Wednesday, Nov. 23rd
(15min biking)
(25min biking)
(30min bking)
Thursday, Nov. 24th, 2011
(15min biking)
20min warm up run
stretch, drill , stride
6 x 150m walk back recoveries
3min break
1 x 150m
3min break
1 x 150m
(times: 21-22")
(15min biking)
(15min biking)
(15min biking)
Tireddddd… (last day off was Monday the 14th, but I’m resting this Saturday). Other than that, all is perfect =)
Friday, Nov. 25th, 2011
(15min biking)
fartlek training:
cool down
(15min biking).
Drawing some cool stuff.
Trying to finish this phd.
Delivery of final draft is Dec. 12th
Presentation is Dec. 14th (for approval to complete the work in February). Think positively for me… please.
Eating a whole lot of diospyros - kaki (I discovered this fruit last week at my trainer’s house. I HAVEN’T LIVED… !! )
My next fruit-enlightenment must be 'fico d’india ’ !!! (= prickly pear) !!! I can’t believe there are so many fruits I’ve never tried beforeeee.
I asked my mom why I’ve never had a diospyros kaki in my life before.
Here’s her whitty story:
‘Dear… a dispyros kaki in Greek, is called a [i]lotos /i. In Homer’s Odyssey, when Odysseus found himself on the island of the lotofagos (νησί των λωτοφάγων), whoever ate a lotos (a diospyros kaki), forgot all about his home land and never returned back home.
And because we were in the States for all those years, I was afraid to treat you with a lotos, because I didn’t want you girls to forget all about Greece, and never return back to your roots’.
Imagination runs in the family.
Saturday, Nov. 26th
So after 11 days of training, today had to be off. But I was feeling so in need to ‘turn on my engine’, that I literally ran to the supermaket … I know, I have a problem. 
I had Korean dinner tonight, cooked by a friend =)) Yuummmyyyyy. That was my second korean dish ever.
I’ll miss Milan… Having friends does wonders to one’s life. The last time I felt like an entity with friends, was in 2007. (good ones are truly hard to find… )
Sunday, Nov. 27th, 2011
(15min biking)
~25’ warm up run
stretch, strides
4 x 60m hills on an ‘insane’ inclination (45-50d??). This burned the quadssssss. It was great =))) .
8 x 80m hills (on regular inclinations). These felt like cake. (walk back recoveries).
Fast 10’ run back.
Sicilian lunch, mmmm.
(15min biking)
Monday, Nov. 28th, 2011
40min run with just a brief stop every 10’, cause the machine wasn’t going very 'smoothly ’ …
Tuesday, No.v 29th, 2011
(15min biking)
-15min warm up run
stretch, drill, stride
cool down
(15min biking)
Wednesday, Nov. 30th, 2011
(15min biking)
(15min biking)
30min easy run (effortless)
Thursday, Dec. 1st (HAPPY MONTH - This month, I will become an AUNT !!! ) =))))) I’m sooo psyched. She’s going to be an exceptional young girl (I think).
I’ll teach her violin.
(15min biking)
2km easy warm up
stretch, drill, stride
Ate a lot of after-race cake and cookies.
(15min biking).
I have a shin issue, but I’ll resolve it. (Nik jinxed it)
I’ll do my best! Is it better now?
haha, yes yes, all better, I massaged with voltaren last night, but I’m taking today off anyway, just for peace of mind 
And my training partner has a stomach virus, so I’m not even tempted to ‘cheat’ and go…
Day of studying, green tea, abs, and music.
Life is good, but after December, I stop getting paid by my scholarship, and that could be a future issue
I’m posting some recent drawings, for the sake of visual variation on here
(it’s amazing what life’s ‘mood variations’ bring out in art - if you compare current stuff with the past…)
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> although now that I notice more closely, I just ‘cycled through’ a whole life’s phase, returning for just a blink to my ‘mood’ of about 5 years ago, which is shown on my avatar!
p.s. you can read about that second drawing (from the top of the page) here, if you want - This writing was very spontaneous… I think I had a drunk moment (without the alcohol)
http://stefaniesart.com/?p=800
Saturday, Dec. 3rd
(15min bike)
Sunday, Dec. 4th
(15min bike)
20min warm up
6 x 80m hills (jog back recovery), 6min rest
6 x 60m hills (walk back recovery), 6min rest
500m @1.35 (easy relaxed)
10min cool down
(15min biking)
Monday, Dec. 5th
(15min biking)
(15min biking)
Bad emotional day. Bad energy all around.
Tuesday, Dec. 6th
(15min biking)
I enjoyed that.
(15min biking)
Feeling a bit sad. So I’ll draw.
