What I've got

So training officially starts tomorrow (5/7). I've done enough reading/sitting/talking about how I'm doing this triathlon. It's time for some follow through. I found this 10week training schedule and I am going to try to follow it as much as I can. I will probably use a combination of this and the book's training schedules. As far as equipment, here is what I have: For swimming:

Our pool is about 20 yards long (this was decided in a very unscientific manner) and I will do most of my swim training here. My plan is to swim, at first, according to times and no pushing off. I'm considering getting a summer pool pass so that I can do some lap swimming, but I have mixed feelings about swimming in the city pool. (that's a lie, my feelings are NOT mixed, I don't want to do it, I'm completely grossed out by it, but it seems a necessary evil). I also need to get a swim suit,(yes I have a pool and no suit) but I will save that for a later time. For now I have swim shorts and a fitted running tank. I also need to find a way do some open water swimming , so I'm not new to it on race day. Running:

These shoes are nothing fancy, but they are lightweight and flexible. Though I plan to do the majority of my running outside on gravel trails, I also have a treadmill.

Cheat Day!!!

As part of this journey, I am trying to lose weight for many reasons. I actually joined Weight Watchers with a good friend about 3 weeks ago, before I had the triathlon epiphany. I have done Weight Watchers before, but I always quit for one reason or another. This time, I am telling myself that I only have to make it 16 weeks, and then if I want to quit, I will. The idea there is that I should have enough weight loss by then to motivate me to keep going with it. Losing weight is only going to help me get ready for this triathlon because it will help reduce my times and increase my endurance. The opposite is also true, training for the triathlon will help with the Weight Watcher goals. Anyway... I do count points and watch what I eat, and I have been losing weight (although this week may not be yield the best results due to a few bumps in the road) BUT Saturday is CHEAT DAY. It is possible that my love of cheat day speaks to a much deeper issue I have with food, but I really don't care because I can eat whatever I want. I don't count points on this day at all, and I tell myself if I want it, I can have it. Now, I don't go crazy because I still have to get my fat ass on the wagon the very next day, but I do free myself of the rules just for this day. This is NOT they way Weight Watchers would want me to reward myself, but so far it is working for me. If I want something that is fattening or otherwise bad for me during the week, I just tell myself I can have it on Saturday, and, usually, I can delay gratification until then. It really is a win win situation. At this point whatever keeps me motivated and moving in the same direction is what I need to do!!! Workouts start this week, so stay posted. I may even put up a few pictures of myself (I can be really brave while no one is watching).

A letter from the voice my head.

Dear Self, Your fleeting bursts of inspiration are awe inspiring. You forego all logic and reason, in the moment, make a major decision (with little or no research) and decide you will figure out the details later. Yep, you are one amazing woman, and by 'amazing' I mean, "what the hell are you thinking you stupid idiot?"!!! You haven't run a real mile (you can't count treadmill runs, at least until I can figure out how to make the actual ground move under my feet) in over a year, you've backed out of every single 5K you've signed up for, except the one where you walked the entire thing, and today when you were leaving jury duty, you got winded walking ever-so-slightly uphill back to the parking garage. Signing up for a triathlon was a pretty boneheaded move to make, signing up for an 'open-water' triathlon was a colossal screw-up. BUT, here you are, and your pride will never let you rethink this, reconsider or back out. You're stuck, and in those quiet moments, (you know, the ones where you are consumed with the "holy shit, I'm royally screwed" feeling?) you're going to have to chill the f*ck out and figure out how to make this happen. Good luck sucker!!! Sincerely, Your self-defeating attitude problem. Yep, that is pretty much how it goes, and probably a large part of my 'out-of'shape/overweight' problem. It isn't helping that the blogs I am checking out are written by women who are either much younger or in much better shape than me. I haven't even started training yet because I'm afraid that reality won't live up to my expectations. The irony of that statement is not lost on me... For now, here are some of the blogs that have my mind spinning.. Amateur Triathlete Triathlete Training Blog Procrastinator (right up my alley!!) Today's small victory: I didn't quit, yet...

In the beginning.

It is not an exaggeration to say that I don't know what the Hell I'm doing because I just might be the most clueless soon-to-be triathlete alive. Deciding where to begin is more than daunting, so I've reverted to my old stand-by, I bought a book. I'm pretty notorious for deciding to do something, i.e.: run a marathon, plant an all organic raised-bed garden, open an e-bay shop, etc. (I could go on, but really, why?) and never getting much further than a purchase at Barnes and Noble. This time, will be different (more on this in a bit). The book I am reading is, Your First Triathlon by John Friel.. I'm on the 3rd chapter, and so far it is a very readable book. It has a 12 week training plan, which has me in a bit of a panic, but I'm will to postpone the "freak out" for a later date. I'll let you know more about what I think about this book and it's usefulness after I've actually read it.

Back to the "this time it will be different" point... I'm making a point of telling everyone I know, especially those people who will hold me accountable, and those people, in front of whom, I'd be embarrassed to fail. I'm daring myself to be accountable, and it is scary, but I just keep imagining crossing the finish line and I feel more resolved to do it. I also imagine my future self, mentioning that I've completed a triathlon with the same nonchalance as if I'd just replaced the paper towel roll (note that I did NOT say 'replace the toilet paper roll' because for that I'd require a parade or, at the very least, a quiet toast at dinner). I'm already in awe of that future self, now I just need to find her. Today's small victory: I have committed to memory the correct spelling of the word 'triathlon' it is NOT "triathAlon".

Because I want to feel like the Terminator...

I'll start off by telling you that I have absolutely no business signing up for a triathlon. I won't bore you with all the gory details now, but let's just leave it at, I'm horribly out of shape and a good 70 lbs. overweight too. I had a spark of inspiration this weekend as I watched (while cheering like an insane person) my 8 year old son complete his first triathlon. That's him in the picture. My husband and I are firm believers in having our boys push themselves in whatever they do, and this triathlon was a daunting challenge for our middle child. When we got there he was very nervous and he even asked me if we could go home a few times. We really had no idea what we were doing, but thankfully the volunteers helped us every step of the way. Once we finally got his transition spot prepped and started to walk to the boat launch (the starting line for the swim) he looked up at me and said, "Mom, I feel like the terminator. I'm so pumped." Watching him go from complete fear to total courage was awesome, but I also had a twinge of guilt because I was asking him to do something I knew I never could. It was in that moment that I decided I would dare myself to overcome my own obstacles and become a triathlete. I've signed up for a triathlon for August 25th, 2012, which gives me a little less than 4 months to prepare. Here is where I'd like to revisit my previous point about being 70lbs overweight. I could also mention that I'm sure I can't jog a full mile (except on a treadmill). My previous goal, which I have yet to accomplish, was to run in a 5k. I'm not sure how I've come to the conclusion that since I have failed in my endeavors to run a 5K I could be successful if I tacked on a 1/2 mile swim and a 13 mile bike ride to go along with it, but, alas, here I am. I'm not sure how I will structure the blog, but I will focus on my workouts, my weight loss, and my reflections as I go. I hope you'll join me for this journey and maybe even prepare for a triathlon of your own.