In search of... Motivation

Oh, how things have changed.  I haven’t been here in such a long, long time.  Life has changed oh so much for me – some for the much, much better. Oh, MOST for the better.  But when it comes to my working out, that is for the worse.  Much, much worse.

We have moved… kinda sorta.  We are about 75% into our new house, which I love.  We make trips back and forth to the old house, filling up one or the other car and bringing it back.  We unpack a bit here and there to make the house functional.  We enjoy it as much as we can.  But we are so, so very busy and tired.

I started my new job a month ago tomorrow.  And I am so very, very busy.  I love it. I love my work, I love the people I work with.  I am challenged beyond belief.  There is never a moment I am not swamped.  

Taking time to do anything else means I have to add a million things to my to-do list and not cross anything off… but that would happen anyway.  I love working at home, though it provides its challenges.  I wouldn’t trade this for the world.

But… I am barely working out.  I haven’t been as busy as I am in so very long.  It is not busy where I am ready to explode with stress.  It is busy that I love and have been craving. The work a professional woman that has worked so hard on her career loves. But, working out has been truly suffering the past 3 weeks.  And I hate it.

I am grumpy and disoriented.  My body feels gross and I am out of sorts.  I haven’t gained weight, but I feel like I’ve gained 100.  I feel lumpy and bumpy.  I need it.

I did a sprint triathlon on Sunday.  I completed it. I sucked at it.  And while I joked heavily about it going in, it disappointed me.  I don’t want to suck.  I was training, I was doing well.  And then… I wasn’t.  It was still fun, but I know I could have done better, and would have done better.

I need to get back into it.  I need to motivate.  There IS time, I CAN do it.  There is just so much else to do, so many boxes I can’t get to during the day, so many press releases to write, so many people to manage, so very much… SO much…

I need to get back to it.  I have less than a month until my first Olympic triathlon. And then a month later is my first marathon.  I need to get back to this.

Seriously… why am I in this place right now???

Checking in, staying alive

I should be working right now, and I have so very, very much to do… I should be taking advantage of Matt being out of town, but I’m going to take a quick breather and write a bit, update on what has been going on.  Really… not much when it comes to my fitness except status quo, which is a good thing!  Status quo for me means I am on track and I’m okay with that.

I am following my marathon training program fairly religiously.  Not always right on track, but for the most part I am within 2 miles of where I should be every week.  Right now, I’m running about 35-37 miles a week.  Last weekend, my long run was 15 miles and I averaged about 8:35 minutes a mile which I’m happy with.  I’m having an issue with my right ankle… which is a sore/weak spot for me since I was about 7 and dancing.  Someone told me once that everyone has a weak spot(s) on their body and I believe one of mine may be my right ankle.  I am only allergic to poison ivy on my right ankle (no lie), it is the weakest place on my body ~ not good for a ballerina on pointe! 

But, is what it is.  Ankle isn’t swollen, just tender.  So, just taking it easy. Luckily, I don’t have to wear heels much (had to today for a few hours, don’t have to again for 2 days) anymore which helps.

Swimming is going pretty well.  I’m definitely feeling more confident which is great.  Still not great and super strong, but being more confidant goes a LONG way.  I at least feel stronger in my stroke, stronger in my endurance, and more confident that I won’t die.  We will see how that translates in the open water, but it is a much better place than I was in April.

And the bike… Well, I haven’t actually been ON my bike since my last tri.  Yea, I kid you not.  Since my last triathlon, I decided to start being an actual runner, not just run.  There is a big difference.  And doing that has cut into my time seriously.  And my biking is what has suffered – more so than it did before.  I need to get on my bike at least twice in the next two weeks (which is a little issue since it is in two pieces on my floor right now… ) so I have a little comfort.  I also need to get to the gym.

My life has taken such a great personal turn, me getting a job that I truly love and my husband and I getting a great new house for our family.  But I am about a thousand times busier than I’ve been in years.  So far, I am managing it all, time-wise.  And doing it while adding in the stress of now working from home.  Most will say, “OH, that is AWESOME!”, and it is… but it is also a great deal of time management and focus when you have a three very busy children.  And the job puts me at a vice president level with a number of people reporting to me and a great deal of responsibility.  So, I have to make sure the cogs are turning… on everything.  But, I am so grateful.  And I have it working, right now! 

