I’m grateful you are here, reading this. I’m grateful for your continued support, some of you well over a decade, some of you just a session or 2. You are greatly appreciated.

About this time of year, I start thinking of the words I want to describe my next year. And reflect on the ones I picked for this past year: mindful, healing & preparing.

These manifested more than I could have imagined. I’ve been more mindful of the choices I’ve made, of the progression of my triathlon training, of the direction of the studio. I’ve been healing – my knees, my soul, my spirit. And preparing for all these shifts that have happened these past few months – with the studio, with my fitness, with home stuff.

I started swimming again. I did my last summer event July 28th, and had fallen on my bike a few weeks prior. The shoulder has been in physical therapy since, and this is my last week of it. I’ve been swimming thrice this month. It feels good to be back. YAY.

I joined Clay Madsen Rec Center, in Round Rock. It’s about a 3h “workout” if I’m driving in just for that. Until track starts, I’ve got off season middle school running on Mondays, so I’m pairing those 2. Then I realized on the Mondays I’m coaching at 8a, the pool isn’t open until 1030a. Being mindful of my time, I added a few clients in today. It worked.

So a new shift with the Austin Studio with the addition of some Monday sessions. Balancing that out, I’ll be taking some office time on Tuesday or Thursday, since I still have office stuff that needs doing. Monday sessions will vary weekly, at least until track starts (2/10).

It’s been… ages?… pre-COVID?… since I had clients sessions on Monday. I really think this year was preparing me for this. I feel like I’m in a really good place right now, and am excited to see what else manifests.

I know you all want me to swim. So thank you in advance for helping me make it an efficient use of my time!

Holiday schedule, studio closings

I will be closed on Christmas Day only.

I’ve also decided I’m perfectly fine working January 1. I’m a morning person, after all. I’ve already got 4 clients that day, but I can waitlist you if you want.

January 30-31 I will be at a visceral manipulation workshop (more of this CST stuff). The following Monday, 2/3, no Austin Sessions.

Austin studio updates

Yeah, so Wednesdays are book thru…March 19. The 26th is my first known opening. Henceforth, Mondays. What happened to Fridays? All that shifting, preparing, happened. That’s a Taylor day now. If you’ve got a Friday session booked already, don’t worry. I’ll still honor it.

Since Mondays are gonna be a bit all over the place, please contact me directly to schedule. It’s mornings, lunch, late afternoon. It’s all over the place, so I’m not putting it in the scheduler. Yet.

There is a waitlist for Austin last minute cancellations. Please contact me to get on it. I’ve gone 3 deep to get it filled recently.

Taylor & Virtual updates

This studio has been getting busier too. On the Monday’s I’m working in Austin, as mentioned, Tuesday or Thursday late afternoon will become office time. I’ll do my best to alternate them.

Classes over the holidays are pending.

That’s it for this one.

So if you reflect on 2024, what words would describe it? And what do you want to manifest in 2025?

Nov 4, 2024 – Feb 7, 2025, The Quack Pack in Austin

Welcome & thank you for your interest!

Similar to cross country, our 2 days of running per week will be our “quality” runs – speed, hills, long speed… all those technical terms. It’s strongly suggested that you do 1-3 days of easy running on your own. We’ll talk during practice about what “easy” means & how to tell if you’re doing it.

Location: Champion Park.

Program fees

This is a 3 month program spanning holidays. I’ve broken down as best as I think should work, considering there are ~26 total sessions, which may be adjust as we go for a variety of reasons – weather, vacations, holidays, actual start of track season, etc. I’ve based dates on when track started last year. Do what works best for you. Packages are per individual, and may not be crossed over to other family members; it’s the way my online tracking system is set up.

• drop in single session: $15
• 5 sessions: $65 ($13 per)
• 10 sessions: $115 ($11.50 per)
• 15 sessions: $150 ($10 per)
• unlimited sessions: $200 ($66/mo)
• Club fee (required): $20/ individual, $30/ family). This gives us liability insurance during our runs. If you joined me for summer, you will need to renew as of January 1. If you’re joining now, you’re covered thru Dec 2025. Please complete for each child, and yourself if helping out.

