Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Week 3 of Training

I have begun my third week of training for the half ironman.  February 8th I did my first triathlon.  It was the Indoor Triathlon at the JCC in St. Louis.  I picked the sprint distance because I had never done one before and I was really nervous.  It was a 400 meter swim, 8 mile bike ride and 2.5 mile run.  I feel pretty happy with how I did.  I finished in about 50 minutes.  I was really nervous about how I would feel after the swim, but I actually felt great and my legs weren't tired at all for the biking portion.  I really pushed my run too and finished the 2.5 miles in 21 minutes.

After I felt great, but by the evening my hip flexor was really bothering me on my right side.  I thought stretching it would help, but it didn't do much.  Then I decided to run 8 miles on Sunday morning and I think that was way too much on a hurt hip.  I could barely lift my leg up on Sunday night and then my right calf muscle started spasming.  The pull in my hip just started causing problems with my whole right side.  I ended up swimming last Monday and did one 30 minute bike ride and one 3 mile run and that was it until this past Sunday.  I really took it easy because the last thing I wanted was to really pull something.

This week has started off great though.  On Sunday I biked for an hour, Monday I ran for 45 minutes and then swam about 1200 meters and then today I took a spinning class and got there early so I could do 25 miles on the bike.  So far I am feel great.  I am starting a paleo type diet tomorrow and I am going to try to keep it up for about 2 weeks and see if I get more energy.  I typically eat pretty healthy, but I love snacking and eating chocolate and salty foods.  I am hoping with having a pretty strict diet I will stop craving all the nasty foods I want all the time.

I can't believe that I only have 16 weeks before the big day.  I am getting nervous about the increased time commitment.  I am already finding it hard to keep up with the household work, grocery shopping and errand running while trying to fit in my workouts when the kids are at school.  I just keep telling myself that this a once and a lifetime goal and I can do it all!!!! Positive thinking.

I am off to do some sit-ups and read and then in 40 minutes I have to pick Samuel up from school.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Birthday Boy!

I have no idea why it is so hard for me to sit down and write on here.  I am always thinking of things to write about, but the days just fly by and I never get around to it.

Today is Joseph's 4th birthday.  He is so excited about being four.  I think he feels like he is truly becoming a big boy now.  Thank goodness.  To say that three was an easy year would be a complete lie.  I have never dealt with a more spirited, opinionated, cranky, demanding, passionate and astute child.  He has such an advanced thought process and I am always shocked at how thoroughly he thinks things through.  For instance, we are having his birthday party this Sunday at the zoo.  I gave all the invitations to his teachers so they could pass them out to all the kids.  When I was putting Joseph to bed later that week he looks at me and says that he doesn't want anyone to come to his party unless they are wearing black, orange or pink (his favorite color is orange, I am not sure why he picked black, but he thought the girls would be happy with pink).  I told him that the invitations were already out, so I can't tell people that they have to wear a certain color.  He thought about it for a little bit and then said, "You can just email or text all the parents and tell them what to wear."  The fact that he doesn't give up and always has a solution for any obstacle is amazing to me.  He is going to keep us on our toes.  He really surprises me all the time.  I can never predict how he will react in any situation.  When I think he will be shy, he is very confident.

I really look forward to seeing how he grows and changes.  He is so unpredictable.  We are learning to deal with this crazy unbelievably smart little boy.  I get more and more grey hairs the older he gets.

I have a new goal.  I have started training for a half-ironman.  I have signed up for the Lawrence, KS Half-Ironman on June 8th.  I have 17 weeks to go.  I am going to try to post at least once a week about my progress, struggles and experiences.  For those of you who don't know a half-ironman is a 1.2 mile swim, 54 mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run.  I feel like I am a little nuts attempting to do this, but I also couldnt' wait to set such a high goal.  This would be such an accomplishment if I am able to finish.  I really am just hoping that I can finish.  This is so scary, but I can't wait.  What I am most nervous about it getting in all the training and not really disrupting home life.  I am trying to exercise in the morning or when the kids are at school.  So far I am feeling great.  Other then all the exercise, I am concerned about nutrition.  I am mostly a pretty healthy eater, but I struggle with sugar and carbs. I love them both.  I need more veggies, fruits and whole grains.  Stay tuned for me Ironman journey.