Now, the next thing is a sprint triathlon on Father’s Day.  I’m excited about it. I had forgotten all about it until I got a reminder email a few days ago.  Should be a lot of fun and we’ll see how I’ve progressed in the past two months. 

Onward and upward!

Catching up, tri-ing it

HI! I’m here.  What a lame blogger I’ve been.  Sad because I really have been thinking of turning this into something… Oh, me and my grandiose thoughts ;-).  We are going through a pretty stressful period in my house right now – a lot of really big things/decisions needing to happen all at once and it is really sapping us.  One thing about Hubs and I is that we tend to handle stress together really well. I think it is one of the big reasons I love him.  But this is really getting to us.  These are big, huge adult decisions that really impact our whole family.  And on a really tight timeline, we have to make them.  So, it’s been pretty… crazy.

But, the good news on that is that I definitely have not missed a workout.  I relish my time out as it gives me a very much needed release.  I almost wish I worked out at a different time in the day, later, so I could get rid of the tension, but I know whenever I get to get out and go, I will benefit ~ and therefore, my family will too..

I am halfway through week 2 of my marathon running program.  I researched a lot of programs and chose an intermediate level program (as opposed to a “first time marathoner” one) designed for runners that have done a few marathons.  Yea, I know I haven’t, but I think I would be really bored with the first timer one because of the level I am already training at.  It is a program that doesn’t focus on your TIME, because I don’t wear a watch (though I do get my pace by tracking it on my phone and looking afterward), but distance and intensity. I figure, if I decide to do more marathons next year, I can worry about the whole time thing… back to this being my “intro to being an endurance athlete year.”

I did have a bit of a “yuck” moment last Saturday, though.  My “long” run was a 9 miler and 3 miles through, I rolled my ankle coming down a hill.  If it were during a race, I would have kept going, but after another 2 minutes, I felt it better to abort the run.  I think that was a good decision because it has been just a bit tender ever since.  I’ve run on it now twice and it is fine, but I think not going another 6 miles that day was a good thing.

Next race is a half marathon on May 20 – the Marine Corps Half Marathon.  It’s a fairly challenging course, especially a nasty hill at mile 9.  But, I’m looking forward to the great adrenalin rush!  I haven’t run a race (besides a 5k a little while after #3 was born… ha!) in 5 years! Matt and Dad are running it too.  Feel bad Matt is doing it – he’s only been back off the injured reserve for 3 weeks, but he is going to get out and go!

Swimming is going much, much better.  I don’t dread getting up and going to the pool and find that my endurance is getting much better every time I go.  I think me deciding to not focus on my speed and to make the conscious decision to slow down was such a good idea for me. I know I definitely feel more comfortable in the water and even slowly finishing is better than not being able to finish at all.

The bike?  Eh… I just need to get out on it.  The great, wonderful, fantastic news is that after we get over this crazy time in our lives, Matt is going to buy a bike. He loves to ride and if we can go out together for 20-30 miles, I would love it. Unlike running, I would love to have a riding partner.  And my brother is going to start bringing his bike up when he visits, so the 3 of us can go out together.

I still usually get one day at the gym in, lifting. Sometimes upper body, sometimes loads of squats, and always abs.  It is so important to have a strong core because in every part of a tri, you are engaging your core to push through. 

Even food is going… better.  Not great because I, of course, am addicted to chocolate.  And I really do not intend to change that.  Maybe come June I will because I have two triathlons, one right after the other, but for now? I’m okay.  But I’ve been drinking 100-125 oz of water a day, I’ve been eating 5-6 times a day a good mix of foods, and for the most part, what I take in is pretty good. I’ve finally started to lose some weight, and that is good.  I SHOULD be losing some weight as I am holding on to fat in my butt and thighs.  It is due to how I have been eating. 

Now, I in NO WAY think I am overweight nor am I trying at all to lose weight. I’m perfectly happy with how I look and what I weigh. I am NOT dieting at all. I don’t count, I don’t journal.  I am saying this for those that know my past and that there was an unhealthy period for awhile.  I will tell you that I most likely will weigh equal or less than I did during that unhealthy period by the time the summer is over.  THAT being said, while I lived on bunless hotdogs and coffee then, I eat… and eat… and eat now.  And according to the BMI, I could lose like 20 pounds and still be “normal”. Now, personally, I think the BMI is a bunch of crap because I am a size 2-4 and I’m 6 pounds away from being overweight, so I’m calling bullshit. But my point is, I promise everyone, I’m eating, I’m healthy, and I’m NOT overtraining.  Because I don’t have the freaking TIME!

