Ripped

Normally when I say the word RIPPED, it is in reference to things like this, which decorate my "RIPPED" Pinterest Board quite well: 

(seriously, how hot is she?)

Anyway, yesterday I talked about how I am back to a regular training schedule and swimming again. I mentioned my swim bag...and if you are a friend/follower, I am sure you are well aware of my very loved REV3 bag.

This bag was a gift from a friend and I treasured that good mojo that Pat put into it when he bestowed it onto me almost 4 years ago. It has come to EVERY race with me since and it has traveled this county many times over. It is my daily bag for lugging my gear to the gym and to work. It has been  my constant companion for years. I know it sounds silly, but it's always with me. 

When the bottom started to give way, I duct taped it. 

When the liner started ripping, I didn't care...I let it peel and kept using it. 

Then the seams started to come apart...I held on as long as I could until

RIP

It ripped. 

I cannot bear to part with this bag (yea, silly emotional attachment to a BAG) so I must have it repaired. Lucky for me, I have a spanking new one from several years ago when Sonja was my Coach. But it's NEW. Stiff. No stains...no marks of the adventures and miles we have put on over the years...but there are always NEW things to do and new places to travel. 

I also have have an amazing Rocket bag that was a gift from one of my besties for my Bday 2 years ago! (Call that one my "dressy" bag! lol) It's beautiful and SO CLEAN. And light blue. And it is also currently home to all my books for CEUs and my ACE recert stuff. 

So, this new & unripped bag will be my companion for the time being...until Rev3 gets repaired.
Or who knows...perhaps a NEW bag will be in my future.

Do you have an emotional attachment to a "thing"?

What's your favorite tri/transition bag? 

Let's Get Wet

This past week has been pretty awesome because I have jumped back on the training train! OHMAHGAWD...do you know how happy I am to have a consistent schedule for ME once again? If you have been reading my sporadic posts over the last few months, you will see that things have been pretty up and down this past year. Lots of professional and personal things sucking up my time and sadly, training took a back seat. 

BUT IM BACK and ready to tackle new goals for 2015. 

NEW GOALS AND NEW CHALLENGES!!

I am super excited for what's on the race schedule for this coming season and my heart is filled with joy and excitement to return to what I LOVE to do!!

I really enjoy swimming in open water and I am kind of a pool pansy. I will swim as many yards...heck MILES as needed in the lakes, ponds, oceans but give me a big swim workout in the pool and I get all "meh" about swimming. I don't know why but...do you know how awesome it is to actually FEEL EXCITED to be swimming again?? IN THE POOL? 

Ever the optimist, I am looking at this break as just what I needed to recharge the old batteries! 

I got in the pool very willingly 3x this past week and it was rather slow and my endurance definitely took a hit in the months off but by the end of the week, I was already seeing some progress and banged out a 500 warm up like it was nothing. A very slow nothing but...and Im planning on another 3 swim sessions this week. I even have a pool date with my local swim Coach, Andy on Sunday.

So today is a 4 mile run with a few short intervals followed by this swim set:

2800 yards total

WARM UP

400 swim

300 pull

200 as 25 drill/25 swim x4

100 kick

MS: 4x100 Free (pick your interval and stick with it. Allow :10-:15 seconds rest between each 100)

50 easy

300 steady 

3x100 Free (on the same interval as 4x100)

50 easy

200 steady

100 easy

100 hard effort

COOLDOWN 300 mix of stroke

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So Im back to having my "regular" bag of gym/training essentials and now my "swimbag" is back...and that makes me smile. 

So what's in that very cool bag? Oh, just some pool essentials in my swim bag-

The Waves Microtowel 

I cannot say enough about these towels. Small, portable and they are like little water vacuums. LOVE Perfect for the pool and the beach. Amazing...

A regular towel vs 3 stacked Waves towels

Foggies

Ummm, yeah...I don't swim without these EVER. I also use them on my cycling glasses. THEY WORK simple as that...keep my goggles clear and clean. BOOM!

and speaking of goggles, THESE

TYR Special Ops 2.0 Polarized Goggles

Scott, always in Beaver gear

My friend, Scott, sent me a pair of these for my birthday 2 years ago and I have been in love with them since (even though he sent me UWisconsin Badgers red white and black ones), I have not looked back. I have small set eyes and these never dig, hurt, leak...and they are perfect for pool and open water. They last a long time too!!

I usually find the best prices on these at SwimOutlet.com, which is the link I provided. I have used my swim team affiliate link to support the YMCA Manta Ray Swim Team. 

and of course...MY TEAM REV3 SHIMMER SUIT FROM SPLISH!!!

Peaks to Portland 2.4 mile Swim rocking the SHIMMER

So cheers to a return to what I love...and I am forever grateful that I get to do this and help others find their health and joy.