Day 6 & 7: Confessions of a Reformed Couch Potato

Preface to this post: I am not a physical fitness instructor or personal trainer. I have never really been a hardcore athlete. In fact, I had never run more than a mile in my life until this past January. Everything in this blog is just stuff I have learned from my experiences in this past year and things that I am learning as I train for these athletic events. Think of these posts as Confessions of a Reformed Couch Potato. Having said that, I now will post.

Today's goal was the reason I did not post yesterday. Yesterday, the goal was to ride my bike for 45 minutes. I did not do this. However, there was a purpose behind me not doing it. (NO I DID NOT FALL OFF OF THE WAGON IN THE FIRST WEEK!) I think that with any fitness program, you need to make it your own. Fit it into your schedule. Repeat weeks as needed. Realize that we are all human (except Lance Armstrong and Michael Phelps) and we cannot all be super athletic (that is my excuse and I am sticking to it).

In a triathlon, the most challenging transition is the one between cycling and running. When you begin to run after cycling, your legs feel a lot like bricks. They are bricks. Today, I did a brick work-out, which is why I did not work-out yesterday. This was not on the schedule, but seeing as how I am expected to run a 5k after a cycle 10miles in a week (Tri Tulsa)... I thought it necessary!

The Goal: Cycle 10 miles in 40min, Run/Walk a 5k.
Status: Completed.
Notes: My legs still fell like bricks. I am also not ashamed to walk if I need to. The run/walk did take me 40 minutes, not bad for walking part of it. In the race, I actually try not to walk at all, but today I just wanted to make it. Then, I came home and ate pasta. Not related or pertinent, but it tasted nice.
Over and Out.

Day 5

Goal: Swim 900yds
Completed: 900yds

Felt pretty good. Managed to not inhale water... always a plus. I am concerned about the Tri Tulsa Sprint Tri. Mainly because I cannot grab a hold of a wall and push off. I guess that means that I will just need to kick off of the people around me. Haha... Just Kidding. I think. :)

Not related to swimming, but apparently my long run put my back out of alignment a couple of inches. No worries though... It is back in place!

Another good thing about today is that I did not pee my pants. Now that I am past the 1st grade, I have decided that I am actually not drinking enough water. (Despite the fact that some of you are thinking that I am drinking too much, hence the pee.) Bottom line: I need more water.

**The plan is to get up at 6:30 tomorrow, so I can ride my bike before class. bahahaha... seriously, I am going to tri.

Day 4

Goal: Run 15 min
Completed: Run 28 min

Not much to report, but peeing my pants. That is right. I peed my pants. I forgot to go before I went so I went while I was going. Ordinarily, I would not post this, but someone told me that it made me hardcore... So I just wanted everyone to know that I am hardcore!

Day 2 & 3

First and foremost... the reason I did not post yesterday about my training was in my schedule Friday is my off-day. This is an important step because it allows muscle recovery (or so I have been told).

Workout Summary for the day...
Goal: Ride 60min
Completed: 70 min (17miles)

How am I doing?
Well... I was quite exhausted after the ride. My muscles were not tired... Just my body. However, all of this exercise makes me extremely hungry. Really, really, really hungry. So, I have eaten. and eaten. and eaten. Mostly protein and veggeis and fruit. And some french fries.
But after one of these meals I realized... I really need to stop with the sugars and fattening foods and just become really, really healthy. I am talking no sugar (well... very little). No fried things. No soft drinks (juice in the morning, water, and occasional tea... preferably decaf). I know all things are fine in moderation, but in America... moderation is a portion the size of my face!

The other thing is... I am going to race in Tri Tulsa. It will probably not be my best time because it is a longer run and running is not my gift... but, of course, I will do my very best.

Totals:
Swim: 800 yds
Bike: 70min

Day 1

Tri training has started! International triathlon distance here I come!!!

Workout: Swim 800 yds.
Break down: Warm up: 150yds
                      Bilateral Breathing Drill 100 yds with 15sec breaks every 25yds
                      Free Style 400 yds with 45 sec breaks every 100yds
                      Cool Down: 150 yds

Summary: Seeing as how I am terrible at breathing on my left side the bilateral breathing drill almost killed me. (I inhaled a bucket of water.) However, Dori would be proud because I "just kept swimming."
I feel great and did not feel like I over did it.

Working out is a great way to meet interesting people. Today, I met a lady who started swimming a year ago to lose weight and could barely make it the length of the pool. She was there when I got there and still swimming when I left. How is that for an encouraging story?

Sad News

Well... unfortunately... I fail. Without even starting. Actually, I am not a failure, but to update... I will not be doing a triathlon on Sunday. There are a lot of reasons, but the main one is that I will be helping my grandmother move. However, while spending time at her house, I will be running. (That is the plan anyways.) am going to try to run at least everyday. Weight loss has got to happen! (and strength training). The official start day for my tri training is going to be....

September 10.

I will be working out no matter what.

Let's GO!

Goal

Some of you know that it has been suggested to me that I become as serious athlete as a potential cure for my health problems. If you have been on this long journey with me, you know that no potential cure is guaranteed to work and no one person's body reacts to things the same way.
Here is the challenge:
To become a serious triathlete and complete an ironman triathlon within a year.
The first step was a sprint triathlon that was a 400m swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile run.
The second step is an Olympic or international triathlon: 1.5km swim, 40km bike, and a 10km swim (.93/24.8/6.2mi). The goal is to do one of those by January 1st.
I have an ap for that.
No seriously. There is a training ap for this. I am going to use it.
This blog is my accountability. Don't judge. I am a poor graduate student who cannot afford a live, breathing, trainer. Maybe someday. However, you all are now my unofficial, unpaid, peanut gallery of trainers! Thanks.
Please subscribe, follow, and to all of you serious athletes out there... offer some encouragement. :)
The training starts next Wednesday.
In the mean time... I am doing another Sprint Tri in a week. Wish me luck!