That’s a long post.  If anyone is on Daily Mile, I’m there, logging my workouts. Find me!

Why? For ME, that why!

Today went well. I love days I can say that because not all days are like that.  It feels so good to be back on a program.  Now I have my runs scheduled and my swims (at least two days a week) scheduled.  Now, I need to work on some kind of bike program or routine and I’ll feel great. 

Tuesdays and Thursdays will be run/swim double days for me.  A bit brutal because they will be TRUE doubles, so one right after the other.  It is a lot on my body, but have to do it.  So today was 4 miles of hills then swim.  The hills were tough – I have some GREAT ones in my neighborhood, though it did get drop dead boring running around the same streets for half an hour. I know this is going to be great for me though.  And is really supposed to help with my endurance for the long, long runs later.  It’s only a 25 mile week this week so that isn’t bad – long run is only 9 miles. 

Then swimming – WAS OKAY!  We didn’t have any SUPER long drills, which is to my benefit. But, the good news is that I completed each drill!  I didn’t stop, I didn’t walk, I kept going.  This is a big deal for me.  I figured out that besides the concentration thing (still true, still working on it), I need to SLOW DOWN.  My speed will come. I need to not worry about anyone else in my lane. Okay, yea… I’m in a slow lane. But still, they are faster than me.  And I can’t worry about it.  I tried going to an even slower lane, but I’m faster than them, so I stayed in my lane, I didn’t let it bother me that I was dead last, someone lapped me at one point… I just did my thing.  And I finished! 

It’s like running – it comes.  I think I started in January with an 11:00 minute mile.  I run about 8:40 now.  It doesn’t just happen… you work up to it.  And I don’t like RUNNING with anyone, hate someone else dictating my pace.  Why would it be any different swimming?

So, maybe this was a turning point? (not trying to think about maybe it just being a good day…)

Someone asked me yesterday why I started all of this.  And I gave my normal answer, “because I was bored.”  And that is really, really true.  If you have been reading along, you know that I got bored.  With my workouts, with work.  I was bored.  I needed something to really challenge me and to give me some sense of “me.” 

It’s that sense of ME that is missing from that answer.  I like having something that nobody else I know is doing.  It is mine. I can research it on my own, I can train on my own.  I look to my brother for help on certain things, I meet new people who inspire me.  But when I accomplish something, it is mine.

That sounds selfish – but for being an extrovert, I’ve become much more introspective and personal about my time and my things as I’ve gotten older. Every woman should have things they are proud of – and that should go beyond their kids.  This is mine.  It’s why I analyze every workout and why I wrote a blog post for each event for my triathlon.  Not because I want to kick everyone’s ass next race.  But because it is mine.  Something I care about.

But… that being said, I do love that #1 has started looking at USAT’s youth program.  When my brother starts kicking my butt when he recovers from his surgery, I’ll have a problem.  When/if Ellen starts to compete, I’ll be in awe.  

Getting things in order

Just realized I haven’t written here in awhile.  No real reason except I’ve been trying to get my head around some things.  I know… that is when I really SHOULD be writing.  Oh well.

I have been doing some soul searching, some meditating, some praying, and some organizing… and got my heart and head around what I need to do to feel better about my time situation, my nutrition, and just my general mood about this.  If I WANT to do this, then why aren’t I having FUN with it?  And if I’m not, then I shouldn’t be doing it. Plain and simple.

Step by step, here is what I’ve done:

• I ordered some books.  One is a book on triathlon training that is one of the most heralded books for certified coaches around.  MUCH more technical than I understand or need, it has already proven to be very helpful (more on this).  The second is a nutrition book for athletes.  Again, very technical, and one I haven’t gotten into 100%, but already has helped me.
• I’ve set priorities.  Getting my priorities straight got me healthy (my soul) before.  I think I needed to get my priorities straight when it came to my training.  I need to look to July and September as my BIG races and what my ultimate goals are this season, but need to take steps incrementally so I don’t get overwhelmed.  I think I started to get way overwhelmed.
• I started to realize that I have only been training for less than 2 months.  Yea, I may have had this idea for four months, I need to give myself some credit.  In February of 2011, I was still over 200 pounds.  Now, I have some great goals I am working toward that are lofty, but within reach.  I should be proud of myself, and not beating up on myself for not being even further along.