Wednesday, Dec. 7th
(15min biking)
(15min biking)
Thursday, Dec. 8th
OFFFFF
Friday, Dec. 9th
(15min biking)
15min warm up
fartlek (all continuous) 4 x 670m (with 200m fast stride inside each), @10.45 (dirt route, with some ups and downs)
(15min biking)
Saturday, Dec. 10th
40min run, easy
Sunday, Dec. 11th
(10min biking)
15min warm up, stretch, drill, 4 x 80m strides
4 x 70m super-hills (steep inclination)
6 x 80m normal hills (walk back recoveries)
6 x 60m normal hills (walk back recoveries
(10min biking back)
Final thesis draft ready to be delivered today. But why I am up at 3am, with coffee in my mug, and wishing I had more multi-grain/fruit cookies??? No sleepppp… 
I suppose I can keep working on my Wednesday presentation
I need a hug.
Hi Stefanie, have very much enjoyed the thread and how honest you are in your more personal moments. I’m relatively new to CF.com, so have tried to get a decent overview of the 3 years you have invested in this thread. I have read through a bit but must have missed it…if you don’t mind, what event(s) do you compete in?
I very much enjoy the art and your writing, when you do narrate the journal. I was in Art school while at University while training and competing as well. I’m assuming the thesis you are working on is for your MFA? Best of luck all around.
Hi clymb !
Thanks for reading =) I used to be even more narrative in my previous journals (I’ve been threading since 2003 :o ) I’ll try to do more of it, because I too, enjoy going back and reading…
I’m generally training for the 400m.
But tomorrow I’m running a 2.5k cross country race
My phd is in urban and architectural design, and today I just got approved to conclude my work in March =))))) I’m very psyched =)))
And tired…
Thanks again !
S
Monday, Dec. 12
Tuesday, Dec. 13
After 8 hours of anticipation to present the final draft of my thesis, in order to get approval for thesis FINAL presentation in March (which also is the end of the phd journey), I got APPROVED
I 'm happy.
Congratulations!!!
Thanks Nick =)
Wendesday
(15min biking)
was OFF (all day final exam phd presentations, good day outcome in the end =)) It was so stressful though =s )
(15min biking)
(15min biking)
Thursday, Dec. 15th
20min warm up, stretch, drill, stride
‘Policross’ race (2.600m cross country), I finished first in 10.03’. Brought a cup home, and so did my sicilian teammate, which was great.
cool down
Friday, Dec. 16th
(15min biking)
20min easy run
stretch
Drill-session (about 20’ of work) , and strides
1hr15min gym (strength, abs, stretch)
(15min biking)
another good day, as I perhaps will have a part time researching contract in Greece =D
Saturday, Dec. 17th
Sunday, Dec. 18th
(15min biking)
45min easyyyy running
stretch, drill, stride
11 x 80m hills (walk back recoveries)
I fell down half way, taking a slippery curve… ouch for knees…
1 x 500m fast stride (@1.30)
cool down
(1min biking)
I’m officially dead now. !!
Ι think it’s so distracting for someone who trains (half-way seriously), to read all about ‘scientific’ brain- balancing acts that take place for successful focus and injury-free performance. Theoretically explaining it is fine for those who are curious.
But for those trying to overcome barriers by physical (and mental) actions, they must find peace with themselves at a more actual level… not analyze their brain functions to death. Sometimes too much knowledge can be distracting - we all know that.
Instincts work best.
On another note…
I feel like a wounded animal today, psychologically, muscularly (still sore) and knees are beaten from my hill-fall yesterday (bumps and bruises).
But I did a double session (easy though…) after all
Monday, Dec. 19th, 2011
morning:
(25min biking to store)
(25min biking home)
(15min biking to university)
(15min biking home)
evening session
tomorrow is last day in Milan, until a 20 day vacation back home (in Thessaloniki). Mixed feelings.
This unsettling environment truly inspires me.
But I also want to meet my upcoming new niece… <3
other good news: I officially have a new part-time research job with E.U. collaboration =) yipeeeeee
bad news: my first deadline is in less than 48 hrs (with 48hr notice…) goodness gracious.
Thank mighty powers for training =)))
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Tuesday, Dec. 20
(15min biking)
20min warm up
stretch, drill, stride, spikes
9 x 150m, light jog back recoveries (w/spikes), at 22.30-23.20 secs.
The weather has CHANGED… too too cold today… Considering that, session was good and no leg tightness whatsoever.
Tomorrow the Sicilian team breaks for 20 days, and God helps us until we re-unite again =)
(15min biking)
Tonight could be an all-nighter, but I hope not… traveling very very early in the morning
