A Day in the Life of Michelle

We're continuing our look into the typical daily/weekly/monthly life of Team Evotri. So far, we've had Sarah followed by Sara. Next up is our Wisconsin north woods representative, Michelle (aka Rural Girl.)

I'm a list maker. Love my lists. I live by my lists. And not the fancy lists on my smart phone. Nope. The lists written on paper and laying out on my kitchen counter. Mon:.......Tues:....... You get the point. If it's not on the list, it probably won't get done. That is more than likely the only way I keep my day organized and flowing smoothly.

A typical workday for me starts at 0500. I get up and push the 'on' button on the coffee pot. Priorities people! Then it's take care of the dogs and procrastinate with emptying the dish rack before I change into work out clothes. I usually do a workout before work. I have got to be completely trashed before I won't and decide to skip it. Guilt is a major motivator for me and that is SOOOO Bad!

I like to do cardio in the am; usually a bike or run workout for about an hour. I have the luxury of a tri coach. So, I do as I'm told. I am a good little soldier! Getting my heart pumping in the am sets me up mentally for the day. I love the feeling of accomplishment.

Next, get ready for the workday and take kids to school on way to work. My work is about a 20 minutes drive from my house. I rather enjoy the drive. I can make a few calls or just relax.

Work. A necessary evil!!! I joke. But, truly, it does get in the way of my fun time! I leave for work at 0735 and, if all goes well, get home at 1730. Thankfully, I only work 3 days per week. This gives me catch-up time for the grocery, bills, appointments. I would be a raving complete lunatic otherwise.

If I have time on my lunch break I'll throw in some calisthenics which my figure coach calls "dailies". Yes, because I do them daily!!! I'm up to 600 abs, 80 push-ups, 45 pull-ups, 45 back extensions, 80 butt blasters, and 175 lunges (each leg) each day. If something has to give, time-wise, these are what go.

One thing I have not mentioned up to this point is that I am in the midst of training to compete in a figure competition. It's kind of like body building but less muscle mass and more glam and glitz. This has currently changed my tri-training focus. I am swimming and biking and running regularly but in more of a maintenance mode. This figure competition has been on my bucket list for YEARS and is something that I have chosen to do right now. (I'm not getting any younger!)

After work, I eat, catch up with the girls and husband, find out who needs transportation where, and basically readjust for the last few hours of the night.

This leads me to my third workout for the day. Strength training is everyday except Monday and often about 45 minutes. I am supposed to do plyometric/functional strength type stuff Monday. But, don't tell my figure coach, I usually skip it, since I'm exhausted from whatever hell I've put myself through over the weekend. Lately, it's been a long cross country ski session Saturday or Sunday; 2-3 hours as I'm also prepping for the Birkie on February 23, 2013. My weight training is in the typical sense; barbells, dumbbells, multiple reps and sets. When I started this last November, I was amazed at how fatiguing this was. I have since adjusted, but it was quite a change of pace.

Never far from the recesses of my mind are those damn "dailies". I don't have time to get them done all in one sitting. So, it gets spread out over the day; 15 minutes here, 20 minutes there. It takes me about 75 minutes total to get those done.

I'm usually fried mentally and physically by 2100 and that's when I call it quits. Whatever hasn't gotten done by this time is not going to get done, period. I always take time in the evening to try to get a jump start on the next day; lay out my workout clothes, make my work lunch, whatever I can get done to make the next morning run more smoothly.

That's it. I'm sure your days are quite similar. Maybe with different things but just as crazy. I like to be busy. It makes me crazy and can be exhausting, but it's also what keeps life interesting and motivating. Onward and upward!