R&R

The meaning for R&R has changed, it use to be rest and relaxation, now its’ rest and recovery.  I have a great support system preparing for this race.  To the person who created Whatsapp, I could kiss you! My life is one big party on Whatsapp. It has become essential for my training and motivation.  Sounds silly huh?  Well, I got all these great group chats with friends that also train, love fitness and nutrition.  It’s where I set up training, talk about nutrition, soreness, exhaustion, stupid people, even my bathroom schedule (oh yea, we’re that close).  So after reading my last post, Khania (one of my people), asked if I’d looked into supplements for recovery and pre-workouts.  I knew at some point what I take post workout for recovery has to modify as my workouts increase, but it didn’t really cross my mind that it could be the reason I was so sore, sluggish, and recovering so slowly. I have 3 Ironmen on a chat to learn from and Khania is like my nutrition handbook.  So we all spoke about possible supplements, what I’m eating, and what I could try. 

It really is a trial and error and everyone is different.  Unfortunately, I got blessed with a sensitive stomach, so I really have to be careful.  I’ve had to start kicking my fear of carbs.  I am use to eating as little as carbs as possible cause it goes straight to my mid section. I get this really pretty pudge (very sexy).  So here I am cautiously adding Ezekiel toast at breakfast, brown rice at lunch, and a little sweet potato at dinner.  Not all in the same day, it all depends on my workout that day and the next day.  “Eat for your goal” I was told last night.  It’s a constant conflict between wanting to get a lean (Miami living requires lots of bikinis) and wanting to be able to get thru all the hours of cardio. 

Supplements, I fear them.  Mostly cause they feel like a chemical shit storm and I’m poisoning my body.  Last year when training for my Half Ironman in my search I found Vega One products, which have Vega Sports.  They are plant based supplements and they worked very well for recovery, on my stomach, and also didn’t feel like I was putting crap in my body just because they say I have to. 

So I’m adding those back into my nutrition plan and go from there.  It never crossed my mind that I would have to really plan out my nutrition this much.  My body is a lot more complicated than most, so we’ll see how it goes ~ Adding Mo Miles.

It Hit Me

This past week it finally hit me, like a freight train, what I got myself into.  I got scared.  Going into only my 4^th week of training with only one day off and at least two two-a-days a week, I am pooped (you’ll read this often until August).  It happened Thursday, very unexpectedly.  I was running and it felt like the bones in my legs were about to fall apart (the leg day at the Jungle the morning before didn’t help), no motivation, and just plain tired.  I cut my run short (and got a face of disapproval).  Saturday morning I couldn’t get myself out of bed early enough to make it to the group ride.  I got myself out for a ride but only half of what I was supposed to do.  What the hell am I going to do two months from now? I hear my training cohort as I type this, “Suck it up buttercup.”

I need to find the mental strength to push through the pain and exhaustion. If it hurts, I still run. I need to put aside other aspects of my personal life and not let them affect my training, push thru regardless of what I have going on.  No more cutting workouts short.  I need to strengthen my mind just like I’m doing to my body because where it’s at now, I know I won’t make it thru training and thru the race.  This race means more to me than I can explain, so there is no doubt that mentally training myself is at the top of my list but probably the most difficult.  So how do you train your mind?  Louisville or bust ~ Adding Mo Miles.

Welcome to the Jungle

Around 4-5 years ago I showed up to a bootcamp class in Sweetwater that a friend of mine had started. I was ready for some aerobics and bicep curls with 3 pound weights, what I experienced was a whole lot of crazy.  “We’re warming up with 200 squats”…”Come again?!” and I can honestly say my life has never been the same.  I was hooked on Jungle Fitness.  I couldn’t walk the next day, it took me a good 5 minutes to pee, and by day two I needed a wheel chair.  I kept going back, week after week, class after class.  We ran the streets of sweetwater, up the down escalator of the FIU library (I’m not kidding you), climbed walls, and did reps in the thousands (ONE THOUSAND SQUATS!!). 

Jungle Fitness became more than bootcamp classes, it became a way of life and a family.  Jannett and Edwin, the trainers, gave me an entire new perspective on fitness.  I can honestly say I’ve ran most major streets of Miami (some highways), done pushups under my desk and at Epcot, weather does not stop a workout (even a hurricane), and there are no excuses, period!  No class is ever the same. I’m not lying, I have yet to do the same class twice in 5 years.  It is literally blood, sweat, and sometimes a few tears with the Jungle. 

No I didn’t make it over.

They’ve now opened this incredible facility, Jungle Fitness Compound.  It is a playground for adults.  The trainers have been with me every step of the way.  My first 5K, 10K, half marathon, sprint and olympic tri, and are now helping me get to Louisville.  They’re helping me to build the strength I need to keep me strong in all disciplines with classes and weight training.  I also got a full nutritional meal plan to keep me operating properly.  They continue to push me to my limits, and with good reason, I’m finally reaching my goal weight and everyone one of my fitness goals. 

