Who Needs a Pep Talk?

"Attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude."- Zig Ziglar

Kid President gives a good pep talk.

"All I wanna be is awesome."- Lisa Frey

In my quest of awesomeness, which I have a LONG ways to go in attaining my perceived awesomeness, I have learned some amazing things.  Here are just a few observations:

• Awesomeness means getting out of your comfort zone and feeling a bit of discomfort. 
• When you are out of your comfort zone, you find people to help you along.
• These people are their own journeys' out of their comfort zone as well.  You are there to help them along! 

My Training for Tri Coach, Nancy, encourages us to get out of our comfort zone in every practice. This week, we did the dreaded time trials in swimming and biking.  After a long day at work and still recovering from the flu, this practice was an easy one to bail on.  If it wasn't for a post on Facebook from a teammate, Melissa, I would have firmly planted myself on the couch.  This post asked for luck in our 10-minute swim.  Immediately, there were words of encouragement from teammates and friends. Some posted their own concerns with the time trial.  After reading this, I reluctantly put my swimsuit on and went to practice.  Thanks friends for that kick in the butt.

Did I post my best time?  Nope.  I'm recovering from the flu- duh.  I was proud of myself because it would have been so easy for me to park it on the couch and hack.

The same goes for my yoga practice.  Starting back in December, I started to practice headstand 5 minutes a day.  Next Friday, I am going start my practice of handstand.  This is going to be interesting since I am afraid to kick up into one.  If I have assistance, then I can do it.  My goal is to kick up into handstand all by myself.  I wonder how many days it is going to take me to get this down?

Headstand practice- I highly recommend.

If you listened to the pep talk by Kid President, then part of all of this is to thank those who have encouraged you.  I would like to thank:

My husband, X-t- every crazy idea I have had, he has always supported and believed in me.

Family: My sister, Laura and my Mom

Running buddies- can you believe we have run thousands of miles together?  Wow.  MAP, Diane, Cathie, Nikki, Sarah- we have solved many of the world's problems.

Training to Tri Coaches- Nancy, Debbie and Stacy

Training to Tri buddies- Karen, Rebecca, Melissa, Jen, MJ, Peggie, Maggie, Linda, Tracie, Kristina, Sherry and Dina...just to name a few.  Special shout out to my triathlon and swim buddy- Carla- I wouldn't be in the pool every week if is wasn't for you!

Yoga Instructors: Silvia, Page, Brooke, Mary, Andrew, Sarah

Work: Laurie and Janice as well as all of the volunteers we work with

And of course, you!  Thank you for reading my blog and being on this journey with me.

I Fought the Flu and the Flu Won

"Sickness shows us what we are"- Latin Proverb

Last Saturday, I went out for my long run.  It was a beautiful day and the run was going pretty good, that is, until mile 10.  I started feeling not very well, so I cut my run short.  I was supposed to run 14 miles, but only got in 11 miles.  I got home, took a shower and over breakfast, I started getting the chills.  I was still in denial.  I was feeling ok, just a little off.  It was cold on the run, perhaps I was just having trouble warming up?

Sunday, I woke up and got in my swim and yoga.  I was still feeling off.  I was going to take it easy for the rest of the day.  Whatever this was, it was going to be a 24-hour virus.  I was convinced.

Thank you X-t for sharing the flu.

But alas, it was not.  Monday, I woke up to the full-blown flu.  Body aches, chills and just overall malaise made for a long day.  I felt nasty.  So nasty that I didn't run or practice yoga, but it didn't stop me from not going to work.  

By Thursday, I was over the body aches and chills and had acquired the hacking cough, runny nose and sore throat.  I also lost my voice.  Today, I still feel awful.

This has really thrown a wrench into training.  This is what this week's training looked like:

Monday: Sick

Tuesday: Sick

Wednesday: An attempt of a 5-mile run that resulted in a 2-mile run. Stupid.

Thursday: Sick

Friday: Sick

What is a girl to do?  I have taken this 'opportunity' to heal myself and rededicate myself to training. I am hitting the reset button.  My plan is to resume where I left off with my training when I feel better.  

The lesson of this whole flu debacle is to not give up training.  Yes, it is a setback.  Adversities such as illness, injury or other responsibilites that cut into training serve a purpose.  The purpose is not to give up.  Nothing is easy and nothing is perfect, which also applies to training.  And, by the way, race day is never perfect either!  These challenges help you adjust to the conditions that you are given- great practice for race day.  At least this is what I am telling myself...

Training Update

"I will beat my ass today to kick yours tomorrow-IWBMATTKYT"- The Sufferfest

This is this year's training mantra...

Hello!

I know it has been awhile- my apologies.  Since my last blog post, I have completed the Tour of Sufferlandia.

A 9 day Sufferfest of bike training videos

During this time, I also maintained training for the Kentucky Derby Marathon.

April 27th!

Even though I should be proud of myself, I don't feel that way.  "So what?  There are people out there who are faster and stronger than I am."  It is a terrible mindset- I shouldn't compare myself to others.  I should compare myself to myself!  I haven't trained so hard in all of my life.

During the tour, this is what training looked like:

Monday:  AM Speed work, Sufferfest and PM Yoga

Tuesday: Sufferfest

Wednesday: AM Run and PM Sufferfest

Thursday: Sufferfest

Friday: AM Swim, Sufferfest, Yoga

Saturday: AM Long run then Sufferfest 

Sunday: AM Sufferfest, Swim and Yoga

I completely burned myself out.  I was running slower, my legs felt like rubber bands and I was cranky.  I had a long talk with myself.  "This is stupid," I said to myself.  "I am working out all of the time and not gaining anything".  

I took a long look at my schedule and modified my training.  Here is my "new and improved" training program from this week:

Monday: AM Speed work and PM Yoga

Tuesday: Sufferfest

Wednesday: AM Run and PM Training to Tri (I didn't go this week- I had a board meeting for work)

Thursday: Sufferfest

Friday: Yoga

Saturday: Long Run

Sunday: Swim and Yoga

I dropped the swim on Friday morning.  I feel really guilty about that because swimming is one of my favorite activities along with practicing yoga.  Logically, I know I need the rest and should be enjoying my 'sleep-in' day, but today I woke up all nervous and jittery that I wasn't at the gym working out at the crack of dawn.  Why am I putting myself under all of this pressure?  Isn't this supposed to be fun and enjoyable?  Isn't this my hobby?

Perhaps 'Beating my ass today to kick yours tomorrow' shouldn't be my mantra.  Perhaps this year's mantra should be 'Train hard, do your best, enjoy the process'.  It just doesn't sound as badass as the Sufferfest mantra.