T Minus 5 Days

So my mini triathlon is in 5 days.  I am getting really excited about it.  My coworker let me borrow her tri shorts.  That has been my biggest anxiety for this race is "what do I wear without spending a fortune"... Which led to middle of the night searches online and looking at last  years race pictures.  Looking at pictures ended up taking HOURS because some of them are just so hilarious.  Some of them are humbling, like the lady who finished with a CANE. Yes, she hobbled out of the pool with a cane and ran with it too.  If she can do it, surely I can do it and shame on me for not doing more!

Anyway, I am headed to the YMCA at 4:30 to workout.  I have to get a swim bike and run in today.  I went for the run earlier today but the baby did NOT cooperate in the jogging stroller, so it is much easier to just put them in childwatch while I get it done.  I think today I am going to try and do them all in order, like race day. 

I've also been paying closer attention to my diet this week.  Its going well.  I've been drinking a lot more water too.  That's all for now, just a quick little update.

Why not try a tri?

So my tri is coming up right around the corner.  It's a mini triathlon.  250 swim, 9 mile bike (or 8, I'm not sure), and a 2 mile run.  That is enough for me for the first one.  Last week I went to the Y and I did a 2.3 mile run, 1100 yard (not continuous) swim, then a 6ish mile bike.  It was nice, it wiped me out a bit.  So I just exercised like normal and then today I went back to the Y and did a 9 mile bike and a 2 mile run just so I could see how it would feel to have the jello legs going into the run (I've always run first and I've been worried about the transition backwards).  It was surprisingly not bad at all.  It was almost easier to run.  Running is my weak spot.  Physically I am fine.  Mentally is another story.  I get so BORED when I run.  I absolutely have to have music if I am running alone.  If I have a partner to talk to about interesting things, that is another story.  For example, I struggle getting a half mile done when I am by myself no music nothing... but I can run a 5k no problem when I have someone to do it with.  It is totally mental and I know that.  I try to tell myself that when I am struggling.  Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. 


Anyway, when I was doing my workout today, I was sweating an unusual amount.  I usually just glisten (ahhh sounds so nice, right?), but today it was full on dripping sweat to where my hot pink shirt looked like a purple color all over.  It was really unusual for me.  But I decided that I need to invest in a headband of some kind.  Not only to keep my flyaways intact (they are pretty bad) but to catch the sweat from my forehead.  My problem is that every headband I've ever tried always slips  back on my head.  I've looked at a few and I will just have to purchase one and try it out.  They promise to not slip.  We'll see about that!

goals?

I've worked really hard for the last few months and really have nothing to show for it. I like my chocolate.  I have a sweet tooth AND a salt tooth, so it really is a bad combination.  I've been working out pretty hard consistently and have not lost one pound.  Not a single one.  I can't really complain.  I am in the "healthy" weight range, and I am healthy overall so I guess that is all that really matters.  I can notice a slight (very slight) difference in the physical appearance of my body.  I need to set some goals for myself to stay motivated.  I just don't know what those goals should be?  I don't want to focus on numbers.  I would like to focus on habits (dietary, exercise, life in general).  So I will make a few here and tweak them as I go along:

Dietary

1.  Limiting fast food to once a week (shouldn't be too hard to do for me).

2. More vegetables.  I usually have 2 servings or so of vegetables per day (usually both with dinner).  Maybe I can split those up into lunch AND dinner and then add a half serving to each?

3. Limiting my sweets.  Or at least changing the type of sweets I'm enjoying.  Less ice cream and more fresh fruit for example.

Exercise

1. Finish my mini triathlon without dying.

2. Continue to do strength training twice per week throughout the summer.

3. Continue to run outside during the summer.  Even if I have to wake up early (before the sweltering heat) to get it done.  Being outside is so soothing for me.

Life

1. Stay caught up on laundry!  It's really one of the hardest things for me to do.  I hate doing whites (all those pesky socks to match up), so we are always running behind on it.

2. Take time out for each kid this summer.  Having alone time with them to make them both feel as important as they are!  My daughter is getting old enough to do fun things now like amusement parks and roller coasters.  Good thing she is a thrill seeker like mom!

3. Read.  Whether it is escaping into a book this summer, or perusing the Bible to find some scripture to reflect upon... I just need to read!

So there we have it! Goals.