Second Group Ride

Sunday was a beautiful day! Beautiful! When I woke up Sunday morning, the last thing I wanted to do was exercise. And then I got to the park, got on the bike, and felt like a triathlete-- a beginner one.

Richie, TNT mentor, switched out my regular pedals for toe cage pedals. These pedals made a big difference to my ride. Lara, coach, worked me through gear changes, that I'm finally becoming more comfortable with. She also helped with some tricky form issues that I'd have never seen myself.

I learned that I pedal toes down (very bad), I'm right side dominant (right quad is still sore), and I like going down hill fast. Oh, but I lack control on the descents. New things to learn each time.

This was a brick day. Brick days teach you to transition from sports. Trying to run after coming of the bike is a strange and uncomfortable thing. For me, it was painful. Cramping along the shin bone is unpleasant. And the cause of such unpleasantness was all my toes down, right side dominance pedaling. Going fast down hill has no influence on my achy leg. I foresee hours of circular thinking, worrying that my toes are pointed down.

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

I'll get back to you when I know I can.

Not Quite Ready for the Races

First group ride was a success! I didn't kill anyone! I didn't die! (my idea of success)


This was the first group ride and my fist time training with the team. I can't wait to get faster, stronger, better on the bike! WooHoo! Time for some hard work! (don't get cocky, kid)


As always, you can follow my training on daily mile and please support my fund raising mission on my Team in Training page.

Doubting Chorus

First group ride! Woooooo!!!Xscary! 


Will I run over someone? Will someone run over me? What if I can't keep up? Why am I doing this again? I can't change a flat tire! I don't really feel well this morning. Maybe I'm getting the flu? What if my knee starts hurting? Am I forgetting something else I need to do this afternoon? Anything?


Doubt and repeat. This soundtrack is getting stuck in my head. 


Pshew! Like I'm going to let the Doubting Chorus sing-a-long overcome my awesomeness. If I fall, I'll just get up and try again. I don't have to be Julie Dibens today. I can give myself at least a week a couple thousand years to ride that well. I don't have to be perfect. I think it's enough for me to work towards perfection, whatever that is. Maybe, I'll just take perfect/perfection out of my vocabulary. One less hangup for me this afternoon. I'll just do what I do and next time I'll do it better. (that's a perfect example of wordy, for any English teachers that read this).

Not the End of the World

I skipped a workout! Gah! The world is coming to an end!


Okay, not really. NO EXCUSES. No worries. I made it up this morning. Yep. Made. It. Up. Just a bump on the path of excellence, not a derailment. I'm usually the train wreck person, but I've set that drama diva aside.

I wasn't driving this wreck.

Yesterday, I woke up at 4:30, drove 40 minutes to and from the pool I'm using this month, swam, biked and opened the store. It was a great day. Got groceries, cooked supper, visited my brother and nephew. And then, instead of doing my workout, I turned off the TV, picked up a book and read until I feel asleep. It was blessedly wonderful. I too often spend free time with the distraction of the TV or laptop. Turning them off, turning me off was just what I needed.


Yesterday is accounted for and today is on track. Skipping workouts is not something I want to get in the habit of, but ignoring me isn't something I'm going to do either. No excuses, just do it, make it work-- whatever catch phrase you use, get your plan on!


Why are you working out? What's the point of your workout? Have a dream? Get a goal. Then, have a clear reason you are working towards that goal. Coming up with a reason is not easy. And, if you're like me, the reasons will change over time. I think that's a good thing.

Work for It!

It's a new year and I hope it brings exciting and wonderful things for everyone. The exciting and wonderful things I want aren't going to magically appear. If I buy a lottery ticket and win a bajillion dollars what would that mean? I didn't earn it, don't deserve it. There's a Proverb for that, 'Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall be rewarded.' Proverbs 13:11. Yep, hard work is the only viable avenue for me.


There are 16 weeks left to prepare for my first Olympic distance triathlon. Just saying, "first Olympic distance triathlon," fills me with terror and thrills. There is so much training to do and so many skills I have yet to learn.


I spent November and December playing at training. There was no push. Workouts were being lost to the avalanche of excuses: too cold, too busy, too tired, the holidays! Pick your excuse, I used it. But I want this. I want to be a triathlete, to excel in all three disciplines. It's time to compete, not just complete.


Every workout, every minute of every workout matters. Even girly push-up count.


The ridiculous amount of miles I'll be driving to get to the pool or a training session is worth it. And there will be a lot of miles (Drawback of country living. Can someone get that pipeline sooner, so gas becomes reasonable again?)


This triathlon isn't just for me. This one is to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you want to help (and you know you do!), please check out my Team in Training page (see the widget on the right). You can also follow my training on Daily Mile (widget to the right). (I guess I really like widgets.)


My exciting and wonderful things are better, faster, stronger! Better person, faster runner, stronger competitor. Better biker, faster(as in truer) friend, stronger Christian. And I'm betting all the betters will make 2012 the best year yet. All will take hard work. The reward will be worth it. What exciting and wonderful things are you working towards?