100 Reasons

I have been working out.

I have not been blogging. Apparently, I am not good at being consistent.

So, in addition to my other random ramblings, I will be telling you the 100 reasons why I work out.

To start the list off...
#100
I work-out with a friend, Colleen. We chat during our runs sometimes. Other times we just run. The other day we were talking about traveling. I stick out like a sore thumb... or an obvious American. However, I have been confused for a German. So Colleen says,
"Just learn German. No one messes with Germans. I guess when you try to take over the world three times, no one wants to mess with you."
I think this is an excellent point. I love Germany and think that I would fit in well there.

Also, my dog ate bubblegum. A whole package. She now is getting rid of this gum... and it is quite an intense process.
Thanks for listening.

Swimming in New Gear

Yesterday, I did not post because I left my computer somewhere and did not have access to it.

However, this morning I totally swam 400 yds more than I had been. :) YAY!

The other good news about my day: bought cycling shoes and peddles for my bike and new running shoes. Double YAY!

Not related to being athletic at all, but my really fuzzy dog had to be shaved because of a skin infection and this morning I tripped on my shower curtain while I was in the shower and it came flying down and soap and water went everywhere and I was really stressed out... and felt exposed while standing there with no shower curtain even though I live alone.

I am weird.
Admit it.
Thanks, Now that I have admitted I have a problem and everyone else has too... I should be healed!

Not Enough Hours in My Day

Like everyone, I can never seem to find enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that I would like to in that day.

90% of the time, I feel like the most overwhelmed person in the entire world.

However, this can not possibly be true. There is at least one person out there more overwhelmed than me. (I am pretty sure that I know who she is too.)

Something I have learned is that if it is important enough to you, you will find a way to get it into the "too busy for everything" schedule. For me, working out and training are incredibly important. I find a way to get them in. I also manage to get in school and work. I think the trick is DeFrag. Move the empty spaces together and there is totally time for everything (Including four papers with abstracts due on the 14th?!?!)

Goal of swimming 1000 yards for two practices completed... Now on to the Bigger and Better 1200 yards!
Running and Gym tomorrow. I love my life!

Intentional Day of Not Posting

I decided that I will not post on Sundays. That would be why there was no post yesterday, because after all, it was Sunday.

However, I did work out. I have only walked the past few days. I have walked about 5 miles, but that is beside the point.

I am still recovering from surgery. That means, that my "A" game is somewhere closer to my "C" game right now. However, that does not mean that I will not be getting up to swim tomorrow. It just means that I am "cooling it" for the higher impact stuff. However, I will still be running twice this week.

On another note... WHITE SPANDEX, EVEN FOR ATHLETES, IS NEVER, NEVER OKAY!

I do not ever want to see that again. I do not care if you only weigh 80lbs... you were not wearing underwear and were sweating... making your whites... clear!

Apparently, I am in a ranting mood.

Oh, well. Good Night.

Cycling

Cycling makes me so competitive.

I race everyone. I cannot help it. I think I need an intervention.

The sad part is that I am racing for the whole first half of my ride...
then I am completely worn out and barely make it home.

I will be sore tomorrow!

Oh well, being sore builds character.

FAIL

Have you ever had one of those days..
where you eat all the wrong things
drink all the wrong things
do all the wrong things
Basically, your day is just one BIG, EPIC FAIL?

Today was that for me. I did not work out. I ate everything in sight. And I felt guilty.

Major working out tomorrow.

Although, I do have to bring myself to realize that eating too much and not working out is probably okay for one day.

I need my own personal drill sergeant...Garrett (my army brother), HELP!

Looking at my Life

So, for the next week for work, I am supposed to write down everything I do and how much time I spend doing it.

We are doing an experiment to see how much time we spend (on average) doing all of the activities, specifically things like exercising, being active, sleeping, resting, etc. It should be really interesting. Obviously, since I am talking about it, I will post the end here.

Not sure if I should run or cycle tomorrow.

Something they do not tell you when you become a triathlete: You crave working out. I hate sweating.

When did this happen to me?

Why did this happen?

Someone save me!

Cat calls are for Catwalks

I am sure if you are a girl and you have ever gone outside you have been yelled at, or at the very least some passerby has whistled out his car window. Why do people do this?


I do not understand why it is "normal" or "acceptable" for a man to yell at a woman like she is an animal. However, I know that this problem does not just something that women face.


I have heard from other athletes (and witnessed) that it is common to be yelled at while you are working out.


There are three different types of yellers that exist out there:
1) The angry or harassing type-
This type of yell-er will say things like "Move your ____ing ____ out of my ____ing road." I always wish I could come up with something witty to say to these people. I never can. I usually just say a prayer of appreciation that they chose to yell at me rather than run me over.
2) The I-Am-Enjoying-The-Viewers-
This type makes advances or cat calls towards runners/cyclists/dog-walkers, etc. They whistle and display their appreciation of your attempts to get into shape. These make me so angry. When I am out running or cycling, I do not look good. Cycling shorts are not even flattering on skinny people, so why do you think that it is "cute" to tell me I look good when I do not? Compliment not received!
Last, but not least:
3) The I-really-think-I-am-funny-and-this-will-make-you-or-my-friends-laugh-ers
This is the most common type. These people yell because they think it is funny. Sometimes they actually are. These are the people who don't offend, but often show their IQ. These are the ones you can usually wave at and they move right on. (Hint, hint)


Bottom line: For some reason it is socially acceptable to yell at people doing something good for their health in America. No wonder America struggles so with obesity. 


