I’ve been struggling lately. Struggling with motivation, struggling with training, struggling with weight loss, struggling to stay on the right path, struggling with my confidence, struggling to be happy with my life, struggling to see the good, struggling to be proud of myself.
I recently read an article that asked “Why do you want to be a triathlete?”
Why do I want to be a triathlete?
Because I can, that’s right nobody has told me I can’t…except for myself.
I have read and been told and know in my heart that if I learn to swim, dedicate myself to training and have the desire to do it, I can do anything.
Didn’t everyone’s parents tell them growing up…“You can be or do anything you want to do, if you just put your mind to it.”
You see I’m a people pleaser, I try to make everyone else around me happy, I do the right things for others. Until recently I never really did anything for myself. I played basketball in high school, because my dad wanted me to; don’t get me wrong I LOVE the game but at that time the drive was not for me.
I graduated college for my parents, again I wanted to graduate but the drive was not for me.
The drive has always been about making others happy and I’ve done many things in my life to make others happy and it’s about darn time I do things for myself.
Most recently I’ve started losing weight, again, but this time for myself, not anyone else. I quit smoking (3/3/2007) because I wanted to, not for anyone else. I did the Iron Girl in Columbia, MD in Aug 2009 because I wanted to, not for anyone else.
I want to be a triathlete. I want to be an Ironman some day. I want to push myself beyond my “known limits.” I want to see what my mind can make my body do. I want this to be my way of telling myself “I’m proud of you.”
An Ironman is in my future, maybe not the near future but it is in my future. I turn 40 in 93 days and I’m sure several people are saying why are you deciding to do this now, why so late in life? I say “why not.” I say it’s time to do things for me! I grew up watching Kona Ironman and being inspired by their stories to prove to themselves they can do this. I want to be part of that inspiration.
Training Update
I always feel better when I have a good workout. Two good days of working out, I just need to remember the 4 D's - desire, dedication, determination and discipline.
Today Workouts
Bike - 45 minutes at the Y
Swim - 15 minutes, lost track of laps but did at least 400 yds, mix of freestyle and breast stroke. Felt pretty good considering it's been awhile since I have been in the pool. I'm trying to practice some of the mental exercises from a couple of books I've read/am reading to try to keep me calm, since my comfort level with the breathing isn't great.
Tuesday Workouts
Run - 3.25 miles - about 37 minutes/11:30 min mile. I was on the treadmill at home and I typically run slower at home and this was the first run back at 3.25. I feel like have been floating around the 3 mile mark for awhile so now that I'm actually in "training mode" I hope to steadily move up.
Strength Training - Lifted 2 sets for Workout A. I was scheduled to do 3 but haven't lifted in awhile so decided to go with 2 sets. Probably a good idea I was a bit sore this morning and of course I didn't do a protein shake afterwards.
Today Workouts
Bike - 45 minutes at the Y
Swim - 15 minutes, lost track of laps but did at least 400 yds, mix of freestyle and breast stroke. Felt pretty good considering it's been awhile since I have been in the pool. I'm trying to practice some of the mental exercises from a couple of books I've read/am reading to try to keep me calm, since my comfort level with the breathing isn't great.
Tuesday Workouts
Run - 3.25 miles - about 37 minutes/11:30 min mile. I was on the treadmill at home and I typically run slower at home and this was the first run back at 3.25. I feel like have been floating around the 3 mile mark for awhile so now that I'm actually in "training mode" I hope to steadily move up.
Strength Training - Lifted 2 sets for Workout A. I was scheduled to do 3 but haven't lifted in awhile so decided to go with 2 sets. Probably a good idea I was a bit sore this morning and of course I didn't do a protein shake afterwards.
Training
Now that we are back from vacation, and I'm roughly 13 weeks from my first triathlon event, I need to get focused on training for this seasons events. I've updated my training plan and the vacation definitely helped me get my head in the game. I've been reading several books about the mental aspect of training and will be adding that piece to my training this season.
The hubby and I had lots of discussions, while sitting on the beach in Barbados, about the "mental" side of my training and the fact that there is a huge need for me to focus in this area.