Have more than 1 kid running? I can do a payment plan for the unlimited sessions package if needed.

Parents: running & biking

I will need your help. If you’re willing to bike alongside various groups of kids, please come join. If you’re willing to run with the kids like we did for Saturdays during cross country, please come join. No charge, since you are helping me out. You will need to join the club – do the family membership.

If you prefer to actually RUN and do the actual training without focusing on helping with the kids, please buy a package. Different mindset, and then I plan for you in the run as well.

Current schedule

During school, Mondays & Fridays at 4p. Please note there are some Fridays I get done w clients in Taylor at 315p. I will be squeaking in to be there by 4, more likely 415. I’ll ask for parent help with the warm up on these dates.

You can see the full schedule by looking at my scheduler.

In lieu of Thanksgiving Friday run, please come join me for my Amber Moon Studio Turkey 10 (any distance you want, pie & coffee afterward). Please follow this on facebook for more details.

Over the holidays, and there’s no school, I’ve shifted to Monday & Saturday mornings (Dec 23-Jan 6).

On MLK Day, I moved it to 8a as well since no school. I’m flexible if afternoon works better for the majority.

Yeah, it’s been a little crazy busy, and when I’ve not had clients, I’ve needed to do nothing. This happened last year at the end of cross country season too, so it was expected. Oct 19, and everything shifts again. And then again in Feb, when track starts.

I thought I’d gotten away from living on a school schedule. Evidently not.

This is short & sweet. It’s been 3 weeks since the last Hello Sunshine. Just the main points.

And it might be that long until the next one….

Austin sessions

October is running full.

November

• Friday the 8th has openings – 1215 & 130p. Please contact me to schedule. I don’t know if its in the scheduler.
• Wednesday the 27th, before Thanksgiving, has openings. These ARE on the schedule. 145p for sure. I can flex some clients around to get other sessions in.

December

closed on Christmas Day. Openings the week prior:

• Wed, 12/18, 1p
• Fri 12/20, 130p – check w me to schedule,please.

January

I’ve decided I’m not opposed to working on New Year’s Day, so book now. Please.

Taylor/Virtual sessions

With cross country coming to a close, I’ll have afternoon times available again on Tues/Thurs. I’ve slid all my regular clients together, so my schedule is more efficient for me. Last session should be done by 5p, so I can feed critters before heading out to coach Taylor Track again.

This is IT – our final week! How are you doing?

Ok, so Taper. Backing off on VOLUME and INTENSITY to varying degrees so you are rested & do your best at your event. Recovery week dropped down some, this week drops down a little more.

Remember your goal is to be chomping at the bit for Saturday morning’s 5k. If you’re tired, take it easy. If you’re bouncing off the walls, adding just a little intensity. You really have to hold back, and keep with what is written. Feel free to reach out if you have questions.

Day 1

10-15 min walk/easy jog as warm up

Main Set: objective is to get faster as your time running gets shorter. Think of the 3 min set as your “goal pace” and allow yourself to get faster on the shorter ones. If you prefer, you can also go hard/harder/hardest. But mind, we are working on race specifics this week.

• 3 min run, 1 min recovery
• 2 min run, 1 min recovery
• 1 min run, 2 min recovery

Then check in: How do you feel? Was that enough? Sometimes it is this week. You DO have the option of doing a 2nd set if you feel up for it. Keep this workout 30-40 min total, please.

Day 2

Today is a little variable…if tired, keep it at a walk, 30-45 min. If you’re bouncing off the walls, 10 min walk, 2×10 min Zone 2, 3 min walk in between, then walk to finish time (40-45 min).

Race day

If you’re doing the GoodLife 5k, we’ll be doing a group warm up at 7:40a (race at 8), please come join us at the start of the Bull Branch Lake boardwalk at that time. Stephanie & I will be there, as will our Taylor Track Time people. (Look for an Amber Moon Studio jersey or 2). Remember – do YOUR warm up… nothing new there either. I’ve had you doing 10-15 min of walking… so please do your best to get that in before the race starts.