No workouts on Wednesday! Day off... PHEW! Back in the pool tomorrow!

Do I really think I am fat?

I know that underneath my title, it says that these are confessions of a fat triathlete.

Do I really think that I am fat?

Let me start at the beginning. Last summer, when I was waiting for a race to start. I had to use the bathroom. Along with 50 other female athletes all fighting for the two toilets before the race began in 8 minutes. Why are there only 2 toilets in a YMCA?

Anyways, we were all lined up in front of mirrors. I was looking at everyone and their suits. I noticed that the majority of the triathletes were teeny tiny with six packs. I am never going to have a six pack and I know that. I am okay with that.

Bottom line, I am fat compared to other triathletes. Or fluffy or something. Not just plain fat or anything like that.

I went swimming today for the first time in months. It was hard. My legs hurt. The end.

Early Mornings= Long Days

I ran today. It was okay. For some reason, I feel like I should be in the same shape physically as I was before surgery. I did make it 1.3 miles, but this is not good.


Actually, it is. 


Hello, My name is Kelsey.
I am an archaeologist. 
And I have a problem. 
I am too hard on myself. 


I also thought it was a good idea to eat an entire box of candy. Probably, why I cramped during the run. New rule... NO SUGAR... that will last a day. Actually, this time I will be stronger. It will last a week. 


Tomorrow, I swim... at 6:15, any takers?


I am not saying this is the only time of the day to work out, but when you work and go to school, it is one of the best solutions. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I get up around 5:45, so I can be in the pool by 6:15. 


IT. SUCKS. 


I am sleepy. 


It is cold--the water and the outside, when you get in and when you get out. 


A one piece REALLY does not flatter my cellulite ridden thighs...


The whole day, I am exhausted because I spent an hour before normal people get up trying not to drown. 


Honestly, I like it though. There is nothing that can be compared to the peace in swimming. You cannot hear much of what is going on. The pool is consequently not crowded at 6:15. It is just me (and my friend Catie) and the water. Thinking.   (Not thinking stroke, stroke, stroke, breathe)... just thinking about how peaceful water is... I would not trade my hour of swimming before the sun gets up for anything. 


If you ever have wanted to experience something that will change your whole day. Try swimming. I dare you.

The Why

A big part of why I have decided that I should blog every day is because it keeps me accountable. I am not sure if anyone even reads these, but there is something about putting my athletic soul out on the Internet that makes me move my a**.

Last year was the first year of my life that I have ever been even a teeny bit athletic. Before that, I had only run a mile once when I was like 16. When I started running last February, I thought that 1/8 of a mile would kill me. I still do not like to run, but I crave it.

Obviously, there is something quite strange in me that makes me go think that getting into a pool to bust my butt only to get out to ride my bike and still bust my butt to really busting my butt to the finish line. Maybe the strangest part is not that I do it, but that I love it. So what in me makes me like being a triathlete?

There are a few reasons:

1) It is an individual sport. Yes, you compete somewhat with the people around you and it is fun to pass (and not so fun to be passed which happens more than I care to admit.) When it boils down to it though, it is me racing me.

2) It is a mental sport. When you are racing in such endurance things, the whole game is mental. People mentally psych themselves out more than they realize. Thus, it becomes a brain challenge. It makes things interesting.

3) Last but not least, I get to be outside. Even though it is not mountain biking or trail running, I still get to see some pretty things. Below is what I found yesterday on my ride. I know there are power lines and there is part of the city in the background, but it is January and from where I stood that view was pretty amazing. Also, you can only find that view on the trail.

Spandex: The truth behind the butt squeezing

Okay, so I will be blogging every day from here on out because it is time to start training again.

Since it is winter,

Since it is usually cold,

I have decided to let you in on why athletes, even the fat ones, wear spandex.

It is not because there is some great fashion statement being made, or that we really enjoy the minutes of odd gymnastics that take place why were are trying to put it on.

Spoiler Alert:
It is because the pressure helps to prevent muscle swelling and most importantly the lack of flowing yards of fabric prevent chaffing. I know there are some triathletes, particularly women who can run in their swimsuits. This is because their legs don't touch when they walk or run. However, for the normal, amateur, slightly over-weight person spandex is a brilliant thing.

I used to be an unbeliever. Then I had to wear it for my first race 9 months ago because what else besides tri-shorts can you swim, ride, and then run in? Needless to say, I became a believer. You should too. Give it a week and then you will come over to the dark side. Leggings can be pants in the athletic world.

Good luck on the new years resolutions! I am off to cycle!