No matter how crazy the goal, the Jungle is there to help me reach it.  They’ve definitely toughen me up! “Just warming up…” ~ Adding Mo Miles.

My first 5K

A little swim around the pier on South Beach

❤

The Comeback

Call it a comeback! This weekend I can finally say I felt like myself, Monica Maria Rosa.  Also known as Mo, Moma, Le Mo, Le Monique, Momo… I have a lot of nicknames.  It’s been a very frustrating few weeks because I really learned how much of my conditioning I’d lost.  I spent a good three months on “off season.”  That doesn’t happen here in Miami, where we pretty much train year round.  At the end of last season I was drained physically, emotionally, and mentally.  I trained through absolute exhaustion and led to a burn out.  I didn’t want to hear the words swim, bike, run, or race.  I’m still angry with myself for letting this happen but you live, learn, and comeback! I’ve promised myself that I won’t allow anything or anyone let me get there again. 

Our Saturday morning ride started like any other, Mo getting dropped.  I’ve come to terms with it.  But this time it was different cause I wasn’t going to stay behind.  I found another group and went along for the ride.  As their pace creeped up to speeds I’ve never reached before, I started catching groups that had left me behind.  Lungs and legs burning, I was going to stick with them.  Long story short, I made it back to the store 25 minutes faster than last week.  I got off my bike and did a little dance, last week I got off with anger and frustration.  Progress.

For me it was Sunday‘s run that left me focused.  I felt so great running, I ran 15 minutes more than planned.  If you read my last post, you know this is rare…or nonexistent.  I ran longer and faster than I have in months and it felt damn good.  I kept pushing cause I would much rather focus on the pain than my thoughts.  I kept going cause I didn’t want to stop.  It was a beach run, I was in my place.  They almost sent out the search party.  What made the day perfect was breakfast with some of my favorites and then some quality time with my toes in the sand.

The last few weeks had me angry with the decisions I had made.  This weekend left me motivated and determined.  I’ve regained my focus. ~ Adding Mo Miles

 

 

Run Forrest Run

I highly dislike running (pause for reaction).  I don’t get excited about going for run.  For the most part it is not a stress reliever for me, quite the opposite.  I know what you’re thinking, “you’re a triathlete , you’re supposed to enjoy it.  Why do it? You make no sense!! ” It’s simple, the challenge.  To me the sport is synonymous with life.  Sometimes, you’re going to have to do things you don’t want to.  You’re going to go through things that are hard, difficult, draining in every way, and simply put, suck.  Well, that’s running for me and it prepares for those things.  Oh and who are we kidding, it does a body good. 

I go through the five stages of grief every single mile that I run.

1. Denial – I’m not going to run whatever amount of miles in my training calendar.  I am not running an hour! This isn’t happening ….nope this isn’t happening… nooooo!
2. Anger – Damn you running! I hate this sport! Why do I do this?  What is wrong with me?! I hate my coach (in all honesty I don’t)…
3. Bargaining – Ok, what if I run 55 minutes instead of an hour?  Does it really matter?
4. Depression – I’m all alone…I’ve been left behind again (cue in “All by Myself”)
5. Acceptance – I got this! I’m going to get it done!

I’m slowly coming to terms with running again, learning to accept it, and trying not to see it as the Darth Vader of triathlons. It’s a process, a slow one. So how do I make running less miserable?

I try to focus on anything else as soon as the negative starts to creep up and demons take over.  The Cuban international cycling team flying by me, the view of the water if I’m in Key Biscayne, unicorns, pot of gold… anything! Recently, what I’m going to write here has been a great distraction. 

 Every once in a while, I take a run for me. No watch, no pace, no determined distance. Just enjoy and oh my, I may just walk a bit and take it all in.  This is ludicrous to many triathletes and these may be rare for me now. 

Using those I train with as motivation.  I’m surrounded by some incredible and determined athletes.  Seeing how much they improve each and every session and race is motivation enough to keep me going.  But also avoiding a disapproving look from my “assistant” coach is sometimes enough.

I look for those moments in running that make it worth it.  That mile I got my pace lower than I have in the last two weeks, regardless of how bad the other miles were.  That moment I kept a decent running form cause it’s no surprise I have an awful running form.  I resemble a dancing T-Rex.  That moment where it doesn’t matter how hot it is, feels like I’m doing cartwheels on the sun, I’m pushing thru.  Out of 10 runs, I may have 2-3 real good ones.  Those are the ones I focus on, those are the ones that keep me at it. 

All the while “Run Forrest Run” is playing in my head. ~ Adding Mo Miles