We definitely want you to come say hi!

Other stuff

Get a good night’s sleep on THURSDAY. Sometimes, the night before an event, you’re a little ancy. So good sleep 2 nights before is essential.

Nutrition/hydration: nothing new this week. Keep it the same on race day as you’ve been practicing.

What’s your plan?

• If you are planning to come to track on Tuesday only, please do Day 2 on your own.
• If you are planning to come to track on Thursday only, please do Day 1 on your own.

Recap & race report

We’ve spent the last 11 weeks getting you ready for this. We worked you through your initial phase of conditioning, and they started working to improve performance.

How’d you do? Do you feel like you can complete a 5k, now? Complete it better if you were running before this program?

What would you have changed about this program?

How’d your race go? What worked, what didn’t? What did you learn? What were your take away points? Write/type your answers and store them… in your training log, in your e-calendar on race date. Of course, you’re welcome to share with me, as it helps me know what I can do better next time.

I’m hoping this is not a 1 and done for you, but rather you’ve been given the tools to keep going.

What’s next?

If you want to keep going, but not on your own, I’ve got this Tu/Th Taylor Track program you’ve been hearing about. I also do private coaching for a fee – it depends on what you need from your program, in your program, and how much. Running, triathlon are both within my scope. Please schedule a meet & greet, and we can figure out what is best for you.

2 weeks to go… our last week of work, then taper…. it’s about to get real!

Day 1: “speed”

10-15 min walk/easy jog as warm up

Main Set: objective is to get faster as your time running gets shorter. This time we’ve got a shorter break in between, mimicking our event a little more.

• 5 min run, 1 min recovery
• 4 min run, 1 min recovery
• 3 min run, 1 min recovery
• 2 min run, 1 min recovery
• 1 min run, 1 min recovery

3-5 min cool down easy jog/walk

This is a great one to build as a workout in Garmin, so your splits stay exact. Helps keep you on target too.

Day 2: Longer intervals

• 10-15 min walk/easy jog as warm up
• Main Set: 3x 12 min at a little bit slower than “natural” pace (ie Zone 2), 1 min recovery walk in between.
• 3-5 min cool down
• Stretch afterwards

Day 3: Endurance day

1 hour of movement, somewhere in between leisure & Z2. Please include 3 passes on Dellinger. 

If you were running before the start of this program, warm up 10-15 minutes, then run 30 min Z2, then power walk the rest.

Taper begins! Monday, 10/9

The purpose of taper week is to (1) get you recovered, and (2) keep some race specific speed/intensity. We’re not taking time off, we are just cutting volume down, while keeping just a touch of intensity. If you find you’re totally wiped, just keep it easy. By Thursday or Friday, I want you chomping at the bit to do more. Mind you – save it for Saturday!

There is a strategy here, a balance, and normally I’m touching base daily w my athletes as they are in this phase. You are welcome to reach out the day before your run/walks & check in, LMK how you’re feeling, and we can tweak it as needed. Walkers – taper is not as big of an issue for you, but we definitely still need to cut volume a bit.

Also, during this week – nothing new. No new activities, foods, pattern changes. Nothing.

Week 11, Day 1

10-15 min walk/easy jog as warm up

Main Set: objective is to get faster as your time running gets shorter. Think of the 3 min set as your “goal pace” and allow yourself to get faster on the shorter ones. If you prefer, you can also go hard/harder/hardest. But mind, we are working on race specifics this week.

• 3 min run, 1 min recovery
• 2 min run, 1 min recovery
• 1 min run, 2 min recovery

IF you are feeling good, you have the option of a 2nd set. Doesn’t need to be a lot this week.

3-5 min cool down easy jog/walk.

What’s your plan?