So, first off, I have mentally, which will soon turn into a reality, turned each of my days into a 24-hour spreadsheet.  I’ve built in sleep, personal time, work, etc.  That way, I can see when I have time to get in workouts.  I got this idea from my training book and think it is really going to help me.  I am SUCH a visual person.  I think once I see that I have THIS time to work out on THIS day, and THIS time on THAT day… I may actually have more time than I think!  Plus, I think it is going to help a lot now that the days are getting longer. 

Second, Hubs and I had a nice talk about how I’m feeling regarding nutrition, some changes I’d like to make, and how to do this.  I really don’t want this to become something where I’m eating all my meals different from everyone… but we could stand to make some changes (especially those nights the big girlies aren’t around) in our diet.  And I don’t want it to cost a damn fortune.  I think we have a good game plan, at least to start with.  

A BIG change so far is the yummy breakfast (quick and powerful) I’ve added, and another snack.

And it really was a bit eye opening when I realized that it isn’t yet the end of February yet.  And I really am doing okay.  Not great, but I am okay.  I’m going to be proud of myself. For today ;-)

This weekend, I had a pretty good workout weekend.  I got up on Saturday and ran right about 13 miles.  It was a fairly flat trail I ran on, and I definitely wasn’t pushing my time.  At 13 miles, the longest I’ve ran in years, my goal was to get ‘er done. I also was experimenting with some different nutrition and when I took it.  The longer I’m running, the more I’m realizing how technical a sport running is!  When you drink, when you eat, when you push your legs a bit, when you slow it down.  You really DO need to think.  But, even with not pushing at all, I came in at 1:50, which I’m really happy with.  I really do think I can get the half marathon in March, barring anything unforeseen, under 2:00. I will be really psyched!

I got up on yesterday, Monday, morning and did a spin class, followed by a short run on the treadmill.  The spin class showed me that I DO need to get on my bike more. YOWSA.  But it was fun. The run after showed me that, wow… transition is going to be hard.  But I can do it!  I was happy about that.  I really do think that I am truly going to love to bike and can’t wait for the days to get longer so I can get out more.

Then… there is swimming.  GAWD, I am frustrated.  I’m going to hold off on that until tomorrow, because this has been a positive post thus far.  :-D  I DID swim this morning, and DID complete the workout.  I was all set to go to the gym today at lunch to lift (I am going to get at least one day of lifting in a week), but have been dealing with a pretty bad headache today and had to take two codeine pills to knock it out… thinking NOT a good thing to lift on codeine. ;-)

OH!!!! BIG THING!  I have decided to give up CHOCOLATE for Lent!  Triple purposes here.  First, thinking of what would be a big sacrifice for me, this seems logical.  Second, thinking of something that my kids would notice and see that I was making a change in, sacrificing, and DOING in the name of Lent, as an example.  Third, well… selfishly.  I NEED to do this.  The shear amount of chocolate I eat is really disgusting.

I won’t lie.  I’m eating a LOT of chocolate today to prepare.

~ R 

A new week... Still plugging along

I’m still around… I haven’t given up, nor lost hope.  Some hormones (damn PMS) and a bit of anxiety kept me side-lined a bit, but I’m still here.  I think with some people, the physical aspect of this training would get to them.  For me, it is the time constraints.  So many people in the pool with me are either younger (no kids yet) or older (older children).  I don’t know if there are any my age or in my situation ~ especially not WOMEN!  I think last week I learned why. 

But, I’m not going to give up.  This year, I think I’ll be training on my own or with an online trainer and not doing the group training.  I just can’t work it into my schedule.  I do need to find time to get on the bike more.  I need to buy a bike trainer.  And I need to get my nutrition under control.  Once those three things are done, I think I’ll feel better. 

I ran 3 quick miles on Thursday, then skipped swimming practice (first time for that!).  I was going to have a VERY busy Thursday-Saturday at a conference with very late nights so decided to climb right back into bed, and am glad I did.  However, due to said conference, I didn’t do my long run over the weekend… kept pushing it off.

