Not the bike I rode to the pool

When I was a kid, I spent my summers at the pool. I got up early every morning to ride my bike to our neighborhood pool for morning swim team practice. I remember throwing my towel over my shoulder and hopping on the bike to ride to the pool. It was a little bit of freedom and little bit of responsibility for a child. To me, a bike was a bike. Ah, simple ignorance.
Maybe it's because I'm beginning to loathe the treadmill, but I've been feeling lately like I'm ready to start working harder on my swimming and begin riding a bike. I know I can swim. I need to get faster and stronger, but I have not really ridden a bike on a regular basis since I rode one to swim practice.
I've just begun to look around at purchasing a bike. Who knew that choosing a bike was like choosing a car? There seem to be so many things to know. All I want is a bike that won't leave me in too much pain and won't cost more than my car. Anyone know anything about this?
I expect that I'll be spending a significant amount of time with this machine and I want one that is going to be right for me. I'd love to hear how others have managed this task. Did you like what you ended up with? Did you come to love your bike or detest it?
Ride on!

Does walking through NYC count as training?

My legs think so. I have just returned from a long weekend in New York City where I walked by butt off! I wish! My legs were still sore this morning from my three-day "hike" around Manhattan. Since I couldn't doing any time on a treadmill, I figured that this would count. Actually, all the walking was pretty good exercise. Although my three-inch heeled boots aren't exactly the same as my Brooks tennis shoes.

The training was coming along pretty well until last week, when I came down with the stomach flu. Whew! What a doosy! I had to take the week off from all exercising and then spend the long weekend away. My last blog contained a good deal of complaining about the lack of fun and joy in this process. I am thankful to say that I have moved out of that stage. I certainly don't look forward to running, or exercising in general, but I am finding joy in the results of it: I'm a little stronger, a little smaller, sleeping a little better, and a little proud of myself for sticking to it. And, as strange as it sounds, even to me, after not doing any real exercise for over a week, I have found that I miss it....werid.

So tomorrow, it's back to the gym!

Check my other blog soon for more about my trip.

Finding Fun

In my last post, I talked about dealing with disappointment. Thanks to those of you who offered encouraging words about that. I was able to get "right back on the horse," (or the treadmill) as they say. As it turns out, it was a good lesson in motivation.

Since then, my practice has been a little less than perfect, but I'm moving ahead. I hit a few bumps in the road when I was travelling, but now that I'm back, I'm going full steam ahead towards my first goal of a5K.

My current plan is to pray for some joy in all of this. I've been pretty diligent in sticking to my plan, but obligation only gets you so far. I'm hoping to start actually enjoying this. Will that ever happen?

There are many things in life that we do because we have to. I don't enjoy paying my bills, but I do it because I like to have stuff, like electricity and food. Right now, I don't enjoy exercising, but I do enjoy feeling better and getting in better shape. I am praying, though, that God will help me to find some joy in the midst of the struggle.

I'd love to hear from some of you the ways in which you find joy in overcoming obstacles.

Dealing with Disappointment

Urgh! Today I hit my first hurdle, figuratively speaking, of course. (God knows, I'm not going to be jumping over literal hurdles any time soon.)

Today I started week three of my training plan. Today was the first time I actually dreaded heading to the gym. So far, I've been pretty excited by what I've been able to do. But, today, I was fearful. It felt like a big jump from last week's plan to this week's plan and I was fearful that I couldn't complete it.

And I didn't. I came close, but I just couldn't/wouldn't do it. I tried to give myself a little pep talk beforehand and during, which was hard because even the voice in my head was out of breath.

So, now I feel a little discouraged. I know that this is normal. Its okay. Monday I'll go again and this time I will be able to finish the set. But, it has gotten me thinking: this will probably not be the last time that I will not be able to meet a goal that I set for myself. What will I do when this happens again? In the past, I would probably try it one more time, and then find a reason to give up. But that's not what I am going to do now.

I am going to California in a few days, and I know that it will be a challenge for my to stick to my plan while I am there. If there were a time to quit, this would be it. But, I am not going to let myself give up.

Thanks to those of you have been reading this and encouraging me. I am very thankful.

Support and encouragement

I'm now into the second week of my training plan and so far, so good. It was a little challenging to move into the next phase, but that's what it's all about, isn't it? Challenging myself?

I've realized that there is a missing element to the training plan that I'm following. There is something that I've discovered is absolutely critical to the success of any program of this kind. And that is the right kind of support. Not only do you need the best supportive sports bra (am I right, ladies?), but you really need people who can provide support and encouragement along the way.

Thankfully, I have found that support and encouragement in two main places. First, my parents have been really great. My dad has been a lifelong athlete and my mom has always done a great job of trying to encourage me in a new pursuit. They have listened as I've called them to say simple things like, "I've finished the first week of training! Yay!" And, "I can't believe I am doing this." They know that for many people following this simple exercise regimen wouldn't be that big a deal, but for me, it represents a significant change in my lifestyle. I am very thankful for them.

The other person that has been invaluable to me is my friend Kim. She is my inspiration to attempt this crazy thing. In fact, tomorrow morning, she will participate, for the second year in a row, in the same triathalon I'm thinking of doing next year. I often jokingly refer to her as "my self-appointed personal trainer." And as annoying that can be, it keeps me motivated and even allows me to enjoy myself in this process. Although she is a natural athlete, and can swim, bike, and run, circles around me, Kim humors me when I proudly tell her that I have moved into the second week of training. I am very thankful for her.

I am sure that over the next few months, I will be telling you more about these and other folks who are helping me achieve my goals. I have found that along the way to every major goal in life, the value of the experience is multiplied when it is shared with people you love.

My first goal: a 5K, week 1

So, I decided that if I am going to be serious about this plan, I need some shorter goals to get started with. My first goal is to complete (notice I said complete, not compete) in a 5K in my area. I haven't chosen which one yet, but there are always lots of different events offered in the fall.

To begin this task, I looked online and found a simple plan that claimed to get you from couch potato to 5K in two months. (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml) I'm not exactly a couch potato, but I'm certainly no athlete, so I thought that this sounded like the one for me.

I'm into my first week of training, and so far, so good. Today I did my second day and it was challenging. (What is all this water coming out of my body? Oh, it's called sweat...I've heard about this happening to people before.) But I'm determined and focused.

I'm trying to use the time running to pray and think all sorts of godly things. I should be praying and praising God for all that he's done for me (which, of course, is a lot) and reciting Scripture and so on. But mostly, I found myself repeating this one prayer: Jesus, help me not to fall off this treadmill.

Welcome

Thanks for joining me on this journey. Over the course of the next year, I am going to be training for a triathalon. I thought this blog might be a fun place where I can keep myself accountable to you, my friends and family, and also a place for those of you who might want to be entertained by my process.

In another lifetime, I completed a Walking Marathon. It was a wonderful, challenging, fun, difficult, exciting and self-revealing experience. Afterwards, I never wanted to do anything else like that again. So, why now? Why a triathalon?

On one hand, the answer is: why not? On the other hand, the answer is: because I want to try something new. I want to stretch myself and see what I am capable of. My first triathalon will be in August 2009, which give me a whole year to prepare. I am not a natural athlete. I like to swim, play racquetball, and do a few other outdoor sporty-things, but long distance biking, running, and swimming in a lake do not come naturally to me.

I am hoping that in the course of the next year, I will get into better shape, find more discipline, and have fun doing this. Thanks for joining me on this journey.