• If you are planning to come to track on Tuesday only, please do Day 1 on your own.
• If you are planning to come to track on Thursday only, please do Day 1 on your own.
• If you’re coming to both days of track. please do Day 3 on your own.
• If you’re coming to neither track days, please do the whole thing, or as we’ve discussed.

Remember, running = power walking for some of you.

Your guide to everything under the moon, the Amber Moon, 9/22/24

It’s been a while since my schedule tumbled into something new. Yes, cross country & track have changed it, but not a full tumble. Last week, it tumbled into newness. One client dropped, a class shifted, and I’ve suddenly got a more open Wednesday – with time to get some cardio in AND get to the Austin Studio earlier.

My viniyoga has been Wednesdays at 1030/1045a for probably a decade, even through COVID, though it became virtual. It was time to try something new.

Yes, I added time on Wednesdays in Austin for you, the client.

Yes, I’ve still got limited Monday openings in Taylor thru Oct 14 (remember to ask, please).

So, the new schedule is, through Oct 19 (effective now):

• Monday – Taylor – variable – reach out & ask. Typ early afternoon.
• Tuesday – Taylor
  • 1045a – Pilates Mat class
  • 12-230p – 30-60 min sessions
  • Cross country & Taylor Track Time coaching until 730p
• Wednesday
  • Taylor: 7-830a
  • Austin: 12-515p
• Thursday – Taylor
  • 11a – Viniyoga online
  • 1215-230p – 30-60 min sessions
  • Cross country & Taylor Track Time coaching until 730p
• Friday
  • 830a – Mindful Pilates @ Mindful Muse, Taylor
  • Most weeks in Taylor – 10a-315p
  • On Austin weeks: Taylor 10a-12n & Austin 130-3p.

It’s gonna take me a bit to get the Wednesday change in my scheduler, so please ask if you are looking. I’ve got a lot of other computer work that takes priority at the moment.

Running

I’m remembering that my legs like to have an easy day before a run day. This past Saturday I worked the Big Wig Massage for Texas Mamma Jamma Ride, so I thought I’d get in a sprint interval session on my rower before hand – 30 min of good stuff. I worked hard. Today was slated as a run.

Ten minutes in to the run section my legs said “walking now“. I know during the week I make sure I walk on Tuesday so I can run on Wednesday… guess I’m going to have to remember all the tricks I used for scheduling back when I was doing triathlons. This was part of the impetus of the schedule shift – I wanted to be able to get my 2 days of running in per week. At this point, that’s what my legs say are doable. I’m listening.

On the good side, I’m easily managing a 90 min walk. Right before & during my bionic knees years, my nutrition was such that I couldn’t do it easily. At least that seems to be better managed now.

Now to add see how to keep 1-2 days of biking in, some rowing, and then swimming, once I’m out of PT for my shoulder. Remember that fall on my bike in early July? Yeah, it needed a little help. It is slowly getting there. Slow is good.

Blueberry reads

Yes, I’m still listening to audio books, and I think I’ve finished 2 since I last included this segment. Still on the book club theme with Strong Towns and Happy City. I need to go see what else I’ve still got in my library, as I’m ready for something on a different topic.

Looking back at all the books I’ve listened to this year so far, I’m quite impressed actually. ELEVEN books I’ve finished. ELEVEN. I honestly didn’t think I’d like audiobooks, but I’m glad I was wrong. I just had to figure out when to listen.

Taylor & virtual updates

Last minute cancellations happen. Contact me to get on the waitlist, or for Mondays.

• Mon, 9/23, 330p (contact me to schedule)
• Tues, 9/24, 115p
• Mon, 9/30, 1p, 215p (contact me to schedule)
• Thurs, 10/3, 1215-1245 start time available

Austin updates

Openings are subject to change. These openings are a reflection of this exact moment in time.

• uh….. ask to be on the wait list or check with me for last minute cancellations, please! Just because I added time doesn’t mean it’s available. Doh. I suggest you book Austin appointments as far in advance as possible for best options.

Thanks for reading all the way down here! I’d love to hear what you got out of this update.