30 days ’til I turn 40: Tri Update

(this is where I swim every week)

I’m meeting so many inspirational women thru the training program. One of our instructors is training for her first Ironman competition. One of my friends who is training is a single mom to five children under the age of 5. One woman has 12 biological children, has had 2 surgeries in the past year and this is her first tri. If they can all do it….I have NO EXCUSE!!!!

Our training this week was a 45 minute lake swim, then a 11.75 mile bike ride up and down some SERIOUS hills, then we ran a mile. It’s so fun doing it as a group!!!

I know you are wondering how I train while I own a business and have 3 small kids, one adorable husband and am trying to adopt a newborn? Yes….it does require some thought.

I have committed to the 7 weeks of Monday night group training. It was a $110 class fee, but that price is cheaper than my funeral would be if I were to drown in the lake on race day…so it’s worth it to me and my family to gain confidence and skills that I will use the rest of my life. If ever you want to do a tri, I encourage you to do a group training. It is worth every cent.

I had an epiphany one day. As moms, we spend all of our time spreading ourselves so thin for all of our kid’s activities that we end up being LAST on the list. I lovingly told my husband (and he agreed), that while I don’t want to ever miss ANY of my kids activities, my kids also need to see a healthy mom….who is DEDICATED to a healthy lifestyle and who makes herself a priority. And so with that….I have put MYSELF on the list. I have missed 2 of my son’s baseball games on Monday nights and I am refusing to feel guilty. I cannot be willing to do my children’s activities 4 or 5 nights a week and not have one night for 7 weeks to focus on my own health. If I wait until I have the “time to train”, I will be 55 or 60 years old. I won’t wait that long.

Wow….at “almost 40” I am getting feisty!

With that being said, I make every effort to be with my kids as much as possible. I have made countless sacrifices to be home with them. I only work outside of the home 12 hours a week. So, they end up being with me on alot of my trainings.

On days when I need to swim laps for my training…..I take the kids to our neighborhood pool and they play in the pool while mom swims back and forth….back and forth.

 

(Ava is scowling while momma is resting) 

When I need to run, my family will sometimes ride bikes and I will try to pant along behind them. I am sure it is comical and clearly I can’t ride a fraction as fast as they can ride…but they are so encouraging.

 

Sometimes when we have to run, my friend Shauna and I take our kids to the local high school track and let them play or ride scooters in the parking lot while we knock out a few miles.

 

When I have to do strength training twice a week, I either turn on a Jillian Michael’s “30 day Shred” video in my living room while the kids play……or we go to the park if it’s cool enough and lift weights while the kids play.

 

My point is…..since this is priority for me…..I am making the time in my schedule.

 

In case any of you are considering a tri….(and I know some of you are)….I wanted to tell you what I’ve learned so far.

 

I would say the biggest shock for me has been the expense of the bike. I borrowed a bike from a friend. But it was too small for me, so my knees and back were hurting. My husband made the decision to go buy me a new bike and then we needed a bike carrier to get my bike to and from training every week. Yippee for me! But yikes on the bank account! Jeesh. There went the kid’s college funds! LOL!

 

(Here she is…..I am naming her “Ruby”. )

On top of the bike, you need a helmet. A pretty pink helmet preferably. And YANKZ shoelaces so you don’t kill yourself when your laces for your run get wrapped in your bike chain. And a speedometer…..’cuz I need to know how fast my butt is pedaling. And a bike “purse thing” to keep my phone and lipstick in (priorities). A repair kit, cage pedals, a drink holder……..etc. The bike list goes on and on.

 

If you are at all considering a triathlon….go to a bike store and be measured. Then tell everyone you know you are looking for a used bike. Use Facebook as a tool. Scour Craigslist months and months and months ahead of time. Or buy a new bike in the fall when the prices go down.

 

( a pic from training last week)

 

The biggest physical challenge has been going from being a runner to training in 3 sports. Running is so easy to do anywhere and anytime. To bike or swim, you have to plan out your equipment, plan out your ride, plan for heat….it just takes more thinking than running. And you are training your body to work out even when it’s tired. Hard!

 

Regardless of all that, this week I found myself smiling during training…..I was swimming laps in the lake (in water where I couldn’t touch) and every time I breathed, I would see the sun setting over the lake and I just had a little God moment where I was thankful. Thankful that my family is allowing me some time to concentrate on me, thankful I am healthy and CAN work out, thankful I have friends committed to this with me, thankful to be actually swimming and not swallowing water on every stroke! There is JOY IN THE JOURNEY.

 

….and LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!

 

Who cares about turning 40?

 

Linking to Run Faster Mommy’s “Do Something you are Afraid Of” post.

The Today Show found my blog and ended up filming a segment. See my updated post here. 

 

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