Today's training included:
Run - 3 miles
Swim - 300 yds
Tomorrow's plan:
Swim - 400 yds
Strength training - Workout A / 3 sets
The hubby and I had lots of discussions, while sitting on the beach in Barbados, about the "mental" side of my training and the fact that there is a huge need for me to focus in this area.
Today's training included:
Run - 3 miles
Swim - 300 yds
Tomorrow's plan:
Swim - 400 yds
Strength training - Workout A / 3 sets
Back from Barbados
We are back from our trip to Barbados. We were suppose to return home on Saturday evening in time for a few hours of sleep and then head to the Washington Caps hockey game on Sunday. Unfortunately those tickets went to waste because AA decided we needed to stay the night in Miami on Saturday. Our plane arrived late into Barbados, which made us about an hour late for takeoff, and then about 30-45 min on the tarmac waiting for a gate to open made us late for our next flight. The earliest AA could get us out of Miami was Sunday at noon.
But, as bad as the Caps played yesterday neither of us seem to be too upset about missing the game.
We had a great time in Barbados, we stayed in Almond Beach Village, the hotel was ok, room was adequate, food was fine. The best thing about the trip was the snorkeling right off the hotel beach - so we were able to snorkel 2-3 times a day.
The 2nd best thing was that I got to read A LOT
I completed the following books:
The Business of Happiness by Ted Leonsis
10 Minute Toughness by Jason Selk
Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer by Bruce Boudreau
Know Regrets by Tim Durant
and I'm 1/2 way through:
Mind Gym by Gary Mack and David Casstevens
Iron Ambition by John Callos
But, as bad as the Caps played yesterday neither of us seem to be too upset about missing the game.
We had a great time in Barbados, we stayed in Almond Beach Village, the hotel was ok, room was adequate, food was fine. The best thing about the trip was the snorkeling right off the hotel beach - so we were able to snorkel 2-3 times a day.
The 2nd best thing was that I got to read A LOT
I completed the following books:
The Business of Happiness by Ted Leonsis
10 Minute Toughness by Jason Selk
Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer by Bruce Boudreau
Know Regrets by Tim Durant
and I'm 1/2 way through:
Mind Gym by Gary Mack and David Casstevens
Iron Ambition by John Callos
2010 Race Schedule
May 2, 2010 - Muddy Buddy, Richmond, VA. The hubby and I are signed up to do this. It's a fun obstacle course that involves running and biking to the next obstacle with a big mud pit at the end. Sounds like fun!!
June 5, 2010 - Race for the Cure, Washington DC. I'm not signed up for this yet but will be running again this year as this is an annual tradition. My goal is to beat my time for last year.
June 27, 2010 - Celebration Sprint Triathlon, Columbia, MD. This is the same distance as the IronGirl Tri, .62mi Swim - 17.5mi Bike - 3.4mi Run
August 22, 2010 - AFLAC Iron Girl Triathlon, Columbia, MD. Second time for this race, .62mi Swim - 17.5mi Bike - 3.4mi Run. Sarah Reinersten will be competing in this event. Loved watching her on Amazing Race and loved her book, would be great to actually meet her.
That is all for now, possibly going to participate in the Make A Wish race but not sure yet if doing it alone or with friend!
June 5, 2010 - Race for the Cure, Washington DC. I'm not signed up for this yet but will be running again this year as this is an annual tradition. My goal is to beat my time for last year.
June 27, 2010 - Celebration Sprint Triathlon, Columbia, MD. This is the same distance as the IronGirl Tri, .62mi Swim - 17.5mi Bike - 3.4mi Run
August 22, 2010 - AFLAC Iron Girl Triathlon, Columbia, MD. Second time for this race, .62mi Swim - 17.5mi Bike - 3.4mi Run. Sarah Reinersten will be competing in this event. Loved watching her on Amazing Race and loved her book, would be great to actually meet her.
That is all for now, possibly going to participate in the Make A Wish race but not sure yet if doing it alone or with friend!
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