Until this morning.  So 10 miles before work.  It was interesting because I haven’t run 10 miles in about 5 years.  I was curious to see 1) if I could do it and 2) to see how I would feel.  I wasn’t doing it for time, just to finish.  And I did.  I definitely wasn’t winded and could have gone further.  My hips hurt a bit because it was a very, very hilly path I took.  But, in the end, I got home and thought “wow. I just ran for an hour and a half.  That’s pretty cool!” I definitely could have run faster and know I could have gone further, but I’m pretty happy with it.  I hadn’t had any water or nutrition during the run and hadn’t had a lot of water the day before.  And it was COOOOOLD.  So with that, I’m feeling okay.

I’m thinking, if all goes well, I think I may be able to push out a 1:45-1:50 half marathon in March.  That will be pushing and taking care of myself.  But, I’ll be happy with 1:45 – 2:00.

So, here’s to a new week!

Let’s Talk…. Sports Nutrition!

Something I’ve been looking a lot into lately is sports nutrition.  Not what I eat on a daily basis (that’s a whole other post, or 6), but what I ingest during long training sessions and what I will take in during my races.  It really is a science and one, as a new endurance athlete (woooot!), I need to pay a lot of attention to. For so many years, I have only thought about to eating to lose weight ~ this is a very new thing to me.  Eating for immediate energy, slow burn energy, and recovery energy.  Serious business!

NOTE: What I’m putting here is not about shorter periods of exercise, under 90 very vigorous, constant minutes.  If you start using some of these things, you could gain weight, not sleep, etc.   Just a little disclaimer.

There is so much to learn.  And I have to completely change how I think about certain things.  For instance, simple sugars are GOOD when you are exercising.   You need carbs in your ratio… it is required.  But if you have too much, you will be sluggish. Finding that ratio is VERY important.  Carb loading is ESSENTIAL before a race (ME? CARB LOAD? ARGH!!).  Eating more fat will increase your overall endurance, though won’t affect your performance (I am unsure how I feel about this one).  Runners REALLLLLY don’t need to add more carbs to their daily diets.  Most runners, except the most elite ones, truly do get enough eating like an everyday non- athletes. 2 grams of carbs per body weight daily is what everyone needs. 

On top of all of the normal nutritional stuff, there is all of  the sports nutrition stuff.  While I’m not doing super long runs, swims, or bikes right now, I want to make sure that my body is used to whatever nutrition I intend to use before I get out on the trails.  The last thing I want is to have a 30 mile ride scheduled and to get sick to my stomach 10 miles from home!  So I’m experimenting a bit.

Basically, there are a few things you need to find when you are doing endurance anything.  Of course, the most important is water. ABSOLUTELY, it is water.  Even if you are also using a sports drink supplement, water has to be primary.  The two other things are a solid and an energy supplement.

For ENERGY - right now, I am trying out Gu.  And thankfully, it is something my stomach can tolerate, because I know many people can’t.  I like it a lot because it is so easy to take and, depending on what type you take, it really hits quickly and sustains well.  There are two types – regular and the newish Roctane.

  I’ve used both and both are different and used for different distances (Roctane is for longer endurances as it has caffeine and a lot more enzymes for slow burn and recovery.  It is pretty hard core and about double the price).  I am going to try other energy gels, but Gu is a winner for me.

For SOLID – Protein is a biggie with me.  I’m a protein junkie and even on shorter 6-8 mile runs need ½ a protein bar 3-4 miles in.  If it is a protein bar to get me through, I am good with that.  I will be trying out a lot of things.  High on my list is Perpetuem Hammer Solids.  They come in a powder that you mix while 

biking/running, but I am the most uncoordinated person on the planet.  The thought of doing ANYTHING like that while running is insane… while BIKING??? ARE YOU F’ING INSANE????  I’ve read a lot about the powder and what it does and I really like it.  While the chalky dry of the solids scares me a bit, I am such a water junkie, I think doing 3 at a water station is something really beneficial to me.  I’ll have to try.

If anyone is reading this and has things that have worked for them, I’d love to know.  I am also looking for recovery drinks.  I’m big into that.  Really, all I’ve done is coconut water.  I really would rather not get into mad concoctions if I don’t have to (blender, etc.). But whatever works!

Have a great weekend!!!

