Baby Steps - in other words, I think a lot...

I swear to god I'm actually going to start writing this blog for myself one of these days...

I think it's interesting to watch the way my mind works. Once I realized I could ride, I started thinking about running. I was curious if I would be able do it now that I was fit. Then last winter, after thinking about it for about 4 months, I actually went out there and tried it. Wow. I realized I could run too. Who knew? Certainly not I. It's funny how a 47 year old woman who has never been "athletic" can become fit and actually think about competing. In June, I decided to do a 5k race for fun. Whoo hoo, I came in 5th in my age bracket and 23rd overall!! My goal had quite honestly been "not to come last." I thought that was realistic.

And so I began to wonder if maybe I could swim. Now let's get things straight right at the start. I hate getting wet. I hate being cold. I hate feeling like I'm drowning. I hated swimming lessons. I haven't put my face in the water for over 25 years because I can't see without my glasses. I have mastered getting on my air mattress without getting wet and I cry if someone pushes me off. I can barely survive swimming in a pool let alone a cold lake with 100's of other thrashing bodies. So why would I even CONSIDER doing a triathlon???

Good question. I guess it's because I never believed I could ride or run before and I learned that I can. Maybe I just haven't given it a serious try. So I've been thinking about it since last spring. I had decided to work towards doing a duathlon next spring and then perhaps tackling the swimming the following season when the new pool opens. But I'm kind of impatient. I mean, I think winter might be a great time to do a little cross training and start swimming.

I thought about it and started reading about it and asking my tri friends a lot of questions. It seems that prescription goggles aren't all that expensive. I can wear a swim cap. I can wear nose plugs if I want. And in an OWS, I can wear a wetsuit which is supposedly more bouyant and might actually help me swim. Hmmm. Sounds like some of my reasons are starting to sound more like excuses.

I kept looking at the winter swim programs and noticed the schedules for private lessons. I learned a bit about the Masters swim program and found out that my friend's hubby who coaches, might be able to help me out. I found goggles online and ordered them! So I think I have finally decided - sign up for swim lessons in January. Just do it. Once I do it, I know I'll go. And if I listen to the instructions and try really hard, maybe I can learn to swim as well. Right? Gulp. I hope so.

So I've been reading my Triathlete's Training Bible and it's funny how unbalanced I am. I mean, it's not like I'm a competitive cyclist, but I'm not far off. And I could certainly compete in my age group. But running? I am a novice at best - a novice with potential perhaps, but still a novice. And coming off an injury and starting over again. Well, let's just say I will have to work hard and smart to be able to do the duathlon or the triathlon. And my swimming? - yikes. I am at the "can you put your face in the water and blow bubbles" stage. Friel doesn't mention anything about that in his book at all. I don't know if I can even swim an entire length of the pool at this point. Well I could if I could do the dog paddle but probably not front crawl. Although it sounds like they don't even call it that anymore - it's freestyle now.

I went to the Beginner Triathlete site to look through their freebie training plans but none of them fit me. The basic one assumes you are a beginner in everything. 12 minutes of running, 24 minutes of riding? Huh? 24 minutes? That's just a warm up for me. Then swim 10 laps? AACK, I don't think so. So I am off to devise my own personal plan using Friel's book as my guide.

Step 1 - Sign up for swimming lessons next weekend when the new guide comes out. Find out where I'm at and make some plans on how to improve.

Step 2 - Try to figure out when the best swim time would be for me. Right now I can't visualize swimming in the early mornings before work. I don't know how Carmelle does it. I think I'll try evenings and see how that works for me. I would be nice to have the new pool open but I guess I'll have to wait another year for that. In the meantime, it'll be a 20+ minute drive each way, 30 if I go to Athans. Hmmm. More thinking necessary....

Step 3 - Sign up at the CNC for Dec-Feb to use the gym, cardio, spinning classes, indoor track

I KNOW I can do this. I am so excited. Here's what I'd like to accomplish next season if possible.

May - Bare Bones Duathlon
June - 5-10k Women's Run
August - Apple Sprint Triathlon (or the try-a-tri if I suck)
October - Half marathon

Other possibilites
• Duathlon in Kamloops in June
• 8km run in Kelowna in July

Getting started again

I don't know why I am having such a hard time getting started. If you ask me, I'll tell you that it's because I am so tired but that's really more of an excuse. I mean, I AM tired, but I could go to bed earlier and have more energy. I have all my plans set out and I just need to go DO it! Ok, that's it. I'm logging off right now and go do my stretching and the foam roller so I'm at least healing. Bye...

Setting the Stage

I need to put some thought into what I want to say here - where I've come in the past 1-1/2 years, that sort of thing. Can't find the time wander down that road right now so I think I'll just jump right into the middle of my story for now and come back and do this later. Kind of like the way I used to write paper - middle first, opening paragraph last... :)