Tomorrow it's on - although I would argue it was never off. No more rationalizing skipping a workout. No more whining about being tired. Must. Push. Through. Sixteen weeks is roughly the gestation of a porcupine. Either way it sounds painful.
On tap for tomorrow is spin class followed by a run on the treadmill. I am already looking forward to rest day but that doesn't come for at least 6 days. I think proper fueling is going to be important to make sure I don't get fatigued. That means good food, not sugar (addiction be damed).
I have a lot to prove to myself in the next 16 weeks. Consistency is going to be the key and with a full time job and two busy kids it is going to be tough. Thankfully I have a supportive Sherpa to get me through. I am really going to owe him after this one.
On Friday we took the kids to get their passports. Their first run to Canada will be for me and it's fun to think I'll be an international triathlete. (ha ha ha) So for now I'll just keep moving forward one day at a time.
Sixteen - it's a special birthday, a coming of age some would say. So fingers crossed there is some kind of coming into my own in the next 16 weeks.
And just like that it all changed. Today I got an e-mail that there is a new start and finish venue for Victoria, combined with a different swim and a new, one loop bike course. I have a crazy nervous feeling in my stomach but I'm not really sure why.
It's not like I have been riding the other course or swimming the other loop- I've never even seen the location. So really, I'm not out anything.
In all actuality, the course elevation looks less threatening than the two loop course did so maybe this is a good thing for me. If memory is close to correct, it looks to be about 400 feet less of climbing and I'll take that.
I rode my bike last night and it went well but today I skipped my swim. I am flat out exhausted and just couldn't pull myself to the pool despite the beautiful weather outside. So I may be doubling it up on Saturday with a ride and a swim.
Here's to change and adapting. At least now I will get to see more of the island!
Okay- so now the countdown clock says 109 days. That is dangerously close to single digits.
Truthfully I've been avoiding riding my bike on the trainer. For some reason it has been insanely difficult; and I mean literally difficult. I get on and ride for 5 minutes and cannot get above 10 mph or get my cadence above 75. This is troubling.
I thought maybe my tire was flat. It was, so I pumped it up. That didn't help. Then I thought maybe I needed a new tire. Nope. With all my spinning and the great outside ride, I could not fathom how I was struggling so much. Finally, I called the bike shop for some advice. The amazing Martin asked, "What setting is the magnet on?" Magnet? What magnet?!?
Light bulb moment - I actually do know about the magnet. The magnet is controlled by a small device hooked to a long cable that I never touch... but my kids do. Somewhere along the line the kids increased the magnet level to a point of no return for me. Problem solved- now to be efficient on the trainer....
After this week my local pool is closing down for 6 weeks- totally inconvenient for me. I wish they would have asked me first. At any rate- an amazing coworker sent me a boat load of guest passes for the local YMCA so now I get to swim for free during that six weeks. Truly amazing!
Now I need to get to the pool. I forgot my watch so I have to count laps (bummer) AND I will have to use the clock on the wall (double bummer). I mean, how could anyone possibly swim without their Garmin???? Maybe there will be an oil lamp in the locker room....
Have you seen the countdown box on the right side of this page? Right now, in this moment it says 117 days. Holy $hit. I clearly don't even have enough time to post blogs that I write.
Despite my utter darkness of blog posts I have been training regularly. My swimming is back to where it was when I ended last season so I know I will make some small improvements before race day.
I have been faithfully attending spin class two times a week and took my bike for a spin outside last week. I was happy to see that on the open road, my spin classes are paying off.
As for the running, I was injured for a few weeks so didn't do much. But on Saturday I was just shy of my 10k PR from about a year ago, when I was running all the time. So I know with a little focused training that too will come into focus.
The weather has been wet and soppy but I did manage to get a TV mounted so I can ride my bike on the Trainer and watch some movies. But as with every purchase like this, I have yet to use it.
Over the weekend I met some virtual Canadian friends in person (as well as my tri-ladies from SBMArmy!) and have been extended a generous offer to come visit the race course before June. I hope I can find a way to work that in as it would greatly help my mental game.
But for now, I just have my eyes set on a sprint distance race in Vegas in mid-April and a half-marathon on Mother's Day in May. All of this of course leads to the big 70.3 on June 12th.
Here's hoping I can keep the momentum going, get stronger, and in 117 days cross that finish line!