*muah* ~ R

I'm back... with a vengeance!

I decided to do a triathlon in October, and a lot of changes have taken place since then. My goal to do a tri has not changed... but it has gotten a bit bigger. I think now that things are full throttle, I need to start journaling a bit.  May not be every day, but hopefully this will show progression.

Since October ~ jeesh!  Okay.  Well, I most definitely hit whatever weight goal I was trying to obtain.  I don't really step on a scale much anymore.  I am currently between 150-155 pounds and am a size 2-4.  All of my work clothes are a size 4 and I wear those.  I'm a size 25 or 26 jean, or a Small.  Whatever.  So, I'm where I should be. There was a period that I was losing too quickly and I had to seriously start eating more during the day.  I'm happy I was still weighing myself then. I had almost 6 weeks that I barely worked out at all. I got bronchitis that turned into pneumonia.  I broke 3 ribs from the horrible coughing fits.  I cannot remember being as sick as I was.  It was absolutely terrible.  It was also crushing to my morale.  I was finally, after so long, back in shape and in a routine and felt strong.  To have this happen was just demoralizing.  I still have a cough occasionally, still cough up crap a few times a week and my ribs are still tender.  But I FEEL fine and don't feel like any of this is keeping me down.  So, that is good.  Craziness.

So, the goal for me was to start my training on January 1.  As I learned more about training for a triathlon, I learned it doesn't really work like that.  You don't just start and go for 7 months.  There are 20 week programs, but that is really the limit.  And other than that, you are in maintenance.  And, the more I looked around, the more races of different kinds I wanted to do as training.  And, the more I realized I needed a lot of conditioning.

First things first, I needed to buy a bike.  We started at one price point... and somehow we BLEW past that and I ended up with a amazing bike. I did NOT get a tri bike, but a bike that we could outfit to be a tri bike when I get to that point.  The bike part scares me still.  I know how to ride a bike, but the technical part of biking scares the bejesus out of me.  Still.  I am getting to the point I am at least okay with the fact I am going to fall off and am going to get hurt.  I am becoming one with it.  So this is my bike.  It is 2012 Cervelo S2.  I do love it.

I have become associated (customer, regular) with a bike shop that specializes in triathlons/triathletes.  Best is it is literally a 5 mile drive (how long will that take me to ride???) down the street.  I also have some bike clothes!  This is a big deal because I really think that bike shorts are the most unsexy piece of clothing ever invented.

Okay, on to the run.  I am currently in training for a half-marathon (more on that in a bit).  Running is going well, I guess.  I don't know exactly how far I can run because I'm doing a training program, but my pace is SOOOOOOOO much better than when I started this blog.  I was doing like an 11 minute mile or something. Now, I can maintain a 8:30 or better.  And I still don't hate running.  I do need new running shoes like you wouldn't believe.  But my God, it is only the 26th of January and this month I think I have spent more on tri gear than I have made working.

And the swim.  So - I really thought I would get in the pool and be... okay.  Yea, no.  About 3 weeks ago I brought Ellen with me to the pool one weekend.  Just thought we would do some laps.  I almost died after 200m (8 laps).  While Ellen was barely out of breath after 10.  She was amazing and I was in awe.  And I knew immediately I had better start really working out in the pool or I was screwed.  I got to researching the very next day. I had some problems - 3 of them, meaning my kids.  The schedule is getting tighter and tighter because Hubs is ALSO training for the half marathon, oldest daughter continues to swim 3 mornings a week, and I still work full time.  So fitting in swimming, too?  ARGH.

Started looking at gyms with pools in my area.  Requisites were proximity to my house and open early.  Nothing was blowing my skirt up, but I had to find something!  I was also looking at swimming masters programs, which are swim teams (you don't HAVE to compete, though some people do...like those former Olympians on the teams. WOW!) for adults.  I happen to find one that practices right near my house on Tuesday and Thursday (best days for me due to E's swim practices) from 5:30-6:30am (would love it to be earlier, but....).  So, I contacted head coach, and WOW!!  It just HAPPENS to be the practice sessions for the Triathlon team associated with my bike shop!!  So, it isn't a regular masters program, it is ALL tri swim!  They teach how to maximize your freestyle for tris, don't worry about flip turns and such, and concentrate on efficiency for triathlons! HOLY COW!  I don't know how I managed to just walk into that!

