Training

It is official ladies and gentleman, training for my Triathlon has begun.  I am very very excited for this years Tri and cannot wait until August to hopefully beat last years time.  I have all of these lofty ideas to get a road bike that will help speed up my time, take a masters swim class at my gym and run longer race distances to hopefully improve my running time.  But, with numerous weddings, engagements, camping trips, dance, karate etc....I just think that I will try to stick to training my butt off on my own and leave the gear upgrade until the end of the season...or next year :)

The tri that I participate in is called the YWCA Women's Triathlon, and it is a sprint distance.  They have awesome staff who are always there to assist with any questions or concerns that you may have.  They even email out a training program if you want one.  I used it last year and it was awesome.  This year, I had it emailed to me again but I have increased most of the workout times and distances since I am no longer a beginner.  Yesterday was officially a rest day.  Now, I am not sure about most of you but when it comes to rest days, I struggle.  I felt like I was just itching all day long to do something...anything that didn't make me feel like a lazy fool.  From everything I have read about racing, rest days are as important to your body and race as days where you are doing an activity.  Mentally, I just cannot seem to process that thought!  So, I managed to hold off on all types of exercise until after dinner when we went on a family bike ride.  I made sure not to push it too much, after all I do have three little ones following along.

Today's training consisted of swimming 500 meters.  I normally take a strength training class on Tuesday mornings so I kept with my routine saving swimming for afterwards.  It has been since last August that I have attempted lap swimming and it took everything I had to make it those 500 meters today.  I struggled, a lot!  It took me over 15 minutes and I had to rest literally every lap.  Sometimes I feel like such an idiot in the pool...no, make that every time I am in the pool.  I never feel like my form is correct.  I know it isn't because my lower back and neck ache all over after a few laps.   Clearly, I am plowing through the water instead of gliding on top of it.  I get tired about halfway back on each lap and either look like a caught fish flailing in the water or change my stroke because its either that or drown.  Ugh!  Swimming is rough.  I am still considering the masters swim class.  Especially after today's fiasco. 

I feel completely exhausted after today's swim.  I want to crawl into bed and take a nap, but two little honey's prevent me from doing so.  I am going to suck it up and read them some stories...maybe they will fall asleep :)