Tri-ing! Tales of an aspiring Triathlete - Week 1 Done!

Thanks for tuning back in! I did it! I finished week one of Tri training, injury free ;)

I forgot to mention in my first blog the 2 Triathlons I'm training for: The Rookie Tri and The Couples Tri! If you are in the Austin area you should join in the fun!

Glad to have this first week behind me. I'm not gonna lie, it was tough. For starters getting back into the habit of working out 6 days a week wasn't easy. Then there was the soreness that set in on day four and has lingered all week. Thursday I ran the mandated 3 miles on my training routine at the gym because there was snow on the ground!!! It wasn't optimal, but it did allow me to track my pace and seeing as I've been out of the running loop for some time, my just shy of a 10 min mile pace was not what I had hoped for... but it is what it is! I used to run a 8.5 minute mile when I ran half marathons, so getting back to that pace is my personal goal. I'm interested to see how long it takes to get there!


Friday I'm back in the gym for round 2 of strength training. It's not as easy this time around because I'm feeling the effects of the past 4 days of training and my legs are super sore. Imagine being aware of every step when you just walk about normally...not normal, lol. But I figure working through the pain is best and finish the workout. 


Saturday, my calves are on fire. I'm not just "noticing" my steps, but regretting them at this point. Ever since I started running in my Vibram Five Fingers I've had this issue. I know it's because I'm running differently (more on the balls of my feet) but I really had hoped it would start tapering off! If you have any thoughts on this please do share! I endure it because my knee (which is notorious) hasn't hurt at all since I've started wearing them! If you wanna know more on why I wear them read this blog.

My trusty workout gear!

Tomorrow is Sunday...and is my "rest" day. Fitting seeing as it's the Sabbath! However, I really wanna ride b/c it's going to be nice outside again! Maybe I'm already becoming one of those crazy triathletes, mentally anyhow, lol! It is the Superbowl tomorrow, so maybe that will be my athletic endeavor for the day! On to Tri-ing Week 2!!!

 

Tri-ing...

 

I am currently TRI-ing to become a TRIathlete! One of my goals for 2011 is to break into this competitive sport and actually get good at it. If you had asked me a year ago if I'd ever do a triathlon, I would have said, "heck no!" 

For starters, I had a major knee surgery last year and was out of the running game for a whole year. Secondly, I hate swimming. Not going to sugarcoat my disdain for using a peaceful, serene pool for a torture chamber! For me, pools have always been about relaxing, working on my tan, reading a good book or taking naps. I have always found plenty of other ways to cause myself grief, so there was no need for another. Until...

...I moved to Austin, TX, Tri capitol of the USA! I eagerly got on board with cycling, purchasing my first road bike this year and joining the ranks of my tri friends during the "bike" portion of their workouts. However, the minute they would lace up their shoes or head to the pool I was OUT. Then something strange happened. I got this crazy idea that I should TRI this sport out too. I think I must have gotten caught up in all the excitement of it all and just blurted out that I would do one...and from that moment there was no turning back! 

So, eager to not suck at this new sport, I decided to start training early. A friend had offered to coach me and I gladly accepted. Let's be honest, I need all the help I can get! Plus she finished a half Ironman last year and is training for a full Ironman this year. Let's just say, I'm lucky to get to learn from the best! January rolled around and with it my first Tri training week. But as luck would have it I contracted a nasty virus that left me hacking my way to a bruised rib (I know, don't ask...just google it). Despite this injury I was determined not to stop training and powered through 2 days of workouts before I was literally debilitated by pain. Laughing, coughing, sneezing, even breathing caused great pain. Sigh...this is not how I imagined things.

After consulting Web MD and texting a doc friend of mine, I self-prescribed 2 weeks of non-activity and a pure food detox. Looking back, I'm not quite sure which was harder! 

Finally, after 2 looooong weeks, I'm back in action and ready to become a bona fide triathlete. I immediately gravitated back to my bike, as the 70+ degree weather wooed me outside. Between Sunday and Monday I rode over 60 miles and loved every minute. Then, Tuesday, shows up and my first swim practice is on the schedule, yuck! I seriously, spent more time dreading the workout than actually doing it. I recruited a friend to come swim with me to help ease me into it. Plus, she is a swimmer and could give me pointers. Did I mention that the temperature was in the 40's outside this day??? It wouldn't have been a big deal if the first gym we attempted to go to had had a non-kiddie size indoor pool. Or if the guy working there wouldn't have misinformed us that the 2nd gym he directed us to had an adult size heated indoor pool. But no, we show up and request the pool, and the guy behind the desk laughs. Not understanding what was so funny, he goes on to explain that we aren't the only crazy ones wanting to swim outside today. Hmmm, I think I literally said, FML, without realizing it. Why did this have to be so hard? 

Five minutes later after deciding not to wuss out, I shimmied into my horrific one piece suit and scurried like the ugly duckling to the pool as fast as my feet could carry me. The wind whipped steam off the top of the 83 degree pool like steam rising from a warm latte, except less charming. Jumping in with enthusiasm I said, "Let's make this quick!" The drills were good, but hard. I'm def not in swimming shape, nor do I feel remotely graceful in the water. Hopefully, I'll get the hang of it sooner than later, but for now I'll at least keep the lifeguards entertained, lol! A huge thanks to Christy for bearing the cold with me and to Adri for being willing to take this journey with me! Y'all are the best! 

Image Source:onlineclasses.net

Strength training today was a breeze, but there's a run on the schedule tomorrow and Austin is calling for unseasonably cold temps. Looks like I'll be spending some QT with the treadmill. Yet another tri to get me to quit. Ain't happenin! Here goes nothing!!!

1st Newsletter: Do you Have the Guts to Be Beautiful?

Hey Friends,

I have been a busy little bee working on creating a new monthly newsletter called Be Well. It's been a blast learning how to do this and I am excited to have a way to share lots of fun health and wellness tips and learnings with everyone. My career with Juice Plus+ has thrust me into a whole new understanding of health and helped me redefine what wellness looks like. I'm so thankful for the education I'm receiving as a part of what I do that I can't help but share it with others! So, alas, this newsletter is going to be focused on Beauty, Vitality, and Performance. Seeing as I believe that nutrition and good health are the common thread that binds these three things together!

Here's a link to check out my first ever newsletter: Be Well: Do you have the guts to be beautiful?
If you enjoy it and want more, simply go to the top of this page and click "subscribe."

 

Thanks to all of you!

Be Well,
Michelle