I did my first practice with them on Tuesday and I thought I was going to die. Seriously.  I'm in the 3rd slowest lane and couldn't finish the drills. Any of them.  Today?  Well... today was awesome.  No, I didn't finish.  But I was taken out of the pool and individually coached by the head coach.  I mean, it was basically like I was taught to swim again.  I was flailing my arms all over the place, it was crazy!  And for the next two weeks, I don't get to swim with my legs.  I have to put a pull buoy in between my legs and just use my arms to concentrate on my body/breathing form.  I'm telling you what - this is awesome.  I feel completely and totally like "I am going to rock this swim thing."  I don't know why, but I walked out of practice today and felt so secure.  Yea, it was almost a step back, but for me, it was a sense of total security.  Weird? Maybe.  But totally exhilarating.

SO - what are my events this year?  Here you go.

March 17 - Half Marathon (with hubs)
April 12 - Sprint Triathlon
May 20 - Half Marathon (with hubs)
June 17 - Sprint Triathlon
July 22 - Olympic Triathlon
September 9 - Olympic Triathlon
October 28 - Marathon (with hubs)

This post is long enough... promise they won't all be this long but wanted to update!  Love ~ R

Welcome

My name is Rebecca.  I am the mom to 3 amazing, beautiful, annoying, but truly wonderful girls (9, 6.5 and 21 months).  I am married to an incredible man who I feel blessed every (okay, almost every ~ KIDDING!) day to wake up beside and fall asleep next to.  We've been married for almost 2 years and I feel like I have been with him forever.  My mom helps me to raise my daughters and she and my dad have been living near us for the past 4 years. I truly do not know what I would do without her.  I sit and wonder that sometimes... and just can't imagine my girls growing up without her.  We are very fortunate that my little brother, who is career Navy, is now stationed on the East coast and we get to see him often.  This means more to all of us than anyone can imagine.  I moved away from home at 18 and until the past year, haven't really been around my brother... he will always be the person that knows me best, and having him here is just. Awesome.

I also have an ex-husband.  There is little drama there, thankfully.  He lives about 3 minutes from me and we split custody 50/50 (half week/half week) of my two oldest daughters.  The girls consider my husband their father, too.  They have 2 dads.  I've done well. :-D

The story of this blog is that obesity runs in my family.  I was both a dancer and an athlete.  When I stopped, I gained weight. And I mean a LOT of weight.  I went from being thin to, at 5'9", topping 250 pounds.  I had started to lose weight and when I got pregnant with my first daughter, I was 199 at my first weigh in.  I only gained 31 pounds.  But after she was born, I gained 40.  Whoops.  When she was 6 months old, I had a scare when I couldn't run up the stairs to her nursery when I heard a bang.  I got winded.  And it freaked me out, completely.  I knew that was my "moment" and I began immediately making changes.  With the help of some amazing women I met online, I made changes to my life, including joining Weight Watchers and adding a lot of working out - cardio and weight training - to my life religiously, and within a year had lost 76 pounds.  I kept it off until I got pregnant with #2.  A VERY difficult pregnancy, I gained 71 pounds and had a 3 pound baby.  Within 10.5 months, I lost 103 pounds - the 71, plus extra.

I kept that weight off with diet and exercise.  I learned I truly loved to exercise.  I made me feel great and I felt confident.  During that time, I went through a very rough period as my marriage dissolved and I did lose WAY too much weight, but that happens.  But I got it all under control.

New marriage, new baby - gained over 100 pounds.  Yikes!  Love my body and pregnancy!  Because of my job, I just couldn't focus on losing weight for well over 8 months, but when I did, I lost.  Took me about a year, and I feel great.

But ~ I need something else.  I saw my 66 year old dad complete his first marathon this past Fall.  I see my brother complete CRAZY things like 50k runs and 100 mile rides regularly (well, until he busted his hip and needed surgery... but he'll be back and kicking my butt).  But what about me?  I'm at a less busy period in my life.  And I need to push myself.  I want to do stuff... ME ME ME!  Selfish?  Yea.  But I want this.

So, here I am.  I decided to do my first Olympic Triathlon.  I found one that perfectly coincides with our family vacation on Cape Cod ~ July 22 in New Jersey.  So, off I go!  And that is my story.