Ahhhhh RECOVERY

The two-year-old managed to enjoy a Clif bar (or two)
 courtesy of SDTA during our weekend tri adventures.

Last week's plan had a purposeful recovery week. That happens every three weeks or so, depending on the nature of the trainer. We both welcomed it with open and weary arms. It couldn't have come at a better time--the last week of summer vacation for the six-year-old.

One good friend advised us to try to not think about anything Ironman related for the week, so we adhered to this advice and focused on the family more. Tuesday we took a day-trip to a bigger town for a "big" grocery shopping trip and some McDonald's love on the way home. Wednesday the kids and I soaked the sun in at the pool  (something we need to do far more often next summer). Thursday we visited the local children's museum in Brookings, a gem about an hour away that we will definitely return to. Friday the kids and I headed out to my parents' farm to spend some time with them out in their wide open space while Jason completed his big workout of the week. Saturday Jason spent some quality time with the kids, reaquainting them with important things like cicada shells and sidewalk chalk while I completed my big bike of the week. Sunday we all woke up early, piled into Ellie (the family vehicle), and did some SDTriNews work Troxell style by covering a race about an hour away. Amidst all of this, we had some workouts but thankfully nothing real intense--just things that kept us moving and reminding us of an obnoxiously big workout week the coming week.

I theorize that some other desperate parent at the Children's
Museum began to spell out help when her child (most likely
named Henry) took over. 

Recovery matters. A few things have changed since the beginning of Ironman training back in May. We turn the TV off and go to bed earlier. We stop drinking coffee a little earlier in the day. Our laundry pile has grown exponentially. Our fridge can never quite seem to hold enough food for the teenage-boy appetites we possess. And we tend to hug the kids just a little more.

I think the training may be rubbing off on the kids just a little too. Our four-year-old and six-year-old enjoy playing pretend games where they have different names and are different people. Lately they pretend to be friends visiting each other's house. I'm always the mom for just one of them. Otherwise, I'm "Miss Nikki." The four-year-old played the part of the visiting friend last night at supper. When I asked him where his parents were and how long he planned on staying, he said, "My mom is doing a triathlon for infinity days, so I'm going to be here infinity days," (because there's no number bigger than infinity according to his six-year-old sister.)

Not just infinity, buddy. Just five more weeks. Then we'll talk about infinity.