my friends!