A quick update on the training schedule:
Week 2: Worked out
Week 3: Worked out
Week 4: Got severely dehydrated. Rested and drank lots of liquids. Felt better.
Week 5: (The actual Workout Week 4:) Worked out.
New Week 5: Luckily I started my 12 week training program 13 weeks before the race, so I am able to do all the weeks of training. Tomorrow I’m doing my first BRICK (Swim, Bike, Run) workout with friends. They’re all athletes that have been doing triathlons and marathons, and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep up with them. I’m just going to go and try and see how I do. We’re starting out in a small lake - Green Lake, and all I can think about is the goose poop that is deposited arounnd the lake by all the geese that hang out there. Ugh.
Later this week I’m headed to Europe with my husband J and my daughter for vacation. I have no idea where and when I’m actually going to work out. I know I’m going to be eating copious amounts of good food and drinking wine and having fun, so I’ll have to figure out how to get my training in, even if it means swimming in a bathtub and building a bike out of sticks.
It’s week 1 of an 11 week training schedule. I have about 12 weeks before the race on September 12 called Escape from the Rock. I can’t wait to get the t-shirt at the end of the race that says that. The race is a 1/2 mile swim, a 12 mile bike ride and a 2.5 mile run.
So, this week I’ve registered for the race, bought a bathing suit, swim cap and goggles and tonight I got into the pool with my friend J to do some swimming.
My 93 page Tri Newbies guide said to start out with an easy 200 yard swim, which is 8 lengths of the pool or 4 laps. Here’s how it went down:
I got into my new TYR swimsuit, goggles and cap. J was in his swim trunks and goggles. We looked totally cool, like we were professional swimmers or something. Then I proceeded to head to the EASY lane of the 3 lanes that were available. J followed and we jumped in. I struggled through 1 lap (50 yards) and nearly had a coronary. J wasn’t even breathing heavy. By the end of the session, which was maybe half an hour and was supposed to be at a leisurely pace, J had done at least 12 laps, and I think I did 4 maybe 5. I lost count after the first one, I was so out of breath. We have to do it again on Thursday. God help me.
Did I mention the name of our team is “Tri-Curious”? You know, we’re all newbies and curious about Triathlons? Get it? J came up with that one.
So, my sister D, keeps sending these updates about how many laps she’s swum and how many miles she bikes to work everyday. It’s motivating me to get my butt in gear and not have a donut for breakfast every morning. Although I did have one yesterday while editing.
Earlier today I printed out a 93…yes I said ninety-three page beginner level training manual from tri-newbies online. I figure if I acutally read all 93 pages and do everything they say, I should be ready to run the Ironman in Hawaii later this year.
I haven’t really started training yet, but I did get up this morning and go to the gym and do a conditioning workout with my trainer. I need to start swimming and biking, though. The biking part is ok, but I don’t like the idea of having to jump into a cold pool anytime soon, much less a lake. I suppose I should call up my buddy J, who is also training, to go with me. That way if I have an apppointment I’ll be more inclined to go.
After a 1 year hiatus (having my daughter along with producing a film has kept me plenty busy!) from this blog, I’m back with a new type of adventure.
A bunch of my friends are into triathlons and my husband J runs the occasional half marathon. I can’t remember the last time I had to actually run anywhere, except now after my little one. I ran track in high school and my knees are shot. I was on the swim team in 8th grade and I sucked. As for biking, I think my bike is currently a condo community for spiders in the garage.
Somehow with all the triathlon talk amongst my friends, I felt compelled that I too must do one this year. It would be a good excuse to get back into shape, because the baby weight is proving to be more difficult to lose than I thought.
I have convinced my friend J and my sister D to do a sprint triathlon with me in September. A few other girlfriends are doing one the week after I do mine, and on of them, H, thinks that I should surely be able to do both in a week. “Sprints aren’t nearly as exhausting as you think they are”, she e-mailed. (I’m exhausted just thinking about it!) This coming from her, an über-athlete for umpteen years who has been rowing, playing soccer, climbing mountains and doing triathlons. Is that even what you call it? Doing triathlons? Running triathlons? That’s how new to this I am.
I haven’t decided if I’m going to do both yet. Right now I’m just sticking with the first one to which I have committed. I’ve told everyone I know I’m doing one, so I could hold myself accountable. The over achiever part of me wants to say yes to doing both, but the cupcake-loving part of me wants to say, hell no, one for my lifetime is enough! I haven’t started training yet. Haven’t even signed up for the race. I have a little less than 15 weeks to go.
